Going Loco, Channel 4

Hi,
I came across this site after watcing an old VHS of a few programmes I taped for my then, six year old, 'train mad' son from the 'Going Loco' series on Channel4 back in the early nineties. I was doing a google search for 'Going Loco' and the name popped up in another thread on this forum and led so me here.
To cut a long story short, his favourite programme at that time was one about wildlife along railway lines, which I unfortunately taped over and only a few minutes remain. I remember shots of a fox which lived under a platform, film of starlings roosting in a station in the evening and stories about the spread of 'fire weed' (rose-bay willow herb)along the length of the rail network. Over the years I've contacted several TV companies to try and identify the name of the documentary and whether it is still available, but no joy.
I was wondering if anyone subscribing to this site could help please?
Thank you
Gilly

 

I think it was a BBC Bristol documentary from the BBC2 'Natural World' strand, although the actual title of the episode escapes me. Quite a large chunk of it was shot on the NYMR, and judging by locos seen to be in use (from memory, Lambton No.5 in unlettered lined black, 80135 and D7029) I would think that it was made during the summer of 1985 and broadcast either later that year or early in 1986.

ETA: There was also a 1989 documentary - 'Secret Nature - Steam and Wildife' - filmed on what is now the South Devon Railway. That might be the one.

 

This is the wildlife program filmed on the SDR, is this what your looking for?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/steamtrains/7324.shtml

 

Thank you both very much for taking the time to reply to my question.
I think the programme is likely to be the one from the 'Natural World' series. I will watch the other documentary properly over the weekend though, there looks to be some lovely footage of both trains and wildlife.
Thanks again,
G

 

Hi, I think the programme you were discussing is from the 1987 BBC Natural world series and is called 'Ticket to the Wild'. I still have a copy on VHS!

Rgds

Mike Rigg