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Flying Scotsman

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by 73129, Aug 24, 2010.

  1. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I rather enjoyed it, well done BBC, just something nice and easy to watch, and dosn't require too much thinking about. As an aside I also thought it was rather good to see that there were 2 members of the footplate crew who seemed a bit younger, eg lack of grey hair! All in all rather enjoyable, and a wonderful advertisement for the SVR. Dare I say it are railways and trains becoming rather trendy?
     
  2. Nexuas

    Nexuas Well-Known Member

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    A good bit of Television, no need for false jeopardy or histrionics. A very pleasant 1hr spent enjoying other peoples pleasure. Made me think it is a long time since October till March/April when I will get my next footplate fix.
     
  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Good on the apparent mundane business of pottering along a heritage line with a locomotive that really should have been seen stretching its legs on the main line. That said, the BBC did a really good job of getting the continuity right and not filling the space with mindless commentary. The programme also revealed just how difficult it can be to shift a locomotive when it's sitting in the wrong position, how easy it is to misjudge distances (the crossing sequence) and how tricky it can be to keep a loco quiet. When you think about it, having a camera watching every last thing you do for nearly 20 miles can be quite intimidating but the crew handled it well, as they did Flying Scotsman.
     
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  4. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    Got round to watching it and it was a lovely programme. Really relaxing and informative with lovely shots.

    Really hope it comes out on DVD with the Return of the Flying Scotsman programme from earlier in the year.
     
  5. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I think it must be bad enough having an owners rep and a traction inspector looking over your shoulder but having a camera on you too! As you say Al they handled it rather well, having driven various Diesels it's made me appreciate it's not an easy job, train driving is not a something you can just do, it's a very skillful job.
     
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  6. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    Further to my post above, I understand it's the version without the commentary on Sunday. Somehow, I managed to set my video recorders to record the same programme, which wasn't this one! :( Ah well, that's what get_iplayer's for...
     
  7. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I rather enjoyed James May's Christmas programme about putting his own A3 pacific back together too , am I prematurely getting middle aged? I love BBC4!
     
  8. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    I must say BBC4 is one of the better tv channels. I remember hearing sometime ago it was a toss up between BBC3 or BBC4 which channel was going to get the chop.
     
  9. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I think BBC 3's audience is rather more likely to watch it online.
     
  10. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    It was - given the demographics of the two channels (and I quite liked BBC 3 despite being way out of its target audience age profile), putting BBC 3 online was the best move. BBC 4 can be a little like Radio 3: not huge audiences, but you mess with it at your peril.

    BBC 4 really is the BBC at its best.
     
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  11. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    No - you just appreciate intelligent television.
     
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  12. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

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    Seem to recall that was made specifically for the Aus Steam 88 trip.
    If the ill-fitting was due to cab floor work I apologise.
    I was 'volunteered' to do that at Southall but freely admit to lacking carpentry skills.
    I am given to believe most of it managed to last until the NRM overhaul - but they might have wanted to save my feelings of course.
     
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  13. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    One of the great things about BBC4 is Friday nights when if does some great documentaries about music which you won't get on another channel.
     
  14. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    And people complain about the licence fee...
     
  15. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    Errr.... let's not go there, shall we?! :Nailbiting: (in the absence of a 'diving for cover' emoticon)
     
  16. J Rob't Harrison

    J Rob't Harrison Member

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    Thoroughly enjoyable programme, even if I did have to watch it on a tiny screen via iPlayer the day after it broadcast. On the topic of BBC4 in general, any channel that shows The Sky at Night is immediately in my good books.
     
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  17. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    For many years I've watched only once in a while on iPlayer, never enough programmes to justify buying a licence to watch them live. Since the revised law came in I've been very good and not watched anything even on iPlayer. I'm now half tempted to get a licence.
     
  18. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    Depends how honest you are, there is no way they can check up
     
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  19. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I'm sure that all the above is true and then having everything you are doing open to the scrutiny of the railway fraternity (both skilled and armchair) must actually be rather daunting. It was, of course, excellent publicity for both FS and the SVR.

    Having said all that, it does bring home to you the almost 'slow motion' way in which things happen on a heritage line. Multiply the typical track speed by three and the footplate becomes an entirely different place I would suggest. Little of that came across in this piece. More to the point, just because you are skilled on the footplate on a heritage line must be only an entrée to how you must adapt for the main line were you to aspire to do that. It does make you appreciate rather more what the main line crews have to do, especially when they switch from the relative quiet of the cab of a Class 47 or 67 to any of the heritage fleet.
     
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  20. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    Have you seen what's on the BBC 4 Collections page for railways? Whether it justifies a purchase of a TV licence is another matter for you.
     

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