BBC Railwatch episode 1 - 13th February 1989

[@Paul_Lucas]

Assistant station manager in a bowler hat - incredible to think this was within my lifetime.

[@stephenchecksfield632]

Brilliant video i recall watching this back in February 1989 shame to think that its 10 years that the late Mike Smith passed away Rest in peace Mike gone but not forgotten 😞

[@barrymorris7856]

Thank you .This takes me back. RIP Mike Smith only remembered for Top of the Pops and radio 1 but was a really great broadcaster

[@creepingjesus5106]

And racing driver! He competed in the British Touring Car Championship for a few seasons.

[@mandrillfoden]

Had a go at truck racing too and helicopter pilot.

[@VRTrucker]

I knew him from Radio one but mainly from his time driving a Ford Cargo in the 1985 truck racing season.I didn't know he'd passed away though.

[@PhilofBristol]

Mike Smith also served as the OB host on The Late Late Breakfast Show. That was a great programme until it was cancelled following the death of participant Michael Lush.

[@simon26westlands]

He hosted 'Driving Force' in the 80's which I remember well. Sterling Moss was also in it.

[@musoseven8218]

Reminds me of happier times, and time spent working on the railways. Thanks for uploading 👍😊

[@eddieafterburner]

Happier times … excepting, ostensibly, the train steaming trend reported at 1:24. The good ole days weren’t always good, as I am reliably informed.

[@musoseven8218]

@@eddieafterburner Of course rose tinted glasses apply to an extent. However the neo Maoist, neo Marxist existence we have now, and the past four years of PsyOp and misery for many, 31 million unexplained deaths? I wish I had a time machine to go back to the time of the video!

[@edwardbyard6540]

I was 7 years old, and my Dad taped the series on VHS - I must have watched it 100 times. Loved seeing the 43s and travelling with my Dad to work from Didcot to Paddington. Loved trains then, and I still do 35+ years later!

[@flashtheoriginal]

York. The King of train stations. A fabulous place. One of the great English cities

[@UXB-p5u]

Yes it used to be! Now it's a pale shadow of it's former self. Mass immigration hundreds of Bradford/Wolverhampton 'licenced' uber drivers everywhere the city is dirty closed shops and crime including 2 'local' men arrested for rape 2 weeks ago their names were finally released all I'll say is 🤐🤐 there was another rape only days before, again 🤐. Our Marxist MP commented a few years ago (without consulting/asking the people) "let's make York the first Immigrant welcoming city in Britain ")..... and that is exactly what has happened!! They receive everything they need/demand for free I can't get a dentist a GP nothing!!!

[@analogueman123456787]

*Railway* stations. It's the US that has train stations...

[@GoodfordModelRailway]

Fantastic watch even though it's scarily impressive to see how much has changed over the last 35 years. Makes me feel old! 😂

[@ryanohara476]

Thank you for this! I love BBC railway related television programmes! This is over two years before I was born. This looks amazing picture quality for the original archive master on VHS videotape. It looks a higher picture quality resolution almost of D3 videotape broadcast quality!

[@triptechable]

My word this brings back memories! Remember seeing this as a kid, then watching mike smith racing in the btcc!! I talk to his widow Sarah Green on twitter once in a while. Lovely lady.

[@thefirstchoice5493]

Unusual HST at 35:33 that's vacuuming up some clag. Definitely not a piece of film being run backwards ;-)

[@AndrewCowell50]

Imagine the BBC spending this much money and producing something of this quality for daytime TV now? Shows you what we've lost.

[@fman02]

Could be worse. Could be ITV daytime.

[@Simba6196AC]

if bbc made this now, it would be all about the presenter and filled with passenger sob stories

[@mott2945]

This is absolutely fantastic brings back wonderful memories ❤

[@simonjones7727]

1989, but it might as well be 1949 everything is so proper and correct.

[@plechaim]

We need to get back to that

[@thehutt2]

This is amazing thank you. I would have been 3 when this cane out haha.

[@losbarcos93]

That was my dad, the HST Maintenance Controller, at 27:00! 😊

[@killieguyno1]

no it wasnt!!!

[@russellbenton2987]

I remember this program at the time , amazing I’m watching it again 35 years later - there’s still nothing else on the telly worth watching! HSTs at their best

[@peterainsworth8026]

Wow. I remember really getting into this as a 10 year old. Never thought I'd see it again though.

[@Springamatul]

Quality of the film is so good 😊

[@aldhous]

Remember watching this during my school holidays! Loved it!

[@davidkelly3704]

@10 mins I just took a wonderful train from Madrid to Alicante 1st class for 26euros. Incredible the demise of the UK railways within 35 years. Whilst back in UK this month i took a train from Witham to Twickenham which cost 78£ return with no less than 4 problems, my favourite being at Waterloo and being told the train was delayed as “we can’t find the driver”……

[@fman02]

Was he called Wally?

[@MrFlava1982]

I travelled recently with Renfe from Sevilla to Huesca in the Pyrenees foothills in 5hr15min,900 km distance for 47€.

[@guyroebuck8510]

It has never been perfect on the trains in the UK that's err the charm😂

[@davecook3840]

Having just done my 36th year on the railway I really thought I was getting to be senior but hearing what that driver said I realise again I’m only the new kid….

[@jonmortermusic]

Ah yes great to see this uploaded thank you

[@matthiasmuller9369]

How proud they were about their railway. How broken up it is today...

[@Scots_Diesel]

The time lapsed between the black and white clip and the time of broadcast is 37 years and it's not far off the same amount of time between broadcast of this programme 1989 and now, 35 years.

[@guyroebuck8510]

I was amazed at the plummy accents in 1989. And the cards for trains!

[@PopcornSimulationGaming]

I'm loving this old program thanks sharing on my community board on my channel for my train fan simulation gaming subscribers 😊 thank you .

[@andynightingale7335]

Genuinely didn't know Mike Smith had passed away, that news totally escaped me. I'm in my 50's now, and it hard to think he didn't even get to retirement age. Was always such a professional broadcaster. RIP.

[@DavidPeacock1972]

Loved this series. Even the music. I went to York on the last day of filming, only saw some cameramen, no Mike Smith unfortunately.

[@SirCliveCalculator]

Paul Coia! We need him back! And Debbie Greenwood!

[@AshtonArcher]

Excellent video, thanks for uploading! I never saw this at the time as I was at school. Interesting to here early on how different parts of BR had be described as businesses since the early 80s - the Tories positioning the company to be privatised.

[@nkt1]

27,000 horsepower in each power car, @19:45? I don’t think so. That would give the train, weighing around 400 tons, a fair bit more power than the Titanic, which weighed about 52,000 tons! The true figure is 2,250hp for each of the two power cars.

[@simaesthesia]

Came here looking for this comment! 🤣

[@dclark988]

I loved this programme

[@IanAnthonyMartin]

York is a railway town, says Mr Smith. Aside from the fact that it's a city (and was, in 1989) it's not much of a railway town for the local residents. There was, and is, just one suburban station within the city, so the local commuter traffic is negligible. If the planned Haxby station actually proceeds, that will double the local station total!

[@andrewmartell6155]

Blimey that's brought back some great memories. Used to set the old VHS recorder each day for the afternoon shows and watch it in the evening after work. Much more interesting on the railways then. Many thanks for uploading. Will the other 4 appear ???

[@avocet1989]

I recorded it to watch after work too,I've found my tape with two more episodes on,I have got the others on another tape somewhere,I will upload them all.

[@andrewmartell6155]

Cant wait. Thanks again 😊

[@guyroebuck8510]

Ahh VHS ❤

[@killakanzgaming]

@24:17... That rotary phone dialler... Haven't seen one of those for so long. I feel old now...

[@Jimyjames73]

I remember watching this - I even recorded it on Video 😉😊🚂🚂🚂

[@easterncoachworks]

Penny Bustin interviewed me in April 1989

[@CJJC]

Did it make you feel good?

[@easterncoachworks]

@@CJJC Haha yes!

[@richardwhite2325]

Very enjoyable

[@stuartrathbone5403]

Fab, thanks.

[@elisabethj.v.beardsell9853]

I’ve no clue where I was, but never saw this!

[@loco4loco]

Very cool

[@RailandBusJourneysAroundtheUK]

At 19m25s Mike says that HST/Intercity 125 is due to depart York at 1436 and due in London Kings Cross at 1554. An hour and 18 minutes from York to London Kings Cross! That can't be right surely?!

[@shartbimpson]

he also says it's got 27000 horsepower, think he forgot his glasses

[@avocet1989]

The 1437 from York was booked into Kings Cross at 1655 in February 1989.

[@SueWilson-ym2nz]

Wow! 27,000 horsepower on a HST!!! (19:48). No wonder they were always late!

[@newgreatcreation5964]

Brilliant.

[@peterwhitaker4038]

mike Smith says at 19:26 the HST at York beside him will leave north yorkshire at14.36 and will be in London Kings cross at 15:54....that's an incredible 118 minutes. what a Loco!

[@WilliamSmith-mx6ze]

He means 16.54 - so 138 minutes. Today a train is scheduled to leave York at 14.59 and arrive at King's Cross at 16.46.

[@Battismore-Blue]

Can`t imagine Walk on on Demand ticketing now , its a minefield these days

[@Keithbarber]

I hope renationalisation will address this

[@WilliamSmith-mx6ze]

@@Keithbarber It won't.

[@Keithbarber]

@WilliamSmith-mx6ze don't jump to conclusions and make assumptions

[@animeOfDarkness405]

I wasn't born till the year after

[@neilcussons4744]

My lovely old City before it was taken over by wealthy incomers, makes me very sad.

[@barryhavard5]

Didn't know he had passed away rip Mike

[@clyth41]

This was cancelled after one episode, seems about right for British Rail..

[@roberthindle5146]

The intro couldn't be any more 80s if it tried.

[@w00df0rd]

29:14 - "Malcolm Muh....."

[@MarkSmith-tp6zc]

Malcolm McForgotten

[@bjmorley]

Something went wrong there haha

[@windemup5316]

Oh look at that. Look at that. Oh would you just look at this. Look at it. 😂😂

[@RoyTheMouth]

Do you have any footage of a special news report on a poor passengers record breaking delayed BR journey, her final part of the journey being undertaken by taxi! It was either on News or a Documentary

[@andyf750]

Bring back British Rail.

[@robalexander8065]

I believe there are plans to do that. Something called Great Britain Rail is to be unveiled next year.

[@robalexander8065]

@@eightiesmusic1984 Corrected - thanks!

[@eightiesmusic1984]

@@robalexander8065 You are welcome.

[@syedadeelhussain2691]

Beeching reforms to the rail transportation system were flawed. Many of the most historic railway stations were shut down. It did not provide the traveller alternative vehicle/ mode of transportation selection choice on certain destinations.

[@FinnMikazuki3]

l like York railway station now in 2024

[@siouxgilber]

What's with the bowler at around 30 minutes! 😂

[@Afc1987]

I. miss the slam door trains had character not like the trains of today

[@KaiDiesAgain]

carry on yelling at clouds old man

[@AtheistOrphan]

A shame the aspect ratio is buggered.

[@BossySwan]

Interesting

[@Afc1987]

this music is weird 😂😂

[@apacherider7110]

Interesting knife crime was a problem back then

[@I7275-p2d]

Even more interesting that idiots weren't the triggered to blame immigration then show their "patriotism" by smashing up Greggs.

[@davidkelly3704]

Also trains were being wrecked by football hooliganism

[@fman02]

(Plummy voice) “there’s really no pollution from an electric train”. Just the pollution from burning gas to produce the electricity. That’s okay then.

[@JRTerrier24]

Wow, I absolutely love this, I wish they did something like this now, stuff like the is well cool.😎😎😎🚆🚆🚆

[@musoseven8218]

Reminds me of happier times, and time spent working on the railways. Thanks for uploading 👍😊