"Before & After Electrification on the GWML" Swindon to Didcot

[@MarioStahl1983]

This before-and-after-footage is so wonderful. Finally some progress! The GWML electrification was the best decision in years as far as British railways are concerned! Absolutely great! 😊 The diesel nightmare is finally coming to an end.

[@antman09ful1]

Diesel locos work freight trains on this line.

[@lionel2035]

Great then and now shots in the video. After watching I long for the then over the obtrusive stanchions! What a light on the landscape!

[@antman09ful1]

Its terrible mate what has been done.

[@MarioStahl1983]

FANTASTIC! Great to see the electrification! FINALLY!! They should have done that 50 years ago!

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks for watching.

[@Isochest]

Yes but with lighter gantries!!

[@maimadha]

​@@Isochest the gantries on the Great Western Mainline should be like the gantries on the West Coast Mainline

[@gabrielstravels]

As much as I'm happy that the GWML is electrified, I would have preferred it if they had used the Mk3B headspan range (as used on the East Coast Main Line / ECML) instead

[@manomaylr]

can't they use the thinner gantries that they have on the wcml?

[@antman09ful1]

I agree what you say, but I haven't got a answer for you.

[@iantaf5559]

Great then and now shots, many thanks. It does make you think though why those types of stanchions and masts have been used. Such a blight on the landscape....

[@antman09ful1]

I wish we knew why they used that metal size Ian, The cost of this project went way over budget.

[@Dinoteddi]

i have no issues with overhead wires but i dont get the need for huge towers, why couldnt they have used HS1 style overhead wires

[@antman09ful1]

Fair play mate, but I agree the style is not good.

[@maimadha]

@@antman09ful1 the overhead wires do look really horrible

[@matt154uk9]

Another very good 'before and after' video, interesting to see the changes/developments being made hey?!

[@antman09ful1]

Its terrible, but I have more in the pipeline.

[@Isochest]

I am all for overhead electrification but the structures in situ here look suited for 750v dc rigid overhead conductor: I'm thinking of the USA Baltimore & Ohio Railway here!!

[@antman09ful1]

Ok thanks for taking a look at this video.

[@scruffwood]

Great vid mate.Glad you got the shots before it all changed

[@antman09ful1]

Its terrible I think what they have done to our countryside mate.

[@conkeroonee]

Never mind Mike, maybe they could run a class 86 on it sometime.

[@antman09ful1]

Well Craig that is going to happen in September with a 86 or 87 from Reading to Paddington.

[@MrDeltic15]

That's progress for you apparently, but progress sure ain't pretty! At least Denchworth still seems pretty good far as mast placement goes, and maybe that new footbridge will offer some different angles. Another very good and useful comparison movie Mike.

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks Darren, yes I will leave the bridge shots for you mate as I don't think that area will attract me again.

[@Shadow_x12]

Network Rail clearly have no idea. Grossly over engineered and they can't even look after the railway properly. Also electrification is bad for the environment and the OHLE always ruins stations. Let's hope they can make the GWML great again by bringing back the HSTs 165s 166s 360s and 332s and sending the 800s 802s 387s and 345s to the scrap and the OHLE must come down and bring back the good old days again.

[@antman09ful1]

I do like all you have said Josh, but what this country should do is go back to building our own trains again, but I think I am dreaming.

[@grassytramtracks]

Diesel is much worse for the environment

[@denelson83]

What, no pantos yet?

[@antman09ful1]

There are there now.

[@70humdinger94]

The price of progress, I guess.

[@antman09ful1]

That's what they say don't there, but I think it spoils the countryside. Thanks for watching.

[@michaellaudahn]

Why don't you display my comment such that visitors don't have to switch from 'view by best' to 'view by latest', to make it visible? The infamous 'english fairplay', maybe?

[@antman09ful1]

Well Michael if you are not happy with my channel have a look at other one's.

[@westy6214]

Oh my god are those overhead masts ugly! You know it’s bad when people have protested about the masts ruining the countryside, absolutely awful. Anyways really interesting and great video.

[@antman09ful1]

Glad you agree with me Westy, terrible eye saw.

[@westy6214]

@@antman09ful1 Yeah, it truly is shameful. The midland mainline ones look marginally nicer but I feel it’s still rather grim and doesn’t compare to the likes of the ecml/wcml ones.

[@grassytramtracks]

​@@westy6214 the ecml ones also fail if a feather lands on them the wrong way so that's not great

[@ianthompson9201]

Interesting comparison. Many thanks. I very much hope that it will not be too long before batteries, ultracapacitors and opportunity- charging do away with the need for expensive, ugly and potentially dangerous continuous overhead and third-rail electrification.

[@antman09ful1]

Take would be amazing then all that metal can come down, I think its in my dreams but it would be nice. Thank you for your interest in this video.

[@Isochest]

The power to pull a 2000 ton goods train needs to be addressed let alone 4-5000ton aggregate trains. I know the UK is holding out against electric goods trains but it's cheaper in the end.

[@maimadha]

@@antman09ful1 I want Network Rail to take down the OHLE on the Great Western Mainline

[@grassytramtracks]

Batteries will never be any match with OHLE for busy mainlines. Batteries are heavy, expensive, bulky, and environmentally harmful to produce and dispose of. It will be a long time for battery to ever have a chance of coming even close to the efficiency of 25kV AC overhead lines. Will we use batteries on branch lines? Yes, they already are in some places, but there's no way they'll ever replace more conventional electrification. It's largely for similar reasons why electric self driving cars will be a useful part of the transport system, but will never replace buses and trains

[@michaellaudahn]

PS Let me suggest you also get an in-motion (and so more realistic) impression of *esthetically* electrified lines. L0q49QQlW0I is an inside-out view, mEICneIWadQ filmed from outside. Of course, you can find many more. Last not least, CRhvKiHswHo shows a high-speed ride.

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks for watching.

[@EM-yk1dw]

Talk about over engineered. I would not trust Network Rail to price up and wire a plug let alone electrify a railway.. They seem to be excellent at making the modern railway look like a tip and an overgrown garden though.

[@antman09ful1]

Love your comment mate, and thanks for taking a look.

[@EM-yk1dw]

@@antman09ful1 You are very welcome, I always enjoy your films. Yes it really depresses me to see the railway uncared for. It was not perfect under BR but at least some sort of housekeeping was undertaken.