Vintage railway film - John Betjeman - Men of Steam - 1962

[@KevinDavies-j4b]

Great film , John Betejman shows his love of railways in every phrase.

[@kenh3344]

What an insight, who ever made the film top Mark's. Who ever put it up top Mark's what a insight . Into the great western railway . 😊 thank you . I am very blessed to have watched this information . Of what was . Thank you very much . 😊

[@bigcasey4143]

As a retired train driver (I retired 6 years ago) with over 40 years service, 30 of those years spent on the Western Region in South Wales, I can safely say that times have most definitely changed, and mostly for the worse. I'm sure Mr Betjeman would turn in his grave if he could see how the railways are run today. One thing that has not changed is that the he job of being a train driver is still a very responsible one and the job it is still highly skilled, and most drivers still take great pride in the job... I most certainly did.

[@milepost326]

You'll be MP12 trained then?

[@bigcasey4143]

@@milepost326 Yes, I was indeed MP12 trained in the old Training School at London Waterloo South Side... on the Class 33+TC stock to become a Relief Driver (later to become a driver). The older drivers at Eastleigh, where I was then based talked ad nauseum about steam locomotives as if they had been scrapped only the day before, and this was over 10 years after the end of steam. "In the old steam days" was a phrase heard very often... a bit like "during the war" by Uncle Albert from only fools and horses. I for one will definitely not be looking back with nostalgia at the Class 116DMMU/142/143/150/153/158, class 33/37/47/50 locomotives, or the utilitarian 1951/1957/1963, class 455/508 EMU's that I drove during my long career... I'm just happy to be retired and not be pushing up the daisies

[@milepost326]

@@bigcasey4143 I did my MP12 at Stainer house during 1980. Class 47 was our main traction but we were immediately trained on class 45/46s Those old Saltley drivers were dyed in the wool steam men, but loved their class 45s on the main line, class 24 and 25 for trippers. And not forgetting DMUs... cold and draughty in the winter. As a secondman man starting early 1977, steam was still very much in the working memory at Saltley and it was very much a steam mentality but with diesels. Too many of those old hands passed on soon after retiring, but the likes of us were lucky. The job didn't make old men of us and put us in an early grave!

[@bigcasey4143]

@@milepost326 I started in 1978 as a Traction Trainee & finished in 2018 just shy of my 59th birthday. Most of the old hands are now long gone... I'm the same decrepit age now as they were when I started as a spotty 18 year old!.... So many went to their graves from cancer caused by the asbestos lagging of the boilers... I knew so many that went to the Top Link way before their time... Sadly, the Eastleigh BRSA club & institute, where reunions used to be held served it's last ever customers after 130 years shortly after the last reunion in March of this year, which I was unable to attend due to illness... I wonder if that was the last one...

[@howardgoy9568]

Betjeman and railways, the perfect combination. A haunting elegy not only for steam, but for the way our railways used to be.

[@Mounhas]

As a child we went everywhere by buses & trains, I was fortunate in that with a Red Rover bus ticket I could visit every mainline station and shed in the London area. Like many I wish that steam had been given more time but glad I was able to see, touch & smell the locos & the memorable coaching stock.

[@eliotreader8220]

earlier this year I had a footplate ride on a GWR tank engine the driver had worked on BR during the days of steam

[@paulrounding5260]

I was 6 when this film was made, in the 62 years that has followed this country has been ruined by mismanagement and a succession of unqualified shortsighted MPs and councillors.

[@ianpark1906]

Wonderful shot of Falcon 👍

[@garyskellon2059]

Think it’s lion not falcon

[@ianpark1906]

@garyskellon2059 yes, I think you're right. My mistake

[@garyskellon2059]

@@ianpark1906. No worries Ian easy mistake .

[@owencarlstrand1945]

Brilliant I wonder what JB would think of today’s privatised and franchised railway.

[@pokemontrainermichael5551]

I love watching these vids

[@JayStapley]

The current state of the GWr with its myriad delays and cancellation, it’s indifferent call centre staff, would shock both Betjeman and indeed Brunel

[@kenstevens5065]

Not the cheapest I K B said just the best. I don't think many would say that of GWR express passenger trains today.