Birmingham to London in 5 minutes.

[@bahnspotterEU]

Finally a speed run that's not boring!! I can't get this tune out of my head!

[@sp00kywestie]

+daveoftheraceways D'y by any chance have a link to it? I've been looking for the original un-edited version for ages, thanks.

[@sp00kywestie]

+daveoftheraceways Thanks! I'll get that sent now.

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

Delicious Ian' t it?

[@Karaokeking2025]

Dave have you srill got this please? :)

[@NumberFivesAlive]

Posted on my channel sometime ago.

[@angeltransportpjects]

Booked Stops at Birmingham International / Coventry / Rugby / Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction on Peak Time duties on the Birmingham New Street to London Euston run. Maximum running speed was 100 MPH with Mk2E and Mk2F stock making up most of the Brum to Eustons with a Mk3A Diner and in this video a Mk1 Full Brake NHA (or 'Ganger' - for gangway) both of which could be operated at 110 MPH max included. Class 86/2s and 86/4s the staple diet with 100 MPH top speeds when this was filmed in an era of proper trains as seen around this proper train in itself. Those (EXCEPT the Tonka Phone at 4:10!) were the days ... Now it's all 'Wham Bam Tram' like variations on a theme everywhere!

[@nikosjk1]

I love this video, ive seen it a few times already but still nice to watch again, the music goes perfectly with the video.

[@chell308]

In reply to Dristarg 3:30 is Cheddington. Polesworth station is near Tamworth and today only one train a day in all stop there. It calls at Polesworth just before 7:30am on a service to Crewe

[@shelbyYT-jx5wz]

Berkhamsted at 3:58 - famous for its 125mph sharp curve, where train pass at full tilt.

[@edharris3668]

Where I went to school

[@KarrrRep]

Awesome video cool music. Memories.

[@RealCristiano]

This seems like the only cab ride that captures the Up Rugby side during the 1980s to late 1990s

[@lindisfarnemusic]

So pleased that this video is back again as the last version was removed. Great music and locos.. Excerlent !!

[@LeandroSnm]

I loved this video. Thanks for the upload.

[@uniteduktrains5888]

Heh. The ticket guy's uniform is so good. Better back then than it is now.

[@seprishere]

Bring back British Rail?

[@jgshanahan]

nice video, thanks. Love the fella showing-off his NEW "mobile phone" @4.11minutes Its gives perspective on life!

[@mancunianhumbersider]

I have been looking for this for ages. I know it was posted a while ago but then it just disappeared before I could show it to my dad. Please keep it up for at least the next few weeks for my next trip to Newcastle. Check out the phobile mone at 4.11! I bet his first words were "hello darling, yes, I am on the train"!

[@sp00kywestie]

Nice if someone could do a remake and sync them together like London to Brighton in 4 minutes. Also for anyone interested the tunnel at 3:21 is Linslade Tunnel.

[@paulrobinson4597]

As the train arrives at Euston the guard making the announcement is Trevor Naughton i remember him from my days at Bescot and I am sure that he came to work at Bescot in a supervisor role. I recognized the other guard on the train clipping the tickets was a Wolverhampton man but can't remember his name, happy days 19 past the hour from Wolverhampton and 29 past the hour from Sandwell & Dudley and onto New Street.😊

[@ads1066]

Great Vid, Very 80's ( complete with handing over 20 quid for a return!!!) and at least the carriages have BIG wide windows, a proper Buffet carriage and stuff. Nowadays im stuffed into a giant EMU with "mailbox" slot windows, a teeny tiny toilet-sized "Bar" complete with disintrested zombie to while away my trips to/from Euston to Brum. granted thou--the trips are a lot faster than before--almost as fast as this great vid, :))))

[@Glenn1967ful]

Notice also the guards van, something we never see now. I will admit, for all the Pendolinos are faster, the seats are like something out of an Austin Metro and not very comfortable on long journeys for us plebs in standard.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

0:25 this is where I go and that’s Birmingham new street and i come here on the train on the cross city line

[@ELPaso1990TX]

Better, more spacious and comfortable than those ghastly pendolinos we endure nowadays.

[@trump-sludge2000]

I would say they're more spooky then ghastly because of the way they tilt through stations and stuff if anything the voyagers are ghastly.

[@johnnyboy3949]

They're so cramped and the windows are so small and far between. Truly awful.

[@Aenopia]

Still capable of higher speeds- the class 86 in the video would only be permitted for 110 mph

[@ormondsworld3947]

Still come back to this video

[@sandletters39]

Also you don't get trains stopping before you reach the station unlike in privatised railway practise

[@busestransporta-z781]

Great vid mate!

[@tom201090]

good video, like how it showed the whole of the trip rather than just the camera.

[@blackpoolacer]

Oh how i miss those flapper destination boards at new st!

[@EASYTIGER10]

2:41 "It's there look, THERE! If you didn't have so much crap in your handbag young lady, I dunno...I aint got time for this bleedin....."

[@andrewlong6438]

Remember she is a customer and pays your wages. She may be a disorganised customer but be polite to her!

[@Puckoon2002]

It was the BBC studio in Birmingham, and there was a afternoon TV show called "Pebble Mill at One"

[@mistofoles]

Wish my train journey to work was this fast.

[@soundseeker63]

Ahh, good old 86s and MK2s...a journey should be to enjoy, not just getting from A to B. Pendo's are quick yeah, but not really "pleasant" to spend time in.

[@calebmumby5803]

amazing video

[@deldirk7123]

I saw this film in 1993 and didn't see it on TV again. I may have video recorded it and wiped it assuming it would be on again. I saw 'Derby - Lincoln in 5 minutes' and made sure I didn't delete it from the videotape. I have only found this film now after a long time searching for it, very enjoyable, after just watching 'Derby - Lincoln' which I found on a BBC archives website

[@markiliff]

02:53 continuity error - isn't it all 4-track after Rugby? 04:11 cool mobile! 04:15 is there really that much worth reading in the Express? Love the electric bass!

[@danielmccarty689]

The quadruple track splits after Rugby with the two slow lines going via Northampton, rejoining by the time you get to Wolverton.

[@ledger4321]

its 2 tracks from birmingham to rugby, then the line from manchester creates 4 tracks. This splits almost at once into 2 to northampton and 2 straight to MK. The lines merge again after northampton and then is 4 tracks all the way to euston.

[@markiliff]

@@ledger4321 Ah! Thanks.

[@JH14FAN]

As a bass guitarist, I want to learn this song. I want to know the name of it as well, because it’s bloody awesome. It’s a shame that I can’t slap lmao, no matter how hard I try.

[@markiliff]

@@JH14FAN :-)

[@PULSE88]

That video was really good.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

1:14 this is where I’ve been going to all my life which is Birmingham international 2:01 and that’s where I’ve been going to recently and that’s Coventry

[@johnnyboy3949]

Back when you could turn up at the station, get a return to London, and not have to take out a mortgage. Buying tickets on the day, only something the rich can do now. Thank you privatisation!

[@seprishere]

It's not THAT bad as long as you don't want an Anytime ticket. Actually if BR had continued, the Off-Peak (former Saver) ticket probably would have been scrapped and we would have to book for anything below Anytime. And BR Open tickets weren't cheap. I do think that the "simplification" was confusing. What was wrong with "Saver", "SuperSaver" and "Cheap Day"?

[@soundseeker63]

@ValentaLamenter Originally the loco was to be fitted with nameplates that said "BBC Pebble Mill" but it was decided to shorten it to just "Pebble Mill". I saw the original nameplates that were never carried for sale on ebay the the other week, they might still be up for grabs but the chap was asking £1.6k for them!

[@pburr1973]

The electrified freight loop line at Adderley Park still existed at this time, since removed of course. Can just be made out if you pause it at 0.55.

[@andysmith5131]

The journey board at the start says it's calling at Birmingham International and Coventry only but it also stops at Rugby.

[@ilikebananassometimes3608]

You've preemptively answered my question (what was the station after Coventry?) Thanks.

[@pricey130]

They changed trains at International

[@sandletters39]

A far cry from the disastrous Pendolino fiasco.

[@rez4405]

I miss those old train information boards when it used to flip

[@Karaokeking2025]

I managed to get the artist for this, Wolfgang Kafer - Raiders

[@joedoran9729]

Is that the music artist

[@adelestevens]

Proper trains run for the convenience of passengers not for the profitability of shareholders! The UK needs BR again.

[@andrewlong6438]

Railways aren’t that profitable and the Coronavirus situation has seen the franchises effectively nationalised.

[@jameslivingston9801]

Lol that’s right - we need trains that break down every five minutes delaying journeys by hours, run down clapped out stock from the 1950s still trundling about because there isn’t the money to replace them and DR BEECHING! But let’s ignore all that and get back British Fail so we can admire the livery!

[@moose_ringo9161]

@@jameslivingston9801 If privatisation hadn't got int the way most of the clapped out stock would have been replaced anyway, with the Universal Networker programme, the Intercity 250 project, along with other programmes. We need a rail system that the public can afford, not one siphoning out profits to shareholders. I assume your head is in the clouds because I've never spoken to anyone that doesn't support the renationalisation of the railway. If the roads don't make a profit, why should the railways? They are a public service, after all.

[@AdamHiley-pj2zn]

@@moose_ringo9161 I wish Britain had a Deutsche bahn or SNCF system

[@Karaokeking2025]

I have been after this for ages trying to find it, i wish it was shown again on tv. The music is called Raiders but i don't know who the artist is.

[@malcyb2000uk]

Raiders - Wolfgang Kafer

[@Xantec]

@globaldistrictline pebble mill, its a location in Birmingham where the BBC had their tv studio.

[@Glenn1967ful]

Is it me, or did most people seem better dressed in the eighties?

[@mistofoles]

Except the guard/conductor @2:51 !

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

goodness me mate it brings you back happy memories when ac locos and older emus were dominating the route

[@Glenn1967ful]

@@mistofoles A lot of British Rail staff were sloppily dressed back then.

[@andrewlong6438]

I think railway staff are better dressed today.

[@Glenn1967ful]

@@andrewlong6438 The conductor had a couldn't care less attitude and his uniform was a mess. I was on the Pendolino from Birmingham to Carlisle recently and the staff were immaculate and very professional.

[@seprishere]

400 a week seems not a lot, especially if it's return? I thought it was 7 tph (3 tph Avanti, 2 tph LNWR, 2 tph Chiltern) now, so about 1600 across the week in both directions (approximate calculation)?

[@ormondsworld3947]

Suspect it’s only intercity trains, so only the west coast?

[@GAC1984]

@ValentaLamenter yes it was a tv centre for BBC it was based around Edgbaston. There was a chatshow there called pebble mill which was on BBC1 around lunchtime. It closed down in 2004 and was demolised in Summer 2005.

[@Inkyminkyzizwoz]

Did they still have British Rail cheese rolls at this time?

[@pedanticmongrel]

back in the day before both Milton Keynes and Watford Junction existed then, huge chunks of the journey missing, what a dissappointment. :(

[@joedoran9729]

What is the song in the background it’s so catchy love the vid great watching the trip from Birmingham to London

[@philgarratt1561]

I've been thinking the same.

[@davecommentator]

Wolfgang Kafer - Raiders

[@asac159]

@@davecommentator Disagree mate, I think it's giorgio moroder's "Why Me?" performed (with vocal) by Irene Cara

[@davecommentator]

@@asac159 That sampled Kafer's piece!

[@lukebarber9511]

Did the guard at 2:40 win BR's "Most disheveled employee contest"?

[@jonniefc]

change from a £20 note return to london . were did it all go wrong?

[@BlackCombeRunnerKarl]

You are more than likely right with that, but when I was a kid in the late 80s even remembering watching this on BBC2, there was a programme called Pebble Mill at One, which was on at 1pm every weekday on BBC 1, (much like the One Show of today which screens at 7pm) long before the days of the BBC news channel and the now 1 O'clock news was on at 12:30 back then to make way for the aforementioned programme.

[@DazrahT]

In reply to marksta2007; On the left just before you go under the Duddeston flyover is what used to be Castle Cement. I believe that there is student accommodation built on it now.

[@josephbevan96]

I LOVE this!

[@Radvox.]

Thats amazing!

[@europa2000man]

What is the name of the music used in this programme?

[@ValentaLamenter]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzLiIKoq9qle6s

[@MannyAntipov]

@@ValentaLamenterthat video is in private mode, could you tell us the name on the comments here if it’s okay?

[@ValentaLamenter]

​Wolfgang Kafer - Raiders@@MannyAntipov

[@Lynxtro]

Is this the line that would go through high wycombe?

[@tobysummers471]

Haha the man bragging about his brick phone ! People seem better dressed then. Proper locos and stock. Not the vomit comets we see now. Hate the voyagers but pendolinos are meh. A real time capsule. Thanks for posting

[@jkk45]

when was this filmed, pre privitasion i presume

[@bizbros]

nice to see Bernard Cribbins as a Guard!!!? :-)

[@DrMarcusKane]

Rugby - and its changed a lot since then!

[@ThomastheE2engine]

what song is this?

[@rayjam1962]

is that a class 313 a 4.48sec

[@tomstickland]

What's the music then?

[@cig1705]

Wrong: carriages dangerously light and airy. Right: improve cosiness by lowering ceiling, and add interesting aromas to carriage (see above). Wrong: wings on seats (2:15) - encourages inactivity and the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Right: encourage passengers to get up and be active by pumping squealing PA into the coach and providing hard seats with no legroom.

[@B11Productions]

what is the first song called

[@pauladams1915]

Why does the music sound like "Why Me" by Irene Cara

[@shedontanks]

Did anyone get the number of the 47 at Birmingham International?

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

Ah, the theme to Computer Quiz! And it works too.

[@nickforbes-warren6602]

Reminded me a bit of the theme from AIRWOLF!

[@ErVeeDeeEm]

Very nice! How long does it take irl from Birmingham to London?

[@AdamHiley-pj2zn]

90 minutes

[@A380bhxdxb]

No sign of Milton Keynes or Watford Junction in this video. In fact it is cut quite a lot.

[@1madaboutguitar]

Exactly lol. They're half way there with the music

[@TANGARASandOSCARS]

4:07 is that the editor of railways magazine roger ford?

[@MAPFWH]

Polesworth at 3:30 approx, as it overtakes the local stopper. I lived there in the70s. Top place, bloody big for a village though!

[@craigdoran6811]

Theres no polesworth on this vid, its not on the route

[@ormondsworld3947]

A BHM-EUS train wouldn’t go anywhere near Polesworth.

[@stan5990]

OMG £20 for the fare and he got some change back!

[@waleedarif9327]

This video can not be shown in 5 minutes. The version would have to be even a lot faster than that to be so and a lot of the video must have been cut.

[@Glenn1967ful]

@ValentaLamenter It was the headquarters of BBC Midlands for 34 years.

[@railandmodel]

Cool, cheers.

[@MAPFWH]

@Dristarg It appears you are right. Geographically very similar, road bridge at Southern end, houses to right, footbridge.... I bow to your superior knowledge. Watch out for Coke machines.

[@DownGrand1967]

Birmingham's Exchange Jnc Signalbox still in existence at 0.53...

[@SAStarbucks]

A single note for a return to London is the most surprising thing about this.

[@brunster64]

This is what HS2 could look like 😂

[@Cpr1234]

actual trip starts at 0:43

[@terratec1001]

The newspaper is folded in half, so the bit facing him would be the right way up.

[@telmas7183]

@nocluewhere I think you'll find it's a broadsheet that he has folded!

[@hunsletmidland]

my uncle used to work for pebble mill. he went on shows like contryfile and he also got to record this video.

[@Hirotoro4692]

@A380bhxdxb yep that whole part of the line, cut out. very annoying considering i doubt most of us viewers give a toss about the passengers.

[@Puckoon2002]

I didn't see a title but it would be either The Times, the Daily Telegraph or the Guardian all of which where broadsheet type newspapers, which would be folded in half so that the top half would appear upside down. Quite interesting watching the art of origami as these papers where read...

[@FruityFilm]

What station was at 2:43?

[@Cpr-ls7dm]

FruityFilm Rugby

[@DanielsUKT]

This is awesome and I'm pretty sure rail fares back then were dead cheap compared to now

[@HarvestHome2000]

4:10 - the ultimate in modern communications (well, it was then!)

[@essmhtvny165es]

This was from 1989.

[@hunsletmidland]

@ValentaLamenter my grandad had one of those old bbc computers and we still got it

[@arglwyddanfradwrus]

@WrongRoadRailways No he isn't! he's folded the paper, the side he's reading is the right way up. Try it!

[@Defn28]

Wow that was fast... how come it takes me over an hour?

[@cjmillsnun]

It was indeed the BBC's base in Birmingham until they moved to the Mailbox

[@LeamingtonSteve]

those were the days- when all you had to worry about was nuclear annihilation and what was for tea!

[@daved4757]

A return to London for £20 ?!?!?!

[@BigDsbrush]

and they got change too lol

[@pickledegg1989]

#bringbackbritishrail #PublicOwnership

[@mistofoles]

The train company offered the driver double wages if he arrived at Euston on time...

[@angeltransportpjects]

You're 'avin a larf' I 'fink' ... Good one though! :o)

[@ejcmoorhouse]

The best thing about private trains is they are more colourful, BR didn't provide good service but one company in terms of railways is always better than 20+!!?!

[@ThomastheE2engine]

@jkk45 yep