BR in the 1980s - The Golden Era of AC Electrics and Local hauled Trains at London Euston

Watch more railway videos and travel films / @kartwheelkarl
The Alan Harrison Collection Narrated Volume 2 - London Euston
Almost 40 years ago, my good friend Alan visited the UK and set out on an epic quest. Armed with a heavy VHS camcorder and battery pack, and often taking his pushbike along so he could ride to more remote line side locations, Alan travelled the UK far and wide, recording what is now a long lost period in Britain's railway history. Alan did not think anyone else would be particularly interested in the material he collected; how wrong he was! I am extremely grateful to him for allowing me to share his work here on my channel. The Alan Harrison collection was incredibly well received, many people, just like myself, wallowing in the sights, sounds and shear nostalgia the rail scene in 1986. I have decided to revisit a few of the more popular locations Alan visited, remastering the original footage slightly and this time providing a commentary to the video. I have no idea how well these videos will be received; please feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments section. And don't forget, you can still watch all 51 episodes of the original series, commentary free, at:
• The Alan Harrison Coll... .
If you enjoy the video, please click 'Like' and possibly consider subscribing to the channel. Thank you.
Hace casi 40 años, mi buen amigo Alan visitó el Reino Unido y emprendió una búsqueda épica. Armado con una pesada videocámara VHS y una batería, y a menudo llevando su bicicleta de paseo para poder viajar a lugares más remotos al lado de la línea, Alan viajó por todo el Reino Unido, registrando lo que ahora es un largo período perdido en la historia ferroviaria de Gran Bretaña. Alan no creía que nadie más estuviera particularmente interesado en el material que recopiló; ¡Qué equivocado estaba! Le estoy extremadamente agradecido por permitirme compartir su trabajo aquí en mi canal. La colección de Alan Harrison fue increíblemente bien recibida, muchas personas, como yo, se sumergieron en las vistas, los sonidos y la nostalgia de la escena ferroviaria en 1986. He decidido volver a visitar algunos de los lugares más populares que visitó Alan, remasterizando el metraje original. ligeramente y esta vez proporcionando un comentario al vídeo. No tengo idea de qué tan bien serán recibidos estos videos; no dude en dejarme saber su opinión en la sección de comentarios. Y no olvides que aún puedes ver los 51 episodios de la serie original, sin comentarios, en:
Il y a près de 40 ans, mon bon ami Alan a visité le Royaume-Uni et s'est lancé dans une quête épique. Armé d'un lourd caméscope VHS et d'une batterie, et emmenant souvent son vélo pour pouvoir se rendre dans des endroits plus éloignés en bord de ligne, Alan a parcouru le Royaume-Uni partout, enregistrant ce qui est maintenant une période perdue depuis longtemps dans l'histoire ferroviaire britannique. Alan ne pensait pas que quelqu'un d'autre serait particulièrement intéressé par le matériel qu'il avait collecté ; comme il avait tort ! Je lui suis extrêmement reconnaissant de m'avoir permis de partager son travail ici sur ma chaîne. La collection d'Alan Harrison a été incroyablement bien reçue, de nombreuses personnes, tout comme moi, se sont vautrées dans les images, les sons et la nostalgie de la scène ferroviaire en 1986. J'ai décidé de revisiter quelques-uns des endroits les plus populaires visités par Alan, en remasterisant les images originales. légèrement et cette fois en commentant la vidéo. Je n'ai aucune idée de la façon dont ces vidéos seront reçues ; n'hésitez pas à me faire part de vos réflexions dans la section commentaires. Et n'oubliez pas que vous pouvez toujours regarder les 51 épisodes de la série originale, sans commentaires, sur :
Vor fast 40 Jahren besuchte mein guter Freund Alan das Vereinigte Königreich und begab sich auf eine epische Suche. Bewaffnet mit einem schweren VHS-Camcorder und einem Akku und oft mit seinem Laufrad, um zu entlegeneren Streckenabschnitten fahren zu können, bereiste Alan das Vereinigte Königreich weit und breit und zeichnete einen heute längst verlorenen Abschnitt der britischen Eisenbahngeschichte auf. Alan glaubte nicht, dass irgendjemand sonst besonders an dem von ihm gesammelten Material interessiert sein würde; wie falsch er lag! Ich bin ihm außerordentlich dankbar, dass er mir erlaubt hat, seine Arbeit hier auf meinem Kanal zu teilen. Die Sammlung von Alan Harrison kam unglaublich gut an. Viele Menschen, genau wie ich, schwelgen in den Sehenswürdigkeiten, Geräuschen und der schieren Nostalgie der Eisenbahnszene im Jahr 1986. Ich habe beschlossen, einige der beliebteren Orte, die Alan besucht hat, noch einmal zu besuchen und das Originalmaterial neu zu remastern leicht und dieses Mal mit einem Kommentar zum Video.

[@swearingkevo]

Great vid , I used to love coming to Euston from Bristol in the early 1980s right up until my best friend was killed in 1987 then I didn’t come back for over 30 years where the only 87 running was 87002 on the sleepers

[@kartwheelkarl]

Thank you for your kind words SK. I’m really glad you enjoyed the video, but I’m so sorry to hear that your visits ended in 1987 following such a terrible event.

[@stuartbroome1258]

Excellent video Karl, full of interesting commentry. I've done commentry, or Ruth did on cine film and know just how much work goes into it, so well done. Now for the rest of Alans films to receive the spoken word! It does make them a lot more watchable. 😊

[@kartwheelkarl]

Thanks for the lovely comments Stuart, and I'm really glad you enjoyed the video. I've been wanting to do this with some of Alan's collection for a while, but up until now, I haven't had the skills or the courage! The research took ages, but it was great fun. I still can't get used to hearing my own voice on the videos though!!

[@fatwalletboy2]

Need to be good reversing those rakes back in

[@ukmoshinist4595]

Those reversing trains, were basically powered by gravity, the driver merely needing to keep the speed down. The trains were stopped in the platforms by the trip shunter in the rear brake van. The driver also observed a series of white lights placed strategically en route, rear facing. If these lights extinguished,the driver would stop immediately.I was a driver at Euston in those days and performed these duties regularly.

[@kartwheelkarl]

@@ukmoshinist4595 Thank you so much for clearing that up UKM; it’s fabulous to have such a detailed answer from someone who’s actually done the reversing. I supposed that someone at the rear of the train was effectively controlling the manoeuvre, and I was wondering whether there were any flags or even walkie-talkies involved, although I was confused that none of the drivers were hanging out of the cab looking back along the train for hand signals. I had no idea at all about the white lights along the platform and the driver stopping asap if they went off. Who was in control of those?

[@limeyfox]

I believe with the previous Euston most carriage moves into the station were made entirely by gravity, ie without a locomotive at all? Would be interested to know how the braking arrangements were made.

[@ukmoshinist4595]

No flags or walk-in talkies, the white reversing signals were not in the platforms, but strategically placed alongside the track, all the way from Camden yard to the area just outside the platforms. The driver would be facing north, and the lights/signals would be in his field of vision through the windscreen. No need to open any windows and look back. As the movement progressed, one by one sight of the signals would be lost, but replaced by the next one. From memory, I think the were about 6 in all. Incidentally, I don’t ever remember the signals extinguishing, requiring me to stop the train. It was, however, quite common for trains to be required to stop at the south end, of the four steeply graded backing out roads, adjacent to the downside shed. If the trip shutter at the rear misjudged this, trap points would derail the train to protect Easton station. I remember this happening fairly frequently. (Though not to me!🙂)@@kartwheelkarl

[@kartwheelkarl]

@@ukmoshinist4595 Fabulous background information UKM. Thank you so much for sharing it. I’m guessing that the white light reversing signals have now been totally decommissioned, given that pendolinos can be driven from both ends? Or have they been retained, just in case?