British Rail 1988 (Part 2) - Birmingham New Street, Bescot and Saltley

[@crompton33022]

Fantastic. Brings back great memories of spotting Birmingham New Street .

[@antonysmith9173]

Ah the memories come flooding back! Spent many an hour on the end of New Streets platforms. Man for a time machine!!

[@antonysmith9173]

No matter what the livery they were in the 47s ,37s and even 31s looked and sounded brilliant, where as todays 66s all look the bloody same.

[@stephensmith4480]

That takes me back a bit, brake vans fitted with sidelamps 👍

[@TrentTrains]

Great video.Remember seeing the class 50s coming out of the darkness. So many spotters watching the different classes of locos.a great place in the 80s.

[@stephenkettle7733]

The signallers at Proof House were very busy them days. Certainly brings back memories for me.

[@briankay4713]

Great memories of New Street in the 80s mate What a place it was .... The sheer amount of enthusiasts too ....fantastic ...keep them coming ...

[@fastwalkingphil]

Ahhh those were the days of a 2p platform ticket....got me to places such as York station, the furthest travelled on a platform ticket...always timed right hopping off the train as an inspector hopped on 🤣🤣

[@NedPooleD818]

This was basically every Saturday of my life for four happy years….but don’t forget the ride in a whining WMPTE Fleetline on the way home….then listening to find out how the Blues, Villa and Baggies have done on the hilarious BRMB phone in with Phil Holden & Les Ross….eating Findus Crispy Pancakes whilst watching Lightning on the Gladiators….marking in the days cops whilst playing PWEI on full on the cassette player…. Finally to bed and then back to BNS early on Sunday for the Nuneaton drags, which were like a free diesel gala every week…. ….to think my teenage Son has wasted his youth playing ‘Call of Duty’….. Thanks for postin’…..bostin!

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

And who would've thought that Les Ross would have a loco named after him...!

[@NedPooleD818]

@@theroybowdencollection9807 ….and a Class 86 as well! Shame there’s not a ‘Roarer’ called George Gavin too….

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

@@NedPooleD818 Haha indeed!!

[@chriso8485]

I can't even remember the last time I saw a loco (apart from a Class 43) at New St...possibly was a Class 67 on a diverted Wrexham and Shropshire train around 2008.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

@@chriso8485 It not what it used to be!

[@samstainer7455]

B R in the 80's bittersweet memories, I drove pretty much every class in this video with the exception of the 317. Lovely to see 87022, one of my personal favourites...superb engine.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

As a Scot, this loco was one of my favourites as well, and still in Rail Blue at the time! It's good to know the loco performed as well as it looked!

[@chriso8485]

What was good about the 87s compared to the 86s or the 90s Sam?

[@paulrice860]

Just watched this video hiw amazing it sll was just as i remember it from mid 80s tull early 90 s. Just so busy and amazing variety. In those dsys, you really didnt know what would turn up on on a summer saturday. Brilliant

[@jasongoulden2938]

Great footage with a ridiculous variety of trains going through there must of been one of the best places for spotters once a time certainly a far cry from what we’ve have today.

[@basilbrush5585]

Working at New Street on summer Saturdays in 88 was one of the highlights of my life, you just didn't know what was going to emerge from the hazy tunnels next, nice to catch the odd glimpse of ones younger self in a couple couple of vids from this series

[@mr8I7]

Great footage. Before my time but love the almost dystopian look of the brutal looking old locos and the diabolical concrete monstrosity that was the old Birmingham New Street.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Completely agree about the old New St! The traffic more than made up for it.

[@iainmaturin8460]

It's all about context, for me visiting in the 70's this station was a revelation, rather like Euston post modernism!

[@2760ade]

I think that is precisely why it was so atmospheric and exciting!! I grew up in Birmingham in the '70s/'80s and to be brutally frank, the entire city centre had a 'dystopian' vibe!🤨

[@msmith9604]

A throw back to my childhood. Great days. Thanks 👍

[@LinesideSouthEast]

Amazingly good quality video for 1988, must have been a very high end camera. Well done for retaining the original 4:3 aspect ratio as well. I see so many early videos filmed in 4:3 stretched out or blown up to 16:9 which completely ruins the video quality. Surprised to see Network SouthEast Class 317s at New Street, no idea they had escaped the Greater Anglia region.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Thank you! The footage was filmed in Video 8 on a Sanyo camcorder that was voted Camera of the Year in (I think) 1987... I can't recall the model off hand. I totally agree with you on the aspect ratio and always want the original retained. Yes some of the 317s worked into BNS via Northampton when they were new for about a year or two before the introduction of the 321s.

[@daveb6603]

Great videos Roy they bring back so many memories of my teenage days bashing around Birmingham & the midlands I took a special interest in the scene where 31405 + 31283 were departing because I reckon I was on that train looking back in my old scratch books it was Saturday 21/05/1988 the first weekend of the summer timetable and the service was the 10.10 Manchester Piccadilly to Paignton departing the wrong end of new street because it went via camp hill to rejoin its normal route towards the lickey incline

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

All absolutely spot on!! Many thanks Dave :)

[@arthurmatthews9321]

That class 151 was a rare catch . Well done on that sir. Love the clag from the 58 aswell

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Sheer luck on both occasions!

[@danielsellers8707]

I remember them on the Matlock line during their trial service. Currently working on a set of Railway Series style stories about them now working on the Island of Sodor. Although made in Birmingham I don't imagine them having Brummie accents...

[@rogdad]

WOW Love this.....brings back great memorys of BNS

[@nickedwards2904]

Brilliant mate, best footage i have seen from New street. Used to spedn so many saturdays there , south end of 8 on a brute . loved it

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Thanks Nick! Nice to share the memories :)

[@appliance004]

Fantastic footage, mate. It really takes me back. New Street was always a magical place for a Southern lad like me. Very much looking forward to seeing more of the collection. Many thanks.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed! There's more to come :)

[@lincolncityful1]

Brilliant memories 👍

[@acquiesce100]

I just want to jump into the film and go back in time. The sights, the smells, the people, the announcements. No mobile phones.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Me too!!!

[@CT-pv9gu]

That Class 58 at 34:04 was amazing. Didn’t realise they worked passenger trains back then!

[@055deltic]

This is a truly amazing collection! Thank you so much for sharing. So many memories of the sights and sounds from BR days, end of the blue & grey era. I was a regular commuter up/down the WCML and these remind me of many happy days on the cushions and on the platforms!

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Likewise!!

[@UKRailsandMore]

Hi Roy, these are an absolute gem, many thanks for subscribing my friend really takes me back to the day, much happier times in many respects! All the best, have subscribed to your channel and look forward to catching up on many more. Thanks for sharing, all the best, Paul

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Thanks Paul, there's more to come! :)

[@mikehitchen3153]

Superb in the days of one fully functional railway.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Thanks Mike, and haha things were better back then!

[@garywhitley40153]

Excellent takes me back, when the time comes that's where I'm off to 🙂

[@arthurmatthews9321]

Those two 31s at 23.40 bring back memories. I grow up about 5 miles away from thornaby TMD . Those 31s were thornaby based locomotives. I recognised the thornaby kingfisher emblem.

[@soundseeker63]

Fantastically eclectic and busy footage. New St. may not be a scenic spot but you can't argue with the variety of traction on offer. What was the specific date/occasion as it looks like there were a number of special/charter services on that day..?

[@nickedwards2904]

Was thinking about these films this week after hearing about the passing of Jed , the ever present New Street basher. I dont see him on any of the films but will keep looking

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

I didn't know he'd passed but I do remember him, sadly I don't think he appears in the footage

[@aljonflavin6760]

NICE as it was with great sounds

[@carazy-wb5yk]

Awesome

[@chrismason1241]

This is amazing footage spent many summer Saturdays at BNS Great days

[@tranccefiend]

The peak seems a good loco ,sulzer engine?Did they have problems with it? so many spotters on the platform here this day,was that unusual?

[@OlafProt]

SO many spotters!!! 9:05 ...is it like that now? Things change, life moves on and it's unstoppable but, it WAS so much more varied and interesting then!! Wasn't it?

[@EErail26]

More hellfire stuff...keep them coming!

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Still two or three to come from 1988!

[@matthew0605]

Any idea what the 58 was doing on a passenger turn? , I'm guessing it was a special.

[@N330AA]

What's that at 25:46? Never seen that class or livery before.

[@danielsellers8707]

Class 151 prototype DMU; 1 of only 2 built. I remember them on the Matlock line in trial service. Both scrapped in real life; currently working on some Railway Series style stories about them now working on Sodor. Although made in Birmingham I don't imagine "Derby" & "Matlock" having Brummie accents!

[@N330AA]

@@danielsellers8707 good info, cheers!

[@morgandude2]

Just as filthy as I remember it, including the choking blue smog! 😄 No bloody mobile phone zombies either!

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

I remember the fumes!

[@ithewonder]

Remember it well. Look at the amount of spotters !

[@robc9845]

Great stuff but just look at all the spotters on New Street,don’t think I ever saw that many on BNS plus look at the NB working you recorded,shows how hand having Bescot & Saltley on the doorstep really was.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Yes anything could turn up, and did!

[@Georgeasaurus2001]

The most depressing thing about this footage is that even the most vanilla stuff at New St, the 47/4s and the 86s are way more interesting than than anything you see there these days. On by the way 45110 was off to Buxton and Blackpool tour came from Swindon

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Things certainly aren't the same any more! Many thanks for the background on these workings I had forgotten the precise details.

[@johndevlin8533]

Could not agree more with your comments a 47 with rake of coaches way more enjoyable than plastic plying its trade at New St these days

[@dieseldave3879]

3:24 Sneak Peak! 🚂👍

[@andrewbennett7756]

Love new street

[@andrewbennett7756]

In corridor coaches they were so comfortable

[@train4905]

Awsome😊

[@AndreiTupolev]

Those railway employees crossing the track behind the engineering train at Bescot at 45:05 seemed rather casual; only one wearing a hi viz, and a very perfunctory glance up the line where they didn't seem to notice the Class 20s approaching. That's almost one for a "how not to do it" training video

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

How times have changed!!

[@richardharvey7208]

Hi Roy loving your videos , just a shot in the blue, Bescot Yard had two Class 58 one parked behind a class 86. The one I would like to ask the number of is in Rail Freight Coal. Would you have a record of it just modelling my railway for this time. I was in the Navy at the time in the Gulf my cousin who was a Br Engineer has told me 58043 was in this livery on the open day at Bescot 1988. Is this the same beast .

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Hi Richard, firstly so sorry for missing your comment I didn't see it until now. Unfortunately I don't have any record of the identity of the 58s, I wish I could be of more help.

[@richardharvey7208]

@@theroybowdencollection9807 Thanks for the reply a shot in the dark but thanks again still loving the videos Richard

[@grahamchadwick5242]

More spotters than passengers, great days!!!!!

[@andrewbennett7756]

Wen used to go to Paignton Wen come in on electric from Liverpool lime street and back out with a deisls all the way to kingswheier wat a trip and a long day

[@aureol40012]

That must be the railtour to Glasgow via Manchester Vic with the 50s. I did it from Manchester.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

It was, I wish I could've been on it as well!

[@chriso8485]

According to Wiki, Medusa was withdrawn on 27 July 1988...days/months after this vid? This could be the last known footage of that loco

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

I was lucky to have filmed it when I did!

[@genesis070365]

Took it all for granted 😏 happy days though 👍

[@martinsmith1538]

When trains were trains and BR was better than the privatization we see today.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Look at all those lovely diesel fumes! Impressive noisy departure by 45110

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Brings back memories!!

[@merfyndavies6993]

By

[@iainmaturin8460]

This wasn't your normal weekend at new street. I'm guessing at least one unusual booking was due to run through the station that day Roy?

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Yes there were a couple of railtours that day!

[@AndreiTupolev]

A Peak on Network Southeast stock. Never heard of such a thing. Was that a service train or a special?

[@dackesjulag]

Buxton Rail tour.

[@stevelomas4119]

Pathfinder Tour, "The Peaks 'N' Sea" 14/5/88. Swindon to Buxton & Blackpool North.

[@jasonmfalconer]

Welcome to Mordor. Pure magic. Back then people didn't call each other 'Veg' either

[@k333vrr4]

B'ham NEDStreet fantastic 😂👍

[@NedPooleD818]

But no sign of Jed himself….would definitely been on 31 283 TE NB….

[@jontydenton1898]

They can scoff all they like but this was much more fun than tictoc!

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Agreed ;)

[@andrewbrewer7007]

Weird seeing a class 58 on passenger duty, normally they were pulling coal wagons.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

IIRC tt was an extra from Derby to Bristol

[@Thunderer0872]

Mr Betts taking a for of 45110 My Lords

[@RICHL74]

The memories of being able to stick your head out of the window :)

[@limeyfox]

Amusing to look back and see how little heed was paid to the 10mph limit back then. You probably wouldnt have got everything through the station in 24 hours if everything ran at the limit, given the volume of shunt moves and additionals.

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

The speed limit was regularly exceeded...

[@limeyfox]

@@theroybowdencollection9807 I visited New Street box in about 2005 and a signaller said that one problem when the Voyager fleets were introduced was that in Notch 1 they roll at about 6-7mph whereas in Notch 2 they reach 15mph and everything was either losing precious seconds or doing 50% over the limit and bashing the pointwork with the heavy 50t vehicles.

[@2760ade]

Just as I suspected. British Rail was run for the sole purpose of train spotters! I was one!

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Certainly at New Street 😉

[@HatsuneMiku3D]

So many bashers hanging out the windows, good times...highly likely I was there too lol

[@RealCristiano]

Is this your brothers account?

[@dackesjulag]

110 the absolute hossing monster that it was, nice to see the fan's been switched in... 🙋‍♂️ 🇬🇧 🇬🇧 🇬🇧

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Yes absolutely great sound!

[@AndreiTupolev]

And 31405 & 31283 on a WCML Euston set?! 🙈

[@daveb6603]

I reckon I was on that train looking back in my old scratch books I’m pretty sure it was Saturday 21/05/1988 the first weekend of the summer timetable and it was the 10.10 Manchester Piccadilly to Paignton service leaving new street the wrong end because it went via camp hill to rejoin its normal route via the lickey incline

[@phillynch3819]

4 car 304 at 46.23

[@theroybowdencollection9807]

Indeed!

[@danielsellers8707]

310 as not all seating bays have doors.

[@phillynch3819]

@Daniel Sellers trust me, that's a 304. I grew up catching the train from Walsall to Aston with my momto see my nan who lived several doors down from the parents of John "Ozzy" Osborne. I know the difference between a 304 and a 310.

[@Matt19matt19]

Absolute filth 😁

[@russellbenton2987]

Great video . But what a horrible station Birmingham New St is

[@danielsellers8707]

The refurbished Moor Street looks far more pleasant; like a heritage railway right in the city centre!