GAUGE THE ISSUE: God's Wonderful Railway Reviewed (with special guest Avril Rowlands)

DISCLAIMER:
Any views or opinions expressed in this video are those of Chris Eden-Green. These are made without intention of offending anyone.
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This is a video critique. All images and footage are referenced under Section 107 "fair use" guidelines.
The Train Now Departing is copyright of the BBC.
God's Wonderful Railway is copyright of the BBC and distributed by Dazzler Media: / dazzlerfilms
All material is referenced under the US Copyright Act within Section 107's "fair use" guidelines.
Most of the images are from Wikipedia and licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 and 3.0, OR are in the Public Domain. All Third Party content is referenced under the US Copyright Act within Section 107's "fair use" guidelines.

[@lukeslocomotives8521]

"The world runs on six wheels and goes chuff" had me crack up laughing. Brilliant edition of Gauge The Issue Chris just like always. :D

[@daytonmaurice7287]

I know I am kind of randomly asking but do anybody know a good website to watch new series online ?

[@cwhite90999]

"The world runs on 6 wheels and goes chuff" - that certainly sums up my 4/5 year old self very well (watching episode after episode of Making Tracks)

[@LongStripeyScarf]

Michael Grade... what a BASIC individual. Took a railway series away from us, as well as Doctor Who in the 80’s. All to push things like Eastenders type drivel instead?! He’s got a lot to answer for...

[@nathantew946]

He also tried to axe Blackadder after first series didn’t do great number.

[@GeneralMarmoset]

Michael Grade née Beeching

[@hamshackleton]

I'd never heard of this series until it came up on DVD a year or so ago. I never understood why 'Giant' was going down that access hatch from the bridge - in his tea break!

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

Even though I was age 19 and in full-time employment when God's Wonderful Railway first aired, I watched the whole series - fortunately I used to get home in time to watch it (no recorder back then!). At the time I thought it was a really well-made series, with good story lines, and copper-capped engines to boot! Such a shame the last two periods weren't filmed. Nice interview Chris!

[@callumthornelow2936]

This has to be your best Gauge the Issue to date Chris, and that is saying something, keep up the good work and stay safe.

[@ivenireland8270]

I second that.A wonderful interview.

[@lukeslocomotives]

I third that.

[@mcollier4566]

Absolutely agree. What an amazing interview/review. A stand out from an excellent series. Hopefully this format has mileage.

[@Watermillfilms]

I forth that!

[@NWR1991]

Clearly, the best Gauge The Issue video IMO. I remember stumbling upon the DVD on eBay once and never knew such a show exisited. I had once asked it for Christmas but didn't get it and then bought it myself later on I think around last year, can't remember exactly. I loved the series after watching it although it had left some mystery like, *SPOILERS*, the stationmaster's wife leaving him in the 1930's and we never got any closure on that and the mystery behind the boyfriend that Andy's sister had a crush on, there was one scene though where the camera zoomed in on a bomb near a viaduct and it showed some numbers and earlier he was writing something in a book, which according to the sister was a bird watching book. But like you said, it's there to let the audience make up there own mind and I can see why they would leave them open ended. A shame that the series didn't get its ending of the line being preserved and I hope they have a light shed on them one day. Plus the whole 'Steam' drama idea sounds very interesting, could be good to see a railway drama show outside of the documentry field, apart from 'Hell on Wheels', which is something I haven't seen yet nor heard of, but most railway shows are mainly documentries. Again, a great GTI and it's great hearing from the writer of the show too.

[@the4tierbridge]

NWR1991, I see your here.

[@984francis]

Fantastic wallpaper. A child's delight (not so much today perhaps but at 62, this child likes it).

[@viligrkovic6635]

Great video,Chris!Nice of you to have a interview w/Avril Rowlands.Best Gauge The Issue to date!Keep on the good work & stay safe!😉

[@westernflyer7453]

Small note for any of you who are interested in the music or who play a instrument like me and want it for your playlist, the opening is actually “Edward Elgar: Severn Suite Op.87” I think they choose this to reference the seven river that flows along the severn valley railway.

[@Locomattive8572]

Never seen it, or heard of it, but now need to watch it so thanks Chris!

[@stephencameron4032]

I remember Carries War and The Changes from when I was a kid, they just don't make programmes of that quality any more.

[@dariusneal9495]

It would be WONDERFUL if a new production of the series would be done with continuation through the other books that did not make it to the big screen!

[@TheFourFoot]

This was a great video. I'm glad you could interview Avril to help preserve the history of this show! I already bought the DVD lol

[@duck1946]

This is all new to me!!! I am 74 and it must of been at the time I was second man on BR working shifts, I have now got to see what I can find! Excellent interview. More like this please.😀

[@bryan3550]

Wow! I'm in Australia and have never heard of the GWR series before now... Looks really Wonderful! 🙃

[@richturnermusic]

Excellent subject, Chris. I remember the original broadcast and, even as a child, the navvy scenes were dramatic and compelling. It's lovely to hear from Avril herself, as I was huge fan of Carrie's War.

[@RossParker1877]

A brilliant review and interview Chris. Would be great to see more of this style if possible.

[@glynwelshkarelian3489]

Thank you so much! God's Wonderful Railway had a vivid and long lasting effect on me as a child; as did Carrie's War (and Tom Gatten's(?) War). Drama for children than had more depth then than almost anything aimed at adults now. It has stayed with me for 40 years, but it had no fan club I ever found on-line. Your interview with Avril Rowlands was just brilliant, and a God's Wonderful Railway Fan page would raise my steam

[@davidbagley3678]

A wonderful video. Brings back happy memories of when Gods Wonderful Railway was first aired.

[@bittern4464]

Well, I guess I have a new show to watch! Thanks for the fantastic and informative GTI Chris :)

[@colwichjunction3366]

Oh I remember watching the series as a kid & having the books too. I thought it was great & might have to find it out to watch again, strange that with so much that passes by that I still remember it so well. Thanks for sharing that Chris, lovely work as usual. Cheers John B

[@paddycoleman1472]

Great video Chris. Remember watching GWR as a child when it came on TV originally. Amazing series and certainly nothing unusual for a children’s programme then. If you get the chance, take a look at Children of Stones which is shot in Avebury and is quite chilling.

[@AlasdairMacCaluim]

Brilliant video Chris! I watched this when it came out - I was six at the time and I remember crying at the sad bits!

[@SammyBFilms]

I often wonder what's being made toady in the heritage railway world, that in 30, 40 or 50 years time, will be looked back on in the same light as things like this. I can't really think of any. Lots of good things to watch, but are somehow, different. And maybe that's ok. Who knows. Good to hear from Avril though! And lets hope something of a sequal could happen. :-)

[@TheJacobite]

I fell in love with this series when I got the DVD to watch on holiday last year. I've watched it several times again since. I agree with everyone else; this is the best GTI yet! You have really good interview skills too Chris! I wish you well!

[@DennosManCave]

A brilliant episode Chris. Great to hear from Avril Rowlands. The show was a massive part of my childhood, despite the limited episodes. Actually meant a lot more to me than the Railway Children (Jenny Agutter only appealed to me later in my teenage years....!!!). Sad that the remaining eps were never made. Would have been *Wonderful to have seen the story finished.

[@highdownmartin]

Thanks very much for this one Chris, and thanks to avril as well for her fascinating contribution. I remember Carries War vividly, hepzibah green and mr Johnny in their tumbledown mansion. Great

[@QJ89]

The studio footage from God's Wonderful Railway was shot on video and the on-location footage was done on film. Mr. Bean did something similar for its original series and now I know why!

[@theupweyengineer4143]

Well done Chris! As you say, 'you remember this?' I have the original little red book signed by Avril Rowlands from a visit to the railway at the time.

[@olly5764]

72xx's were only red, only the Kings were Double red. An interesting point on the 57xx Panniers is that they were originally Blue engines, as their axle load puts them into the Blue category, however, their balancing was such that they imparted very low Hammerblow forces on the track, so, despite being over weight for the category, were reduced to Yellow classification, hence at one point, the SVR had 5764 with a Blue Dot on the cab, but 7714, which at the time was in a later GWR livery, with the Yellow Dot. I still have three very battered, very well read books from this series.

[@No1thomasfan2010]

before seeing this i'd never heard of the show, but after giving it a watch it really is a terrific program. it is just a shame the story does end in 1939, id love to have seen how it went full circle. who knows maybe one of these days the other two stories will be made. dreams are free as they say

[@mattapacka54]

Tbh the time travelling gwr engines are compared to modern films very minor issues. For comparison, I remember at the start of one film a family going to kings cross in the 30s or 20s, about to go on board a line of teak coaches, on what was on a stage set. I got excited being an LNER fan, and wondered if they had used maybe 1744 or 8752, only for the travelling shots to show a 4f in late br colour's hauling a train of mk1s.

[@barleyarrish]

What a really good watch this Gauge is.

[@CW56]

You never let me down Chris.

[@mamodsteamreturns5492]

waw !! ive got the books and the dvd :) this has gota be the best thing to watch during this terrable time

[@nathanhartwell2783]

One of the best. Thanks Chris.

[@Northerner_Transport_Hub]

urrugh, can`t they just run that train layout whilst they talk to make it a TINY bit more entertaining? great video anyway Chris, keep up the good work

[@totalal4601]

You wouldn't hear a thing! ;)

[@sheep21]

Dublo is not quiet

[@tridentmusic5570]

What a wonderful Woman ! What a shame about Michael Grade though. Instead of a great historical series we get a never ending torment to this very day...Nicely done, Chris.

[@derrenlodge6502]

Little fact:A clip of the Great Western Railway train from this series was used briefly in Part One of the Doctor Who story Black Orchid

[@enderplant]

The best era is the Edwardian era.

[@yelfsteam]

Fantastic as always Chris, I hadn't even heard of this series, but now it's on my Amazon list. Another series that I haven't heard of is the Flockton Flyer, would you recommend it?

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

Not nearly as good as God's Wonderful Railway. Aimed at younger children, and set in the period it's filmed (1977?) with 'exciting' (for children) storylines that aren't about the railway as such. Also, you only get to see a Pannier racing along some of the time in clouds of steam to get to the action, and if I recall correctly, that's all as far as the "Flockton Flyer" is concerned - not even a train behind it! No real railway atmosphere either. It's on youtube, but I wouldn't waste your time.

[@the4tierbridge]

So interesting.

[@crewkerne40]

Living in outback Western Australia I recorded most of this series off the local telly(ABC channel),only problem is it s on VHS and I don t have a VHS player/recorder,I ll have to buy the DVD set.Well done Chris fascinating interview with Avril.

[@hawkerhellfire9152]

Another reason to hate Arsenders! As if we needed one! Excellent video, never heard of the series before.

[@robertlucido3686]

You should do a gauge the issue videoes of Walt Disney's 1956 movie, "The Great Locomotive Chase," and the 1985 movie, Runaway Train," with Jon Voight and Eric Roberts

[@crewkerne40]

Excellent and interesting GTI.This series was also shown on Australian tv back in about 1981(ish),I missed the first episode but recorded the rest on VHS,now my VHS recorder is knackered so can t watch it anymore.Could always buy the DVD I suppose...

[@josephmarrison4606]

I’ll check this show out sometime. It looks and sounds really good. Well done mate.

[@smashkiller64]

Did you here the wonderful news that Welsh Pony is steaming again!!!

[@LNER4771]

I've been wanting to watch both this series and The Flockton Flyer for the longest time, but it's really difficult due to me living in the USA and international copyright laws taking the fun out of everything so the BBC can make an extra buck...or...quid.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

The Flockton Flyer is on youtube, but read my earlier comment. I wouldn't bother...

[@bazza945]

I managed to collect all 3(?) Books that the series GWR is based on. I saw the series back in the day and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@totalal4601]

Thats a magnificent 3 rail layout!

[@thesudricmerman3318]

I do wish we could get shows likes this these days

[@td128_conor6]

What an episode I loved the interview with avril

[@javielalvarez5459]

I see Prince’s face

[@sepper707]

wonderful episode :)

[@RichardAndewSwayne]

I see I am not the only person to call the 7200s Mikado tanks.

[@CW56]

Interesting, the 7200s are Mikado tanks.

[@RichardAndewSwayne]

@@CW56 I know, because they are 2-8-2s.

[@mynameisjeff8301]

GWR modified hall? can you talk about it? its also called the 6959 class

[@johnkeepin7527]

Hope it’s useful about a year on. You could just search for “modified hall class”, through which you’d find a lot of detail. In rough terms, although they look similar to the originals, there were many changes in detail design & manufacturing. Their production started during WW2 at Swindon works.

[@stanleepatterson95]

Fantastic episode.

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

I remember seeing this.

[@telemachus53]

Great video but...Elgar's sonata number 2? Did you mean perhaps symphony number 2? The only work he called a sonata was the E minor for violin and piano.

[@naturespecialist1489]

Please talk about Narnia and Harry Potter they show GWR locomotives…..some what

[@DennosManCave]

Point of order.... The SvR is not in the West Midlands.... Just saying😎

[@ChristheXelent]

It's hardly in the East Midlands though, is it?

[@averyaveragetrain233]

So if GWR in this means God’s Wonderful Railway. Does LNER Mean Lol No Erections Railway