GAUGE THE ISSUE: No Longer A Virgin

[@braysfinds7479]

British Railways: We Need A Virgin Sacrifice

[@jacoblyman9441]

The irony is Virgin Trains started operating in the USA recently in 2018 when they bought out Brightline in Florida... So um... I guess they just moved to the opposite side of the Atlantic?

[@ShinyaMerveilles66]

and i get to be one of millions to ride the new virgin rails

[@seaboard18]

Just for the record, the entire deal with Brightline is a partnership and NOT a buy out...

[@ShinyaMerveilles66]

@@seaboard18 I'm aware. They're not a majority owner of brightline but they do get to rebrand it. The new funding also allows us to build our full system faster

[@chessiesystem613]

@@ShinyaMerveilles66 Coming back to this years later... That went well

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Yeah..... Brightline is not a part of Virgin Trains anymore.

[@philipholt9112]

Hi,My name is Phil I did 50yrs on the footplate started in 1961 as a fireman on steam finished in 2011 as a driver at longsight I worked on Virgin trains Regards.Phil.

[@ChristheXelent]

Hi Phil It's good to hear from you. How would you describe your time with Virgin compared to your previous experience?

[@barryosullivan5255]

2:46 hmmm, this guy is making a good point about the pendelino's appeara.... wait a sec, what's that name I see

[@TankEngine75]

Barry O'Sullivan Was gonna comment that

[@FastJohn443]

I dont get it...

[@TheTrainMaster15]

**Sees title** “Speak for yourself”

[@weeney56]

Im still

[@user-yf4gx9lw6c]

For me Virgin will always be the most iconic company in the history of privatisation for better or worse. Long live the kings.

[@olly5764]

Well, I used to use virgin quite a bit and travelled first class when I could (If you book in advance and travel at the right times you can get some deals that make it cheaper than standard) I have my first trip with Avanti next Thursday, I'll keep you posted!

[@enderplant]

Can we just scrap the Pacers and turned them into Steam Engines?

[@CW56]

Enderplant 2007 it’s not possible to downgrade a dmu/rail bus to a steam engine.

[@enderplant]

@@CW56 If brexit is possible, anyting is possible... Even turning a bus into "train".

[@NYMR-Pacific]

@@enderplant Some Are A Old As Some Steam Locomotives(Not Including New Builds)

[@wiltothecollector4420]

@@NYMR-Pacific the pacers were constructed between 1980 and 1987 the last loco built for british railways was built in 1960 the last loco built in the uk for industrial use in 1964 and the last non-newbuild/replica steam loco in 1971 so idk what you're on about

[@RailRocketRicky]

The only thing I found 'interesting' with Virgin Trains was their use of 16 Class 57/3s diesel-electric locomotives which were upgraded from the ex-BR Class 47s as 'rescue engines' for the Pendolinos, and as a nod for their purpose, Virgin named them after characters and vehicles from Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds. I consider this case to be a future subject on 'Gauge The Issue'.

[@andrewabbot1380]

Great writing, great reading, witty, excellent graphics and lots of time spent. Thanks for producing these.

[@philipholt9112]

Hi,It Phil again we were well looked after on Virgin trains and it was a pleasure to work on the footplate but my best days was on the footplate at edgeley shed as a fireman 1961 till 1968 when the shed closed to steam I finished my time out at longsight as a driver on Virgin trains Regards.Phil

[@DiegoLiger]

I'm concerned by Avanti West Coast's propose to re-introduce three classes. To replace 'standard' with 'economy' and to down-grade existing standard accommodation to create space for 'standard plus'. Not a problem on the surfce but by down-grading standard will mean that the travel experience for the average passenger will be down-graded too, and no doubt will be over crowded, standing only whilst out betters travel with seats and in comfort. A sign of our times, sadly.

[@CaptainForsyth]

A virgin train help get my collage class back to Lockerbie after we miss the one that stop there. so I think they were nice to go out of there way to help.

[@GeorgeLowther2000]

I take the Pacer to college and I am glad they are ending next year

[@BritanniaPacific]

Once I read that title, I had a feeling that virgin trains had been given the axe.

[@guillermocruz2440]

Just a question. Why do some british steam locomotives have the Cylinder drains aiming foward? (A4 Class comes to my mind)

[@barryosullivan5255]

hazarding a guess, based on Irish locomotives, it's so exhausted steam exits away from the platform rather than on it in front of the passengers (seeing as basically all engines have their cylinders at the front and majority of the time in service a locomotive will be travelling with the smoke box facing the front and bunker/tender behind). Though I could be entirely wrong

[@guillermocruz2440]

Thank you very much guys

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

The Virgin West Coast franchise prevented true competition on the route in terms of high speed services.

[@LongStripeyScarf]

I think it’s unfair that Virgin east coast ploughed some good money into the Azuma sets, prior to the franchise being taken back into government hands. I think Virgin were used in that situation.

[@CB22513]

While on my U.K. trip, I thoroughly enjoyed my Pendolino ride, then again, I'm the kind of person that would be excited to ride a Pacer.

[@caelumvaldovinos5318]

Hey Chris, how about a collab effort to do a Gauge The Issue about the problems of comparing American and Brotish steam locomotives?

[@Sebi1963]

I don't think comparing the javalin and azuma is fair cuz they were both built by hitachi unlike the pendalino so of corse they look similar

[@RHTeebs]

I saw the notification of this video. I just said. "You know what? Good for him."

[@maxtivey32]

I have always, and WILL always oppose privatisation.

[@750voltsdc3]

I do feel that Wrexham and Shropshire should have been mentioned and how Virgin helped to kill an operator through not wanting them in Birmingham New Street.

[@AdurianJ]

Some of your criticism makes no sense. Are you saying all train companies should design and build their own trains in house ? Also the Pendolino is a budget tilting train. Sweden perfected the tilting train in the X2000 in the late 80's and the pendolino uses a much simpler tilting mechanism.

[@superjoeyman1]

Well, I think the implication is that a system built on train companies that lease the trains, the track, or even employees in some cases, is horribly inefficient, which, to be fair, it is. It's a system that incentivises subcontracting, and ruthless cost cutting while maintaining or raising ticket prices. Britain utterly failed to privatise its railways effectively.

[@henrybn14ar]

The X2000 is basically a locomotive hauled push pull set with a top speed of 125 mph. Subsequent trains in Sweden do not have tilt. They probably hammer the track. They are looking tired these days and SJ is suffering from competition against MTR which has new Stadler trains

[@paulkennedy8701]

2:00 40 million is not 60% more than 15 million. It's 167% more.

[@danieljones1861]

I know they don't hold much historical significance, and they're not really the first thing people think of in terms of something rail fans like and enjoy. But despite this, does anyone think at least 1 or 2 class 390 Pendolinos will be preserved when the dust settles? I know most rail fans like and appreciate steam engines more than other types of traction modern or not. Even though I myself prefer steam traction, I'm a fan of all types of traction, no matter what kind it is, or how old or modern it is. What are your thoughts on the matter?

[@Philc854]

My god, Chris! A non-steam GTI content? Not bad, though. If perhaps a little bit too pro-Virgin in tone. But. More please. I love steam, but am keen on diesels (and the rest, vintage electrics, hydraulics etc.) too. Well done!

[@ChristheXelent]

Not for the first time, to be fair. DOO was an early subject, plus the discussion between Private & National railway systems. Then more infamously, the alleged discrimination accusations against the Lynton & Barnstaple earlier this year

[@martinmurray2073]

You need two do a episode on the irish railways

[@ciala51]

Maybe virgin might come back after avanti west coast goes in the future

[@kingrevet1st]

i always loved travelling on virgin trains especially when they had the mk2 coaches, the slam doors where so fun as a kid. it will be a shame to see virgin go

[@railroadactive]

Even though I've never set foot on British soil as of yet. I'm jealous of the passenger rail system with modern equipment, busy schedules and high speeds. Here in Canada, we rely on 40 to 50 year old equipment and consider 90 MPH "High Speed" Heck, back in the steam days, passenger trains regularly exceeded the century mark on the main lines while successfully co-existing with freight traffic. I know there are many large differences between the two countries, but you Brits have it good.

[@dkilgu82]

The US is pretty similar. Freight comes first. With all the pushes to make rail viable nobody wants to put that initial investment in, or give up freight lines for a passenger investment that may never come

[@railroadactive]

@@dkilgu82 That is true but at least you have the North East Corridor and the Brightline. We have nothing.

[@dkilgu82]

Railroadactive True but I don’t really live close enough.

[@steelworksproductions1089]

2:21 was that a reference to a certain book series?

[@VT29steamtrain]

Theyres southern, Lner and GWR but still no lms

[@tr673]

And with the new franchise coming into effect this year it was the perfect opportunity to rename the Midland Mainline operations LMS. But no, they call it EMR and come up with a miserable purple livery.

[@SaltyVan]

Good title

[@shadowthejudgehog9081]

Aero and Eric from GeoTrax

[@Handle423]

Oh my god, congratulations, how was it? I hope you both enjoyed it

[@ChristheXelent]

....you're a bit late to try that joke, aren't you?

[@Handle423]

@@ChristheXelent well but still

[@realcanadian67]

The title you chose is questionable

[@shadowthejudgehog9081]

Chris Green from Spark Steam Documentary and Chris Eden Green from this channel 🤨😂

[@NoahsTrainProductions]

I felt awesome when I left a pendalino for the first time

[@CW56]

Rest in peace Virgin Trains

[@tancoplays3502]

You could have no high speed trains so it could always be worse

[@barleyarrish]

cheeper and more flexibilty to go by car.

[@Coolengineer30]

What is wrong with privatization? The American railroads are all privately own companies (except Amtrak which is own by the federal government) and run just fine. Although we just don't talk about Amtak because they never run on time anways because all of the other rail traffic has priority over Amtrak Trains.

[@tr673]

Forgive me if I'm wrong because I'm not from the US, but don't the freight trains get priority over the Amtrak because the rail freight companies own the track and infrastructure? This must be a right pain for passengers when their journey times *could* be a lot quicker but are always stuck behind other stuff, surely?

[@Coolengineer30]

@@tr673 Yes the freight trains do get priority because Amtrak owns very little track in the US. But, it does get annoying that Amtrak is the only passenger service in the country. I wish that the major railroad companies would offer passenger services again.

[@paulkennedy8701]

coolengineer The major rail companies won't provide passenger services BECAUSE they are privatised. That's the problem with privatisation. Wishing they would do so won't make it happen.

[@Coolengineer30]

@@paulkennedy8701 I realize that because because I want it won't make it happen. But in all fairness, the all of the American railroads did offer passenger services until around 1967 and the only reason that they no longer offer those services was because they were no longer profitable for them. People just had more interest in flying then traveling by rail.

[@paulkennedy8701]

coolengineer But THAT is what's wrong with privatisation. The private companies could no longer make a profit and withdrew services that were still desirable from a public point of view. Ironically, they lost passengers to planes and cars partly because those modes are heavily supported by the government. Although railways (in the US) have to provide their own right-of-way, tracks, stations, signalling, operational management, enforcement and so on, the government provides most these things for car users and airlines. They get the roads, air corridors, airports, traffic lights, signage, air traffic control, highway patrol, parking inspectors, security, etc for free. Britain (like most places) had public railways, centrally planned and coordinated and free from the need to make a profit (because it was economically and socially desirable to have rail catering for a large part of the travel demand). Now, with privatisation, they still have to pay for the service, but they have to pay more, so that the companies can make a profit.

[@weeney56]

Awww I love pendolinos I can’t see the red go

[@iron1349]

They had style and all, but I think a PROPERLY MANAGED BR would've done better than the franchise clusterfuck

[@Steamteamrailworks88]

(Just don’t laugh immaturely at the title of the video)

[@Rob_Star]

Fuck First Group! etc,,, R.I.P Virgin Trains 1997 - 2019 , not the best? true,,,, But they were good, at the end off the day (for what they did)

[@kommandantgalileo]

we are now a chad.

[@josephmarrison4606]

LOL. I love this title.

[@mastertrams]

See, I don't think BR was such a bad thing. Sure, it had its flaws, but if it was as much of a failure as people say it is, then why did it last nearly 50 years?

[@KPen3750]

Trevithick came first and always will

[@stevebarnes2]

His wife always had that complaint

[@KR15MES]

shame they had to pop the cherry

[@richardsweet527]

.

[@warrenlehmkuhleii8472]

As a Catholic. Oh no.

[@Percyfan1998]

What a title XD

[@raymondleggs5508]

I was gonna make the joke that There's a reason why "Do Not Hump" is written on the sides of our American railcars. :-D

[@guillermocruz2440]

F

[@robinjones6999]

Terrible stink of "toilets" on their trains, and I had one particular run in with them which put me off them for good. So good riddance.

[@lbscsproductions]

Hehehehehe funny title

[@ashleyhecker4148]

Chris I know you exited but do you really need to use a entire gauge the issue to say you got laid