South Wales Freight Trains 1980's

[@davidtravers9611]

Class 37's simply the best.. They have been the workhorses of the British railway operations both rail freight and passenger trains for many decades especially in Wales and Cumbria... I love the sound of the engine at idle and when moving off

[@S7EVE_P]

This is ace. I think if I was a train driver in the 80s/90s driving a class 37, I'd feel like I'd really made it...that sound...plus it was before the world went mad, better times. Thanks for uploading, this is gold

[@michaelrichards5275]

I’ll leave it up forever

[@benconway9010]

Excuse me you "think" you were a train driver back in the 80s? Well unless you have dementia or amnesia you either were a train driver or not.... Which is it

[@admiralcraddock464]

I think you're on the wrong site mate, you want the "grammar for advanced arseholes"

[@Isochest]

@@benconway9010 A sad attempt at mobbing. With no mob. Just a knob: You!

[@MontyCantsin5]

@Ben Conway: Try reading the comment again; it seems like you failed to understand its meaning

[@barney8953]

Brilliant !!!!!! Grew up in the 1970s. The growl of a class 37 hauling wagons up the Rhondda valley to N.C.B. Mardy colliery is unforgettable. Sadly, that ended on 22nd of August 1986. If I had a time machine to go back, and a top digital camcorder.......

[@danieljones3955]

My grandfather drove these 37s to maerdy colliery from Aberdare to phurnacite plant abercwmboi

[@neilrobinson1956]

Pure nostalgia, absolutely fantastic video of days gone by and also showing what has been lost. Thank you for sharing this amazing insight.

[@michaelrichards5275]

Neil Robinson your welcome

[@haminationsclips7696]

Omg! Brilliant in every way! i grew up next to a route like this and it was amazing, I’ll never forget that growl of the class 37.

[@alexhiggins7307]

Always had these thrashing away passed my village, on the way to Onllwyn washery back in the day.

[@benjaminrees588]

Who'd thought after all this time we still have them thundering up the line in 2019/2020

[@benconway9010]

@Steam Guy yes but I think a lot of excellent maintenance has a lot to do with it

[@GWLAD]

Grew up to these up and down our valleys 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@AllenORourke1954]

I remember well the double headed iron ore trains from Tyne Dock to Consett in County Durham, a brutal branch line with two sections of i in 35, the sound of two English Electric engines at full throttle will live with me forever...

[@toonmag50]

These locomotives have a very business like face, no smiles, just power and a scowl.

[@ianstransporthistorystuff8175]

I've been lucky to be a drivers assistant regularly these on a heritage railway , and one of my favourite locos to work on , EE certainly made a great loco with these😊

[@123LooKey]

Back when trains were trains!!

[@taffboyslim]

I don't think I should have started watching this at 2:00 am. Might be a long night :-)

[@2KXMKR]

3:09am I've just started...

[@TheBarnem13]

taffboyslim Lol try 4:21am I know what you mean

[@kiwitrainguy]

I've just finished watching at 11pm.

[@stephenbinkley]

i did the same thing

[@clonSanG]

I'm the same

[@TomouskiPlayz]

Brilliant Video more of these rail documentary videos it gives you an insight into how versatile the class 37s were back in the 80s , 90s and even the 00s 👍

[@ljts7587]

I remember these flying past wink ups camp in mid 80s when I was just a kid. I never really paid attention to them in the day, but at night I’d hear them thundering through. Scared me a little until I grew up. I am way way older now yet I still love these engines. I now live by the Walsh coast and I hear them every now and then still thundering through flint.

[@steviesteve750]

I lived in Ystrad Mynach between 97 and 2014 and would regularly hear the 37 working hard.

[@DaiElsan]

My old father in law spent 40 odd years on the railways, he started out working out of Aberbeeg, before it finally closed then moving to the Severn Tunnel Junction for a few years before retiring. Before Ebbw Vale Steel Works closed its hot end, i remember during the 70s seeing 37s hailing the massive heavy oil tankers full of fuel for the Open Hearth Furnances. Walking the once busy tracks in and around around Llanhilleth, it was a great place to pick up spilled Iron Ore for sling shot ammunition. Born in 61, i can still remember steam in the valleys, the fiest diesels and the sad lines if dead steam engines heading down the valley to Woodhams Barry Scrap yard.

[@amadigidigaula771]

is there a better subject for you tube than 1980s BR freight? I don't think so. Thank you for uploading this!

[@isobelmackellaig703]

I agree that these trains hauled by class 37s were a sight to see and to listen to, although I I think they were responsible for making my husband deaf.

[@tardismole]

Thank you for sharing. So much has changed and so much has been lost since the 1980s.

[@harvestjet]

Great piece of nostalgia. For a while I lived about a mile south of the Ebbw Vale steel works, the sound of a pair of 37's climbing up the valley was something to behold:-). Thanks for posting this video

[@pippastone6018]

The man or men who designed these engines are so awesome 😎 and brilliant in my eyes 👀, fantastic, brilliant, and most off all AWESOME 😎, thank you so much, 😎👍🇳🇿🌈😁😎 kiwi Pip from New Zealand, wish we had some here, but ok with videos, thanks again 😎👍🇳🇿🌈😁😎.

[@SMX815]

Oh this is a golden oldie & love your videos 🙏👏👍 this nostalgia on epic proportions!

[@stevekaye5536]

Thank you Michael - Being a lover of the Cless 37 locos this is one superb documentary:

[@russouk]

class 37s still look better than any yank trains I recall when kid living at home...in middle of the still of night hearing them in the distance pulling coal to the docks in cardiff...

[@MrTaffjock]

Brilliant I was a guard at Swansea Eastern depot from 1971 to 1982 cold days in the van class 9 trains

[@blameusa7082]

oh wow, i was too young to have appreciated these events :(

[@montywright5297]

Class 37 with carriages on the Shrewsbury route, a damn site better that the two car crowded dirty DMU’s in use now!

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

The sound of a Class 37 and Class 50 locomotives Thrashing is EPIC!

[@falconoilcompany]

great film, this is true life for us spotters in the eighties. Great work.

[@bigdmac33]

Fantastic video. More please!!

[@chrisst8922]

I grew up in the south east of England where trains were catapillars of coaches with flat fronts and doors you had to slam. I wanted all the rails torn up and replaced with more roads. I wasn't until I was older and moved away and then saw films like this that I realised how exciting trains were and what I'd missed.

[@Thornaby37]

Excellent video 👍 For the first time I've actually got round to watching this all the way through

[@zaneclone]

Great upload Mr Richards. That cassette has held up well ! Quality footage of Great British bruisers... ! :D

[@michaelrichards5275]

Simon Murray I used a scart enhancer, basically filters noise out of the picture.

[@RWL2012]

LOL the 37 and the fireworks on Bonfire Night, amazing hahaha!

[@RWL2012]

I don't even remember saying that!

[@hittitecharioteer]

So enjoyable; thanks Michael 👍

[@petergriffiths369]

I remember the Waterman 47s being thrashed out of Cardiff to get up the incline to Queen ST. I jumped on at Cardiff and off at Queen St just for the experience. The triple headed 37s taking ore from Port docks to Llanwern Steelworks. I was living in North Cornelly and I was gliding in Stormey Down at 13 yo, 300' above sea level. I could hear them at night but could'nt catch them and I was too young to drive. lol. Had I known they were triple headed I would camped the night at Pyle station. The line from Margam to Pyle was reletavly flat after Pyle it got a steeper and steeper towards the summit. So they would have been on full power all the way from Margam. Do you have a video of them climing up Stormey bank because I still have that sound in my head.

[@zoesawesomepets2273]

Thank you for the video, these bring back some brilliant memories.

[@garethmatthews7939]

enjoyed the one of the aproach to neath witg BP Baglan Bay in the background

[@cameronnovini4660]

I love the 37 class. I hope they continue operating for some time.

[@cmeonthemove]

...and to think we can still enjoy this sight and sound on my local patch...

[@StewartEvans52]

Great video,my only complaint is that it was not long enough

[@class8866]

I remember class 37 running through Oxfort station with hopper cars. My ears were ringing after the train passed...

[@user-zt1er1uj6i]

1 hour 16 min 37357 Tinsley tractor 1st ever loco i cab ride in 1987/88 love it been obsessed by it ever since.... now no longer in existence.

[@geoffreyanthony4276]

Excellent video - professional - and I liked the sparse commentary without the "bleedin obvious".

[@RaynersLane33]

Just come across this gem, thanks for uploading.

[@michaelrichards5275]

Llandeilo Junction no worries keep history going, I’ve been on the railway from BR

[@davehodges6258]

Great to see 50031 (HOOD) now one of many 50s on my door step at SVR Kiddy,.

[@Isochest]

These mines need reopening to fill the energy gap

[@DaiElsan]

Who would you get to work in them? Horrible places, dangerous and the ever present risk of dust on the lungs.

[@paulanderson79]

This is very good video quality for an aged VHS.

[@derekgrant9495]

glad you did put it on good video

[@sheepfarm7560]

Brilliant video .

[@SuperTrainStationH]

37 blows its horn. KZbin Caption: [Music] Wow this AI is getting pretty good.

[@michaelrichards5275]

gguru1 glad you liked it

[@Supersonic8984]

Those wheel flats on the 37 were nippy!!

[@marcushenno]

I wish i was around there, variety of locos/rail links/open areas/space. Now the network is far different.

[@russouk]

Empire pool at start....now where stadium is.....good old days when wales was still an international stalwart in steel and coal domination. sad its gone.

[@LeftIsBest001]

You can thank Thatcher and the conservatives for that.

[@1001saar]

Amazing mix of period loco liveries - seem to span years before some of the carriages.

[@michaelrichards5275]

1001saar I thought so the passenger service starting Monday with loco and coaches, I’m very happy I’ll be working them

[@michaelrichards5275]

If I can get my hands on more stuff I will, this is a busmans holiday for me

[@brianmorris8045]

Please do, Michael, am enjoying them all. I get excited watching our Aussie trains, as well...something about rail, you can't beat it for long land travel and unlike a car, you can get up and walk along the carriage to stretch your legs..and sometimes on an overnighter, into the dining car too...lol.

[@burnuts007]

Awesome video! Great action! I subbed up I hope more retro stuff to come!

[@lesball6839]

Brilliant love it thanks

[@colinspeake..8889]

I can still recall the class 37 that derailed and ended on its side and lay there for days until the crane recovery arrived and slowly placed it back onto its wheels...The train ran away from the Windsor colliery and picking up to much speed going down track to abertridwr it left the rails has it crossed over the points at speed and taking the train into a different direction over she went!

[@Panzer-535]

don't know much about British railroading, but the sound and smoke shows remind me a lot of ALCo locomotives.

[@evangiles17]

I believe they used Suzler engines in these mainly because they could order them to the correct HP rating - Alco basically said you get what we give you - The NSW railways in Australia were constantly under powered because Alco and GE refused to make engines to the HP requested by the NSWGR

[@grumbeast]

The engines were originally English Electric 12CSVTs they fit the same sorta role as Alcos too its a good comparison

[@familybissong5520]

That diesel locos is nice 🥰😍❤️👍🏾😄😁

[@TazmanKRS]

Very good quality for VHS... I would have thought it was closer to DVD quality... Cheers tho nice find.

[@michaelrichards5275]

TazmanKRS it was vhs I put it in dvd and cleaned it up a little

[@michaelrichards5275]

TazmanKRS you can clean vhs videos up with a macro decoder

[@TazmanKRS]

Michael Richards the videos where not recorded by myself they are just links on KZbin

[@25corn94]

Those were the best trains

[@catmar1944]

["Thank you for this upload"]

[@danieljones3955]

Beautiful machines my grandfather drove these

[@hmjmh7]

The first wagons would they be unloaded by men with shovels? Via the two drop down openings on each side?

[@brianwhiting5658]

if they was for a power station a lot of power stations tipped them over to empty them. if it was house coal yes both doors used.

[@LeftIsBest001]

Can I ask something that may sound silly? Why does the Class 37 sound so different to say a HST Class 43 power car? They're both diesel engines. Also, could a HST power car pull a freight train if it had to?

[@gromit3315]

No one seems clever enough to answer... 😄

[@mattcrompton5174]

Different top RPM's and about 15 years age difference, plus they are made by different manufactuers entirely for certain applications, same reason all petrol cars don't sound the same

[@joebond5012]

Good question, I’d like to know why it had that distinctive sound.

[@Baddog-ib5mf]

HST has wrong gearing for freight,Power cars generally have higher revving engines like cat or Cummins for quick stop starts .Class 37s and 40s etc have big old slow revving engines that give huge torque at low rpm ideal for freight .Class 66s have 2 stroke diesels and sound like worn out washing machines ( only joking)

[@brianmorris8045]

That 37405 certainly did a lot of different runs...lol

[@taffy402]

2020 and the 37's are back on the Cardiff to Rhymney service

[@michaelrichards5275]

DEWI MORGAN yep I love it, I work on them

[@rickmeyrick4357]

Triple heading was only done on Iron Ore, not Hot Rolled !

[@thepietrain7083]

Anyone know exactly where this is at 15:26 ? I know its near Neath but not sure whats there today.

[@michaelrichards5275]

The Pie Train port talbot steelworks I think

[@alexhiggins7307]

Britton Ferry, not far from the station there.

[@Cerebro1983uk]

I was 6 years old in 1989 I'm 35 years old now 2018 I like the 37s

[@familybissong5520]

Diesel classe 37 is good 😄👍🏾👍🏾🙏🥰🥰😍😍

[@wynnedavies1643]

Tondu is not pronounced as Tondoo but Tondee

[@michaelrichards5275]

Wynne Davies lol

[@Isochest]

Black Wave! THe difference of the Welsh language

[@Tombola1993]

I walk down that railway to go to Morfa Beach. 13:51

[@stuew6]

I wish more videos like Class 20,31,33

[@bushyconn]

Most surprised to see uncovered loose loads as late asd this

[@Sonic.Mario.64]

I’d like to know wale’s horn codes, as in long, long, short, long which is the crossing for America, I know one long is in Britain and other areas, but what about the reverse code? Or the start up code?

[@djtrainspotter]

awesome stuff there!!

[@donotwantahandle1111]

Why do they rev up then down then up etc when taking off?

[@antimosh]

Wheel slip backs the power off.

[@skankhunt-43]

@@antimosh are you sure that's what it is??

[@andrewthomas5540]

@@antimosh Wheels were not slipping. Just lots of power going through those wheels, much more than is needed for what its pulling. There is a speed limit set there, hence power on, power off.

[@antimosh]

@@skankhunt-43 what time index? first few setting off with loaded coal are, Last scene is to. Classic slip with sudden interruptions of power.

[@saintmartins6729]

What's the weird muzak for?

[@jarhead4God]

How many unit trains do you run daily?

[@michaelrichards5275]

jarhead4God over what area are you referring to

[@hmjmh7]

How many hea hoppers can a 37 pull?

[@michaelrichards5275]

HM& JMH no idea just got this video to upload of a colleague as we work on the valley train for the last 27 years

[@johnmoore8016]

Look like it they would leveled off the load in each wagon they could have move a lot more cold. How many tons was this one unit moving? Have they since this vide up graded the power units? Thanks for a very good video. looked good on my wide screen. the country side looked good too.

[@michaelrichards5275]

John Moore your welcome, I have no idea how much coal they transported though

[@markturner4219]

The hopper type wagons carry 33 tons of coal. The brown box like mineral wagons are 21 ton minfits. The hopper wagons were mostly used on MGR trains to power stations and the like. Locomotives hauling an MGR train had to be fitted with electronic slow speed control which the driver engaged at loading and unloading sites. This allowed the train to maintain a constant fixed slow speed while being automatically loaded and unloaded without stopping. The number of wagons varied with the route and the type of locomotive used over it, but was generally about 30 to 35. That makes around 1100 tons of coal per train. The reason why the wagons appear not loaded to the top is because the pulverized coal they were originally designed for would gradually settle after loading. Quite a reasonable article here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry-go-round_train

[@brianwhiting5658]

@@markturner4219 the MGR wagons was classed as 26 / 32 tons . also if the coal was fine and wet you was able to get up to the weight without filling to the top . i used to work MGR trains out of knottingley.

[@christopherdibble5872]

The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954.

[@K-Effect]

Why does it sound like they're always in and out of the throttle? Why don't they hold the rpm at one setting, it sounds like they are driving a truck with a automatic transmission

[@michaelrichards5275]

They do sound like that’s what there doing but that’s not how there driving it.

[@Isochest]

We should not have given up on coal. Energy Autarky is everything.

[@scoobycarr5558]

If you're really into railroading both passenger and freight in the British Isles, a trip to Wales seems entirely worthwhile. Check out the trains' Chicago & North Western-style running in Wales as well as in England and Scotland. Seems to me that the C&NW based its left-handed operations because of the British Isles, but I recently found that it wasn't the case.

[@hmjmh7]

Why was it then out of curiosity?

[@brooklynroad8581]

great

[@benconway9010]

"Network rail decided they didn't want preserved locos hauling every day services" haha thats funny how come they're letting preserved locos on the mainline hauling every day services now? Passenger and freight??

[@Isochest]

South Wales mines need reopening. We can provide all the coal we need for steelmaking and power generation. Cymru am Byth!

[@class8866]

Most industry is gone now..

[@jasongnrfan4522]

The titles a bit miss leading but a good vid

[@Synthematix]

1:04:21

[@jesstill7833]

👍👍👍👍👍😎

[@PerthMRC]

Great video thanks for uploading. If you are like me and you like your 37 action to be pre privatisation then 00:00 to 25:33 and 1:04:15 to the end will do you nicely!!

[@duncanbhaltaireanraigwilso9627]

Tondu isn't pronounced Tondoo, it's pronounced Tondee.

[@michaelrichards5275]

Can’t help English people pronouncing welsh names they go all phonetic

[@ianmickiewicz6017]

Spot-on, Dunc !👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@MrMusic1950]

Check out those (none toxic) skies, no chemtrail overcast.

[@hmjmh7]

That the reason we now have weird weather because of the chem trails

[@andyrowlands50029]

@@hmjmh7 I thought it was because of 'climate change'.

[@andyrowlands50029]

@@ScaniaVabis580I agree, both 'chemtrails' and man-made climate change are utter tosh.

[@MontyCantsin5]

@andyrowlands50029: Anthropogenic climate change is not ‘’utter tosh’’. You are simply being wilfully ignorant.

[@JBFlytography]

“In the 80s” was a bit wrong 😂

[@scoobycarr5558]

The passenger workings in Wales hauled by 37s could just be the same as Metra in Chicago and the suburbs.

[@hmjmh7]

We have American locomotives here in UK Class 59s, 66s and 70s.