Southern Region in the 70s

This slide show of British Railways Southern Region in the 70s is accompanied by an interview Chairman and General Manager David McKenna

[@reidthomas753]

I've commuted on all of those kinds of stock in the 1960/70s. The only one left out was the Bullied 4DDs, the double deck trains that ran between Charing Cross and Dartford. Riding them was an experience.

[@richardclarke376]

super rare, well done

[@bingbong7316]

Brighton Belle by the decaying old Gatwick Racecourse platforms. Love all that old pre-WWII stock, amazingly comfortable seats even in 2nd class.

[@pajotero4219]

Photo at 1:33 is Crystal Palace. Shot taken from what used to be Platform 8 looking over Platform 7 & 6 to the goods yard. 8 was the up slow, 7 was the down slow and 6 was a bay.

[@robtyman4281]

This sounds like a comedy sketch by David Walliams and Mat Lucas about the type of manager that existed in BR back in the 60's and 70's. Can't believe it's real - a gem!

[@uries15]

I can imagine Peter Cook and Dudley Moore doing this.

[@robtyman4281]

@@uries15 ....yes, absolutely! I would have gladly paid to watch them do a sketch like this. Keeping straight faced throughout while talking (with clipped accents) more and more gibberish and using 'rail industry jargon' of the day!! It would have been comedy gold!! ...and been more authentic than Walliams & Lucas.

[@highdownmartin]

I actually said aah out loud at the slide of the Vec or tis on the island. Great little compilation. Thanks

[@MikesMovies]

Wow fantastic stuff, all those shots that are local to me!

[@christopherchadwick2389]

He doesn't sound like a man who understands the travelling public. Between sailing, singing and Saddlers Wells, however did he find time to do his job?

[@richardclarke376]

he didn't

[@donormiston8884]

Just brilliant and so nostalgic:-)

[@nlo114]

Dear old 2-BILs trundling south across Frimley Junction, disappearing down under the London-Southampton line to Ash Vale. Tings and clangs of bells from the signal box, followed by clunks of point levers and signals. The summer buzz of insects, The smell of coal-tar and creosote from sleepers and poles... ...Only the Ascot left; automated, concrete, modern.

[@batman51]

Gosh, worked on SED at the time but never realised that David McKenna CBE (Chaos Before Efficiency according to one of our complainants) sounded so posh.

[@prafter7]

Wow. Good old memory stirrer. Apart from units etc look at A40 at 1:11.

[@simon201063]

I remember the Standard Stock trains on the Isle of Wight and I'm glad that a train is preserved but I couldn't honestly claim to miss them. Absolutely boneshaking.

[@handyboy5332]

Blimey, Bruv - you've got some little gems there!!Difficult to realise it was really like that.

[@darrengomes2203]

Couple of shots of East Croydon, they were virtually unrecognisable! But a rare shot of the Royal Mail 'platform', which I don't remember when it was in use.

[@dodgydruid]

I am more than sure 1:10 was the old loading bay at Bromley South which became a cripple siding for a while before being lifted up, strange how NR didn't sell the siding land which suggests they may be eyeing to increase Bromley South capacity as it is a very very busy station since Thameslink etc. In the 70's it was common to see Transfesa vans in that siding. I know Tuxan shoe polish used to van their stuff to Bromley South for loading from their old factory next to the rubbish tip, was a horrible pong when they did their rendering :(

[@HermitOfBlackLake]

When people could talk without being shouted down or judged.

[@surreytrainfilms5688]

2:23 Amazing!

[@davidwolstenholme6413]

Oh those weird looking old ladies of the southern regions! We'd been told of their existence but we didn't believe it! It turned out to be true, wild!

[@davidwolstenholme6413]

We in the North Eastern Region that is.

[@bb-3653]

Older British units looked kinda scary lol

[@steveallen808909]

very nice vid thuimbs up

[@trainrover]

:sigh: I missed seeing or even riding many of those models by a cat's whisker if you will..oh well.

[@elrjames7799]

Slipping from 'one' to 'you', "bizniece" and a generally defensive response to relatively mild and deferential questioning, probably tells us much of what we need to know about the quality of leadership.

[@mwgary]

British rail was allowed to go into decline and neglect largely because of people like Sir whatshisname being interviewed. So totally out of touch with the travelling public.

[@paulplaskwa1600]

What did this silly old man know about commuters needs? Pathetic really, still run appallingly now but posher trains

[@highdownmartin]

He had an excellent staff under him who really knew their stuff, so he was a bit of a figurehead as in his sadlers Wells role

[@stevehillier7018]

@@highdownmartin Agreed 100%. His staff were true Railway men in every rank from the civil engineers down. This is from having a railway background within my family