The Big Four at 100: GWR

A look at the Great Western from 1923 to 1948 including designs from Collett, Hawksworth, diesel railcars, South Wales and what remains in the preservation era.
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[@NGaugeUSA]

I'm an American with an N gauge GWR era 3 layout. I have watched this video dozens of times. This is by far the most comprehensive GWR documentary I've been able to find. It's been a huge help in giving me context and inspiration. Thank you for uploading it. 🙏

[@FeatherWings78]

Now this is educational tv

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

There should have been more about steam loco scrapping. How to cut up steam locos etc with footage of the destruction.

[@dominicmiles4050]

A very well written series. I can't wait for your videos covering the other railways. I live in East Devon and my village was served by the southern railway on what is now the avocet line that ran originally between Exmouth to Sidmouth Junction via Budleigh Salterton, Tipton St John, and Ottery St Mary. I'd love to see what you cover on the southerns "withered arm" as they called it.

[@MinimumGauge]

Well worth a subscription, can't wait for the rest of the series!

[@HannoRetief]

Fantastically detailed video, thanks for putting this together and well done!

[@stevengorick187]

Thank you

[@misstrever1952]

...this era of amalgamating the big four is great for the railway modeller, it means you can get away with some beautiful LMS Stanier coaches being pulled by a beautiful GW Castle class loco. Top show! 👌

[@stevengorick187]

thank you

[@robertgillham6535]

This is amazing! Such wonderful information and gorgeous film

[@sethmanten9908]

Very well made, the writing is concise which is complimented by your crisp narration. Sometimes I find legacy long form media on railways to feel rather tired and jaded, I think you've really excelled at overhauling the history for newer generations such as myself, looking forward to your next video.

[@stevengorick187]

Thank you

[@NeilM01989]

Great video Steven, Barmouth is my favourite seaside town, my family always takes me for the holidays in the past when i was a toddler. The Severn Valley Railway is also my favourite heritage railway, went there with my family also when i was a toddler. It's also more or less my local one. I live in Codsall, Staffordshire, that's 15 miles from Bridgnorth.

[@lenholloway4390]

its just a never ending string of numbers.....

[@joshuaW5621]

Happy anniversary to the Big Four.

[@Shelfandtabletoplayouts00gauge]

Lovely sequence 👍

[@mattsimonds7153]

Great Video!

[@stevengorick187]

Thanks!

[@illinoiscentralmodeler]

Fantastic video!

[@stevengorick187]

thank you

[@tobys_transport_videos]

Well done Sir! You have condensed most of the GWR locomotive history into 47 minutes! I look forward very much to Part 2, featuring the Southern Railway. You may also wish to start working on (if you haven't already) a video for March this year talking about 60 years since the Beeching Axe destroyed half of British Railways!

[@stevengorick187]

Beeching will be covered in BR at 75 planned for May

[@tobys_transport_videos]

Thanks, I look forward to it. 🙂

[@DanielsModels]

What a great video!

[@stevengorick187]

Thank you!

[@MarshallRedmon01]

There's two ways of doing things, the wrong way or the Great Western way

[@ElzevereBlock]

Great footage and a Harry Enfield type commentary to go with it.

[@user-qp9cd5ng3w]

This is a fantastic and comprehensive overview of the Great Western Railway's history and impact. The detailed examination of Collett and Hawksworth's designs, as well as the evolution of diesel railcars, offers valuable insights. It's also great to see the focus on South Wales and the preservation efforts that keep this heritage alive. Excellent work, Steven! If you're interested in learning more about the history of British railways, be sure to check out the playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLbkIohgbg3ZNXQ2yFZ92zn-sXxO350Aa2

[@rossitterforbes3201]

I’m terribly sorry, but if you did mention the 47xx “Night Owls”, regarded as “Churchward’s final masterpiece” I missed it. However it is fantastic layout of description and portrayal of information

[@daystatesniper01]

superb

[@stevengorick187]

thank you

[@toyotaprius79]

The political decision to not nationalise the railways in 1921 is an underrated topic.

[@Elvinley]

Excellent video with lots of information. Was there any mention of the Gwili or did I miss it?

[@stevengorick187]

no mention of the Gwili as I have n o footage of it

[@MrPingu70EGCC]

Is Ian Allen copyright on this brilliant video supposed to be Ian Allan please as in publications

[@ethanschmid4104]

27:00 the 9400’s? That’s the basis for Hawk from the British Railway Series, if I’m not mistaken! After all, he did say that he was built and named after his designer, Hawksworth! Amazing educational video about the GWR! Being an American myself, I always love British trains all thanks to the Thomas franchise! Which of the big 4 are you gonna do next?

[@stevengorick187]

The order always goes GWR, Southern, LMS, LNER plus at complimentary BR at 75

[@ethanschmid4104]

@@stevengorick187 oh ok. Got it. I can’t wait for the Southern Railway! Not the one from the USA. The Bristol one. lol XD

[@tominnis8353]

All gone!

[@wakefieldtrainlad340]

I have a question. How do you get away with using photos and videos? Do you have to ask or do you just say it isn’t yours? I really want to know as I have a video planned of Flying Scotsman and other engines turning 100 this year

[@stevengorick187]

Just claim it's not mine hence why each shot has a credit with publisher on the bottom left

[@wakefieldtrainlad340]

@@stevengorick187 very helpful. Thank you so much

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@wakefieldtrainlad340 Does anyone have any videos of scrap cutting of steam locos? Schnitt das dampfloks mit acetylen-brenners!

[@jch6275]

Should it be Ian Allan?

[@aurandon]

Why didn’t GWR adopt 4-6-2 to keep axle loading down?

[@stevengorick187]

well they did try a pacific with The Great Bear but is proved to be even more restricted than the later Kings. Hawksworth also had plans for one but it never happened.

[@user-cb4bw2kw8d]

Putting on your apron

[@daveday5507]

Amazing how poor most of this is.

[@stevengorick187]

which bits

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

​@@stevengorick187 Not much about steam loco scrapping. Cashmores Newport and the South Wales scrapyards etc.

[@daveday5507]

@@stevengorick187 Most of it.

[@stevengorick187]

@@daveday5507 well you can't please everyone

[@stevengorick187]

@@PreservationEnthusiast not necessarily scrapping the end will be cover in BR at 75