The Classic Collection - The Steam Railway VHS Documentary

[@jamescollier847]

I’m a retired BR Driver and this video gives the most accurate take on the scandalous, incompetent and corrupt role successive British governments played in the destruction of the greatest Railway Empire the world has ever seen! Brilliant! Long live the LMS! (1A)

[@Cromwelldunbar]

I fully agree with you and believe it was a great pity nationalisation followed upon the 1923 Grouping in 1948 but alas that was almost inevitable the railways were in a calamitous state after the tremendous work effort they were out through in the six years of war and government control. I think the very existence of just four independent companies with their individual ways, and relatively diverse sizes, regions and concepts were ideal. They had a healthy spirit of competition and will to serve their respective regions and travellers, who if they didn’t like one of them it would probably be because he liked one or more of the others for whatever subjective reasons he might hold, and bully for him too! Instead, we got one mass of one single thought concept ideal and just too bad if it didn’t go your way! The other extreme had been of course the hundred and twenty or so private companies rivalling each other certainly, but perhaps falling over and out of each other, and hardly a single one making anything like a healthy profit, with the inevitable Great Western reigning supreme over all the rest as an ideal example of how a railway company ought to be run. I reckon the resultant 1923 Grouping into four companies the hundred or so companies existing was a good one. But even then not one of them was really going find it easy to cover all their charges, and as in other countries, private shareholders eventually get fed up with covering and absorbing losses and welcome being taken over! And today what have we got? A so-called railway system with pseudo private companies which hardly own anything at all and are more likely to be owned somewhere by a very non-railway thinking enterprise, almost taken “on the books” to offload some of of their profits elsewhere. Yearh, I know, it’s easy to criticise, and everyone does his best, and it has been the motor car the culprit, and road transport with the roads funded by the taxpayer, with little from the taxpayer to help the former “ big four” railway companies. Long live the memory and recollections of the LMS indeed!

[@stephengreenfield7437]

​@@Cromwelldunbar j

[@Cobra1-d8j]

It's a crying shame. But over the years we have progressed?? from being the best designers and best developers to the best in the world at destroying our own inventions and our own citizens. I used to be an electronics design engineer. and successive governments wore me down and destroyed my will to almost live!!!. Long live memories like this, we used to have an impressive empire. and memories like this puts a huge smile on my face. I am jealous of all you brilliant people who gave your years to working with the greatest rail in the world!!👏👏

[@TheJordanIssam]

So if you worked on something like this Did you drive any train(s) If so Which one(s)

[@jamescollier847]

@@TheJordanIssam Never drove steam. Started on BR 1989. BR wasn’t privatised until 96 with regards to the Company I worked for at that time. Thameslink. Spent most of my career though on Freight. RFD and Freightliner. Mostly loco hauled traffic. Nothing of any historical consequence!

[@TheJordanIssam]

I've been obsessed with trains when I was little Now I'm 13 and still love them

[@stephenleighton6349]

Steam trains are alive, my dad would take me down to bolton Station just to watch the big trains getting up Steam as six year old it was pure magic .

[@TheJordanIssam]

The Frisco Decapod is a steam train Even a train that's 100 years old, people use it to take snow off mountains

[@direktorpresident]

Marvellous, thank you. The narrator is the first I have heard to make sensible, common-sense remarks on the economics of the genre

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

1:06:04 Steam scrapping section starts.

[@Charles-ey9qk]

Great footage! Makes one proud to be British. So many have tried to copy us. In fact today most trains don't go any faster than the best pre-war expressed. And the seats then were certainly more comfortable than modern seats. Pullman trains were fabulous, and I remember looking from another train enviously into the Brighton Belle at Victoria. The combination of speed and comfort is hard to experience in the modern age. Speed on the main line, or comfort on a preserved line, but seldom both. This is progress of course. Happy memories of a great age!

[@Nick97777]

Watched as a child most of these old ones with my grandad 😭 memories

[@Nightrunnergunner]

The best steam locomotive docu online

[@PeterMullinger]

I was born in 1944 and what this documentary forgets is that, although Britain successfully stood alone against the Nazis, they effectively lost the war because while Germany and western Europe were rebuilt via the Marshall plan Britain was required to pay the USA back in gold for every item supplied by them during WWII. As a result there were no funds to rebuild the railways or anything else for that matter. In my opinion the country has never recovered from that.

[@jcmgt]

Didn't we make the last repayment, just a few (10?) years ago?

[@PeterMullinger]

@@jcmgt Yes, I seem to remember it was in 2008. The main problem was that there was no money to invest in the 1940s and 1950s se the UK got well behind Europe in terms of its industrial productivity and has never recovered.

[@LaZoucheCustomshop]

Britain gave birth to the modern world but died doing it.

[@davidsmith5319]

A great film for too many reasons to recoint,well done to all of you.

[@jcmgt]

Exactly my thoughts

[@Cromwelldunbar]

Well first of the music….ah that music ….happy memories…

[@brianfearn4246]

Very informative and interesting. Many thanks for sharing 😊

[@HiroyukiKukihara]

きかんしゃトーマスで昔のイギリスの鉄道に興味を持ち、今日素晴らしい映像を見ることができました。 きかんしゃトーマスは「イギリスの鉄道」をそのまま映像化したんですね！ 日本人としては面白くてしかたありません！ Thomas the Tank Engine got me interested in old British railways and I was able to see some great footage today. Thomas the Tank Engine has visualized "British Railways" as it is! As a Japanese, I can't help but find it interesting!

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Such amazing machines of transport. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnekins4408]

As a youth nothing was better than standing on Doncaster station and watching an A4 Gresley Pacific flying Through on the Centre tracks non stop train to London, with its distinctive whistle sounding.

[@kenstevens5065]

As if there was a spotter lookout at each end of Donny platforms the loud scream of "Streak" when an A4 came through!

[@peterdickenson424]

i remember the capitals train blasting through hauled by Walter K Whigam

[@MrPete1x]

Excellent, thank you for showing this

[@barryjgalbraith2635]

Very enjoyable. Thanks

[@jcmgt]

Brilliant film.

[@johnmehaffey9953]

Thank you for playing the coronation Scot music, it just makes me think of steam every time I hear it

[@Cromwelldunbar]

That’s an honourable and good phrase of the narrator ie « the steam locomotive is one of those things that were invented today wouldn’t be allowed.. » or words to that effect…And what better ending than the tones and rythm of « Coronation Scot »… Excellent delivery and vocal narration! Am certain many like me look forward to other editions by your Team! Compliments!

[@no1reallycaresabout2]

45:55 This comment reminds me very much of a poem from my parents' native Sri Lanka "Anguru kaka Wathura bibi Kolamba duwana yakada yaka" translates as "Eating the coal, drinking the water, the metal beast that goes to Kolamba"

[@john_atco]

Please note. The Southern had a large network of lines stretching as far as Exeter Plymouth and Wadebridge (Cornwall) and was not just serving commuters from the suburbs of the South East.

[@tonymaries1652]

The North Eastern Railway was not a small railway. It did not stray from its home territory in the North East from Yorkshire to Northumberland but is generally rated on turnover to be the fourth largest of over 100 railway companies at the Grouping of railways in 1923.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Absolutely excellent. Like steam locomotives.

[@daystatesniper01]

Lovely video which sums a lot of things ,a friend of my late father was a driver at Thornaby in steam days ,he said the best thing that ever happened was when they got class 37s ,cut his work load by over 3/4

[@peterdickenson424]

my late uncle was the steam raiser at 51G 1948 i was 8 years of age i went onto all of the engines in the depot Q6 J27 this was my intruduction to BR i am now 85 and still love the railways

[@daystatesniper01]

@@peterdickenson424 Good for you Good Sir

[@Relaxingvideos173]

Lovely work, great share. New sub

[@robnewman6101]

You're a really useful railway.

[@jayantaphukan5654]

For the first time the british tea growers from great britain started tea estates in india mainly in the state of assam .at that time they established railway train to export made tea to other countries .at first they used steam ships for that purpose.the name of the company that constructed rail roads in tea estates in assam was the assam railway and trading company. It was known as the a.r. and t. Co. Thank you.

[@stevef9530]

British locomotives and railway technology were exported all across the world, to India, China, Chile, Egypt, Iran and many other countries. Assam tea is wonderful tea, definitely worth building a railway to get it to our teapots! Are those railways still working, do you know?

[@kerrysupporter]

Great video

[@Cromwelldunbar]

Excellent filming, film quality admirable, commentary too. Could some kind soul remind me of the music title at the intro’ please. It’s a very old favourite indeed and used to be the intro’ music for a quite appreciated detective series for radio or wireless programmes as we used to refer to them time gone long ago… Damn it, can’t even recall its name either!

[@martinwest8374]

I believe it is called "Coronation Scot" and was used for the series "Paul Temple". The Coronation Scot was also a named LMS Express train Euston - Glasgow. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYDcepV6i6-tqq8&ab_channel=BarryHodgson

[@robnewman6101]

All Aboard. All Aboard. Enjoy the ride.

[@asullivan4047]

Had the good fortune to experience 2 scenic steam locomotive train rides years ago.

[@robnewman6101]

Thank you.

[@robnewman6101]

British Steam Railways of the Future.

[@christophersitton953]

A tremendous addition to the steam train catalogue - thank you. However, I'm somewhat doubtful about the "Music in the video" information above. I suspect a credit should be supplied for the "Paul Temple Theme" played by the Queen's Hall Light Orchestra and composed by Vivian Ellis. That recording is used for the soundtrack at the intro and ending, if I'm not mistaken.

[@jameshennighan8193]

I seem to recall that the piece was called 'Coronation Scot' but was then used for The Paul Temple Radio Series; hence the commonly known title of 'The Paul Temple Theme'...... Back when radio painted a picture and stimulated the mind. Back when we had The Third Programme, The Light Programme and The Home Service, as opposed to the drivel now. James Hennighan Yorkshire, England

[@petergarratt7992]

That music was also called coronation Scott, as I had the 78rpm record and if I remember was the signature music for down your way broadcast on the radio

[@suntexi]

"Horseguards, Whitehall" by Haydn Wood was the theme to "Down Your Way" and the music in the progamme was chosen by the its characters. This music is "Coronation Scot" by Vivian Ellis.

[@robnewman6101]

You're a really useful engine.

[@JintySteam1]

This video is essencially steam in 35mm as it uses some of the same shots from old movies.

[@staircas3737]

Greetings! If anyone has anymore documentaries or videos similar to this, please send them my way! Incredible stuff!

[@Mobius_Dan]

I do have plenty more, however it takes a while for me to get them off my old dvd recorder, edit them to work on a computer and then upload them. Plus I am busy studying so don't get much time. But keep watching this space as more will be coming.

[@flippop101]

Very grateful for the upload, cheers!

[@robnewman6101]

Robert Peel (1788-1850) was the Founder of the first new Metropolitan Policemen Force at Scotland Yard in 1829.

[@tinders5069]

Great video. But where is East Milton {at 19m25s). No GWR station I know of!

[@tankmicr00man]

I've just tried to find out where this was but nothing came up in my search. Anyone out there know of a GWR East Milton?

[@lukegreen5341]

23:24 I've Didn't Know The Coronation Scot Train Did Go To New York City In The United States Of America Before Flying Scotsman Went There Too. Thanks Mate. X

[@Cromwelldunbar]

I believe the Great Western’s King Class George V went to America too and returning fitted with a complimentary bell too! ( Perhaps a gift from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad? ).

[@Cromwelldunbar]

@Aussie Pom Extra! Good reminder re Duchess of Hamilton dolled up for the trip…if I had known, I certainly had forgotten and if only repeated info’ they are always good reminders: but then up pops the Jack in the box as to “why did they do that?”…And as a quiz question to myself I confess ignorance, but can only venture a guess that the real CS was booked for inspections, and longish overhaul w/s procedures or had developed unforeseen problems? As they say, ‘thereby must hang an interesting tale [if not boring technical detail!’…!] Cheers Cobber! Pray give my best regards to The Seekers! (The greatest!)

[@isaaclars1501]

i love the video, i just hate how the sound is only in my left ear

[@seangannon1919]

Wait a minute. Is it just me? Or did this video have some of the steam chuffing sounds used by TM Books & Video of New Buffalo, Michigan for their videos.

[@beck168]

My driver was a true gent always let me drive happy days at cricklewood and nine elms

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Train crews earned their money evacuating children from London ( 1941 ). 😉

[@robnewman6101]

The Railway Children. Published in 1906.

[@rogerwilkinson8656]

Yes

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

Please, list EVERY locomotives in the UK from the 1860s to the 1970s

[@rachelbridger2473]

How bad was steam for the ozone layer compared to diesel before electric trains etc

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

1:06:04 Steam scrapping section starts.

[@davezoom2682]

Boil water to make steam , ! That's just what power stations do !

[@richardthefox3412]

33:51 Based Narrator.

[@Haueru86]

17:45 that isnt an 060 Jinty

[@johnvcramer5517]

Stall the Engine railroads use the same couplers the chains and turnbuckles instead of the more modern hitch of the US.

[@mjstow]

So only eight locos were completely destroyed during the war? Later on, 2,363 stations and 5,000 miles of track were destroyed by our own government. There's just no way the Luftwaffe could compete!

[@robnewman6101]

Railway Firefighters.

[@matttredrea1758]

The Classic Collection - The Steam Railway VHS Documentary

[@nigelduckworth4419]

Freight is one thing but the passenger service should not have shown a decline. There were only one million cars on the road just after the war and most of those were subject to petrol rationing So most had to go by train on non suburban journeys.

[@thomasm1964]

26:43 "Fewer" trains; not "less" trains.

[@JintySteam1]

Its a petty and a bit annoying that the sound is only in the left ear.

[@PukUK-fj8ct]

Sound is fine here.

[@robnewman6101]

Railway Policeman.

[@kenstevens5065]

I was born in 1950 and remember what a dull Britain I lived in. Never a fan of socialism but I would have to agree the Atlee government did a good job of getting us off our knees post 1945. It is sad that the ASLEF railway strike of 1955 and the attitudes of other unions right up to the 1980's did untold damage to Britain's economy and the weakest and poorest people in society. Here we are in the 2020's and what's changed? The wealthy and political classes get steadily richer and seem to do less and less to earn it. Britain on self destruct?

[@asullivan4047]

Exactly what is slowly. taking place. Not just Brittany look at the rest of Europe. Look what's going on with open Southern borders in U.S. courtesy of Marxist democratic Obama/Biden white house administration😈

[@jackx4311]

Attlee and his 'nationalise EVERYTHING' lunacy, far from getting the country off its knees, left us even MORE bankrupt than we were in 1945 - whilst adding a huge number of utterly unproductive civil service jobs.

[@edwardhulin9935]

What's not to like..

[@steveib724]

My Grandma use to laugh her ass off telling me about riding on these steam trains and coming off them with black faces lol 80 years ago give or take every body in this film is gone but not forgotten

[@royfearn4345]

Maybe she shouldn't have had her head out of the window the whole journey! I've come off an express with grubby face and gritty smuts in my hair; Happy Days!

[@warrenhennessy7684]

Maybe economic for the government's short arms Long pokets 😂❤❤😮

[@jozeyjones7034]

If women think that maintaining the permanent way during the war is demanding and dangerous, they should try storming the beeches at Normandy. Railway maintenance is something men have been doing for decades, but as soon as women start doing it, they're heroines.

[@thomasm1964]

"You defiantly won't find this video anywhere online so here it is." "Definitely", not "defiantly". "Defiantly" has a completely different meaning!

[@robnewman6101]

WW2 1939-1945.