The Great Steam Loco Adventure - Manchester Victoria Part 3

[@rodperrin2713]

well done. Spent many hours on the wall side pilots waiting to bank trains up to Miles Platting. 64s were my favorite.

[@PaulKnapper-cn5io]

Wonderful, very nostalgic, brings back so many memories. Thanks for posting 👍 we will be travelling on the Northern Belle from Victoria at some 😊 .

[@michaelnaisbitt7926]

OOH,,!! Those days I spent at Manchester Victoria gazing at all those mighty steam locomotives with my spotters hand book I would spend hours gazing at them ans waving to drivers one time I was even privileged to have morning tea and sandwiches with a crew cooking off the shovel fried eggs and bacon with a crew of a Brittania for a 14 yr old it was heaven thanks for the memories

[@MrFlobblewobble]

I lived at Gloucester Rd Droylsden and would listen to the steam hauled trains with bankers on climbing out of victoria as I lay in bed at night. My dad worked on the Bury electric line on the track. We referred to it as his train set. Phil Collinson was his name

[@theempirestrikesback2939]

That is amazing filming material from a time I just was born. Remembering last days of steam in Germany with my father being a signalworker showing me a DB class 23 loco in operation. Greetings to the UK

[@rustynailer8655]

Best film of Manchester Victoria and surrounding area I have ever seen in the steam era. Thanks for being there, you are fortunate is realising exactly how interesting for the future viewer, what you were looking at at the time. Thats not easy at all...

[@boyfromblackstuff7859]

Absolutely excellent,boy how the cityscape has changed around Manchester. Very atmospheric little film , capturing a Manchester long since disappeared, especially its heavy industries,a fascinating research subject in its own right. Many thanks for posting.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Great video! I think must have about twenty years on me. I’m 53 and I remember, or rather, mourn 😢 the old Man Vic! I remember it in the 80s and early 90s with many different classes of diesel locomotives. I left school at 16 in May/1987. Six months later I managed to ride the L&Y Calder Valley line through Brighouse with a class 47 in charge. Oddly enough on returning the diverted train was sent via Bradley Wood curve and the loco ran round in Huddersfield. I still have the ticket today, a Blue Saver return at £4:20!

[@boyfromblackstuff7859]

Very early 80's in the days of the seven day regional rail rover tickets,rolling in to Manchester Victoria from Sheffield via the Hope Valley absolutely fascinated me as we rolled into the Manchester area proper. So much to take in,the Victorian engineering the industrial history and decay, social deprivation, all very sad. Arriving at Manchester Victoria there always seemed to be so much frantic activity, what must it have been like at its peak? Then redevelopment, clinical, soulless,dark and void of its original atmosphere, what a shame. Hoping to clock one of the then elusive class 40's! Good days!!

[@thetankcommander3838]

I saw old footage from the 30s and 40s of old steam chugging along in my area just yesterday. And yet, England had so much more with the steam lasting so much longer. I envy you folks across the pond because of that. 😂😂😂

[@petersharp7644]

Brilliant scenes, reminds me of my one visit to Manchester Victoria, April 17th 1968. Went with older brother from East Midlands to see some genuine working BR steam before the end came.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

I was lucky in a way living where steam lasted the longest.

[@simoncornell1174]

Thanks for capturing these images. Lost forever if not for you.

[@robindown]

Glorious time travel - a place I haunted on smokey, sooty weekends between 1960 and '64. Thanks for taking me back.

[@Jack-bs6zb]

My first home was in Bacup, Lancashire. The local railway station is long gone but i recall being taken by train to Manchester to see Father Christmas. My grandfather had a cotton reclamation business and the cotton would be taken periodically by train to Manchester for processing. I've lost my Lancashire accent as you have.

[@Intercity126]

Very enjoyable film. Excellent sound mixing too. Thanks for making your archive material available on YT

[@GandyDancerProductions]

I'm pleased you enjoyed it and thanks for the donation.

[@goatsub8115]

Fantastic narration, editing and presentation. A real pleasure to watch!

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnholland6525]

This is excellent, thank you very much. I can just about remember Manchester Victoria like this. You don't know what you've got until it's gone...

[@johncollins8071]

Beautifully narrated as always and no unnecessary background "noise". I so envy you chaps with steam until 1968 when my local shed at Ipswich closed in 1959!

[@iainrobinson6566]

This, like all your other videos, was fantastic! I really enjoyed it. I was about at the time, so it brought back some memories, especially of the locos slipping. Magic!

[@gentlegiants1974]

Railroading was certainly a lot more interesting to observe when steam was king. Diesel and electric trains are, to myself anyways, about as interesting as watching paint dry on a rainy day. I can compare it to farming and logging, both of which I am engaged in as a means of making a living. I choose to use heavy horses as a primary source of power rather than tractors and skidders. If I were forced to abandon my horses I would simply give it up as driving tractors is also reminiscent of the drying paint on a grey winter day.

[@nicksayajirao1730]

By 1973 when I used to be.a regular spotter at Victoria the steam had of course gone, but Red Bank was still busy with all the newspaper train stock and the Miles Platting bankers were class 25s but not much else had changed. Happy days.

[@davidbirchall8892]

Fantastic footage made so atmospheric by the cold weather. Spent soooooo many hours at Manchester Victoria back then.

[@allan5919]

Super old video images that stir lots of memories for me and many other older enthusiasts. 👍

[@laszlofyre845]

You've done it again, mate. Sheer, solid gold. Solid. I particularly liked the Bury line footage as I did the last five and a half years as a driver/instructor there, before MetroStink. I also had two spells at Man Viv too. Unbelievably atmospheric. I can only wonder what else you have in store for us!

[@ryanbaptiste249]

This brings back vivid memories. From the mid-60s to early-70s I lived on Wigmore Road, adjacent to Woodlands Road station and those heavy coal trains, light-bankers clanking back towards Victoria, along with the Humming Bouncers (Class 504 EMUs), were my staple 'fixes'. Thank you for sharing.

[@dinxsy8069]

I remember my grandads flat back in the 90s as a kid, he had train lines running behind his backyard up on a hillside. Albeit they were Diesels would amuse me seeing them go past, can only imagine how great it would have been to watch 30/40 years earlier with steam locos. Shame that the country didn't embrace train lines more rather than shut them down, could have been very beneficial these days for travelling.

[@richardnewman2728]

Wonderful! What an atmospheric station Manchester Victoria 'was' before they totally ruined it! Thankfully, you managed to capture it whilst steam was still very much around. Thank you .

[@melodymonger]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video, thanks 👍. I was born in 1967 so I completely missed mainstream steam. But my dad worked as a fireman on the railways in his younger days and we used to visit all the preserved lines in the south of England when I was a kid so I've always loved steam too. I wish I could go back in a time machine and travel the pre-Beeching rail network. Greetings from Aus 🇦🇺👋

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@1951GL]

Very much coal trains, foundries, mills and woodbines! Exactly as I remember it. The Caprotti Standard 5 would have been a Patricoft (9h) loco. None of the class were popular with the drivers or firemen. The dmus had been running Blackpool and Southport services in great numbers since 1962, but here, in '67, they still look incongruous.

[@msampson1949]

great too see , can't believe you go the sound so good when you were so young. lived on the London line at Chalford sounds of my childhood hearing them struggle up the hill to Sapperton tunnel thanks for the memories

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TheDaf95xf]

I just missed steam as I was 11 in 68 but I was born in Urmston so Manchester Vic was my go to place as they still banked with diesels 👍🏻

[@karlfey]

Always an event when you put up a new video. Fabulous content!

[@keithtanner2806]

Great videos. If you climbed the wall at the back of Blackburn Rovers ground you could watch the comings and goings at Lower Darwen shed. The only reason I went to Rovers!

[@GandyDancerProductions]

I wish I'd known that at the time.

[@sugarbertie1143]

Very captivating film. Not however being from Manchester I did visit Victoria quite a bit as my aunt lived at Radcliffe. Steam had gone some years previous but I did love the old Victoria with the DMUs, Trans Pennine expresses, and 25s and 40s around on freights and banking duty.. Also the occasional Class 50 in the early 70s that had come off the WCML. Happy days indeed.

[@cliffgallimore42]

Excellent footage and memories,keep them coming , love those times being ex Crewe train crew

[@thedawkins]

Thank you so much for this, brought back so many memories from that era - and a Rovers supporter too!

[@michaelpilling9659]

Fantastic!

[@nicholas4a]

Brilliant film, really brings back my memories, I spotted the burning “devil” on the platform end!!

[@GaryNumeroUno]

Great video mukka.... the photos you took of the banked coal train after the film ran out are quite artistic. You should consider getting some copies printed and selling them to subscribers. Greetings from Oz. Gaz

[@ianrouse3032]

I love to watch a class47 of 33 or a deltic but you can't beat that sound of a steam fighting a seemingly impossible fight.

[@rogermarsh9806]

The landscape of people making things to sell before it all went to China, wonderful.

[@jimihendrix991]

Astonishing footage, wow! 🙂 Alternate title could be ''Wheel Slip Central ''

[@bigboybigbird6818]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching your films, thanks again.

[@Pyt3x]

Another great window into the past. Thank you!

[@stevenbrindley2469]

Fantastic filming, great days back then.

[@pauldoggett7801]

Great memories thank you for sharing

[@Steven_Rowe]

I was a London and 15 when streamed ended. The last in London was the Southern at Waterloo which wwew gone by July 67. Up north was a long way and no way i could afford to go. In April 67 I went on a railtour to Birkenhead before Woodside closed. It was diesel to Banbury then Clun Castle to Chester then a Standard 5 to Woodside, it was really my only taste of thexMidland region steam up North.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

I remember the news articles in the railway press at the time about the trip to Birkenhead It looking very interesting.

[@Steven_Rowe]

@@GandyDancerProductions There were two trips on the same day The Birkenhead flyer pulled by 4079 Pendennis Castle and the second train called The Zulu pulled by 7029 Clun Castle. I do remember sometimes in 1967 going through Holinsworth and seeing an 8F going over the road bridge. Also got to see Trolleybuses in Huddersfield.

[@Jbm1996]

Absolutely brilliant as ever. Love all your footage gives some great prototype sources.

[@davebutterworth7414]

Fabulous coverage yet again!! Great narrating ❤

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks.

[@peterjhillier7659]

Wonderful, thanks for sharing.

[@jamesbetts5027]

Interesting to see the Caprotti valve gear in operation on the class 5. Always fascinates me of how simple and minimal it looks but apparently it's actually more complex and costly to implement then piston valve gear.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

The advantage was that there were less components to wear out on the Caprotti.

[@charlesliddell502]

Wonderful stuff. Thank you so much!

[@wideyxyz2271]

Fantastic as always. I do hope Martin Zero is subscribed to this channel?

[@juliancripps1580]

Great stuff . Thanks for sharing.

[@J0nnyGT]

Fantastic stuff

[@mattsmith4605]

Amazing images

[@terencebennison6275]

Still a struggle for those two loco's to get up that bank!

[@robinholland1136]

A great video. I have fond memories of travelling from Leeds to London every year in the 50s to holiday with my mother's parents in Surrey. Getting off at King's Cross and always stopping to look up at the demigod who was in charge of this snorting beast of a locomotive and hoping he'd notice me and give me a 'hello'. I have a question, though. Was the sound recorded live, or has it been added, post filming? Either way, it's very evocative. Thanks for the memories!

[@karlfey]

Thanks!

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks, I really appreciate the help and am glad you enjoyed the film.

[@DavidGlover-u8i]

Excellent footage thanks for posting. How did you record & sync thr sound?

[@spud3607]

Thank you for your hard work bringing these images to life with a sound track, it makes all the difference. Do you remember the "Hot chestnut" man on Victoria bridge?

[@daystatesniper01]

Superb

[@iainrobinson6566]

Thanks

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks for the tip. I appreciate the help.

[@bobyar2001]

Good filming for 8mm. The sound seems to be in sync. How was it recorded?

[@TheSynthnut]

Fabulous as ever, thanks for sharing. Your camera work and composition as a youngster was better than many an old hand. How has the audio been done, it makes such a difference compared to the usual silent footage?!

[@paulturner9765]

I too was a train spotter at Exchange and Victoria stations during your time Jonathan. My memory, now fading alas, seems to recall a tunnel commencing on the left side of the approach to Exchange station which allowed trains to bypass Exchange and Victoria and emerge close to Red Bank. There is no sign of the entrance now as it is part of the AO Arena. Am I imagining this?

[@guytruth5598]

Thank you very much for your film,may I know what is your age now.

[@gedbentley8415]

I lived close to boggart hole clough,and heard the engines in the distance but never saw them, except one we went to Bangor on even then never saw the engine,,,,remember engines lined up at Red Bank for scrap 060s….feel sad and annoyed.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

I used to lie in bed at night, when I lived in Cheetham Hill and hear the engines restarting heavy trains up to Miles Platting with bankers. Wonderful stuff.

[@captainhuggyface6731]

Trainspotting is so unfavorable to me, but if I had a camera and during steam, I'd film steam locomotives everyday

[@trainsimulatordriver]

Nice

[@jameshennighan8193]

WEST JUNCTION MOVES West Junction has not sent the EE Type 4 around Exchange because it would have prevented the Standard 5 completing it's shunting move. It is able to come up to the rear of the DMU because West Junction could operate Permissive Block Working in the station area. The DMU looks to be waiing to get into Platform 3 at Exchange, which will then allow the EE TYpe 4 to take its train through the Centre Road. James Hennighan Yorkshire, England

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks for the insight. I though looking at the film there wasn't much happening on the through roads so the Type 4 could have used them. Also it went right up against the DMU in frustration but that's reading into the film 56 years later.

[@stephensmith799]

M o o d y and M a g n i f I i c e n t 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I can tolerate diesels but I’ll never really like them.

[@MichealRandall-q2x]

Is it not caprotti valve gear as apposed to crosti?,brilliant video though thank you very much for sharing

[@Mr7yhnmki8]

While at a swap meet (boot sale?) in my neighborhood this week I came across a pocket book of “The Standard code of OPERATING RULES - BLOCK SIGNAL RULES - INTERLOCKING RULES. This small book was written by the Association of American Railroads, Operations and Maintenance Department, Operating - Transportation Division Operating Section. It’s noted as, Adopted March 1949, and is 124 pages. It is 100 x 146 x .5 cm. I have read the book and thought you may enjoy owning it. I would mail it to you if your interested. Regards, Gary

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Hi Gary, that's a very generous offer but I have no use for the book your offering. Signalling doesn't really interest me that much.

[@Mr7yhnmki8]

@@GandyDancerProductions I understand and appreciate your response. I’ll offer it to someone here in the states. Cheers.

[@phildeane3790]

Having led the team on restoring Caprotti 73129, do you have any film or pictures of it working?

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Affair not, sorry.

[@lenniecapuano521]

can i ask sir was red bank just sidings or did the tracks got to somewere else

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Yes, they had two through routes connecting to the Manchester/Bury line to the North and an alternative route to oldham and Rochdale to the West.

[@johnhayward7173]

Who didn't own a Duffle coat in the 50/60's. 😊

[@Cobalt-e6f]

Thanks!

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks.

[@staffordian]

Thanks

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks, I really appreciate the help.

[@JDGreenoughAAA]

Thanks!

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the film.

[@vedubaru]

Thanks

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks, I really appreciate the help.

[@chrisdavies1675]

Thanks

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. Glad you liked the film.

[@chrisdavies1675]

Thanks