Whistle While You Work - Class 40 (Reworked)

[@andrewrussell4707]

The 1955 ‘transition plan’ seems to have had made the same fundamental error as our recent transition from ICE to EV power in Britains car industry. This documentary illustrates again that the transition from steam to diesel should have been spread over many years, rather than the politicians choosing a number and telling the industry’s involved to get on with it. History does repeat itself, especially in Britain it would appear. It is strange to think that in 1955 Britain had plenty of coal and water, but had to import diesel. Was the economic impact of the 1955 transition fully debated? Did the politicians understand the economic impact buying the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of diesel this change would require? Excellent video as usual!!

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

If you don't set targets and cut off dates then you don't get action, especially with industries that are ready to do polluting and old ways. EVs are cheaper to run and guess what, you will still be able to buy second hand petrol cars and petrol for decades.

[@jonmoll7178]

​@RichardFraser-y9t Spoken like a true politician... The push to diesel cars 'for the environment' got quietly sidelined a few years ago didn't it 😂

[@andrewrussell4707]

@@RichardFraser-y9tYou must work in HR or catering, if you worked in an engineering department you would better understand that optimistic production targets cost lots and lots of money, especially when you are producing and developing a design that is new technology, and not producing the desired results. EV cars are a good comparison to the early diesel locos of 1955. Today in 2024 EV’s are not fit for purpose, there is not charging infrastructure that is trusted by the consumer and generally there is a lack of enthusiasm for electric cars. (check out the financial crisis at VW in Germany) That statement, ‘EV’s are cheaper to run’ is not even vaguely accurate.

[@J-Bahn]

The rationale at the time was that imported oil was cheaper than domestic coal. Moreover, the other advantage behind diesels was, ideally, they required less maintenance (and less specialized maintenance) than steam locomotives, and thus lower operating costs. It was also expected that electric trains powered by nuclear energy (at the time expected to be the future of electric generation) would eventually extend to most of Britain’s railways, so most diesels would only be a stopgap.

[@oscarknight3588]

ironically, in 1955, a direct, gradual transition from steam to electric would have been the ideal path of development, as Riddles had intended with his BR Standards. Whereas today the ideal transition would be one to hydrogen rather than electric. All a story of corruption in Government and backhanded deals.

[@majorbloodnok6659]

It's that warbling sound as they went by; the first few moments of the video took me back 40+ years. Thank you.

[@TDCIYB77]

Your voice over always makes me nostalgic; It sounds like some BBC voice over from ancient times. An I am not even British (German). :)

[@J-Bahn]

20:20 as an American and someone who grew up with the Thomas and friends franchise, the class 40 diesels were the first British diesels I was familiar with, along with the 08s of course.

[@hbscouse]

D213 Andania was the loco that my Grandfather drove on his last shift in the mid 60's, we recently found a black and white photo of him leaning out of the cab at the end of that shift. Thanks to the help of Locomotive Sevices Ltd who now look after and run the beautifully turned out loco we were able to recreate the picture when Andania returned to Crewe after a whistling highlander rail tour.

[@arthurrytis6010]

I never had a 40 on a passenger train in my time as a second man at KC but we would invariably have one on a freightliner from KC goodsyard to Newcastle.what a cold frigid turn that was in the winter.

[@thatcheapguy525]

thanks Roddy. the Class 40s for me were the engines I most loved as a child. their looks and sound were iconic as were the way you felt them as they pulled away at full power

[@petersmith4455]

great video,pleased some cl 40's are saved, remember when D200 was saved, i think Peter Kelly was involved with this, as i remember donating some money in the 80's

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Reworked, rewatched. Thanks RMV. 🇦🇺

[@LadySophieofHougunManor7325]

Fantastic video as always and jam packed with information

[@Para2normal]

I lived very close to the WCML and loved the 40's in the late 70's and early 80's, I may be wrong but they were often on the Sellafield runs.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Their work on North Wales boat trains from Manchester to Holyhead was almost right to the end of their use.

[@myriaddsystems]

He's still a beautiful looking loco, even with that horrible day-glo yellow muzzle

[@jackmellor5536]

Good to see this video back

[@drstevenrey]

Nice rework. It still looks sad and has a long face, like Britain as a whole.

[@myriaddsystems]

This country that's sick Sad and confused Here comes another winter...

[@drstevenrey]

@@myriaddsystems Why DO they have such a problem with winter. Here in Dawson, YT, Canada it is a nice and cozy minus 20 C, and that is pretty not so cold here.

[@chriswalford4161]

⁠@@drstevenrey: You get dry cold; we get wet cold, hovering either side of 0 C; and it changes fast because the weather blows in from the Atlantic. And we winge🙂

[@Shark30006]

Your channel needs 1M subscribers

[@吳秉樺-b7j]

Many old british diesel engine sounds like tractor engine, with distinct separate exhaust pop.

[@Billyclark51]

Nice work, mate!

[@myriaddsystems]

When English Electric meant something to this country

[@GeneralTrainGuy]

i wish there was a mention of the class 37 as the 37 has an almost same cab design, body design but isnt a type 4 but a type 3.

[@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH]

Was the same body used for the class 37s 40s & the legendary Deltic? Was the Deltic body longer that the class 37s& 40s to acomadate the extra engine?

[@GeneralTrainGuy]

@@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH the deltic body was longer to accommodate the 2 power plants and yes it probably was the same body

[@BobAbc0815]

Passing on the great Train Heist Engine is a weird Decission for a Museum. After all, everyone has heard of this one.

[@MidlandProductions]

Could you do a video on the railway cranes? the ones in Britain specifically, I would like to know the history of them and how many of them are left + operational

[@DKS225]

Especially when they were nicknamed Whistlers.

[@abloogywoogywoo]

That 40 in the great train robbery must’ve been cursed, it was always getting into accidents.

[@Shark30006]

Shame that D326, D399 and the rest of the prototypes D201-D209 weren’t saved for preservation

[@22pcirish]

We should have taken note of European railways that put steam boilers into converted carriages allowing a more powerful locomotive that would have been easy to convert to ETS at a later date.

[@RobPaulNotPeter]

Moar axles!

[@flyingcod14]

great video, you should do the Class 25 Rat.

[@dogbadger]

They were poor performers for the most part but I love the look of the 40 - particularly disk head code version in dirty BR blue with red buffer beams - much nicer than the peaks

[@pandawok301]

Not bad, I’ve seen worse, at least you’re all clean.

[@w00dt0rchshowsandmods2]

I knew someone would say that.

[@davidcave7986]

Duck and Stepney pushed the Bowler into a siding

[@lt.bagelbites6969]

do a video on the S160s please! They are some of my favorite locos!

[@mcjdubpower]

Gud vid sir 😃

[@drstevenrey]

Reliability. What was actually the problem that caused this abysmal reliability quota. It's not like this engine was rocket science.

[@danielboone3770]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@a11csc]

😊😊👍👍❤❤

[@Alan-ln3ls]

pedant/ "Uninterested", not "disinterested" - they are not synonymous. /pedant

[@leonperry123]

Why not show the trains to demonstrate the class type's. type 1 and you show a class 31. Type 2-3 and you show wagons. Please show footage to match the script. The footage just seems too random.

[@anthonycrompton6922]

Stop moaning

[@PhilMacVee]

Is it just me or do I find that you recycle much of your output?