The Bristol Railway Archive

Allegedly:

BBC4, Thursday 13 September, 21.00-22.00: The Age of The Train. A look at the HST.

Confirmed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mqv43

"In 1976 a new high-speed train, the Inter-City 125, helped save British Rail, an unfashionable nationalised industry suffering from a financial crisis, industrial relations problems and a poor public image. The train was launched with the help of a memorable advertising campaign, fronted by Sir Jimmy Savile, which announced that the 1980s would be the 'age of the train'. BR had an energetic new boss, Sir Peter Parker, who was determined to revive the railways. The result was a typically British success story, full of surprises and setbacks, as this documentary shows."

Thanks for flagging this up. As someone who was directly involved with HST's around Bristol at the time I shall look forward with interest.

As someone who was directly involved with HST's around Bristol at the time I shall look forward with interest.

You must remember the barrels of coolant for hot summer days?

Ah yes, the green blood which went in the Paxman colanders. Much better once we renewed the alloy exhaust boxes with cast iron ones and developed more robust cylinder head joints.

On one occasion in the 80's, the CMEE forbade us from topping coolant en route on the basis that we were treating the symptoms and not the cause. From an engineering perspective, he was absolutely correct of course. Putting cold coolant in a hot engine did it no good at all. But then, performance did suffer especially over the South Devon banks where running on one engine is somewhat restricted by clearly defined rules. It was a directive which we slowly eroded on the quiet in order to keep the service running.

Ah yes, the green blood which went in the Paxman colanders. Much better once we renewed the alloy exhaust boxes with cast iron ones and developed more robust cylinder head joints.

And to think they retired Maybachs in favour of these!

Happy days ... A 45 gallon drum of coolant on a trolley at every station stop. Guess that's what was called progress!

The Virgin Cross Country boys went one better and carried a 45 gallon drum of spare coolant in the guards vans of their power cars so they didn't have to limp into the next fill up point on one engine. I never saw one being used in the flesh but I believe it was connected into the system somehow so it could be pumped in possibly with an air supply or a hand pump.

Bump.

Tonight (13th) at 9:00.

Fell asleep several times as it was so boring. I had the DVD player on just in case so might try and watch it again later to see what I missed. Did anyone think it was any good?

the green mile wrote:Fell asleep several times as it was so boring. I had the DVD player on just in case so might try and watch it again later to see what I missed. Did anyone think it was any good?

It wasn't what I was expecting, but it didn't send me to sleep

I suppose you could summarise it as more politics than Paxman engines!

A little too light hearted at times but the basis of a good story in between. Ray Buckton came across in a negative manner (how else!!!) but I believe they are one of the most comfortable means of travel on Britain's railways (as long as you get a seat by a window).

would have liked to have seen a bit more technical and a bit less maggie

Not what I was expecting, and a bit political at times, but still enjoyable though with nice shots of HST and APT.

I recognised Box tunnel and Sydney Gardens (without a fence!).

was certainly interesting to see Box from a position not normaly seen by travelling public

In between throwing ZZZZZ's at the ceiling, I noticed Temple Meads and the old Bath Road signalbox got a look in, plus Swindon station.

Did Sir Peter Parker come across in a good light? I think it was recognised at the time that he was doing us a lot of good, as of course did Chris Green with Network South East. Men of vision as opposed to the government yes men we had been lumbered with previously.