London to Brighton revisited

[Iron Duke]

A very interesting & enjoyable film.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23853863

It would have been amazing if something similar had been carried out on the ECML.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all
I can remember the original film and I am suprised that it wasn't repeated for th ECML as there were non-stop runs and even a cinema car on some services.
The track has been speeded up considerably (even since 1983), eg redundant sidings north of Earlswood station were removed and the Quarry tunnel exit made a smoother curve with 90mph limit as opposed to the 40/50 mph exit that it was.
It is interesting how passenger habits have changed. The Brighton Belle pullman was well used and there were single pullman carriages on several other electric sets.
The buffet cars (bars) were very busy with people having a drink on the way home. If me and my pals were going drinking (I originally typed drunking which is possibly more accurate) in Brighton, we used to catch a train from Redhill to Croydon and then get a semi-fast to Brighton which had a bar (buffet).
Earlswood nob

[giner]

Good points, en. I think you need a good familiarity with the route (I've only ever been down that once, circa 1956). Three adjacent screens at that speed bamboozled my eyes to the extent that watching it made it a waste of time for me, I'm afraid.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all
As you say one needs to know the route.
The part I mentioned is about 1min55sec into it. The curve is a lot sharper in the first two films. This is followed by disused part of Earlswood Station in the two earliest films and merely a single platform edge in the latest film.
Earlswood Nob signal box doesn't appear as that was demolished and resited when the line was quadrupled in 1897-99.
EN

[Trestrol]

It would have been amazing if something similar had been carried out on the ECML.[/quote]

They did, With the introduction of the IC125 to the ECML the British Transport Films did a Peterborough to London version.