BBC Steam

[Deltic18]

Just found this link on the BBC website. There's some very good footage. Well worth watching.
www.bbc.co.uk/archive/steamtrains/index.shtml

[locojoe]

A few memories from the old days, thanks for posting this link Deltic18 I found it interesting and as you say well worth watching.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/steamtrains/index.shtml

[giner]

Thanks, deltic, good link. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to view it in this part of the world.

Here's a site I can view that's also worth a good look:
http://www.britishpathe.com/results.php ... rn+railway

[chaz harrison]

Loved the piece about 4472's anniversary non-stop run. It's a long time since I saw that! The briefest of glimpses of Welwyn Garden City (my childhood home town - where I spent many an hour watching trains). Oh, nostalgia....

Chaz

[giner]

Hey Chaz, I used to work at the Broadwater Press in WGC - the old factory about where the multi-storey car park is now. I used to pop round to the station on most lunch hours. Either that or a kickabout with a ball on that green patch between the roundabout and what was the Co-op.

[chaz harrison]

giner,

I remember Broadwater Press. My father used to work for Weatherill Hydraulic, who's factory was at the other end of Tewin Road. My parents moved to WGC when I was seven (1956) and I lived there until I was 18, so I saw the end of steam. I remember seeing 1247 in GNR livery crossing The Ridgeway near Attimore Hall.
Watching the film of 4472's non-stop run was quite emotional for me. The footage of the A3 crossing Digswell Viaduct cuts away just before Welwyn North station comes into view. My father (who died a couple of years ago) and I were waiting on the platform with cameras at the ready that day. Unfortunately neither of us got photos worth keeping, too many other blokes!

Chaz

[brsince78]

I particularly liked the Ransome-Wallis trip on Mallard. Stiff upper lip all the way through even when doing 90 m.p.h. down Stoke Bank!

[brsince78]

Also the BBC2 documentary "4472" covering the 1st May 1968 anniversary (and last) non-stop. This documentary, more than any other thing, planted a seed within me as a six year old when it was first shown. My love of the LNER (not my native railway) and particular its locomotives grew from there.

There is a scene, just prior to the closing titles where the locomotive is seen in very long shot through a simmering heat haze. The documentary was left buried in the BBC archives for many years. I recall attending a talk in the 1980's when Alan Pegler was asked whether there was any chance of unearthing it. He hinted at copyright issues. It was eventually issued in DVD format about 5-10 years ago. Needless to say I bought a copy at once! I vivdly recalled and looked forward to that scene at the end of the film. I hadn't seen it for over 30 years.