New series just started on Ch 5 (UK) which went from Elgin to Lossiemouth then along the coast taking in the whiskey and fishing trades. Fascinating first episode, next week in Yorkshire. One advert break also mentioned a new model railway series starting in October also on Ch 5?!! Cheers Ron (Now on Ch5+1!)
Saw the last 15 minutes or so. The presenter is pretty good but his knowledge of railways per se is not good enough for the show. He had some help from a couple of "Rail Buffs", (bloody awful term) regarding an occupation bridge in the middle of a field and the bridge like Paul L's was impressive. The Model Rail show coming in October has had quite a lot of coverage in the modelling press and farcebook, I hope they don't try and make us modellers look a little sad but the presenters/judges swear it will be done properly. Pete.
I do like Rob Bell the presenter, having watched several series He's recently done. He seems like a modern day Fred Dibnah to me, inasmuch as He is enthusiastic about his subject of Engineering, whereas presenters like Dan Cruikshank with his monotone voice, sounds like Clement Freud and can make the most fascinating subjects excruciatingly boring and sleep inducing! Those in the UK with Sky TV may have seen Rob's "Abandoned Engineering" series amongst others, but as has already been said, the "Model Railway Adventure" forthcoming series remains to be seen wether or not TV attempts to portray us modellers as 'Saddo's'. As a walk leader with our village walking group, I've done several 'Abandoned Railway' walks, including the Cromford and High Peak, Manifold Valley from Hulme End, and the High Peak line from Bakewell to Buxton, as they're all fairly local to me, and where I can, I try to do railway walks in other parts of the country when I'm travelling around. Having seen the 'trailer' for Rob's series, It looks like one of his 'adventures' is absailing down from the "Millers Dale" viaduct on the High Peak line........I'll stick to walking, thanks! Keith.
The model railway series is called 'The Great Model railway Challenge'. Chanel 5 have now confirmed that the first episode of The Great Model Railway Challenge will be broadcast at 8pm on Channel 5 on Friday 5th October. It will run for 6 weeks. Check out this link for more info : https://peco-uk.com/blogs/news/great-model-railway-challenge Cheers, Gary.
Well 3 episodes in, what do you think?? I think he's doing well and I for one am enjoying it! As for the Great Model Railway challenge, enjoying it till they added the ladies shoe and lipstick!! Thought that was a bit too much! Two of the layouts I thought were good and usable but the Jurassic Park one I thought was naf with hardly any operating (play!) potential!! Your thoughts?? Ron
Not watched the third one yet, having recorded it for later. The one on the 'Woodhead Line' was quite interesting, and I can remember the "Woodhead Electric's" coming into Sheffield Victoria over the "Wicker Arches" in Sheffield from my youth, one of these "Electric's" being preserved in the NRM York. When at my Sons on our usual 'Thursday childcare' day the other day, I was surprised to see that Son at the age of nearly 44, is beginning to develop an interest in BR Blue era Diesels, Electrics, EMU's and DMU's from the books He's bought recently, together with another book about the life of the Woodhead Line. Despite having twin 8 year old Son's of his own (who have NO interest whatsoever in railways!) I don't somehow see him heading into model railways as a hobby anytime soon, sadly. As for the "Model Railway Challenge", again, I've recorded it for watching later, judgement when I've seen it! Keith.
I wouldn't rush Keith. Well, not for me anyway. I think they tried to use to much of the reality TV format for me. It doesn't work for this subject in my opinion. It all felt a bit false and boring.
I think the latest Walking Lost Railways was the best of the series so far. Model Railway Challenge, well, it definitely didn't live up to the hype. I don't think the producers knew what they were doing, the format wasn't what I expected, to build a layout in 3 days was ridiculous, and expecting the builders to scratch build a scenic item out of a ladies shoe and lipstick was stupid. I reckon this series is aimed at those with no knowledge of modelling and gives the wrong impression. I don't think I will bother watching the rest. Pete.
Having now watched the start of this "Challenge", I reckon I'm with Pete on this one........Shoes and lipstick??? Are they attempting to stimulate female interest in this hobby, 'recycling' items like this! I can't see how it's possible to judge teams against each other when blocks of 3 teams are given different criteria rather than all asked to construct along the same lines. It's a bit like looking at sculptures, pictures or whatever, one persons judgement doesn't necessarily equate to another's, and "ART" is very subjective anyway. I'm not personally an 'Arty' person, but having said that, I know what I like, and so far, this series looks a waste of time to me. I'll stick to the "Walking Lost Railways" series! Keith .
Hello All, this programme was on SBS Channel 3 / 31 last week ( May 2019 ) in Melbourne, Australia, and while I generally found it to be informative, the presenter gave me the distinct impression that he had clearly not done much research prior to filming the show, and that I do find to be disappointing / annoying. A bit more preliminary research would have enabled basic historical background to be stated and the interviews could then be used to flesh out the details. It was also noticeable that the reasons for the decline and eventual closure were also not discussed. As I understand it, this was one line, amongst others, which received trainloads of grain from East Anglia in those blue BRT grain whisky billboard hopper wagons of 1966, initially made famous by Trix in 4mm scale , TOPS code PAA ( ref www.paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brtgraincovhop ). As the quantity of whisky being made by these distilleries are quite sizeable , then why did the railway loose the traffic ? According to the distiller being interviewed, they still make a considerable quantity of whisky, presumably still use East Anglian grain, and also still export the bulk of it. If all of this is true, then how does road transport cope with the presumed large inward and outwards tonnage ? Do any of our Scottish members have an explanation please ? Regards, Echidna ( who is not partial to whisky, sorry about that . )
Simple answer is probably Dr Richard Beaching who closed 2/3rds of the UK network in the 1960’s. There are many now being discussed to be reopened, but sadly, many lines were duplicated (built by competing companies). My own town once had 4 stations (2 more than the nearby city!) and three separate companies running north to south through the town. The Great Central, Great Northern and the London Midland. The GN and GC became LNER after 1924 and they all became British Railways in 1948... so something had to give. By the 1970’s none of the stations were open, and only 1 route survives to this day, which used two of the above original routes with a diversion to avoid a level crossing in the town. (The LMS has the Crossing and a deviation was put in place in 1972 to link it to the GN line) the GC went all together and is now infilled and a road built on some of its former alignment.. As to why the whiskey stopped going by rail in Scotland, I haven’t a clue.. but the above may give you an idea.
