When people talk about the war, they always mention the Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors, sometimes the women workers or the firemen etc, you never hear anything of the railwaymen. What a colossal effort that whole logistical nightmare was. With not a computer in sight, all done with pencil, paper and grey matter, and with a railway system that was essentially clapped right out towards the end (and a long time after). When you throw in the fact they were also a target and being bombed it's all the more remarkable.

fantastic video. I was 9 years old when this was made. Just started trainspotting..Now look at the state of the country..

@RADS190

10 ай бұрын

You grew up and lived your life through the best years 1930-2000. Nowadays the whole world is a "socialist 1984ish" joke. I'm 36 and to be honest, have seen enough! 😡😔

@thedave7760

26 күн бұрын

@@RADS190 I'm 20 years older than you and you are totally correct so glad that not everyone younger than me is oblivious. Thanks you give me hope.

Thank you for posting these magnificent films! They are a great time capsule of an era that needs to be remembered.

Fact is that the second world war knackered the UK railways. They never recovered from it. Locomotives, coaches, and freight rolling stock were simply worn out after it. Right up to the 1960's BR was still reliant on a railway, locomotives, rolling stock, and infrastructure that were simply clapped out. And when BR decided to do away with steam it was a shame to see so many locomotives that had done their bit over the years simply run into the ground and scrapped without a second thought. Right after that we had the likes of Marples and Beeching hand in glove cutting the UK railways to shreds to force freight onto the roads. Hell I have even got 63776's (a Langwith Junction loco) smokebox number plate on my wall (along with her photo). She was a 2-8-0 Robinson 02. These locomotives could pull a house down! She was scrapped on 24th December 1962, but the surprising thing was that she was built in 1918. Worn out. Knackered! The thousands of miles that engine must have travelled mainly hauling coal. But some engines like 2-10-0 9F's (Spaceships) were only 5 years old when BR scrapped steam. Why did they ever build them? What a waste. Scrapping them was sacrilege.

@eastbaykidd8574

Жыл бұрын

We had a similar issue in US and Canada with our railroads heavily used and rolling stock worn out, but we had one saving grace in that diesel-electric locomotive technology had improved enough in the 1930's that by the time we were gearing up to a wartime economy in 1940-1941, we had a reasonably successful freight (goods) locomotive design (The EMC/EMD 4-unit, 5400HP FT), workable passenger locomotives from the same company, and several companies (EMD/Alco/Baldwin/GE/Whitcomb) producing reliable switching (shunting) locomotives all the way from 150 to 1000 HP. The use of those locomotives in heavy, demanding service during the war gave the manufacturers plenty of data on which to make improvements to those designs which resulted in a huge post-war building boom for diesel-electrics. Only a few railroads continued to build steam locomotives in the US, the last ones being around 1948. Steam locomotives were pretty much relegated to museums and excursion use in the US by 1960, Canada a few years later, so when BR was bringing many of its first generation diesels on line, were are already on our second generation.

@jackx4311

Жыл бұрын

But what few people know is that this was the outcome of the Labour and Liberal parties (who were in sole charge of the Home Front) deliberately demanding that the railways run thousands of extra and heavily loaded trains, yet only paying them the income they were getting in 1937! According to official records, this was discussed in a Lab / Lib cabinet meeting in about 1943, when somebody pointed out that, by the end of the war, the railways would be bankrupt - and the Labour lot said that was the idea, as it would enable them to nationalise the railways! Even worse, when they did so, they only paid the shareholders a fraction of their true value, AND kept them waiting for years for their money. Labour politicians and union bosses? Self-serving *SCUM* who couldn't give a toss about the working class!

@MrMoggyman

Жыл бұрын

@@eastbaykidd8574 But with the forward progression of technology steam could even make a return. Steam locomotives, at least in the UK, had more tractive power than the diesels they were replaced by. If some form of heat source to raise steam other than coal could be provided, then, in a time of increasing oil costs and scarcity, steam could become yet again another viable alternative on the railways. It maybe a time off yet, but it is on the horizon.

@stephenrice4554

Жыл бұрын

A lost opportunity for a rolling replacement ?

@Jaidencharlotte

10 ай бұрын

@@MrMoggymanthrowback to 2017 when 60163 “Tornado” was called in to replace diesels on the Settle to Carlisle line cuz the diesels couldn’t run in the weather

What a fantastic piece of history. So many great scenes for railway enthusiasts but more broadly a great reminder of the unbelievable efforts carried out by the British people during the war. I hope all these historical films are being archived the way our National film and sound archive does here in Australia. Thank you so much for sharing this.👍

@BennettBrookRailway

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

I love trains and want to travel back in time on one. Start off at Waterloo in 2023 and travel to the south coast and reach Bognor in 1965. That would be great! Great vid here, thanks for posting.

@DeadlyKiss000

9 ай бұрын

@@SWRural No, Clapham Junction actually in which your starting point can be Waterloo train station as they both obviously connect up.

What an incredible piece of history thanks for posting this

Great to see & hear, these old video's of a past day,. Thanks to all those who made this great video.

This is fascinating viewing! Naturally a bit rosy tinted, but it's a great window on the sights and stories of the war years. Thanks for posting.

Interesting film always enjoy the Public information films... My father was in the second world war and won an Iron Cross he was on the other side

"Arh, we need to lay some track. Make sure yer tie ain't crooked!"

Thanks for sharing...

These films are so inspirational, but then I look out the window, look at society and think where did it all go wrong! Thanks for uploading this classic.

@beeble2003

3 жыл бұрын

You think that life today is worse than it was during World War II? Are you out of your mind?

@beeble2003

3 жыл бұрын

@Rick James The poster's point appears to be that everything was wonderful and perfect in the past, but everything is total shit, now. The poster is wrong.

@beeble2003

3 жыл бұрын

@Rick James So why don't you tell me the point, instead of gloating over how stupid I am to have missed it?

@steveluckhurst2350

3 жыл бұрын

@Rick James well can you please explain the point to me? Because I see no sense in the original post either.

@steveluckhurst2350

3 жыл бұрын

@Rick James How very decent of you. I only asked for an explanation (which you claim to have). I don't recall a previous conversation.

The accent of the narrator is an interesting example of how language has changed over less than 80 years.

@kenstevens5065

Ай бұрын

The same can be said for the music so typical of the time.

This is amazing.

@legacycarrion3093

3 жыл бұрын

Yes its very interesting

Very good film!!

11:26 extremely rare footage of the LMS Beyer Garratt in service. Only 33 of these “British Chesapeakes” were ever built. Sadly none of these babes survived into preservation.

Such jolly music for such a horrifying time of history

Brilliant a long lost view of the Eastern railway

A wonderful film - but people complain about intrusive background music nowadays, seems they were suffering from the same problem in the 40s!

Priceless

Unfortunately Mr. Cholmondeley-Warner failed to mention the fact that the Rail network was virtually falling to pieces at the time of filming.

Keep calm and carry on.

God save Britain's railways

@Finglesham

3 жыл бұрын

Probably ,He is the only one now.

@davidwebber814

3 жыл бұрын

Please

@GNRA1GreatNorthern1470

3 жыл бұрын

?

does anybody know what the music is? I swear I heard it in another archived railway film

Nostalgia pure everybody all together galvanised the country. Railways bankruptcy after the war…

I feel like I've heard the music somewhere eles before...

God to be an essential worker then running the trains. Heck at least you could see the enemy.

0:35 What music is that?

Little did they know what was to come, starting less than 10 years after victory, station closures, staff cuts and finally tracks uprooted, then the final indignity Dr Beeching. It was said that the railways won the war, a little exaggeration but not far off, its a pity they were run down, and almost thrown away in favour of road traffic, look at where that led!

I think that was Rugby at 2:54

I love these old railway films. And wartime kinda puts this current pandemic into perspective.

@beagle7622

3 жыл бұрын

Yes it does.

@neiloflongbeck5705

3 жыл бұрын

The Spanish flu period would be a better comparison of today.

@ollylewin

3 жыл бұрын

We might come back to this yet. Only this time we will be fighting the government.

@EndtimeElijah

2 жыл бұрын

SCAM-demic it has all been lies.

@paulprescott7913

2 жыл бұрын

@@EndtimeElijah would agree.

How did signals function during the blackout? Were colour lights exempt?

@ollylewin

3 жыл бұрын

They had slits, if at all. Most of the drivers taking that route knew it by feel. Sounds nuts but it's true.

@ProfessorPesca

3 жыл бұрын

@@ollylewin That is some route knowledge - particularly when you don’t have a great big windscreen to look out of

Although, despite the voice-over, the railways in 1939 were still in a fairly dire state after the ravages of the previous war, 20 years earlier. They were suffering too from the decline in passenger numbers and freight, revenue all being diverted by the growing numbers of private cars and ex-WWI lorries. Still, makes for good propaganda...good images though.

BR was worn out after the war, maintenance was by necessity a matter of fixing things when they went wrong, rather that more planned' and substantial work.

thought i saw a garratt at 11:26 ? anyway good video, as always :)

@thomashenderson3901

3 жыл бұрын

Looks soemthing like that.

@yaboi5932

3 жыл бұрын

It is a Garratt

@edwardj.ximipa3125

3 жыл бұрын

@@yaboi5932 i rarely see one of those :)

@rwhb1

3 жыл бұрын

I also thought it was a Garrett but the rear end looked like a rear bunker loco, almost like a 4F pushing a snow plough. Would love to know what it was, but am sure not a Garrett. Also most LMS Garretts had round coal bunkers ( that always used to jam)!

@kiwitrainguy

2 жыл бұрын

It's a Garratt alright, some of the early LMS ones had square coal bunkers. I have a model of one myself.

LMS made some fantastic locos royal scots jubilees 8fs fairburn tanks ivatt class 2-6-0s and 2-6-2 tanks

And after the war the railways were told to go forth and multiply.

05:36 I think he needs to re-take his PTS course!

yet, another foggy day with rugged rubber baby bumpers

Note the use of the term United Nations which was the legal term for the nations fighting in alliance, the Soviet Union was a co belingerent partner not an ally as it was not part of the allied command. The UN owes it's origin to the participants of ww2 and NATO is derived from allied Europe command

God Save The British Steam Railways.

And after the war the Government said ~~~~~ we don't want you now, but don't go away in case there's another war.

@jackx4311

Жыл бұрын

Pretty much what they said to the armed forces.

🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🏨⛩️⛩️⛩️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🚂🚞🚃🚃🚄🚄🚂🚂🚂🚃🚃🚞🚃🛤️🚋🛤️🛤️🚞🚄🚄🚞🚃🛤️🚋🚋🚋🚋🛤️🛤️🛤️🛣️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🛤️🛤️🚋🛤️🚃🚞🚃🛤️🚋🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🚂🚃🚃🚞🚞

11:46

British man

We taught the world, we led the world in innovation, saved Europe from tyranny and now we’re treated as a second class country, what happened? We had to pay our war debts the defeated and repatriated didn’t, they put their money into electrification and modernisation and Britain suffered no investment, but a lovely slice of life nonetheless

@chrisround941

3 жыл бұрын

Remember this, we have pride. We owe no one, the world owes us. The people we saved then hate us now, according to the eu yesterday we are to be treated like a rogue state, Tusk reserved for us a special place in hell, they rubbish our vaccines and steal our supplies. But we still hold our heads up, we are a proud nation and with good cause. We taught the world before, we will do it again, but with one difference, we will never ever forget the treatment of us by people who are referred to at government level as friends allies and colleagues, in fact they have proven themselves as enemies

@ianhanrahan825

3 жыл бұрын

Wrong. You have CHOSEN to be a 'second class' country. Let me see your victim card... Ah yes... You are a victim; of the god-awful gutter press and MP's who have little interests except their own. No one's at war. No one wants to be your enemies. But, if you consider yourselves superior, then on your own head be it. The Nation you all pander for in these videos has moved on. It dosen't exist. There is no British Empire anymore. Good luck with your pride and sovereignty.

@mandyellis876

3 жыл бұрын

‘You’ meaning England, did NOT save Europe from tyranny alone! As I recall, ‘you’ had MASSIVE assistance from the commonwealth nations who sent millions of men and women to fight and die in theatres of war thousands of miles from their homes! Never forget that alone, Britain would not have ‘won the war’! Unbelievable that your memory is so short that you conveniently overlook this fact!

@chrisround941

3 жыл бұрын

@@mandyellis876 Well said.

@timhill9189

2 жыл бұрын

If you led the world on innovation. that phase was already over by the 1880s. The UK got more from the Marshall Fund than Germany, over a third more. What do you mean the defeated didn't pay 'war debt'? This is more Brexit-tabloid-English nationalist self-pity.

They made jolly good films then. Really informative with no moaning or carping. Unlike nowadays. What a dump now the UK is.

0:01 isnt that american?

Might have helped to get industry going first ,like the railways, which is what the French and Germans did. We didn’t we spent our Marshall aid on New houses and the NHS .Backwards thinking no change there then.

@jackx4311

Жыл бұрын

The Marshall Aid was squandered on nationalising everything in sight; the vast majority of new houses built from 1945 to 1951 were built by the private sector, and *not* by the Labour government or Labour councils.

And what reward did those companies get for their maximim effort and running down of maintenance? - Compensation based upon 1939 receipts and then Nationalisation as a punishment for being unacceptably run-down.

Marveless ai'nt it, I remember that time when the Jerman's tried to kill us. 🤡🤡

Railway propaganda at its best !!

Not so much where did it go wrong but when.