Britain's Greatest Machines With Chris Barrie - S02E04: Trains - The Steam Pioneers (5.1 DPL II, HD) 

When I was born I MAGICALLY liked trains, and that’s what I’m born for, liking trains

It's great to see that Rimmer has mastered a topic. Undeniably he will always be a smeghead however it is a fascinating documentary taught simply. Thank you to all involved; for a look at the efforts of the guardians of this history and some stories of the history itself. Good Work Chaps!

I'm still looking for his collection of 20th century telegraph poles. Chris is a good presenter. I love it.

There can be nothing but admiration for the long line of British achievements in technology. They changed the world. Newcomen’s engine was the real game changer. Sure, there were earlier experiments with steam, but this was a prime mover that worked. It opened avenues for improvement, adaptation and innovation

I'm pleasantly surprised by the fact that all these fully functional replicas exist!

Unbelievable. Thanks to the work of Captain Dick 200years ago, we now can now put smegheads in space. Lovely to see Chris present this :)

I used to love watching this when I was 4, Thanks algorithm gods

Absolutely wonderful video history of the beginning of the industrial revolution and the birth of modern transportation. The railroad.

What a fantastic watch! The way that Chris Barrie presents these programs makes it really easy to take in the information and fun to watch! Although there was a little tinge of sadness at the part where he drives the replica of Planet. That took place at Manchester's museum of science & industry, located in the original Liverpool road station, but due to a new loop of mainline track connecting Manchester's two main stations, Victoria & Piccadilly, Its no longer possible for the museum to run Planet as the remaining stretch of track is too small. Not that the museum isnt worth a visit anymore! far from it! Thankyou very much for uploading these!

Might be the best documentary I've ever seen. Would love to make a replica of one these bad boys and make a tourist railroad with all the abandoned track in this country laying around.

What a fantastic series; I hope ALL of them are available on YT here.

12:01 “and what about the brake?” “Oh, don’t worry about that.”

Got to love history of steam engines

"Sir, could we take a break for a while, it appears my intelligence circuits have melted..."

This is by far the best documentary I've ever seen give it to the Brits for preserving their beloved history the rocket train the humor of the narrator.. this could be a box office movie.. very good

Very informative. Amazing replicas. Fascinating!

I now have a whole new appreciation for Richard Trevithick.

Awesome historical train video. The working examples of original & replica units were fantastic to see and everyone involved in the maintaining or building of such should be commended greatly. I learned a lot from this video and as a rail enthusiast who has rode trains all around the world, it was important for me to learn about the British originators, designs & concepts during this evolutionary time frame. Thank you so much for posting it. AA++ Rating

Fantastic programme, many thanks to all who made this wonderful window into the past possible.

I just can't take Chris Barrie seriously. I always see Rimmer. Gift and curse of Chris Barrie.

Absolutely great documentary. Excellent.

...a true piece of british engineering history.....magic....

"Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast" What a guy!

Fantastic explanation of the evolution of steam power and its transformation of the entire world.

We now may find all these steam engines funny things, but just think about them for a few moments, and then they become a fantastic invention back then.

I love Barrie's docs! They are extremely informative and interesting.

My mum was proud of her first job ( 1939 ) as a typist in the railways office at Stockton; the building where the first ever railway ticket had been sold.

Great video. Look forward to watching more of this kind!

The fact that I am shocked at how sincere Chris Barrie can be, is a testament to his acting skills on that show he's really well known for.

Holy crap I was taught the first automobile was invented in the late 1800s not 1802.That steam trike has got to be the first automobile

I love this train show! thanks for the upload.

very entertaining and well researched and presented, excellent video

Can believe how well these parts are machined??

Love the sound and power of steam

Beautiful! Thank you.

I thoroughly enjoyed that! Took me a a couple of minutes to get over Chris Barrie (Rimmer) as presenter, but his wry humor worked!

Steam engines are dangerous. 1700s: *BUILD BIGGER!*

I found it truly amazing that technology spread at an incredibly fast pace almost two centuries ago. Within two decades from the first run the steam locomotion arrived in Itsndia and regular train service began - with the permanent infrastructure on ground as well as the rolling stock. That'd be a breakneck speed even for today's projects of similar size using all the modern technology. Truly truly a great feat. It was all done for money for sure, but that's beside the point.

I love this series! Thank you!

OMG I'M IN THIS!!!! Thanks, Guys, for giving me back my nostalgia!

fantastic video.. i love it

The Steam Engine is indeed the greatest British invention!

Guys you just cannot imagine how much I love these documentaries just Brilliant informative educational n historically amazing for someone like me who knows nothing these are God send thanks

Super video nicely made thanks a ton. I wish in my childhood these were available

Nice video,thanks for sharing life with enthusiasm awesome

us, the British, are a nation that values our history and its good we've brought back the original greats that brought about these revolutionary changes in the world with these replicas for everyone to see and learn from, but we are now also building brand new steam engines. The people that built BR 60163 Tornado, the first BR locomotive for 40 years, are currently well into building a brand new LNER P2 Class locomotive called "Prince of Wales" and it is NOT a replica because it is continuing the class and will be numbered 2007.

Already knew most of this stuff, but watched all of this video and really enjoyed it. A great story teller with plenty of humour and irony included. An ideal presenter with excellent 'filming' & editing.....enjoyed.

Superb presentation. I believe I have watched and enjoyed this at least 20 times and discover something new everytime!.

Still can't get over Ace Rimmer talking about locomotives

Not as big of a train guy as I was when I was young, but this is really interesting. Good bit of watching. :)

Wonderful! Every minute. Amazing. So much like the development of airplanes 100 years later.

Love the old days. I love to see the old trains with my own eyes. My dream

I am a train and I approve this video

2 1/2 minues in and I'm all like, "Holy %#$& It's RIMMER!"

This is very nice, thank you very much for uploading it

Magnificent Heritage and documentary.

4:12 wait so one of the first functioning steam powered engines was built by a man named Thomas? Maybe it’s fate

38:51 Not exactly the smoothest set of tracks I've ever seen.

Great video. thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

Chris Barrie is good at this.

Love Britanniens there great👍🏽👍🏽💯

15:42 The "Half in the Bag" piano music, "Fifth Avenue Stroll" by Glenda Austin.

A very cool show - thanks to all who were involved. Robert in Seattle

As a loyal fan of Red Dwarf here in the states, I'm a bit surprised to admit that I didn't recognize Rimmer. He looks better now that he's not that character anymore. Good seeing him, though!

I'll be honest, I wish the steam age was brought back😞. I know steam machines are less efficient, but they definitely beat modern machines for fascination.

kudos to the brits for keeping so many of the super early ones around, the originals at that

Just found this. Superb! :-D

"running almost silently" He says as he has to yell over it.

Ahhhhh, I love British docs

Very nice . Right after watching a doc on shinkansen , watching this increases my respect towards these machines . அருமை . Bravo .

Its so interesting to see how trains all started

Both Newcomen's and James Watt's engines were condensing engines, not expansion or "pressure" engines. Both produced the power stroke by using the vacuum produced by the condensing of steam in a cylinder. Both designs used a "walking beam" to convert the downward motion of the cylinder on its power stroke into a lifting motion for pumping water from mines. The cylinders available at that time were very crude, and could not contain high pressure - there is a piston from a Watt engine in the science museum in London. As I recall, the piston is a rough casting, about 5 feet in diameter, with a concave outer rim. The concavity in the rim was wound with rope to act as a seal between the piston and the cylinder wall. Watt recognized that the Newcomen engine was inefficient since it required the cylinder to be heated and cooled for each power stroke. Watt improved upon Newcomen's condensing engine by adding a separate condensor to the power piston, separated by a valve. Hot steam entered the cylinder while this valve was closed, then the valve would open when the piston reached the top of its stroke, allowing the steam in the cylinder to enter the condensor. The condensing action was aided by a spray of cold water in the condensor, and the cooling water and condensed steam were then drained from the condensor while the piston was being raised by steam pressure. Thus, Watt's design allowed the piston cylinder to stay hot and the condensor to stay cold, giving greater efficiency and allowing faster engine operation. Watt also developed a connecting-rod design that allowed the up-and-down motion of the engine to produce rotary motion, without infringing upon another's patent on the usual connecting rod and crankshaft design which is common today.

dude lost his leg and died from complications, yes a "sad footnote" indeed

Love this series plz post more

Excelente documentário. Parabéns!

It was interesting seeing the transformation of how a 1769 stationary steam engine, being adapted to fit into some type of a moving vehicle. I just can't imagine doing that, with the state of what they had to work with way back then. Just the Metallurgy alone could kill you, you no idea how strong stuff is.

I had no idea that self propelled engines were running so early in the 19th century.

Great to see my favorite red dwarf star doing a doco on one of my favorite things

Damn, those are some fine replicas they made!

I'd love it if they just made an episode of him walking around Red Dwarf and explaining the rooms and technology. :D This is still interesting though.

Some of the BGM in this is Kevin Mcleod! I recognise it from several RU-vid videos.

OH MY GOD THE MUSIC AT 1:41 IS GREAT

thank you i live in poland and i turned on the english natgeo and i mised this one. so thank you.

Arnold Rimmer aka "Smee-Hee" acording to Kryton...!

I didn't recognize him without the H on his head

A model of Richard Trevithick`s engine which pulled a loaded waggons ran from Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon. Part of the original track is still in place

Excellent documentary!

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC does it again! 5 stars * * * * * for everything :-)

Smeghead rides again!

1829: dang, 35 miles an hour, what are you, a speed demon? 2024: YOU'RE GOING 35 IN A 60... MOVE! SNAILS ARE PASSING US!

This was very entertaining, thank you for the info.

40:58 haha, a FOOTnote, and he lost his leg

40:44 oh, that's a nice image to see 😨

Great!

very well presented

I can hear the smegness in Barrie's voice. LOL

i didn't know the rocket could go so fast.

thanks heaps for uploading this my assignment is gonna look awesome

I still love this vid and I'm learning bout old trains

"Look at these huge 8ft wheels!" I'd like to see it beside a Stirling Single.