My grandad has this documentary on VHS, he still has it to this day. I remember as a kid I used to constantly watch it, once it finished, rewound it and watched it again and again! I think I sent him a bit crazy with it! But I still love watching this documentary now as I did then!
Might have done exactly the same, the production of this documentary (sound, videography, narration) are just so stirring, what a triumph to make something so memorable after 30+ years!
Even as a child, I had quite a collection of railway-themed books and VHS tapes, and this was among them and one of my favourites, not least for its symbolic music. Thanks for uploading. Regards, Samuel Farris.
Thank you for uploading this to RU-vid. I recorded this programme in 1993 just before I started at university. I enjoyed watching the programme during my time at university, not just because it featured the Settle & Carlisle railway but because of the countryside. It was a real morale-booster. I lost the videotape containing the programme so finding this on RU-vid has been a real joy. Thanks once again.
According to the BBC Genome site this documentary was shown in 1989 (called Mallard on the Settle and Carllisle, unless that's a different documentary), then in Sept 1993 and repeated again in 1994. I have this documentary on tape but I'm sure it's from an earlier year.
What a wonderful documentary made with real skill and a feel for its subject! It even made me feel nostalgic for the days of diesel loco hauled passenger services! The closing shot of Lord Nelson climbing to Ais Gill summit really shows the severity of the gradient. The fireman on Sir Nigel seems to be well on top of the job with little or no exhaust showing from the chimney and plenty of steam for the climb. Many thanks for posting.
I'm glad you like the documentary. I've been on a few vintage lines where the fireman has been less skilful. Still it would probably take me longer than most people to learn how to do it right.
Hey all. I managed to find the original vinyl LP by Frank Cordell with this piece of music on it (world panorama is the track.) I will try to convert to MP3 and put on RU-vid. Let me know if anyone's interested. Cheers!
Thank you for uploading this video. I first saw this programme in 1993 just before I started at University. I recorded it on video (for private use, I might add!) and I enjoyed looking at the scenery as well as watching the train tackle the line.
I'm glad you enjoyed watching this again. I try to upload videos (to my knowledge anyway) that have not been released on DVD. However, if anyone does know a link to an official DVD copy please add it so that people can buy their own copy :)
@@paulgoddard I have a recording of this which was shown on Channel 4 on the 27th Sept 1990 during the Going Loco season. I think it was the only time Steam on the Settle and Carlisle was shown on Channel 4.
I have this VHS (Video Tape) ive had it since I was a young boy and I used to watch it then re wind it then play it again I couldn't stop watching it and I used to send everyone mad I didn't really know what the narrator was on about back then it was the locomotives I enjoyed see but as I'm a lot older now I appreciate it all I also love the music they have used in this film its a beautiful piece of music
Thank you so much for putting this up. What a gorgeous film and so atmospheric. Fantastic engineering, wonderful scenery and some gorgeous steam locomotives. What more could you want? I've spent a fair amount of time caving in the Dales often staying in huts close to the line around Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Helwith Bridge and Settle. On a couple of occasions I stayed at the Station Inn at Ribbleshead right next to the viaduct (The accommodation was very basic and extremely cold! That was a fair few years ago so it may have improved since then). I do remember a couple of interesting after pub excursions to the viaduct during those stays!
What lovely memories thank you for sharing. I will look up the Station Inn after this reply to you. It probably has the best central heating and air conditioning now 🙂
Pity modern day steam programmes are terrible. Can't stand all the documentaries today (all this Train Truckers crap) where it's all about the buffoon workers cocking everything up and making a drama out of it all and all this "will he get the train out on time?" annoying narration, or some wannabe attention seeking newlywed couple who get married on a steam train (as most couples do these days - NOT lol) and all the annoying editing, drone footage and silly childish background jingles and music they add which they use in every other TV programme. Train programmes today have become less about the trains and more about the employees and mangers/staff/volunteers showing "how difficult" the job is, give me a break lol.
I have this on tape which appears (according to listings I've found) to have been recorded from Channel 4 on the 27th Sept 1990 during Channel 4s Going Loco season. They also showed the 1988 Equinox programme Running to Time and a documentary called Yorkshire Steam plus a few more steam related programmes like Joe Brown at Clapham the same day. I think it was the only time that Channel 4 aired Steam on the Settle and Carlisle as I think it's been shown on the BBC since.
Incidentally, Rosebay Willowherb is a native of New Zealand. It's speciality is colonising ground recently burnt by wild fire. It spread it's way through Victorian Britain as a wild flower aided by the railway lines: hopping from one piece of burnt embankment to the next.
Thanks for answering the question re. the flowers. I was meaning to look into it some time ago. However, I'm very glad you answered as your reply has taught me something too :)
I'm not aware of this being shown on either Channel 4 or ITV except BBC1/2 (could be Channel 4 as they did the Going Loco season in 1990 but I think this doc was shown at a different time), but according to the BBC Genome site there's a documentary called "Mallard on the Settle and Carlisle" from 1989, then "Steam on the Settle and Carlisle" from Sept 1993, and again in 1994. I have this on tape and I don't think it's from either 1993 or 94 but much earlier, possibly 89 or 90.
There's no mechanical stoker on an engine that big?!? The fireman sure has his work cut out for him on that gradient! Great video; thanks so much for posting.
The British kept putting that one off -- the London, Midland & Scottish had a plan for a 4-6-4 mechanically fired express passenger locomotive that was scuttled by WWII -- until finally British Rail ordered a few of their heavy 9F 2-10-0 freight locomotives with the stoker in the 1950s as a stopgap while they were waiting on orders for diesels. They apparently steamed less efficiently than the hand-fired ones, so were converted back to hand-firing like the rest of the class. I think part of the problem is the loading gauge in the UK is so tight that it forces compromises with the design of the firebox on the bigger engines, making a precisely built fire more critical.
They're all hand bombers in the UK no automatic stoker's mate! It's done by real manpower. Remember even the Pennsylvania K4s was hand fired for many years as well as many early articulated locos as well. It took a USRA rule to change that.
Sorry but there was a class 10 that had a mancanical stoker i worked on it many times it had a screw that brought the coal from the tender to the fire box then on a panel was 6 valves 3 for the right 3 for the left oh and a one to operate the screw sadly it was not as efective as the old back breaking way
3:12 This Famous LNER Gresley A4 Pacific Steam Locomotive No. 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley Was Build In Doncaster Locomotive Works Factory In Doncaster In East Yorkshire In England In 1937 By The London And North Eastern Railway. Named After It's Designer Mr Nigel Gresley. He Was One Of Same Class As Mallard No. 4468 From The National Railway Museum In York In North Yorkshire. Thanks Mate. X
I agree, it really is nice music. Peter Bruin, who left a comment some time ago has the music on vinyl. Hopefully, he will upload a copy sometime to RU-vid
I apologise for not replying sooner. It's been a busy few months for me. Fortunately, a few days ago someone replied to let you know it was Rosebay Willowherb, which I wouldn't have known.
do you have a link for the piece of music so i can listen to it and put in on my home page i have searched what you replied and come up with no matches so i hope you have a link you can share
I've tried to do more research into the music but I can't find it either. However, I do believe there were various records in circulation that the BBC released but unfortunately I can't mind any versions of it on RU-vid or Amazon.
Hello. I too wanted to know what the music was. I finally found out that it is indeed a piece by Frank Cordell called 'World Panorama' and played by 'The New Festival Orchestra'. I had to buy the record to listen to it though, as I couldn't find it online.
