Steam Railways

[mangerton]

Yes, I love Ivor the Engine!! Thanks for posting the clip mercia
Last night, Genius of Invention. Very interesting programme about engines, first half devoted to Watt, Trevithick, Stephenson about steam locomotives. Second half about internal combustion and jet engines. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...vention_Speed/

Yes, I found it most interesting, and more so taking it in conjunction with the Locomotion series on TV at the moment.

But like so much on TV these days, I wish they would drop the Blue Peter style of presentation and treat the audience as adults.

I did enjoy Ivor on the few occasions when I saw it; almost as good as the Clangers

[arancie33]

But like so much on TV these days, I wish they would drop the Blue Peter style of presentation and treat the audience as adults.

Well, I have just watched most of it on iPlayer. I think you insult Blue Peter by comparing the presentation style of those three clowns with the blessèd Singleton, Noakes, Purvis et al. They explained nothing and got most of what they said wrong anyway. We took a family vote and unanimously decided that OFF was the only safe option for my blood pressure. It was a disgrace.

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm afraid it was rapidly switched off here due to the patronising, CeeBeebies presentation style.

[Ferretfancy]

Well, I have just watched most of it on iPlayer. I think you insult Blue Peter by comparing the presentation style of those three clowns with the blessèd Singleton, Noakes, Purvis et al. They explained nothing and got most of what they said wrong anyway. We took a family vote and unanimously decided that OFF was the only safe option for my blood pressure. It was a disgrace.

Absolutely! Did you notice by the way, that after a lengthy exposition on the Newcomen engine they failed completely to explain how Watt's extra condensing cylinder actually worked! if you have to record a programme in Drax power station, why light it like the Regent Street Christmas decorations and then reduce great chunks of dialogue to near inaudibility?
The tragedy is that Michael Mosley is a good presenter, and when on his own has made some excellent programmes.

[Don Petter]

Absolutely! Did you notice by the way, that after a lengthy exposition on the Newcomen engine they failed completely to explain how Watt's extra condensing cylinder actually worked!

Exactly! And then made no mention of Watt's most important next stage of using steam pressure on the return stroke, thus implying that all the locos, etc subsequently mentioned were still powered by atmospheric engines.

[Anna]

I'm afraid it was rapidly switched off here due to the patronising, CeeBeebies presentation style.

Objection! Not knowing a fig about engines and how things combust internally with vapours, I, as an ex Blue Peter or CBeebies equivalent viewer thought it most interesting for the mechanically challenged!

[mangerton]

Well, I have just watched most of it on iPlayer. I think you insult Blue Peter by comparing the presentation style of those three clowns with the blessèd Singleton, Noakes, Purvis et al. They explained nothing and got most of what they said wrong anyway. We took a family vote and unanimously decided that OFF was the only safe option for my blood pressure. It was a disgrace.

Well yes indeed. I'm severely chastened.

I should have known better; I remember BP from its start in 1958 with Leila Williams and Christopher Trace.

I've just watched the last two parts of the Welsh Railway films - "Beating Beeching". Passing rapidly over the fact that beating was probably too good for him, I found this fascinating. I must try to get to Llangollen some time soon.

OT note: There was a tune featured in both of the programmes, played on a harp, which I sang at primary school to the words "Hark hark the lark is singing." Presumably Welsh, as it was on these programmes. Can anyone tell me please any more about it or who wrote it?

(It is not Shakespeare's "Hark hark the lark at heaven's gate.")

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've just watched the last two parts of the Welsh Railway films - "Beating Beeching". Passing rapidly over the fact that beating was probably too good for him, I found this fascinating. I must try to get to Llangollen some time soon.

- a very good week for lovers of steam trains in Welsh scenery.

[mercia]

I wonder why we're getting all these programmes about railways, engineering, science etc. is it a cunning plan by the government to make us enthusiastic about big infrastructure projects like HS2 ? - [except they're all backward-looking programmes to the glories of the past]

[salymap]

I wonder why we're getting all these programmes about railways, engineering, science etc. is it a cunning plan by the government to make us enthusiastic about big infrastructure projects like HS2 ? - [except they're all backward-looking programmes to the glories of the past]

All this chat about HS2. I thought for a moment that someone had cloned Hornspieler

[Frances_iom]

- a very good week for lovers of steam trains in Welsh scenery.

did they play the Spinner's 'folk' song - "The Fairlie duplex engine" ? - very amusing for those who have been

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I did wonder, at one point, whether you English would have liked sub-titles!!!

Now, don't be like that! The Welsh generally speak better English than they do here in Yorkshire.
Subtitles and sign language for Steph McGovern would be appreciated though.

[Hornspieler]

All this chat about HS2. I thought for a moment that someone had cloned Hornspieler

One is bad enough. Who needs another?

HS

[arancie33]

Well yes indeed. I'm severely chastened.

I should have known better; I remember BP from its start in 1958 with Leila Williams and Christopher Trace.

Absolutely no chastening intended, I assure you.

I know that banging on about that programme is veering off topic and my views ought to be sent the BBC. Yeah, right, and a fat lot of good that would do. However, I am glad for Anna that she gained something from it. Pity that must have included how to make tea, that petrol vapour and air are explosive, and that square cans are weak at welded edges. All that, instead of learning a bit about diesel engines, two stroke engines, how jet engines progressed from centrifugal compressors to axial flow to twin spool bypass to the turbo fan monsters we see today. All inventions in the spirit of the programme and gleefully ignored. All we got was a gee whizz look at inventory and manufacturing controls.

Lucy Mangan did a good hatchet job on the programme: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...on-lucy-mangan

I'll now return to my shell via the Sunday flea market.

[Nick Armstrong]

All this chat about HS2. I thought for a moment that someone had cloned Hornspieler

Good one, saly!