Anyone remember the glorious 80's British Rail television commercial?

[sn1975]

Hi all,

Does anyone remember the glorious 80's British Rail television commercial? (thankfully no Saville in sight)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsyyJaX0j3Y

I must admit I get a bit choked every time I watch it and love the dialogue and music.

I've been looking for the music for years (by Vangelis) and it's finally available on iTunes, just in case anyone is interested.

It's not quite the same but it's still good - it's called "Lord Lindsay" by Vangelis on the album "Chariots of Fire - The Play".

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/chariots-fire-play-music-from/id542667990

Steve.

 

[Welshman]

The days of the Unified Railway!

The first stanza, of course, is by W.H.Auden, taken from his "Night Mail"

Does anyone know who wrote the following two stanzas in the style of Auden?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Where is the scene at 1:22?

 

[tsr]

It is a spectacular video.

Thanks for finding the music on iTunes as I didn't know its title!

 

[ainsworth74]

I crops up every few months and it's always worth a re-watch. An really really spectacular advert.

 

[Roverman]

I believe it was first shown on TV on Christmas Day probably because most of the country watches TV all day on Christmas Day!

 

[AlexS]

http://www.britishrailways.tv/british-railways?task=viewvideo&video_id=1864

And the spitting image version - not all come to pass but also probably not entirely unfair! (ROSCOs trousering money for superannuated, paid for rolling stock they bought for a pittance anyone - see Class 142 et al?).

 

[HawkeyeTheNoo]

Absolute class!

 

[CallySleeper]

Where is the scene at 1:22?

Horseshoe Curve on the WHL.

 

[MacRae13]

And the spitting image version

Brilliant!

The original advert ain't bad either

 

[D1009]

Horseshoe Curve on the WHL.

And the scene at 1:04 ?

 

[Trainfan344]

http://www.britishrailways.tv/british-railways?task=viewvideo&video_id=1864

And the spitting image version - not all come to pass but also probably not entirely unfair! (ROSCOs trousering money for superannuated, paid for rolling stock they bought for a pittance anyone - see Class 142 et al?).

anyone know the location at 00:15?

 

[Butts]

At the risk of being declared a heretic, without Saviles definitive "This is the age of the Train" voiceover, the production lacks the necessary gravitas.

 

[jnjkerbin]

And the scene at 1:04 ?

Looks like the freight only Saltburn - Boulby line to me...

 

[Buttsy]

As people have said
1:04 Boulby route
1:22 Horseshoe curve

 

[sprinterguy]

And the scene at 1:04 ?

On the Boulby branch, up on the cliff tops between Saltburn and Skinningrove.

EDIT: Oops, already posted just ahead of me!

 

[D365]

Shame that Savile's association has somewhat soured these...

 

[D1009]

Looks like the freight only Saltburn - Boulby line to me...

That was my first thought, even though I've never been over it and also never flown over it !

 

[CallySleeper]

I don't know if it's just me, but I'm not a huge fan of the poetic lines, nor more especially the voice tone/accent (especially in the Spitting Image video - although I'm sure they are both the same person)

 

[jon0844]

At the risk of being declared a heretic, without Saviles definitive "This is the age of the Train" voiceover, the production lacks the necessary gravitas.

I guess we know why he liked the 125s now.. they were nice and young!

 

[AlexS]

I don't know if it's just me, but I'm not a huge fan of the poetic lines, nor more especially the voice tone/accent (especially in the Spitting Image video - although I'm sure they are both the same person)

Spitting Image obviously use a completely different person as it's a parody! Same for the slightly naff nature of it.

 

[PR1Berske]

I guess we know why he liked the 125s now.. they were nice and young!

*b'dum* and indeed *tish*