Portillo returns to your tv screen

[MikeWh]

Today Michael Portillo joined the amazing ATW 175-185 morphing train. Embarks a 175 at Flint but wait this interior is from a 2 car 185, cue ariel shot yep defo a 185, but NO disembarks in Llandudno from the 3 car 175 he got on in Flint. Now that is amazing. Top continuity from the Beeb again...I suppose they did get the trains with matching livery.

but it's still enjoyable to watch.

They've already explained that they only have limited access to a helicopter to take aerial shots and can't guarantee to always get the same sort of train. As to the interior being different, it might just be down to a problem with someone else on the train meaning that they had to record his speaking part again at a different time. The actual journeys are rather incidental to the overall story though, so I just try not to take too much notice of the continuity.

 

[devon_metro]

Today Michael Portillo joined the amazing ATW 175-185 morphing train. Embarks a 175 at Flint but wait this interior is from a 2 car 185, cue ariel shot yep defo a 185, but NO disembarks in Llandudno from the 3 car 175 he got on in Flint. Now that is amazing. Top continuity from the Beeb again...I suppose they did get the trains with matching livery.

but it's still enjoyable to watch.

He certainly didn't travel on any 185s...

 

[Pumbaa]

There are some really lousy shots of trains departing being shown in reverse; even the model train in Downham Mkt rail station! Not a major flaw, but niggling nonetheless to see a 378 come towards you at Crystal Palace with the tail lights on at speed!

 

[43067]

Sorry i meant 158, I wasn't reading to much into the continuity, i appreaciate they may not have had a helo all of the time. but there was plenty of airiel shots of 175's and 158's so it couldn't be that hard to put the correct loco with what he was travelling on.

 

[90019]

Sorry i meant 158, I wasn't reading to much into the continuity, i appreaciate they may not have had a helo all of the time. but there was plenty of airiel shots of 175's and 158's so it couldn't be that hard to put the correct loco with what he was travelling on.

It was a 170

I think the point is that with limited time available in the air, they can only film what's on the line at the time rather than picking and choosing, and they can't just show the same bit of footage of the same train on the same bit of track over and over, or everyone would complain about that.

 

[route101]

Anyone else see the Virgin 57 plus Mystery loco in the overhead shot of Conwy?

 

[43067]

It was a 170

I think the point is that with limited time available in the air, they can only film what's on the line at the time rather than picking and choosing, and they can't just show the same bit of footage of the same train on the same bit of track over and over, or everyone would complain about that.

It was definately a 175/0 and 175/1 'Coradia' units. But I'm not getting into an arguement.

 

[90019]

It was definately a 175/0 and 175/1 'Coradia' units. But I'm not getting into an arguement.

Was meaning it was a 170, not a 158.


I think we may be talking about different parts though

 

[krus_aragon]

Anyone else see the Virgin 57 plus Mystery loco in the overhead shot of Conwy?

I'll put very good money that it's dragging an ATW-liveried 57 (which work the Gerallt Gymro services) from Holyhead to Crewe for maintianance.

The 57 are normally swapped over as part of the Saturday-only Pendolino drag between Crewe and Holyhead, but on this bank holiday weekend it was replaced with a pair of Voyagers. Even so, the fact that it wasn't a single light engine points to the reliability issues that have apparently led ATW to consider switching to using 67s (?) instead.

 

[Pumbaa]

I'll put very good money that it's dragging an ATW-liveried 57 (which work the Gerallt Gymro services) from Holyhead to Crewe for maintianance.

The 57 are normally swapped over as part of the Saturday-only Pendolino drag between Crewe and Holyhead, but on this bank holiday weekend it was replaced with a pair of Voyagers. Even so, the fact that it wasn't a single light engine points to the reliability issues that have apparently led ATW to consider switching to using 67s (?) instead.

Compounded by the fact that VT have returned 5 of their 57s to the leasor!

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Christ almighty! Trainspotters wonder why people rip the p155 out of them. Get a bloody life and enjoy the programmes!

 

[Nigel Cliff]

Christ almighty! Trainspotters wonder why people rip the p155 out of them. Get a bloody life and enjoy the programmes!

With you there Barlow the word Anal is coming to mind

 

[BlythPower]

This series is definitely better than the first. There are some continuity errors but a lot less. Plus more railway and historical content and - so far, at least - no pointless conversations with random pensioners.

Watch out for next Tuesday whan Portaloo visits t'Ord Spot.

 

[transportphoto]

I've just caught up with the series (BBC iPlayer) and followed him from Enfield through to Cromer, my local patch.

What surprised me was how quiet the streets of Norwich were, directly infront of them as they stand at Bank Plain is one of the busiest roads in the city centre!

 

[route101]

Im looking forward to the last week when he visits scotlland and the WHL.

 

[EM2]

I think I'm in love.
That Welsh lady at the pub in Llanfair. She looks like Jo Joyner (Tanya in Eastenders) and talks like Cerys Matthews.

 

[AutoKratz]

Michael Portillo’s ‘Great British Railway Journeys’ has visited the north east. It is definitely worth a watch for anybody interested in the north east, Newcastle, railways and the East Coast Main Line, Tyne and Wear Metro, coal mining and general history of the area etc.

It’s a Brilliant episode overall, and has a particularly interesting section on the birth of the railway.

Here's the iPlayer link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/xxr1z/

 

[linesider]

It was nice to see my local station get a mention (Chester-Le-Street).Enjoying the new series so far.

 

[route101]

Seems to be using the TPE 185s Now Interesting series always look forward to watching it on I player.

 

[dickdarlington]

I was really looking forward to this weeks journey. With it going through the North East and all that. But I was alarmed at the mis-information that has spewed from his mouth. I could have forgiven the appauling continuity shots, indeed I had, but giving out duff information about places and historical events is unforgiveable. It has made me question all of the information which has been conveyed whilst he was on the other journeys. Very dissappointing. So now all I have left is the views of and from the trains, and building up a list of places that I want to visit.

 

[oldrailman]

I have the John Betjeman film on a BTF collection. All the more fascinating as I recall travelling the Lynn-Hunstanton before it closed in the late 60s. As for the Portillo series, I enjoyed the Holyhead and Lynn pieces, knowing the areas well, but as earlier posters comment, there never seems much depth to the shots or commentary. How about the same type of programme with a different presenter and lasting 45 minutes or an hour and covering a particular area in more detail? Anyone got any thoughts?

 

[Metroland]

Next week is London Bridge - Chatham on the southern, final week is Ayr to Skye in Scotland.

 

[Black Cat]

I was really looking forward to this weeks journey. With it going through the North East and all that. But I was alarmed at the mis-information that has spewed from his mouth. I could have forgiven the appauling continuity shots, indeed I had, but giving out duff information about places and historical events is unforgiveable. It has made me question all of the information which has been conveyed whilst he was on the other journeys. Very dissappointing. So now all I have left is the views of and from the trains, and building up a list of places that I want to visit.

Just as he mentions the 'Tyneside' coal industry, the film shows Wearmouth Bridge and the Lambton & Hetton coal staithes in Sunderland :roll:
The bit about Whitburn Colliery and it's railway was good though.

 

[Butts]

Thinking about it the obvious candidate for the presenters job would have been Michael Palin a well known rail enthusiast and seasoned traveller.

Mind you I suppose it's not quite "Pole to Pole"

Perhaps Portillo was cheaper

 

[MikeWh]

Thinking about it the obvious candidate for the presenters job would have been Michael Palin a well known rail enthusiast and seasoned traveller.

Mind you I suppose it's not quite "Pole to Pole"

Perhaps Portillo was cheaper

Watching this series it is quite clear that Portillo is also a rail enthusiast, and after filming these journeys he must be turning into a seasoned traveller.

 

[attics26]

Too much emphasis on Darlington being the start of the railways - Shildon to Stockton via North Road was the line Darlo never had any coal mines and Bank Top was on a branch line to Croft - also too many of my colleagues on view !!!

 

[Mojo]

Enjoyed the end of week three; can't believe the month has gone so fast now!

I also have to say, find the interviews he does with rail staff make me want to cringe... they all look so awkward.

 

[Bish Boy]

Too much emphasis on Darlington being the start of the railways - Shildon to Stockton via North Road was the line Darlo never had any coal mines and Bank Top was on a branch line to Croft - also too many of my colleagues on view !!!

True thought He'd have made his way as a side step to Locamotion at Shildon and to Hackworths works he went to Stephensons after all. like the series tho nice to see the rail network being shown in a positive and accesible way mind you on the map at the end of the episodes he makes his way from Whitby to York impressivley accross country lol :P

 

[ainsworth74]

mind you on the map at the end of the episodes he makes his way from Whitby to York impressivley accross country

Yeah the maps on this set of episodes has had some very suspect geography to say the least. Whitby to York being just one example!

 

[IanPooleTrains]

Just seen Portillo taking a train at Wakefield Kirkgate

Now if it is safe for him, it's safe for everyone else! There! Most dangerous station in the uk? Maybe you should all come down and see Cannock and get a taste of reality!