Went all over the UK on my pocket money and Saturday job money. Got a Southern Rover one year on holiday with my parents and just went out for days. Special excursions from my local station to the East Coast, Windsor or Scotland for a few pounds.
I agree that BR worked, but you're talking rubbish about today's system being disconnected. I regularly travel from the East Midlands to Glasgow, Cardiff, and Cornwall, and there's nothing disconected about any of my journies.
I used my first BritRail (teenager) pass in 1971, they were sold in The Netherlands at a ridiculous low price, giving two weeks unlimited travel on BR !
I remember one of those in a dealer's yard, with a sticker across the windscreen saying "Built In West Germany". The British car industry was in such a state in those days that this was a major selling point!
@@HarvestHome2000 Interesting information. As i know the MK I was produced in GB and Cologne, West Germany - the MK II only in Germany. The plant in Dagenham was closed ... It was a shame for the UK car industry. They used to build beautiful cars. My sister had a used 88 Jaguar XJ-S V12 until 2016, fabulous! Just the consumption ;-) And as a truck mechanic, I'm getting to know a whole new world of repair.
I heard of Brian Redhead when I was really young, I was a 73 baby. Funnily enough I imagined he looked similar to Mikhail Gorbachev, it was a red head thing. My mother listened to radio 4 on her Bush radio. I couldn’t tell you that it was him to listen to but I just remember that distinctive name. Incidentally I think the worst decisions previous governments have made is the privatisation of utilities (no one should profit from essential services) and the railways (there should be an affordable rapid transit system serving the nation).
@@scotty87able....by the early 90's this was no longer the case, unless you'd reserved a seat. I remember having to stand/sit in the area where the carriage doors were on a trip from Kings Cross to York around 1992. Good thing I was a wee nipper then. I wouldn't put up with it now.
@@robtyman4281 point taken,i was on a cross country from euston to chester 11 yrs ago and a pound for every seat that had 'reserved'on the display would make me rich.thing that annoyed me is a lot didnt actually get taken
This video accurately shows the BR Inter City product of that era but it shows only 1st class and shows only the very best of the product. I do miss the restaurant cars. Back in 1978 this was before the big upgrade of the meals/expense account pricing and the ban on 2nd class passengers that came in at various times during the 80's so in 1978 the restaurant cars were still doing a very good trade, open to all, normally a full coach at 2 sittings on many routes, even leisure routes. In those days a family with children could afford a meal in the restaurant car. The stewards would normally pass through the train, starting at the 1st class end, asking passengers if they wished to eat and giving them a reservation ticket for the sitting of their choice. 2nd class passengers were supposed to vacate the restaurant car after their meal as the restaurant car was usually (but not always) a 1st class open coach. The meals, although served in silver service style by the expert stewards, were quite basic although much better than the free stuff provided to 1st class passengers by some operators today. The way that the stewards held those soup tureens and trays of food and served passengers without spilling anything while the train was in motion was very impressive.
Hmmm, 1978. That summer, we went to Skegness behind a pair of 20's, although i was only 8, i remember it was a much different experience from what this film shows!!
Look how far we've come, from proper buffet cars and restaurants to some stressed operative dragging a trolly of expensive junk snacks down the centre isle and blocking passengers.lol.
I don't know if you'd arrive at your British Transport Hotel in a Daimler limousine though. That Ford Zephyr Mk IV (2:45) looks like it could have been a Ministerial car; they'd been superseded in production by the Granada for a good few years by then
Obviously aimed at the discerning (ah-hem) International traveller. Those in the compartment looked like extras from "Get Carter" (1971). Not a cheese sarnie in sight.
Pause for ironic reflection on how many of those virtues elucidated @1:25still apply today in today's IET vs. yesterday's HST: quiet, smooth, comfortable, no interruptions, just a chap who checks your ticket ...
Before the Tories wrecked it all, when trains had decent buffet and restaurant cars....now Great Western have a trolley with only cold sandwiches so they can cram in as many seats as is possible; absolute pure greed.
Great video thanks for posting. It’s all complete nonsense of course! The British railways were light years behind much of the world as they still are! But that doesn’t matter. Nostalgia at its finest. And John Humphries sounds so young!!!
In what respects were they light years behind much of the world? They had the first air conditioned carriages in ordinary service, the first trains to run normally at 200 km/h rather thsn just one or two fliers a day, and frequency of service was way ahead of France pre-TGV or particularly America
Everybody is behind the Japanese Shinkhansen but the TGV is good. We are content to run a Victorian railway and let profit dictate the policy. The French just moved on with TGV. We couldn't get Eurostar further North than London and discontinued Motorail
I am not sure when I come to Britain that I would want to sit next to people who smoke cigars in these InterCity trains is this a requirement? Can someone please share the website of British Transport hotels I could not find them in the phone book?
People who say British Rail didn't work are talking rubbish; its was far better than the disconnected system of today.
Went all over the UK on my pocket money and Saturday job money. Got a Southern Rover one year on holiday with my parents and just went out for days. Special excursions from my local station to the East Coast, Windsor or Scotland for a few pounds.
And you knew you would have a seat to sit on, none of these two-car units running between major cities
I agree that BR worked, but you're talking rubbish about today's system being disconnected. I regularly travel from the East Midlands to Glasgow, Cardiff, and Cornwall, and there's nothing disconected about any of my journies.
@@westers1514 l mean the actual running behind the scenes not just travelling on a passenger train.
It’s dreadful now and the infrastructure is poorly maintained and the vegetation is appalling too.
Wonderful times, and much bigger mars bars back then….
I used my first BritRail (teenager) pass in 1971, they were sold in The Netherlands at a ridiculous low price, giving two weeks unlimited travel on BR !
I hope you enjoyed those two weeks, and still have many happy memories.
With everything going on in Britain at the moment. Back then it seemed more like a safer and true British valued time in history now .
Great old times, nice railways & cars - Ford Granada Mk I (5:22) ... Best regards from south Germany
Yes, lovely car the old Granny Mk1. Echos of "The Sweeney"!
I remember one of those in a dealer's yard, with a sticker across the windscreen saying "Built In West Germany". The British car industry was in such a state in those days that this was a major selling point!
@@HarvestHome2000 Interesting information. As i know the MK I was produced in GB and Cologne, West Germany - the MK II only in Germany. The plant in Dagenham was closed ... It was a shame for the UK car industry. They used to build beautiful cars. My sister had a used 88 Jaguar XJ-S V12 until 2016, fabulous! Just the consumption ;-) And as a truck mechanic, I'm getting to know a whole new world of repair.
I recognise Brian Redhead's voice from the days when I listened to Radio 4's Today Programme.
I heard of Brian Redhead when I was really young, I was a 73 baby. Funnily enough I imagined he looked similar to Mikhail Gorbachev, it was a red head thing. My mother listened to radio 4 on her Bush radio. I couldn’t tell you that it was him to listen to but I just remember that distinctive name.
Incidentally I think the worst decisions previous governments have made is the privatisation of utilities (no one should profit from essential services) and the railways (there should be an affordable rapid transit system serving the nation).
Love how the old boy is just casually sitting there on the train with a cigar in his mouth lol how times change.
Mark III coaches. The most comfortable ever.
when rail travel was affordable and you could buy a ticket quite easily
@Richard Conte ticket prices vary according to how early you book or how popular the route is. Better to get a railcard
@@markrushton1516and you got a seat
@@scotty87able....by the early 90's this was no longer the case, unless you'd reserved a seat. I remember having to stand/sit in the area where the carriage doors were on a trip from Kings Cross to York around 1992. Good thing I was a wee nipper then. I wouldn't put up with it now.
@@robtyman4281 point taken,i was on a cross country from euston to chester 11 yrs ago and a pound for every seat that had 'reserved'on the display would make me rich.thing that annoyed me is a lot didnt actually get taken
Mmm, vinyl roof Granada Mk I (possibly a Consul from the plan grille, but still very nice)
"The doors are wide and handsome." Never heard train a door described as handsome before!
That sounds like Brian Redhead doing the commentary?
1978 was my year for discovering BR. Believe it or not I was offered a ride to Peterborough from KingsX in a Deltic, ahh the good ol' days...
The Deltics ruled kings cross back then
The old slam doors. Opening and turning door knob as the train was pulling in and literally leaping off before it stopped.
This video accurately shows the BR Inter City product of that era but it shows only 1st class and shows only the very best of the product.
I do miss the restaurant cars. Back in 1978 this was before the big upgrade of the meals/expense account pricing and the ban on 2nd class passengers that came in at various times during the 80's so in 1978 the restaurant cars were still doing a very good trade, open to all, normally a full coach at 2 sittings on many routes, even leisure routes. In those days a family with children could afford a meal in the restaurant car. The stewards would normally pass through the train, starting at the 1st class end, asking passengers if they wished to eat and giving them a reservation ticket for the sitting of their choice. 2nd class passengers were supposed to vacate the restaurant car after their meal as the restaurant car was usually (but not always) a 1st class open coach. The meals, although served in silver service style by the expert stewards, were quite basic although much better than the free stuff provided to 1st class passengers by some operators today. The way that the stewards held those soup tureens and trays of food and served passengers without spilling anything while the train was in motion was very impressive.
1990 the 2nd class ban came in totally on the ECML
Britain's inter city in the 70s surpassed many European networks in comfort and frequency.
Hmmm, 1978. That summer, we went to Skegness behind a pair of 20's, although i was only 8, i remember it was a much different experience from what this film shows!!
That's because it was a local train not Inter-City.
@@neiloflongbeck5705 Yes, I'm aware of that. My comment was a bit tongue in cheek, if I'm honest....😀
Good soundtrack though
I remember when the top of the cab was white
Very nicely done ♐ ✔
magic
Look how far we've come, from proper buffet cars and restaurants to some stressed operative dragging a trolly of expensive junk snacks down the centre isle and blocking passengers.lol.
Lol everything in the 70's was so orange. Kitchens were the same way too, and then they went to brown. We saw it as totally normal haha !
Yes Mum's curtains were all that colour, back in the day. No wonder I had trouble sleeping!
Don't forget the bile green period; I think it was called 'Avacado' or something like that...
Love the guy ( ? a Yank ) with the loud jacket and cigar.
I don't know if you'd arrive at your British Transport Hotel in a Daimler limousine though. That Ford Zephyr Mk IV (2:45) looks like it could have been a Ministerial car; they'd been superseded in production by the Granada for a good few years by then
Obviously aimed at the discerning (ah-hem) International traveller. Those in the compartment looked like extras from "Get Carter" (1971). Not a cheese sarnie in sight.
Pause for ironic reflection on how many of those virtues elucidated @1:25still apply today in today's IET vs. yesterday's HST: quiet, smooth, comfortable, no interruptions, just a chap who checks your ticket ...
Real shame that this isn't the way today in 2022 in the United Kingdom. God bless us all.
I'd love to discover Britain by train and i love trains. Pity i can't afford to. Who can we thank for that then?
That's wen British rail at its best then then Maggie hatcher and fat cats moved in
It wasn’t great though was it. It was fairly miserable. Though it was still far better than the extremely expensive service we have today
I miss the old slam-door trains
And boy didn't you have to slam them sometimes!
The excellent world of BR monastral blue everywhere!
Before the Tories wrecked it all, when trains had decent buffet and restaurant cars....now Great Western have a trolley with only cold sandwiches so they can cram in as many seats as is possible; absolute pure greed.
Can you do the transperth train driver view from Perth to thornlie and from thornlie to Perth at night please
I guess I could request it. There won't be much to see though.
3:10 Do American trains not have toilets then?
Yes, but most men just use the space between the carriages ;)
Great video thanks for posting.
It’s all complete nonsense of course! The British railways were light years behind much of the world as they still are! But that doesn’t matter. Nostalgia at its finest. And John Humphries sounds so young!!!
In what respects were they light years behind much of the world? They had the first air conditioned carriages in ordinary service, the first trains to run normally at 200 km/h rather thsn just one or two fliers a day, and frequency of service was way ahead of France pre-TGV or particularly America
Everybody is behind the Japanese Shinkhansen but the TGV is good. We are content to run a Victorian railway and let profit dictate the policy. The French just moved on with TGV. We couldn't get Eurostar further North than London and discontinued Motorail
That sounds more like Brian Redhead to me?
I am not sure when I come to Britain that I would want to sit next to people who smoke cigars in these InterCity trains is this a requirement? Can someone please share the website of British Transport hotels I could not find them in the phone book?