Channel 5 documentary, 'The Railway: First Great Western'

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

And going to the horses mouth, the production company, further confuses matters:

http://www.twofour.co.uk/work/first-great-western/

It says on that page that the series is 8x30'. 

I really hope they haven't edited 30 minute episodes (typically 23 minutes of material) up to a runtime of 45ish minutes, with one of the all too common traits of recent 'fly-on-the-wall' type shows. That is, to constantly flash-forward and flash-back with scenes, prior to and after commercial breaks. In one episode you can often see the same scene four times. Broadcasters seem incapable of a linear narrative these days. Seemingly of the belief that the modern TV^▸ (Thames Valley) viewer has the attention span of a....
.
.
.
.
.... what was I talking about?

[chuffed]

Sounds as if the programmes may be tottering along on extended platform..heels

[LiskeardRich]

I'm guessing its 8 weeks with the potential for 12, or Channel 5 can fill weeks 9-12 with some other repeats. As they're reported to still be filming last week I am guessing they are unsure exactly how much material they have yet,

[devon_metro]

And going to the horses mouth, the production company, further confuses matters:

http://www.twofour.co.uk/work/first-great-western/

It says on that page that the series is 8x30'. 

I really hope they haven't edited 30 minute episodes (typically 23 minutes of material) up to a runtime of 45ish minutes, with one of the all too common traits of recent 'fly-on-the-wall' type shows. That is, to constantly flash-forward and flash-back with scenes, prior to and after commercial breaks. In one episode you can often see the same scene four times. Broadcasters seem incapable of a linear narrative these days. Seemingly of the belief that the modern TV^▸ (Thames Valley) viewer has the attention span of a....
.
.
.
.
.... what was I talking about?

I tend to find Channel 5 prolific with "coming up after the break" and "before the break" type clips.

[litecactus]

Tonight at 8pm on Channel 5 is a TV^▸ (Thames Valley) Documentary about How FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is run.

see here:

http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cm5htf/the-railway-first-great-western--series-1---episode-1

and here:

http://www.channel5.com/shows/the-railway-first-great-western

[paul7575]

Tonight at 8pm on Channel 5 is a TV^▸ (Thames Valley) Documentary about How FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is run...

...and here's the four page thread about the series already running:
 http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11912.0

[grahame]

Tonight at 8pm on Channel 5 is a TV^▸ (Thames Valley) Documentary about How FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is run...

...and here's the four page thread about the series already running:
 http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11912.0

I have merged the topics ... but at the same time saying "Thank you" to litecactus for raising the program on the forum.  Newer members and occasional visitors must find it incredibly difficult to know where to post or if indeed something has some up before ...

Yes, worth merging so that it's easier to reference later.  But totally understood that there were a couple of similar threads!

[JayMac]

I'm having some internet issues, particularly with streaming video (funny how this past week I had lots of down time and very slow speeds - can't be at all related to leaving my current supplier in a few days, can it?) so may not get to watch the first episode on Demand 5 until late tonight or tomorrow.

No spoilers please!

[Brucey]

I can't say I was too impressed.  I think the close proximity to a BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) series of the same name made it slightly repetitive.

I also did not like the "phone 090...." bit before the advert break.

[anthony215]

This episode was ok-ish. Some camerawork could do with some tidying up along with stop trying to cram so much into a episode.

Apart from that a good documentary to watch for the next few weeks.

Next weeks episode looks to be interresting

[bobm]

Oh dear I may be a lone voice.

I thought it was rather good. Not too many continuity errors and I felt the choice of shots was good on the whole.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Busboy W1]

I wonder how many times we will see a train with its headlights on with a driver in the seat going backwards out of Paddington ? Shame about the 180 with no air con presumably on the 17:18 a few weeks back, just about kept with that bit after shots of about 5 other trains. And anybody want to go on the blue train round South Africa ? Don't think so....

[SandTEngineer]

......and making it appear that Long Rock depot can change HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) engines (I knew it was Laira straight away and said so to the missus who was watching as well).

[trainer]

Oh dear I may be a lone voice.

No bob - I'm with you.  Looking forward to the rest.

[JayMac]

Very good.

Minor continuity niggles. But content wise it was a good start.

Simon at Paddington (I note that the voice-over got his surname wrong - Jeffery, not Jeffries) is an excellent example of Customer Service in times of adversity. It was he who sorted out my ticket problems when gateline and ticket office staff said I couldn't travel in the evening peak despite holding a valid ticket.