DOCUMENTARY: Full Steam Ahead: 1st Episode 21July

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

Episode 2 very good, but did I pick up a slip of the tongue?

When showing a still the commentator said you had to be careful if you distilled alcohol because you got Ethanol which makes you blind. If I remember back to school chemistry lessons I thought it was Methanol which caused all the problems.

I've played it back once and I'm sure he said Ethanol!

[stuving]

Episode 2 very good, but did I pick up a slip of the tongue?

When showing a still the commentator said you had to be careful if you distilled alcohol because you got Ethanol which makes you blind. If I remember back to school chemistry lessons I thought it was Methanol which caused all the problems.

I've played it back once and I'm sure he said Ethanol!

He did - poor proof-reading (or is it proof-listening?).

[ellendune]

When showing a still the commentator said you had to be careful if you distilled alcohol because you got Ethanol which makes you blind. If I remember back to school chemistry lessons I thought it was Methanol which caused all the problems.

I've played it back once and I'm sure he said Ethanol!

If ethanol had that effect there would be a lot of blind people around since that is the alcohol we drink normally.  It is methanol - or rather its metabolites, that causes blindness. 

And yes I agree he did say ethanol.

[TonyK]

Definitely said ethanol! I am now up to date with the two episodes - nothing we didn't know before, but very enjoyable.

[chuffed]

Thought I would let the series finish before I made any further comment. I found the whole series hugely enjoyable and it was a refreshing change to have the social impact of railways examined so entertainingly. The last episode tied up so many loose ends very successfully and I thought the presenters were very knowledgeable and very well chosen. The carefully staged sets, and attention to detail were well thought out, and really did make that awful trainspotting live programme look shambolic and amateurish. I now have the book (£8 from Amazon instead of £25 from the Beeb/OU).

[Chris from Nailsea]

I now have the book (£8 from Amazon instead of £25 from the Beeb/OU).

You are apparently very chuffed, chuffed! 

[trainer]

I now have the book (£8 from Amazon instead of £25 from the Beeb/OU).

You are apparently very chuffed, chuffed! 

Not as as chuffed as me because I will borrow it from him for free! 

I too thought it a really first class programme and learned things I didn't know which is always a bonus.  The production values were high and the research up to the standard of something part financed by the OU.

My only irritation was with the director who seemed to insist that when not engaged with each other, the presenters talked to someone just off camera and not to the viewer.  Not sure what that was all about. Nevertheless, a most enjoyable series, which no doubt contributed to the coffers of the large number of heritage railways that were used.

[TonyK]

My only irritation was with the director who seemed to insist that when not engaged with each other, the presenters talked to someone just off camera and not to the viewer.  Not sure what that was all about. Nevertheless, a most enjoyable series, which no doubt contributed to the coffers of the large number of heritage railways that were used.

It seems to be a technique used by some, not by others. If you watch a Jamie Oliver cookery programme, you'll see it there too.