Walking Britain's Lost Railways

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Rob Bell (not Julia Bradbury, sorry) - ITV, 8 p.m. tonight --- just watching on +1 at the moment.

Tonight - Midland Main Line through the Peak District

https://tv24.co.uk/b/q5gd00-1nzp :

Rob travels along a stretch of what was once part of the London to Manchester express route. From Matlock to the spa town splendour of Buxton, Rob unearths a tale of Victorian ambition, as he travels along a route filled with great engineering.

[johnneyw]

Just caught it on replay. Interesting seeing the bits I visited a couple of years ago.

[JayMac]

After just 2 episodes the series has been "paused" by Channel 5.

That's commercial TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) speak for, "We weren't getting enough viewers and the advertisers aren't happy."

So it's been replaced by Nightmare Hotels of the Third Reich in Colour. Or something.

Presenter Rob Bell had quite a few tweets on Sunday and yesterday asking why the series was pulled.

https://twitter.com/MrRobBell/status/1231969108113215488?s=20

[grahame]

Response from Channel 5:

Date: 25th February 2020

Dear Xxxxx

Thank you for your recent email regarding Walking Britain's Lost Railways.

The remaining episodes in Series 2 are currently unplaced in our schedules. Being such a popular programme, we are hoping for a better slot for the series later in the year. In line with other commercial broadcasters, our schedules are only confirmed up to two weeks in advance. We recommend that you keep a close eye on the listings or the TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) Guide on our website.

Many thanks

Porcia

VIEWER ADVISOR

[old original]

Definitely a bovine wiff here abouts..

[JayMac]

Definitely a bovine wiff here abouts..

Indeed.

"... hoping for a better slot..."

It's your channel for flips sake. You should know what slots are and aren't available. No need for hope.

The reality though is that they're trying to 'sell' the programme to advertisers.

[Marlburian]

A couple of months ago, I binged on Whitewick's Abandoned Railways on YouTube.

Mrs & Mrs Whitewick, sometimes accompanied by their children, make a charismatic couple, though his resemblance to Sir Bradley Wiggins is a little distracting! They are "exploring" and cannot be expected to have intimate local knowledge, but now and then I have remarked to myself that they've overlooked some particular feature.

They seem to have covered many of the lost railway lines  with which I'm familiar.

[TaplowGreen]

Definitely a bovine wiff here abouts..

Indeed.

"... hoping for a better slot..."

It's your channel for flips sake. You should know what slots are and aren't available. No need for hope.

The reality though is that they're trying to 'sell' the programme to advertisers.

Commercial reality. Minority interest. Much cheaper and easier to buy something in/show a repeat which will attract far more viewers and advertisers.

Food for thought for all those screaming and shouting about funding the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) on a commercial basis rather than via the Licence Fee.

[grahame]

A couple of months ago, I binged on Whitewick's Abandoned Railways on YouTube.

Mrs & Mrs Whitewick, sometimes accompanied by their children, make a charismatic couple, though his resemblance to Sir Bradley Wiggins is a little distracting! They are "exploring" and cannot be expected to have intimate local knowledge, but now and then I have remarked to myself that they've overlooked some particular feature.

They seem to have covered many of the lost railway lines  with which I'm familiar.

I found myself watching a number of their videos the other day, and considering the format of couples travelling together, with one (in theory) explaining it to the other, whilst in practise explaining to the viewer.  Geoff Marshall and Vicki Pipe also sprung to my mind.   How hard it must be to avoid the stereotypical "man explains to woman" appearance, and how hard to look cheerful / happy / for one of the people not to appear unhappy to have been dragged along, but really enthusiastic about yet another interesting station clock, this time at Hainault, or yet another boggy old tunnel.

Our discussions then went on to Love is Blind and First Dates - but I'm going off topic as I see few couples in either show taking in the joys of the abandoned site of Killin Junction, or London Overground at Battersea Park.

[patch38]

Definitely a bovine wiff here abouts..

Indeed. Looking at who signed the response, maybe even a porcine whiff...? 

[old original]

My recorder has picked up what seems to be the return of this series. On Ch5 at 20.00 on Friday 3/4.

[johnneyw]

Just caught this evening's episode on the Waverley Line. A lot of it was very interesting.  Top marks to the architect who renovated a station for his home yet was happy for any future possible reopening to run through what is now his garden, especially as the buildings on both platforms are owned and renovated by him. One would hope that the original wooden footbridge he restored between the two would be allowed to stay.

[eXPassenger]

Just caught this evening's episode on the Waverley Line. A lot of it was very interesting.  Top marks to the architect who renovated a station for his home yet was happy for any future possible reopening to run through what is now his garden, especially as the buildings on both platforms are owned and renovated by him. One would hope that the original wooden footbridge he restored between the two would be allowed to stay.

A very nice light programme, but he identifed the emptiness of the area before supporting a re-opening.

He also talked about the 30 miles that had been opened as the longest piece of new railway for a century.  He has not heard of HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel).

[johnneyw]

Just caught this evening's episode on the Waverley Line. A lot of it was very interesting.  Top marks to the architect who renovated a station for his home yet was happy for any future possible reopening to run through what is now his garden, especially as the buildings on both platforms are owned and renovated by him. One would hope that the original wooden footbridge he restored between the two would be allowed to stay.

He also talked about the 30 miles that had been opened as the longest piece of new railway for a century.  He has not heard of HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel).

That bit struck me as odd too. HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) is about double the length..... or was a substantial amount of it upgraded existing line?  In that case the Waverley Line might be the longest continuous line built in a century?