goodbye to steam pathe film

[NickRatnieks]

Bizarre to think that those EM2 locos were sold to The Netherlands in 1969 and worked longer over there than they did in Britain. The pioneer predecessor- the prototype EM1 was used in Holland as 1500 volts DC is their system- it was named Tommy by the Dutch drivers. It returned to Britain for the opening of the newly electrified Woodhead line in 1955- which I think we see in the film being opened. Then blow me down if the line wasn't shut- first for passengers and completely in 1981. Madness.

[colliecandle]

Electrification - regressive, ugly and easily stopped ! There is nothing more unsightly than all this OLE - Green ? - I think NOT ! Where does the power come from to make this 'green' transport? From COAL/OIL power stations ! Nuclear ? Yeah! The WAY to go {Fukishima, Chernobyl, Long Island, Wyoming etc)

[nylonTS]

looks like a bombing mission of world war two they must be all ex RAF

[Femmenition]

Steam was withdrawn before it's time. If things weren't as rushed as they were, maybe BR wouldn't have spent so much money on diesel locos that became extinct within 10 years.

[wordsmith52]

..."...the aim is to make british railways the best in the world..." lol ...well at least they are not the worst...yet... 

[JimTLonW6]

Interesting how in these Pathe News films Britain's always going to be the best, or in the lead. I wonder what happened?

Anyway, I'm sure it will be good when we start to use that nuclear powered electricity on all our main lines!

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

A real piece of history!

[robmasterman]

Excellent archive footage, very evocative...5* Bob

[NN2Blue]

Thank you for putting this up - classic! Historical dreams eh! - Mike

[stuartthegrant]

This is historic film. Great stuff..

[pacificlipper]

Heyup narrator...that diesel is a EM2 Woodhead 1500 volt DC Electric co-co loco me owld cocker !!!

[SteffanLlwyd]

Priceless. Thanks for posting.