The British Railway Series: An interview by SiF

[TheRandomationStudio]

!my holden b12 is number 61572, just like stephen(and his realife counterpart), br black, got it second hand at my local hobby shop, was definately originally green as i can see the undercoat and the transfers are blatent!

[dshaynie]

fowlers lamp is lego??

[Whizzer1]

Is Sean O' Connor the same person who helps on the SI3D website and this is an awesome interview

[simierski]

@Whizzer1 - yes he is, and thank you. :)

[WHOisHE15]

what make is the J50 tank?

[CastlewayandBromford]

do you have any tips for someone trying to create a series similar to BRWS?

awsome series

[cubeproduktion]

On the ghost train, is that a lego piece?

[m611martin]

This is such an inspiration to watch. I hope that some of us Americans will take up this idea for a series. I really do enjoy seeing your work Simon!

[PGW85Productions]

07:47 is really funny. Get Simon, Nigel, get him

[PGW85Productions]

07:47 is really funny get Simon, Nigel, get him

[LBPStrikerInc]

Hmm...

Is it me or at 10:43 a back wall behind the sheds appears out of thin air! :P

[TheClaudHamilton]

Small question about that Claud Hamilton, Simon; was the face supposed to be a terrified face, or that of a female engine?

[spartan4821]

who is that guy behind you at 2:25?

[TheNw1218]

Say, when will the next episode come out. It's been almost a year now.

[accadaccasuperstar]

don't use 3D animation. please use models. i would love to see a series on the gwr.

[accadaccasuperstar]

I've always wondered. Did Hawksworth build Hawk's class before or after the end of the GWR? I've heard that they were built before British Railways or they were built by British Railways. I'm interested as Hawk goes on about being Great Western and so if he was built after the end of the GWR he techinically not Great Western :)

[TheClaudHamilton]

@accadaccasuperstar They were first built in 1947, so Hawk is definitely Great Western, but by the skin of his boiler lagging.

[Trainmaster3468]

2:39 I knew it :)

[simierski]

@ThomasWRFan24 - 8x4 feet. It's tiny! :D

[DTChapman1]

Here is an idea for a new british railway series. Try doing the Southern Railway because thay are not that well known. They also started the diesel revelution

[cyberkidmfb]

where's Arthur?

[Zaphodraptor]

And poor Deltic wanted attention but didn't get any. :LOL:

[messey04]

hi simon i wud buy all your book if you made them

[00magrac]

Is that a poster of Holly Valance in the background? When will she be making an appearance?

[SkarloeyRailway01]

Hey I'd buy a book! :) Count me in that x amount!

[leokimvideo]

TTOOBBYY

[Zaphodraptor]

Do you think Allen could be rebuilt into Tornado?

[disneyrangerblue02]

@Zaphodraptor I don't know if that's possible. I think Tornado will be an entirely different character.

[TheClaudHamilton]

@Zaphodraptor Tornado was built less than sixty years after the last A1, so I highly doubt Allen would have "evolved" into that character - although perhaps Tornado might embody Allen's personality.

[Zaphodraptor]

@TheClaudHamilton Maybe, although I already got a reply from Simon.

[OliverNo12]

Hi Simon,

Will we see flying scotsman preserved by alan peglar and the visiting Copley Hill with american fittings a couple of days before he leaves for the states. (or a genral story about scotsman bieng preseverd)

Regards,

Oliver

[MegaGreeny01]

pretty long video

[simierski]

@superalexw1 - Sean was contolling the trains - and yes, new episodes are on their way, a little ways to go yet mind.

[EmeryAndEmilyFan2344]

Is the model of Fowler's Ghost custom or storebought?

[simierski]

@EmeryAndEmilyFan2344 - listen to the whole interview and find out! ;)

[trainboy62]

If you were to make a book, based on the BRWS, I would definitely buy it. It would be cool because it would be the opposite of what happened to the RWS. started out as a book and became a tv series. ;)

[penninefilms]

Just having a loot at this video for a second time and you give so much detail about your series.

[simierski]

@penninefilms - I try. I live in hope people will watch it and learn from it, maybe avoid the mistakes I made myself.

[penninefilms]

@simierski You have not don that bad but I can see how much the series has improved since Episode one (A Great Problem Go's West) came out and I am looking forward to you next episode.

[leokimvideo]

this video has entertained tubers for around 208,550 mins

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - that is an incredible statistic! :)

[TrainMaster24]

I definitely enjoyed watching this. Inspirational and entertaining. Best of luck with future plans!

[MrMichaelDogson]

Would you recommend I buy an American NYC Hudson type?

[RandomPoseidon01]

If you wrote a book, I WOULD SO BUY IT!!!!

[TheNw1218]

Thx for responding to my previous comments, but, I'm serious about adding some southern railway engines. I.e: the merchant navy class.

[ShaurntheSheep]

I’ve commented before but anyway, your very inspirational in what you say, I keep having ideas but I never get them put forward, I have one at the moment I am doing about two German steam engines on trainz just thinking of ideas at the moment but hopefully if I button down I’ll get it done and put on youtube soon

p.s was the J50 a kit?

[simierski]

@ShaurntheSheep - it was a lima model, and the chassis was so bad, I have tried writing out Geoffrey altogether!!!

[bigbomb1986]

@simierski hi quick question will the last enigne have a spinoff?

[TheClaudHamilton]

@simierski So does that mean Geoffrey is going to be cut up for scrap or something in his next appearance?

[tiddles4x4]

Hi Simon. Nice to see the layout in it entirety. I am looking at doing a similar layout to display my expanding fleet.

So can you please tell me what is the size of the board and what is the radius of the main line curves?

Thanks.

[simierski]

@tiddles4x4 - it's an 8x4, with second radius curves. Not recommended! I am looking at getting fourth radius curves in through widening the set overall. This will help muchly with scenic work too.

[tiddles4x4]

@simierski I think 4th radius will put the track too close to the board edge. You would need to widen the layout by a minimum of 6 inches. But 3rd radius would be ideal. I am running 2-8-4,s and 2-8-8-0 articulated and they run fine on 3rd radius.

[simierski]

@tiddles4x4 - I did say in my original reply "widening the set overall". 3rd radius curves won't fit the current baseboard, let alone 4th!

[tiddles4x4]

@simierski I just did a quick mock up in the railway room. yes you are right. 3rd radius would only leave you with 3 inches between the track and layout edge. As you get further away from the centre of the layout to the edge. Its good to consider how far you can reach with out having to lean over the layout. Especially where buildings are concerned. I am building a 10 by 8 layout with a centre operating well. You could have an off stage bolt on section for main line running shots.

[leokimvideo]

Personally I found the most interesting bits near the end, I just hope others are watching this fully and not skip watching.

It really is a video which needs a summary of content up front as it's a huge watch to take it all in.

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - a very fair point. I shall try and write one up this evening for the video description, maybe annotate time dependent links into the video's title run?

[leokimvideo]

@simierski one thing i did on a very long video was set up chapters via the info area, it was the widescreen version of behind the scene of the video I won't mention here. Its a half hour epic, and very poorly watched even though it has new content in it.

I really feel pulling long duration videos is pretty risky on these networks, everyone is tubes into 3 min wonders. Your time jump annotation is a excellent idea.

[leokimvideo]

Thomas is completely off the rails now. Go back and look through the first 5 series of the show, in particular the first two. Thats where i drew inspiration for you know what.

Look how in a few mins of Thomas & Friends there's a complete story, beginning, middle and end. I ask anyone to match this style of story telling. I could not achieve this.

Well simierski I watched the WHOLE video, took a number of sittings as sadly my attention span these days is very short (blame youtube for that)

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - may I just say, thank you for watching all the way through, and not being bored entirely witless (I hope!!!)

[leokimvideo]

@simierski i'll be honest here I do skip watch stuff allot, you have to when people are expecting you to be part of their video and lay a comment down. The part most would not understand is there's lots of work and time management required once a youtube channel becomes large. I fully understand why the mega tubers cut off their audience and only speak via their videos.

You can so easily find yourself spending literally hours applying yourself to others for what is very little return.

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - it's a fair point. I wonder if I should upload each of the segments Ryan & Steve did as separate videos - each are about 3/4 minutes long. Maybe make a playlist with them all in!

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - it always amazes me how David Mitton and his team/writers managed to get the Awdry material to work so well on screen. One can only conclude that the original material worked well when read aloud, even before the proposition for a TV series.

I strive for the "Edward's Exploit" level of film making, but I'm afraid I've not got there yet by any means.

[leokimvideo]

@simierski one of the key items I notice about the early Thomas stories is the very few characters in each episode, generally it's one engine against another. Telling stories gets complicated as soon as you start flooding a episode with many characters.

another important part to remember is let the camera do some of the story telling, that's one so many people just never get.

[tiddles4x4]

@leokimvideo Also to note that the original storeys by the Rev and latter his son Christopher. Is that they are based on actual railway practises and events.

The new stuff if completely and unbelievably made up by people who have no interest or research in to the subject.

[leokimvideo]

@tiddles4x4 whenever you have a machine which is set up basically to sell toys there is always going to be a change in direction

lets ad a whole bunch of new characters, and there is only one reason for that.

[leokimvideo]

Yes simierski, there is something very beautiful about working with models, I feel it's because it's a tangible hands on experience. What you see si what you get.

It's something which we both feel very strongly about, and there are now whole generations who have been fed endless CGI creations, will they see CGI as their tangible experience without ever touching something with human hands?

[leokimvideo]

Interesting point about money, and it's a reminder that any well produced video no matter what subjects it is on costs money to make. It is easy to have this cost blow out way past your budget.

Seems many on the tube expect all this stuff for free, and don't understand that basically nothing is free, everything in life has costs attached to it.

I see your story brings real history wrapped up in model train characters to a young audience, no fluff bubble or squeak to sell bright coloured toys.

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - absolutely. History is the mantra, entertainment is the aim.

[leokimvideo]

Simierski if steam loco's used petrol as their fuel we would still have them with us today..lol

The way the oil companies have kept us with the internal combustion engine really smacks of a major conspiracy, then again greed is good.

The very simple equation here is the less we use the more expensive the fuel becomes, it's complete and utter highway robbery.

Watch how slow any new car propulsion system is developed, and the oil companies will basically buy up the technology.

Break at 35:14

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - that said chap, I saw for the very first time, an advert on TV for an electric car. Nissan Leaf, I think it was. Never seen one for a full electric car. I fancy a Tesla myself!

[leokimvideo]

lol, PC society, yep I have had enough of that lately.

I like the deltic story and power struggle aspect going on there, never picked up on the steamer as the other bad guy. Never knew deltic's very early demise created his preservation.

considering the deltic design he could be both hero and bad guy, he's very two faced to look at.

[leokimvideo]

its interesting the lines you can draw between dinosaurs and the steam trains of the recent past, difference is one suffered a man made ending!

there is someone behind you at 19:00, a mysterious hand at 21:00, possibly the effect of Fowlers ghost..!

the background to FG is amazing, hell Simon your a major rivet counter!

having another break and will pick up at Heroes / Villains 27:10

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - yup, definitely a rivet counter! But a realistic one, I love my model trains but at the end of the day, models aren't meant to be full replicas of the real thing - if they were, they'd run on steam. ;)

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - just to say, it's Sean - a friend of mine - hiding round the back, controlling the trains!

[leokimvideo]

3:29, there looks like a ghost boy is there!

this is a long video I will have to do it in a number of sittings, having a rest at 13min will pick it up another day, the amount of details revealed is entertaining

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - I'm nothing if not honest at the very least! :)

[leokimvideo]

3:29, there looks like a ghost is there!

[simierski]

@leokimvideo - that's sean - he was controlling the trains!

[leokimvideo]

opps sorry simierski I missed this one, it's up on my channel.

I will come back a little later to have a few words on this.

[famaliyof4]

who is in the back round at 3:29 and, I feel stephen is the main character as well as thinking that till episode 3

[famaliyof4]

who is in the back round at 3:29

[34002salisbury]

A very interesting watch simon. Its nice to see an insight on what the series is based on. One tip if you do mkae another series, Salisbury shed where GWR and SR meet. Until the mid 50s there were 2 sheds but then it was merged into one

[simierski]

@34002salisbury - very interesting. Thanks for that - research commences...!

[Lightninging63]

is it just me, or do I see a Take-N-Play Hiro at 35:26? off near the carriage works Very enjoyable interview, i enjoyed it all. the analagies, the explanations, everything. :)

[SiForumsAndFansite]

@Lightninging63 We shifted engines around the layout between each question and take. And for a gag, yes, Simon decided to throw in a Take and Play Hiro to act as an 'easter egg' for people to spot. In all honesty I thought where we placed it and the angle I filmed Simon from hid it completely from view... obviously not completely then! Well done!

[SiForumsAndFansite]

Was an absolute pleasure shooting this on the night, and the amount of photos I took of the layout when I was staying with Simon that weekend was incredible. Up close, you can see what a small space he works with, and you cannot fully comprehend how well he manages to shoot the stories successfully with the spacial confines.

The image of Sir Ralph, Stephen and Allen outside Copley Hill shed may be auctioned as a canvas print for The Railway Children charity next year. Any buyers? ;P

[TheNw1218]

why not add other engines from:

the southern railway

the london midland and scottish railway

or the br standards?

the lner engines weren't the only ones

[simierski]

@TheNw1218 - I notice you left out the great western railway! ;)

The area in which Copley Hill fell was significantly more ex-LNER than other areas, including a few midland engines (a 2MT and a Royal Scot have featured previously). BR standard engines have featured too - a 7MT, a Clan, and several 4MTs.

[TheNw1218]

@simierski well in that case, find other lner engines

60022 mallard never met 60006

[simierski]

@TheNw1218 - you'd be very, very wrong there! I have in my grandfather's collection a photograph of three A4s on shed. 60022, 60006, and 60011, at "Top Shed".

Just because the allocations don't match up, doesn't mean they were never seen together! :)

[TheClaudHamilton]

Heck, Deltic must have been really annoyed to have backed away from you like that! I think you've just about hit the nail (or the rivet) on the head about villains - I for example try to see some good in diesels, but I find it difficult to really see steam engines as evil.

You know, when I read that article about Episode 18 on Blogspot, I was rather intrigued by the proposed accident scene. I bet you have a really inventive technique in mind for that.

[RailwayConductor12]

cool layout

[dale833128]

Wow you kind of look like my brother but sometimes he has a big forest of hair. My brother loves your interview.

[TheThomas64fan]

Gronk Sloooowy moving during you interview lol, I really like your layout :)

[rbdaviesTB3]

Fascinating look at the BRS Simon :)

[LNERRedneck]

Simon, I'm not telling you what to do, but 3d animation is difficult. If you want to try to make a new series in 3d, good luck, I'll be willing to help you anyway I can.

[TTTEandbigG]

Fantastic! If you ever do publish a book, know you will definately have me as a customer! :)

[MTwillman]

20:39 i have an N gauge Der Adler

[RobertHew]

interesting to hear your views on the BRWS, but i have to agree with you. full scale 3d animation wouldn't be as real as modelwork

[penninefilms]

That was one of the best interviews I have seen you gave so much knowledge on you series and its so nice to see the set its self I can remember the making of the British railway series and that was good but this was amazing pace of film and I look foreword to the next episode in your series.

[TheRedDal3k]

I wouldn't go into the realms of CGI i simierski, your series has a sort of "quaintness" if you know what I mean. Awesome vid, keep it up :)

[TheRedDal3k]

@TheRedDal3k Yeah, I think most of your audience love the models the most.

[easta007]

My great grandad helped to build the W1. He knew mr.gresley quite well.

[simierski]

@easta007 - I'm sorry I didn't see this comment earlier - that is fascinating! :) Was he an engineer at Doncaster perchance?

[easta007]

@simierski Darlington was where he worked.

[Whizzer1]

is the little green engine that is in episode 17x is that a real engine i mean in real life becuase i have this pack of DVDs and the Narrator talks about a little green engine like the one on your layout

[simierski]

@Whizzer1 - he is indeed. He is a preserved engine in the national collection - look up the winning competition entry for 2009 to find out more about him. :)

[ThomastheE2engine]

very nice.

you have said somethings that will come very handy when i start my series.

you are a role model and have inspiered me to make a series.

as always, looking forward to the next episode. :)

[WHOisHE15]

....don`t ever get rid of this series... you have made a change

[sonicxthomasexpert]

I almost laughed when Deltic got upeset at you and then left.

[MURPHYPRODUCTIONS828]

All I Can Say Is That You Have Done A Fantastic Job On The Series And I Can't Wait To See What You Have In Stores For Us In The Next Episodes =)

[Caledonian812]

Wonderful video. It was certainly great to see Copley Hill at work while you talked about it. Towards the end, when you were talking about the G Scale modeler, did you mean Cudak888? I'm looking forward to his take on Ernest the Engine Cart.

[simierski]

@Caledonian812 - Yep, I was talking about Cudak. His work is astounding - I am looking forward to seeing some films out of him in the future :)

[leefamily432]

who's that guy peaking out behind the set at around 2:47?

[simierski]

@leefamily432 - That's sean - he's from Sodor Island 3D and he was managing the running of trains that day! :)

[leefamily432]

@simierski isn't sean the guy who designed the background for your page when an episode came out?

[simierski]

@leefamily432 - the one and same!

[HA1LILPALAZZO]

I'd buy a book :-) the stories are great :-)

[thomasyourtheleada1]

I'd buy a book, even though I'm in the US.

[ShaurntheSheep]

interesting, what do mean resin model I like how when forget Allen and Derek the deltic gets cross, I also like how your story's are original' I'd say more but can't think of any thing

great

[jamiegoddard4]

Id buy a book. Particularly if it had real history and character history. Also im just sooo desperate to know what the orignial episode 1 was like.

[NewController01]

@jamiegoddard4 Same here

[simierski]

@jamiegoddard4 - question is Jamie, would you want just stories, taken from historical events, or perhaps an appendix at the back explaining the historical backstories more as well?

[jamiegoddard4]

@simierski Well i can only speak for myself, but half the greatnes of this series is you leave so much of the history to work out. the downside of that is that i dont know what will come up in the future episodes. Threfore a historical apendix would be briliant but not really until ep30 cos otheriwse its ful of spoilers.

Its like when i got harry potter and the deathly halows on the first day after it was published and read the end first. Satisfying but really best left until last.

[foxcell]

i'd buy the book :-D its a greate serise & railway history which is a plus in my book

[spazman13579]

HAHA at 3:20 theres some little kid creepin in the background :P

[simierski]

@spazman13579 - That's sean! :)

He was operating the trains behind the screen. I may add a little caption to that!

[Thorpedo619]

Fantastic interview, it's amazing how much detail you went into. All of your characters are great :) I wish I could make a model layout like yours. keep up the amazing work :)

[simierski]

@Thorpedo619 - the thing is, anyone can - I've not done anything particularly amazing with my modelling. I may have to do another "making of" video to try and convince people to have a go. :)

[Thorpedo619]

@simierski Sounds good to me :) I'm planning on making a model railway set on Sodor :)

[zachycards]

*stares with jaw on the floor* that...was...AWESOME!!! Excellent video!!!! Oh, and just to say something regarding what I will be doing next year, I will actually be coming to London next year in April. And who knows, maybe I might run into you, i don't know, I've just been thinking about going to London, and then i realized that I'll be going there for 3 days. So anyways, ttfn chap!

[EdwardPercyScruff]

I saw Sean!