Portrait of an Engineer - British Railways in the 1950's

[NickRatnieks]

The Vulcan Foundry- now the site of a housing estate.

[Thejimmyc51]

If only we'd had Governments that could see the value of this kind of manufacturing this country wouldn't be in the state it is now. Even though we still have a company that could make trains the idiots give the contracts to other countries. In Germay they can't get enough skilled workers. In Britain there's no work for the few skilled workers left.

[EqualityScotland]

The Governments of the UK want to increase employment? Give us back our Steam locos!

[SteffanLlwyd]

Priceless. People talk about the 'knowledge economy' these days.... as if there was no knowledge at Vulcan's!!!!!!!

[RICKD790]

Just brilliant. I would have given my right arm to work in a place like Vulcan Foundry. Times like these will never return sadly.

[SteffanLlwyd]

@RICKD790 I agree! Fantastic. Jobs worth doing. And they were building probably better locos for export than we had on most UK routes.

[RICKD790]

@SteffanLlwyd I'm sure they were Steffan. I bet they had a lot of banter in a place like that, which would be completely necessary with such physical hard work.

[SteffanLlwyd]

@RICKD790 One thing I learned from factory work is that people there only insult you if they like you and are polite if they do not!

[SteffanLlwyd]

@RICKD790 I'm reading 'Under 10 CMEs' by E A Langridge (two volumes) at the moment. Really worth getting as it tells the story of how detailed parts came to be the way they were and conflicting thinking about steam locomotive design. Highly Recommended! It begins with a premium apprenticeship on the LSWR at Eastleigh and runs through to the design and construction of the BR Standard Classes and the first generation diesels. The author was what I'd call a design engineer. Good read

[NostalgicNorthland]

Wonderful footage of a time sadly gone.......who would have thought we would change so much. Love those British Rail films and this is no exception. Thank you for sharing.

[Isochest]

I wish there were opportunities for my kids like this now.

[cn22willamette]

The chuff CV needs to be adjusted.

Doesn't look like any ear protection either.

[canyondogh]

As Mike commented . . NO hardhats ( Or safety glasses or ear plugs )

[LycoValleyRRFan]

This reminds me of the shop scenes from "The Train".

[MG06ZT]

Great vid, love it!

[hisroyalstigness]

when he looks down he looks like peter mandelson

[mikec6201]

Great Film, Thank you..And not a single %^$#% hard hat in sight!!!