However I was privy to a BBC2 advert that announced the arrival of not one, but two railway related programs either side of 'Top Gear' last night (Sunday). So there I was, a brew in hand ready for three full hours of entertainment.
Their first of the railway programs was named 'Engineering Connections' and was hosted by none other than Top Gear's Richard 'Hamster' Hammond.....I was just pleased it wasn't Jeremy Clarkson!
It featured the Japanese Shinkensen 'Bullet Train' and linked past engineering techniques that had been used in the creation of these bloody fantastic Trains. As always with those tykes from Top Gear, a few slapstick tests 'in the name of science' gave it a light hearted edge, whilst sandwiched in between very interesting interviews by those involved in the making of the Bullet, all in all a decent watch.
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| The Japenese 'Shinkansen', or commonly known as 'The Bullet Train' |
Something something Cars, something something Jeremy Clarkson appreciation society later and it was onto the second railway program of the night, now hosted by James May.
After seeing some of his 6 Episode run of 'Toy Stories' that featured some very well known toys such as Lego, Airfix, Plastercine & Scalextric, they also did one on Model Railways. This episode featured a task to build the longest stretch of model rail track and run trains on it, a ten mile stretch of the old Atlantic Coast Express line between Bideford and Barnstable in North Devon.
Mr May and his childhood buddy, train enthusiast Oz Clarke, recruited local members of the public, scouts and fire brigade to help bring this dream to fruition. He would attempt (but fail) to run three trains along the whole 10 miles. However it was an heroic attempt, as one Hornby Class 395 'Javelin' came just 3 miles short of the final stop at Bideford. 7 miles for a Model Train which was still a great achievement.
However, you could sense the disappointment of both James and Ozzy. May was even more disappointed that his childhood model loco of the 'Flying Scotsman' ran for just 20 metres.
It was always going to be re-attempted you felt. And so it was.
This episode 'The Great Train Race' began showing the failed attempt, with May doing the voice-over culminated in him saying: ''I couldn't let the memory of the failed first go damage the reputation of the greatest hobby in the world''. YES I called out!
With a new and improved plan of action, he set about recruiting more members of the public, some that had been part of the original attempt who were also determined that this would be it! And not to make it too repetitive, May decided on making this into a competition and invited 'Ze German's' from Miniatur Wunderland based in Hamburg. If you have never seen this layout (which may just be the greatest ever) visit http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/ for a look, spectacular stuff.
Stations were built where both teams would set off from either end of the line. Meanwhile, it was decided that each team would run three services each along the Tarka Trail. Both the UK and German teams picked two model train's from there own countries whilst a third was set as a challenge of building 'concept' model trains, the only rule was that it had to be self propelled and not take power current from the track.
With everything now set and both teams ready, the race was started using steam locomotives, the Germans using a German DR Class 58.30 and the British using James' own childhood model of LNER Class A3 4472 'Flying Scotman – "with realistic chuffing sound" – which had been repaired since the last attempt and was 'driven' by his friend Oz Clarke.
The second race belonged to the Diesels - a German DB Class 403, nicknamed 'Donald Duck' due to its ends looking like the bill of a duck, and a British Railways Intercity 125 HST.
The third and final round featured the concept trains. The German team began using the cleverly created power source (fermented Sauerkraut!) to power a small piston engine motor, which moved very quickly but then derailed and exploded! In came their back up, a standard ES 64 P electric locomotive, powered by a bank of lithium-ion cell batteries.
The Brits first attempt was also written off, as a fan propelled Class 395 was too fast, derailed and broke! Again a replacement was brought in, this time a Thomas the Tank/Class 156 mix-mash with a hydrogen fuel cell for power.
The Germans won the first round, the 'Donald Duck' beating the HST by just a few minutes, even though with a couple of hundred yards to go broke down, they managed to get it home. The British then won the second round with their hydrogen fuel cell train.
So it came down to the British with the 'Flying Scotsman' and the German DR58 steam locomotives.
James May's own Flying Scotsman "with realistic chuffing sound".
To the delight of everyone, this 40 year old loco came in first, beating the Germans and winning the competition 2-1. May, mostly after the disappointment of the first attempt, was actually overcome with emotion that his Flying Scotsman model had made it to Bideford, and won it for the Brits.
What I loved about this was that I was almost as ecstatic as James May. It just goes to show how many people this hobby has captured...Model Railways are just brilliant! Well done James May and BBC!
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Looking upon his Childhood 4472 with sheer joy and emotion!
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Until next time...
Craig
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