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    collected

Railwatch

Season 1 1989

  • 1989-02-13T00:00:00Z on BBC One
  • 45m
  • 4h 30m (6 episodes)
  • United Kingdom
Railwatch was a magazine style programme broadcast over one week in 1989. It afforded viewers an in depth look behind the scenes at Britain's railways, which were then still in public ownership. In the 20 years or so since the programe was made there have been innumerable changes to the UK railway network following privatisation. The programme therefore stands as a vivid reminder of what the railways looked like a generation ago. The programme was broadcast on daytime TV with a later onmibus edition of the programme's highlights screened at the weekend.

6 episodes

Series Premiere

1989-02-13T00:00:00Z

1x01 Day 1

Series Premiere

1x01 Day 1

  • 1989-02-13T00:00:00Z45m

From York. Featuring the York railway museum Also Features the naming of the
programme's adopted InterCity 125 power car number 43108'BBC television railwatch'
at Kings Cross station. Features an interview with the programme's adopted train driver
John Swaby, and a interview with Dr. John Prideau, -then director of
InterCity. Paul Coia takes a look at Doncaster works where the LNER's Mallard
locomotive was built. Also featured is Doncaster signalling centre. Malcolm
McKeag takes a look at Edinburgh's Waverley station in Scotland. He takes
a look at the erstwhile motorail services that used to operate from the station
He also takes a look at the rather comfy looking lounge car used on sleeper
services, which at that time still used to operate via the East Coast route, before
they were diverted to Euston.

1989-02-14T00:00:00Z

1x02 Day 2

1x02 Day 2

  • 1989-02-14T00:00:00Z45m

From York. This programme takes a look at the travelling post office trains.
We are given a short history of signalling. We join train number 1S16 'The Talisman'
on its way north from Kings Cross to York -featuring views from the cab.
Regional railways are represented with a look at Glaisdale Station on the
Middlesborough to Whitby Esk Valley line.

1989-02-15T00:00:00Z

1x03 Day 3

1x03 Day 3

  • 1989-02-15T00:00:00Z45m

From York. Features operations in Doncaster's Belmont Goods Yard, a breakdown of the
programme's adopted HST power car, repairs and maintainance of the Inter City 125
power car fleet at Neville Hill depot in Leeds, we catch a glimpse of one of the HST
power cars that were given buffers to operate as driving van trailers around the time
the East Coast Main Line was electrified. The programme then takes a look at the Merry-
Go-Round trains that carry the coal to the big coal fired power stations of the Yorkshire
Coalfield. Sealink is represented by some shots of the MV Nord Pas de Calais trainferry
which operated on the Dover to Dunquerque train ferry route. We then take a look at the
freightliner service, the repainting of a HST power car, and the TOPS computer system
which is used to track the movement of freight on Britain's railways.

1989-02-16T00:00:00Z

1x04 Day 4

1x04 Day 4

  • 1989-02-16T00:00:00Z45m

From Leeds. The programme starts with a look at the Metrotrain network of the West
Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. These lines radiate out of Leeds City station
We see the station prior to rebuilding. The programme features a lot of pacer and sprinter
trains operating on the metrotrain network. The British Transport police are shown at work.
Then it's time for a driver of Southern Region electric multiple units to be interviewed
for the cameras. We then take a look at the vast left luggage office underneath Waterloo
station. The programme then takes a look at BR's erstwhile Red Star Parcels business.

1989-02-17T00:00:00Z

1x05 Day 5

1x05 Day 5

  • 1989-02-17T00:00:00Z45m

From York. Mike Smith presents the programme from the National Railway Museum in York.
We take a look at the different locomotive liveries of the sectorisation era British Rail,
- Intercity livery, Raifreight, Frontline passenger and BR general.

These are illustrated on a locomotive line up at Alexandra Palace depot in North London.
We then take a look at a then brand new class 91 locomotive, rolled out especially for the
occasion from the doors of the depot, and resplendant in Swallow livery. We are treated to the
rare sight of a then new MK4 intercity coach under test passing through York Station.

The programme takes a look at the work that was going into the electrification of the East
Coast Route north of Doncaster. We see an electrification train in the vicinity of the Scottish
border.

1989-02-18T00:00:00Z

1x06 Day 6

1x06 Day 6

  • 1989-02-18T00:00:00Z45m

Omnibus edition comprising highlights of the previous episodes

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