Kit Spackman in HD on BBC4

[Howard of Effingham]

That was a very good, informative and honest look at British Railways in the postwar era. Too many people wear rose-tinted specs when looking back at the days of steam.

could not agree more nick where kettles are concerned!

[lancer]

Oh gawd, I thought I'd kept that hidden.

Actually that's the seventh TV prog I've done, all on the APT of course. Glad you liked it.

So, now you're famous, can I get your autograph next time we cross paths???

[Scooterman]

MY GAWD!  He does have a top to his head!  I was expecting a giant brain bulging out of the skull...........

[PR19_Kit]

Oh gawd, I thought I'd kept that hidden.

Actually that's the seventh TV prog I've done, all on the APT of course. Glad you liked it.

So, now you're famous, can I get your autograph next time we cross paths???

No probs. 

I was surprised by the number of railway modellers who wanted my autograph at the November Warley Model Railway Show. I was there as a consultant for the newly announced OO gauge model of the APT-E by Rapido Trains in Canada and I didn't stop talking about it for two days!

MY GAWD!  He does have a top to his head!  I was expecting a giant brain bulging out of the skull...........

Hehehe, the mind BOGGLES! The Hat's to keep my head warm (on Doc's orders) not as a brain cover!

[Captain Canada]

A friend of mine made this little video. I was hoping it would have worked to watch this video but alas, no. Still, it might work for somebody else ! Plus, it can change your IP address to a bunch of different countries so it could be helpful to the general public. We've been using it to watch American Netflix, as the CDN one is super lame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR1O3ro_GiM&feature=share

[Hobbes]

Watched this today. The story of the APT seems typically British: excellent engineers solve the principal problems, then don't get the money to develop the result properly. Someone else buys the technology and makes it into a successful business proposition.

(also: I never realized Britain started using overhead power lines for rail in the '60s, I thought it was all third rail... )

[PR19_Kit]

Watched this today. The story of the APT seems typically British: excellent engineers solve the principal problems, then don't get the money to develop the result properly. Someone else buys the technology and makes it into a successful business proposition.

(also: I never realized Britain started using overhead power lines for rail in the '60s, I thought it was all third rail... )

I suspect that if Maggie Thatcher hadn't been hell bent on privatisation of the railways the APT programme may have got on much better. Perhaps some people in Government thought APT technology was a valuable item and persuaded her that it was worth more to the country by being sold as part of the package than it was worth carrying passengers....

Actually overhead electrification in the UK was in place during WWI, and there were many different systems all running at different voltages and using differing power systems aboard the locos all over the country throughout the '20s - '40s.

The Newport - Shildon line was electrified with a 1500 V DC overhead system in 1914. The 1960's electrification programme was carried out on the West Coast Main Line at 25 kV AC, a much more efficient system, and one that's used on many railway systems all over the world.

[Librarian]

I can recommend Christian Wolmar's series of Railway histories, they really are very good...even if you're not interested in Rail initially. I've been quietly working my way through them on my Father's advice. Fascinating subject.

[NARSES2]

Actually overhead electrification in the UK was in place during WWI, and there were many different systems all running at different voltages and using differing power systems aboard the locos all over the country throughout the '20s - '40s.

I never knew that. All my journey's as a child would have been by steam on the main line, diesel when up North and third rail around London.

Now was the 3rd rail system restricted to the London and S.E. corner of the country plus London Underground or did other companies use it ?

[PR19_Kit]

There were some other 3rd rail systems in different parts of the country, around Liverpool and the Wirral being just one. Of course the London Underground near you uses a 4 th rail system with the centre rail being the return path, unlike the 3rd system which uses the running rails themselves as the return path. The LU only uses 450 V or thereabouts though.

The big problem with 3rd rail is that it's limited to 600V or thereabouts as it's so close to the ground. For more efficient higher voltages they had to go to the overhead systems, but they took time to develop. There are some overhead systems that use 600 - 750 V though, usually tram systems as used in Nottingham and on your local Croydon Tramlink Chris.

See, it's educational here too. 

[NARSES2]

Thankee, kindly sirrrr