Portillo returns to your tv screen

[43021HST]

The irony

The difference between you and Charlie Brooker is that he uses satire and humour to create a funny, entertaining TV programme. You, on the other hand, are just rude and not very funny.

I also find you very rude and sanctomonious, by the way I made the snide little comment to wind people like you up. Have you noticed most of the other forum members take it in their stride.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I also find you very rude and sanctomonious, by the way I made the snide little comment to wind people like you up. Have you noticed most of the other forum members take it in their stride.

Again, the irony

 

[43021HST]

Again, the irony

I can say the same thing about you

 

[thefab444]

You, on the other hand, are just rude and not very funny.

This man speaks the truth.

 

[devon_metro]

by the way I made the snide little comment to wind people like you up.

What does that make you then?

 

[43021HST]

This man speaks the truth.

About you as well?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What does that make you then?

Huh Buh wah?

 

[Jordy]

Enough bickering, can we get back on topic please.

 

[BlythPower]

Is it just me or did Mikey look
a) Just a little too enthusiatic about necking the wine and
b) Slightly sozzled when arriving at the latest luxury hotel - his face was nearly as florid as that shirt...

 

[Crossover]

Is it just me or did Mikey look
a) Just a little too enthusiatic about necking the wine and
b) Slightly sozzled when arriving at the latest luxury hotel - his face was nearly as florid as that shirt...

We commented about this too - think he probably needed the hotel after sampling the local produce
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Overall, I have to say I have enjoyed the series, and did so the initial one (even the family have been, even if they thought I was mad at first!)

Some bits are more interesting than others (namely when I know the areas) but I have learnt a number of things over the series, including things locally.

Yes, there are some inconsistencies in filming but the most of them I am overlooking, and in areas I don't know, I don't notice anyway, though I do agree trains running tail lights first on the wrong line could be easily avoided really.

The only things I have picked up on as glaring errors are:
- Travelling to Chester-Le-Street, Portillo on a 185 morphed into him getting off a Voyager (which he commented to be almost too long for the platform) - and I'm not sure travelling from Newcastle that this would be even possible.
- Batley mysteriously turning into the nearby town of Dewsbury (not that I'm complaining as such) - not sure if that is because Dewsbury station would be in the Bradshaws as it opened in 1848.

From seeing the programme too, there are a few places I'd like to visit, such as Betys-y-Coed (which I can now pronounce ).

One thing that I wonder is whether some of the people he talks to actually know or if he does just start talking to them - the ladies in Sandwich yesterday and the people on the fish market the other day (who I think asked him if he was doing his "railway thing") seemed quite surprised to see him. Of course, they can film these things and if it doesn't work out, they can cut it out of production I guess.

 

[EltonRoad]

Michael's on the West Highland Line this week - so far he's gone up as far as Corrour, going via Oban. He stayed at the Moor of Rannoch Hotel - lucky bloke! I've had dinner there, pricey, but good food and drink.
Then he took the seated Sleeper to Corrour (one or two continuity errors with a Sprinter departing from Rannoch, but at least the weather was nice) and got a lift up the side of a mountain in a strange 6-wheeled vehicle. The view from the top was incredible.
Onto Glenfinnan tomorrow, and a ride on the Jacobite.

 

[SS4]

I quite like this series although I've only really watched for the scenery shots (I watch it on BBC HD)

 

[martinsh]

I like the way he admitted that the West Highland wasn't built when his Bradshaw was produced, so he was having to use a more recent guidebook.

 

[BlythPower]

The boozy old devil was geting very excited about that 58% proof whisky as well. It's turning into Michael's Drinking Tour of Britain - this is where a pink-faced, tongue-lolling smiley would be useful!

 

[43167]

I watched the episode where he went to Roy Bridge, Fort William, before taking the Jacobite to Glenfinnan, on which Kettle I dont remember, because the film showed a B1, K1, Black 5 and 8F all on the front of the train (but not all at the same time). Then they show his train to Mallaig arriving as pair of 156's, then the shot from the air shows just a single 156.

I know its aimed at the general viewing public and it is a very good programme.

 

[Crossover]

I think a careful bit of planning would have been in order for the last week of his journey as many of the stations he went to get maybe 3 services a day in each direction!

 

[martinsh]

I watched the episode where he went to Roy Bridge, Fort William, before taking the Jacobite to Glenfinnan, on which Kettle I dont remember, because the film showed a B1, K1, Black 5 and 8F all on the front of the train (but not all at the same time)..

Even my mum spotted that one !!!

P.S. anyone know where I can get hold of that smoked salmon cheesecake ?

 

[Mojo]

Great series and I'll certainly enjoy having my weekday evenings back!

Hope we'll have another series next January.

 

[EltonRoad]

I watched the episode where he went to Roy Bridge, Fort William, before taking the Jacobite to Glenfinnan, on which Kettle I dont remember, because the film showed a B1, K1, Black 5 and 8F all on the front of the train (but not all at the same time).

It showed the K4 Great Marquess as well so must have been filmed in August last year as it stood in for three weeks or so when the K1 was taken off; as well as showing Black Five 45231 and the K1 62005 (so that bit must have been filmed before mid July as it was taken off then).

 

[Butts]

Great series and I'll certainly enjoy having my weekday evenings back!

Hope we'll have another series next January.

I wonder where he'll go next time.......

The line up to Wick and Thurso has got to be favourite for the "Scottish Episode" I would have thought

 

[Mojo]

I personally thought the last week was the most enjoyable of them all. Come the end of week 4 I was getting a bit bored but found week 5 much better.

 

[43167]

It showed the K4 Great Marquess as well so must have been filmed in August last year as it stood in for three weeks or so when the K1 was taken off; as well as showing Black Five 45231 and the K1 62005 (so that bit must have been filmed before mid July as it was taken off then).

K4 not the B1 (My mistake, the B1 thats been up there is 61264).

 

[dickdarlington]

I think that five weeks is a bit much. But the Scottish journey was the one I was waiting for.

The Scottish journey was filmed before August last year. I know this because the day I finally did the Mallaig line, the locals voted against gold mining in and around Tyndrum.

Also. Does anyone think that Scotrail were heavily involved in the planning on this? Every train he was on was either two or three sprinters long. The number of times I've been on the line, it is very rare to have a four carriage train, especially to Oban.

The good news from this series, is I have a new list of places to visit (particularly North Wales), and the wee one is excited about going back to Scotland in the summer. Happy days.

 

[ainsworth74]

I was under the impression that during the summer Scotrail tend to double up as many of the services in the highlands as possible due to the greater seasonal demand. Could be wrong of course!

 

[43167]

In the summer, the midday departure from Queen St up the West Highlands runs as 2 seperate trains.

 

[me123]

There can be quite a few as required. 43167 is right about two separate trains; one to Oban, one to Mallaig. I think these both operate in 4 carriage formation, hence the reason they run them this way.

Obviously, all the trains run in at least 4 car formation at least as far as Crianlarich. Given that continuity isn't their strongest point over on Great British Railway Journeys, I wouldn't be surprised if a number of (non-specific) shots were taken South of Crianlarich and used for the "North of Crianlarich" episodes.

 

[MikeWh]

I personally thought the last week was the most enjoyable of them all. Come the end of week 4 I was getting a bit bored but found week 5 much better.

I found week 4 one of the best, but as I live in Kent it meant more to me. The thing that really does wind me up is his monologue over the opening titles. Does he really have to say the same text at the beginning of every episode? The tune itself is quite catchy, so why can't he cut the spiel down to just the first programme of the week?

 

[route101]

In the summer, the midday departure from Queen St up the West Highlands runs as 2 seperate trains.

Interesting i wonder how close they operate?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think that five weeks is a bit much. But the Scottish journey was the one I was waiting for.

The Scottish journey was filmed before August last year. I know this because the day I finally did the Mallaig line, the locals voted against gold mining in and around Tyndrum.

Also. Does anyone think that Scotrail were heavily involved in the planning on this? Every train he was on was either two or three sprinters long. The number of times I've been on the line, it is very rare to have a four carriage train, especially to Oban.

The good news from this series, is I have a new list of places to visit (particularly North Wales), and the wee one is excited about going back to Scotland in the summer. Happy days.

I recall someone on here mentioning that Portillo was on his train on the 5th of August . Maybe he filmed it in pieces rather than in one go

 

[me123]

Interesting i wonder how close they operate?

A quick look at the timetables shows that we've both made a mistake. On Saturdays, there is an additional Oban train, but the others continue to serve both Oban and Mallaig.

Northbound

08:30 Fort William to Mallaig
04:50 Edinburgh to Fort William
08:21 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig
10:37 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
12:21 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig
18:21 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig

Southbound

06:03 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street & 08:11 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street
10:10 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street & 12:11 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street
16:11 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street
16:05 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street & 18:11 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street
18:15 Mallaig to Fort William
(nb No Sleeper)

The reason for the additional Oban service I'm sure was to make further connections with CalMac ferries to the isles.

 

[Statto]

A quick look at the timetables shows that we've both made a mistake. On Saturdays, there is an additional Oban train, but the others continue to serve both Oban and Mallaig.

Northbound

08:30 Fort William to Mallaig
04:50 Edinburgh to Fort William
08:21 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig
10:37 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
12:21 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig
18:21 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig

Southbound

06:03 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street & 08:11 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street
10:10 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street & 12:11 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street
16:11 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street
16:05 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street & 18:11 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street
18:15 Mallaig to Fort William
(nb No Sleeper)

The reason for the additional Oban service I'm sure was to make further connections with CalMac ferries to the isles.

Yes your right, i've just had a look at the GB Timetable, & there's a couple of Ferries departing Oban on Saturdays only, around 2pm. However the extra Saturday train to Oban, runs from the end of March.

Another thing, why doesn't Scotrail have Northbound service from Fort William to Mallaig timetabled to connect with the Sleeper, when the Jacobite Steam service isn't running, yet ScotRail have a Southbound service from Mallaig, connecting with the Sleeper at Fort William?

 

[EltonRoad]

The summer timings are different. It's something like 08.21 to Mallaig and 09.05 to Oban, plus Saturdays are different. I'll check the timetable when I get home later.

Some of the summer trains run as 6 car Sprinters as far as Crianlarich, then split with two cars to Oban and four to Mallaig. Michael's journey to Arrochar and Tarbet showed this. The filming was definitely done over separate days, it showed him staying overnight in at least two locations.

It must have been filmed after the last week in July as I was up there till Fri 30th and it was a Black Five on the Jacobite. 61994, which was hauling Michael's train at Fort William, started the week after (possibly on the Saturday). And, if we're getting really geeky about this, his trip from Rannoch to Corrour must have been on a Saturday morning as the Sleeper had three sleeping cars, which only happens on summer Friday nights! (when the FW sleeper borrows one from the Aberdeen)

Why does the above list say "no Sleeper"?