Paddington Station 24/7 - Channel 5

[yorksrob]

It started off well but the last 3 episodes (at least) were a bit poor

I thought the one about re-railing the powercar was pretty good. My favourite infact.

 

[Andyh82]

Some episodes did seem like the TV equivalent of a jumble sale.

Take the last episode, with about 3 minutes to go they started with a completely new item that we hadn't seen before, about lowering the track for electrification, but then it was wrapped up and that was that.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Some episodes did seem like the TV equivalent of a jumble sale.

Take the last episode, with about 3 minutes to go they started with a completely new item that we hadn't seen before, about lowering the track for electrification, but then it was wrapped up and that was that.

The track lowering could have been an episode (or at least half an episode) on it's own. I'd like the next series (whoever makes it) to be purely about the "Orange Army"

 

[Robertj21a]

I feel it's getting a bit boring, with too much time spent on one issue (re-railing) and little time devoted to the actual running, timetables, staffing, customer-facing issues etc. The programme is directed at the general public but uses rail jargon that they wouldn't always understand.

 

[Tooktook]

I echo the thoughts above. I still enjoyed the program but it feels like they are running low on good material.

Director cuts to another shot of the waste on the track

Have they ever done a London Waterloo program? That would be good with the diverse routes and daily issues I'm sure they encounter.

 

[RT4038]

Have they ever done a London Waterloo program? That would be good with the diverse routes and daily issues I'm sure they encounter.

Yes - a film called 'Terminus' directed by John Schlesinger. Filmed in August 1960, released in 1961. Well worth watching.

 

[yorksrob]

Have they ever done a London Waterloo program? That would be good with the diverse routes and daily issues I'm sure they encounter.

Yes - a film called 'Terminus' directed by John Schlesinger. Filmed in August 1960, released in 1961. Well worth watching.[/QUOTE]

There was a good one from the early 1980's as well. Can't remember what it was called.

 

[Tooktook]

Ha. I just had a look on YouTube and 'terminus' is there. Will have to give it a go.

 

[Kite159]

I agreed, Waterloo would probably make for a good modern-day series, or even a series based in say Manchester or even Glasgow/Edinburgh to avoid the London bias

 

[Tooktook]

In a similar vein it would be good to have a program where they compare north and south rail commutes (stations/ stock etc). I'm sure it would bring up some interesting debates.

 

[Sprinter153]

In a similar vein it would be good to have a program where they compare north and south rail commutes (stations/ stock etc). I'm sure it would bring up some interesting debates.

Sounds like a serialised version of this forum!!

 

[Tooktook]

Ha ha. So true.

 

[edwin_m]

a series based in say Manchester or even Glasgow/Edinburgh to avoid the London bias

The Paddington programme did venture at least as far as Bristol and the Kings Cross one to York or beyond.

 

[richw]

little time devoted to the actual running, timetables, staffing, customer-facing issues etc.

But that would probably be boring, if everything was going to plan. I found it quite interesting seeing the rerailing over a full episode. But then I enjoyed listening to a man explaining signalling at a heritage railway last weekend whilst everyone else came and went I listened to the full talk. I still don’t have a clue mind as it was sounding so complicated!

 

[Kite159]

The Paddington programme did venture at least as far as Bristol and the Kings Cross one to York or beyond.

But soon returned to London for some more looking at piles of toilet waste

My idea will be something based mainly in Manchester with all the various operations there, maybe a small section down in the airport. Or a series based in either Glasgow or Edinburgh with all the various routes in Scotland, just to get away from the London based bias.

 

[D1009]

The Paddington programme did venture at least as far as Bristol

And beyond, fatality in Whiteball Tunnel among other examples. It was probably incorrectly named, there was quite a bit of footage in Route Control at Swindon, and Thames Valley Signalling Centre at Didcot, not always directly involving Paddington.

 

[AY1975]

As per above, where the derailment took place the track isn't carried on standard sleepers. Each rail sits on longitudinal timbers which are attached to a concrete base forming a trough with various cross-timbers spanning across to maintain the gauge (or not as the case may be). Even before the RAIB report I think we can safely say the cause of derailment was rotting of this timberwork.

I presume you are referring to the trough beneath the track, which used to be used to catch the toilet waste from sleeping car trains in the days of Mark 1 and older sleeping cars so that passengers could use the on-train toilets between boarding and departure in the evening and between arrival and alighting in the morning (Mark 3 sleeping cars have always had retention tank toilets). Paddington is one of the few stations where these troughs are still in situ, although they have now mostly been filled in with ballast apart from the section nearest the buffer stops.

Ironically, the RAIB is saying the timbers that support the rails were damaged by toilet waste and leaking water from trains - the very thing that the troughs were designed for! Passengers on daytime trains without retention tanks are expected (indeed requested, but this request is often ignored) not to flush the toilets in stations, though.

 

[mrmatt]

I suspect most people don't think about it - I mean who would seriously imagine trains in a country such as the UK would still dump onto the track in the 21st century?

 

[BestWestern]

Ironically, the RAIB is saying the timbers that support the rails were damaged by toilet waste and leaking water from trains - the very thing that the troughs were designed for! Passengers on daytime trains without retention tanks are expected (indeed requested, but this request is often ignored) not to flush the toilets in stations, though.

By far the biggest contributor to the 'wet track' at Paddington is the refilling of vehicle water tanks. Vast volumes of excess ends up on the trackbed as the tanks overflow, and this is a far greater issue than flush waste. The tank fill points are at the outer edges of the vehicles, so water troughs would be ineffective at containing it.

I suspect the problem has always been widespread, though of course CRT toilets help to reduce the issue. The wood under the rails is obviously not a universal feature, but there must presumably be other locations which are or used to be vulnerable to the same damage?

 

[yorksrob]

I suspect the problem has always been widespread, though of course CRT toilets help to reduce the issue. The wood under the rails is obviously not a universal feature, but there must presumably be other locations which are or used to be vulnerable to the same damage?

Wouldn't most such areas have ordinary ballast and sleepers anyway ?

 

[edwin_m]

By far the biggest contributor to the 'wet track' at Paddington is the refilling of vehicle water tanks. Vast volumes of excess ends up on the trackbed as the tanks overflow, and this is a far greater issue than flush waste. The tank fill points are at the outer edges of the vehicles, so water troughs would be ineffective at containing it.

I suspect the problem has always been widespread, though of course CRT toilets help to reduce the issue. The wood under the rails is obviously not a universal feature, but there must presumably be other locations which are or used to be vulnerable to the same damage?

But presumably if there were no "solids" in the mix, the drainage wouldn't clog up so the water would drain away promptly.

 

[Tim456]

Yes - a film called 'Terminus' directed by John Schlesinger. Filmed in August 1960, released in 1961. Well worth watching.

There was a good one from the early 1980's as well. Can't remember what it was called.

Just Another Day - London Waterloo.

One off half hour documentary about Waterloo station. It is available on You Tube.

 

[Kite159]

Slightly related, but judging by notices dotted around Reading station, I assume the next series will be focusing more on Reading station when it airs next autumn.

Although "Reading Station 24/7" doesn't have the same ring to "Paddington Station 24/7".

 

[Long Rock]

Slightly related, but judging by notices dotted around Reading station, I assume the next series will be focusing more on Reading station when it airs next autumn.

Although "Reading Station 24/7" doesn't have the same ring to "Paddington Station 24/7".

Sounds like they are working their way down the line!!

 

[JN114]

Sounds like they are working their way down the line!!

Next Week on 5HD: Oldfield Park 24/7

 

[BestWestern]

Next Week on 5HD: Oldfield Park 24/7

Apparently they're planning a spin-off series on Dilton Marsh!

 

[Kite159]

Next Week on 5HD: Oldfield Park 24/7

Can't wait for Pilning 24/7

 

[Parallel]

Next Week on 5HD: Oldfield Park 24/7

That would probably be quite dramatic at certain points in the day - Passengers unable to board shortformed trains - trains cancelling their stop. No PIS to alert passengers. Delayed trains. Waiting in the line at Temple Meads to buy a ticket. Will they be able to fit on their train home?
—
I’d like to see a Cardiff Central/Queen St spin off. Plenty of stations nearby, and services. Would be gripping when the Valley lines descend into chaos and the PIS is showing nonsense nobody knows which train is going where!

 

[Kite159]

That would probably be quite dramatic at certain points in the day - Passengers unable to board shortformed trains - trains cancelling their stop. No PIS to alert passengers. Delayed trains. Waiting in the line at Temple Meads to buy a ticket. Will they be able to fit on their train home?
—
I’d like to see a Cardiff Central/Queen St spin off. Plenty of stations nearby, and services. Would be gripping when the Valley lines descend into chaos and the PIS is showing nonsense nobody knows which train is going where!

With a camera crew in the unpaid fares queue at Cardiff Central when a dodger tries to unsuccessfully do a short fare from a station in the valleys by getting caught out "How did you board the train at station X, there is currently a revenue block there this morning?"

 

[TheAdelante]

Next Week on 5HD: Oldfield Park 24/7

I’m assuming that’s a joke?