No, it didn't.
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Railway Top Gear?
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No, it didn't.
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Beveridges
Established Member
I thought it was the Bicycle, Boat, Train then Car in that order. A quick look at the Wikipedia article also states the same, although it mentions that unofficially the car won but with no real proof.
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I'm disapointed that it lost, especially as Tornado was using the ECML while the Car was on A-Roads.
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Buttsy
Established Member
The 'Flying Scotsman' lost because of the water stops they had, adding over an hour to Clarkson's shovelling. He'd have won in the 40s with the water troughs available in those days and the A1 wasn't a dual carriageway/motorway then either. The race across France invloved Hammond and May waiting an hour for a bus right at the start and Clarkson only just won...
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sprinterguy
Veteran Member
Again, it wasn't "Flying Scotsman".
Your point is very much valid, however.ushawk
Established Member
It was that order, but as they "killed Top Gear" because the car finished last, they made excuses like Hammond was ran over by a bus and had his head stuck in railings and that Jeremy's boat exploded killing him and that there wasnt a river in London anyway !!
The Bike did win that race though.
Messrs Hammond and May needed to be on the first train to Paris, and allowed plenty of time for the connection at St Pancras (and ensure JC won one assumes)
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
I hope they diagram 319382 onto the train ........
Erm...
Maybe if the PPS get hold of an excess of redundant 142s in 2020, they could raise a bit of money for preserving one or two: by hosting an event where several get the 'Top Gear' treatment by being souped up/refitted as living accomodation/crashed into each other at a closing speed of 150mph!
Now, that would be entertainment!
Well I was going to get the train concerned so that would make 2 of us who have been on the show
... but didn't fancy the 0300 alarm call.
Harbon 1
Member
Or, stick them in the cab, and see how long it takes them to get it going, different stock/loco every series
No, it didn't.
An edited video from a left-wing organisation with an obvious agenda?
Well, I'm convinced.
:roll:
Buttsy
Established Member
If you don't believe the bike won, I suggest you do what James May did and see how long it takes you...
Having driven in London, even on a Sunday, I have found that my average speed for a journey is much lower than driving in other towns and cities.
Also, bear in mind the other races that Top Gear have 'fiddled' to ensure the car wins...
Having cycled in London, and seen some of the traffic, I can quite comfortably believe that a bicycle could win that race.
As for the original question, I would think that the last thing that rail enthusiasts and rail industry members would want is a form of Top Gear (or at least modern Top Gear).
Pointless gimmicks, obviously staged events, phallic competition on power/speed, unfunny vaguely offensive commentary and the occasional interesting but detail-light segment would not exactly cast either group in the best light.
That said if it was hosted by a James May type, and Clarkson & co weren't allowed within bargepole distance, it could be all right...
As for the original question, I would think that the last thing that rail enthusiasts and rail industry members would want is a form of Top Gear (or at least modern Top Gear).
Pointless gimmicks, obviously staged events, phallic competition on power/speed, unfunny vaguely offensive commentary and the occasional interesting but detail-light segment would not exactly cast either group in the best light.
That said if it was hosted by a James May type, and Clarkson & co weren't allowed within bargepole distance, it could be all right...
ushawk
Established Member
So a CAR program will lie and deliberately make the CAR finish last ?
If it was fixed, you would think they would make the car win.
But then you clearly hate the BBC so your mind is made up.
Who would be the lead presenter Christian Woolmer
No good, we would need somebody that knows something about railways!
Harbon 1
Member
That said if it was hosted by a James May type, and Clarkson & co weren't allowed within bargepole distance, it could be all right...
They'd run out of tape the amount he waffles on!
Beveridges
Established Member
Even in Manchester I believe a bike can win a race across the city at busy hours vs the car. The traffic is horrendous. Even in Blackpool the bike could win some journeys across the town at certain times. Not exactly unbelievable for a bike to win the race across London.
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Depends if they liked the car or not. Top Gear has been known to rig tests, and given it's an entertainment show - if everything went without a hitch then it would be rather boring.
So, they naturally fix things to break, blow up etc .. and it makes the challenges all the more exciting and, most importantly, entertaining. And, yes, it has annoyed a few car makers who discovered that their car didn't really break down and come last - it was just part of the pre-planned script days before filming.
Perhaps Top Gear should have a disclaimer, like many US shows that have to say (even if only on screen for a split second) that things have been edited and might not be totally truthful (not literal wording). Crikey, Operation Repo is totally faked with everyone being an actor and it all being scripted, yet people still seem to lap it up.
Frankly, I can't imagine how you could do a show around the railway given the many regulations that would make 99% of what you'd want to do impossible. And you wouldn't be getting a possession on major lines or access to rolling stock anytime soon.
BestWestern
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On a slight tangent, I've often thought it might be amusing it Top Gear did a segment where they had to drive a London bus for the day
They frequently berate bus drivers of course, and I think it would be quite entertaining to see them having a go for themselves. Clarkson grappling with a bendy, James May naturally would have a classic Routemaster, and Hammond in a 'decker. Obviously I'm not suggesting the usual infantile carnage here, the comedy value would be in them attempting the everyday chore of driving in London traffic, fumbling with schedules and passengers etc, Clarkson no doubt going the wrong way and doing a 3-point turn in his artic and so on. I reckon you could get plenty of amusing material out of that.
I'm not quite sure how you'd engineer it, a trainee can drive a bus under supervision but probably not with punters on, so perhaps they'd need to qualify PCV for it, but no major deal really. It'd be moderately staged of course, but I do think it would be funny!
They frequently berate bus drivers of course, and I think it would be quite entertaining to see them having a go for themselves. Clarkson grappling with a bendy, James May naturally would have a classic Routemaster, and Hammond in a 'decker. Obviously I'm not suggesting the usual infantile carnage here, the comedy value would be in them attempting the everyday chore of driving in London traffic, fumbling with schedules and passengers etc, Clarkson no doubt going the wrong way and doing a 3-point turn in his artic and so on. I reckon you could get plenty of amusing material out of that.
I'm not quite sure how you'd engineer it, a trainee can drive a bus under supervision but probably not with punters on, so perhaps they'd need to qualify PCV for it, but no major deal really. It'd be moderately staged of course, but I do think it would be funny!
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
On a slight tangent, I've often thought it might be amusing it Top Gear did a segment where they had to drive a London bus for the day
They frequently berate bus drivers of course, and I think it would be quite entertaining to see them having a go for themselves. Clarkson grappling with a bendy, James May naturally would have a classic Routemaster, and Hammond in a 'decker. Obviously I'm not suggesting the usual infantile carnage here, the comedy value would be in them attempting the everyday chore of driving in London traffic, fumbling with schedules and passengers etc, Clarkson no doubt going the wrong way and doing a 3-point turn in his artic and so on. I reckon you could get plenty of amusing material out of that.
I'm not quite sure how you'd engineer it, a trainee can drive a bus under supervision but probably not with punters on, so perhaps they'd need to qualify PCV for it, but no major deal really. It'd be moderately staged of course, but I do think it would be funny!
A while ago they did a 'special' where each of the team had a bus and had to complete various challenges. It involved a single-decker, a double-decker and a bendy- but I can't remember who had what.
Trainfan344
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I know that they did a top gear bus rally championship
BestWestern
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Do you mean the 'race'? They had, from memory, a Leyland DAB bendy (and possibly a second foreign one), a step entrance Pointer Dart, an ex-Stagecoach Olympian, and a possibly ex-Blackpool Metrorider (or 'Hoppa bus' as they called it).
Unfortunately it was the usual run of the mill TG 'smash everything up' fare, which I always find rather disappointing, moreso in this case being a bit of a bus nerd! Not overly fussed at the loss of a bog standard Dart or Metrorider, or Olympian even, but the DAB artic was a rarity. Still, sadly they don't really give a toss about anything on wheels, unless it does 200 mph. Wasn't as provocative as Clarkson's ridiculous 'rocket launcher' stunt with the Routemaster, but deeply irritating nonetheless.
On the whole, I enjoy watching Top Gear. I find some of the humour, however contrived, rather entertaining, and I would even venture that Jeremy Clarkson has something of a skill in presenting himself as a professional idiot. It is one of the few instances where you tend to laugh out loud despite knowing full well that everything you are watching is scripted; they manage to present it in a way that still makes it funny. But I'm afraid I find the constant destruction a complete turn off, particularly as the more recent series' seem to destroy more and more perfectly decent cars sometimes worth decent money. The episode feauring the new Sweeney movie in which a brand new Focus and Jag were written off in pointless stunts was a typical example. No doubt the cars (used in filming the movie) were probably rather 'well worn' but, in the middle of a recession and mass unemployment, is that really appropriate from the national broadcaster?!
Anyhow, rant over for now!
Well, we've had a few ideas on this before, surely. I have watched Top Gear sometimes (mainly because there's nothing else worthwhile on) and it is a bit infantile sometimes. I also remember the old Top Gear, which took a rather different take on things (articles on motorbikes, how to find a decent second-hand car, actual motor racing and so on). However, that was a different time.
Still, just to run with the idea a little...
"Now it's time to put a star in our Reasonably-Priced Saddle-Tank. My guest tonight is a man who once overtook the Talisman in a van train, who nearly broke the world speed record with a railtour, and who "accidentally" got a 9F to 90 mph. Ladies and gentlemen, by the magic of time travel, Bill Hoole!"
Still, just to run with the idea a little...
"Now it's time to put a star in our Reasonably-Priced Saddle-Tank. My guest tonight is a man who once overtook the Talisman in a van train, who nearly broke the world speed record with a railtour, and who "accidentally" got a 9F to 90 mph. Ladies and gentlemen, by the magic of time travel, Bill Hoole!"
W.Tregurtha
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Before Clarkson got hold of the format and turned Top Gear into what it is to-day it had become just about the most boring transport programme on the box. I can clearly remember the likes of Angela Rippon, Noel Edmonds and even Sue Barker presenting the show. It was dire and the B.B.C. cancelled it in 2001 because of that.
Watch it with an open mind and remember that it is a motoring programme, not a "which method is the better transport system" programme. The car is king, the car will always win no matter what.
I believe that this week's programme will involve a race from London to Milan.
The man at seat61 says that departing St. Pancras at 09.17 will have you into Milan at 21.43 (no thanks, I'll take the aeroplane - it's faster and cheaper).
The A.A. says that it will take fifteen hours to drive.
The car will win.
Watch it with an open mind and remember that it is a motoring programme, not a "which method is the better transport system" programme. The car is king, the car will always win no matter what.
I believe that this week's programme will involve a race from London to Milan.
The man at seat61 says that departing St. Pancras at 09.17 will have you into Milan at 21.43 (no thanks, I'll take the aeroplane - it's faster and cheaper).
The A.A. says that it will take fifteen hours to drive.
The car will win.
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