The Biggest Little Railway in the World.

[Laurel Green]

On this evening at 8 o'clock Channel 4:

1/5. Dick Strawbridge leads a team of enthusiasts attempting to build the longest model railway in history, stretching 71 miles from Scotland's east coast to west coast.

[Laurel Green]

jet_noise said:

I'm not sure how they're going to make five 1hr programmes maintain interest.
It could be like watching a Nick Parks film in real time!

Well, 71 miles at walking pace should suffice. But yes, hopefully interesting segments betwixt the run - fingers crossed.

[Laurel Green]

Crossflow Kid said:

So, James May's Toy Stories but a bit bigger?

Yep, a shame James isn't racing the train with a remote controlled WXR.

[Laurel Green]

A wide bodied carriage with a narrow axle will not aid with the stability of such!

[Laurel Green]

Le Vette said:

B o r i n g.

I think Dick must need the money for the chateau.

[Laurel Green]

"I need a stick" very high-tech am sure.

[Laurel Green]

bobbo89 said:

Setting aside all the ass burgers and PPE, that young 18 year old lad into his steam engines was brilliant! He was like the bd child of Fred Dibnah and Guy Martin. Channel 4 should keep their eye on him as he was great with the camera too!

Yeah, he could go far with the right contacts me thinks.

The look on Dick's mates face when encountering the 'elf n safety bot' concerning the expansion slots was priceless.

Not having much luck with the quad-bikes either - failing to check the oil levels and running them dry - bonkers!

[Laurel Green]

louiechevy said:

Mind you they did manage to run one of the quads very wet, um probably not a plus though!

I didn't quite catch what the reason for the, er, wetting was; sounded like it was stuck on full throttle in reverse? Glad the chap wasn't too banged up by the experience though.

[Laurel Green]

The young girl with the 'not the shared interest but, makes up for it in other ways'

[Laurel Green]

From 'tother thread:

ewolg said:

Why aren’t they using the bridge in shot - seems strange they want to build an A frame bridge going in to a load of bushes!

I was wondering that one too. Perhaps it's just to make the programme more interesting?

[Laurel Green]

Typical of railways, they are now running behind time.

[Laurel Green]

What a garage.

[Laurel Green]

Health and safety strikes again!

[Laurel Green]

Yep, it's hardly proof of what was set out to be accomplished.
That little electric train showed just how much easier it would have been had they used one with axles the full width of the body of the train.