This video is superb. The video is very informative and it give so much quality, that you stop the video every now and then to show what you have been explaining to the viewers. Thank you for taking you time to show this from your job and to take your time to explain the things during the ride.
You’ve set the standard for these kinds of videos. I may live 5 time zones away but the clarity of the image and sound with accompanying commentary puts me right in the moment. And I don’t even have to shell out the £100 for the ride!
Thanks Jeff. I’m fussy about such things and it’s taken a lot of experimenting to get here. The bottom line is that most cameras and memory cards won’t handle the motion after about 70 of 80 mph so everything has to be top notch to get a standard I’m happy with so it’s nice to get feedback of this kind.
Another very informative and interesting ride. I especially like the freeze frame showing infrastructure that otherwise would be missed. I remember looking at flange greasers due to relatively sharp curves on the CSS&SB electric line in my home town (Michigan City, Indiana) back in the early 60's. No solar power back then! Thanks, Don
Thank you Andrew. I used to visit Troy in Michigan in my motor industry days and I would spend as much time as I could get away with peering out of the office windows at the gigantic double decker freight trains that rumbled past every few minutes.
From the other side of the pond - This is amazing and informative. I love the captions: Where you are, how many miles out, speeds and most informative the explanation of the signal and whistle rules. And a history lesson also. Thank you!!
This is great video. I am a fan of high speed passenger rail, being in the middle of the United States I have to be satisfied by watching it elsewhere. I have been to the UK several times but I have never traveled on this route. Your commentary is especially informative for us foreigners. I'm looking forward to visiting the UK again, someday. Take care and stay safe.
Thank you for the wonderful and informative video. I have travelled to Britain twice and greatly enjoyed travelling on my Britrail pass around the country. I enjoy all your videos and find them very relaxing.
Brilliant video! It’s so fascinating to see the driver’s view of this line that I’ve travelled up and down from Sheffield to London many times. The accompanying text you provide gives a great insight into the route and helps me appreciate the work of thh drivers, one of whom is relative (of sorts) of mine.
I love the information. Some videos have information running along the bottom of the screen, but by the time you've read it, the thing they were describing has passed. Not so with these videos. There's obviously a lot of time and effort put into these videos and it's much appreciated.
Hi, Don. I watch your videos in Canada and I'm always amazed at European trains. They are so quiet and efficient, and so incredibly fast! I think if I have enough money, someday, I'd like to come to England and buy a private coach and attach it any train that would take me, and I would just travel from place to place, meeting people in different communities, and generally having a great time! Well, dream on I guess!
A Canadian here. I was born and grew up in the UK, and as a young adult used to live her the Leagrave (Luton) Beds station. In those slow steam train days, the train from St. Pancras to Bedford would slooooooow down through Leagrave and I have memories of actual jumping off late-night trains that weren’t supposed to actually stop there. Mind you, I’m not sure what I would have done if it sped on through! I’m 93 now, and I thoroughly enjoyed your video, and I followed along with Google Earth. My how things have changed! Stay well. John, Ontario, Canada
A fascinating film. Aside from the superb footage I greatly enjoyed the captions detailing the lineside equipment and features. Really well put together and a joy to watch.
Brilliant! I don't think I've seen such an informative cab ride before. I find I'm having to concentrate a little more than usual rather than be lulled by the general passing of the countryside 😀.
Thank you Don Coffey, for a most enjoyable journey. I have had to watch this twice - just in case I missed anything the first time through when reading the informative and interesting captions!
Impressive isn’t it Steven. There’s a lot that isn’t obvious where the track has been moved and wiring has been changed etc. It all has to be brought to standard.
Most interesting added information throughout, very helpful to an NZ viewer. Kudos to yourself for presenting a quality piece of work and a shout-out to the driver for keeping the screen clean as this is by no means the norm! Salutary to realise that the train was travelling at pretty well the all-out speed of an earlier 4.2 XJ6 Jaguar - I know; I used to drive one. Frankly, I'd feel much safer in the train!
I've watched quite a few train video's in my time but this was one of the best I've ever seen. I learnt more about what a train driver has to look out for, and about the track, then any of the others. So a big THANK YOU for recording this.
There’s been so much disruption on the A45 here waiting for the bridge to be raised in Irchester...it seemed to go on for ever and that’s just ONE bridge on the route! Your explanations are always brilliant Don. Many thanks for spending so much time and effort on these. Very professional and brilliant fun as always.
TV style quality video. Professional informative and interesting captions. No in your face “look at Me” presenter reminding us to subscribe/like constantly . Proceeds to charity. Don, you should get TH-camr of the year! Best video I have seen this year and hope you enjoyed your break from Manchester!
I’m flattered James thanks. I try to make each video into a kind of magazine for anyone with the remotest interest to true enthusiasts. The revenue to charity is the cherry on top. I’m delighted that you enjoy them.
I donate to a different one every time. I don’t do the videos for money but since Google (who own TH-cam) offer money for advertising, I take the money and donate every single penny of it to charity. I recently rescued a homeless person from a tunnel so will give the next donation to the homeless.
I find it hard to work out why I loved this so much. The front view we all can’t see? The historical romance of trains? The beautiful scenery? The lack of annoying music? The quality of the very informative notes? I think all. I’m hooked! Many thanks.
Watching from California during lockdown.Love this video.Been a fan of England and trains for a long time.We don't have trains like this in the USA.Thank you for taking me out on a ride in my mind! May you and all your viewers stay safe and healthy.
Just watched and enjoyed this video again during our lock-down period. I like the rolling informative captions which explain interesting features en-route. The skills and experience needed to be a train driver are also explained. I've gained an even greater respect for all drivers from these videos.
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. As a young man I commuted to St Pancras and walked to St Pancras Hospital to my first job. Later in life I lived and worked in the East Midlands area so this all brought back many memories. Thanks!
Thanks Don, as brilliant as ever and well worth the wait. I have watched a lot of videos on SmileVideoTrains (SVT) channel and seen the MML from a passenger perspective (on board trains and on stations) - this is a perfect complement. As I commented on SVT a couple of weeks ago - Marples and Beeching must be spinning in their graves with all the railway upgrade/expansion work taking place!
@@doncoffey5820 Exactly my thoughts Don. Should have been a pruning & trimming job, instead it was a heavy handed hatchet job. Alas the damage is done........
Nice to see my hometown station of Loughborough feature in one of your videos... a few things you and your viewers may find intresting is just before you go through Loughborough station you pass under a green bridge which is a part of the Great Central Steam Railways "Bridging The Gap" project so the Nottingham portion of the GCR can be re-connected to the Loughborough to Leicester portion. And just after passing Loughborough station you can still see the remants of what was a small but quite busy goods yard and holding sidings... my mother used to work at the Brush Falcon works when i was young in the late 80s and i would wait for her close to the goods yard and watch the coal and stone hoppers be shunted in and watch the Tamper units and other locos use the sidings. As for the footbridge that collapsed in Barrow Upon Soar, in my opinion that was an accident waiting to happen (although not in the manner of what actually happened)... i remember (again in the late 80s) that footbridge being closed off to pedestrians and both sides barricaded with warning signs everyware saying 'danger bridge closed'' apparantly even back then it was very unstable. Thanks for your videos Don, i've watched them all but never commented before now. Kind regards.
Well I’m glad you have commented because it’s all very interesting. The videos seem to evoke memories for many of the viewers in one way or another. It’s surprising how quickly it has changed.
Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant.Without a doubt the best train video on TH-cam. The descriptions as you go along are fascinating and really add to the journey. Many Thanks.Do you have any more of the same type?
Hello Don from Pennsylvania. I’m taking advantage of the lockdown to catch up on lots of older videos. Thank you for this fine video. I always enjoy the historical perspective you provide as well as the operational information about the railway you are riding along. Always the very best. Thanks again. Stay well. CAS.
A very informative video. in my army days I trave led a lot by train. in my young days I lived along side the Southend Victoria---Liverpool Street line (in steam and electric days. I lived in Nottingham in the 60s. Traveled to Edinburgh a few times. Some of your videos bring back great memories. I'm in my early 80s now. Thanks again for your efforts.
A really excellent video. one of the best I have seen. great camera work with lots of information on the way. This maker of the video knows what he is doing and about trains. Thanks very much
I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute. Thankyou for taking the time to film, edit and upload. I love the way you stop the film so we can see what you have described and I also like the way you describe what we will see before we get to it.
A most instructive video. There's a hypnotic quality about it that's restful, reassuring and relaxing. The subtitles added were a thoughtful bonus. Thank you for sharing this.
Hi Don, Oh my line, Leicester to St Pancras. I hadn't realised MML had to some extent saved St Pancras from being demolished back when they took over. We've just had the wires recently put up between Market Harborough and Wigston, on my, how much work...........raising bridges, cutting back the trees etc etc............Sad to see the historic Midland Railway bridges disappearing under their new facelifts. Last time I went to London, a few years ago now, we went First Class on a HST up, smooth, quietand so comfy and a Class 222 return, noisey, rattling and the seats were like sitting on boards................Sad to say they were like chalk and cheese. I miss the HST's................I liked your comment about them being like the Jumbo Jet! Oh one last question, how do you film these cab rides, do you film these yourself, or get colleagues to do the filming for you? Thanks for another great video, all the very best Dave.
It’s a fascinating line, steeped in history and fortunately it’s on the up. The wires will continue to creep forward to Sheffield as its appearance will change somewhat. I know what you mean about the HSTs but they aren’t as efficient and don’t fare well in a crash so their time is up. It’s nice to see an odd one about. Regarding the filming, it’s a mix. Some gets sent to me - sometimes after being filmed with my cameras and sometimes I go out filming. Most of the 185 trains (but not all) I drove.
Very much enjoyed the video. I was surprised you didn't mention the track remodelling at Derby following major work at the station in 2018. This eliminated the bottleneck to the south of the station where there was conflict between the London lines and the Birmingham lines. Both routes had to merge before reaching / after leaving the platforms, but now they are separated to avoid this. The video shows this new approach very clearly. New track, further track realignment and new signalling also improved approach and through line speeds.
Thanks Mr B. I can’t always fit everything in but in any case I didn’t know the detail you’ve added because it’s off my patch. However, many people read the comments so will benefit from your explanation.
Glad you like it Mark. You’ll find several more with a wide variety of subjects covered and you can find details of forthcoming videos on my community page. th-cam.com/channels/8LH7xMAyCSqpClAvTHwJRw.html
I just wanted to say thank you for all your content. As someone who lives in the states, I have a very low probability of ever riding or seeing these trains in real life so the only way I can experience them is through your videos and I am very grateful that you put so much effort into making them with the annotations and history of the line. Keep up the great work and again thank you!
I sincerely appreciate that. I try to make it as interesting as possible and include historical, architectural and railways items of interest. Thank you.
I just recently found your videos, and I want to say I much appreciate the various sorts of information you provide along the way. The mix of technical stuff and the historical is just fine. I follow along in my copy of Trackatlas of Mainland Britain (which of course shows the attitude of Brits toward the rest of Europe: this is the mainland, and over there is the rest of them). I look forward to hours of enjoyment with these cab rides.
Thanks Don, most enjoyable trip, my early teenage years were spent train spotting at Elstree station, I see my favourite spot on the left approaching the station has been claimed by buildings😒, still that was 60 years ago. Derby was my birthplace.
Great train video! No annoying panning and zooming, just fine camera work. The comments and location names add greatly to this footage, keep up the good work! Cheerio from the USA!
Wonderful and great video. Outside the station is a great hotel and great Italian restaurant. Loads of model railway exhibitions along this line this x
Always great to find quality content like this on TH-cam :-) I enjoyed it a lot, having lived in Wigston as a boy, and even worked on Kilby Bridge farm for a bit. When I took the train from Leicester to see chums in London in the early '70s it was often headed by a Class 55, oh yeah.
@@doncoffey5820 I should have said also that your running commentary about track maintenance brought to mind my stepdad (also named Don), who as a trackworker used to walk the road as part of his duties, knocking those pins in. I think his stretch was just about where you were talking about it. He's retired now.
There’s a set of books by a chap called Adrian Vaughan that you might like. They tell the tale of all these workers like your stepdad and how they visited the signal boxes for a brew. Fascinating stuff. Signalsmans Morning, Signalmans Nightmare and Signalmans Twighlight. You can get them dead cheap secondhand.
I absolutely love the written commentary at the bottom of these videos and the strategic pauses. Makes them so much more interesting and educational to the lay person.
Thank you for the really informative video. I operate out of St Pancras as a on Board cleaner via kettering and onto Corby. I can fully understand why this line is loved stunning views. and great video.
A really great video, for which I would like to thank you very much. Especially the explanations to some special features along the route and then the "freezing" of the film at the decisive point are a lot of fun and unique for the driver's cab rides. I am already looking forward to the next excursions and wish you a safe and accident-free journey! Many greetings from Königstein im Taunus (near Frankfurt / Main), Germany
Many thanks Herr Hund. I’ve noticed in the analytics that more of your fellow countrymen are watching the videos for which I’m grateful and flattered. I’ve got several more videos planned and will share them soon.
Awesome video enjoyed every bit of it especially with the information running along bottom of screen :) sometimes i can get bored when just looking at a track and trees so it makes it much more interesting for me does all the info thanks
@ 5:16 You'll notice stonework lining the retaining walls and the 2 tunnels to the left (instead of bricks), this is because when the London extension was built in the 1860's, this small section of railway passed underneath a posh area of London, and the locals demanded that the tunnels/retaining walls be made out of stone, to look prettier and fit in with the surroundings.
I love these little snippets of information that I get from the comments. I can get quite worked up just thinking about the effort involved in making such a wall - so easy to take for granted. Thanks Lawrence.
Hi Don, this the first time I’ve seen your videos and I say what an excellent production. Apart from the enjoyment derived I found your comments most helpful, especially the track working ones plus the stopping of the action at points of interest. Thank you, I look forward to watching more of them.
This used to be a daily commute for me 2004-2008 and then a ‘regular’ trip for a few months in 2010. I remember St Pancras before it was upgraded to international and reminisced when waiting for a train to depart from platform 3 where the lower level shops/upper concourse stands now - plus the short, underground passageway that led you towards Kings Cross mainline/Kings Cross St Pancras underground ticket hall. … and the free tea/coffee on the Master Cutler, with the quiet Car ‘D’ and Smoking Car ‘A’
Tell you what, Don, I have just spent the best part of two hours reading through the comments for this video. Great to know the wealth and breadth of viewership you have all over the world!!!
They aren't kidding when they say stay behind the line. Something that big moving that fast definitely creates an air vortex that can suck you right in.
Magnificent video. Priceless insight into train operation and amazing detail that helps those inexperienced - such as me - get a taste of the sheer scope of what is involved in operating a railway system. Wonderful, absolutely loved it!
Exceptional video. All the junctions and stations being pointed out is genius. The scrolling info bar takes it to the next level. Used to travel this route on an almost daily basis as a student for 3 years (the Derby-Leicester section) and it was good to see the route from the driver's eye perspective. An improvement might be that if there is any additional info that you cannot fit into the scrolling bar (eg wagon's crane colliding with a train at Mountsorrel) you could put that information into the description or provide some sort of link to a news article. I shall leave you to consider if this is a worthy idea and, if so, how you would wish to implement it. Finally, congratulations on an additional subscriber. I wish you well in your future ventures on the railways of this country.
Don Coffey raises the bar again! This is extremely well done (okay, apart from the spelling mistakes!) and top-notch quality as well. Definitely one of my favourite driver's-eye view uploaders - and I am a great fan of the likes of fourfoot and OldSkidmark, so my standards are high!
Thanks John and much appreciated. My spelling isn’t brilliant because I missed so much school (working class upbringing) and I’m slightly dyslexic. In some ways, I’m surprised you can read it at all but it’s free to view and the footage itself is where I’m satisfied. More soon John.
This is one of the very best POV videos shot from a locomotive that I've viewed to date. I appreciate the informative commentary as well. Congrats to Mr Coffey.
Much appreciated but it would be incorrect for me to take all the credit for it. A number of people have been very accomodating in helping me share them with the growing number of viewers.
Hello Thank you for this post, as a Rail-Road enthusiast I enjoy this soo much, and a lot of info in it, I´m locked in my home here in Spain, hope you and relatives are protected from the Covid19,.... today is on April 3, 2020, thank you again I will watch more of your vids,. good luck and God bless all.
Great video and a history lesson. Can it get any better? I've stood in St Pancras when Midland Main Line ran smokey HST sets out of there. It was a very dark horrible station but now I'd say, St Pancras along with the hotel is one the most beautiful railway termini in the UK.The fact that the {Powers that be} wanted to demolish it all, beggars belief. The Midland Railway company certainly went to town building that masterpiece. It's just as well we had Railway Mania at the turn of last century when I see the amount of space/land given over to put down the tracks, that would be near impossible today with the dense concentration of buildings and we need all those lines to cope with growth and there seems to have been a lot of digging to get the line in, judging by the embankments either side. I remember hearing years ago there was talk of putting in another carriage into these trains with a pantograph so it would be electric propulsion where there were wires. I notice the XC Class 220/221trains seem to spend most of their time under wires, except when the come up my way (Stonehaven) to Aberdeen.
Agreed. I remember as a child, many decades ago, being taken to London from Leicester with my parents from time to time. My overriding impression of St. Pancras was the blackness, the dark (you could barely see light through any of the glass in the roof), the dirt and the clouds and clouds of grey smoke and steam. The station now and the Hotel are absolutely magnificent and stand comparison with any station anywhere!
Another excellent video Don. You have, however, shattered my mid-1970’s memories of Leicester! Travelling up on the Thames-Clyde Express from St.Pancras to what I remembered to be a grim, and grimy, Leicester station. It was my first introduction to travelling by rail in the UK (after moving from Australia) was this almighty diesel locomotive at the head of the train, what was probably a 44/45/46 Class?! How much lighter and airy these places look now! Again, thanks for posting.
Sorry Andrew! Yes, they have brightened and de cluttered many stations but the old ones with the fancy wooden awnings had a certain charm. These videos are proving to bring back memories for so many ex pats.
Don, I just found your channel. Your work is outstanding. The technical info scrolling at the bottom, and the occasional freeze frame to show a particular sign or a particular electrical configuration, are extremely informative. Thank you for the obvious effort you put in. Apart from that, these speeds are frightening -- or at least they'd be if I were at the controls -- in the sense of having to maintain constant, intense vigilance with respect to signaling and signage. Much respect for the drivers.
Really enjoyed this, especially the section through Leicester. As a child I lived very close to the old ‘Roundhouse’ which was just to the north of the station where the engines are stabled. Shortly after that at 1.08.10 you can actually see one of the ‘spires’ of my old infant/junior school to the right !! Brings back great memories from the 60’s 😀 Thanks !!👍
Well compiled documentary. A scan of the driver's cab and his handling of the controls and other related duties involved with the safe and smooth running of the train would have added more interest to it. Thanks anyway
I’ve got to be careful what I show. One of the conditions of being able to share the video is that I don’t show how the train is driven. I do show the occasional glimpse.
Wonderful trip! As a longtime railfan and a US resident, your comments were perfect: not too long but providing insight for those not familiar with the area. Keep up the good work!
I am an American and I absolutely love these videos. It is like a little vacation, to the UK, on my computer. Keep up the great work!!
Much appreciated Stephy. More vids coming soon. Proceeds go to charity 👍
This video is superb.
The video is very informative and it give so much quality, that you stop the video every now and then to show what you have been explaining to the viewers.
Thank you for taking you time to show this from your job and to take your time to explain the things during the ride.
Thanks for the feedback Peter, much appreciated.
You’ve set the standard for these kinds of videos. I may live 5 time zones away but the clarity of the image and sound with accompanying commentary puts me right in the moment. And I don’t even have to shell out the £100 for the ride!
Thanks Jeff. I’m fussy about such things and it’s taken a lot of experimenting to get here. The bottom line is that most cameras and memory cards won’t handle the motion after about 70 of 80 mph so everything has to be top notch to get a standard I’m happy with so it’s nice to get feedback of this kind.
Another very informative and interesting ride. I especially like the freeze frame showing infrastructure that otherwise would be missed. I remember looking at flange greasers due to relatively sharp curves on the CSS&SB electric line in my home town (Michigan City, Indiana) back in the early 60's. No solar power back then! Thanks, Don
Thank you Andrew. I used to visit Troy in Michigan in my motor industry days and I would spend as much time as I could get away with peering out of the office windows at the gigantic double decker freight trains that rumbled past every few minutes.
From the other side of the pond - This is amazing and informative. I love the captions: Where you are, how many miles out, speeds and most informative the explanation of the signal and whistle rules. And a history lesson also. Thank you!!
Much appreciated. They’ve evolved into magazine type publications that cover all sorts of subjects.
Love your comment about the HST, “Queen of the rails”. Couldn’t agree more.
This is great video. I am a fan of high speed passenger rail, being in the middle of the United States I have to be satisfied by watching it elsewhere. I have been to the UK several times but I have never traveled on this route. Your commentary is especially informative for us foreigners. I'm looking forward to visiting the UK again, someday. Take care and stay safe.
Watch out for the next video Wayne. We go north from York to Newcastle on one of our brand new Class 802s at mostly 125mph.
Have just discovered these videos - very relaxing during the "lockdown"
Glad you like them!
Thank you for the wonderful and informative video. I have travelled to Britain twice and greatly enjoyed travelling on my Britrail pass around the country. I enjoy all your videos and find them very relaxing.
That’s very pleasing, thank you 👍
Really excellent video! Thank you for sharing your many cab adventures with us.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Brilliant video! It’s so fascinating to see the driver’s view of this line that I’ve travelled up and down from Sheffield to London many times. The accompanying text you provide gives a great insight into the route and helps me appreciate the work of thh drivers, one of whom is relative (of sorts) of mine.
Thanks Adam.
I love the information. Some videos have information running along the bottom of the screen, but by the time you've read it, the thing they were describing has passed. Not so with these videos.
There's obviously a lot of time and effort put into these videos and it's much appreciated.
Thanks, yes I was guilty of that once so I’ve learned to time the captions so you can read them before returning to the footage.
Hi, Don. I watch your videos in Canada and I'm always amazed at European trains. They are so quiet and efficient, and so incredibly fast! I think if I have enough money, someday, I'd like to come to England and buy a private coach and attach it any train that would take me, and I would just travel from place to place, meeting people in different communities, and generally having a great time! Well, dream on I guess!
Fantastic video Don. I love trains. Don't stop.
There’s plenty more in the pipeline!
@@doncoffey5820 Wow, thanks, keep em' coming. Greetings from Ireland, wider gauge at 5' 3 and 1/4", and I won many a bet on that!
A Canadian here. I was born and grew up in the UK, and as a young adult used to live her the Leagrave (Luton) Beds station. In those slow steam train days, the train from St. Pancras to Bedford would slooooooow down through Leagrave and I have memories of actual jumping off late-night trains that weren’t supposed to actually stop there. Mind you, I’m not sure what I would have done if it sped on through! I’m 93 now, and I thoroughly enjoyed your video, and I followed along with Google Earth. My how things have changed! Stay well.
John, Ontario, Canada
Thanks John. Thanks for the interesting feedback too.
A fascinating film. Aside from the superb footage I greatly enjoyed the captions detailing the lineside equipment and features. Really well put together and a joy to watch.
Much appreciated. I love your logo.
Brilliant! I don't think I've seen such an informative cab ride before. I find I'm having to concentrate a little more than usual rather than be lulled by the general passing of the countryside 😀.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Don Coffey, for a most enjoyable journey. I have had to watch this twice - just in case I missed anything the first time through when reading the informative and interesting captions!
Yes, I must admit I do to. Maybe I’ll narrate one at some stage!!!
The section between East Midlands Parkway station and Sheet Stores Junction is very busy. I went back through that several times.
Enjoyed this cab ride, Thank you Don & EMR for making it possible, it's good to see a view of the line a normal passenger doesn't get.
Thanks Ralph, I’ll make sure my mate knows.
I just thoroughly enjoyed watching this! It was marvellous to see all the electrification work going on down the line!
Impressive isn’t it Steven. There’s a lot that isn’t obvious where the track has been moved and wiring has been changed etc. It all has to be brought to standard.
Great video as always . Thanks for all time and effort you put in.
Much appreciated Paul.
Most interesting added information throughout, very helpful to an NZ viewer. Kudos to yourself for presenting a quality piece of work and a shout-out to the driver for keeping the screen clean as this is by no means the norm! Salutary to realise that the train was travelling at pretty well the all-out speed of an earlier 4.2 XJ6 Jaguar - I know; I used to drive one. Frankly, I'd feel much safer in the train!
He’ll see your comment thanks. I think your jag might have used the same amount of fuel too!
Thank you for a brilliant video! With the comments along the route it lifted it well beyond lots of other front window videos.
I appreciate that, thank you.
I've watched quite a few train video's in my time but this was one of the best I've ever seen. I learnt more about what a train driver has to look out for, and about the track, then any of the others. So a big THANK YOU for recording this.
How do you mean “one of”? ;-). Just kidding, I’m very flattered and appreciate the positive feedback.
There’s been so much disruption on the A45 here waiting for the bridge to be raised in Irchester...it seemed to go on for ever and that’s just ONE bridge on the route! Your explanations are always brilliant Don. Many thanks for spending so much time and effort on these. Very professional and brilliant fun as always.
TV style quality video. Professional informative and interesting captions. No in your face “look at Me” presenter reminding us to subscribe/like constantly . Proceeds to charity. Don, you should get TH-camr of the year!
Best video I have seen this year and hope you enjoyed your break from Manchester!
I’m flattered James thanks. I try to make each video into a kind of magazine for anyone with the remotest interest to true enthusiasts. The revenue to charity is the cherry on top. I’m delighted that you enjoy them.
Don Coffey which charity may I ask?
I donate to a different one every time. I don’t do the videos for money but since Google (who own TH-cam) offer money for advertising, I take the money and donate every single penny of it to charity. I recently rescued a homeless person from a tunnel so will give the next donation to the homeless.
I find it hard to work out why I loved this so much.
The front view we all can’t see?
The historical romance of trains?
The beautiful scenery?
The lack of annoying music?
The quality of the very informative notes?
I think all. I’m hooked!
Many thanks.
Haha! Got you Duncan ;-) Glad you enjoyed it. More coming soon.
Hoping for a London Euston to Manchester or somewhere north video!
Its in the pipeline Duncan, being planned right now.
It's pretty soulless quite frankly.
Watching from California during lockdown.Love this video.Been a fan of England and trains for a long time.We don't have trains like this in the USA.Thank you for taking me out on a ride in my mind! May you and all your viewers stay safe and healthy.
Thanks Diana. Glad it help you forget for a while.
Just watched and enjoyed this video again during our lock-down period. I like the rolling informative captions which explain interesting features en-route. The skills and experience needed to be a train driver are also explained. I've gained an even greater respect for all drivers from these videos.
I try to vary the info from video to video so by watching more of them you build up a wider knowledge. Glad you enjoy them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. As a young man I commuted to St Pancras and walked to St Pancras Hospital to my first job. Later in life I lived and worked in the East Midlands area so this all brought back many memories. Thanks!
I pleased that it brought back memories for you. Thanks and regards.
Brilliant video with lots of information that only a railway man would know.
This is very well edited!! It's a shame in Ireland we have hardly any drivers willing to do as you do. Great video.
Hi Kieran. You have to get special permission to film from a cab and maybe your guys aren’t allowed.
Thanks Don, as brilliant as ever and well worth the wait. I have watched a lot of videos on SmileVideoTrains (SVT) channel and seen the MML from a passenger perspective (on board trains and on stations) - this is a perfect complement. As I commented on SVT a couple of weeks ago - Marples and Beeching must be spinning in their graves with all the railway upgrade/expansion work taking place!
What they did needed doing but not on the scale they did it. Now some of what needs reopening can’t because the land is lost.
@@doncoffey5820 Exactly my thoughts Don. Should have been a pruning & trimming job, instead it was a heavy handed hatchet job.
Alas the damage is done........
Nice to see my hometown station of Loughborough feature in one of your videos... a few things you and your viewers may find intresting is just before you go through Loughborough station you pass under a green bridge which is a part of the Great Central Steam Railways "Bridging The Gap" project so the Nottingham portion of the GCR can be re-connected to the Loughborough to Leicester portion. And just after passing Loughborough station you can still see the remants of what was a small but quite busy goods yard and holding sidings... my mother used to work at the Brush Falcon works when i was young in the late 80s and i would wait for her close to the goods yard and watch the coal and stone hoppers be shunted in and watch the Tamper units and other locos use the sidings. As for the footbridge that collapsed in Barrow Upon Soar, in my opinion that was an accident waiting to happen (although not in the manner of what actually happened)... i remember (again in the late 80s) that footbridge being closed off to pedestrians and both sides barricaded with warning signs everyware saying 'danger bridge closed'' apparantly even back then it was very unstable. Thanks for your videos Don, i've watched them all but never commented before now. Kind regards.
Well I’m glad you have commented because it’s all very interesting. The videos seem to evoke memories for many of the viewers in one way or another. It’s surprising how quickly it has changed.
An hour and a half of pure entertainment Don, so informative. I saved it for Saturday night to watch it through in one go.
A proper Saturday night blockbuster 😉
@@doncoffey5820 Better than the what's on the telly!
Stunning, thank you for posting, really interesting facts and figures along the way.
Thanks Alistair
Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant.Without a doubt the best train video on TH-cam. The descriptions as you go along are fascinating and really add to the journey.
Many Thanks.Do you have any more of the same type?
Glad you enjoyed it Terry. There’s a whole series of them on my TH-cam Channel; th-cam.com/channels/8LH7xMAyCSqpClAvTHwJRw.html
@@doncoffey5820 Many Thanks
Hello Don from Pennsylvania. I’m taking advantage of the lockdown to catch up on lots of older videos. Thank you for this fine video. I always enjoy the historical perspective you provide as well as the operational information about the railway you are riding along.
Always the very best. Thanks again. Stay well. CAS.
That’s much appreciated Charles and the same to you my friend.
BRILLIANT Don, really enjoyed it.
Love the commentary.
Thank you.
Thank you too.
Commentary is the best and most important part of your trainspotting videos I have come across. Those are very informative.
I find this so calming...thank you uploader.
Thank you for watching and the positive feedback.
An excellent and informative video. May I confess, I watched it at double speed. None the less for that! Well done.
Haha, you are not alone apparently but at least you watched it and by doing so you donated to charity.
This is an excellent and very informative video. I don't think I have seen a better on for information!
Much appreciated Phill
A very informative video. in my army days I trave
led a lot by train. in my young days I lived along side the Southend Victoria---Liverpool Street line (in steam and electric days. I lived in Nottingham in the 60s. Traveled to Edinburgh a few times. Some of your videos bring back great memories. I'm in my early 80s now. Thanks again for your efforts.
Glad you enjoyed them Tony.
A really excellent video. one of the best I have seen. great camera work with lots of information on the way. This maker of the video knows what he is doing and about trains. Thanks very much
That’s very kind, thank you.
Excellent video Don. First time I've seen a video of yours from London.
Thanks Paul, hopefully not the last.
I love all the tidbits of information and history you put into this video.
Much appreciated.
I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute. Thankyou for taking the time to film, edit and upload. I love the way you stop the film so we can see what you have described and I also like the way you describe what we will see before we get to it.
Thanks Geoffrey, I sometimes add picture in picture too. Glad you liked it.
A most instructive video. There's a hypnotic quality about it that's restful, reassuring and relaxing. The subtitles added were a thoughtful bonus. Thank you for sharing this.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Hi Don, Oh my line, Leicester to St Pancras. I hadn't realised MML had to some extent saved St Pancras from being demolished back when they took over.
We've just had the wires recently put up between Market Harborough and Wigston, on my, how much work...........raising bridges, cutting back the trees etc etc............Sad to see the historic Midland Railway bridges disappearing under their new facelifts.
Last time I went to London, a few years ago now, we went First Class on a HST up, smooth, quietand so comfy and a Class 222 return, noisey, rattling and the seats were like sitting on boards................Sad to say they were like chalk and cheese. I miss the HST's................I liked your comment about them being like the Jumbo Jet!
Oh one last question, how do you film these cab rides, do you film these yourself, or get colleagues to do the filming for you?
Thanks for another great video, all the very best Dave.
It’s a fascinating line, steeped in history and fortunately it’s on the up. The wires will continue to creep forward to Sheffield as its appearance will change somewhat. I know what you mean about the HSTs but they aren’t as efficient and don’t fare well in a crash so their time is up. It’s nice to see an odd one about. Regarding the filming, it’s a mix. Some gets sent to me - sometimes after being filmed with my cameras and sometimes I go out filming. Most of the 185 trains (but not all) I drove.
TV Documentary standards Don. A fascinating video. Love the informational text. My gratitude to your driver colleague for his part too.
Yes, I appreciate that Andy, my mate played the pivotal role in bringing this footage.
Very much enjoyed the video. I was surprised you didn't mention the track remodelling at Derby following major work at the station in 2018. This eliminated the bottleneck to the south of the station where there was conflict between the London lines and the Birmingham lines. Both routes had to merge before reaching / after leaving the platforms, but now they are separated to avoid this. The video shows this new approach very clearly. New track, further track realignment and new signalling also improved approach and through line speeds.
Thanks Mr B. I can’t always fit everything in but in any case I didn’t know the detail you’ve added because it’s off my patch. However, many people read the comments so will benefit from your explanation.
Don that was a brilliant video. Information top class as usual. It must take a lot of your time, but it is really appreciated. THANK YOU.
It takes a day to get the footage and hours and hours to edit it.
Really glad to find these videos,allowing me glimpses of parts of England I would otherwise never see.
Thanks Hugh, glad you like them.
Excellent screen footage and love the scrolling info ,which adds another dimension.Will look out for any future videos you produce!
Glad you like it Mark. You’ll find several more with a wide variety of subjects covered and you can find details of forthcoming videos on my community page.
th-cam.com/channels/8LH7xMAyCSqpClAvTHwJRw.html
I just wanted to say thank you for all your content. As someone who lives in the states, I have a very low probability of ever riding or seeing these trains in real life so the only way I can experience them is through your videos and I am very grateful that you put so much effort into making them with the annotations and history of the line. Keep up the great work and again thank you!
I sincerely appreciate that. I try to make it as interesting as possible and include historical, architectural and railways items of interest. Thank you.
Excellent captions (have to be the best yet on all the cab videos I have seen). Well played!
Thanks Paul.
Very clear video. It's a great line. North of Sheffield needs inproving. It is a pity it doesn't run beyond Sheffield.
I think improvements are afoot Alex 👍
I just recently found your videos, and I want to say I much appreciate the various sorts of information you provide along the way. The mix of technical stuff and the historical is just fine. I follow along in my copy of Trackatlas of Mainland Britain (which of course shows the attitude of Brits toward the rest of Europe: this is the mainland, and over there is the rest of them). I look forward to hours of enjoyment with these cab rides.
Much appreciated Robert. I try to answer all the questions I’d be asking if I were out in the cab as an interested party. Lots more videos to come.
Well thank you! Lovely commentary, full of interest, and many familiar spots along the way.
Thanks Guy. I’m just working on another video shot from a Class 222.
Thanks Don, most enjoyable trip, my early teenage years were spent train spotting at Elstree station, I see my favourite spot on the left approaching the station has been claimed by buildings😒, still that was 60 years ago. Derby was my birthplace.
Glad it brought back memories John. I can remember watching trains in the 60s. It’s a sobering thought isn’t it!
Great train video! No annoying panning and zooming, just fine camera work. The comments and location names add greatly to this footage, keep up the good work! Cheerio from the USA!
Glad you enjoyed it. If you visit my community page you’ll find updates on new videos.
Yes, a brilliant video in every way! Australia.
Wonderful and great video. Outside the station is a great hotel and great Italian restaurant. Loads of model railway exhibitions along this line this x
Good info Chris.
Always great to find quality content like this on TH-cam :-) I enjoyed it a lot, having lived in Wigston as a boy, and even worked on Kilby Bridge farm for a bit. When I took the train from Leicester to see chums in London in the early '70s it was often headed by a Class 55, oh yeah.
Thanks Neil. I never drove a Class 55 but I have mastered a Class 142. They’ll be iconic one day!!! Glad it brought back memories for you.
@@doncoffey5820 I should have said also that your running commentary about track maintenance brought to mind my stepdad (also named Don), who as a trackworker used to walk the road as part of his duties, knocking those pins in. I think his stretch was just about where you were talking about it. He's retired now.
There’s a set of books by a chap called Adrian Vaughan that you might like. They tell the tale of all these workers like your stepdad and how they visited the signal boxes for a brew. Fascinating stuff. Signalsmans Morning, Signalmans Nightmare and Signalmans Twighlight. You can get them dead cheap secondhand.
Thanks, Don. I found a copy of SIgnalman's Morning for a couple of pounds, and will give it a read.
Fantastic video as always, Don. You were luckier with the weather than the day of your Calder Valley trip. Thanks for posting.
Haha, just a bit. I’ll get the Calder Valley one day when I’m diverted. I suppose you get to see different weather conditions.
Got to be one of the best cab rides I've watched. Very enjoyable and informative. Thanks Don. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, much appreciated.
What a great upload. Love the information on the screen. Great quality filming. Must have been a lot of hard work for you. Thanks so much.
It is a lot of work, I’m glad you appreciate it.
I'm from Australia, love your rail network and love your video, very informative...........
Thanks Noel, glad you like them. Next one coming soon.
Nice video!!! Is it only me who noticed the huge gap between Bedford and Wellingborough?
I think you’re the only one that mentioned it.
I absolutely love the written commentary at the bottom of these videos and the strategic pauses. Makes them so much more interesting and educational to the lay person.
That is much appreciated. I’ve added different info to different films which build up a wider knowledge.
Thank you Don, another great video with very informative commentary. Keep up the good work!
Will do Anthony, thank you.
Thank you for the really informative video. I operate out of St Pancras as a on Board cleaner via kettering and onto Corby. I can fully understand why this line is loved stunning views. and great video.
Thanks Mark and thanks for the great job you do. Our onboard cleaners do a superb job at TPE and I know you do too.
A really great video, for which I would like to thank you very much. Especially the explanations to some special features along the route and then the "freezing" of the film at the decisive point are a lot of fun and unique for the driver's cab rides.
I am already looking forward to the next excursions and wish you a safe and accident-free journey!
Many greetings from Königstein im Taunus (near Frankfurt / Main), Germany
Many thanks Herr Hund. I’ve noticed in the analytics that more of your fellow countrymen are watching the videos for which I’m grateful and flattered. I’ve got several more videos planned and will share them soon.
Awesome video enjoyed every bit of it especially with the information running along bottom of screen :) sometimes i can get bored when just looking at a track and trees so it makes it much more interesting for me does all the info thanks
Much appreciated. 👍
@ 5:16 You'll notice stonework lining the retaining walls and the 2 tunnels to the left (instead of bricks), this is because when the London extension was built in the 1860's, this small section of railway passed underneath a posh area of London, and the locals demanded that the tunnels/retaining walls be made out of stone, to look prettier and fit in with the surroundings.
I love these little snippets of information that I get from the comments. I can get quite worked up just thinking about the effort involved in making such a wall - so easy to take for granted. Thanks Lawrence.
Hi Don, this the first time I’ve seen your videos and I say what an excellent production. Apart from the enjoyment derived I found your comments most helpful, especially the track working ones plus the stopping of the action at points of interest. Thank you, I look forward to watching more of them.
Glad you enjoyed it Gez, much appreciated.
This used to be a daily commute for me 2004-2008 and then a ‘regular’ trip for a few months in 2010. I remember St Pancras before it was upgraded to international and reminisced when waiting for a train to depart from platform 3 where the lower level shops/upper concourse stands now - plus the short, underground passageway that led you towards Kings Cross mainline/Kings Cross St Pancras underground ticket hall.
… and the free tea/coffee on the Master Cutler, with the quiet Car ‘D’ and Smoking Car ‘A’
I’m not lazy ;-) I bet it’s changed a bit since you travelled it. Thanks for looking.
Tell you what, Don, I have just spent the best part of two hours reading through the comments for this video. Great to know the wealth and breadth of viewership you have all over the world!!!
There. Ishtar come a day when I have to choose a few but I’m grateful for all the comments and humbled that people read them.
Sorry, write them (not found a way of editing my replies yet,
@@doncoffey5820 click the three little dots which 'light up' when your mouse pointer moves over the comment you wish to edit. Great footage btw.
It must be a bit unsettling standing on a platform and having many tons of metal zip by you at more than 200 kmh... Great video as always Don 👍👍👌😁
Its an experience for sure Joseph.
That's nothing compared to standing on the track.
The worst place for it is Didcot Parkway - one of the platforms in particular is horribly exposed and turbulent...
MPH please.
They aren't kidding when they say stay behind the line. Something that big moving that fast definitely creates an air vortex that can
suck you right in.
Magnificent video. Priceless insight into train operation and amazing detail that helps those inexperienced - such as me - get a taste of the sheer scope of what is involved in operating a railway system. Wonderful, absolutely loved it!
Its an eye opener isn’t it Peter? Glad you liked it.
This is a first class, informative and interesting video. Probably the best I've seen for a long time.
Thanks Peter. More soon.
Exceptional video. All the junctions and stations being pointed out is genius. The scrolling info bar takes it to the next level. Used to travel this route on an almost daily basis as a student for 3 years (the Derby-Leicester section) and it was good to see the route from the driver's eye perspective.
An improvement might be that if there is any additional info that you cannot fit into the scrolling bar (eg wagon's crane colliding with a train at Mountsorrel) you could put that information into the description or provide some sort of link to a news article. I shall leave you to consider if this is a worthy idea and, if so, how you would wish to implement it.
Finally, congratulations on an additional subscriber. I wish you well in your future ventures on the railways of this country.
Thanks for the positive feedback (I do post both but thankfully very little poor feedback) I’m pleased you find the content interesting.
Brilliant, just Brilliant, thank you for sharing
Don Coffey raises the bar again! This is extremely well done (okay, apart from the spelling mistakes!) and top-notch quality as well. Definitely one of my favourite driver's-eye view uploaders - and I am a great fan of the likes of fourfoot and OldSkidmark, so my standards are high!
Thanks John and much appreciated. My spelling isn’t brilliant because I missed so much school (working class upbringing) and I’m slightly dyslexic. In some ways, I’m surprised you can read it at all but it’s free to view and the footage itself is where I’m satisfied. More soon John.
This is one of the very best POV videos shot from a locomotive that I've viewed to date. I appreciate the informative commentary as well. Congrats to Mr Coffey.
Much appreciated but it would be incorrect for me to take all the credit for it. A number of people have been very accomodating in helping me share them with the growing number of viewers.
Thanks for the great ride! and now I know the difference between "up" and "down!"
Thanks Gabriel.
Hello Thank you for this post, as a Rail-Road enthusiast I enjoy this soo much, and a lot of info in it, I´m locked in my home here in Spain, hope you and relatives are protected from the Covid19,.... today is on April 3, 2020, thank you again I will watch more of your vids,. good luck and God bless all.
Thanks Eduardo. Glad you enjoyed it and best wishes to you too.
Great video and a history lesson. Can it get any better? I've stood in St Pancras when Midland Main Line ran smokey HST sets out of there. It was a very dark horrible station but now I'd say, St Pancras along with the hotel is one the most beautiful railway termini in the UK.The fact that the {Powers that be} wanted to demolish it all, beggars belief. The Midland Railway company certainly went to town building that masterpiece. It's just as well we had Railway Mania at the turn of last century when I see the amount of space/land given over to put down the tracks, that would be near impossible today with the dense concentration of buildings and we need all those lines to cope with growth and there seems to have been a lot of digging to get the line in, judging by the embankments either side. I remember hearing years ago there was talk of putting in another carriage into these trains with a pantograph so it would be electric propulsion where there were wires. I notice the XC Class 220/221trains seem to spend most of their time under wires, except when the come up my way (Stonehaven) to Aberdeen.
They do but as soon as they leave the wires they only have one option. Agree entirely about saving the station.
Agreed. I remember as a child, many decades ago, being taken to London from Leicester with my parents from time to time. My overriding impression of St. Pancras was the blackness, the dark (you could barely see light through any of the glass in the roof), the dirt and the clouds and clouds of grey smoke and steam. The station now and the Hotel are absolutely magnificent and stand comparison with any station anywhere!
First timer here, watching March 2020 in UK lockdown. What lovely video to watch, really relaxing and informative, subbed & coming back for more.
Glad to have you with us Steve.
The wonderful nformation makes this a great ride instead of perhaps an ordinary one. Thank you.
Thanks Graham.
Another excellent video Don. You have, however, shattered my mid-1970’s memories of Leicester! Travelling up on the Thames-Clyde Express from St.Pancras to what I remembered to be a grim, and grimy, Leicester station. It was
my first introduction to travelling by rail in the UK (after moving from Australia) was this almighty diesel locomotive at the head of the train, what was probably a 44/45/46 Class?! How much lighter and airy these places look now! Again, thanks for posting.
Sorry Andrew! Yes, they have brightened and de cluttered many stations but the old ones with the fancy wooden awnings had a certain charm. These videos are proving to bring back memories for so many ex pats.
I always find your vids very interesting and informative ✅
Thanks 👍
Another really enjoyable one Don. A great way to spend my Friday afternoon. Thank you again, and thanks to the driver of the 222.
I’ll pass it on Steve.
that's amazing cab ride from st pancras to derby
Thanks Scott.
Don, I just found your channel. Your work is outstanding. The technical info scrolling at the bottom, and the occasional freeze frame to show a particular sign or a particular electrical configuration, are extremely informative. Thank you for the obvious effort you put in. Apart from that, these speeds are frightening -- or at least they'd be if I were at the controls -- in the sense of having to maintain constant, intense vigilance with respect to signaling and signage. Much respect for the drivers.
Thanks. Its something you get used to and as far as I am concerned, never get bored with.
Really enjoyed this, especially the section through Leicester. As a child I lived very close to the old ‘Roundhouse’ which was just to the north of the station where the engines are stabled. Shortly after that at 1.08.10 you can actually see one of the ‘spires’ of my old infant/junior school to the right !! Brings back great memories from the 60’s 😀
Thanks !!👍
Same initials as me! It amazes me just how many people these films arouse memories for. Thank you.
Well compiled documentary. A scan of the driver's cab and his handling of the controls and other related duties involved with the safe and smooth running of the train would have added more interest to it. Thanks anyway
I’ve got to be careful what I show. One of the conditions of being able to share the video is that I don’t show how the train is driven. I do show the occasional glimpse.
Awesome footage. I live in Leicester and travel this route every now and again. Just wish it was electrified this far.
Yes, hopefully one day soon HP.
I never knew an internal organ would have a patron Saint. Long live St Pancreas.
:D
Thanks Don for the upload, this has helped me to relax before going to bed
Like an episode of desert island discs! Glad you enjoyed it.
Wonderful trip! As a longtime railfan and a US resident, your comments were perfect: not too long but providing insight for those not familiar with the area. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Rob. I’m working on the next video right now.