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Author Topic: Great British Railway Journeys - Michael Portillo's television series  (Read 139592 times)
macbrains
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« Reply #135 on: January 18, 2015, 11:52:47 »

With regard to the new title sequence, does any one have an idea which station Mr Portillo is standing on as the "Horsham" train approaches?  It's possible to catch a distant glimpse of the station nameboard and it's possibly "B.... and W......." but where? Is this all TV trickery?

I've been looking through a railway atlas but my detective work has yielded precisely... nothing!

One of the many experts on this site must know! Shocked

rgds
Rob
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grahame
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« Reply #136 on: January 18, 2015, 12:08:42 »

Not seen the sequence, but Boxhill and Westhumble would be logical for "Horsham"
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macbrains
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« Reply #137 on: January 18, 2015, 12:30:23 »

That's it! Smiley

Thank you grahame...
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bobm
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« Reply #138 on: January 21, 2015, 11:57:28 »

Week four of the series (w/c 26th Jan) goes from Pembroke Dock to Cambridge.  Includes the North Coswold Line and Oxford.
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NickF
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« Reply #139 on: January 28, 2015, 16:00:03 »

Did anyone notice from the episode on the 19th January there was a shot of a train (a 158 I think) approaching Grantham with it's red tail lights on.  On rewinding and watching again I couldnt see a driver so perhaps the clip was being played backwards?
Or were my eyes just playing tricks on me?
« Last Edit: January 28, 2015, 19:14:16 by NickF » Logged
JayMac
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« Reply #140 on: January 28, 2015, 16:50:24 »

Not the first time Portaloo's production team have done that. I seem to remember from an earlier series a DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) coming out of Standedge Tunnel, backwards and driverless.
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eightf48544
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« Reply #141 on: January 28, 2015, 17:26:19 »

On double track it appears the train is running wrong line!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #142 on: January 28, 2015, 20:33:17 »

Did anyone notice from the episode on the 19th January there was a shot of a train (a 158 I think) approaching Grantham with it's red tail lights on.

It does happen in real life, too: see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=12141.msg128464#msg128464  Wink Cheesy Grin
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Cynthia
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« Reply #143 on: January 28, 2015, 22:40:50 »

Week three of the series (w/c 19th Jan) takes him from Derby to Lindisfarne - via Grantham, birthplace of his former boss Margaret Thatcher.

Much to my surprise, Mr. P. didn't get down on his knees to pay homage to Mrs T whilst in Grantham.  Probably didn't want to spoil his snazzy slacks.
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TonyK
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« Reply #144 on: February 14, 2015, 23:36:10 »

Week three of the series (w/c 19th Jan) takes him from Derby to Lindisfarne - via Grantham, birthplace of his former boss Margaret Thatcher.

Much to my surprise, Mr. P. didn't get down on his knees to pay homage to Mrs T whilst in Grantham.  Probably didn't want to spoil his snazzy slacks.

Certainly, he was an ardent fan of the "Iron Lady", and was said by some to have some traits that were more Thatcherite than Thatcher. He coined the phrase "clear blue water", and was tipped for the Tory leadership until unexpectedly losing his seat in the 1997 election. There may indeed have been a bit of quasi-papal dirt kissing, therefore, but off-camera to preserve the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)'s stance of neutrality (during licence fee negotiations at least).

His love of railways can be traced to his early ministerial career, when he claimed to have rescued the Settle and Carlisle route whilst in charge at transport. It is by no means his first foray in the heady world of professional television. In 1961, the star of a Ribena advert was none other than an 8-year-old Michael Portillo Blyth. (I was 5 at the time, and changed my cold beverage of choice to dandelion and burdock, experimenting briefly with Tizer, until I discovered beer. O, to be 13 again!)

TV pays better than politics. It is much easier, and if people don't like what you are doing, you don't have to worry about them voting you out. The bonus of getting to ride around Britain, stay in fine hotels, and eat the best food available locally, then charging the tab to expenses, is common to both professions.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2015, 23:22:52 by Four Track, Now! » Logged

Now, please!
Cynthia
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« Reply #145 on: February 15, 2015, 08:42:22 »

Week three of the series (w/c 19th Jan) takes him from Derby to Lindisfarne - via Grantham, birthplace of his former boss Margaret Thatcher.

Much to my surprise, Mr. P. didn't get down on his knees to pay homage to Mrs T whilst in Grantham.  Probably didn't want to spoil his snazzy slacks.

Certainly, he was an ardent fan of the "Iron Lady", and was said by some to have some traits that were more Thatcherite than Thatcher. He coined the phrase "clear blue water", and was tipped for the Tory leadership until unexpectedly losing his seat in the 1997 election. There may indeed have been a bit of quasi-papal dirt kissing, therefore, but off-camera to preserve the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)'s stance of neutrality (during licence fee negotiations at least).

His love of railways can be traced to his early ministerial career, when he claimed to have rescued the Settle and Carlisle route whilst in charge at transport. It is by no means his first foray in the heady world of professional television. In 1961, the star of a Ribena advert was none other than an 8-year-old Michael Portillo Blyth.

TV pays better than politics. It is much easier, and if people don't like what you are doing, you don't have to worry about them voting you out. The bonus of getting to ride around Britain, stay in fine hotels, and eat the best food available locally, then charging the tab to expenses, is common to both professions.

If there was a 'Like Very Much' button I would have pressed that!
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« Reply #146 on: September 08, 2015, 12:18:36 »

Having not seen any reports of Michael Portillo been seen out and about filming this summer, I emailed his website to ask if there was another series in the making.

It seems he has been very busy!

Quote
This summer I am working on the seventh series of Great British Railway Journeys, the fourth of Great Continental Railway Journeys and the first of Great American Railroad Journeys, all of which will be shown on BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) 2 between November 2015 and February 2016.
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bobm
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« Reply #147 on: December 18, 2015, 14:17:28 »

The seventh series begins at 18:30 on the 4th January 2016 on BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Two.

Mr Portillo (and his blazer) sets out from Carlisle and during the first week passes through Penrith, Carnforth, Windemere, Preston, Swinton, St Helens, Knutsford and Macclesfield.
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bobm
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« Reply #148 on: December 31, 2015, 07:55:57 »

Week two (starting 11th January 2016) goes from Dover to Porthcurno via Lewes, Newhaven, Worthing, Littlehampton, Beaulieu, Lymington Town, Exmouth and the Royal Albert Bridge.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #149 on: December 31, 2015, 09:20:46 »

Michael Portillo's still doing it?

I heard they'd asked Bignosemac to take over, but there were some questions over the validity of his tickets?  Wink
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