Great Railways
Great Railways
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Poland - Last Stronghold of Steam in Europe - English • Great Railways
When producer NICK LERA went to Poland in 1989 his video camera revealed a half century timewarp with steam power in widespread use on the railways on both passenger and freight, including the narrow 75 cm gauge. Seven classes of steam locomotive were recorded, including an ex-German ‘Kriegslok’ passing the ruins of Hitler’s secret forest bunker, the Wolf’s Lair, near the Russian border. Also featured is rare high quality film taken in 1975 by specialist cameraman Stephen Morris showing pre-war express engines in Eastern Poland, and heavy US-built Marshall Aid locos. Narrated by Peter Snow with an historical introduction.
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Переглядів: 39 229

Відео

Argentina - Patagonia Express - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 21 тис.2 місяці тому
Producer NICK LERA went to Argentina in 1991 to explore one of the world's longest narrow gauge railways, 402 kilometers through sparsely inhabited sheep rearing country in Patagonia towards the Andes foothills, on a gauge of just 2ft 6inches, or 75cm. Already under threat of closure, this unique operation was down to the bare bones, with just one train per week. Double headed on several hill s...
The Woodburners of Paraguay - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 70 тис.3 місяці тому
In 1991 producer NICK LERA headed down to South America to film the world's last wood-burning state railway, in Paraguay on the northern Argentine border. British built and still using original locomotives made in Glasgow in 1910, it was the world's slowest main line. The weekly overnight mail to the capital Asuncion made the line's fastest run with an average speed of 20km per hour. Track main...
FROM BURMA TO THE RIVER KWAI - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 408 тис.4 місяці тому
Producer NICK LERA explores the infamous ‘Death Railway’ built by the Japanese during the Second World War to provide overland access to Burma in support of their ill-fated advance on India. In Thailand we travel by steam train across the creaking wooden trestles beside the Kwai River, and visit the Hellfire Pass where thousands of Allied prisoners and Asian conscripts died in forced labour con...
Steam’s Revival in Scotland - 3, THE GREAT MARQUESS RETURNS TO MALLAIG - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 5 тис.4 місяці тому
To round off his Scottish Steam trilogy, producer NICK LERA presents a cameo of the classic West Highlands locomotive, “The Great Marquess”, one of only six K4 Class 3-cylinder locomotives specially designed for the line in 1937 by the great locomotive engineer Sir Nigel Gresley. After major overhaul and restoration on the Severn Valley Railway, we see this sole survivor of the class crossing t...
Pakistan - Rails to the North West Frontier - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 218 тис.6 місяців тому
One of NICK LERA’s finest documentaries is this 1990s account of a great railway adventure from the Baluchistan mountains to the legendary Khyber Pass. We start with vintage 1950s cab unit diesels of the Alco DL500 World series on the 4% grades of the rugged Bolan Pass. Then visit the meter gauge enclave of the former Jodphur Railway at Mirpur Khas to ride 1920s steam veterans across Sind. Back...
Eritrea - Rebirth of a Railway - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 261 тис.7 місяців тому
Producer NICK LERA took his cameras to the Horn Of Africa in 2002 and 2003 to record the dramatic revival of a war-ravaged mountain railway they said could never be rebuilt. This highly visual portrayal of a railway reborn follows vintage 95cm gauge Mallet locomotives steaming up the Rift Valley escarpment on a series of hairpin bends with breathtaking views on a 2200 meter climb from the Red S...
Steam’s Revival In Scotland - 2, FROM THE FORTH TO THE FAR NORTH - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 24 тис.7 місяців тому
In his second film from Scotland, NICK LERA starts on the Firth of Forth with rare film footage from 1900, the 1950s and 1985 taken from within the girders of the famous Bridge, with many classic steam locos including an A4 Pacific. Next comes veteran North British 0-6-0 ‘Maude’ at Haymarket’s 1985 Open Day beside a Deltic diesel, before setting off from Waverley round Edinburgh’s suburban circ...
Steam’s Revival in Scotland - 1, THE ROADS TO THE ISLES - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 10 тис.8 місяців тому
The return of steam on the two rival Roads To The Isles brought thousands of rail fans from across Britain and from overseas to witness the UK’s greatest steam revival of the 1980s, documented by producer NICK LERA. From Inverness the remote Kyle of Localsh line saw steam’s return in 1982, while two years later it was the turn of the West Highland line’s famous route from Fort William to Mallai...
Das letzte Dampfparadies - Indonesien - German • Great Railways
Переглядів 14 тис.8 місяців тому
Aus dem Archiv des bekannten Eisenbahnfilm-Produzenten Nick Lera werden Sie in dieser Produktion aus 1991 zurück geführt in das Jahr 1974, als die Indonesische Staatsbahn noch eine bunte Sammlung alter Dampfloks betrieb. Zur Sammlung gehörten die ältesten aktiven Gelenkloks der Welt, die letzte Dampfstraßenbahn, zwei Zahnradbahnen im Dschungel, über einhundert Jahre alte Dampf-Schnellzugloks un...
Steam to Mombasa - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 295 тис.9 місяців тому
A dramatic steam safari through the East African bush by film maker NICK LERA, hauled by the most powerful meter gauge steam locomotive in the world, the massive Beyer-Garratt articulated ‘Mount Gelai’. The unique 330 mile adventure both trackside and on tbe loco footplate with legendary driver Kirpal Singh Sandhu ends with the famous spiral descent into Mombasa on the coast. Plus an historical...
When the Wall came down - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 21 тис.11 місяців тому
A Time Of Change On Saxony’s Narrow Gauge Railways, 1990-3 In the top rank of Nick Lera’s acclaimed documentaries on world steam, this high quality film was made as soon as the communist regime in East Germany ended, revealing a fascinating 45 year time warp. The local economy around Oschatz still depended on Saxon-Meyer locomotives hauling china clay through cobbled streets filled with the thi...
Die Hedschasbahn - Syrien & Jordanien - German • Great Railways
Переглядів 21 тис.Рік тому
Aus dem Archiv des bekannten Eisenbahnfilm-Produzenten Nick Lera werden Sie in dieser 1991 aufgenommenen Dokumentation mitgenommen auf einer abenteuerlichen Dampfreise in den Nahen Osten. Wir fahren auf der legendären Hedschasbahn durch Jordanien und Syrien. Unser Zug dampft vorbei an Kreuzritterburgen aus den Tagen des Osmanischen Reiches. In Damaskus besuchen wir ein Ausbesserungswerk, in den...
Steam's Indian Summer - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 305 тис.Рік тому
The final years of steam in India were recorded by film maker Nick Lera in the distinguished company of veteran broadcaster and long term resident of India Sir Mark Tully, Vice President of the Indian Steam Railway Society. Broad gauge locomotives of the WP and WG class haul us across the Punjab, metre gauge steam takes us across central India and banks us over the Mhow Ghat, with Sir Mark on t...
The Challenger on Sherman Hill - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 16 тис.Рік тому
Filmed in October 1983 by renowned railway documentary producer Nick Lera, the giant Union Pacific ‘Challenger’ was at the time the largest operational steam locomotive in the entire world. Articulated on the Mallet principle, this 500 ton coal-fired giant was built in the 1940s to haul three thousand ton freights over the Continental Divide of the USA at an elevation of eight thousand feet. Re...
India - Toy Train to the Clouds - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 150 тис.Рік тому
India - Toy Train to the Clouds - English • Great Railways
China - Steam to the Gobi Desert - English • Great Railways
Переглядів 197 тис.Рік тому
China - Steam to the Gobi Desert - English • Great Railways
Argentinien - Patagonia Express - German • Great Railways
Переглядів 26 тис.Рік тому
Argentinien - Patagonia Express - German • Great Railways
Indonesië, het laatste stoomparadijs - Nederlands • Great Railways
Переглядів 22 тис.Рік тому
Indonesië, het laatste stoomparadijs - Nederlands • Great Railways
Sporen in een witte wereld deel 3 - Weißeritztalbahn Een geluidsfilm uit jaren 80 van Paul Rozendaal
Переглядів 4,8 тис.2 роки тому
Sporen in een witte wereld deel 3 - Weißeritztalbahn Een geluidsfilm uit jaren 80 van Paul Rozendaal
Sporen in een witte wereld deel 2 - Erzgebergte. Een geluidsfilm uit 1985 van Paul Rozendaal
Переглядів 3,9 тис.2 роки тому
Sporen in een witte wereld deel 2 - Erzgebergte. Een geluidsfilm uit 1985 van Paul Rozendaal
Sporen in een witte wereld deel 1 - Harzquerbahn en Selketalbahn 1977 • Great Railways
Переглядів 4 тис.2 роки тому
Sporen in een witte wereld deel 1 - Harzquerbahn en Selketalbahn 1977 • Great Railways
Laatste P8en in het Schwarzwald - Nederlands • Great Railways
Переглядів 3,3 тис.2 роки тому
Laatste P8en in het Schwarzwald - Nederlands • Great Railways
Railways in Southern Germany 1993 • Original Sound • Great Railways
Переглядів 11 тис.3 роки тому
Railways in Southern Germany 1993 • Original Sound • Great Railways
Sneeuwruimen bij de Dampfbahn Furka-bergstrecke & opbouwen van de Steffenbachbrücke • Great Railways
Переглядів 5 тис.3 роки тому
Sneeuwruimen bij de Dampfbahn Furka-bergstrecke & opbouwen van de Steffenbachbrücke • Great Railways
Cabinerit Chur - Sameden deel III - Stugl/Stuls - Samedan • Great Railways
Переглядів 2,8 тис.3 роки тому
Cabinerit Chur - Sameden deel III - Stugl/Stuls - Samedan • Great Railways
Cabinerit Chur - Sameden deel II - Thusis - Stugl/Stuls • Great Railways
Переглядів 3,2 тис.3 роки тому
Cabinerit Chur - Sameden deel II - Thusis - Stugl/Stuls • Great Railways
Cabinerit Chur - Sameden deel I - Chur - Thusis • Great Railways
Переглядів 2,6 тис.3 роки тому
Cabinerit Chur - Sameden deel I - Chur - Thusis • Great Railways
Winter Cab Ride van Pontresina naar Alp Grüm • Great Railways
Переглядів 7 тис.3 роки тому
Winter Cab Ride van Pontresina naar Alp Grüm • Great Railways
Op bezoek bij de Bentheimer Eisenbahn - Nederlands • Great Railways
Переглядів 14 тис.4 роки тому
Op bezoek bij de Bentheimer Eisenbahn - Nederlands • Great Railways

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @ijontichy6070
    @ijontichy6070 Годину тому

    Fantastic document! It brought back memories of my childhood, often spent watching steam locomotives while rolling wagons to the unloading station, as well as watching an express train rushing into the station. I lived literally about 120 meters from the station towers, the location was Ostrów Wielkopolski. Best regards and thank you! I am impressed by the professional workmanship, especially the unique audio effects!

  • @notwoke4788
    @notwoke4788 3 години тому

    The Polish government of the 1970's issued tourist visas to some diehard British steam loving train spotters, then arrested them for espionage when they took photographs.

  • @slawekwojtowicz
    @slawekwojtowicz 7 годин тому

    You didn’t mention that Russia attacked Poland within two weeks of Germany’s attack.

  • @TruenoD12
    @TruenoD12 9 годин тому

    Does steam engines in operational in one of the more will static display

  • @TruenoD12
    @TruenoD12 9 годин тому

    This is what Indonesia looks like before steam engines was scrapped

  • @DMUSrilanka
    @DMUSrilanka 20 годин тому

    Nice video ❤️ lovely ✌️

  • @wiktorsikorski5868
    @wiktorsikorski5868 День тому

    POLSKA GÓROM!!!!!

  • @nirmalkumarsarkar2226
    @nirmalkumarsarkar2226 День тому

    Those days gone forever but fragrance of yesteryears is still existing.6/8/24

  • @fabianrus4159
    @fabianrus4159 2 дні тому

    160 km/h, so schnell fährt heute selbst ein ice selten 😂

  • @drewdam8871
    @drewdam8871 2 дні тому

    'Modernisation' is using stream traction, don't let anyone fool you otherwise.

  • @MichalJesionek
    @MichalJesionek 2 дні тому

    Niech żyje Polska!!!

  • @jantrukszyn3410
    @jantrukszyn3410 3 дні тому

    Ciągle pracuje linia retro w Wolsztynie.

  • @laurenttokarski5260
    @laurenttokarski5260 3 дні тому

    Excellemment expliqué et richement documenté. J'ai conduit des locomotives à voie étroite. Bravo pour votre reportage.

  • @mariorealini6988
    @mariorealini6988 3 дні тому

    Niente da dire per il montaggio delle immagini. Un po' eccessiva l' insistenza sul materiale rotabile. Qualche appunto ci sarebbe da fare sul commento. In particolare non e' ammissibile citare enti e localita' in tedesco quando esiste il termine in italiano. RhB e' la sigla della Ferrovia retica che e' l' Ente ferroviario di Stato del Canton Grigioni. La capitale del Cantone, in italiano, si chiama Coira. La valle italofona al confine con l' Italia e' la Valpochiavo. Poi il.Cantone si.chiama Grigioni in Italiano. Per contro la nota stazione turistica ha un nome ufficiale tedesco: Sankt Moritz, in reto romancio San Murezzan. Assolutamente improponibile il nome italiano di San Maurizio d' Engadina che puzza di fascismo... Insomma: testo da rivedere a fondo!

  • @JESUS_CHRIST_US
    @JESUS_CHRIST_US 3 дні тому

    AAAAAAAAAAAALLLAAAAAAHHH

  • @dariuszgodlewski7648
    @dariuszgodlewski7648 3 дні тому

    Cudowny film, cudowne wspomnienia. I trochę szkoda że to już tylko przeszłość ......

  • @oscarriveros8738
    @oscarriveros8738 4 дні тому

    ❤❤🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾❤❤

  • @invisiblehandofadamsmith
    @invisiblehandofadamsmith 4 дні тому

    wow have to see it

  • @bruegel-naus-gschmast
    @bruegel-naus-gschmast 4 дні тому

    Die sowjetischen dampfpfeifen sind hammer.

  • @Brommear
    @Brommear 4 дні тому

    Wonderful video. I went on La Trochita as a tourist operation in 2015. It ran from El Maiten a few kilometers to Ingeniero Bruno Tomae and back. The locomotive looked al lot better than in 1991 but the track was so bumpy that taking photographs from the window was challenging. I have no idea to what extent this is still operating. I attach my video: ua-cam.com/video/n8RY0sPUxTY/v-deo.html

  • @zubairahmadawan9236
    @zubairahmadawan9236 4 дні тому

    ❤. Watching. From. W A H C A N T T . ❤

  • @bender22222
    @bender22222 4 дні тому

    1989 year, that was probably the last days of communism or first days of democracy in my country

  • @sanuku535
    @sanuku535 4 дні тому

    still drive to this day

  • @StefanMochnacki
    @StefanMochnacki 4 дні тому

    All gone now, of course, these days Pendolinos are common, and the main lines are electrified.. Traveled a lot on steam trains there in 1972-73

  • @krzysztofkedzierski7284
    @krzysztofkedzierski7284 5 днів тому

    Polska przez chory zakaz fotografowania infrastruktury kolejowej, pozbawiona została możliwości posiadania dokumentów. Bardzo cenny film.

    • @NicholasLera-kd5tj
      @NicholasLera-kd5tj 5 днів тому

      I'm so glad you appreciate the documentation. I actually had a PKP permit for the 1989 filming, a bit easier when political change was in the air. But you're right about 1975 when tight communist-era restrictions were in force. I've always had a suspicion that the priceless 1975 footage at Lublin may have been obtained by striking up a friendship with a lovely Polish girl whose mother happened to be the turntable operator. Strongly denied of course, but one can't help wondering....

  • @m6m691
    @m6m691 5 днів тому

    Welkom in Ambarawa Java Indonesia🇲🇨✨️

  • @mr.electronx9036
    @mr.electronx9036 5 днів тому

    I remember these as a small 8 yo kid. Visited my familiy with steam locomotive...good cozy memories ☺

  • @williamlloyd3769
    @williamlloyd3769 5 днів тому

    Is Poland mostly Russian or Standard gauge as of 2024?

    • @darthjohn0
      @darthjohn0 5 днів тому

      Mostly standard gauge. Only one line is broad gauge (connecting to Ukraine).

  • @johnlindroth4187
    @johnlindroth4187 6 днів тому

    Highly enjoyable professional steam document from Poland !

  • @TheMofRider2
    @TheMofRider2 6 днів тому

    34:40 Well, actually the line up to Zakopane is not a branch but an important main line - although still single track. Zakopane is near the Slovakian, not the Czech boarder, and it's the capital of Polish mountain tourism throughout the whole year.

    • @NicholasLera-kd5tj
      @NicholasLera-kd5tj День тому

      When the film was produced in 1990 it pre-dated the separation of Slovakia and Czech Republic by 3 years. It was common British usage at the time to condense the proper term Czechoslovakian to simply Czech. The film is a time capsule not only of the Polish railways but also of then current journalistic custom and style.

  • @laurenttokarski5260
    @laurenttokarski5260 6 днів тому

    C'est un art la conduite de locomotive à vapeur. Anticiper les patinages, utiliser les sablières. On patine plus facilement sur un rail légèrement humide que sur un rail trempé. Par contre la poignée de sable est déconseillée. Trop abrasif pour les tubes de la chaudière (je l'ai fait quelques fois quand même, mais chut!!!). Excellente vidéo.❤

  • @m3jozz377
    @m3jozz377 6 днів тому

    👍💪

  • @laurenttokarski5260
    @laurenttokarski5260 7 днів тому

    Excellente explication. J'ai animé un chemin de fer touristique pendant des années. J'ai eu l'occasion de conduire des locomotives différentes. C'est vrai que le tiroir cylindrique est mieux. Plus économique pour la machine. On pouvait réduire les crans de marche sans perdre la puissance.

  • @ipodman1910
    @ipodman1910 7 днів тому

    It’s a huge shame Poland was kept in such an underdevelopment state for decades after the wars started and raged by Germans and Russians…

  • @camaro89886
    @camaro89886 8 днів тому

    Pourriez-vous corriger les sous-titres ? C'est un charabia incompréhensible.

  • @Sugarmountaincondo
    @Sugarmountaincondo 8 днів тому

    I wish this included a tour of the steam locomotive repair/building shops complex. I hope as many of these Loco's have been preserved in running order or at least on static display at stations. The narrow-gauge Loco's I hope were preserved too as they are even more rare. The passenger coaches too, I hope many of them have been preserved/used on heritage lines now in 2024. @15:43 The Loco with the additional water tank car is a great catch on film. @16:34 The Signal Station footage is fantastic catch on film. They still have these active in Thailand even now in 2024 on the meter gauge line system nationwide. @18:15 & @ 21:04 Dual Headlights added in a Ditch Light configuration. The old German water tank structures are impressive, and I am sure costly to build, but they have definitely paid off in the long run. Is the dark green color of the coaches another hold over from the WW2 Era or adopted in the post-war Polish Era? @34:16 The Armored Train is a huge AA++ catch on film. @34:30 A Double Header AA++ @41:00 Std Gauge cars being transported on Narrow Gauge Dollies has to be the best catch on fil out of them all 👍👍💯 Watching how these cars are transloaded would have been even more interesting. Overall, Fantastic Historical footage captured for eternity.

    • @NicholasLera-kd5tj
      @NicholasLera-kd5tj 7 днів тому

      Dear 'Sugar Mountain'. Your positive comments are much appreciated. Thank you. The best docos in my portfolio invariably result from local railway staff who are friendly, and very pleased you want to document their railway, providing access that more often than not is offically forbidden! My friend and former colleague Stephen Morris proved the point most effectively with the Lublin turntable lady in 1975. He must have scored a hit there! Where possible I include in my films railway 'furniture' and equipment to give a broader feel to the subject, so I'm glad you liked the signal box at Konotop. I'm pleased to tell you that active heritage steam is a regular feature on Poland's railways today, on the standard gauge notably at Wolstyn, but elsewhere too, and no less than 3 narrow gauges can be sampled with steam; Znin (60cm), Sroda (75cm), Rewal-Podgorlice on the Baltic coast (1m). There are three other 75cm locations as well. As for loco workshops, the classic large centres have gone, such as Pila (formerly Schneidemuhl), due to EU compliance issues, but small efficient engineering firms have stepped in to the breach and one way or another the locos are kept alive! Long may it last. Why not book a flight and enjoy?

  • @Totoharry
    @Totoharry 8 днів тому

    Bring back memories to childhood in jakarta pasarminggu in early 70-es. There was a route to Bogor west java, with this kind of train.

  • @RailPreserver2K
    @RailPreserver2K 9 днів тому

    Nick would have a feild day with 4014

  • @tsd_ju7084
    @tsd_ju7084 9 днів тому

    Hard to believe this was the age of Techno and Disco.

  • @marekpole8838
    @marekpole8838 9 днів тому

    Bardzo nostalgiczne nagranie bezpośrednio przed "ostrym cięciem" i "siekierą celińskiego". W 33:22 widać celową polityką wygaszania popytu przez decydentów. Dzięki temu połowy z tych linii kolejowych już nie ma, a budynki poniemieckie niszczeją. Gdyby były później szynobusy i inne podejście do transportu, to polska teraz by znacznie lepiej wyglądała

  • @nikothetrainguy
    @nikothetrainguy 9 днів тому

    18:19 Ah, spoken too soon... Not even 5 years after this was recorded, many branchlines already were getting closed (including the one filmed in the next shot and others mentioned), and this would only accelerate and continue to the early 2000's... Our saying for that is "Siekiera Celińskiego" - Celiński's Axe, which is a direct reference to Beeching's Axe. To this day many of those lines are left either disused or taken apart, and even though progress is being made on restoring them, it's slow, in some instances, glacial, even.

  • @sarathdassanaike2807
    @sarathdassanaike2807 9 днів тому

    🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰

  • @sarathdassanaike2807
    @sarathdassanaike2807 9 днів тому

    British occupied Sri Lanka known as Serendib , sylan and Ceylon in 1815 and Steam and coal railways were introduced in Sri in 1864 Coal Steam engines were in operation until 1970's and Now Sri Lanka Railways have left with 10 Coal Steam engines for Tourism Sarath Dassanaike from Sri Lanka

  • @dRevnik
    @dRevnik 10 днів тому

    Nice upscale. Topaz?

  • @user-ve3gh5xg9q
    @user-ve3gh5xg9q 10 днів тому

    🇵🇱 last Strongh🇺🇦old of 🤡🤡🤡

  • @holgernerhoff5459
    @holgernerhoff5459 10 днів тому

    Many thanks for showing us these wonderful footages. For a periode of over ten years I had the luck of going on the footplate of steam locos in Wolsztyn. This was organized by the Wolsztyn Experience, but unfortunately the chairman of this company , Howard Jones died last year and footplating has coming to a sad end.

  • @Mason58654
    @Mason58654 10 днів тому

    @16:28

  • @Vtarngpb
    @Vtarngpb 11 днів тому

    Bloody Beeching… even had to ruin the trains in Poland! 🤬

  • @acersalman8258
    @acersalman8258 11 днів тому

    ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @struck2soon
    @struck2soon 11 днів тому

    Great documentary! (There is some sort of issue with the sound though, I am hearing reverberation throughout.)