TV watch: Sorry, Ian …

[callmemadam]

Yesterday’s Trains that Changed the World was about underground trains and much better than the first programme. A lot of my irritation with the first effort was that I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know and kept thinking of interesting points they could have made but didn’t. Yesterday, I was charmed to learn that the patron saint of tunnellers (a very superstitious lot, apparently), is St Barbara. Unlike the Victorian navvies, the men building Crossrail use state of the art equipment, yet they have statues of St Barbara about. I’m all for saints and find this quite delightful.

Comments

[gwendraith]

I wasn't going to watch this but my love of trains got the better of me. There's been three generations of railway employees in my family; my great grandfather joined in the 1880s and on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses he was a railway guard. My grandfather transferred from London to the Derby branch of BR in the revenue Accounts department which coincidentally I got my first job aged 15.

I enjoyed the 2nd programme very much (fancy St Barbara being so important!). Underground railways really are an engineering miracle. The tube remains the best imo. New York is barely underground and a bit gloomy. Moscow is the prettiest but the trains had wooden seats, I expect they have improved since I was there. Paris and other European Metros are functional and clean, Seoul's is a lot of fun with their jingles when trains arrive and depart, they have lovely trains and are great for the disabled with their strange network of lifts, which is just as well because there can be miles to walk between stations.

[callmemadam]

One of my London ancestors worked on the railways, ISTR at King's Cross.

I loved seeing the actual work that goes into making the tunnels. I've been on the Paris Metro but none of the others. Lucky you!