British Branch Line Recalling Bygone Era

[DashingDan]

If you have 25 minutes to spare you might take a look at this 1963 BBC program (in 3 parts) on the Somerset & Dorset branch line railroad. It's an interesting document, with a few poetic flourishes, on a railroad still running steam into the sixties.

The show is hosted by Sir John Betjeman, CBE "...an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack". He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture. Starting his career as a journalist, he ended it as one of the most popular British Poets Laureate to date and a much-loved figure on British television."

It reminds me a bit of an old PBS TV show called "Jean Shepard's America," (which you can find on Youtube too).

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDrQkg8lOGc

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPsIIZlH ... re=related

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBE2fR0z ... re=related