19 Days in August - BBC programme about remodelling of Proof House railway junction

A programme recorded from BBC2 in the UK in late 2000 covering the work remodelling a railway junction near Birmingham called Proof House Junction. This resulted in a partial-closure of Birmingham New Street station for 19 days in August 2000, hence the programme title.

[@robertbate5790]

Shame we didn't see the completion. Very interesting programme though.

[@smudge0161]

Railtrack and Carillion what could go wrong........

[@ChangesOneTim]

Karma karma karma karma karma Carillion
They come and go
They come and go-oo--oo

[@mrowl-the-dsm1304]

Really pleased you uploaded this, I remember this blockade very well indeed, and recognise a lot of the railways personal, shown or interviewed,

[@richard_wenner]

will we ever know?

[@robintw147]

Sorry about the cut off at the end of the programme, I think my mum must have recorded something else over the very end of this. I think there are only a minute or two missing.

[@michelle47]

Most important few minutes though. Wonder if BBC would repeat it in full

[@iantaf5559]

Thanks for posting this. I always remember that Peter Plisner was a quality journalist when it came to the reporting of railways. You always knew that what you heard from him was highly accurate whilst you could always pick holes with other journalists railway reporting.

[@grahamallen1970]

27mins cracking insight but....no bloody ending😮

[@fatwalletboy2]

Great watch.

[@michelle47]

What a beautiful film just a shame I couldn’t watch the end

[@linesided]

Tools and methods look way older than 25 years, especially some of the track laying processes.

[@nedseagoon5101]

Yes. The job got jobbed and a lot cheaper. We were just allowed to get on instead of wasting half a shift being told how to suck eggs. At great expense in time and money!

[@ChangesOneTim]

Good old railway inflation! R*******k's 2000 project cost was £36m. Compare this to BR's 1985 project to electrify and resignal all the way from Colchester to Harwich and Norwich for £63m.
One of Carillion's signs for Proof House was still standing until recently. Not sure if it was left as a memorial to the project or to Carillion.

[@harryscorah2091]

Did that bloke say his name was David Gorman?!

[@IndaloMan]

Poor David! 30 minutes longer journey than before the works started 🙄

[@Jeff-fc7gw]

What happened

[@tangerinedream7211]

And then we get HS2, well a bit of it anyway.

[@marktucker208]

@8:30 😂😂😂 Yep, thats British Railway
@16:00 No idea how people do commutes like this every day, would drive me mad.

[@michelle47]

Beats driving