I Presented Train Programmes…
…before they were “mainstream” cool!
You might not believe it to look at me, but I really enjoy watching Railway programmes. My Husband Adam and I, love watching Michael Portillo’s Great British and Great Continental Railway Journeys. He travels to some amazing places, on some truly magnificent trains, whilst telling the most compelling stories from his Bradshaw’s Handbook, dressed in vibrant clashing colours! These programmes are just delightful to watch and I find Michael’s knowledge and presenting style very calming, almost like a meditation.
Then there’s Chris Tarrant’s Extreme Railways, which had us glued to the telly with dropped jaws because he embarks on a series of outrageous railway journeys across the world's toughest terrains. One episode was called “The Lunatic Express”, crossing the mountains of Kenya to uncover a story of man eating Lions, and the series exploring Russia’s Arctic Circle was compulsive viewing!
Francis Bourgeois in the Gucci campaign
On the other end of the spectrum is the cool and quirky Tik Tok Trainspotter, Francis Bourgeois, who’s enthusiasm for trains is captivating - follow him on Instagram and you’ll quickly understand what I’m talking about, he’s a joy to watch. I mean, that kind of excitement for ANYTHING by a young person should be embraced, he’s a great example of why we should encourage our young people to follow their dreams and harness their interests, because one day they might just make their living from them! Francis was actually picked up by Gucci and is now, almost certainly, the “trendiest” Trainspotter you’ll ever see at a train station!
Life before YouTube
But let me take you back to 2004. I was just starting out on my journey transitioning from TV Floor Manager to Voiceover/Presenter. I was working for BBCi at the time doing some Voiceovers for their Education output, which then developed into a Presenting role. The Cameraman on that project was a lovely chap called John Collins. He had a mate called Mark Found, a Sound Recordist and Train Enthusiast, who was in the early stages of launching a new Train programme called The Railway Monthly. He was looking for a female Presenter to join the team and John kindly recommended me. I had never considered myself a Train “enthusiast” but I honestly thought “what the heck, this sounds fun, ok then!”
I’ve misplaced Issue 1 but I do have it, somewhere!
The problem was, Trains weren’t considered cool by the mainstream media back then so although Mark pitched his programme ideas to various channels, they didn’t pick them up. There were no “streaming” services back then either so options were limited. Undeterred, he decided to produce the programmes himself and sell them on DVD!
“Where’s the Speedo?”
How lucky did I turn out to be! They were a terrific team of people and in the 4 Episodes (packed with stories) that Mark produced, I travelled to Cornwall and Norfolk via Glasgow and had the best time. Every DVD had around 1.5 hours of stories, filmed all over the UK. I don’t think I can do all the programmes justice, so I just recommend you watch them. I’ve linked to the full programmes on Mark’s YouTube Channel with a short description of what I presented for each episode. Can I just caveat that, for some strange reason, I look like an 18 year old in the Glasgow Underground piece. My Home Town must have brought out the teenager in me!
I’ve clipped the segments of me riding on AND DRIVING a B12 Stream Train on the North Nofolk Railway, from Episodes 3 & 4. First up is a rather excited me driving the train. I asked some daft questions like “where’s the speedo” but my “is there a handbrake” wasn’t quiet so daft! There is a handbrake. The clip starts with an intro by Mark Found and his jealousy is palpable but also very cute. Enjoy…
Sausages!!
Here is the full segment from Episode 3, with an intro from Mark. I cooked breakfast on the shovel and it was utterly delicous! I also got very very dirty…
Clean as a Guard’sWhistle (not)
And that was my day on the North Norfolk Railway! It’s a shame that the programmes couldn’t continue as they were, why didn’t a TV channel have the foresight to commission The Railway Monthly? Mark Found was ahead of his time, the mainstream just wasn’t ready, and I feel privileged and grateful to have been taken along for the (train) ride and I have a lot of bloody good memories to show for it! I know I’m very lucky to have them.
Please watch and enjoy the rest of the programmes below. Mark explains in text on the first Episode why he made the programmes. He also presented some segments as well as John Collins. An awesome Team of talented Trainspotters!
Thanks for reading and enjoy the episodes…
Jen x
The Railway Montly Episode 1
I headed Cornwall to present a story about Richard Trevithick.
The Railway Montly Episode 2
I headed to my home town for a ride on the Glasgow Underground!
The Railway Montly Episode 3
The Railway Montly Episode 4
I actually got to drive the Steam Train back to the station and it was an amazing experience! (from 12.50)