A showcase of what Britain is capable of when we put profiteering aside and just focus on delivering the best machines to do the job. Nothing speaks speed and power like the gurgle of pistons when a Valenta wakes up from idle.
This is an incredible archive. The picture quality is amazing. I don't know how much is down to the "re-mastering" bit it captures the sound Scape of the Valenta engines. I worked at Paxman's in the test shops as the production engines started coming through. They where too noisy to test in the open shop and so had their own test cell. I was involved in testing on a couple of occasions so got to stand along side the engine whilst it was on full load. The cylinder heads were secured partly by a bridging block to the adjoining head. These waggled as the heads flexed. The distinct sound is obviously due to the single large Napier turbocharger. Other engines of a similar output opted for multiple smaller turbocharger configurations which ran at higher speeds towards the top end of our hearing range. Thank you so much for bringing the sound back.
Thanks Martin, there’s quite a few Valentas on the channel and more to come. The quality is a mix of being fortunate to have a v good camera in the 90s and then being able to tidy it up digitally with new software. I did sell this material on VHS tape back in the day, GWR vol 1 is on the channel to give an idea of what VHS looks like on RUclips Regards Martin B
Brilliant. I spent my rest days at Reading often. Not just the screaming engines but the brake smell too, it was definitely unique. Loved riding them too. Standing in the doorway up the Lickey, wonderful. AHH . . . .happy days 👍👍👍👍
@@robertbate5790 they were quite something up Lickey, went up as fast as they came down, put this video up a few months back Valenta HSTs on Lickey Incline in the 90s - 4K Remaster ruclips.net/video/Kw76DxutOAo/видео.html
The audio/visual quality of this film is A - MAZ - ING!. So many good memories of hours spent at Reading from 1977 - 91. From the introduction of the HSTs to the arrival of the bright yellow ARC Class 59s
Reading was such a great station, always so much to see and a great mix of traction. As rebuilds go, they made a decent job of the new station but there is no atmosphere and the overhead knitting spoils a lot of photo opportunities. Nice early morning shots of the 125s. I think they are the reason my hearing isn’t so good now 😂
Have to agree with you. I used to live in Berkshire and occasionally travelled through Reading before the rebuild. The new look station is functional but not brilliant.
It wasn't nearly so interesting after the Turbos had taken over, though HSTs to Bournemouth were something of a novelty (even more so to Weymouth on summer Saturdays)
Yes 1994, The quality is a mix of being fortunate to have a v good camera back in the 90s and then being able to transfer it digitally and then enhance with new AI software.
What a fabulous video, I loved the old Reading station, so many wonderful memories
A showcase of what Britain is capable of when we put profiteering aside and just focus on delivering the best machines to do the job. Nothing speaks speed and power like the gurgle of pistons when a Valenta wakes up from idle.
This is an incredible archive. The picture quality is amazing. I don't know how much is down to the "re-mastering" bit it captures the sound Scape of the Valenta engines.
I worked at Paxman's in the test shops as the production engines started coming through. They where too noisy to test in the open shop and so had their own test cell. I was involved in testing on a couple of occasions so got to stand along side the engine whilst it was on full load. The cylinder heads were secured partly by a bridging block to the adjoining head. These waggled as the heads flexed.
The distinct sound is obviously due to the single large Napier turbocharger. Other engines of a similar output opted for multiple smaller turbocharger configurations which ran at higher speeds towards the top end of our hearing range.
Thank you so much for bringing the sound back.
Thanks Martin, there’s quite a few Valentas on the channel and more to come.
The quality is a mix of being fortunate to have a v good camera in the 90s and then being able to tidy it up digitally with new software.
I did sell this material on VHS tape back in the day, GWR vol 1 is on the channel to give an idea of what VHS looks like on RUclips
Regards
Martin B
What an incredible opening shot
Was a very very cold morning 🥶
Brilliant. I spent my rest days at Reading often. Not just the screaming engines but the brake smell too, it was definitely unique. Loved riding them too. Standing in the doorway up the Lickey, wonderful. AHH . . . .happy days 👍👍👍👍
@@robertbate5790 they were quite something up Lickey, went up as fast as they came down, put this video up a few months back
Valenta HSTs on Lickey Incline in the 90s - 4K Remaster
ruclips.net/video/Kw76DxutOAo/видео.html
@thehogfat great. Thank you.
This is an awesome video
The audio/visual quality of this film is A - MAZ - ING!. So many good memories of hours spent at Reading from 1977 - 91. From the introduction of the HSTs to the arrival of the bright yellow ARC Class 59s
Thanks, hope to do a lot more of these in the coming weeks
Used to spot here in the 1980s good memories. Your video bought it all back to me . Good quality video enjoyed a lot 😀
It’s Just fabulous and fantastic.. Thank you for posting up this iconic video ❤
Brilliant film quality. Probably the best cinema camera of the day. Clear lines on everything like what the BBC would use.
Thanks, Camera was great but the tape was a littel fragile
Fabulous trains at a fabulous station.
A typical InterCity 125 High Speed Train in my novelisations had two power cars and eight coaches.
Reading was such a great station, always so much to see and a great mix of traction.
As rebuilds go, they made a decent job of the new station but there is no atmosphere and the overhead knitting spoils a lot of photo opportunities. Nice early morning shots of the 125s. I think they are the reason my hearing isn’t so good now 😂
Have to agree with you. I used to live in Berkshire and occasionally travelled through Reading before the rebuild. The new look station is functional but not brilliant.
Not filmed there since the wires went up
It wasn't nearly so interesting after the Turbos had taken over, though HSTs to Bournemouth were something of a novelty (even more so to Weymouth on summer Saturdays)
When train fares were UNDER £100
😂
This is some really good recording camera quality.. looks as though it could be much more recent. Filmed more recently I mean. Is it 1994?
Yes 1994, The quality is a mix of being fortunate to have a v good camera back in the 90s and then being able to transfer it digitally and then enhance with new AI software.
HSTs lost something without the scream of the valentas.
Can just about remember how the station was before before the late 80s to early 90s rebuild... But i think i prefer how it is now.