Why trains don’t usually crash into each other
At National Rail’s Manchester classroom, I learn why it’s very rare for trains to collide… and try out signalling for real. | ▶️ The next episode is on Nebula right now: https://nebula.tv/videos/tomscott-can-a-70yearold-telescope-still-be-useful | 🗺️ England series map: https://www.tomscott.com/england/
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Written and presented by
Tom Scott
Producers
for Penny4 https://penny4.co.uk/
Cambria Bailey-Jones
Guy Larsen
Studio Associate Producer
Heloise Lowenthal
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Jamie MacLeod
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Frank Hammond
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Subtitles by So Speedy https://www.sospeedy.co.uk/
With thanks to the Historic County Borders Project https://www.county-borders.co.uk/
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors https://osm.org/copyright
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Executive Producer
Tom Scott
© Pad 26 Limited MMXXVI
Comments
Latest news
@TomScottGo
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
No, I can't believe I got to do this either. And next week's episode is, I think, the most spectacular so far! You can watch it on Nebula right now: https://nebula.tv/videos/tomscott-can-a-70yearold-telescope-still-be-useful
@flydubai747
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Man last time i watched you was when you made the video about uploading less often, time flies it feels like it was yesterday, great to be watching you again tom ❤️
@dadaniel2k11
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
So from what I've got this entire system could be replaced by a semi competent script. Not even AI.
That's quite sad tbh.
@김현진-d9h7f
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
This was exactly what I needed, thanks!
@robthetraveler1099
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
What a legend Tom is. I could plausibly see him in 40-50 years being a "living national treasure" a la David Attenborough.
@rhock1979
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Unless I losing my marble, I sure I saw this much earlier in my life, like in 1980s or 1990s. If I am right the program was signal box 401
@ashen-one--x
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
i thought you stopped doing youtube i remember you crying and everything ;-;
@Theaceester
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
they actually does in Egypt
@DS_Gaming800
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
As someone who likes to play a old fashioned train signaling game(dovedale railway) this is really interrestinh
@ValentineIkechukwu-h7d
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Really appreciate the insights in this video.
@joshuazelinsky5213
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
I have some interest in trains but not as much as some really train obsessed people, and I learned a fair bit from this, so you may be underestimating the level of educational element to train interested people.
@silentflier5144
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
A heritage line I volunteered on was fully mechanical, rods operating the points and wires for the signals. One of the signals was about 960 yards away, around two curves which added a lot of friction. To get the signal to clear properly you had to really heave the lever hard. What they didn't tell you there was what happens if you are doing that and the wire to the signal suddenly snaps… you usually end up sitting on the floor on the other side of the box with a rather surprised look on your face! 🤣
@toaster98
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
I don't really know why i watched the video.
I know how it works since that's literally my job 😂
Although my system is a wee bit more modern since all of the things happen mostly automatic nowerdays.
@IBRAHIMABDULSALAM-z6k
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Great video! Really enjoyed it.
@vlad_cool04
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
It’s because their trajectories (in space-time) doesn’t intersect
@hoots187
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
It's just a huge state machine
@eldenfindley186
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
ATC/PTC
@johndododoe1411
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Funny seeing this shortly after a head on collision between two passenger trains (April 23, 2026).
@matheusfiorelli8829
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
i like that Roller Coasters work on a similar system :V
@nikostube5809
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
In Greece they do
@calumclark1719
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
from a engineering stand point it just shows if you have the right people design something it will work for decades and be easy to use
@syntheticvocalist-p472
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
I like trains.
@ironsfamily6
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
6:46 the block signalling reminds me of rollercoasters. Tom, do you think you could ever do a video on how those rides are operated safely?
@micha0001
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Is it only me or is it really, that Tom starts every single video with "I´m…"
@InfiniteLuke
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
There's a training center in Germany where the actual railway control systems control a miniature railway. You can see the physical interlock for the older systems there and it has all the systems which are in use. From the mechanical, to the electromechanical to the electronic to the digital systems. The different stations can also communicate with each other to make the miniature train move between the sections. It's called the Eisenbahnbetriebsfeld in Darmstadt, Germany and has a day open to public once a year.
@duncan-rmi
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
that was terrifying.
@RadikaRules
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
The Victorians did indeed get it right. And as the saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it
@leftmono1016
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
This has reminded me of Billy Connolly’s signalman joke. Well worth checking out 😂
@Playa_in
June 9, 2026 at 9:29 pm
And I find myself in the group of people who came for the opening joke apparently
Comments are closed.