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Volume 248

Vol.248: Steaming Around the North-West & Midlands in the 1960s – London Midland Steam Miscellany No.12 (91-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED October 2024**

This, the 12th episode of our popular series of LONDON MIDLAND STEAM MISCELLANIES, is a feast of steam traction filmed mostly in the North-West and Midlands. And once again we are using a considerable amount of previously unseen cine-film from our extensive archives*!

Our journey starts with a visit to the major rail interchange of Carlisle. Here we see steam action in the area before all the line closures and major rationalisation of tracks of later years. One of the major homes of steam was the Kingmoor Shed and we see it and it’s approaches in all their glory. Wonderful! Then to the hive of activity of Citadel station for scenes including Stanier “Princess Coronation’ Pacifics.

Now a real treat for enthusiasts – The Langholm branch freight with (now-preserved) Ivatt 4MT No.43106 in charge; it is seen paralleling the A7 road and also at Canonbie. Further north we have film at Stirling (including a ‘Clan’ Pacific) and Glasgow.

Another area seen in detail is the climb to Shap summit. Most was filmed around the Tebay and Scout Green areas although the climb from the north is not forgotten. All manner of traction combinations are seen – single-handedly, with bankers, and even one with a pilot on the front. Diesels also make occasional appearances with English Electric Type 4s and Brush Type 4s, one of the latter in charge of the down ‘Mid-Day Scot’.

On the Settle & Carlisle line we see locations such as Horton-in­Ribblesdale, the famous Ribblehead viaduct, and Kirkby Stephen West. Visits are also made to Windermere, Oxenholme, Carnforth, Carnforth Shed, Hest Bank (including action on the water troughs), Lancaster, Warrington, and the approach to Standedge tunnel. .

Other places seen in the north of England are Ditton Junction, Mouldsworth, Preston, Lostock Hall Shed, Newton Heath Shed, Sheffield, and Leeds.

We also visit North Wales and the Borders. Places as Chester, Shrewsbury, Abergele and Pensarn. A particular delight is coverage around Denbigh, Llanrhaiadr, and Rhydymwyn.

London Midland power is also not forgotten towards the south of England, such as at Spetchley (site of Worcester’s first station), Norton Junction, and even Didcot in the heart of GWR territory.

We cover the last days of steam throughout the 1960s to the end in 1968. Classes seen include (in no particular order): ex-LMS 2-6-4Ts, Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0s, 4Fs, Black 5s, Jubilees, 8Fs, Jinty 0-6-0Ts, 47000 Dock Tanks, Patriot and Royal Scot 4-6-0s, Princess Coronation (Duchess) Pacifics, Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0s and BR Standard Britannia & Clan Pacifics, Class 4 & 5 4-6-0s, 2-6-4Ts, 9F 2-10-0s (including ex-Crosti boilered) and WD 2-8-0s. The new order also creeps in from time to time such as English Electric ‘Type 4′ and Brush ‘Type 4 ‘; even the early AC Electric “AL” series locomotives!

Our nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam has been assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels. It is mostly in colour with a soundtrack and a commentary.

*A Footnote for the Miscellany Series. Over the years, we have amassed a vast collection of archive cine-film from a variety of owners. When we produced our much earlier volumes, they were based on telling a “story” or following a “journey”. As a result only relevant short clips from various the original archive cine-films were used along with specific soundtracks and commentaries. When more recently reviewing our extensive archives, we realised that much of the original cine films had never been used for one reason or another such as it didn’t fit the story or we didn’t know the location. In some cases there were reels of previously unused and unseen cine-film. And this historic footage would never be seen and lost forever unless we did something about it. Hence the Miscellany series where this time the footage has been assembled in the order it runs off  the actual cine-films along with completely new sound tracking and a new commentary for each volume.  In some cases all of the footage is completely new. There are some real gems in this series!!

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Volume 245

Vol.245: London Midland Steam Miscellany No.11 – The Brian Parnell Collection Part 4 (70-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED AUGUST 2023**

ALL NEW FILM!

The fourth and penultimate installment in our series of all new, and never previously seen, high quality cine films taken by the late Brian Parnell. This time it mostly features the area covered by the former London Midland Region but also footage from Scotland, Wales and Southern England including some rare snippets of the famous Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway.

We begin at Morecambe on the Lancashire coast in the summer of 1965, before travelling up the West Coast Main Line (WCML) via Shap Summit and Tebay to arrive at Carlisle. Amongst the locomotives seen In and around the Kingmoor shed area are the unique (and now preserved) Stephenson Link ‘Black 5′, 44767 plus Jubilee 45660 “Rooke” which achieved fame during the 1937 load tests developing 1250hp climbing to Ais Gill summit on the Settle and Carlisle line.
Back down the WCML, we visit Oxenholme to see the “Lakes Express”. Then to Lancaster and Hest Bank where we see locomotives picking up water at speed from the water troughs there.

One of the earliest public railways was the Leicester West Bridge branch and Brian visited during May 1963. Here the motive power was the Johnson 2Fs 0-6-0s and the last use in the country of these Victorian era locomotives. He also visited the Leighton Buzzard to Dunstable line in the summer of 1962 where we spot an ex-LNWR ‘Super D’ 0-8-0 pottering about.

Leaving the LMR area, we visit Gloucester (to see ex-GWR Manor 4-6-0s), Cheltenham, Oxford, Southall, and the Southern at Swanage.
Brian also visited the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway where he took a significant amount of footage including at Branksorne, Templecornbe, Cole, Wincanton, Glastonbury &

Scottish locations are not forgotten with scenes at Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Princes Street, Stirling, and Perth. And Wales as well with scenes at Barmouth and Llandudno Junction.

Naturally the dying days of steam in North-West of England are well covered with visits to Carnforth (and its shed), Preston, Rose Grove (and its shed), Chester, Warrington Bank Quay (High Level & Low Level), Buxton, Bolton, and Blackburn!

Most of the film was taken between 1962 and 1968. Motive power includes ex-LMS Black 5s (including experimental versions), Jubilees, Class 4 2-6-4Ts, Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 “Flying Pigs”, Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0s & 2-6-2Ts, 8Fs, Fowler 4Fs, ex-LNWR Super D 0-8-0, Johnson 2F 0-6-0s, S&D 2-8-0s, and BR Standard Class Britannia Pacifics, Class 5 4-6-0s, Class 4 4-6-0s & 9F 2-10-0s.

This nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam is entirely in colour and as usual includes a informative commentary and an authentic sound track.

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Volume 241

Vol.241: London Midland Steam Miscellany No.10 (90-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED 1at.September 2022**

Our tenth episode covering London Midland steam within our popular “Miscellany” series which mostly features previously unseen and unused cine film from our archives. Once again, it has been compiled in the running order of the original cine film..

We start at Carlisle Citadel station: this is very well covered with material from 1963 until 1967. Also visited are Carnforth, Hest Bank, Appleby West, Tebay, Dillicar water troughs, plus the climb to Shap summit. Then Crewe, extensive coverage in the Warrington area, Wigan North Western, Blackburn, Hellifield, Preston, Farrington Junction, the East Lancashire line, and the Copy Pit line. The famous Sankey viaduct is seen and then we continue on via Gathurst, Croston, Borwick, Liverpool Lime Street, Fazakerley South Junction, Manchester, Clifton Junction, and Entwistle.

The south of England is not forgotten with visits to Worcester, Spetchley, Norton Junction, Didcot, Oxford, and Evesham, before the most southerly location of all at Barnstaple Junction. East of the Pennines we see LM locomotives at York with the RCTS ‘Jubilee Commemorative Rail Tour’, then Farnley Junction, Sheffield, and Normanton.

Scotland is not left out with film at Stirling, Glasgow, and Carstairs. Returning south, Nuneaton and Beeston are seen next with the “Midlands Locomotive Requiem Rail Tour” and then it’s Northampton and Bedford.

The final locations in this video are near to and at London Marylebone, Bromford Bridge, Garstang & Catterall, plus Chester.

Numerous shed visits are made including: Carlisle Kingmoor, Carnforth, Preston, Lostock Hall, Rose Grove, Bolton, Patricroft, Newton Heath, Stockport Edgeley, Stoke, and Birkenhead. Plus also Buttigiegs scrap yard in South Wales.

From the 1960s up to 1968, motive power includes (in no particular order): ex-LMS 2-6-4Ts, Crabs, Super Ds, Ivatt Class 4 & 2 2-6-0s and 2-6-2Ts, 4Fs, Black 5s, 8Fs, Jinties, Patriots (rebuilt and unrebuilt, Royal Scots, Princesses, Coronations, BR Standard Britannias, Clans, Class 5 & 4 4-6-0s, Class 2 2-6-2T and 2-6-0s, WDs and 9F 2-10-0s (including ex-Crosti). The new order also creeps in from time to time and diesel enthusiasts will particularly enjoy a D400-hauled Freightliner service passing Patricroft shed.

This nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam is mostly in colour and includes a informative commentary and an authentic sound track.

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Volume 237

London Midland Steam Miscellany No.9 (90-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED 11th.August 2021**

THE JOHN RYAN COLLECTION.
The ninth volume in our popular “Miscellany” series to cover London Midland steam. This time it is compiled entirely from cine film taken by John Ryan from the Wirral and assembled in the running order of the original cine film. There is coverage across England, Scotland, and Wales and we include previously unused footage from the B & R archives with the emphasis on London Midland material.

There is some excellent film across the Wirral which includes 9Fs hauling ore trains from the dock at Bidston via Storeton, Heswall Hills, and Burton Point to the John Summers works at Shotton—the heaviest regular unfitted mineral workings on the whole of BR. The line from Birkenhead Woodside to Chester is covered in detail, such as Birkenhead shed, Rock Ferry, Bebbington & New Ferry, Spital, Hooton, Capenhurst, and Upton-by-Chester. We then move to Gresford bank, Wrexham, the Brymbo branch, Ruabon, Cefn.viaduct, Chirk, Chirk viaduct Gobowen, and Shrewsbury.

The North-West of England is another area well-photographed by John at locations such as Preston, Layton, Poulton-Ie-Fylde, Kirkham & Wesham, Croston, Ormskirk, Town Green & Aughton, Maghull, Aintree Sefton Arms, Wigan Wallgate, Hindley North, Clifton Junction, Bradshaw Brook viaduct, Southport, Banks, Hoole, Penwortharn (Cop Lane), the Horwich to Blackrod and Chorley push-pull, Royton, Manchester, Ashburys for Belle Vue, Guide Bridge, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Didsbury, Meir, Pleasington, Rose Grove shed, Hest Bank water troughs, and Whalley viaduct.

There is more film in Wales at Llandudno, Llandudno Junction, Conwy, Penmaenmawr, Rhyl, Gwersyllt, Gowerton South, Swansea Victoria, and Bynea Halt. Other locations visited include London Marylebone, Camden, the Newport Pagnell branch push-pull the “Newport Nobby” , Rugby, Alston, Lanarkshire, Gleneagles, Carlisle, Alston, Stanley Bridge Halt, Bristol, Berkeley Road, Gloucester, Fenn’s Bank, Birmingham, the Kingsbury branch & Baddesley colliery.

The time period for this film is through the 1960s up to 1968. Motive power includes ex-GWR 56xx, ex-LMS Stanier Class 3 2-6-2Ts, 1Fs, Class 4 2-6-4Ts, Crabs, 4Fs, Jinties, 8Fs, Ivatt Class 4 & 2 2-6-0s, Black 5s (including experimental types), Jubilees, Coronation Pacifics, Super Ds, BR Standard Britannias, Class 5 (including Caprotti examples) and 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-0s, Class 3 77000 2-6-0s and 82000 2-6-2Ts, Class 2 2-6-0s & 2-6-2Ts and 9F 2-10-0s.

An authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam.

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Volume 220

London Midland Steam Miscellany No.6 (83-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED October 2018**

The sixth volume in our popular “Miscellany” series to cover London Midland steam compiled from mostly unseen footage and in the order the film runs off the original cine reels. Not only do we cover London Midland engines operating in their home region but also elsewhere.

In fact, we start with a few shots of them working on the Southern Region in 1965, before visiting the Gloucester and Bristol areas for a variety of steam action, including some rare footage of ex-MR dock tank No.41537 going about it’s business, and then on to North Wales for scenes at Bangor, Menai Bridge and Bodfari.

Next we visit Rugby in January 1962 and amongst all the action, the unique Class 8 Pacific No.71000 “Duke of Gloucester” passes by. Two visits are then made to Staveley Ironworks to see the Victorian ex-MR 1F “half-cabs” at work followed by visits to Boroughbridge, Shap, Carlisle (including Canal Shed), Oxford, Hereford and Bletchley.

The “East Devon” rail tour is seen in 1965 on the Lyme Regis branch and near Exmouth, followed by the “Farewell to the Stratford-on-Avon and Midland Junction Railway” tour of April 1965, and a few months later by the “Northamptonshire Branches” brake van tour with 2-6-0 No.78028. Other tours covered in 1965 are the Warwickshire Railway Society’s “Midlander” plus the SLS’s “Midland Locomotive Requiem”.

Travelling south once again, we visit the S&DJR at Shepton Mallet, Evercreech Junction and Templecombe. Then to Stonehouse (Bristol Road), the Nailsworth branch and Coaley Junction plus the west bank of the Severn Estuary including Aylburton, Bullo Pill, Lydney and Undy.

There is extensive coverage at Banbury with steam on passenger and freight workings including the short time when Britannias were allocated there. Super “D”s are seen in the West Midlands and other places such as Crewe, Wakefield, Wrexham, Chester and Birkenhead Woodside.

Finally we visit the North-West for steam action at locations such as Farrington Junction, Preston, Carnforth, Rose Grove, Bolton and Manchester.

The archive film is almost entirely in colour and was taken in the six years leading up the end of steam in 1968. Motive power includes ex-LMS Black 5s, 8Fs, 4Fs, 2-6-4Ts, ex-MR dock tanks, Jinties, Class 2 & 4 Ivatts, Duchesses, Jubilees, Royal Scots, Patriots, Super “D”s and BR standard Britannias, 72xxx, 73xxx, 75xxx, 84xxx and 9F 2-10-0s. An authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam.

Cover photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Book Law Publications:- Britannia 70014 “Iron Duke” at Carlisle Upperby, July 1967.

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Volume 213

Welsh Steam Miscellany (77-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED Late November 2017**

Another instalment of our popular “Miscellany” series this time focusing on steam in Wales. It features mostly previously unseen footage largely compiled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels.

We begin at Llangollen and travel on to other locations along this route including Berwyn (with Dukedog 4-4-0s and even a Bulldog 4-4-0), Glyndyfrdwy, Llandderfel, Bala Junction, Bala and the loop at Garnneddwen. The line from Pontypool Road to Neath cut across the heads of the valleys of South Wales and was inevitably a steeply graded route with many tunnels and viaducts. The most famous of all these viaducts was the Crumlin Viaduct, the highest in the country. There is plenty of film footage here for us to admire this massive structure. Hengoed Viaduct is also seen along with both the High Level and Low Level stations. We then visit Nelson & Llancaiach, the branch to Cwmbargoed and Dowlais Cae Harris and Quakers Yard High Level before visiting Aberdare High Level with its staggered platforms.

Into North Wales, we visit Bangor and then on Anglesey, Llanfair PG, Gaerwen and Amlwch. Moving south again, we visit the Central Wales line for the decent from Sugar Loaf Summit and Llandovery. The line from Shrewsbury to Chester forms the eastern boundary of this volume and we include footage at Chirk, Cefn Viaduct, Ruabon, Croes Newydd and Gresford Bank and in the snow, the Brymbo Branch. On the Cambrian main line we visit Welshpool, Talerddig Bank, Macynlleth, Dovey Junction, Borth and Aberystwyth; this coastal route includes visits to Gogarth Halt, Towyn, Fairbourne and Barmouth.

Back to South Wales and we see steam action at Cardiff, Newport (including a visit to Cashmore’s scrapyard), Severn Tunnel Junction and Torpantau. We then journey down the Rhondda Fach from Maerdy and see freight trains labouring up the Llanvihangel Bank complete with banking assistance. All in all a veritable feast of Welsh Steam!

Motive power includes: ex-GWR 94xx, 74xx, 16xx, 57xx, 56xx, 41xx, 61xx, 42xx,72xx, 56xx, 2251, 43xx, 28xx, Dukedog, Bulldog, Castle, Hall, Grange and Manor classes, ex-LMS Ivatt 2-6-2T & 2-6-0s, Black 5s, 4F 0-6-0s, 8Fs and Coronation Pacifics classes plus BR Standard Britannias, Class 5 and Class 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-4T and Class 3 2-6-2 tank engines.

The archive film is in both colour and Black & White. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of Welsh steam.

Narrated by: Mike Clemens.

Cover photo: Keith Pirt/Courtesy of Book Law Publications, 7828 “Odney Manor” at Welshpool Station, July 1963.

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Volume 211

A Miscellany of Electric and Diesel Power No.3 (83-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED September 2017**

In this volume we continue our “Classic Traction” theme covering many of the different classes of locomotives that were in operation across all regions of the network during the 1970s and 1980s. Most of the clips selected have not been previously seen. As before with we have simply compiled the film clips in no particular order and thus a few surprises will be in store as you enjoy the video.

Starting with the Southern, we see Class 33s in action and then over on the Western we see Class 52s and Class 50s in and around the Paddington area. At Old Oak Common Depot a number of Hymeks and other types are stabled around the last of the four round-house turntables. Class 47s are seen all over the network hauling all manner of trains. Several Hymeks are seen working, including D7017 emblazoned with the D & EG signs after purchase by the Group.

On the East Coast Main Line, the famous Deltics are in action (including a glimpse of the first ever Deltic visit to Inverness) and we visit King’s Cross, Brookmans Park, Welwyn Viaduct, Hitchin, Cadwell, York plus several other locations. In Scotland we see class 26s on the Kyle line.

Class 20s were well known for working pairs and we see these on MGR coal trains at locations such as Warrington for the Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. At Tinsley Yard we see one of three class 13s stabled. These were a development from the class 08 and especially built for the yard. Most unusual are the scenes from the old Burry Port and Gwendraeth Railway with triple-headed 03s, working on the restricted height line, which in its early days was actually a canal!

More freight action includes parcels traffic, steel coil, fuel & chemical tank trains and Presflow wagon workings. A few scenes of London Underground units are followed by BR DMUs and EMUs on the Southern, Watford and Southport lines. A rarely seen Motor Parcels van is captured hauling two baggage vans out of Paddington. A German built railbus is also spotted meandering around Kemble. Plus a few shots taken around the South Wales Collieries.

On the West Coast Main Line we see class 85 & 86 electrics followed by a pair of EM1 Bo-Bos on the Woodhead route. Other locations include Churchdown, Banbury, Didcot, Bishops Stortford, (where we see a special guards-van railtour) as well as Barnetby and Chester. Harlow Mill features several stone trains arriving and departing with a variety of 37s, 47s, 56s, 58s, a 59 and 60s providing the power. We also visit High Wycombe, Bletchley, Cheltenham and Shrewsbury areas. Plus a couple of scenes from Wennington and the Settle & Carlisle.

With such a diverse range of locomotives there is an equally diverse range of liveries, from original green two-tone, BR Corporate Blue, Large-Logo, Railfreight sector variants, Inter-City and more including special ‘one-offs’ such as the ‘Yellow Peril’ No.47803. We also see the Crewe Test Train in action plus a couple of passing Motorail services.

Cover photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Book Law Publications, Type 4 D1576 in the New Forest with the up “Bournemouth Belle”, July 1967.

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Released in Diesel & Electric Miscellany Series, Diesels & Electrics (heritage), Miscellany Series (post Vol.190), Volumes 207-213 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 210

London Midland Steam Miscellany No.4 (81-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED Mid July 2017**

The fourth in our miscellany series covering London Midland steam. Once again we feature much previously unseen film, largely assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels with scenes across much of the Region.

There is considerable coverage around the North-West including Crewe South Shed, Crewe Station, Crewe Works (with “Western” diesel-hydraulics under construction), Stoke-on-Trent Shed, Moore water troughs, Warrington Bank Quay and Warrington Arpley. A brake van tour of obscure lines around Warrington and Widnes behind Standard 2-6-0 No.76077 includes a refuge siding at Daresbury (part of the original Birkenhead route abandoned with the opening of the Manchester Shop Canal in the 1890s) plus that famous railway curiosity at Widnes, a rail flat crossing by No.4 Signal Box! There is plenty of steam action at Winwick Junction, Wigan North-Western and Wigan Wallgate before we move on to Leyland, Farington Junction, Pleasington and Preston. Further north, we visit Carlisle for scenes at Kingmoor Shed as well as at Citadel Station.

South once more and Chester, Gresford Bank, Llangollen Junction (Ruabon) and Hooton are all visited in March 1967 coinciding with the end of the direct Paddington to Birkenhead service. Further south, in 1964, visits are made to the Bletchley flyover, Aynho water troughs, Gloucester, Banbury, the Lickey Incline (including an amazingly long freight train ascending the bank) with summer Saturday holidaymaker trains being seen at Birmingham.

Finally, the last fifteen minutes or so are made up of interesting offcuts from Colin White such as Shap, Tebay Shed, Dillicar water troughs, Oxenholme, Carnforth, Hest Bank, Heaton Mersey and Warrington.

A cross-section of LM motive power is seen such as Black 5s (including the experimental examples plus one with a self-weighing tender), Jinties, 2-6-4Ts, 4Fs, ‘Princess’ and ‘Coronation’ pacifics, Jubilee, Rebuilt Patriots, 8Fs and a variety of Standard classes including Britannias, Clans, 73xxx, 75xxx, 76xxx and 9Fs (including ex-Crosti boilered).

The archive film is in colour and black & white and was filmed between 1963 and 1968. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam.

Cover photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Book Law Publications, 45339 returns Excursion C724 from Blackpool to Manchester, near Euxton Jct, Preston, Easter 1961.

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Volume 205

London Midland Steam Miscellany No.3 (88-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED September 2016**

THE JIM CLEMENS COLLECTION No.32. The third in our miscellany series covering London Midland steam. Using mostly unseen film taken from the Jim Clemens collection it is largely assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels and has coverage across much of the Region.

We visit Bescot in December 1964 to witness the end of the LNWR ‘Super Ds’, Carlisle Kingmoor shed in both 1964 and 1967, the Crewe to Carlisle line behind ‘Coronations’ and ‘Britannias’, the last day of the Stanbridgeford to Leighton Buzzard line in June 1962, the Wolverton to Newport Pagnell branch in August 1964 and group action at Lichfield Trent Valley in 1963.

Next we travel to Bromsgrove for scenes on the Lickey Incline between 1961 and 1964, including the now-preserved Jubilee “Kolhapur” making an unaided ascent on a freight train. We continue along the ‘loop line’ from Barnt Green, through Redditch, Alcester, and Evesham to Ashchurch just before its closure as a through route in 1962. Onwards to the Worcester area and then along the branch from Ashchurch to Tewkesbury, Ripple, and Upton-on-Severn in 1959 and 1960 with 4Fs and 3Fs. This is followed by scenes at Halesowen, Dowery Dell Viaduct, Saltley shed in November 1961, the Gloucester area and Bristol Temple Meads between 1960 and 1965.

A visit to Birkenhead shed in February 1967 sees a profusion of 9Fs plus the end of the ‘Crabs’. There is footage of Shrewsbury to Ruabon line, Wrexham, Chester in the mid-1960s and Northwich, Patricroft and Lostock Hall sheds at the beginning of 1968. The last train is seen over the SMJR from Stratford to Woodford Halse in April 1965 with a 4F and we visit Banbury in the summer of 1966 with Black 5s. Finally there are visits to the branches from Bedford to both Northampton and Hitchin in 1959 hauled by Ivatt 2-6-2Ts.

There is something for all LM enthusiasts with a variety of classes ranging from ‘Coronations’, ‘Royal Scots’, ‘Jubilees’, and Black 5s, all the way down to even 2Fs – a London Midland delight!!

The archive film is mostly in colour and filmed in the late 1950s and the 1960s. An authentic sound track has been added along with commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam.

Cover photo:- Jim Clemens, 3F 0-6-0T No.43645 at Ashchurch in 1961.

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Released in London Midland Steam Miscellany Series, Miscellany Series (post Vol.190), Volumes 200-206 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 199

Great Western Steam Miscellany No.1 (80-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED November 2015**

Over the years, we have amassed a vast collection of archive cine-film from a variety of owners. Quite a lot has been used in our volumes but there is still considerable footage that remains unused because it either did not fit in with our volumes or we were not aware of the locations. Much of this film is now over half a century old and it is a shame to think that so much of it could end up being either thrown away and lost forever, unseen. To help solve this we are making this series of “Miscellanies” using most of this   previously unseen footage and assembled in the order it runs off the cine reel without any story.  Some could run into several volumes!

This is the first volume in our new “Miscellanies” series and it features Great Western Steam. It has something a bit different and the first 20 minutes or so is devoted to the 54xx, 64xx & 74xx light pannier tanks. The remainder of the footage features all the classes you love to see including 4-6-0 Kings, Castles, Counties, Halls, Granges, & Manors 4-6-0s, the freight 28xx 2-8-0 & 72xx 2-8-2T, the 57xx, 94xx 0-6-0 panniers, the Prairie 2-6-2T 45xx & 41xx and the diminutive 14xx 0-4-2Ts!. Of course, non-GWR power appears, perhaps the most noticeable being 0-4-0 dock tank No.41525.

Although we feature broad coverage across most of the former GWR empire, certain areas as seen in much greater detail. These include The Golden Valley push-pull to Stroud and Gloucester, Ponytpool Road to Neath, Swansea Victoria to Craven Arms and the delightful Exe Valley and Culm Valley branches with their 0-4-2 tanks.

Other include Yeovil Town to Yeovil Junction, Dymock, Cinderford, Coleford, the Dursley branch, the Aberayron branch, Barmouth, Hatton Bank, Oxford, Paddington, Langley, Slough, Worcester, Hereford, Carmarthen to Aberystwyth, Torquay, Birmingham Snow Hill and Chester.

The archive film is in both colour and Black & White and was mostly filmed between 1960 and 1965. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of GWR steam.

Keith Pirt/Courtesy Book Law Publications. Pannier 5410 on the Yeovil Junction to Yeovil Town auto train, 1963.

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Released in Along GWR Lines, Great Western, Great Western Steam Miscellany Series, Steam Routes Series, Steam in Wales & The Borders, Volumes 190-199 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 195

Diesel Electric Heyday Part 2 (72-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED June 2015**

This is the second volume in a series featuring diesel-electric locomotives of British Rail. Here we feature the higher end of the power range dealing with Types 3, 4 and 5 as well as HSTs.

Many locations are visited, from the West Country to both East and West Coast Main Lines. Scenes also cover the Lickey Incline, Shropshire, Settle & Carlisle, Taplow, Manchester Victoria, Chester, King’s Cross and Hitchin to name a few.

We also include some extremely rare footage of the Hawker-Siddeley “Kestrel” in action at the Brush Works in Loughborough. Other classes include 33, 37, 40, 45, 46, 47, 50, 55 and 56, plus some odd glimpses of Metro Vick Co-Bos, Baby Deltics and a Class 13 at Tinsley with 40 001 running around.

Spread over a number of years we see many types in their original green liveries as well as their later Corporate Blue. Other features include a Class 45 working with a brake tender, a couple of shots of the ill-fated DP2 plus an extraordinary scene on Shap where following a EE Type 4 failure a steam banker is used behind which is another EE Type 4 complete with its own train!

A number of special workings also feature such as the “Deltic Fenman” and the “Deltic Devonian”. We also see the 1977 introduced “Jubilee” at Chelmsford with a pristine 47 164 complete with a Union Jack emblazoned on its sides. Several Pullman trains are seen including the “Tyne-Tees Pullman”, “Yorkshire Pullman” and “Queen of Scots”. We enjoy scenes of 47s, 50s and HST along the sea wall at Dawlish as well as the comings and goings at York with numerous Deltics in action.

There are some brief shots of the HST prototype at Shildon; now the subject of “Project Miller”. We do not ignore freight and many different types of goods traffic are seen from early mixed consists, Speedlink, tanks, stone and Merry-go-Round trains, the latter in the hands of both Class 47s and 56s.

All in colour throughout except for the Kestrel film. An authentic soundtrack has been added along with an extensively researched commentary.

Cover photo:- Cover photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Book Law Publications, D9013 “The Black Watch” near Gamston Signal Box, June 1963.

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Released in Diesels & Electrics (heritage), Volumes 190-199 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 189

North of Shrewsbury Part 2 (60-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED 27th November 2014**

The second of our two volumes specifically covering the lines in an area north of Shrewsbury to Chester.

We start our journey at Gobowen, including a visit to the signal box, before moving on to Weston Rhyn where a connection was made to the NCB colliery at Ifton. The colliery is covered in some detail during the years up to closure in 1968; tank engines “Unity”, “Spider” and “Hornet” are all seen at work.

We return to the main line at Weston Rhyn for more steam activity plus a visit to the signal box and later, after closure, footage of its dismantling and removal for reuse on the preserved Llangollen Railway.

Next, onwards to Chirk viaduct and then to Chirk to witness the 50th. Anniversary celebrations of the closure of the Glyn Valley Tramway. We cross the Cefn viaduct for plenty of steam scenes around Ruabon including the Llangollen line junction.

We visit the collieries at Bersham, Hafod and Gresford. Then at Croes Newydd, Wrexham, we see the diesel hauled steel traffic from Brymbo plus a visit to the engine shed.

There is more steam activity on Gresford Bank and also at Rossett at the start of the climb. Finally we visit Chester for more steam scenes.

The archive film of steam traction on these routes includes former GWR, LMS and BR Standard classes. Plus the first working of 4472 “Flying Scotsman” in private ownership in 1963! There is some archive footage of main line steam hauled tours from the preservation era as well as a few diesel scenes, making our story complete.

All the archive film is in colour apart from a few sequences in B & W. An authentic soundtrack has been added along with an extensively researched commentary.

Cover photo:- Jim Clemens, Black 5 No.45310 on a Chester to Shrewsbury train, 1967.

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Released in Volumes 180-189 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 178

Steam Memories of the Sixties Part 1 (60-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED JULY2013**

THE CHRIS NOYLE COLLECTION No.2. Chris Noyle filmed railways in Britain and Europe from 1962 to 1972. This is the second volume from his collection and features the steam scene in England, Scotland and Wales in the 1960s.We start in Scotland at Aberdeen and Perth for B1s & A4s including 60016 “Silver King” before views at Derby in 1962 of the last remaining unrebuilt Patriot, 45543 “Home Guard” and of “Clun Castle” on the first part of the Paddington to Gloucester to Birmingham Snow Hill rail tour in 1965.

Chris then visited Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway in 1968. In those very early preservation days, steam trains only ran as far as Hampton Loade. A far cry from the scene today!

Then onto the Southern in 1967 and a variety of scenes right up to the end of steam at a number of locations including Basingstoke, Guildford and Nine Elms Shed featuring Bulleids, Standards, USA Tanks and even an A4 Pacific! The very last “Bournemouth Belle” Pullman passes by…

In 1966, Chris went on a rail tour, this time from London to North Wales hauled by Britannia 70004 from Crewe, a pair of Stanier 2-6-4Ts from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog and a Crab to Denbigh. Another rail tour is Black 5 hauled around the Walsall & Wolverhampton area before going forward via Shrewsbury to Chester with 7029 “Clun Castle” and then returning to Crewe with a former Crosti boilered 9F.

In 1967, he visited the Banbury area to see the last two ex-GW steam hauled trains to Chester pass by with preserved Castles and he also visited the shed to see the last remnants of steam.

The North East Region was of great interest to Chris. There are many scenes in this area before steam finished in September 1967, including at Tyne Dock shed. Onto the Midland Region for footage around Carlisle and Leeds in 1966 including a visit to Holbeck Roundhouse and Farnley Junction sheds featuring Britannias and ex-LMS Black Fives. Whilst in the area, Chris also visited Wakefield to see WD 2-8-0s and the other engines there. Finally, back to the North Eastern Region in 1967 for extensive footage of J27s, Q6s (including the now preserved 63395), WDs and K1s hauling coal trains and empties to and from Seaham, Hall Dene and Vane Tempest Collieries.

All the archive film used is virtually all in colour and an extensively researched commentary along with an authentic soundtrack has been added.

Cover photo: K4 2-6-0 No.62050 on coal empties, 1967.

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Released in Volumes 174-179 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 155

North of Shrewsbury Part 1 (60-mins) Price £19.75

The first of two videos covering the lines in an area north of Shrewsbury to Chester. This video features the line to Crewe as far as Willaston via Whitchurch, the Shrewsbury to Gobowen line and the Gobowen to Oswestry and Blodwell line. Archive film of steam traction is shown on these routes including ex-GWR and Standard classes. There is also footage of some of the main line steam hauled tours in the 1970s.
We visit the signalboxes at Shrewsbury, Leaton, Whittington and Gobowen , observing the passing railway scene featuring both steam and diesel traction in the 1960s and early 1970s. At Gobowen the steam archive footage takes us south to Llanymynech with a look at the Shopshire & Montgomery and its last steam hauled tour. There is also extensive lineside and cab views of the diesel hauled stone trains from Gobowen to Blodwell Quarry. The traffic ceased in 1989. All film and video material used is in colour except for the Shropshire and Montgomery scenes. An authentic soundtrack has been added along with an extensively researched commentary.

Cover photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Booklaw Publications, Ivatt 46512 arrives at Oswestry from Llanfyllin, August 1963.

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Released in Volumes 150-157 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 152

Steam in Wales & The Borders Part 2 (80-mins) Price £19.75

In this second part, we begin at Gobowen on the Shrewsbury to Chester main line before looking at the connection to Oswestry and the Cambrian line south to Llanymynech and Llanfyllin, prior to its closure in 1965.
We return to Gobowen with a stone train and then onwards to Shrewsbury. Steam finished here in 1967 and there is a rare appearance of the Blue Pullman amongst the Black 5s. Onwards, we travel west along the Cambrian route to Machynlleth and Aberystwyth, using ex-GWR Manors and the later BR Standards for motive power. Along the way we see steam scenes at the narrow gauge Welshpool & Llanfair Railway both before and after preservation. The Vale of Rheidol is also visited when its original Aberystwyth terminus was in use. Finally, with steam reigning supreme, we return to Shrewsbury via Talerddig Incline with some contrasting views of steam returning to the route in later years. Included are some black & white film scenes of the estwhile Corris Railway. Manors, Halls, Black 5s, Ivatts and BR Standards are all featured, even a Dukedog!

The archive film material used is in colour, except for the Corris Railway scenes, with an authentic soundtrack and an informative commentary.

Cover Photo:- Dr. Gaius Sutton, 75012 climbs Talerddig, 20/8/66.

Click Here for Vol.152 Steam in Wales & The Borders Part 3

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Released in Steam in Wales & The Borders, Volumes 150-157 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment