Tag Archives: narrow gauge

Volume 140

Continental Steam Miscellany (60-mins) Price £19.75

Steam in Western Europe in normal service outlasted that on British Railways by some years. This video gives a flavour of what could be seen in use in six countries over the English Channel: FRANCE, SPAIN, PORTUGAL, ITALY, AUSTRIA and WEST GERMANY.

The locomotives were different, being in a number of cases larger than British ones. Wheel arrangements were sometimes not what had been seen in Britain. Eight coupled varieties were also often common. The loading gauges were often more generous and on the Iberian Peninsula the track gauge was wider. Even so, the countries did use narrow gauge quite widely.

Types of locomotive that Britain only experimented with could be seen, such as Franco-Crosti, Giesel-fitted and oil-fired engines. Some locomotives were British built and these could be seen working into the 1970’s for those enthusiasts who ventured abroad to see or film them.

Many of these locomotives can be seen in this video, from the smaller narrow gauge types to Pacifics, Heavy Freight engines, Beyer-Garratts and twelve coupled tank engines. Often spectacular scenery was encountered and winters with snow guaranteed.

Cover photo:- Colin White, 044 Class at Cochem, West Germany, September 1970 .

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Volume 138

Cambrian Coast Route Part 4 (60-mins) Price £19.75

A video covering the last section of the route of the CAMBRIAN COAST EXPRESS from ABERYSTWYTH to PWLLHELI and what could be seen in the area from the 1950s to the 1980s. We cover four narrow gauge railways, the Vale of Rheidol, the Talyllyn, the Welsh Highland (1964) and the Ffestiniog, and two miniature railways, the Fairbourne and Butlins, Pwllheli. We even cover the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway!

The coast route would see steam and diesel motive power but this film is mainly steam with Standard Classes 4MT, Class 2MT, Class 3 2-6-2Ts and Class 4 2-6-4Ts, GWR 43xx 2-6-0s and Manor Class 4-6-0s, Ivatt 2MTs and even Class 4. The picture is completed by the reopening of Barmouth Bridge in 1986 and Electric Electric Class 37s.

There is much truly archive material used in this production recapturing a bygone era of this popular Cardigan Bay coastal area. The lines still survive today so compare the scenes of that era shown here with modern day or witness the efforts made by the preservations to recreate it.

There is an extensively researched commentary with an authentic sound track.

Cover photo: Keith Pirt, 7810 “Draycott Manor” on Llanbadarn Bank, 1963.

Click Here for Vol.100 – Cambrian Coast Route Part 1

Click Here for Vol.122 – Cambrian Coast Route Part 2

Click Here for Vol.128 – Cambrian Coast Route Part 3

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Volume 136

Steam To North Wales (100-mins) Price £19.75

An archive programme of the CREWE to HOLYHEAD route via CHESTER and BANGOR. Filmed from 1960 to 1967 with occasional 1980’s visits from preserved steam locomotives providing a contrast. Motive power is mainly London Midland Region with Western Region at Chester. Branches from the route include BIRKENHEAD via HOOTON, the DYSERTH branch from PRESTATYN, DENBIGH from MOLD and RHYL, BLAEANAU FFESTINIOG and TRAWSFYNDD from LLANDUDNO JUNCTION and the AMLYCH branch.

The PORT PENRHYN slate quarries to BETHESDA and DINORWIC system are also seen with narrow gauge locomotives.

Locations visited include CREWE, CHESTER, SALTNEY JUNCTION, FLINT, TALACRE, RHYL, ABERGELE, LLANDUDNO, LLANDUDNO JUNCTION, BANGOR, MENAI BRIDGE and HOLYHEAD.

Motive power includes Princess Coronations, Royal Scots, Jubilees, Britannias, Black 5s, 8Fs, Standard Classes and early diesels of Class 40 and 47, usually in green livery.

Cover Photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Booklaw Publications, 44780 near Abergele, June 1963.

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Volume 129

Steam into Cornwall (63-mins) Price £19.75

A VERY POPULAR DVD

Jim Clemens Collection No.22. An archive film of mainly steam on the lines of Cornwall including Western and Southern motive power.

We follow the Great Western main line from SALTASH to PENZANCE, viewing the major stations en route including LISKEARD, TRURO, PAR, CHACEWATER, GWINEAR ROAD, St. ERTH and PENZANCE.

There are visits to the LOOE, HELSTON, FALMOUTH, NEWQUAY and St. IVES branches and a visit to PAR HARBOUR for industrial steam and to NEWLYN harbour with narrow gauge diesels.

BODMIN to WADEBRIDGE and PADSTOW on the Southern, including T9s.

A 1960s visit to the FOREST RAILROAD at DOBWALLS near Liskeard.

A complete journey on the last steam to Penzance, the CORNUBIAN tour of May 1964 with a 28xx and a West Country pacific.

Filmed in colour except for the earliest material from a GWR publicity film, this video takes a fascinating and nostalgic look back at the steam scene of the 1960s. The film has been mastered with an authentic sound-track and researched in detail to give an informative commentary.

Cover photo:- Keith Pirt, 4569 at Bodmin Road.

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Volume 117

Passion For Steam (80-mins) Price £19.75

An interesting record of Dr.Rogers’ search for the more unusual views and of his early passion for the smaller gauges of steam railways, that of narrow gauge and miniature systems, before he recorded the ending of standard gauge railways on the national network.

This journey took him as far away as India for their narrow gauge, rack railways and steam up to Broad gauge. He also visited Ireland for the County Donegal and the Tralee and Dingle.

From garden railways through to all gauges up to 15″ on passenger carrying miniature systems, some of considerable length, others around parks and now lost on the sands of time like Christchurch and Audley End.

Narrow gauges in Wales include the Welshpool and Llanfair when it ran through the streets, the beginnings of the Ffestiniog and Tal-y-Llyn and the Vale of Rheidol in its early days. There is industrial narrow gauge at Bowaters in Kent. Ireland’s Tralee and Dingle, County Donegal and Fintona horse tram, Katwijk in Holland. Tournon in France and India with the Darjeeling and Nilgiri rack railway are among others seen in the sub continent.

The film begins and ends with British standard gauge scenes that caught the attraction of Dr. Rogers as it reached its demise in the 1960′s.

Some fascinating and rare views in this film. Filmed in colour and black and white from 1949 to 1967. A detailed commentary and authentic sound track completes a nostalgic record of steam with something different to offer.

The second volume will deal with his coverage of British main line steam.

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Volume 92

Steam Still At Work (after August 1968) Part 1 (60-mins) Price £19.75

Our “Steam Still at Work” series of films (formerly called “Return to Steam”) features the steam scene during the “Wilderness Years” when main line steam was officially banned from British Railways after the end of steam in 1968. The ban ended with the “Return to Steam” tours in 1971. Here we follow how a typical enthusiast could find steam again, mainly in Great Britain.

It’s 11th August 1968 and we see 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” with that last BR steam hauled train on the Settle & Carlisle, followed by the last leg into Liverpool with 45110. Later the Pacific is seen running light engine to Norwich. Earlier in 1968, 9F 92203 is seen en route to Longmoor for preservation along with 75029, the first steam on the Southern since July 1967. At Barry scrapyard there are rows of mostly now preserved steam. But at Cashmores none survived and at Cohen’s Yard, Kettering, the scrap man is busy….

However hundreds of engines could still be seen at work on industrial sites. We feature many scenes including unique Beyer-Garratt “William Francis” and 0-6-0STs fly-shunting at Hadley Colliery. We even see ex-BR tank engines such as 3F 47745 at Williamthorpe Colliery and ex-GWR Panniers both at South Wales collieries and in daily use on London Transport. We visit Northern Ireland to see “Jeep” 2-6-4Ts on passenger and motorway construction trains.

Overseas also became a popular destination, especially when as close as Calais and Boulogne where Pacifics still hauled trains including the GOLDEN ARROW. There were years of steam traction left in Germany and most of Europe; even behind the Iron Curtain for the adventurous few. Further away was South Africa for main line double headers and Garratts! /p

Back in the UK, a few preserved railways had started up and there is rare footage of the early days on the Bluebell, Keighley, Middleton, Severn Valley and Dart Valley railways. Over on the Lochty Private Railway, we see 60009 and a matching beaver-tail observation coach! We tour the various narrow gauge and miniature lines with a variety of scenes including a BR blue Vale-of-Rheidol, the Talyllyn with “Dolgoch” and the Ffestiniog with “Prince” hauling trains.

On the mainlines, 4472 still had a further year and occasionally other preserved engines strayed on to BR tracks if you knew about it. Our series is an in depth look at all of this. Part 1 is only an introduction to memories of steam from over 40 years ago. We close with a “Return to Steam” special in October 1971 with 6000 “King George V” hauling the Bulmers Pullman train , 4472 at Kings Cross and, for contrast, 45110 hauling last BR steam train on 11th.August 1968.

All the archive film used is in colour and an extensively researched commentary and authentic soundtrack has been added.
Cover Photo:- 3F 0-6-0T No.47239 at Williamthorpe Colliery, May 1969.

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Released in The Wilderness Years - Steam Still At Work after August 1968, Volumes 90-100 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 79

North Wales Steam Line (60-mins) Price £19.75

Jim Clemens Collection No.6. A video film of a circular tour around North Wales from Chester to Llandudno via Llangollen, Bala, Barmouth, Pwllheli, Caernarvon, Holyhead and Bangor. Featuring 75xxx, 63xx and pannier tanks, the line through the Dee Valley via Llangollen shows all stations and halts before the whole route was closed,. Plenty of activity at Bala Junction including scenes at Bala Town and the route to Blaenau. Continue via Dolgellau and Penmaenpool to Morfa Mawddach. North now through Barmouth and all stations to Portmadoc and Afon Wen with GW and Standard classes. A quick visit to Pwllheli before continuing to Caernarvon via Ynys. Then Bangor to Holyhead with a return journey on the Almwch branch. Returning to Bangor and a visit to the Penrhyn narrow gauge system. Eastwards and the Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog branch. There is also a look at the Corwen – Ruthin – Denbigh line by DMU and archive film of the famous Land Cruise train via Afon Wen and Corwen. Filmed mainly in colour from 1959 to 1966, a memorable record of the time steam reigned in this part of North Wales.

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Volume 52

Industrial Steam (60 mins) Price £19.75

The popular misconception that Industrial railways were just yard shunts with small 0-4-0 tanks or the ubiquitous J94 type will be completely dispelled by this programme. Some systems were enormous like Ashington, Philadelphia and Corby, often fully signalled as well. There were ex BR steam engines to be found from all of the “big four” companies sold into industrial service. There were narrow gauge systems as well at Bowaters, Kettering and in North Wales. Ironstone systems could boast nearly 100 engines. Engines wrestling with poor track abounded at cement works while ports such as Preston, Whitehaven and Falmouth were locations providing steam locomotives at work. Par had one of the smallest and Baddesley Colliery had a Garratt at the other extreme. Fire-less engines found favour with paper manufacturers. The oldest engine in service could be found at Seaham, with Wirksworth a close second. Sentinels lived at Burton Latimer and Whifflett. Crane tanks at Doxford’s and Stanton & Staveley. Even a sewage plant found use for steam. Power stations had side tanks the power of a Black 5, the NCB probably had the biggest fleet of all. These are not posed views of steam but engines working hard for their living in their true environment.There are 100 engines from 25 builders in this story. It was all part of the steam scene in Britain, if you saw them, here are the memories; if not see what you missed.

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Volume 15

Archive Newsreel 2 (55-mins) Price £15

The second video in the series offers a further multitude of fascinating subjects in nine sections. We begin with a look at the 9Fs on British Railways (including the ex-Crosti type) and 92203 and 92220 on railtours in the 70′s. Others are seen around Warrington and the Lune Gorge. The Marlow Donkey was famous in Great Western history and was re-lived in 1973 using 1450, 6106 and 6998 on the branch from Maidenhead to Marlow via Bourne End. When main line steam on BR came to an end in 1968, many farewell specials were run and we next include two of them, the Lancastrian No.2 Railtour and an SLS tour from Stockport to Carnforth using Britannia 70013 and Black Fives 45156 and 44949. Narrow gauge working is depicted by scenes on the Bowaters Paper Mills in Kent before closure. The scenes contrast the locomotives working days with the pleasure they now give to passengers at Whipsnade. There is a tribute to steam power out of Waterloo in 1967. Featured are the Bournemouth Belle, an immaculate 34057 (as only Salisbury shed could do), 75069 (now preserved on the SVR), Bullied Pacifics, Standard 5s, 80xxx and 82xxx tanks. The steam shed visited on the volume is Stockport Edgeley showing Stanier Class 5′s and 8F’s in their natural environment, the motive power depot and the men who worked on them while they were turned and coaled. The continental section shows Pacific power with action from France and Germany which lasted some years after the end of steam in the UK. Both preserved continental pacifics at Carnforth are seen in action in 1976 and the French Pacific at the head of the Golden Arrow leaving Calais Maritime. Hof, Trier, Crailsheim, Lathen and Berlin feature 01 and 03 classes at work. WD 2-10-0 “Gordon” is shown over the last 25-years from its rare appearance on the Southern Region in 1966 through its days at Longmoor to its visit to Shildon and preservation on the Severn Valley Railway. We conclude with industrial steam at Shilbottle Colliery in Northumberland where 0-6-0 tanks worked hard on the three mile branch of the NCB in 1969. Again another good mix of steam traction in full variety from the humble colliery tank to the great expresses of yesteryear.

Click Here for Vol.14 – Archive Newsreel 1

Click Here for Vol.17 – Archive Newsreel 3

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Volume 14

Archive Newsreel 1 (55-mins) Price £15

There are nine sections in this film starting with LNWR 790 “Hardwicke”. This remarkable veteran stretched her legs for a short time in the 1970s. Colin White followed her. On one trip to York double-heading with “Flying Scotsman” he was even in 4472′s cab for part of the journey offering an almost unique filming opportunity. Other scenes see her in action in the Lake District. Heaton Mersey, coded 9F, with a study of Stanier’s 8Fs coming and going on this shed in its last months of operation where manual work on the coal stage was the order of the day. The fascinating crane tanks at Doxford’s ship yards near Sunderland offer us another form of locomotive. Filmed in 1970 they work hard around the yard before returning to the shed for a lunch break which used to lead to complaints from road users of smoke nuisance.. and what smoke! This is followed by more unusual locomotives in the guise of narrow gauge articulated types. Fairlies on the Ffestinog are followed by Saxon-Meyers in East Germany with transporter wagons and the amazing Herberlein brake; engines sporting a steam operated bell. The Mallett articulated engine is next studied again in Germany where 0-4-4-0 tanks work hard in the snow. Finally to Portugal for some 2-4-6-0 Mallett tanks around Regua and the smaller 0-4-4-0 types at Porto. An A4 meets an unrebuilt Bullied in 1967 when 4498 visited the Southern, ah! the charm of the chime. Returning to the continent for a few minutes to sample super power with a potted look at 2-10-0 types in Germany, Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Double headers in the snow and a train with 3 2-10-0s as motive power. Even if your loyalties lie with the Big Four you cannot but help marvel at the power of some of these continental giants and in some superb locations. Back to our shores 6115 “Scots Guardsman” had two main line outings in 1978 from Dinting to York. Both occasions were captured before she disappeared from the scene to hopefully re-emerge in the 2000′s. We cover the Isle-of-Wight in Volume 21 and will do so in later productions but this section is a tribute to the last day railtour on the 31st.December 1966 when the LCGB visited the island. The tour featured the Class 02 tanks which were at the time the oldest locos in BR stock. Finally a few Bullieds act out their last duties around Bournemouth and Poole including 34001 and 34100.

Click Here for Vol.15 – Archive Newsreel 2

Click Here for Vol.17 – Archive Newsreel 3

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