GWR 150

This film tells the story of one of the most notable preserved steam locomotives in Britain – the pioneering British Railway’s Standard Class Pacific No. 70000 Britannia. Famous throughout her life, Britannia was to be returned to main line running order in the 1990s.

All steam action from the main lines of the former Great Western Railway and Southern Railway, including the Salisbury to Exeter main line, Didcot to Worcester, Didcot to Birmingham and the Folkestone Harbour lines.

A programme detailing the story of the great viaduct across Batty Moss on the Settle-Carlisle Railway.

Ever since its main line return in 1998, “Merchant Navy” Pacific No. 35005 Canadian Pacific has caused a mini sensation wherever it has gone. We delve into its preservation days since lying in the scrapyard.

This programme covers some of Britain’s main line railway routes during the closing years of the steam era. Richard’s films portray the “everyday” as it was seen by many thousands of enthusiasts at the time.

The last remaining Southern Railway “King Arthur” Class No. 30777, “The Last Knight” Sir Lamiel is now over eighty years old and proudly a part of the National Collection.

This is a film about two locomotives – the first and last “Pacific” locomotives built for the nationalised British Railways – 70000 Britannia and 71000 Duke of Gloucester.

The full story behind the return of passenger trains to the Swanage branch in April and May 2008. Includes aerial footage of Tangmere as it arrives and departs from the branch. Many lineside locations and interviews with the key people on the day and footage of the trains as they departed from London and on the journey to Dorset.

A selection of archive films from the collection of John Snell and his 16mm camera. John Snell has been a follower of railways since childhood and has been involved in preservation for many years. Pure nostalgia!

Currently the only working example of the “Princess Royal” Class, No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth is one of our earlier examples saved by pioneers in preservation. This programme traces the locomotive’s preserved life from the time it was bought by the Princess Elizabeth Locomotive Society from Carlisle shed in 1962.

6024 King Edward I is the only working example of the famous Great Western “King” or “6000 Class” locomotives. Sold for scrap in 1962, the locomotive went to the scrapyard at Barry, South Wales. 6024 languished there for eleven years until it was purchased by the 6024 Preservation Society Ltd in 1973.

An expert training session on how to drive the world’s most famous steam locomotive.

This programme tells the story of one of Britain’s most impressive main line entertainers – Gresley “V2” No. 60800 Green Arrow. It first appeared in 1936 and was destined for heavy mixed traffic work throughout the London & North Eastern Railway system.

One of 38 Coronation Class 4-6-2s built in Crewe by the LMS, Duchess of Hamilton is part of the National Collection now and was brought back into main line use in the 1980s. In this programme, we look at her main line runs starting with her test runs in 1990 following her second major overhaul.

A remarkable programme showing the end of steam on the Southern Region in 1967, full of archive film from in and around Southampton, Bournemouth and London. A review of the end of steam on the main line from London Waterloo to Bournemouth and Weymouth.

This superb locomotive was saved from scrapping in 1966. After a chequered preservation career, she was restored to main line condition. This programme covers her return – her first runs over the scenic Settle-Carlisle and a foray back on her native metals in Scotland, as well as use on the Great Central Railway.

The famous Settle-Carlisle Railway is well-known for its beautiful surroundings and structures such as viaducts, stations and tunnels. But just as important to the history of the line were the personalities involved with it. Hundreds of railway men and women have been part of the operation of this great railway since the 1870s.

The very last Pacific locomotive to be built in Britain, Duke of Gloucester is literally a one-off locomotive. Constructed at Crewe Works in 1954, it was the last Pacific locomotive built for the nationalised British Railways. The sole Standard Class 8P, the engine was the prototype of a three-cylinder development of Britannia.

A review of the diesel galas held at the Mid-Hants Railway and Swanage Railway in the spring of 2013. Includes considerable footage of all the locomotives at work and also the convoys of engines being positioned from Network Rail. Features footage of the Mid-Norfolk Gala and the unique one held at the Didcot base of the Great Western Society.

Closed in 1968 and almost forgotten along with the trains that ran over it, the Derbyshire Main Line is now splendidly re-created in this film. For the first time, this programme shows one of Britain’s most scenic railway lines at work, that of the former Midland Main Line through the Peak District of Derbyshire between Derby and Manchester.

An archive film journey along the Highland main line in 1965 from Perth to Inverness, Wick and Thurso, with a trip from Kyle of Lochalsh in an observation car.

Britain’s best-loved railway, with its route over the “roof” of England, is the spectacular Settle-Carlisle railway (called “the line that should never have been built”). Running through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Britain, it takes in the architecture of bridges and viaducts en-route.

Now fully connected to the main line at East Grinstead, we take a visual journey on the epic operation to get the Bluebell Line from Sheffield Park through to the main line.

This programme is the story of one of the most important days on the Settle-Carlisle Railway for decades. On 22nd March 2005, HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, visited the region aboard the Royal Train, hauled by steam locomotive Princess Coronation Class No. 6233 “Duchess of Sutherland”.

The very special Somerset and Dorset Class 7F 2-8-0s. Their working lives were spent entirely on the famous Somerset and Dorset Railway and such was their charisma that two examples, 53808 and 53809, have been saved for posterity.

Filmed mostly in 1965, the final year before its closure in March 1966, this journey takes the viewer on the line from Bath to Evercreech Junction, then along the branch to Highbridge and Burnham, before returning to the main line to continue a journey southwards from Evercreech to Bournemouth.

The departure of steam from the British Rail network in August 1968 was a landmark not only in railway history, but British history. For nearly 150 years, steam reigned supreme and, although gone, it has never been forgotten.

The full story of Britain’s best-loved steam locomotive, with historic Movietone footage, coverage of foreign tours, the BNFL Sellafield run and exclusive interviews with her owners.

A celebration of the Great Western Railway with men who actually worked for the GWR from the 1930s through to the 1960s.

The full story of the last steam train operated by British Rail in August 1968. Includes never-before-seen film of the 15 Guinea Special as it prepares to leave Liverpool Lime Street on its epic 315-mile journey to Carlisle and return.

This film covers the tours by Bulleid “Battle of Britain” Class Pacific No. 34067 Tangmere since the beginning of 2004. Since its restoration to main line condition in 2002-2003, Tangmere has accomplished a considerable rail tour programme with various operating companies.

A celebration of steam in Britain. Highlights include film of the Swanage Branch in the 1950s, the Longmoor Military Railway and working steam on the Swanage Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors.

This film explores the incredible achievement by the engineers and navvies of the mid-Victorian period who designed and built the viaduct at Ribblehead and the legendary tunnel at Blea Moor. There is more fascination about this great viaduct than any other facet on the wonderful Settle-Carlisle Railway.

The full story of one of the UK’s premier steam branch lines. This documentary looks at the growth of the fascinating Swanage line – its British Rail days, its closure period in the early 1970s, its subsequent reconstruction, and its ongoing preservation.

This programme was made as a souvenir of the 1985 events which commemorated the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Great Western Railway in 1835. It covers the many steam specials run to commemorate the 150 years which ran all over the old GWR system, mostly to the South West.

A tribute to the numerous and popular preserved Stroudley Terrier “A” Class, this special programme captures the spirit of the engines which are now over 125 years old. Eight of the ten preserved Terriers were withdrawn from BR service in 1963 and they were quickly subject to purchase.

The story of Britain’s steam railways, from the early days of Stephenson’s Rocket through to the end of mainline steam services and the preserved steam lines of today.

A first volume of remarkable films shot by Douglas Seaton on his 16mm camera – all in colour from the 1940s through to the mid-1960s. These films portray a crucial period in railway history.

Built by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry in Newton-Le-Willows, Class 50 represents the last mixed traffic diesel type to be built for British Rail and, at the end of its career, it was one of only three classes of diesel capable of 100mph duties.

A reflection on British Rail just 5 years before privatisation. The film examines Network South East two years after its inception; Scotrail with Class 37s and 47s very much in charge; Intercity services; Railfreight and the many loco-hauled services at the time using Class 20s, 31s, 45s, 56s in Scotland and much more.

A selection of archive films from the camera of Geoff Holyoake. His material covers a wealth of steam locomotive types from the South Western, including the oldest-surviving member of the LSWR, to the last Bulleids running on the Main Line in 1967.

The legendary yard of Woodham Bros. at Barry Glamorgan has truly a remarkable story. It started in 1959 with the arrival of locomotives from Swindon Works for breaking up – and until 1968, over 300 would assemble from all over Britain. But not all were scrapped – indeed, 213 lingered on and were all eventually purchased by the preservation movement.

Few steam locomotives have a history to match Princess Margaret Rose, the 1st production Pacific for the LMS Railway. When the locomotive was withdrawn from BR’s operating stock in the early 60s, she was purchased by Sir Billy Butlin as a showpiece for his Pwllheli holiday camp and destined to be a childrens’ plaything.

One of only three of the “Schools” class to survive into preservation, 925 was overhauled by volunteers of the Mid-Hants at Eastleigh railway works where it was constructed in 1934. After just under thirty years service with the Southern and BR, Cheltenham was withdrawn in 1962 and set to one side for the national collection.

This programme tells the story of the Lord Nelson from its design and construction in 1926 through to its operational years in BR service and eventual withdrawal in 1962. Footage of its first preservation period in service in the 1980s is accompanied by recollections of firing a Nelson by an Eastleigh fireman and driver.

The second volume in the remarkable series of archive films taken by Douglas Seaton in the 1940s and 1950s. This volume contains more 16mm film in full colour and some very rare black and white footage taken in the 1920s and 1930s providing such scenes as early Southern locomotives on the South Western main line in the Bournemouth and Weybridge areas.

30 Bulleid Pacific locomotives survive today, with 28 of them coming from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry. This 100-minute programme captures the sights and sounds of these popular locomotives.

This film tells the fascinating story of how our preserved locomotives were purchased from British Railways.

Memories from railway men and women operating the Somerset & Dorset Railway. No other railway in Britain commands such an interest. It is now many years since the line closed for traffic but the memories linger on. This film contains many memories from ex-S&D railwaymen and women filmed at their reunion in August 1995.

Steam locomotives have been at home in Scotland for over a century and a half – today they still run over the main lines blending with the mountains and lowland scenery. This programme is a an evocative look at steam in Scotland from the Strathspey Railway to the West Highlands via Edinburgh and Aberdeen (1986-1991).

Part 3 of the story of how UK railways met and overcame the challenges of the post-industrial era. The films trace the history of Britain’s railways from the legacy of WWII, through years of neglect and under-investment and the trauma of Beeching’s cuts, to a period of hope and growth epitomised by the Intercity 125.

Part 2 of the story of how UK railways met and overcame the challenges of the post-industrial era. The films trace the history of Britain’s railways from the legacy of WWII, through years of neglect and under-investment and the trauma of Beeching’s cuts, to a period of hope and growth epitomised by the Intercity 125.

Part 1 of the story of how UK railways met and overcame the challenges of the post-industrial era. The films trace the history of Britain’s railways from the legacy of WWII, through years of neglect and under-investment and the trauma of Beeching’s cuts, to a period of hope and growth epitomised by the Intercity 125.

This film was recorded aboard 86250 on Wednesday 9th November 1988 at the head of the 09:13 train from Birmingham New Street to Glasgow Central. Our crew: Driver Albert Fletcher (Preston) and Traction Inspectors Cyril Rist (Bescot) from Preston to Carlisle and James McClelland (Carlisle) from Carlisle to Glasgow.

This journey has been possible since the beginning of the Winter 1987/88 timetables, as with the introduction of the 23 metre long “Super Sprinters”, a new service from Cardiff to Birmingham via Worcester and Kidderminster was introduced. It was recorded on the 13:15 via Kidderminster from the cab of Leyland-built Class 155 No. 155303.

This film was recorded on 30th October 1987 on an HST forming the 08:00 “Tallisman” service from King’s Cross to Edinburgh. We join the train at York for the northern part of the run over the East Coast Main Line. Accompanied by Inspector Cedric Lockwood, our drivers were Hugh Noble, Jim Allen, George Halbert and Robert Quinn.

This film was recorded on 30th October 1987 on an HST forming the 08:00 “Tallisman” service from King’s Cross to Edinburgh. We join the train at York for the northern part of the run over the East Coast Main Line. Accompanied by Inspector Cedric Lockwood, our drivers were Hugh Noble, Jim Allen, George Halbert and Robert Quinn.

This film covers a wide area during the first three years of the 1960s. Follows on directly from Volumes 3 and 4 with further coverage of the Scottish Rail Tour of 1960, moving geographically down the British Isles via the Cromford and High Peak Railway, Kings Cross, Birmingham, the Central Wales and Far West of Wales, ending up in the West Country.

This volume of the series covers B.R. on a geographical basis from the West Country to Scotland. It includes N15 10XX, Jinties, Black 5s, Ivatt 2-6-0s, “Crabs”, 8Fs, 5s, 9F, A2s, A3s, V2s and many more.

There are over 150 different steam locomotives in this film – too many to list here! Some of these are: LCDR “R” on main line, Ivatt 4, 45XX, 90XX, Webb 2-4-2T around Birmingham, GSWR branch, North Staffs Mental Hospital, Q6s and A8s on the North East Coast, BR Trams at Grimsby and many more.

Contents: Special feature on the Severn Valley Railway and the 50th anniversary, 34027 Taw Valley on the Pullman, Winter on the East Lancs, Llangollen Steel, Steam and Stars gala, Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express, 46233 from Derby to Didcot, A4 at Buckfasleigh, Farewell tours to Clan Line, 5043 to the West Somerset Railway and more.

Contents: The final gathering of A4s at Shildon, Feature at Arley on the Severn Valley Railway and the last day of No. 5164 operating, London Transport steam event, Clan Line at the Mid-Hants event in early March, T9 No. 30120 at the Swanage Railway, Steam on West Coast Main Line with Nos. 61264, 45407 and 45699, East Lancs Winter Gala, plus much, much more.

Contents: Launch of 34092 City of Wells at KWVR, Autumn Gala at the SVR with S&D engines and M7 No. 30053, No. 3205 and 46521 at the South Devon Railway, No. 34046 on main line turns, The Royal Duchy and Torbay Expresses, Atlantic Coast Express with Nos. 34067, 5029 and 34046, No. 46447 launched at the East Somerset Railway, Bodmin & Wenford Gala with No. 4247 and much more!

Contents: Steam on the Met, including behind-the-scenes footage of test runs with Met Tank No.1 and 150 anniversary runs on the underground, Gloucester Warwickshire Gala with 925 Cheltenham, Steam Railmotor on the Looe branch, Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express, Great Britain and Cathedrals Explorer, Bluebell opening to East Grinstead, 5043 on “The Cheltenham Flyer” and much more!

Contents: Steam Railmotor No. 93 operating in Cornwall, No. 925 Cheltenham introduced to service at the Mid-Hants, Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway with the two Bagnall 0-4-0 tanks and Pannier 9466, Great Britain V and Cathedrals Explorer in Scotland, 6201’s final operations before overhaul, Fort William to Mallaig Summer 2012, Spa Valley Railway Gala with 44422 and more.

Contents: 35028 Clan Line on VSOE “Surrey Hills” lunch circular and to Bath, 44932 on trains to Bath, Sherborne, Hastings, Cardiff and Brighton, 34067 Tangmere to Hastings, at Virginia Water and to Swanage, The Great Britain V at many locations on its UK tour including stunning views in Scotland, The Cathedrals Explorer at numerous locations on its 8-day excursion throughout the UK and more.

Contents: Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express trains in stunning icy conditions over Shap and the Settle-Carlisle route, “O2” Calbourne crossing the Solent by ferry and at Bodmin, Llangollen’s Steel, Steam and Stars gala in April 2012, Mid-Hants Railway galas in 2011 and Spring 2012, Steam in Scotland on the Mallaig line, 70000 Britannia at Birkett Common and more.

Contents: Llangollen Railway Gala, Tornado in the South West, Royal Scot’s first trains, Tangmere to Swanage, Swanage Galas – S&D 7F and a Deltic and launch of Manston, Lord Nelson at Folkestone, Scots Guardsman’s test run and Carnforth open days, 70013 on 15 guinea special and Sir Lamiel out and about, Eastleigh Works open days and more.

Contents: 6024, 60163 and 71000 on the Torbay Express and British Pullman, 9466 on the Looe branch, Yeovil 150 Open Days, D1015 to Buxton, 46115 to Dorset, Tornado to Swanage and Mid-Hants and around London, Bluebell Extension progress to East Grinstead, 5043 on “The Bristolian” and many more.

“Settle and Carlisle” – the words are as evocative to the railway enthusiast as “Smoke and Steam”. This film brings you a selection of fabulous images of steam locomotives at work over the UK’s premier scenic railway, the Settle and Carlisle, which runs through the Westmorland Mountains, unparalleled in their majestic beauty.

A tribute to the renaissance in steam operations in the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. “Scotland for Steam” runs the advertising – and it certainly is! On the railways, steam is a major tourist attraction, both on preserved lines and British Rail’s own main and branch lines.

Wales has one of the largest associations with steam in the British Isles. The narrow gauge railways of the north west are famous for their hard-working tiny engines, from the Tallyllyn (the world’s first preserved railway) to the Ffestiniog, the Snowdon Mountain Railway, the Welshpool and Llanfair, the Bala Lake, the Vale of Rheidol – they are all here in this programme.

This film is for all those who love the sight and sound of the steam railway and is a tribute to the dedicated bands of people who ensure that the most living of man’s machines, the steam engine, continues to bring hours of pleasure to hundreds of thousands of people everywhere. No stuffed museum pieces, they really work for their living. Smoke and steam pours out from every angle.