Volume 244

Vol.244: Great Western Steam Miscellany No.7 – The Brian Parnell Collection Part 3 (63-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED LATE APRIL 2023**


ALL NEW FILM!

The third instalment of all new, and never previously seen, high quality cine films taken by the late Brian Parnell. In this volume we feature the ex-Great Western system and beyond. Once again it is complied in the running order of the original cine film.

We begin with scenes at Oxford in the summer of 1963 and the footage includes through trains from the south coast to Birmingham, the still steam-hauled Worcester to Paddington service, plus the longest-lived 9F of all, 92004 (built 1954, withdrawn March 1968).

We then visit the Gloucestershire area for such locations as Lansdown Junction, Cheltenham Spa, Tramway Junction, Gloucester itself plus the Golden Valley push-pull from Gloucester to Stroud, Brimscornbe, and Chalford. A highlight is at Brimscornbe where the last steam engine built by British Railways, No.92220 “Evening Star” starts a heavy freight up the punishing grade to Sapperton tunnel, complete with rear end assistance.

GWR motive power is seen along the North Downs line and includes Redhill shed, a departure from Redhill station, then along the 3rd rail section to Reigate, Betchworth, and Guildford.

The summer of 1963 found Brian in Devon with film at Exeter St Davids, Tiverton Junction, plus excellent coverage along the Culm Valley branch via Coldharbour Halt and Uffculme to Hemyock and its dairy; a 14xx enthusiast’s delight.

During August 1964 the Cambrian system was visited: Welshpool, Dovey Junction, Aberystwyth, the Vale of Rheidol line, Abertafol Halt, Morfa Mawddach, Barmouth Viaduct, Barrnouth, and Portmadoc.

There is also film at Southall (three visits in 1964), Birmingham Snow Hill, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcester shed, Swindon, Trowbridge, Westbury, Frome, Templecombe, Wadebridge, Boscarne Junction, Hatton, and Hatton Bank.

Although Brian had put his camera away by 1965, he did film the GW 150 celebrations some twenty years later in Devon and Cornwall and a few minutes has been included to bring our miscellany of Great Western steam to a close.

Motive power featured includes (in no particular order) classes ex-GWR County, Castle, Hall, Grange, Manor, 43xx, 2251, 72xx, 45xx, 41xx, 56xx, 64xx, 57xx, 94xx, ex-LSWR T9, ex-Southern West Country Pacifics, ex-LMS Stanier Black 5s, Jubilees, 8Fs and Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0s. Also BR Standard Class Britannia Pacifics, Class 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-4Ts, Class 3 2-6-2T, and 9F 2-10-0s (including 92220 “Evening Star” on two occasions).

This nostalgic look at the last years of steam in these areas was mainly filmed between 1963 and 1966. It is entirely in colour and includes an informative commentary and an authentic sound track.

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Released in Great Western, Great Western Steam Miscellany Series, Miscellany Series (post Vol.190), The Brian Parnell Collection, Volumes 239 and above | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 236

Cambrian Steam Miscellany No.2 (96-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED May 2021**

THE JIM CLEMENS COLLECTION No.40 The second volume in our popular “Miscellany” series to cover the routes to the Cambrian Coast. Here it has been compiled almost entirely from cine film taken by the late Jim Clemens along with some additional previously unused material from the B & R archives.

We begin at Gobowen in the autumn of 1966 and see double-headed Class 2 2-6-0s on stone trains from Nantmawr Quarry. Steam still reigned supreme on the Paddington to Birkenhead services although the DMU shuttle to and from Oswestry via Park Hall Halt had just a few days of life left. There is excellent coverage of the Cambrian main line from Whitchurch via Ellesmere, Oswestry, and Llanymynech to Welshpool. Return journeys are also made over the Ellesmere to Wrexham and Llanyrnynech to Llanfyllin branches.

Next we follow the route of the “Cambrian Coast Express” from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Abermule, Newtown, Moat Lane Junction, Carno and Talerddig. Here we spend time watching steam battling with Talerddig Bank before carrying on to Llanbrynmair, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction, Borth and Aberystwyth. Filmed from the Vale of Rheidol line in 1964, we even parallel a ‘Manor’ nearing Aberystwyth hauling a freight train. And at Aberystwyth “Manors” are seen in profusion!

Film along the coastal route includes the Dovey Estuary, Fairbourne, Morfa Mawddach, the famous Barmouth Viaduct, Barmouth itself, Llanaber Halt, Llanbedr & Pensarn, Llandanwg Halt, and Harlech. Then Tygwyn Halt (with class leader 82000), Llandecwyn Halt, Pont Briwet, Penrhyndeudraeth, Portmadoc, and Afon Wen. The old Caernarvonshire Railway route from Afon Wen is traversed in 1964, with film at most stations, including Dinas Junction and Caernarvon.

Also featured is the alternative Great Western line from Ruabon to the coast with scenes at Trevor (where Pannier No.1660 is shunting), Llangollen, Berwyn Halt, Bonwm Halt, Corwen, Llandrillo, Llandderfel, Bala Junction, Llanuwchllyn, Drws-y-Nant, Dolgellau, Penmaenpool (including the engine shed), and Arthog. We see the shuttle from Bala Junction to Bala plus film from 1959 of the passenger service onwards to Blaenau Ffestiniog Central including the SLS “Last Train” in January 1961.

The cine-film was taken between 1959 and 1966. Motive power seen includes ex-GWR Manor, 43xx, 2251, 45xx & Pannier classes, ex-LMS Black 5s, 8Fs and Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0s classes as well as BR Standard Classes 5, 75xxx, 78xxx, 80xxx, 82xxx and 84xxx. Plus the odd DMU! Most of the film is in colour and has been assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels. An authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to compliment this further nostalgic look at these last years of steam on the Cambrian.

Cover Photo: Jim Clemens, BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 No.75071 climbing Talerddig Bank, Summer 1966.

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Released in Great Western, Miscellany Series (post Vol.190), Volumes 230-238 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 235

Cambrian Steam Miscellany No.1 (86-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED 6th. February 2021**

The first volume in our popular “Miscellany” series to cover the Cambrian Coast routes and compiled from mostly previously unseen footage from the B & R archives.

Travelling along the coastal route we visit places such as Pwllheli, Penychain, Afon Wen, Criccieth, Portmadoc, Minffordd, Penrhyndeudraeth, and Harlech. Then back at Barmouth we see the up bay platform, opened by the GWR in 1923, and the Old Chapel Viaduct which was rebuilt in the early 1950s. All followed by glorious views of the world famous Barmouth Viaduct across the Mawddach Estuary.

Continuing south we pass Morfa Mawddach, Fairbourne, Friog Rocks, Llwyngwril and stop off at Towyn for a few minutes before heading up the Dovey Estuary.

We then spend some time at Aberystwyth, with ‘Manors’ everywhere, before heading back inland through Bow Street, after a token exchange, to Borth, Ynyslas, Glandyfi and Dovey Junction. This famous isolated junction has no road access and we make a number of visits including seeing the Pwllheli and Aberystwyth portions of the up ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ being combined together for the onward journey to Shrewsbury

Machynlleth is well covered and highlights include scenes at the shed showing the preparation of 82033 for duty, plus ‘Dukedog’ 9017 acting as pilot on both the up and down “Cambrian Coast Express” in 1960. There are overhead views here plus panoramas across the valley.
We continue inland via Cemmes Road with its token exchange before extended coverage of the final stages of the ascent of Talerddig Bank with passenger and freight trains battling their way up the grade. The final up “Cambrian Coast Express” is seen here in March 1967.

Other locations featured include Newtown, Welshpool, Buttington, Llanymynech, Llanfyllin, and Oswestry. Although not specifically Cambrian there is also film of Shrewsbury, Hookagate, Llangollen, Llandderfel, Bala Junction, Bala, Bontnewydd and Dolgellau (including on what is believed to be the last day of services).

The cine-film was taken between 1960s and 1967. Motive power seen includes ex-GWR Manor, 43xx, 2251, 45xx, Pannier & Dukedog classes as well as BR Standard Classes 75xxx, 78xxx, 80xxx and 82xxx. Even the odd DMU manages to put in an appearance!

Most of the film is in colour and has been assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels. An authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to compliment this nostalgic look at these last years of steam on the Cambrian.

Cover Photo: Keith Pirt/Courtesy Booklaw Publications, Manor Class 4-6-0 No.7828 “Odney Manor” at Aberystwyth Shed, August 1963.

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Released in Great Western, Miscellany Series (post Vol.190), Steam in Wales & The Borders, Volumes 230-238 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volume 202

Great Western Steam Miscellany No.2 (80-mins) Price £19.75

**RELEASED April 2016**

The second of our “Miscellany” series to cover Great Western Steam. This time we mostly use previously unseen film from the Jim Clemens Collection. Once again the footage has been assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels and features wide coverage across much of the old GWR Empire.

A veritable feast of all that ex-GW steam which includes the branch from Oxford to Witney and Fairford, the “Great Western” high speed special on 9th.May 1964 from Paddington to Plymouth and back, a shed visit to Exmouth Junction, Gloucester (Horton Road), Worcester and Stourbridge. We feature the route of the “Cathederals Express” from Hereford via Malvern, Worcester, Evesham, Honeybourne, Campden Bank, Kingham, Oxford, Didcot and Reading to Paddington.

Onwards and we witness the last steam from Swansea to Milford Haven and Fishguard in September 1965, Dowlais Cae Harris and Dowlais Top, Savernake Low Level to Radstock West via Holt Junction in 1959, Three Cocks Junction and the Mid-Wales line, Kingham to Cheltenham via Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Norton, the Bromyard branch, Shepton Mallett High Street, the Helston Branch, Malmesbury, Highworth and Faringdon branches, the Ditton Priors branch and finally Stourbridge Junction to Wolverhampton Low Level.

A huge variety of ex-GWR steam locomotives is seen ranging from all types of 4-6-0s (Kings, Castles, Counties, Halls, Granges and Manors), 28xx, 43xx, 2251, 72xx, 45xx, 41xx, 61xx, 66xx, 57xx, 94xx, 16xx, 14xx and even a very brief glimpse of a condensing pannier tank! BR Standards put in an appearance as does the odd Warship diesel hydraulic.

There is something for everyone and a Great Western delight for all GW enthusiasts!

The archive film is in both colour and Black & White and was mostly filmed in the 1950s and 1960s. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of GWR steam.

Cover photo:- Mike Clemens, Castle 4-6-0 No.7005 “Sir Edward Elgar” at Worcester in 1963.

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Released in Great Western, Great Western 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