**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 9th October 2014**

Most of the Southern’s train journeys to the West commenced at Waterloo where we see a Merchant Navy pacific backing on to its train before departing. Double headed MNs depart from Weymouth followed by a Standard Class 5 at Wareham. There is Bulleid action at Seaton Jct and Barnstaple plus an N Class 2-6-0 at Okehampton.

At Bournemouth Central we see S&DJR 2-8-0s, Bulleid pacifics, Standard Class 5s and Ivatt class 2 tanks. Adding to this variety blue A4 “Sir Nigel Gresley” is on a rail tour racing through the New Forest. Scenes at Brockenhurst feature both Standard tender and tank engines. A Channel Island Bulleid hauled boat train hurries through Beaulieu Road. More Bulleid Pacifics are seen at Southampton Central and Eastleigh with one rushing through Shawford in wintery conditions. Some excellent shots of Bulleids and Standard class 4 4-6-0s at Battledown Flyover are followed by footage at Basingstoke with Bulleids roaring through and departing.

Along the Salisbury line we stop at Andover for some nice Bulleid action, as well as an S15 and a Standard class 5 plus a GWR Manor, Hall and an S&D 2-8-0 on enthusiasts specials. At Salisbury we are just in time to see the crack Atlantic Coast Express arrive. More Bulleid pacifics along with an N Class mogul. A USA tank has the melancholy task of shunting lines of withdrawn engines. Passing Salisbury shed, and Templecombe we reach Yeovil Junction to see a Maunsell King Arthur, an M7 on a push-pull and a Merchant Navy.

Next a trip to Yeovil Town on a Western auto train before returning to the Junction for more Bulleid action. After passing through Crewkerne and Chard, where a pair of S15s are seen, we arrive at Axminster. We travel the Lyme Regis branch, first behind the legendary 0415 tanks and then by two Ivatt class 2 tanks on the LCGB East Devon Railtour. Next to Seaton Junction for a trip to Seaton behind an M7 tank before returning to the Junction to see S15′s, Pacifics and a 64XX pannier . Onwards to Sidmouth for M7, Standard Class 3 and an Ivatt class 2 plus Pannier hauled special train to Exmouth. We travel past Exmouth Junction Shed where an A4 is being serviced and arrive at Exeter Central for the ACE. A W tank is seen amongst the usual motive power.

Finally we traverse the steep gradient down towards Exeter St Davids to see two West Countries departing, then to Cowley Bridge for the Southern’s Withered Arm with some nice shots of N class 2-6-0s at Eggesford, Halwill Jct. and Braunton plus an Ivatt tank at Instow.

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

Cover Photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Book Law Publications, 34078 “22 Squadron” enters Exeter Central. 1963.

Click here to order this Volume 188 and other videos online

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**RELEASED 28th AUGUST 2014**

In this sixth part of our series, we cover the lines around the Scottish Lowlands, the Borders area and the South West.

We begin with steam and diesel activity at Edinburgh Waverley including a visit to St.Margaret’s Shed.
North of the Border, regular Easter features were the “Scottish Rambler” rail tours. In 1963 these were jointly organised by the Stephenson Locomotive Society and Branch Line Society. It gave an opportunity to travel over branch lines that had lost their passenger service years earlier.

On Easter Sunday, 14th.April 1963, we visit Reston to Duns, Tweedmouth to Wooler and the Coldstream, Roxburgh, Jedburgh and Greenlaw lines.

Two strategic routes that are sadly no longer with us were the Waverley Route from Edinburgh to Carlisle and the Port Road from Dumfries to Stranraer. We feature footage along both lines.

Also included are the branches to Lockerbie, Kirkcudbright, Whithorn and Garlieston. In the middle of the Galloway Moors we visit the lonely passing place of Loch Skerrow with no road access and the impressive “Big Water of Fleet” viaduct.

Coal traffic was thriving around Newton-on-Ayre and we also visit the NCB steam operated system at Waterside.

All the archive film used is mainly in colour and was filmed between 1963 and 1966. Motive power seen varies from ex-Caledonian and ex-North British types through to BR Standards. We even include the last ever passenger working with a Caley “Jumbo” 0-6-0!

A detailed commentary and authentic sound track completes a nostalgic look at the railways of Southern Scotland.

Cover Photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Booklaw Publications, V2 2-6-2 No.60882 passes Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh in 1962

Click here to order this Volume 187 and other videos online

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**RELEASED LATE JULY 2014**

Turkey lies at the further eastern extremity of Europe with one seventh of its territory in Europe and the remainder in Asia, separated by the Bosphorous waterway. While the former is largely flat, the latter is mountainous with railways facing severe gradients climbing into the rugged interior from the coastal plains of the Mediterranean in the south and the Black Sea in the north.

The first railway was started in 1856 and construction continued until 1971 when the final section from Lake Van to the Iranian border was finished. But this still resulted in a sparse network of lines for such a large country.

Locomotives were of necessity, powerful and sturdy with mainly British, German and American builders. Passenger working were sparse with only one or two trains a day for most lines and often mixed traffic. Freight workings predominated with many trains double headed or with banking engines on the steeper line sections. Most lines were standard gauge with a few narrow gauge lines. Dieselisation was completed first in the West, gradually moving eastwards. Steam locomotive building ended in 1961. In the West most locomotives were coal fired due an abundance of coal mines; in the East most were oil-fired. However by the late 1980s all had been withdrawn.

Our first scenes concentrate on the western part of Asiatic Turkey with scenes from Izmir with its intensive suburban services and longer distance trains to the interior plus around the Black Sea port of Zonguldak with its extensive coal mines and associated workings.

Later scenes move further east via the Black Sea coast to Sivas and the Euphrates Gorge near Erzurum and returning south via Konya.

This all colour film has been brought to life with superb sound and commentary.

Cover Photo:- Cover photo: Colin White. 57018 on 9:35 to Denizli at Alsancak (44071 pilot) 13/12/75.

Click here to order this Volume 186 and other videos online

(By clicking here you are entering Wolverton Rail Videos web site with over 4000 transport videos & DVDs available

‘Run by Enthusiasts for Enthusiasts since 1987′.

Please note you will be buying from Wolverton Rail and not B & R Video Productions)… Read More

**RELEASED JUNE 2014**

Many of the great names associated with the birth railway are also associated with the North East of the country. Such names at Stephenson and Hackworth spring to mind. In this volume we cover many of the locations still using steam in this area and these famous names continue as those of the locomotive builders.

At the NCB Philadelphia central workshops we see the remains of a Hackworth locomotive, built for the Hetton Colliery Railway as far back as 1838. Many of the other locomotives seen in use come from the factory in Forth Street, Newcastle built where George and his son Robert Stephenson set up their original works in 1823.

In Northumberland, we start at Ashington, the “largest pit village in the world” and see coal being moved from the pit to the power station.

Moving south to County Durham, we see locomotives built by the pre-grouping North Eastern Railway still being used on BR tracks.

Other locations visited include the shipbuilders Doxfords, with their fascinating fleet of crane tanks. Many NCB locations are also visited including Derwenthaugh, Morrison Busty, Hetton, Lambton, Backworth, Burradon, Bates, Widdrington, Amble, Whittle, Shilbottle, and Harton with its electric locos.

Onwards to the Durham coast and we visit Seaham Harbour with its second-hand locos and the famous steam paddle tugs “Eppleton Hall” and “Reliant” in action.

Apart from the Hetton Colliery locomotive, the other locomotives seen date from one built in 1887 to the Stephenson Iong-boilered design and the modern Hunslets of 1957.

We have a ride in the cab along a colliery mineral railway and also see the colliers being loaded from coal staithes at the coastal ports. A veritable feast of steam in the North East with a flavour of industrial history!

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:- Jon Marsh
Lambton No.29 climbing the bank to Philadelphia.

Click here to order this Volume 185 and other videos online

(By clicking here you are entering Wolverton Rail Videos web site with over 4000 transport videos & DVDs available

‘Run by Enthusiasts for Enthusiasts since 1987′.

Please note you will be buying from Wolverton Rail and not B & R Video Productions)… Read More