**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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**RELEASED 17th.January 2023**

ALL NEW FILM!

The second instalment of all new, and never previously seen, high quality cine films largely taken by the late Brian Parnell. In this volume we mostly feature the North-East of England and Scotland. Once again it is complied in the running order of the original cine film.

We begin in the North-East at Tyne Dock, a location where it was possible to see the vivid contrast between 1950s built 9F 2-10-0s and pre-grouping designed classes of locomotives. At Newcastle Central we see the classic panorama of what once was said to be the largest railway crossing in the entire world even including some 3rd rail electric action.

Further to the north time is spent at Blyth, then the largest coal exporting port in the whole of Europe, before visiting South Blyth shed, Bedlington, Bedlington’ A’ colliery, and Manors.

South of the Tyne, we visit Pelaw, Horden, Crimdon Dene Viaduct, Hart, and West Hartlepool (with footage of an English Electric ‘Type 3′ with a brake tender) before moving further south to Darlington.

Travelling back north again and into Scotland, we visit Carstairs, Dunfermline shed, Dunfermline Lower, Edinburgh Waverley, Edinburgh Princes Street, Dairy Road Shed and Cowdenbeath. Then off to Glasgow for ‘Blue Train’ EMUs and steam action in and around Glasgow Central.

Next, a few minutes are spent at Stirling, including the bridge over the Forth, along with a glimpse of one of the experimental ‘Black 5s’. Then there is the picturesque coverage of crossing the Allan Water at Dunblane with the Cathedral in the background. Perth is well covered and includes the West Coast Postal in the hands of an A4 and numerous steam-hauled freight and passenger services.

A number of the ‘Scottish Rambler’ rail tours were filmed by Brian such as a ‘Crab’-hauled trip around collieries in Ayrshire, A DMU journey is made between Ladybank and Dundee with good coverage of the Tay Bridge and a visit to Dundee Tay Bridge depot with film of the terminus at Dundee West just before closure. Further north we see Montrose, Kinnaber Junction, and Bridge of Dun, even joining an A4-hauled express to take us back to Perth via Forfar.

Other locations Brian visited include footage of LNER locomotives at Nine Elms, Reigate, Coulsdon North, Banbury, Lutterworth, Rugby Central, Nottingham Victoria, and Chesterfield Central.

Motive power featured includes (in no particular order) ex-LNER AI, A2, A3, A4 Pacifics, V2, B1, Q6, J27, J26, J37, J39, L1 classes, ex-LMS Crabs, Fairburn 2-6-4Ts, Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0s and Stanier Black 5s. Also BR Standard Class Britannia Pacifics, Class 5 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-4Ts, Class 2 2-6-0 78000s, WD 2-8-0s and 9F 2-10-0s. Plus the odd ‘Deltic, Clayton Type 1, EE Type 3 and BRCW Type 2 diesels. Even Glasgow ‘Blue Train’ electrics and a Tyne 3rd rail EMU put in an appearance!

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 mid August 2019**

The second volume in our popular “Miscellany” series to cover steam in Scotland. This time we see much previously unseen footage mainly across the Central Lowlands and Southern Uplands.

Starting at Carlisle, a brief call is made to Canal Shed before seeing a locally based J39 on the Langholm branch followed by a visit to Hawick on the Waverley Route. At Kelso and Northam we catch a glimpse of the local Tweedbank service between St. Boswells and Berwick.

Back to the WCML, there are visits to Beattock, Beattock Bank and Lockerbie where an ex-Caley 0-4-4T is shunting. On the ex-GSWR main line, Dumfries is well covered (including it’s shed), before we head off along the “Port Road” to Stranraer via Castle Douglas visiting New Galloway, Newton Stewart, the Whithorn branch, Dunragit and Stranraer shed along the way. At Ayr there are 2-6-0 “Crabs” in action on the coal trains and we watch passenger services on the Heads of Ayr branch, Prestwick, Dreghorn, Barleith Halt and Mauchline as well as visiting Hurlford shed.

Brief scenes of Glasgow Trams are a prelude to extensive coverage of the railway suburban services south of the Clyde including Gourock, Paisley, Pollockshaws West, Corkerhill and East Kilbride followed by Hamilton, Hamilton shed, Larkhall, Tollcross, Mossend, Motherwell shed, Carluke (including the West Coast Postal), Carstairs and it’s shed.

We return to the east coast for views in and around Edinburgh including Haymarket shed, Waverley station, St. Margaret’s shed, Bathgate, Portobello and Reston.
Then into Central Scotland for steam action around Stirling followed by visits to Alloa, Killin and Connel Ferry. Time is next spent at Forteviot including seeing a “Princess Royal” and the local pick-up freight. Finally we visit Perth, Dundee shed, Wormit, Broughton Ferry, Thornton Junction, Bankfoot, Forfar, Kilmany, Lindores and the Carmyllie branch.

Almost all the archive film is in colour and the majority of the film covers the last few years of Scottish steam up to 1966. Motive power includes ex-Caley “Jumbo” 0-6-0s, a Caley Bogie, Caley 0-4-4Ts, ex-LMS 2Ps 4-4-0s, Dock Tanks, 2-6-4Ts, Crabs, 4Fs, Jubilees, Patriots, Royal Scots, Princess Royal and Duchess pacifics, ex-LNER A1, A2, A3, A4 pacifics, B1s, V2s, J36, J37, J38, J39 and V3s. BR Standards include Britannias, Clans, Class 5s, Class 4 2-6-0s, Class 2 2-6-0-s and Class 4 2-6-4Ts. An authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of Scottish steam.

Cover Photo: Keith Pirt/Courtesy of Book Law Publications, 44703 with the midday Aberdeen-Glasgow (Buchanan St.) near Drumlithe, Sept 1966.

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**RELEASED October 2016**

Another in our steam miscellany series, but this time covering Scotland. Again, it uses mostly previously unseen film compiled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels and largely without our usual detailed commentaries.

We begin at Carstairs with a very slippery 46244 “King George VI” and then move to Edinburgh Waverley for the first of a number of visits here that also includes St. Margaret’s shed and Craigentinny carriage sidings. Not forgotten is the now-closed Caledonian Railway terminus in the city at Princes Street.

Few would have thought that the final work of Gresley’ s famous A4s would have on the well known three-hour expresses between Glasgow and Aberdeen. In fact, by June 1964, only one class member was left in England. This route is covered in detail including at Glasgow Buchanan Street, Larbert, Plean, Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Gleneagles, Perth, Forfar, Laurencekirk, Stonehouse, and Aberdeen. There is also extensive coverage at Thornton Junction and Dundee,

At Montrose J37s are seen going about their daily duties, whilst at Aberdeen we make a visit to the Gas Works whose locomotives had tramway-type skirts enclosing their motion.

We next visit Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street whilst at Kilwinning a Caledonian ‘Jumbo’ is seen at work as we head towards the Glasgow & South Western stronghold of Ayr. Here there are 2-6-0 ‘Crabs’ aplenty on freight trains, a double-headed boat train from Stranraer, steam on the local to and from Kilmarnock, plus also a lightweight Park Royal railbus.

Sheds seen include Edinburgh St. Margaret’s, Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen Ferryhill, Ayr and Hurlford. Classes seen include: Coronation, A1, A2, A3, A4, V2, J36, J37, J38, WD 2-8-0, Crab 2-6-0, ex-LMS 2-6-4T, Black 5, Caledonian 3F, Caledonian ‘Jumbo’ 2F, B1, BR Standard Britannia, & Clan pacifics, Standard Class 5 (including Caprottis), 76xxx, 77xxx and 80xxx.

Filmed largely in colour and mostly during the 1960s, an authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of Scottish steam.

Cover photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy of Booklaw Publications, A4 No.60019 “Bittern” climbing out of Stonehaven, June 1966.

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**RELEASED MAY 2013**

“Steam Routes” is a series of films featuring steam traction along specific routes rather than areas, mostly using previously unseen 1960s archive film. Here our fourth instalment contains film of the West Coast Main Line from Tebay and Shap Summit to Carlisle, Beattock Summit and onwards via Carstairs to Glasgow.

We start at Tebay with views of the banking operations to the summit at Shap plus operations at the quarry exchange siding, before descending to Penrith for scenes at the station and its approaches. The line to Keswick, Bassenthwaite & Arnside is visited with an Ivatt 2-6-0 hauled railtour in 1966.

At Carlisle Citadel station, steam is all around and being used on normal service trains as well as railtours. Engines featured include Ivatt 2-6-2Ts, Britannias, Clans, Black 5s, Coronations plus some ex-LNER locomotives from Edinburgh. There is plenty of steam action at Carlisle Kingmoor depot!

Northwards, we travel along the ex-NBR Waverley Route to Riddings and visit the Langholm branch with a J39 0-6-0. A4s and A2s are also seen on specials on the Waverley Route. We return back to the WCML at Rockcliff and Gretna for views of passing steam hauled trains.

Travelling further northwards, we visit Dumfries, on the ex-GSWR main line, and the former “Port Road” to Stranraer for scenes at Castle Douglas plus token exchanging at Crossmichael with a Crab 2-6-0! More scenes at Dumfries station include 4472 on a special and we return to the WCML at Lockerbie for some depot shunting with a Pickersgill tank! We continue on to Beattock for footage of the station, yard and the banking operations for the climb to the 1015ft summit. There are even views inside Beattock Summit signal box and passing locomotives include Clan Pacifics and A4 “Kingfisher” on a freight!

Finally, we descend to Carstairs, Carluke, Motherwell and into the suburbs of     Glasgow including Wemyss and Gourock before arriving at Glasgow Central with steam and blue electrics.

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: Keith Pirt/Courtesy Booklaw Publications, Britannia No.70025 “Western Star” on Shap Summit.

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