Catalog
Volumes 239 and above
- Volumes 230-238
- Volumes 222 to 229
- Volumes 214 to 221
- Volumes 207-213
- Volumes 200-206
- Volumes 190-199
- Volumes 180-189
- Volumes 174-179
- Volumes 167-173
- Volumes 158-166
- Volumes 150-157
- Volumes 142-149
- Volumes 134-141
- Volumes 127-133
- Volumes 117-126
- Volumes 108-116
- Volumes 101-107
- Volumes 90-100
- Volumes 80-89
- Volumes 70-79
- Volumes 60-69
- Volumes 50-59
- Volumes 40-49
- Volumes 30-39
- Volumes 20-29
- Volumes 7-19
- Uncategorized
- The Wilderness Years – Steam Still At Work after August 1968
- The Chris Noyle Collection
- The Brian Parnell Collection
- Steam Routes Series
- Steam in Wales & The Borders
- Southern Steam Miscellany Series
- Southern Steam Finale
- Scottish Railways Collection
- Overseas
- Miscellany Series (post Vol.190)
- London Midland Steam Miscellany Series
- Lancashire & Yorkshire Memories
- The Jim Clemens Collection
- Industrial Railways
- Great Western Steam Miscellany Series
- Great Western
- Diesels & Electrics (heritage)
- Diesel & Electric Miscellany Series
- Along Southern Lines
- Along LNER Lines
- Along LMS Lines
- Along GWR Lines
Tag Archives: industrial
Volume 240
| Vol.240: Steam Still at Work after August 1968 Part 6 – 1970-1971 (80-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED 21st.March 2022**
The sixth and final part in our “Steam Still at Work” series of films mostly featuring the steam scene, both at home and overseas, after the end of main line steam on British Railways in 1968. In this volume we also include a few historical sequences from earlier years.
The Severn Valley Railway was a favourite location for enthusiasts and is visited a number of times. Trips are also made-to other early preserved lines such as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Ex-GWR King class 4-6-0 No.6000 “King George V” is seen with the famous ‘Return to Steam’ special in 1971.
The last main line steam locomotives working anywhere in the British Isles were in Northern Ireland. Here we spend time in 1970 watching the ex-NCC class ‘WT’ 2-6-4Ts top and tailing quarry spoil trains running alongside Belfast Lough. The wagons were specially built by Cravens of Sheffield and made up into three trains of twenty hoppers each with a “WT” engine at each end. They were used to transport fill for motorway construction. Also in Ireland the RPSI 1971 tour is seen behind Class J15 0-6-0 No.186, the most numerous class of locomotive to ever run in the Emerald Isle.
Other heritage locations seen include the Dart Valley Railway, Quainton Road, Bluebell Railway, Whipsnade and Umfolozi Railway, Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, Tyseley, Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, Didcot, Dinting, Longmoor Military Railway, and the Llanberis Lake Railway.
The industrial steam scene is also well covered with crane tanks at Doxford’s Shipyard Sunderland, the last exclusively steam-worked ironstone line at Nassington, Northamptonshire, at London Transport with ex-GWR Pannier power, and the oldest steam locomotive working commercially anywhere in the country at Wirksworth Quarries, Derbyshire.
We then travel across to mainland Europe where steam was considerably still in daily use. Here, amongst others, we feature 141Rs at Boulogne, push-pull 141TCs at Paris, the LCGB tour of West Germany in May 1971 (including 012 4-6-2, Prussian G8.1 0-8-0, and Class 50 2-10-0), the Rio Tinto Railway in Southern Spain, Northern Portugal (Iberian gauge plus narrow gauge) and the Erzberg iron ore rack railway in ice and snow.
Filmed entirely in colour, mainly between 1970 and 1971, a commentary plus sound track complement this nostalgic look at the steam scene largely after August 1968. Although this is the concluding volume of this series we will still be creating many more volumes covering other topics from the days of steam.
Click here to order this volume 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
Volume 232
| A Miscellany of East Midlands Ironstone Railways (77-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED 9th July 2020**
The Jim Clemens Collection No.39
Jim Clemens had a passion for steam that did not end just with BR. He also took a keen interest in the industrial railways of Britain. This volume in our miscellany series is a compilation of the entire ironstone film archive he created, and has been assembled in the order the film runs off his original cine reels.
The most extensive ironstone system in the country was at Corby, This comprised about 40 route miles of track and covered an area of around 10 miles between the most northerly and southerly points. It boasted a fine newly-built (1954) engine shed with eight roads and rollup shutters. A number of visits were made here in the mid-1960s, plus trips commemorating the end of steam at the quarries (1969) and the steel works (1973). Included are the World’s largest quarrying machine (1,675 tons of it!), the Corby complex’s ‘Indus’ 0-8-0 diesel plus ex-BR Class 14 No.D9547
The narrow-gauge Kettering Furnaces system is visited during June 1961. This also included a rare Lingford Gardiner-built standard-gauge locomotive. Another narrow-gauge ironstone line is seen at Scaldwell where this railway’s eponymous locomotive is at work during May 1962.
The last operating narrow-gauge ironstone system was at Finedon Quarries, near Wellingborough and visits were made here in 1961 and 1966. The whole process is seen: empties on their way to Finedon Quarry, loaded wagons on their return, the very narrow tunnel under the Midland Main Line, plus the rather daunting transfer method used from narrow to standard-gauge.
The newest ironstone system in the Midlands was at Exton Park, and in 1963 we can admire their fleet of clean and modern 0-6-0s dating from the 1950s. Visits are made to the Irchester complex near Wellingborough, plus also Storefield. Blisworth. Pitsford, Loddington. Hanging Houghton, Desborough, Pilton, Charwelton, Cranford, Oxfordshire Ironstone Quarries (near Banbury and including a ‘Sentinel “) and Byfield. We conclude with a visit to Nassington, near Peterborough.
This ironstone railways enthusiast’s delight was filmed mostly in colour on both 8mm and 16mm cine-film. A commentary plus sound track complement our look at the ironstone railways of the East Midlands between 1960 and 1973.
Cover Photo:- Jim Clemens, Peckett No.87 at Finedon Quarry (Wellingborough) in September 1966.
Click here to order this volume 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 in Industrial Railways, The Jim Clemens Collection, Volumes 230-238
Tagged 1960, archive, diesel, industrial, Jim Clemens, Main Line, Midland, steam
Leave a comment
Volume 223
| A Miscellany of Diesel & Electric Power No.5 (80-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED April 2019**
The fifth in our popular electric and diesel miscellany series covering classic ‘modern’ traction from the 1960s through to the 1980s. Much of this footage is over 50 years old and once again we travel far and wide with a multitude of locomotive types in a huge variety of very different locations.
We start with diesel hydraulic activities, including “Warships”, at Bristol, Plymouth and around Swansea. Then on to the Pembroke Dock branch for DMUs and Hymeks.
Travelling north we witness scenes at Scarborough (including a Royal Train working), York (for Deltics in action) and Class 56s near Selby.
Back south again and to the Weymouth line for Class 33s on push-pull operations through the Bincombe tunnels.
Returning north once more, we visit Crewe during the modernisation in 1985 and the Woodhead Route for Class 76s on freight and passenger workings.
Down in London, at Paddington station, we see even more hydraulics plus a variety of English Electric traction before visiting King’s Cross. Other locations seen briefly include the Settle & Carlisle line, the Shrewsbury area, Hanwell, Weston Rhyn and Loggerheads.
We also feature some unusual footage of an excursion with a Southern 2-BIL electric multiple unit at the very end of their working lives. A brief look at the “Class 44 Farewell” tour is followed by a section devoted to the Metropolitan electric locomotive tour of 1972 starring the two now preserved examples Nos. 5 & 12 hauling a rake of Guards Vans. We return to Crewe to see a “Royal Scot” tour departing with a Class 40.
The Brymbo branch and Bersham colliery are well covered with Peaks and Class 47s on coal trains. Plus we include a glimpse of a couple of industrial steam engines!
Returning north once again, vintage electric multiple units are seen on the Morecambe branch of the unique experimental line from Lancaster Green Ayre.
Finally, to bring back memories for some, we conclude with some footage of DMUs on now long lost and closed lines.
Many of the locomotive classes that existed during this period are seen: 03, 08, 20, 24, 25, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 44, 45, 47, 50, 52, 55, 76, 81 – 86, 87…in fact there very few are left out!
All the archive film is in colour and an informative commentary and authentic soundtrack has been added
Cover Photo:- Hugh Ballantyne/Courtesy Book Law Publications,
86258 “Talyllyn—The First Preserved Railway” passes Stafford, 19/5/1984.
Click here to order this volume 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 in Diesel & Electric Miscellany Series, Diesels & Electrics (heritage), Volumes 222 to 229
Tagged archive, Carlisle, coal, Crewe, diesel, electric, freight, hydraulic, industrial, Keith Pirt, Lancaster, London, Paddington, preserved, Royal Scot, Royal Train, Shrewsbury, traction, Weston Rhyn, Weymouth
Leave a comment
Volume 217
| Steam Still at Work after August 1968 (60-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED June 2018**
The fourth part of in our “Steam Still at Work” series of films which feature the steam scene both at home and overseas after the end of main line steam on British Railways in 1968. The series continues until the “Return to Steam” tours on BR in October 1971.
We begin by visiting Woodham’s vast scrap yard of over 200 locomotives at Barry Docks in South Wales, followed by lineside at Blea Moor on 11th.August 1968 to witness the passing of the last BR steam train, “The Fifteen Guinea Special”. Then to the solemn lines of dead and withdrawn locomotives at the former BR steam depot at Carnforth. All was not lost here as a lease had been obtained lighting a preservation era spark which would transform the site into “Steamtown Carnforth” in subsequent years.
Next we visit the Keighley & Worth Valley and the Severn Valley lines in their very early preservation days. Quite a contrast to today!
Pockets of industrial steam still existed and we find “The Lady Armaghdale” and “Isabel” working for ICI near Manchester before preservation. The NCB was the largest user of steam locomotives nationally after 1968 and we travel to Widdrington Colliery where the one-time ‘J94′ No. 68078 is seen at work.
Flying Scotsman” made a final trip along the East Coast Main Line, complete with its two tenders, in August 1969 before heading to Liverpool for shipping to the USA. BR’s only remaining steam, the narrow gauge “Vale of Rheidol” line is visited followed by a trip around the Manchester Ship Canal system in September 1969. Steam was still active in Northern Ireland and operations are seen in 1969 including the famous spoil trains from Magheramore quarry to Belfast Lough.
We cross the Channel to France to enjoy the ruggedly handsome North American-built 141Rs at Boulogne. Plenty of steam could also be found in West Germany with the 012 4-6-2s on express passenger services (including a footplate run), heavy freight work with the class 044 2-10-0s and classes 023, 038, 050, 064, 065, and 078 on a variety of workings. A cornucopia of steam! Portugal was another favoured haunt, even including narrow-gauge 2-4-4-0 compound mallets.
Back to Blighty for a visit to Tyseley’s open day in September 1969, the LCGB ‘takeover’ of Bowaters paper mill system in October 1969, the Bluebell Railway, and finally to Didcot and the GWS, where ex-Wantage Tramway “Shannon” is seen in steam for the first time since 1942.A vast area of the country is covered from HSTs and Class 50s in the West Country, to the Midlands at Wichnor sidings, Bescot and then across to Norwich, with numerous other locations in between including Cosford and the Madeley route.
Filmed entirely in colour, a commentary plus sound track complement this nostalgic look at working steam after August 1968
Cover Photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Book Law Publications, Vale of Rheidol 2-6-2T No.7 “Owain Glyndwr” at Aberystwyth, 1969.
Click here to order this volume 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 in The Wilderness Years - Steam Still At Work after August 1968, Volumes 214 to 221
Tagged British, East Coast, Flying Scotsman, France, freight, Germany, industrial, Keith Pirt, LCGB, lineside, Main Line, Manchester, narrow gauge, quarry, Severn Valley, steam, USA, Wales, West Country, Worth Valley
Leave a comment
Volume 196
| Steam Still at Work after August 1968 (60-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED July 2015**
Our “Steam Still at Work” series of films features the steam scene after the end of main line steam on British Railways in 1968. The series continues until the “Return to Steam” tours on BR in October 1971. In this third part we discover that whilst BR main line steam did indeed finish in August 1968, enthusiasts could still find their cherished ‘Iron Horses’ at work around the country during 1969.
That bête noire of 1960s railways, Dr. Richard Beeching, proved that a leopard can change its spots, as in April 1969 he reopened a line – the Dart Valley Railway.
London Transport was still using steam for things like permanent way trains with ex-GWR pannier tanks doing the job. Whilst we would have to wait until October 1971 before 6000 King George V removed the main line steam ban, in 1969 this magnificent locomotive could be found at Bulmer’s cider factory, Hereford.
Dedicated steam hunters could also venture over the water, and we follow the RPSI two-day tour from Belfast to Cork. “Flying Scotsman” was the exception to the ban on main line steam, as owner Alan Pegler had secured a contract with BR allowing him to do so. There was also narrow-gauge steam, and we visit the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in Kent during May 1969. In the same month a trip is also made to the Talyllyn Railway.
At Didcot the Great Western Society had moved in during 1967 and were preparing for their first open day in May 1969. Another first open day was the Steamtown Railway Museum, Carnforth on 1st. June 1969.
We cover the Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire in detail – David Shepherd is present for the naming ceremony of 92203 and famous engine driver Sammy Gingell helps with 35028. WD 2-10-0 “Gordon” is seen hauling a BR special around the system during July 1969. By now the Keighley & Worth Valley in Yorkshire had been operating for one year and we see this delightful line basking in the summer sunshine.
Industrial steam is not forgotten – the Walkden system near Manchester featured North Staffordshire 0-6-2T “Sir Robert”, and the British Oak Coal Disposal Point near Wakefield used “Jinty” 47445. Another trip in the summer of 1969 was to the Cricklewood open day with 7029, 5593, 5428, and the legendary “Kestrel” – the 4,000hp diesel later sold to the Soviet Union.
Filmed entirely in colour, a detailed commentary plus authentic sound track complements this nostalgic look at steam after August 1968.
Cover photo:- Cover photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Book Law Publications, 3F 0-6-0 shunting NCB wagons at Williamthorpe Colliery.
Click here to order this volume 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
Volume 185
| North East Industrial Steam (60-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**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
Released in Industrial Railways, Volumes 180-189
Tagged archive, coal, electric, industrial, NCB, North East, steam
Leave a comment
Volume 181
| Along Southern Lines Part 6 (72-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED OCTOBER 2013**
This volume features steam traction in the Somerset and Dorset areas of the West Country and in particular the famous Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway from Bath to Bournemouth with both normal service and special trains.
We start with a glimpse of the ex-SR West of England main line before witnessing Bulleid Pacifics and BR Standards at Bournemouth Central and Weymouth. This is followed by a trip along the line visiting locations such as Radipole Halt, Upwey Wishing Well Halt, Bincombe Tunnel and Dorchester South. Spot the ex-LMS Black 5 interloper!
Next, we visit the ex-GWR Bridport branch from Maiden Newton with a number of specials along the branch featuring Ivatt 2-6-2 tanks using both black & white and colour footage. By contrast, there is a DMU trip along the line shortly before it closed in 1975.
In earlier times, we visit the Somerset & Dorset line with black & white scenes of Bath Green Park shed including ex-SD&JR 2-8-0 7Fs. Back to colour and footage of Bath Green Park station and views inside its famous train shed. We now travel along the line through Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels, Midford, Wellow and Radstock to see coal trains hauled by 7F 2-8-0s. On past Chilcompton, we climb to Masbury Summit, Shepton Mallet and Evercreech Junction. There are scenes of the line to Glastonbury, at Burnham-on-Sea, and Highbridge and Bridgwater.
Travelling south from Evercreech, we pass through Wincanton and arrive at Templecombe for the junction with the ex-SR main line. A busy scene here, with a variety of trains and engines in and around the station, shed and junction. Even 92220 “Evening Star” is on a normal service train! We continue south to Stalbridge, Sturminster, Shillingstone, Blandford Forum and Bailey Gate joining the main line at Broadstone Jct. before continuing to Poole and arriving at Bournemouth West.
Finally, there are views of the LCGB S & D farewell special with two unrebuilt Bulleids, some final scenes from the S&DJR line and we close with a classic S&DJR 7F under the train shed at Bath Green Park station.
Steam traction featured includes many Standards, Bulleid Pacifics, 4Fs, 7Fs, Black 5s, 9Fs, and Panniers plus Collett 0-6-0s on the Glastonbury line including the now preserved 3205.
All the archive film used is mainly in colour but some black & white footage is used. An authentic soundtrack has been added along with an extensively researched commentary.
Cover Photo:- Jim Clemens. 80138 at Evercreech Junction, March 1966.
Click here to order this Volume 181 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 in Along Southern Lines, Volumes 180-189
Tagged 8F, archive, Black 5, Bournemouth, Britannia, Bulleid Pacifics, Carlisle, coal, DMU, England, Europe, France, freight, Germany, GWR, industrial, Ivatt, Jim Clemens, Keith Pirt, Kingmoor, LCGB, LMS, Midland, North West, Oliver Cromwell, preserved, Somerset, SR, steam, Tebay, traction, West Country, Weymouth
Leave a comment
Volume 180
| Steam Memories of the Sixties Part 2 (60-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED SEPTEMBER 2013**
Chris Noyle filmed railways in Britain and Europe from 1962 to 1972. This is the third volume from his collection and mostly features the steam scene on the Midland Region in 1967 & 1968.
We start at Carlisle with 8Fs on passing trains followed by footage of locos being turned on Kingmoor shed’s turntable featuring Black 5s and 9Fs (even a former Crosti boilered example.) At Upperby Shed there is a line of withdrawn Britannias but inside we see a clean 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”. Back at Citadel station there is a lot of activity with Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0s on freight trains.
South to Tebay and scenes of passing goods & parcels trains as well as the Standard 4-6-0s banking engines on duty and positioning ballast trains for local trackwork relaying.
Chris visited Stoke-in-Trent during the last days of steam in 1967 and we see many shed scenes featuring 8Fs, Black 5s and Standard 4s including (now preserved) 75029 being serviced.
Returning to the North West, Chris visited Patricroft shed for more 8Fs and Black 5s including 45156 “Ayrshire Yeomanry”. There are a variety of 8F workings on Chequerbent incline before a visit to Bolton in 1968. Amongst all the steam workings we see a rare glimpse of a pair of Metro-Vick CoBos passing by, light engine. On the Padiham line, 8Fs are on coal trains before we visit Rose Grove shed, at the end of steam, Todmorden and Copy Pit Incline. At Accrington 70013 passes by and there are some shots of Eccles, Lostock Hall Shed and (now preserved) 45305.
At the very end of steam, Chris recorded many specials. The last remaining Britannia, 70013, is seen passing through Bolton on a special and on the line towards Skipton. Then at Kearsley double-headed Black 5s pass by on specials and towards Entwhistle. The very last day of BR steam was 11th.August 1968. Chris was on the Settle & Carlisle line to film the two Black 5s and 70013 pass by both light engine and hauling the famous last steam hauled special. The following weekend, Chris visited Carnforth shed to see the last steam engines there; some would be preserved but most would be scrapped…..
With the end of main line steam, Chris visited industrial sites with ex-BR locos. We see an ex-GWR pannier in the Rhondda Valley and J94 68078 at Widdrington Colliery. He then visited France, to see 141Rs at work in and around Calais & Boulogue, then to Spain, Portugal and Germany. We finish in Austria with snow covered tracks, a steam hauled double headed train leaving in sub zero temperatures, and a steam hauled snow plough clearing the tracks!
All the archive film used is virtually all in colour and an extensively researched commentary along with an authentic soundtrack has been added.
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. 8F 48062 and a Standard Class 4 departs Rose Grove, 1968.
Click here to order this Volume 180 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 in Volumes 180-189
Tagged 8F, archive, Britannia, Carlisle, coal, Europe, France, freight, Germany, GWR, industrial, Ivatt, Keith Pirt, Kingmoor, Midland, North West, Oliver Cromwell, preserved, steam, Tebay
Leave a comment
Volume 179
| A Cuban Steam Holiday (60-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED JULY2013**
FROM THE RON DAVIES COLLECTION: And now for something completely different from B & R: Steam in Cuba in the 1990s!
Cuba, in the Caribbean, was one of the few countries in the world where large numbers of industrial steam locomotives could been seen in daily use into the late 1990s, well after steam traction had been eliminated in other parts of the world. The 1959 revolution resulted in the island spending little on the railways and they became a “time warp” until further investment was available.
There are three gauges in use in Cuba: standard gauge, 3’ gauge and 2’6” gauge. Although steam power was eliminated from the main lines in the 1950s, it remained in use for many years on the sugar mill railways. These are used to transport cane from the collection points in the fields to the mills. In fact steam power can still be seen in parts of Cuba today, especially in the Spring during the sugar cane harvesting season.
Ron Davies visited the island on a number of occasions between 1995 and 1999 to record all this steam activity amid the breath taking tropical scenery. He used Super- 8mm cameras with the ability to record sound.
Some of the locomotives featured in this film were built at the beginning of the 20th. Century (some even earlier) from builders such as Alco, Baldwin, and Rogers. There are a variety of engines including 2-6-0s and 2-8-0s moving cane from the fields, whilst 0-4-0T, 2-4-2T, and other tank engines shunt cane wagons to the crusher. There is even footage of some very large fireless locos
We see street running, shed scenes, multiple gauge railway level crossings and many trains passing by at speed both loaded and empty. But witness the extremely poor state of the track; it’s a wonder they don’t derail! A very interesting film and a complete contrast to the UK scene.
The archive film used is in colour with its original sound track. An extensively researched commentary has been added.
Cover photo:- Baldwin 2-6-0 No.1626 of 1914, at Panchito Gomez Toro, Cuba.
Click here to order this Volume 179 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 in Volumes 174-179
Tagged archive, industrial, standard gauge, steam, traction
Leave a comment
Volume 177
| Industrial Steam in the South East (60-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED JUNE 2013**
In this volume, we cover the industrial railways in the South East of England including London. After steam had finished on the main lines, this area still had steam workings at the various industrial sites and for enthusiasts it was the place to visit until the mid 1970s.
We start with a visit to London’s Acton Lane Power Station and saddle tanks “Birkenhead” and “Little Barford” in action complete with wasp stripes on their smokeboxes! At Slough Estates complex, Hudswell Clarke tanks are shunting oil wagons. Mind the cars, there’s just a gap!
In 1972, we visit Rye House power station near Hoddesdon on the ex-GER main line to see RSH tank No.7597 shunting (more wasp stripes!) before witnessing its transport by road (mind those 25kv wires) for preservation on the Stour Valley Railway. Later, we see it in action on the SVR and on the GCR at Loughborough.
Onwards and there are Peckett saddle tanks at Ipswich Sugar factory and at Ford’s Dagenham Works (it had 25 miles of lines), where we see a variety of scenes including the foundry and dockyard.
Next to Chatham Dockyard and a 1980s view of the derelict saddle tanks followed by later preservation scenes with restored “Ajax”. Then to the paper mills at Greenhithe and Gravesend for fireless locos in action in & around the works.
Sittingbourne’s Bowaters Paper Mill had the largest system for paper and we make an extensive visit to it’s narrow gauge railway with mostly pre-preservation views of steam in action on goods as well as passenger trains. Plus views of standard gauge ex-SECR P “Pioneer II”, saddle tank “Jubilee”, the cableway and the dockside.
Onto Swanscombe Cement Works & Quarry in 1968 for Hudswell-Clarke tanks busy shunting cement wagons and then to Snodland Cement Works to see “Hornpipe” in action plus steam at Holborough Quarry with “Tumulus”.
Finally we visit the Kent Coalfield and the collieries at Snowdown and Betteshanger for extensive steam activity with “J94 type” Hunslets (among others), more wasp stripes, loading & unloading of wagons and a Class 73 electro-diesel at the BR exchange sidings.
All the archive film used is virtually all in colour and an extensively researched commentary along with an authentic soundtrack has been added.
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: Colin White”Monarch” at Bowaters in 1969.
Click here to order this Volume 177 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 in Industrial Railways, Volumes 174-179
Tagged archive, diesel, England, industrial, Jubilee, London, narrow gauge, standard gauge, steam
Leave a comment
Volume 174
| The Glory Days of Steam (1961-1965) (90-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**RELEASED FEBRUARY 2013**
THE TERENCE DORRITY COLLECTION: The period 1961 to 1965 was arguably the last glory days of steam traction before its sad demise. Terence Dorrity took the opportunity to film steam during this period, on all regions of British Railways, the Welsh Narrow Gauge railways and on the Continent.
Our journey begins with 4-6-0 “King George V” arriving at Birmingham Snow Hill contrasting starkly to the lines of stored Kings at Wolverhampton Stafford Road Shed. At Stratford-on-Avon there is much activity including freight trains and Castle hauled expresses to the West Country, plus trains to Evesham and Leamington Spa. There are visits to Banbury, for more freight trains & Kings on Birmingham expresses, Hereford Shed, Gloucester Shed and Cardiff station.
Then to Tuffley Junction, Gloucester, for a variety of trains, to Chalford (including an auto train footplate ride) and Moreton-in-Marsh. We visit the Cardigan branch, Morfa Mawddach, Oswestry, Welshpool and Talerdigg summit (with Manors and Standard 4s) before returning to Hatton Bank on the London to Birmingham line for 2-8-0 4707, Castle & King hauled trains & Bulleid Pacifics on football specials.
Onwards to the Southern Region for scenes at Templecombe, Eastleigh Shed & Worgret Junction with M7 tanks on both the Swanage push-pull trains and the Lymington Pier line. There are Terrier 0-6-0Ts on the Hayling Island branch and O2 tanks on the Isle of Wight!
Next, to Rugby on the Midland Region in 1962, for Princess Coronations, Britannias, Patriots, Scots & Jubilees. A trip to Scotland features the ex-Caley Single on tours and A4s on the Aberdeen 3 hour expresses. Then to the Eastern Region and at Kings Cross we see A1s and A4s (including 60008 “Dwight D Eisenhower”) and A2s and A3s at Wood Green..
Early preservation scenes feature the Bluebell (1963), the Isle-of-Man Railway (1963), Vale of Rheidol (1965), Welshpool & Llanfair (1965), Tal-y-llyn Railway (1962), Ffestiniog (1965) and Snowdon (1962).
We see industrial steam in 1962 at Kettering Furnaces, Wellingborough, Bilston (Wolverhampton), Beckton (North London), Oxford Ironstone (Banbury, Roxton), Waterside (Ayrshire, 1965) and Coventry Colliery with ex-GWR 15xx 0-6-0PTs (1969).
Finally, to Granada in Spain (1961) to see 240 No.2020 and many other types on the shed there, some being over 100 years old. Then to Nice in France (1962) to see the 141 Class and a variety of steam locos in the station and the shed, narrow gauge on the Reseau Breton in Britanny (1964) and French main line steam at Nantilles. We end our journey with steam into the sunset at Coventry Colliery.
All the archive film used is in colour and an authentic soundtrack has been added along with an extensively researched commentary.
Click here to order this Volume 174 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 in Volumes 174-179
Tagged archive, Birmingham, British, Bulleid Pacifics, Caley Single, Ffestiniog, France, freight, Gloucester, GWR, Hayling, Hereford, industrial, Kings Cross, London, Midland, narrow gauge, steam, Welshpool, West Country
Leave a comment
Volume 170
| Steam Still at Work (after August 1968) Part 2 (60-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**NOW IN STOCK AUGUST 2012**
Our “Steam Still at Work” series of films (formerly called “Return to Steam”) features the steam scene after the end of main line steam on British Railways in 1968. The series continues until the “Return to Steam” tours on BR in October 1971.
In this our second part, we cover the period 1968 to 1969 and include some preserved railways that started then. Their early preservation scenes contrast starkly with what we see today! From 1968 to 1971, 4472 “Flying Scotsman” was the only steam loco permitted on the main line and so we feature a number of its tours.
We begin, on 11th.August 1968, with that last steam hauled train on BR, the “15 Guinea Special” here double-headed by Black 5s on the Settle & Carlisle, along with some sombre views of the last steam locos at Carnforth. In the Autumn 1968 we visit the Severn Valley and Keighley & Worth Valley railways for early preservation scenes plus 4472 on the ECML. Next, a maritime interlude for rare footage of paddle steamers on the BR owned Humber ferry! Then to the Wallingford & Cholsey line for steam with the GWS‘s 1466 & auto-trailer. A visit to the Longmoor Military Railway for views of blue 0-6-0ST “Errol Lonsdale” and 2-8-0 “Gordon” in use. At Tyseley Open Day we see “Clun Castle” and “Kolhapur” on shuttles with 4472 arriving on the main line. Count the number of steam whistles on display!
In France, steam was still in everyday use and we see SNCF 141Rs on rail tours and service trains. Back to the UK for 4472 on the “Yorkshire Harvester” train from Kings Cross to York and a visit to the old York Museum. At Bath Road Depot Open Day, we see steam visitors & electric loco AL4 E3044! We visit Bulmer’s at Hereford to see newly restored No.6000 “King George V” pulling their Pullman train. Then to Bury depot for 5596 “Bahamas” and, despite the ban, its transfer trip (in steam) along BR lines to a new home at Dinting!
We visit Northamptonshire for the industrial workings in the quarries and steelworks and special trains. Then more early views in 1968 of the KWVR and the Bluebell Railway. Compare these scenes to those of today. What a contrast! At Bressingham Gardens, a “caged” 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” is seen giving cab rides plus scenes of the narrow gauge lines there. More 4472 tours include the Midland, ECML, Ely & March. At Finsbury Park Shed, the narrator is seen cleaning 4472’s nameplate!
Finally a few visits in 1969 to Dinting, the KWVR (for a glimpse of unrestored 46115 “Scots Guardsman”), the Bluebell Railway and lastly to the newly reopened Dart Valley Railway for auto-trains with “engines in the middle”.
All the archive film used is in colour and an extensively researched commentary and authentic soundtrack has been added.
Cover Photo:- Colin White, Fairburn 2-6-4T No.2085 at Haverthwaite, L&HR.
Click here to order this 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 in The Wilderness Years - Steam Still At Work after August 1968, Volumes 167-173
Tagged archive, British, Carlisle, Clun Castle, ECML, electric, Flying Scotsman, France, Guinea, Hereford, industrial, King George, Kings Cross, Midland, narrow gauge, Oliver Cromwell, preserved, Severn Valley, steam, Worth Valley
Leave a comment
Volume 167
| Diesel Hydraulic Heyday (72-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**NOW IN STOCK MARCH 2012**
The Western Region of BR adopted diesel hydraulic traction rather than diesel electric. Nearly 400 examples, both express, mixed traffic and shunting were introduced from the late 1950s. By 1977 they had all gone, save for a few preserved examples.
We start with the original A1A-A1A D600 Warship Class 41 and a short B&W sequence of D600 leaving Paddington with an express and then passing Par. A D6xx in green with a yellow warning panel passes Lostwithiel and along Dawlish Sea Wall. Green D601 “Ark Royal” on shed contrasts starkly to a later scene on the Barry scrap line with blue liveried D600 “Active”.
The Class 42/43 Warships, in both maroon and green, are seen on the GW Main Line & in the West Country including scenes at Dawlish, Penzance and Par. Over to Waterloo for Warships of all colours including a short cab ride in D809 “Champion” as it departs. Back to Paddington for Warships double-heading, a blue Warship crossing Saltash Bridge and green D850 at St.Erth.
Inside Swindon Works for views of Class 52 Westerns being built. A rare shot of Desert Sand “Western Enterprise”. The comings & goings of a vast variety of maroon and blue Westerns on expresses at Paddington, out on the GW Main Line, Bristol, Dawlish Sea Wall, Newton Abbott, Plymouth and Penzance plus freight trains in the snow and china clay trains. Also featured are a number of rail tours such as “The Western Talisman” from Kings Cross and the “Western Finale”. Over 30-mins of pure Western nostalgia!
On to Class 35 Hymeks and with b/w film we peek inside the Beyer-Peacock works during their construction. Out on the main line and green and blue Hymeks on a variety of passenger trains including double-heading with steam.
We see NBL D63xx Class 22s shunting at Coleford and Boscarne Junction plus extensive footage of D6346 shunting at Charlbury! Scenes from a bygone era. Look out for the man with the pole!
Finally, the Class 14 0-6-0 “Teddy Bears” and shunting at Coleford Junction and Lydney with D9555. Many Class 14s were sold into industry and we feature No.28 in industrial use.
We close our film with a Western, heading into the sunset…
Apart from a few early scenes in black and white, most of the footage is in colour and the film has an extensively researched commentary with an authentic sound track.
Cover Photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy Booklaw Publications,Hymek D7020 descends into Aberystwyth, September 1964
Click here to order this 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 in Diesels & Electrics (heritage), Volumes 167-173
Tagged Aberystwyth, diesel, electric, freight, hydraulic, industrial, Keith Pirt, Kings Cross, Main Line, Paddington, preserved, steam, Swindon, traction, Waterloo, West Country, Western Region
Leave a comment
Volume 166
| Industrial Steam Part 2 (79-mins) | Price £19.75 |
**NOW IN STOCK JANUARY 2012**
With the plethora of main line and branch line steam film footage from the 1960s, the co-existing but equally fascinating industrial steam scene in Britain is often neglected. It is easy to forget that it continued until around 1980. Although we have featured some scenes of industrial steam in other volumes, our last dedicated volume to Industrial Steam was way back in 1997 with our Volume 52! Here we have further look at industrial steam at work in England and Scotland from 1960 to 1980, this time mostly featuring the larger locomotives which worked at collieries and iron stone mines. These locomotives were usually built by private builders, although some ex-BR tank classes were used. The North East and Midland areas are well covered and there are many scenes of long gone engines working in an industrial environment now often vanished. Many of these engines survived into the preservation era and were eventually saved from oblivion. It is only fitting that we conclude our video with 2011 views of a selection of these industrial locomotives at work on preserved lines such as the Tanfield, Foxfield and Blaenavon railways.
All the footage is in colour and the film has an extensively researched commentary with an authentic sound track.
Keith Pirt/Courtesy Booklaw Publications, A Hawthorn-Leslie tank shunting at Nunnery Colliery, Sheffield, 1956.
Click here to order this 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 in Industrial Railways, Volumes 158-166
Tagged 1960, 1980, England, industrial, Keith Pirt, Midland, North East, preserved, Scotland, steam
Leave a comment
Volume 147
| Steam in the Valleys Part 2 (60-mins) | Price £19.75 |
The valleys of Wales once supplied coal to the world. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, some collieries were still shunted by steam locomotives.
Here in our second volume featuring these collieries, we portray steam at MAERDY, MERTHYR VALE, ELLIOT, TY MAWR, CYM, MARINE, BENYON BLAINA, CELYNON NORTH, CELYNON SOUTH, HAFODYRYNYS, TAL Y WAIN, BLAENAVON and TREDEGAR.
We see examples of industrial locomotives from five different builders as well as ex-GWR tanks, 9600, 9792 and 7754, in all weather conditions from sun to winter snow.
Horse worked mines are also visited. These used narrow gauge track and at DARRAN open cast site we see horse traction being used before the arrival of steam.
Both steam and diesel BR motive power served the valleys and we record the various comings and goings of coal trains.
All filmed in colour by enthusiasts who found these industrial locations both fascinating and friendly after the demise of BR steam in the valleys of Wales.
Cover Photo:- Colin White, “Tudor” at Beynon Colliery, 4/6/70.
Click Here for Vol.135 – Steam in The Valleys Part 1
Click here to order this 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 in Industrial Railways, Volumes 142-149
Tagged coal, diesel, GWR, Hafodyrynys, industrial, narrow gauge, steam, traction, Wales
Leave a comment