**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 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.

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**RELEASED late October 2019**

In this volume of our popular “Miscellany” series, we cover steam across the former London North Eastern (LNER) area and beyond. Once again it is compiled from mostly unseen footage from a variety of different cameramen and in the order the film runs off the original cine reels.

Our journey commences at Nottingham Midland with V2 2-6-2 No.60916, a locomotive temporarily loaned to the Southern Region in 1953 to cover for the “Merchant Navy” broken axle emergency. We then visit the former GCR stations at Nottingham Victoria and Sheffield Victoria, followed by York, Beverley, Aysgarth, Barnard Castle, Staveley, Doncaster, Langwith Junction, Stainforth and Hatfield.

Next to Kings Cross station and shed, Hadley Wood, Hatfield, Welwyn (and it’s famous viaduct), Langley Junction, Hitchin, Sandy, Peterborough (and Northampton), Eye Green for Crowland (M&GN) and Stoke Bank plus an extended visit to Spalding in 1963.

Moving to the North East, visits include Darlington, Newcastle Central, Gateshead Shed, Tyne Dock Shed, Sunderland Shed, Seaton Bank (including the pinning down of brakes), Ryhope Junction and the Silsworth Colliery branch.

Scotland is well covered with steam action at Aberdeen, the shed at Ferryhill, Dundee, Perth, Dunblane, Larbert, Hawick, Edinburgh, Ayre, Girvan (goods), Muirkirk, and the branch from Lugton to Giffen.

In the late 1960s, Jim Clemens purchased a significant quantity of original 16mm offcuts and unused film from Pat Whiltehouse, all relating to the BBC “Railway Roundabout” TV programmes. Included in this source are the new engine shed at Thornaby (opened in 1958), York, two “Glens” to Fort William over the West Highland line and Inverness shed.

Most of the film was taken in the period 1959 to 1967 with an exception of the LNER Garratt hauling demonstration freight in Sheffield during March 1930. Motive power seen includes ex-LNER classes A1, A2, A3, A4 pacifics, B1, B16, K1, K2, D34, Q6, O1, O4, J11, J27, V3 and J72 plus BR standards and some WD locomotives.

The majority of the archive film is in colour and an authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of London North Eastern steam.

Cover photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy of Book Law Publications, Gresley O2 2-8-0 No.63933 passing under Eaton Wood road bridge, July 1961.

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**RELEASED mid June 2019**

Jim Clemens Collection No.38.

With steam declining rapidly in the UK, Jim Clemens had decided that summer family holidays should be taken in Iberia chasing steam! Here in our second installment we continue his story of the rail scene in Spain and Portugal between 1966 and 1969.

The summer of 1966 found the family on the Costa Blanca in Spain. The ESA narrow gauge system is seen along the coast through Benidorm to Gandia. In Alicante a visit is made to the broad gauge engine shed and we spend some time at the now closed Benalua terminus including the through service from Cartaghena and Murcia to Valencia. A trip inland was also made to La Encina and Jativa.

In 1967 and 1968 Northern Portugal was the destination. Visits were made to the mixed gauge line at Regua in the Douro Valley. The broad gauge station pilot here was a Beyer-Peacock 0-6-0 dating from 1875 whilst on the metre gauge we see our first glimpse of the asymmetric 2-4-6-0 compound Mallet tank engines.

In Oporto, as well as watching the city’s tram and trolleybus systems, there is a visit to the narrow gauge terminus at Trindade to see 0-4-4-0 compound Mallets at work and a visit to the newly built (1965) broad gauge engine shed at Contumil.

Next we visit the narrow gauge system south of Douro at Sernada do Vouga, Oliveira de Azemeis and Espinho. Services are seen operating on the gauntleted track (narrow gauge set inside broad gauge) at Lousado and Famalicao with the branch onwards to Povoa de Varzim being particularly well covered. Other locations include Braga, Nine, Viana do Catelo,Valenca and Moncao.

In 1969 the base was Tarragona. By this time all the 2-8-2+2-8-2 Garratts had been concentrated here and we watch them at work on freight trains to Reus and Lerida. We also visit the Garratts home depot at Tarragona South, the refuelling point at Tarragona North shed and Lerida shed. More steam is seen at Mora La Neuva plus a glimpse of the 4000hp Spanish version of the BR “Warship” diesel, the RENFE Class 340.

Filmed in colour, a commentary plus sound track complement this look at the railways of lberia between 1966 and 1969.

Cover Photo: Jim Clemens,Garratt 2-8-2+2-8-2 leaving Reus for Tarrangona, July 1969.

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**RELEASED September 2018**

Jim Clemens Collection No.37.

The third volume in our popular “Miscellany” series to cover Southern steam. It again features previously unseen footage from the Jim Clemens Collection mostly compiled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels.
Here we feature more steam mostly from the South Western Division including some rare footage.
Locations include London Waterloo, Woking, Basingstoke, Battledown Flyover, Sailsbury, Micheldever, Eastleigh, Southampton, Brockenhurst, Lymington Junction, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester South and its strange operating procedure for up services, Upwey Wishing Well Halt, Upwey & Broadwey and Weymouth.

Oxford is the starting point in the summer of 1965 for two trips on the southbound ‘Pines Express’. A last journey is made in December 1965 over the Somerset & Dorset Railway from Templecombe to Bournemouth.

In the far west we visit the Axminster to Lyme Regis branch, Seaton Junction, Sidmouth Junction, Tipton St Johns, Budleigh Salterton, the Bere Alston to Callington branch, Exeter to Okehampton, Meldon Viaduct and Halwill, plus the North Devon & Cornwall Junction Light Railway through Hatherleigh and Petrockstow to Torrington and onwards to Barnstaple Victoria Road.

A cross section of latter-day Southern BR, & LMS motive power is seen, even the odd’ Warship’ diesel and D65xx

The archive film is entirely in colour and covers the years from about 1963 to 1967. An authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of Southern steam.

Cover Photo:- Keith Pirt/Courtesy of Book Law Publications, 73116 passing Worting Junction, March 1960.

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