**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 12th. January 2022**

Covering Wales and The Marches area in the days of steam, this volume has been has been mostly compiled from previously unseen footage in the late Ellis James-Robertson’s Collection. Ellis was born in Swansea in 1922 and had moved to near Pwllheli at the age of 11 before taking up residence in Worcester in the mid 1950s.

We start with scenes at Bangor on 7th.April 1961, before moving to South Wales for a visit to the Swansea & Mumbles Railway. This was the first passenger carrying railway in the World and we feature both rare monochrome and colour footage.

We return to North Wales for glimpses of the Snowdon Mountain Railway and Vale of Rheidol Railway before the first of a number of visits to the area around Pwllheli. Ellis travelled on the SLS “farewell to the Cambrian Railways” rail tour that ran on 17th.January 1965 and features such places as Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Ellesmere, Whitchurch, Oswestry, Llanymynech and Llanfyllin.

On Saturday 6th.June 1964, a round trip was made from Hereford which included Pontypool Road, Hafodyrynys, Crumlin Viaduct, Hengoed, Quakers Yard, Aberdare, Neath and Landire to Swansea High Street before continuing along the Central Wales route to Swansea Victoria via Gowerton South, Pontarddulais, LLandovery, Cynghordy Viaduct, Builth Road, Llandrindod Wells, and Craven Arms.

There is excellent coverage, filmed on 7th.April 1964, of the freight only, 14xx worked branch from Leominster to Kington and Presteigne with Ellis travelling on the engine to and from Presteigne. Great Western enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy this 15 minutes and more of branch line delight!

Next we visit the old Carnarvonshire Railway north from Afon Wen with all steam action at Chwilog, LLangbi, Ynys and Brynkir including double-headed summertime specials. Ellis also filmed the last inbound freight train to Lydbrook Junction from Gloucester via Ross-on_wye and Kene Bridge on Friday 29th.October 1965. Other locations include Dolgellau, Porthywaen, Llynclys, the last day of operation in August 1963 over the town section of the Welshpool & Llanfair narrow gauge line.

We conclude with scenes at the NCB collieries of Merdy and Mountain Ash.

The film covers the period from 1960 to 1966. Motive power includes ex-GWR 14xx, 2251, 28xx, Hall 4-6-0s and pannier 57xx, 78xx, 94xx classes, an ex-MR Dock Tank, ex-LMS Fairburn 2-6-4Ts, Black 5s, Scots, 8Fs, Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2Ts & 2-6-0s, BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 73000s, Class 4 4-6-0 75000s, Class 4 2-6-4T 80000s, Class 3 2-6-2T 82000s & Class 2 2-6-0s 78000s. Plus NCB industrials.

Filmed almost all in colour, an authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of steam across Wales and The Marches.

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**RELEASED 11th.August 2021**

THE JOHN RYAN COLLECTION.
The ninth volume in our popular “Miscellany” series to cover London Midland steam. This time it is compiled entirely from cine film taken by John Ryan from the Wirral and assembled in the running order of the original cine film. There is coverage across England, Scotland, and Wales and we include previously unused footage from the B & R archives with the emphasis on London Midland material.

There is some excellent film across the Wirral which includes 9Fs hauling ore trains from the dock at Bidston via Storeton, Heswall Hills, and Burton Point to the John Summers works at Shotton—the heaviest regular unfitted mineral workings on the whole of BR. The line from Birkenhead Woodside to Chester is covered in detail, such as Birkenhead shed, Rock Ferry, Bebbington & New Ferry, Spital, Hooton, Capenhurst, and Upton-by-Chester. We then move to Gresford bank, Wrexham, the Brymbo branch, Ruabon, Cefn.viaduct, Chirk, Chirk viaduct Gobowen, and Shrewsbury.

The North-West of England is another area well-photographed by John at locations such as Preston, Layton, Poulton-Ie-Fylde, Kirkham & Wesham, Croston, Ormskirk, Town Green & Aughton, Maghull, Aintree Sefton Arms, Wigan Wallgate, Hindley North, Clifton Junction, Bradshaw Brook viaduct, Southport, Banks, Hoole, Penwortharn (Cop Lane), the Horwich to Blackrod and Chorley push-pull, Royton, Manchester, Ashburys for Belle Vue, Guide Bridge, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Didsbury, Meir, Pleasington, Rose Grove shed, Hest Bank water troughs, and Whalley viaduct.

There is more film in Wales at Llandudno, Llandudno Junction, Conwy, Penmaenmawr, Rhyl, Gwersyllt, Gowerton South, Swansea Victoria, and Bynea Halt. Other locations visited include London Marylebone, Camden, the Newport Pagnell branch push-pull the “Newport Nobby” , Rugby, Alston, Lanarkshire, Gleneagles, Carlisle, Alston, Stanley Bridge Halt, Bristol, Berkeley Road, Gloucester, Fenn’s Bank, Birmingham, the Kingsbury branch & Baddesley colliery.

The time period for this film is through the 1960s up to 1968. Motive power includes ex-GWR 56xx, ex-LMS Stanier Class 3 2-6-2Ts, 1Fs, Class 4 2-6-4Ts, Crabs, 4Fs, Jinties, 8Fs, Ivatt Class 4 & 2 2-6-0s, Black 5s (including experimental types), Jubilees, Coronation Pacifics, Super Ds, BR Standard Britannias, Class 5 (including Caprotti examples) and 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-0s, Class 3 77000 2-6-0s and 82000 2-6-2Ts, Class 2 2-6-0s & 2-6-2Ts and 9F 2-10-0s.

An authentic sound track has been added along with an informative commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam.

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**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 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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