**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 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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**RELEASED February 2019**

The fifth part in our “Steam Still at Work” series of films which mostly features 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 in Kent during 1969 where Mogul U-class 2-6-0 No.31618 (the 2nd locomotive rescued from Barry scrapyard) is seen near Maidstone, followed by the first of two journeys to the Ashford Steam Centre where there is a strong South Eastern & Chatham representation. We next visit Bridgnorth during 1965 at the very beginning of the Severn Valley Railway followed by scenes of the early days of workings to Hampton Loade featuring Nos.46443, 3205, 8233, 43106, and GWR railcar 22.

Many ex-GWR pannier tanks found a new commercial working life after BR and visits are made to see them on London Transport (No.L92) and on the NCB at Coventry (No.1502), Merthyr Vale (No.9600), and Mountain Ash (No.7754) collieries. In South Wales further NCB sites seen are Hafodyrynys, Celynen South, Brynlliw, and Maesteg.

Although not steam, another system of interest to enthusiasts visited at the end of 1969 was the “Woodhead” electrified system from Manchester to Sheffield Victoria.

Next we visit the Dart Valley Railway in May 1970 with its first ever through trains from the BR network – one by the LCGB with Praire No.4555 & Pannier No.1638 and the other one by Ian Allan with 0-4-2T No.1420 & again No.1638.

Further locations include Quainton Road, Bulmer’s at Hereford, Carnforth, Tyseley, and the Bluebell Railway on the occasion of their tenth anniversary. In North Wales visits are also made to the Welshpool & Llanfair (including the Legendary “Monarch” 0-4-4-0), Talyllyn and Vale of Rheidol railways.
Steam could also still be found across the Channel. We visit the last entirely steam-worked terminus in Paris at Gare-de-la-Bastille using 2-8-2 tanks during December 1969 plus also near Boissy and Vincennes. A trip was also organised to North Germany by the LCGB in April 1970 and includes Lingen (with a visit to the locomotive works) and Emden. Motive power features double-headed 011 Pacifics, Nos. 012, 023, and even an 082 0-10-0 tank.

The archive film is entirely in colour. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement our nostalgic look at this period from 1969 to 1970.

Cover photo:- Colin White, Andrew-Barclay 0-4-0ST No.8 at Celynen Colliery, June 1970.

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**RELEASED Late November 2017**

Another instalment of our popular “Miscellany” series this time focusing on steam in Wales. It features mostly previously unseen footage largely compiled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels.

We begin at Llangollen and travel on to other locations along this route including Berwyn (with Dukedog 4-4-0s and even a Bulldog 4-4-0), Glyndyfrdwy, Llandderfel, Bala Junction, Bala and the loop at Garnneddwen. The line from Pontypool Road to Neath cut across the heads of the valleys of South Wales and was inevitably a steeply graded route with many tunnels and viaducts. The most famous of all these viaducts was the Crumlin Viaduct, the highest in the country. There is plenty of film footage here for us to admire this massive structure. Hengoed Viaduct is also seen along with both the High Level and Low Level stations. We then visit Nelson & Llancaiach, the branch to Cwmbargoed and Dowlais Cae Harris and Quakers Yard High Level before visiting Aberdare High Level with its staggered platforms.

Into North Wales, we visit Bangor and then on Anglesey, Llanfair PG, Gaerwen and Amlwch. Moving south again, we visit the Central Wales line for the decent from Sugar Loaf Summit and Llandovery. The line from Shrewsbury to Chester forms the eastern boundary of this volume and we include footage at Chirk, Cefn Viaduct, Ruabon, Croes Newydd and Gresford Bank and in the snow, the Brymbo Branch. On the Cambrian main line we visit Welshpool, Talerddig Bank, Macynlleth, Dovey Junction, Borth and Aberystwyth; this coastal route includes visits to Gogarth Halt, Towyn, Fairbourne and Barmouth.

Back to South Wales and we see steam action at Cardiff, Newport (including a visit to Cashmore’s scrapyard), Severn Tunnel Junction and Torpantau. We then journey down the Rhondda Fach from Maerdy and see freight trains labouring up the Llanvihangel Bank complete with banking assistance. All in all a veritable feast of Welsh Steam!

Motive power includes: ex-GWR 94xx, 74xx, 16xx, 57xx, 56xx, 41xx, 61xx, 42xx,72xx, 56xx, 2251, 43xx, 28xx, Dukedog, Bulldog, Castle, Hall, Grange and Manor classes, ex-LMS Ivatt 2-6-2T & 2-6-0s, Black 5s, 4F 0-6-0s, 8Fs and Coronation Pacifics classes plus BR Standard Britannias, Class 5 and Class 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-4T and Class 3 2-6-2 tank engines.

The archive film is in both colour and Black & White. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of Welsh steam.

Narrated by: Mike Clemens.

Cover photo: Keith Pirt/Courtesy of Book Law Publications, 7828 “Odney Manor” at Welshpool Station, July 1963.

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