Welcome to the Classic Traction website
ABOVE: GWR 50xx 'Castle' 5029 Nunney Castle pilots GWR 60xx 'King' 6024 King Edward I across East Largin Viaduct with the 'Cornish Riveria Express' on the 28th June 2010. This is just one of the many locations offered on some of the Classic Traction Photographic Courses. COPYRIGHT: STEVE ANDREWS / CLASSIC TRACTION.
The Classic Traction Collection
Welcome to the Classic Traction website, and we hope that you will find this site useful and informative. Classic Traction is one of this country's most prolific producers of railway DVDs, covering heritage steam and diesel locomotives, as well as modern diesel & electrics, DMUs and EMUs. Classic Traction prides itself in covering many of the principal events that are held on preserved railways and the national network over the length and breadth of the country. The Classic Traction Collection range of DVDs illustrates the finest elements in preserved steam and diesel, and are the leaders in the production in DVDs on areas of specialised railway interest, such as the GWR Steam Railmotor project, and we still produce the only commercially available programme on the world famous and much lamented Forest Railroad Park at Dobwalls.
ABOVE: The unique GWR Steam Railmotor No. 93 stands at Llangollen Station on 23rd March 2011, the first GWR railmotor to run in Mid Wales for over 75 years. Photograph: Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION.
The Classic Traction range of DVDs
Classic Traction has been described as "a prolific DVD producer" with its "broadcast quality" programmes which cover the complete spectrum of railway operations which can be observed in the British Isles. In fact, Heritage Railway have described Classic Traction as "probably the most prolific DVD producer in the country at present."
The Classic Traction Collection range of DVDs cover everything from mainline steam and diesel operations, to the heritage steam scene, where we aim to cover all of the preserved lines in the country, including the major gala and heritage events, as well as ground-breaking and news-worthy events, which are covered in our video-journal quarterly DVD programme, The Classic Traction Review, which is discussed in depth on a dedicated page on this website.
Modern Traction is an important and vital aspect of the current scene, and we are pleased to cover the ever growing and renewed interest in historic diesels, such as the iconic class 42 'Warship' and class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulics, as well as the legendary class 55 'Deltics,' through such programmes as Power of the Napiers, Maybach Legacy & Maybach Pioneer.
We also cover some of the more specialist areas of the railway world, and one of our greatest successes to date was achieved with the ground-breaking DVD Farewell to the Sherman Hill route, which was dedicated to the final days of the Forest Railroad Theme Park at Dobwalls in Cornwall. This railroad, which was a legend of miniature railway engineering, used North American outline miniature locomotives over two tortous routes which were dedicated to the Rio Grande and to the Sherman Hill route of Union Pacific. Using locomotives such as Rio Grande K37 2-8-2s, Union Pacific 800 4-8-4s Queen of Wyoming & Queen of Nebraska, as well as the legendary Union Pacific 'Big Boy' 4-8-8-4 X4008 William Jeffers, these legendary locomotives are shown as they tackle the routes challenging 1 in 65 gradients. Using archive and contemporary footage filmed from the cab of 'Big Boy,' we see the 4-8-8-4 as she climbs Sherman Hill, showing what it was truly like to drive and fire a Union Pacific 'Big Boy!' The success of this DVD was followed by two further programmes on Dobwalls, Locomotives of the Forest Railroad, which studies every locomotive in detail, and The Forest Railroad: The Next Chapter, which looks at the final years of the park and the locomotives move to a new home in Dorset, before their eventual move to Australia. Classic Traction is the only commercial producer of a programme about Dobwalls, and now you too can own this trilogy as a permanent souvenir of this miracle of miniature railroad engineering!
The Classic Traction Collection range of DVDs cover everything from mainline steam and diesel operations, to the heritage steam scene, where we aim to cover all of the preserved lines in the country, including the major gala and heritage events, as well as ground-breaking and news-worthy events, which are covered in our video-journal quarterly DVD programme, The Classic Traction Review, which is discussed in depth on a dedicated page on this website.
Modern Traction is an important and vital aspect of the current scene, and we are pleased to cover the ever growing and renewed interest in historic diesels, such as the iconic class 42 'Warship' and class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulics, as well as the legendary class 55 'Deltics,' through such programmes as Power of the Napiers, Maybach Legacy & Maybach Pioneer.
We also cover some of the more specialist areas of the railway world, and one of our greatest successes to date was achieved with the ground-breaking DVD Farewell to the Sherman Hill route, which was dedicated to the final days of the Forest Railroad Theme Park at Dobwalls in Cornwall. This railroad, which was a legend of miniature railway engineering, used North American outline miniature locomotives over two tortous routes which were dedicated to the Rio Grande and to the Sherman Hill route of Union Pacific. Using locomotives such as Rio Grande K37 2-8-2s, Union Pacific 800 4-8-4s Queen of Wyoming & Queen of Nebraska, as well as the legendary Union Pacific 'Big Boy' 4-8-8-4 X4008 William Jeffers, these legendary locomotives are shown as they tackle the routes challenging 1 in 65 gradients. Using archive and contemporary footage filmed from the cab of 'Big Boy,' we see the 4-8-8-4 as she climbs Sherman Hill, showing what it was truly like to drive and fire a Union Pacific 'Big Boy!' The success of this DVD was followed by two further programmes on Dobwalls, Locomotives of the Forest Railroad, which studies every locomotive in detail, and The Forest Railroad: The Next Chapter, which looks at the final years of the park and the locomotives move to a new home in Dorset, before their eventual move to Australia. Classic Traction is the only commercial producer of a programme about Dobwalls, and now you too can own this trilogy as a permanent souvenir of this miracle of miniature railroad engineering!
ABOVE: Rio Grande K37 2-8-2 498 Otto Mears stands at Denver Station on the Union Pacific route at Dobwalls, on 1st July 2006. See this locomotive, and all the Forest Railroad Locomotive fleet in Locomotives of the Forest Railroad - available on DVD now! Photograph: Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION.
ABOVE: SR 'West Countries' 34028 Eddystone + 34046 Braunton pass Leigh Loop working the 1605 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 22nd March 2009. Photograph: Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION.
Narrow Gauge Railway DVDs
Classic Traction also covers an ever-growing range of DVDs devoted to the specialised subject of narrow gauge railways. In our range we have DVDs devoted to the Welsh Highland revival and Festiniog Railways, in addition to DVDs featuring railways such as the Talyllyn and Welshpool & Llanfair, as well as the legendary Beyer-Garratt locomotives, which feature WHR NG/G16 locomotives hard at work climbing the revitalised Welsh Highland Railway between Waunfawr and Rhyd Ddu. One of our most popular narrow gauge DVDs to date has been The Missing Link: Porthmadog to Rhyd Ddu, which featured Manning Wardle new-build Lynton & Barnstaple replica 2-6-2T 30190 Lyd, resplendent in a 'might-have-been' mixed traffic BR black livery, depicting what the Festiniog & Welsh Highland Railways might have looked like had they survived to be Nationalised! This DVD focuses on the revitalised Welsh Highland between Caernarfon and Porthmadog Harbour, but in particular, the final section of WHR between Hafod-y-Llyn and Porthmadog, finally making the 25 mile Welsh Highland complete. Heritage Railway described this DVD as "A classic engine, spectacular scenery and cold, clear winter weather, combine to make this a unique record of the rebirth of a unique stretch of railway." For further details on our ever expanding range of programmes devoted to narrow gauge railways, please click on our Steam DVD and Narrow Gauge DVD pages.
ABOVE: EBR blue liveried GWR 60xx 'King' 6023 King Edward II stands outside Didcot shed on 23rd April 2011. Photograph: Copyright Paul Maycock / CLASSIC TRACTION.
Forthcoming releases from Classic Traction:
The Return of the Webb Coal Tank
THE RETURN OF THE WEBB COAL TANK is a tribute DVD dedicated to the ground-breaking Keighley & Worth Valley Winter Steam Gala, which was held over the 10th - 12th February 2012, and which saw the unveiling of LNWR Webb Coal Tank 0-6-2T 58926 in BR black. Returning to steam for the first time in 13 years, we see 58926 wearing BR black for the first time in preservation, and we also see the Webb Coal Tank working alongside LNWR Class G2A 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395, which was also masquarading as long scrapped sister 49442, LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T 41241, LMS 4F 0-6-0 43924, Lancashire & Yorkshire 'Ironclad' 0-6-0 957, BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80002 and Industrial 0-6-0T 1704 Nunlow, all depicted against the glorious backdrop of the snow covered Yorkshire Dales! In addition, we review some of the finest gala events in recent years, and review the visit of iconic BR Standard 7MT 'Britannia' 4-6-2 Pacific 70013 Oliver Cromwell, as well as WD 2-8-0 90733. This DVD illustrates why this former Midland Railway branch is still regarded as one of the finest preserved lines in preservation today, and so join us as the halcyon days of the London & North Western, Lancashire & Yorkshire, Midland, LMS and BR (London Midland Region) are so perfectly recreated by the Keighley & Worth Valley today!
RUNNING TIME: TBC. PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P. - OUT 7th MARCH 2012 - PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
RUNNING TIME: TBC. PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P. - OUT 7th MARCH 2012 - PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
THE RETURN OF THE WEBB COAL TANK (Ref: CTC)
PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
£
22.99
Latest DVD releases from Classic Traction:
CLASSIC TRACTION REVIEW 2012: Volume I - £19.99
CLASSIC TRACTION REVIEW 2012: Volume I is the first volume in a commemorative DVD set that reviews some of the many highlights of 2012, as filmed exclusively by the Classic Traction Film Crews. Filmed over the period November 2011 - February 2012, we begin by examining the 'Santa Specials' and Christmass workings on the Bodmin and Wenford in Cornwall, which saw the unveiling of GWR 42xx 2-8-0T 4247 in unlined BR black, and then examine Industrial steam on the former GWR branch to Launceston, courtesy of the Plym Valley Railway, which operates for approximately 1 mile from Marsh Mills Halt to its current
limit at Lee Moor Crossing, prior to extending to Plym Bridge later in 2012. Next, we review the Winter Steam Festival on the West Somerset, which saw the entry into traffic of GWR 69xx 'Modified Hall' 4-6-0 6960 Raveningham Hall, alongside WSR residents GWR 38xx 2-8-0 3850 in BR black, BR (WR) 78xx 'Manor' 4-6-0 7828 Norton Manor - 40 Commando and SDJR 7F 2-8-0 No. 88. We conclude this first volume of 2012 with an in-depth review of the Keighley & Worth Valley Winter Steam Gala, which saw the unveiling of LNWR Webb Coal Tank 0-6-2T 58926 in unlined BR black. Steaming for the first time in 13 years, we see her alongside LNWR 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395, which also carried the identity of long scrapped sister 49442, LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T 41241, LMS 4F 0-6-0 43924, Lancashire & Yorkshire 0-6-0 957, BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80002 and Industrial 0-6-0T 1704 Nunlow, all depicted against a glorious backdrop of the snow covered Yorkshire Dales! This DVD captures some of the finest examples of steam action to be seen during the Winter of late 2011 / 2012, which will be regarded as a classic in years to come of a truly spectacular winter of steam!
RUNNING TIME: 75 mins (TBC). PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
limit at Lee Moor Crossing, prior to extending to Plym Bridge later in 2012. Next, we review the Winter Steam Festival on the West Somerset, which saw the entry into traffic of GWR 69xx 'Modified Hall' 4-6-0 6960 Raveningham Hall, alongside WSR residents GWR 38xx 2-8-0 3850 in BR black, BR (WR) 78xx 'Manor' 4-6-0 7828 Norton Manor - 40 Commando and SDJR 7F 2-8-0 No. 88. We conclude this first volume of 2012 with an in-depth review of the Keighley & Worth Valley Winter Steam Gala, which saw the unveiling of LNWR Webb Coal Tank 0-6-2T 58926 in unlined BR black. Steaming for the first time in 13 years, we see her alongside LNWR 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395, which also carried the identity of long scrapped sister 49442, LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T 41241, LMS 4F 0-6-0 43924, Lancashire & Yorkshire 0-6-0 957, BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80002 and Industrial 0-6-0T 1704 Nunlow, all depicted against a glorious backdrop of the snow covered Yorkshire Dales! This DVD captures some of the finest examples of steam action to be seen during the Winter of late 2011 / 2012, which will be regarded as a classic in years to come of a truly spectacular winter of steam!
RUNNING TIME: 75 mins (TBC). PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
CLASSIC TRACTION REVIEW 2012: Volume 1 (Ref: CTC)
PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
£
22.99
CLASSIC TRACTION REVIEW 2011 - 4 disc set - £19.99
CLASSIC TRACTION REVIEW 2011 is a commemorative 4 disc DVD set that reviews the highlights of 2011 as filmed exclusively by the Classic Traction film crews. In volume 1 we review the Winter Steam Weekend on the East Lancs featuring visiting LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 46443, LMS Black Five 44871, the unique BR Standard 8P 71000 Duke of Gloucester and BR Standard 5MT 73129, the visit of GWR 3850 to the Great Central, and the un-veiling of Lynton & Barnstaple replica 30190 Lyd and the completion of the Welsh Highland line. We review the highlights from the West Somerset 35th Anniversary Gala, including GWR 28xx 2-8-0 2807, GWR 41xx 2-6-2T 4160, GWR 78xx 'Manor' 4-6-0 7812 Erlestoke Manor, SR 'King Arthur' 30777 Sir Lamiel and BR Standard 7MT 4-6-2 70000 Britannia. In Volume 2 we review the first steamings of the unique GWR Steam Railmotor No. 93, GWR 'Dukedog' 9017's visit to the South Devon, the Grand Steam Spectacular Gala on the Bodmin & Wenford including GWR 64xx 0-6-0PT 6435, LSWR T9 'Greyhound' 4-4-0 30120, LSWR Beattie 2-4-0WT 30587 and the entry into traffic of BR (WR) auto-trailer No. W232. We examine main line steam, reviewing LMS Black Five 45305 and BR Standard 7MT 70013 Oliver Cromwell working the 'Great Britain IV' and 'Royal Duchy' charters, and the entry into traffic of the iconic BR blue liveried 'King' 6023 King Edward II. In Volume 3 we examine the repainting of BR 78xx 'Manor'
4-6-0 7827 Lydham Manor into BR black as long scrapped sister 7800 Torquay Manor, Peppercorn Pacific 60163 Tornado's visit to the West Somerset, the North Yorkshire Moors feating BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214 Cock O' the North, the 'Somerset & Dorset' Gala on the South Devon with visiting LMS Jinty 47406 from the Great Central, and the final steam runs of 3717 City of Truro on the Bodmin & Wenford, GWR 'Castle' 5029 Nunney Castle and LNER A4 Pacific 4492 Dominion of New Zealand double-heading over the South Devon banks, and the Severn Valley Autumn Steam Gala featuring 4160, 4566, 6024 King Edward I, 60163 Tornado & Caledonian Railway 828, making its first ever visit south of the border! In Volume 4 we look at the West Somerset Autumn Steam Gala, which featured SR 'Battle of Britain' 34070 Manston, GNR N2 1788, SDJR 7F 2-8-0 No. 88, 3850, 5553 and 4160, autumn steam on the extended Pontypool & Blaenavon featuring former Mountain Ash Industrial Sir Gomer & 71515, a farewell review of Robinson class 04 2-8-0 63601 and a tribute to the 'S & D' with 34007 Wadebridge and 30777 Sir Lamiel on the Great Central, as well as the Mid Hants Autumn Gala featuring Tornado, Britannia, Wadebridge, Dominion of New Zealand, Lord Nelson and 9F 92212, concluding with a review of LNWR 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395 on a period freight on the East Lancs. Capturing some of the finest examples of steam action to be seen in 2011, this commemorative edition will be regarded as a classic of a truly momentous year in steam preservation, all brought to you courtesy of Classic Traction! RUNNING TIME: 274 mins. PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
4-6-0 7827 Lydham Manor into BR black as long scrapped sister 7800 Torquay Manor, Peppercorn Pacific 60163 Tornado's visit to the West Somerset, the North Yorkshire Moors feating BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214 Cock O' the North, the 'Somerset & Dorset' Gala on the South Devon with visiting LMS Jinty 47406 from the Great Central, and the final steam runs of 3717 City of Truro on the Bodmin & Wenford, GWR 'Castle' 5029 Nunney Castle and LNER A4 Pacific 4492 Dominion of New Zealand double-heading over the South Devon banks, and the Severn Valley Autumn Steam Gala featuring 4160, 4566, 6024 King Edward I, 60163 Tornado & Caledonian Railway 828, making its first ever visit south of the border! In Volume 4 we look at the West Somerset Autumn Steam Gala, which featured SR 'Battle of Britain' 34070 Manston, GNR N2 1788, SDJR 7F 2-8-0 No. 88, 3850, 5553 and 4160, autumn steam on the extended Pontypool & Blaenavon featuring former Mountain Ash Industrial Sir Gomer & 71515, a farewell review of Robinson class 04 2-8-0 63601 and a tribute to the 'S & D' with 34007 Wadebridge and 30777 Sir Lamiel on the Great Central, as well as the Mid Hants Autumn Gala featuring Tornado, Britannia, Wadebridge, Dominion of New Zealand, Lord Nelson and 9F 92212, concluding with a review of LNWR 'Super D' 0-8-0 49395 on a period freight on the East Lancs. Capturing some of the finest examples of steam action to be seen in 2011, this commemorative edition will be regarded as a classic of a truly momentous year in steam preservation, all brought to you courtesy of Classic Traction! RUNNING TIME: 274 mins. PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
CLASSIC TRACTION REVIEW 2011 - 4 DISC SET (Ref: CTC)
PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
£
22.99
Purchase with Confidence
At Classic Traction we only use footage filmed exclusively on professional tripods using dedicated digital camera equipment using the same size tape as the BBC, infact some of our material has been used by ITV! The vast majority of our programmes are approximately 60 - 95 minutes in length, and as a professional photographer, Classic Traction approaches the filming of railways with a passion and from a renewed perspective, which is particularly demonstrated in our steam productions where we strive to have no tender first running at all. We always aim to produce high quality productions, and as such, all our programmes are edited with subtitled narrative text allowing you to fully enjoy the glorious effects of steam, diesel or electric traction in glorious full definition stereo, whether that is the 4 cylinder beat of a Great Western 'King,' the chime whistle from a Gresley A4 Pacific or the wonderful noise from a pair of Maybach V12s! We are pleased to include in this website independant reviews from some of the world's leading railway journals, such as Heritage Railway, Steam Railway, Railway Magazine, Traction, Rail Express, Railway Modeller and Model Railroader. Also included is a Customer Feedback page, so please read what previous customers have said and read our independant reviews that will enable you to purchase from Classic Traction with confidence!
Feedback from some of our many satisfied customers:
ABOVE: Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic D1010 Western Campaigner stands at Crowcombe Heathfield during a night photographic shoot. Photograph: Copyright Paul Maycock / CLASSIC TRACTION.
Here are just some of the comments from many of our customers:
At Classic Traction, we believe that the best way to judge our DVDs and the quality of our prints is to listen to what many of our loyal customers have said.
Mr James H. Kaye of Clwyd, North Wales said:
"May I take this opportunity to thank you for your prompt attention to my last order and to thank you for one of the best steam DVDs that I have ordered in the past from many companies. Again, many thanks."
Dr Ian MacDougall of Dundee, Scotland said:
"This is just to confirm safe receipt of the splendid Steam Railmotor DVD. It's first class! I'm delighted with it and it has given me alot of pleasure!
Mr Bob Berry said:
"Hi Steve, the DVD arrived safely thanks - EXCELLENT VIEWING!"
Mr James H. Kaye of Clwyd, North Wales said:
"May I take this opportunity to thank you for your prompt attention to my last order and to thank you for one of the best steam DVDs that I have ordered in the past from many companies. Again, many thanks."
Dr Ian MacDougall of Dundee, Scotland said:
"This is just to confirm safe receipt of the splendid Steam Railmotor DVD. It's first class! I'm delighted with it and it has given me alot of pleasure!
Mr Bob Berry said:
"Hi Steve, the DVD arrived safely thanks - EXCELLENT VIEWING!"
"Thank you for one of the best steam DVDs that I have ordered in the past from many companies. Again, many thanks!"
ABOVE: 'Peak' galore! The early days of the Sulzer type 4s are recalled as original class 44 'Peak' D4 Great Gable stands beside later class 45 sister D120 at Swanwick Junction. Photograph: Copyright Paul Maycock / CLASSIC TRACTION
Heritage Railway recently said:
"This DVD producer is probably the most prolific one in the country at present, virtually nothing moves in Britain's heritage railway scene without its cameraman being there to record the action."
HERITAGE RAILWAY, Issue 158, Page 92.
HERITAGE RAILWAY, Issue 158, Page 92.
"This DVD producer is probably the most prolific one in the country at present..."
Pay securely on-line!
We are pleased to be able to announce that as from the 1st December 2010, all Classic Traction DVDs are now available to purchase on-line. Underneath each DVD you will find the motif / legend 'ADD TO CART.' To buy on-line, simply click on this and follow the instructions through the secure PayPal system. You are able to pay via all major Debit or Credit Cards or via a PayPal Account. Alternatively, you can still purchase directly from Classic Traction through our mail order service (making all cheques payable to 'STEVE ANDREWS') at:
CLASSIC TRACTION
53 Dayton Close
Crownhill
Plymouth
Devon, PL6 5DX.
Tel: 07895 070811 / 01752 704828.
To contact me directly, please either phone or e-mail via the 'Contact Us' page. If using the mail order service, please make all cheques payable to STEVE ANDREWS, thank you.
Classic Traction hopes you enjoy this website and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Steve Andrews
CLASSIC TRACTION.
CLASSIC TRACTION
53 Dayton Close
Crownhill
Plymouth
Devon, PL6 5DX.
Tel: 07895 070811 / 01752 704828.
To contact me directly, please either phone or e-mail via the 'Contact Us' page. If using the mail order service, please make all cheques payable to STEVE ANDREWS, thank you.
Classic Traction hopes you enjoy this website and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Steve Andrews
CLASSIC TRACTION.
