Read just some reviews from magazines & journals:
Classic Traction DVDs are regularly reviewed in such magazines as Heritage Railway, Steam Railway, Traction, Rail Express, Miniature Railway, Railway Modeller and the North American based journal Model Railroader. Here are just a few of the many independant reviews of our range of steam, diesel and electric DVDs:
The Return of Calbourne
This programme on the sole surviving LSWR 02 0-4-4T features footage on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and on its visit to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. The Isle of Wight sequences were filmed during a photo charter two years ago in excellent weather in November, while the Bodmin footage is from the visit of Calbourne to the railway in April this year, the first time the engine had left the island in the preservation era. Being air braked only, its scope was a bit limited, but it is seen running solo on a short train and also double-heading with other LSWR engines in the shape of the T9 and Beattie well tank, and certainly saw quite intensive use. Although 02 0-4-4Ts tend to be associated with the Isle of Wight in more recent years, the class was widely distributed throughout the LSWR system in earlier times, and were a common sight on the LSWR if not GWR lines in Cornwall, so this is a valuable record of a nostalgic return of an 02 to the Duchy. HERITAGE RAILWAY, Issue No. 168, Page 48.
Classic Traction Review 2011
HERITAGE RAILWAY said: "This DVD producer is probably the most prolific one in the country at the present, virtually nothing moves in Britain's heritage railway scene without its cameraman being there to record the action. For the first time, Classic Traction has produced a compilation of all the best footage from the length and breadth of the country. Its no-frills video with a minimum of zooming and panning, and no commentary to drown the sounds of the engines, but its all here, from the Great Western Steam Railmotor to Lyd on the Welsh Highland, 'Great Britain IV' to the Pontypool & Blaenavon, plus gala action from all the major railways.
HERITAGE RAILWAY, Issue No. 158, Page 92.
HERITAGE RAILWAY, Issue No. 158, Page 92.
Return of the Railmotor
HERITAGE RAILWAY said: "This is the first DVD highlighting the Great Western Society's rebuilt GWR steam railmotor No. 93, and for those of you who have not had the chance to see this magnificent vehicle in operation, now's your chance! The broadcast-quality video focuses on the superb series of charters featuring the railmotor on the Llangollen Railway in March, when unexpected days of unbroken sunshine produced riches aplenty for linesiders. The footage serves to emphasise the incredibly high standard of restoration of the railmotor, which after withdrawal in 1934 was converted to auto-coach No. 212. The DVD also outlines the basic lineage of the railmotor, as the concept developed the later GWR auto-trains, examples of which are filmed at Llangollen and also on the South Devon and Bodmin & Wenford railways. There is a cab ride in a Buckfastleigh auto-train hauled by Prairie No. 5526 and a feature on the first auto-coach to be preserved, W231 at Didcot, which kick-started the GWR preservation movement. The railmotor has added a major dimension to the heritage locomotive portfolio, and is the true bridge link between the steam age and modern diesel era, where locomotive-hauled passenger trains have been superseded by DMU types. The DVD ended with a speeded-up trip from Buckfastleigh to Totnes (Littlehempston) in just seven minutes. However, it is worth the price for the footage of No. 93 alone."
HERITAGE RAILWAY No. 155, Page 68.
HERITAGE RAILWAY No. 155, Page 68.
RAILWAY MODELLER said: "The latest release from Classic Traction celebrates the launch into service, earlier in the year, of GWR steam railmotor No. 93, following an extensive rebuild at both Didcot and (latterly) Llangollen Railway workshops. The restoration included the construction - from scratch - of a brand new steam power unit, bringing to life the sights and sounds of a prototype not witnessed for 75 years. This DVD focuses on railmotor No. 93 with a plentiful amount of lineside footage filmed during its first steamings on the Llangollen Railway. Broadening the theme, the latter part of the film reviews the surviving GWR & BR auto-trailers in use at preserved lines around the country. As a finale, the DVD concludes with a journey from Totnes to Buckfastleigh filmed from the cab of auto-trailer No. W228, sped up with simulated speeds of close to 100mph and a journey time of just 7 minutes! This DVD will appeal to anyone with a particular appreciation for these vehicles or perhaps a more general GWR interest. Use of fairly conservative camerawork and straightforward editing has resulted with an easy-to-follow film. Captions are used instead of a commentary, and together with no additional sound editing, the viewer is left to enjoy the distinctive sounds of the railmotor and other auto-train workings featured."
RAILWAY MODELLER, October 2011, Page 825.
RAILWAY MODELLER, October 2011, Page 825.
The Missing Link: Porthmadog to Rhyd Ddu
HERITAGE RAILWAY said: "The Welsh Highland Railway is now complete and trains run all the way from Porthmadog to Caernarvon. Having been opened in stages, the missing link was from Porthmadog to Hafod-y-Llyn, a passing loop south of the Aberglaslyn Pass. This programme looks at the section from Rhyd Ddu near the summit of the line, southwards through Beddgelert and Aberglaslyn. Most of the footage is from a series of photo charters utilising the new-build Lynton & Barnstaple 2-6-2T Lyd, resplendent in 'might-have-been' BR mixed traffic livery. 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.
HERITAGE RAILWAY No. 149, Page 92.
HERITAGE RAILWAY No. 149, Page 92.
Great Western Dawn
HERITAGE RAILWAY said: "The 175th anniversary of the founding of the Great Western Railway is a date which many enthusiasts will celebrate. This programme marks the start of GW175 year, with a look at the autumn and winter on three south-western branches, the South Devon, Bodmin & Wenford and West Somerset Railways. Steam on the main line is not overlooked and we see King Edward I and Earl Bathurst tackling the Devon banks, followed by Oliver Cromwell, and the Brit double-heading with both a 'Western' and an un-rebuilt Bulleid in Cornwall."
HERITAGE RAILWAY No. 135, 18th March 2010, Page 102.
HERITAGE RAILWAY No. 135, 18th March 2010, Page 102.
Tornado in the West
HERITAGE RAILWAY said: "The new A1 Pacific continues to hit the headlines wherever it goes, and a summer season in the south-west was perhaps an obvious move to bring the attention of the engine to an even wider audience. This is a record of the A1's West Country travels, starting on the West Somerset Railway and taking in trips from Bristol, both on the regular 'Torbay Express' to Kingswear, and a one-off tour over the Devon banks to Plymouth and back. It's not familiar Peppercorn Pacific territory at all, but the combination of Britain's most famous steam locomotive on some of the country's classic rail routes cannot fail to impress." HERITAGE RAILWAY, No. 132, 22nd Dec 2009, Page 80.
The Last Train has gone:
"This DVD producer continues to cover all the major heritage line galas and is to be commended for the speed at which the finished product appears on the market, while memories are still fresh. Latest offering is from the Kent & East Sussex Railway, which featured the return after 54 years of SECR 01 class 0-6-0 No. 65 from the Bluebell Railway, alongside a remarkable cross-section of resident power."
HERITAGE RAILWAY, No. 126, 9th July 2009, page 74.
HERITAGE RAILWAY, No. 126, 9th July 2009, page 74.
South Devon Railway: 40 glorious years
"It's a year for anniversaries, with railways at opposite ends of the country commemorating 50 years of closure or 40 years from re-opening... ...the South Devon Railway celebrated the 40th anniversary of the reopening of the line by the Dart Valley Railway in April. Few railways have kept alive the GWR branch line atmosphere as well as the SDR, and this programme reflects the line's continuing success."
HERITAGE RAILWAY, Page 76.
HERITAGE RAILWAY, Page 76.
Midland & Great Northern Memories
"It's a year for anniversaries, with railways at opposite ends of the country commemorating 50 years of closure or 40 years from re-opening. "That's yer lot!" was the biggest event to have happened on the North Norfolk Railway, with five days of intensive steam running with eight engines, 50 years on from Britain's first really major railway closure, and with far more trains than the line ever saw in normal operation. The weather was variable and this programme does not cover all five days, but there's plenty of action, and this is a worthy souvenir of an unrepeatable event..." HERITAGE RAILWAY, Page 76.
1968: Steam Finale
"The latest addition to the popular Classic Traction series, very commendably available within a week of the event, covers the January gala on the Great Central Railway starring the NRM's 70013 Oliver Cromwell, 30777 Sir Lamiel and 63601, plus the home fleet and the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group's Q6 0-8-0 No. 63395, on its first loan visit to another railway since arriving on the NYMR in 1970. With the now expected intensive service on the double track, contrasting weather conditions and the bonus of footplate sequences on the Q6, this will appeal to the many enthusiasts who braved the cold and supported the gala." HERITAGE RAILWAY, March 2009, Page 87.
The Legacy of the Class 37s
RAIL EXPRESS said: "Kicking off with a pair of DRS class 37s on a railtour earlier this year (2008), this DVD takes a tour around the country with the much loved English Electric Type 3s. While this includes footage of West Highland sleeper operations, the main focus of the production is a plethora of preserved examples. Narration is forgone in favour of captions before every segment."
RAIL EXPRESS, Issue No. 152, January 2009, Page 22.
RAIL EXPRESS, Issue No. 152, January 2009, Page 22.
Maybach Pioneer: D832 Onslaught
"The sound of a Warship class with its twin V12 Maybach engines could easily equate to the sound of a Spitfire for an aviation enthusiast. In this 47 minute DVD, the sound and sight of these iconic diesel-hydraulics on the West Somerset Railway are recorded as they go about passenger and goods duties. D832 Onslaught is the star of this 50th anniversary tribute, one of two preserved Warships, the other being Greyhound. Classes 25, 47 and 52 are also featured, sometimes in double-head situations. The shots comprise run-by, stopping and starting sequences, all against the background of West Country scenery. The opening minutes are of stills and captions. The moving video takes over, again with captions that give historic, anecdotal and general facts. There is just enough time to read the captions before the next action follows. Those with a keen eye for spelling most concentrate more on the imparted information. A simple commentary might have been just as appropriate, adding a greater sense of involvement for the viewer. That said, the captions tell us plenty." Verdict: A pleasant viewing is on offer.
RAILWAY MODELLER, October 2008, Page 733.
"To mark the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the class 42 and 43 'Warship' diesel-hydraulic classes, Classic Traction have put together this tribute to the popular locos centred around footage of D832 Onslaught at work on the West Somerset Railway. The long, scenic branch provides an ideal setting for the 'Warship' and we see the maroon 'beast' and hear the Maybach magic as it goes through its paces on freight and passenger duties. It is a demanding route too, with its numerous gradients and reverse curves. Adding further relevance, we see the loco working with a 'Western' and class 25s, classes the 'Warship' would have worked with and alongside in the glory days of diesel loco operation in the West. A green D6737 crossing the 42 + 25 combination is a rare sight to see too! There are so many different stations along the WSR that form varied and interesting backdrops to the star of the show. For example, at Watchet the train is well framed between the buildings and infrastructure, while the rural delights of a country passing loop are captured at Crowcombe Heathfield. This is a quality production, digitally recorded onto DVD-R (Pal) and on-screen captions provide the history and notes alongside the contemporary footage. Personally, I would have liked to have seen some archive film, (though I appreciate that this is not exactly common!) - or perhaps even a few stills? - included to provide some historical balance. This is one of a series of productions dedicated to different diesel classes now available in the Classic Traction Collection."
TRACTION, November 2008, Page 49.
RAILWAY MODELLER, October 2008, Page 733.
"To mark the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the class 42 and 43 'Warship' diesel-hydraulic classes, Classic Traction have put together this tribute to the popular locos centred around footage of D832 Onslaught at work on the West Somerset Railway. The long, scenic branch provides an ideal setting for the 'Warship' and we see the maroon 'beast' and hear the Maybach magic as it goes through its paces on freight and passenger duties. It is a demanding route too, with its numerous gradients and reverse curves. Adding further relevance, we see the loco working with a 'Western' and class 25s, classes the 'Warship' would have worked with and alongside in the glory days of diesel loco operation in the West. A green D6737 crossing the 42 + 25 combination is a rare sight to see too! There are so many different stations along the WSR that form varied and interesting backdrops to the star of the show. For example, at Watchet the train is well framed between the buildings and infrastructure, while the rural delights of a country passing loop are captured at Crowcombe Heathfield. This is a quality production, digitally recorded onto DVD-R (Pal) and on-screen captions provide the history and notes alongside the contemporary footage. Personally, I would have liked to have seen some archive film, (though I appreciate that this is not exactly common!) - or perhaps even a few stills? - included to provide some historical balance. This is one of a series of productions dedicated to different diesel classes now available in the Classic Traction Collection."
TRACTION, November 2008, Page 49.
Stars of the North
"The September gala weekend on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway starred No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester. Classic Traction is one of the most prolific DVD producers; its format generally involves no commentary, little panning or zooming, but its products provide records of major events within a week or so of them happening, before thoughts move on to the next big event. All the engines are shown, with informative on-screen captions."
HERITAGE RAILWAY, December 2008, Page 85.
HERITAGE RAILWAY, December 2008, Page 85.
Cambrian Memories
"The September gala weekend on the Severn Valley Railway was one of the finest ever staged on the railway, blessed with excellent weather, and starring not one, but two outside framed GWR 4-4-0s. Classic Traction is a prolific DVD producer, its format is no frills, no commentary, little panning or zooming, but a record of a major event, available to the public within a week of the event, while the memories are still fresh and before thoughts move onto the next big event. All the engines are shown, mostly with authentic rakes of coaches, and informative on-screen captions."
HERITAGE RAILWAY, November 2008, Page 84.
HERITAGE RAILWAY, November 2008, Page 84.
Legends of the North
"The railway DVD business is developing to the extent that the market is coming to expect to see programmes released within a week or two of events taking place, while they are still fresh in people's minds, and before they move onto the next big event. Classic Traction appears to have found its niche, in catering for this demand by bringing out a full programme based around each big event as it takes place. Yes, it's a no frills production, but it shows what happened, with a variety of traction and locations, in and around stations, and further down the line. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway's six day LNER gala was one of the most ambitious and memorable ever staged in this country; thousands attended it, and for anyone wanting to relive the experience, this programme is available already." HERITAGE RAILWAY, May 2008, Page 78.
Steam Far West
HERITAGE RAILWAY said: "The far west remains a draw for holidaymakers and enthusiasts alike, with interest in both the GWR and what remains of the SR routes west of Exeter showing no sign of waning. This programme covers just a few weeks in the late summer of 2007 but illustrates just what can still be seen in terms of western and southern steam action in the area. On the main line we see No. 6024 King Edward I on its familiar summertime 'Torbay Express' duties, but also its memorable double-header with No. 34067 Tangmere, over the Royal Albert Bridge and on to Par, from where the engines adjourned to St Blazey to make use of its turntable. The Bodmin & Wenford Railway provides the bulk of the footage, with its September gala weekend, which featured an impressive array of locomotives that actually worked the branches in the area many years ago. Not only are there double-headed GWR small prairies but double-headed Beattie well tanks as well. There is no commentary, just on-screen captions, but overall this is a valuable record of the happenings in a part of the country which retains great enthusiast appeal. HERITAGE RAILWAY, 2007, Page 80.
Southern Sunset
HERITAGE RAILWAY said: "No sooner had the last fires been thrown out at the Heritage Railway sponsered Swanage Railway gala held on 7 - 9 July to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of Southern steam, than this commemorative video appears. The weekend, as highlighted in our special 12 page feature last issue, provided a rare break of sunshine amidst the wettest early summer in memory, and there were many glorious scenes to be recorded for posterity. Locomotives featured at Swanage include LSWR M7 No. 30053 in its 'dirty' end-of-steam condition, BR 'Caprotti Five' No. 73129, Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No. 34081 92 Squadron. Film-maker Steve Andrews also found time to film even more superb scenes on the Mid Hants Railway, where Merchant Navy Pacific No. 35005 Canadian Pacific was running in the guise of scrapped sister No. 35008 Orient Line. Also included is footage from the main line tours that managed to go ahead to mark the anniversary, including No. 850 Lord Nelson. We also see Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No. 34067 Tangmere tackling no less than Whiteball bank and in action on the Waterloo route. It was a great weekend / three days, and a lasting memory of the occasion is to be warmly welcomed." HERITAGE RAILWAY, 2007, Page 86.
Steam, Steel & Stars
HERITAGE RAILWAY said: "The Heritage Railway sponsored event on 20 - 22 April was certainly the biggest thing to have happened at Llangollen. The Betton Grange boys pulled out all the stops to stage a gala with a difference. This two-disc set shows all the action from the event. DVDs inevitably vary from the highly-professional with non-stop professional narration, to the other extreme where nothing is left out, except for the on-screen captions which take the place of commentary. This falls into the latter category. If you want to see everything that moved over the full three days, and do not like what can be obtrusive commentary, then this is the ideal souvenir of the event. Full marks to the producers for bringing it out so quickly." HERITAGE RAILWAY, July 2007, Page 84.
Tribute to the Class 20s: The legend lives on
TRACTION magazine said: "With the current renewed interest in the English Electric Type 1s due to 2007 being the 50th year since the introduction of D8000, there are numerous events and products scheduled to mark the anniversary. This is a well-meaning look at some survivors in preservation filmed at different heritage lines around the UK. There is no doubt that a Class 20 - or even better a pair of them - is an attraction at a preserved railway. A Class 20 can usually provide ample power to work a train along a short line and with their trademark 'whistle,' they look and sound good. The South Devon Railway regularly makes good use of the Class with home-based and visiting members of the Class - they look good gliding along reflected in the river on a passenger turn or a demonstration freight. It is good to see one of the less well known (for diesel traction) lines - the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway - featured too. Personally, I would have preferred a more succinct programme which did not feel the need, for example, to show locos during each run-round move, such as at Oxenhope on the Keighley & Worth Valley. Film quality is good... ..and overall not a bad buy for heritage diesels who don't own their own camcorders. Also available from Classic Traction is ENGLISH ELECTRIC DYNASTY (85 minutes running time, Price: £19.99), which shows different EE loco types from (LMS) diesel shunters through to 'Deltics.' Classes 20, 37, 40 and 50 also appear on both main and heritage lines in recent years." David Brown, Editor, Traction.
TRACTION, July 2007, Page 39. www.traction.co.uk.
TRACTION, July 2007, Page 39. www.traction.co.uk.
English Electric Dynasty
RAIL EXPRESS said: "This DVD explores the development of the famous products of English Electric, including early LMS machines through to classics like the '37s,' '40s,' '50s' and Deltics."
RAIL EXPRESS, Issue No. 128, January 2007, Page 16.
RAIL EXPRESS, Issue No. 128, January 2007, Page 16.
The Forest Railroad: Farewell to the Sherman Hill route
"This 88 minute DVD looks back over the last few months of the line's exsistence, ending on that fateful day and the tragedy of the last train. Rather surprisingly, it is all quite sad - almost like watching the death throes of one of the Beeching branch lines in the 1960s. True to form, the last train has something of a party atmosphere, followed by a few circuits for staff and friends until well after dark, then an ominous silence. Wisely, Classic Traction has avoided a commentary, leaving the pictures and occasional subtitles to tell the tale. You might be thinking that 88 minutes of the same miniature train chuffing around a surprisingly small circuit without commentary or music is a bit much for even the most serious enthusiast, but the time really flies, especially during the 'cab rides.' After all, this is a very special locomotive running on a very special line. But if you're expecting slipping wheels and barking exhaust, you're looking in the wrong place, because the Big Boy is such a massively powerful machine, it seems to walk away with any load on the line's 1 in 65 gradient. We'd love to see this magnificent machine let loose on a really big layout, and perhaps, as an optimistic silver lining, that will now be possible. Only time will tell... We're just grateful that Classic Traction has produced this tribute to some of the finest sights and sounds in the world of miniature railways. It is destined to become a classic." MINIATURE RAILWAY, Issue 3, Winter 2007, Page 6.
"Ninety-minute DVD of the Dobwalls Forest Railroad live steam railroad at Dobwalls in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Based on the Union Pacific's Sherman Hill route. Classic Traction."
MODEL RAILROADER, 2007, Page 16. www.modelrailroader.com
MODEL RAILROADER, 2007, Page 16. www.modelrailroader.com