DVDs on the Great Western:
Return of the Kings
RETURN OF THE KINGS is a tribute DVD dedicated to the return to traffic of GWR 60xx 'King' 4-6-0 6023 King Edward II. This programme explores her return to traffic after a restoration of over 21 years, from 6023's first tentative movements at the Great Western Society at Didcot in May 2011, to her return to revenue earning traffic after boiler repairs at the Great Central Railway in March 2013. Filmed during a series of breathtaking photo charters organised especially for her visit, we see 6023 King Edward II recreating some of the classic named Western Region expresses from the 1950s, such as the 'Bristolian,' 'Cornish Riviera' and Paddington - Penzance reliefs. We see the 'Blue King' as she storms along the Great Central Main Line, so perfectly recreating the Berks & Hants route, demonstrating the sheer majesty and power of a restored single chimney 'Blue King,' in scenes that have not been possible since the late 1940s and early 1950s. By contrast, we then examine sister 'King' 6024 King Edward I, as we review her working on the main line and on preserved lines throughout the West Country. This DVD is a wonderful testament to the return of 6023 King Edward II and the continued service of 6024 King Edward I, and this DVD is something that all true Great Western fans will treasure for years to come! RUNNING TIME: 70 mins (approx).
PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
Return of the Blue King
RETURN OF THE BLUE KING is a tribute DVD from the Classic Traction Nostalgia Series that is dedicated to the return to traffic of GWR 60xx 'King' 6023 King Edward II. This programme explores her return to traffic from her first tentative movements at the Great Western Society at Didcot in May 2011, to her celebrated return to revenue earning traffic after extensive boiler repairs at the Great Central in March 2013. Filmed during a series of breath-taking photo charters organised specially for her visit to the GC, we see 6023 King Edward II recreating classic 1950s named Western Region expresses from the late 1940s and early 1950s, such as the 'Bristolian,' the 'Cornish Riviera' and Paddington - Penzance reliefs. We see the 'Blue King' as she storms along the Great Central Main Line, so perfectly recreating the Berks & Hants route, demonstrating the sheer majesty and power of a restored single chimney 'Blue King,' in scenes not possible since the early 1950s! This is a wonderful tribute to the completion of the 21 year restoration of 6023, and is something that all true Great Western enthusiasts will treasure for years and years to come! RUNNING TIME: 36 mins (approx). PRICE: £9.99 + £3 P&P.
The Railmotor returns to the West Country
THE RAILMOTOR RETURNS TO THE WEST COUNTRY is the ULTIMATE tribute DVD to the unique GWR Steam Railmotor and its historic return to the West Country during Autumn 2012, Winter 2012 / 2013 and Spring 2013. Steam Railmotors were initially introduced by the London & South Western Railway, and were first trialled on the Southsea branch in June 1903. Churchward was so impressed by the railmotor concept that the GWR evaluated one on the Chalford service in Gloucestershire. Such was their success, that Churchward designed a fleet of branch and semi -suburban railmotors to work on the Great Western. Eventually, the GWR would have a fleet of 99 steam powered railmotors, together with a fleet of accompanying trailers to create the world's very first Steam Multiple Unit. GWR Railmotor No. 93 was built at Swindon in 1908, and was one of the very last railmotors to remain in GWR service, before being condemned on 19th November 1934 and converted into a conventional auto-trailer. This programme examines the history and development of the GWR Steam Railmotors during the unveiling of No. 93 in March 2011 at the Llangollen Railway. We then proceed to examine the historic visit of the GWR Railmotor to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in Autumn 2012. Including on-train footage, we see No. 93 in action as she tackles the fierce 1 in 37 and 1 in 45 gradients of the Bodmin General and Boscarne Junction branches. Remaining in Cornwall, we review the Railmotor's return to the National Network, as filmed in breath-taking autumnal colours, No. 93 works a series of historic shuttles over the Looe branch for two consecutive weekends in November 2012. Next, we head to the South Devon Railway, as No. 93 makes her only visit to date to this typical West Country branch line, becoming the first railmotor to traverse this quintessential GWR branch since 1905!! Finally, we conclude with scenes of No. 93 working along the Minehead line in Somerset, during the West Somerset Somerset Branch Lines through the Ages Gala, concluding her whirlwind tour of the West! The GWR Railmotor is a wonderful ambassador for the Great Western Society, and this DVD is a lasting tribute to the iconic return of the GWR Steam Railmotor to the West Country! RUNNING TIME: 68 mins (approx).
PRICE: £22.99 + £3 P&P.
PRICE: £22.99 + £3 P&P.
Western Branch Lines
WESTERN BRANCH LINES is a tribute DVD to the South Devon Railway's ground-breaking epic nine day 'Branch Line' Gala that was held over 16th - 24th February 2013. Perfectly recreating the very finest elements of the Great Western branch line, this gala witnessed the iconic return and very first visit in preservation of GWR Steam Railmotor No. 93, with a railmotor having last been seen on the former Ashburton branch as long ago as 1905! In addition, the welcome return of former Dart Valley stalwart GWR 14xx 0-4-2T auto tank 1450, GWR '1366' 0-6-0PT Collett dock tank 1369 and GWR 55xx 2-6-2T Prairie 5542, which was visiting from the West Somerset. Former days of the Ashburton branch are recreated as we see 1450 hauling mixed milk passenger trains, and with GWR Prairie 5542, recreates the 1950s as they work single and auto twin working. Also included is a cab ride in the auto train as we journey from Totnes to Buckfastleigh, recalling the heyday of auto working on the Ashburton branch. Together with the return of the railmotor, this programme covers all of the variety of traffic and steam power to be seen on this quintessential GWR branch line from 1905 until the very final BR passenger working in 1958. For all those who remember the old Ashburton line, this is one DVD that will be treasured for years to come, and is a must for all true Great Western enthusiasts!! RUNNING TIME: 51 mins (approx). PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
The Railmotor Returns to Cornwall
THE RAILMOTOR RETURNS TO CORNWALL is a tribute DVD to the historic return of a Great Western Steam Railmotor to the Royal Duchy in Autumn 2012. Steam Railmotors were first introduced by the London & South Western Railway on the Southsea branch in June 1903, and the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer, George Jackson Churchward, was so impressed by the concept that the GWR evaluated one on the Chalford service in Gloucestershire. Such was their success, that Churchward designed a fleet of railmotors for branch and semi-suburban work on the Great Western. Eventually, the GWR would have a fleet of 112 steam powered Railmotors and 99 trailers. GWR Railmotor No. 93 was built at Swindon in 1908, and was one of the very last railmotors to remain in traffic, before being condemned on 19th November 1934 and converted into a conventional auto-trailer. This programme examines the history and development of the GWR Steam Railmotors during the un-veiling of No. 93 in March 2011 at the Llangollen Railway. We then proceed to examine in detail the historic visit of the GWR Railmotor to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway during Autumn 2012. Including on-train footage, we see No. 93 in action as she works on both the Boscarne Junction and Bodmin General branches on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. We then conclude by reviewing the Railmotors return to the National Network, as filmed on the Looe branch in glorious autumnal colours, as No. 93 works the historic series of shuttles along the Looe Valley between Looe and Liskeard over two consecutive weekends in November 2012. The GWR Railmotor is a true ambassador for the work of the Great Western Society, and this DVD is a lasting tribute to the iconic return of the Great Western Steam Railmotor to Cornwall!
RUNNING TIME: 51 mins (approx). PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
RUNNING TIME: 51 mins (approx). PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
Cornish Branch Line Memories
Cornish Branch Line Memories is a tribute DVD to the diverse and fascinating variety of branches that can be seen throughout the Royal Duchy. From the steam worked Bodmin General and Boscarne Junction lines, to the holiday branches of St Ives and Newquay, to the freight only Parkandillack branch, this programme carefully examines the variety still to be seen today on Cornwall's branch lines. We primarily investigate the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, seeing steam in action during their GWR175 Winter Steam-Up and Cornish Branch Line galas, which featured such locomotives as former LSWR Beattie well tanks 30585 & 30587, GWR 64xx 0-6-0PT 6435 and GWR Prairies 5521, 5526 and 5552, and in addition, also included is footage of GWR 42xx 2-8-0T 4247, now almost 100 years old. By contrast, we review the 'East Lancs Champion' charter of May 2010, worked by Class 52 'Western' D1015 Western Champion (running as D1009 Western Invader & D1012 Western Firebrand) and Class 40 40145, as we see them working along the Cornish Main Line and by making history by becoming the first ever Class 40 ever to visit the St Ives and Newquay branches. Next, we include extremely rare diesel footage as 37401 and 37670 (a former St Blazey machine) visits the Parkandillack branch with the 'Cornish Parker' charter from Crewe during May 2009. Finally, Great Western steam on the main line is not forgotten, as we reflect on how generations of holidaymakers would have made their way to the Cornish branches, as we see 5029 Nunney Castle and 6024 King Edward I as they head the 'Cornish Riviera Express' over Forder Viaduct and through the Glynn Valley. If you want to recapture the spirit of a bygone age of steam and the local branch lines they served, then this is the programme for you - all brought to you courtesy of Classic Traction! RUNNING TIME: 86 mins. PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
Return to Corwen
RETURN TO CORWEN is a celebration of the latest of the 6880 Betton Grange Society's six day 'mega gala' Steel, Steam & Star events that was organised on the Llangollen Railway in March 2015. The Steel, Steam & Star IV gala marked the return of scheduled passenger trains to Corwen after an absence of over 50 years, calling at a temporary station at Dwyrain Corwen East, and the gala celebrated the very finest elements of welsh steam. This included GWR 14xx 0-4-2T 'auto tank' 1450 (visiting from the Severn Valley), the last surviving GWR Collett '2251' 0-6-0 3205 (from the South Devon), GWR 'heavy freight' power in the form of resident Collett '2884' 2-8-0 3802 and Churchward designed 42xx 2-8-0 4270, which dates from 1910, and which was making its first return to Wales since restoration. In addition, the gala also featured GWR 51xx 2-6-2T Large Prairie 5199, BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214 Central Star, which was adorned with a Western Region style nameplate, and in the same livery as that worn by 92220 Evening Star. The welsh LMS / LNWR connection was represented by LMS Black Five 4-6-0 45231 The Sherwood Forester, together with 'foreign' power in the form of newly restored SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34092 Wells. As well as celebrating the return of scheduled passenger trains to Corwen for the first time since 1965, this programme rekindles memories of the Great Western's former cross country route from Ruabon to Bala Junction, as well as evoking the essence of so many former GWR And LMS lines through Mid and South Wales, and reminds us of exactly what was lost under the Beeching cuts in this part of Wales.
RUNNING TIME: 66 mins (approx). PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
RUNNING TIME: 66 mins (approx). PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.