Visit the new free Classic Traction TV video website at:
www.classictractiontv.weebly.com
Brand new DVD releases from Classic Traction
FROM CAERNARFON TO BLAENAU FFESTINIOG
FROM CAERNARFON TO BLAENAU FFESTINIOG examines the joint 40 mile narrow gauge railway system of the Festiniog and Welsh Highland Railway that stretches from Caernarfon to Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales. Two very different lines with different historical backgrounds, the joint railway comprises the 25 mile long Welsh Highland and the 14 mile long Festiniog Railway, together with the rarely filmed 1899 branch from Glan-y-Pwll Junction to Dinas, the site of the Festiniog's original terminus in Blaenau Ffestiniog. This joint line is not only the longest preserved railway and narrow gauge line in the British Isles, it is also the only heritage railway to cross the national network on a flat crossing too! This programme covers the diversity of motive power to be seen including the iconic Festiniog 'Double' and 'Single' Fairlies such as Taliesin, David Lloyd George, Merddin Emrys and Earl of Merioneth, the original George England 0-4-0ST No. 2 Prince & No. 4 Palmerston, Ex Penrhyn Quarry 2-4-0STT locomotives Linda & Blanche, Lynton & Barnstaple Railway 2-6-2T 30190 / 190 Lyd, as well as WHR NG/G16 2-6-2+2-6-2 'Garratts' Nos 87, 138 Millenium and 143. Also included is traditional Festiniog slate train recreations with 'Single' and 'Double' Fairlies, Lynton & Barnstaple recreations with Lyd, South African style freights with double-headed Garratts, FR gravity trains and the FR gravity hauled inspection saloon, The Boat. From historic Caernarfon, through the astounding Aberglaslyn Pass, to the engineering marvel that is the Dduallt Spiral, this is the ultimate programme to experience one of the finest heritage railways in the British Isles today!
RUNNING TIME: 73 mins. PRICE: £24.99 inc P&P.
RUNNING TIME: 73 mins. PRICE: £24.99 inc P&P.
A preview of FROM CAERNARFON TO BLAENAU FFESTINIOG DVD
THE SIX GREAT RAILWAY WONDERS OF THE ISLE OF MAN
THE SIX GREAT RAILWAY WONDERS OF THE ISLE OF MAN is a tribute to the six public railways on the Isle of Man, a true gem of historic and heritage railways today. This programme takes an in-depth look at the 15 mile Isle of Man Steam Railway from Douglas to Port Erin, including some of the railway's historic Beyer Peacock locomotives such as Loch, Fenella and Kissack. We also review the threatened Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, taking a ride behind the last surviving traditional horse drawn street tramway in the world! We also look at the island's two electric railways: the 17 mile Manx Electric Railway and the Snaefell Mountain Railway, which climbs to a height of 2036 feet above sea level and is possibly the highest electrified line in the British Isles. Also reviewed is the 19 inch gauge Great Laxey Mine Railway, which uses historic replica 0-4-0 locomotives Ant & Bee, and finally and not to be omitted, we take an in-depth look at the island's other steam railway, the Groudle Glen Railway, seeing the railway's original steam locomotive, Sea Lion, as well as Gentle Annie Tramway replica (of New Zealand fame) Annie and battery-electric locomotive Polar Bear, a replica of a 1921 original built for the line. This DVD offers SIX different railways and covers steam, horse, electric and battery power! A programme surely not to be missed! RUNNING TIME: 80 mins (approx). PRICE: £24.99 (including P&P).
A Preview of THE SIX GREAT RAILWAY WONDERS OF THE ISLE OF MAN:
The 'Western' Collection - 4 disc set
THE 'WESTERN' COLLECTION is a tribute four disc DVD set dedicated to the legendary Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulics. The set comprises four discs entitled: Maybach Legacy, Return of the Maybachs, Western Cab Ride and Western Region Memories. In Maybach Legacy and Return of the Maybachs we explore the return of D1015 Western Champion to the main line. Filmed between 2005 and 2009, we see Western Champion working in traditional hydraulic territory, such as on the Paddington to Penzance main line and Central Wales line, but also breaking new ground for the class, such as over the Settle & Carlisle, West Coast Main Line over Shap, the North Wales Coast Line to Holyhead, the East Coast Main Line to York and Scarborough, through the Scottish Highlands over Drumochter Summit to Kyle of Lochalsh, as well as heading down the Swanage and Blaenau Ffestiniog branches. In Western Cab Ride we enjoy a thrilling cab ride in D1013 Western Ranger on the Severn Valley Railway, as we head from Bewdley to Bridgnorth, during one of the SVR's highly popular driver experience courses. As an added bonus, our fourth disc, Western Region Memories, reviews some of the most successful Western Region themed diesel galas on the West Somerset Railway in recent years, which includes Class 35 'Hymek' D7017 and D7076, Class 42 'Warship,' D832 Onslaught, Class 52 'Westerns' D1010 Western Campaigner, D1015 Western Champion and D1062 Western Courier, Class 47 D1661 North Star, Class 25s D7523 & D7612, as well as split headcode Class 37/0 D6737. This commemorative edition, featuring well over 4 hours of Class 52 'Western' and other hydraulic action, recalls a time when the Western Region's diesel-hydraulics ruled the rails! RUNNING TIME: 268 mins. PRICE: £29.99.
The Western Region Collection - 4 disc set
THE WESTERN REGION COLLECTION is a commemorative 4 disc DVD special edition set comprised of four discs entitled Western Region 1965 (Parts 1 & 2), Diesels in the South West: 1968 and Western Region Memories and celebrates the early hydraulic dieselisation period on the Western Region in the early and mid 1960s, as seen through a series of themed galas on the West Somerset Railway. In Western Region 1965 we remember the gala held on the West Somerset in June 2007, which featured Class 35 'Hymek' D7076 (visiting from the East Lancs), Class 42 'Warship' D832 Onslaught, Class 52 'Westerns' D1010 Western Campaigner and D1015 Western Champion, Brush Type 4 D1661 North Star and Class 25/3 D7523 John F Kennedy. Witness the sheer power of hydraulic power as we see 'Warships,' 'Westerns' and 'Hymeks' on expresses, locals and goods workings, as well as double-headed 'Westerns' and 'Warships' piloting 'Westerns,' recreating classic holiday workings to Minehead from the late 1960s. In Diesels in the South West: 1968, which depicts the 2008 gala, we reflect on the transition period on the Western Region in the late 1960s, as steam gave way to diesel-hydraulic and diesel-electric traction, as demonstrated by Class 42 'Warship' D832 Onslaught, Class 47/8 D1661 North Star, Class 33 D6566, Class 25s D7523 and D7612, and BR Green split headcode box Class 37/0 D6737. Finally, in Western Region Memories, we take an overview of previous Western Region themed events before reviewing the 2009 gala which featured the re-entry into traffic of Class 35 'Hymek' D7017 in BR Blue and the visit of Class 52 'Western' D1062 Western Courier from the Severn Valley. This commemorative edition, featuring well over 3 hours of classic hydraulic action, exudes diesel-hydraulic traction as we see 'Westerns,' 'Warships' and 'Hymeks,' as well as classes 25, 33, 37 and 47s working hard over the twisting and tortous gradients of the West Somerset, recalling a time when diesel-hydraulics ruled the Western Region! RUNNING TIME: 194 mins. PRICE: £49.99 (including P&P).
The Classic Traction Review 2015: Volume 1
THE CLASSIC TRACTION REVIEW 2015: Volume 1 examines some of the many steam and diesel highlights from the Spring of 2015 as seen on the national network and on preserved lines over the length and breadth of the country as filmed by the Classic Traction Film Crews. This volume begins by examining some rare HST workings on First Great Western as a HST 'back to back' powercar formation doubleheads with DRS Class 57 57303 Pride of Cumbria in order to rescue the 'Night Riviera' sleeper service from Plymouth to Paddington, before reviewing Winter Steam on the Bodmin & Wenford during the 'Winter Steam-Up' Gala including former Southern & GWR power such as LSWR T9 4-4-0 'Greyhound' 30120, GWR 64xx 0-6-0PT 6435 and GWR 42xx 2-8-0T 4247. We then examine the 'Branch Line' Gala on the South Devon Railway which included the visit of GWR 45xx 2-6-2T Prairie 4566 from the Severn Valley, recall the Cheddar Valley route during a Martin Creese / 30742 Photo Charter using LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 Mogul 46447 on the East Somerset Railway, review the 'Steel, Steam & Stars IV' Gala on the Llangollen, the Severn Valley Spring Steam Gala and 'Return to South Wales' themed Spring Gala on the West Somerset, which included the visit of BR Standard 7MT 4-6-2 Pacific 70000 Britannia, which masqueraded as long scrapped former Western Region sister 70021 Morning Star. This volume concludes with a review of the First Great Western HST diversions (due to the Reading Station blockade) over the former Great Western & Great Central Joint via High Wycombe and 'Waterloo' route via Salisbury, before finishing with a review of the South Devon's Mixed Traction Gala, which included the naming of Devon & Cornwall Railways Class 31 31602 Devon Diesel Society.
RUNNING TIME: 76 mins. PRICE: £24.99 (inc P&P).
RUNNING TIME: 76 mins. PRICE: £24.99 (inc P&P).
The Classic Traction Review 2015: Volume II
THE CLASSIC TRACTION REVIEW 2015: Volume 2 is the second volume in this annual review and this programme examines some of the many steam and diesel highlights from the Summer and Autumn of 2015 as seen on the national network and on preserved lines over the length and breadth of the country as filmed by the Classic Traction Film Crews. We begin by seeing main line diesel 'Deltic' action as Class 55 D9009 Alycidon storms along the Bristol to Birmingham main line, before reviewing Industrial narrow gauge steam at Threlkeld Quarry, the highly acclaimed Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway Diesel Gala which included the visit of Class 40 40106 Atlantic Conveyor and Class 50s 50007 Hercules and 50017 Royal Oak, as well as DRS Class 37 passenger operations on the Cumbrian Coast. Next, we review the private Stapleford Miniature Railway, see DRS Class 20s on charter work along the Dawlish Sea Wall, see main line steam in the Far West, and review the Bodmin & Wenford Autumn Steam Gala. We then experience narrow gauge nirvana at the private Statfold Barn Railway, before concluding with a review of the ever popular Severn Valley Railway Diesel Gala, which included the return visit of the unique Paxman engined Class 17 Clayton, D8568.
RUNNING TIME: 75 minutes. PRICE: £24.99 (inc P&P).
Return to Statfold Barn
RETURN TO STATFOLD BARN is a tribute to the unique Statfold Barn Railway in Staffordshire. Privately owned by multi-millionaire Graham Lee, this unique railway system is narrow gauge heaven, and boasts five different guages over a 1000 acre site. The main railway is the dual gauge 2'0" and 2'6" Field Railway, which circumnavigates the site for an amazing 2 miles, in addition to Graham Lee's own narrow gauge Garden Railway. The Statfold Collection comprises in excess of 70 steam, diesel, petrol and battery locomotives, as well as railcars, trams, trolley pumps and various other narrow gauge curiousities, in various stages of restoration from being fully restored to scrap yard condition. Featured in this programme are some 15 narrow gauge steam locomotives that have worked in North Wales, Scotland, Britain, South Africa, Java, East Indies, Indonesia and India; including: Avonside 0-6-0T (2067 of 1933) MARCHLYN, Bagnall 4-4-0T (2820 of 1945) ISIBUTU, Davenport 0-4-0 (1650 of 1917) RYAM SUGAR CO No. 1, Fowler 0-4-2T (13355 of 1912) SACCHARINE, Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 (972 of 1912) LAUTOKA No. 11 FIJI, Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST (1056 of 1914) LAUTOKA No. 19, Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0WT (1643 of 1930) GP39 (Ex BRONLLWYD), Hunslet 'Quarry' class 0-4-0ST (921 of 1906) SYBIL MARY, Hunslet 0-4-2T (1842 of 1936) No. 2 HOWARD, Hunslet 0-4-2ST (3902 of 1971) TRANGKIL No. 4, Hunslet 'Quarry' class 0-4-0ST (3903 of 2005) STATFOLD, Krauss 0-4-2T (4045 of 1899) SRAGI No. 1, Morris / Statfold Barn Railway 'Galloping Goose' (of Rio Grande Southern Railroad style) railcar (2004) THE GOOSE, Orenstein & Koppel 0-6-0WT (10750 of 1923) SRAGI No. 14, Peckett & Sons 0-6-0ST (2050 of 1944) No. 1 HARROGATE & Wilbrighton Wagon Works 0-4-0VBT (No. 2 of 2007) No. 2 PADDY. This programme gives a wonderful insight into this unique railway and discover why Statfold Barn is considered NARROW GAUGE NIRVANA! RUNNING TIME: 58 mins PRICE: £24.99 (inc P&P).
Return to Stapleford
RETURN TO STAPLEFORD is a tribute to the wonderful 10.25 inch gauge Stapleford Miniature Railway that runs for 2 miles through the landscaped grounds of the Gretton Estate at Stapleford Park, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. Opened in 1958, the railway hosts a vast array of one fifth scale British, East African and North American prototypes and included in this programme are American Nickel Plate Road 'Berkshire' 4-8-2 752, and 'pride of the fleet' New York Central 'Niagara' 4-8-4 6019, as well as visiting LNER 2-6-2 V2 4750 Starlight and freelance NER 'Atlantic' 4-4-2 2003 Emily, together with resident Curwen built Western Region 'Warship' diesel-hydraulic 'The White Heron', which has served the line since 1961. During the course of this programme, which includes on-train footage, we will see the railway's locomotives working hard over the line's testing gradients, through landscaped grounds, tunnels and lakes. where we are able to witness all the aspects of this wonderful piece of miniature engineering. RUNNING TIME: 60 mins. PRICE: £24.99 (inc 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.
Tribute to the Hymeks
To many, the Class 35 'Hymeks' were the most successful of all of the Western Region's five diesel-hydraulic designs. Built between May 1961 and February 1964, over a hundred 'Hymeks' were constructed by Beyer-Peacock at their Gorton Works in Manchester. Numerically the largest class in the Western Region's diesel-hydraulic fleet, the 'Hymeks' had a power output of 1740hp, and were the only diesel-hydraulic class in the Type 3 power category, and unlike their sister main line hydraulics, were single engined, used an 87 litre Maybach V16 MD870 power plant that was a development of the MD650 and MD655 units that had earlier seen service in the Class 41, 42 and 43 'Warships,' as well as the larger and more powerful Class 52 'Westerns.' In this DVD, we pay tribute to these reliable and robust locomotives, as we see them at work in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire on a variety of passenger and goods duties, including double-headig with GWR 41xx Large Prairie 2-6-2Ts, as well as their larger hydraulic siblings, such as the 'Warships' and 'Westerns.' We see D7017, D7018 and D7076 in action on the Minehead line, as well as D7017 during her iconic visit to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway in 2014, where she recreated the legendary 'Cheltenham Spa Express.' Included is a variety of 'Hymek' liveries, including BR Green with small yellow warning panels and BR Green with full yellow ends, as well as the later corporate BR Blue livery. Filmed over a 7 year period, this programme shows Class 35 'Hymeks' hard at work on a variety of duties, working solo or in combination with other period traction, such as 'Warships' and 'Westerns,' and is the perfect programme for 'Hymek' and hydraulic enthusiasts to reminisce and savour the majestic sound from the Hymek's Maybach V16 engine! RUNNING TIME: TBC. PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
Wadebridge returns to Bodmin
WADEBRIDGE RETURNS TO BODMIN is a tribute DVD of SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 Bullied 'light' Pacific 34007 Wadebridge to the Bodmin & Wenford during May 2014. North Cornwall was once dominated by the lines of the former Southern Railway from Halwill Junction to Wadebridge and Padstow, and the return of 34007 Wadebridge was marked by a special Southern Region themed gala, capturing all the charm and essence of the network of 'Withered Arm' lines in Cornwall during the 1950s and 1960s. As well as the return of 34007 Wadebridge, which was making its first visit to Bodmin since her restoration on the line in 2006, we also see LSWR T9 'Greyhound' 4-4-0 30120 and GWR 64xx 0-6-0PT 6435. Southern express locomotives on the main line is also included, as we see SR 'Battle of Britain' 34067 Tangmere storming over the banks through Devon & Cornwall with the 'Royal Duchy,' in scenes reminiscent of Southern Region named expresses of the 1960s which once headed to the Far West. For all those who remember the Southern and the 'Withered Arm' network of lines of Devon and Cornwall with affection, then this highly evocative DVD is the one for you! RUNNING TIME: TBC. PRICE: £19.99 + £3 P&P.
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.
The Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway
THE BREDGAR & WORMSHILL LIGHT RAILWAY is a private 2 foot narrow gauge system that operates for just under a mile through the beautiful North Downs in Kent. Owned by brothers Peter & David Best, the railway operates a collection of historic international narrow gauge steam and diesel locomotives which have seen Industrial service in Britain, France, Germany, and as far a field as Mozambique. In this programme, we explore the full extent of this unique and charming railway, which is only open to the public on a handful of days each year. In this programme we see German built Orentstein & Koppel 0-4-0 well tank No. 6 Eigiau, a former North Wales Penryhn Quarry engine which also saw industrial service on Merseyside, 1897 built Decauville 0-4-0T No. 7 Victory, which saw service in France and Australia, and John Fowler 0-6-0WT No. 9 Limpopo, an engine that worked on the Sena Sugar Estates in Mozambique. Explore this fascinating and unique narrow gauge system with us, as we review one of Kent's rarest, and one of Britain's most unique and rare narrow gauge lines! RUNNING TIME: 41 mins (approx). PRICE: £12.99 + £3 P&P.