Locomotive Profiles

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The LNER’s last Chief Mechanical Engineer was Arthur Peppercorn, whose most lasting memorial is the subject of this programme – his Class A2 Pacific No. 60532 Blue Peter.

The locomotive was saved from scrapping in 1966 by Geoffrey Drury. After a chequered preservation career, he decided to put the locomotive in the capable hands of the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG). They restored her to main line condition at the Thornaby depot.

This programme covers her return to the main line and her first runs over the scenic Settle-Carlisle and a foray back on her native metals in Scotland as well as use on the Great Central Railway.

Sadly tragedy follows as she is virtually destroyed whilst on a main line run at Durham and due to the damage caused in that incident in 1994, Blue Peter had to return to the Thornaby workshops. On completion of the repairs in 1996, No. 60532 returned to service on her ‘home’ ground on the North York Moors Railway and then to the main line again.

This dvd graphically captures the incident in all its dreadful detail, through rare footage from the train itself. We than follow her second restoration in the shed at Thornaby, were the full extent of the damage is revealed.

This programmes is a tribute to a superb locomotive and the dedication of the members of the NELPEG, who have had to overcome more traumas and set backs than seems just. That they have done so and triumphed is testament to their enthusiasm and dedication and the work carried out to bring the locomotive back into service. We see her at work on the ‘Moors’ and in the last months of her boiler ticket in 2001.

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Number of discs: 1 DVD

Running Time: 55-mins (0hr 55min)

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Ref: KF179D

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Here we tell the story of one of Britain’s most impressive main line entertainers – Gresley ‘V2’ No. 60800 "Green Arrow".

One of Gresley’s three-cylinder V2 2-6-2s design first appeared in 1936 and was destined for heavy mixed traffic work throughout the London & North Eastern Railway system. The V2s achieved initial fame in working the Scottish goods from London’s Kings Cross.

Green Arrow was selected for preservation in the National Collection and has been lovingly cared for ever since.

We see it during its reign on the main line in the 1980s and 1990s in both LNER green and latterly in BR green livery, which it carried after 1997.

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Number of discs: 1 DVD

Running Time: 50-mins (0hr 50min)

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Ref: KF199D

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The very last Pacific locomotive to be built in Britain, Duke of Gloucester is literally a one-off locomotive.

Constructed at Crewe Works in 1954, No.71000 Duke of Gloucester was the last Pacific locomotive built for the nationalised British Railways, the sole Standard Class 8P, the engine was the prototype of a three-cylinder development of Britannia.

This locomotive profile dvd traces its beginnings and its short career of just eight years on the West Coast Main Line for BR. But our story really starts with its incredible survival in South Wales, at the famous scrapyard at Barry. Devoid of many of its main components, the Duke is seen at its darkest moment, rusting away by the seaside.

By 1974 help was on the horizon in the form of The 71000 Duke of Gloucester Locomotive Trust who managed to purchase the engine and see it transferred to the fledgling Great Central Railway scheme. We see footage of this rescue and of the early years of restoration at Loughborough.

Extensive sequences of its return to steam are included, with an in depth review of its first main line runs all over the UK.

The programme picks up the story in the early 21st century at Bury on the East Lancs Railway where the Duke was undergoing a huge overhaul for its second term out on the main lines. Sequences of its first move under steam and of its very first running on the Lancashire line begin to trace the start of the new main line ticket.

The locomotive’s first run to Holyhead is covered, as too is the triumphant run over Shap and the Settle-Carlisle in September 2004.

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Number of discs: 1 DVD

Running Time: 60-mins (1hr 0min)

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Ref: KF183D

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This dvd is the story of one of Britain’s most impressive class of locomotives – the LMS Black Fives.

Designed by Sir William Stanier, Class 5 4-6-0 for the London Midland and Scottish Railway was numerically the largest class of locomotive in Great Britain and they were always known as ‘Black 5s’. 842 of these Class 5 4-6-0s were constructed and were truly ‘maids of all work’, handling anything from local freight trains to named expresses and everything inbetween. Many of the class have survived into preservation, a good number being bought from British Rail when they dispensed with steam in 1968.

We follow the story of nine of the Black Fives as they became runners again in preservation all over the UK. This programme starts with LMS No. 5025, the oldest Black Five to survive, as it operates in the Scottish Highlands on the Strathspey Railway.

We travel south to see the National Railway Museum’s example, No. 5000, at work on the Severn Valley Railway.

No. 5305 was saved by the scrap merchant in Hull who received it in his yard for cutting up. We see it working in the Scottish Highlands on the Fort William route.

The unique Stephenson’s link motion Class 5 No. 45428 with No. 44767 are seen at work on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The Midland Railway Centre’s No. 44932 and No. 44871 based at the Bo’ness, are seen on the Mallaig route in the late 1980s.

Finally we follow the preserved life of No. 45407 with its runs over the North Wales line and Settle-Carlisle Railway from the 1980s and into the 21st Century, including its foray over Shap and Beattock in 2001.

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Number of discs: 1 DVD

Running Time: 60-mins (1hr 0min)

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Ref: KF160D

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A Steam Dream Comes True. A special dvd about this star-performing locomotive. Ever since its main line return in 1998, ‘Merchant Navy’ Pacific No. 35005 Canadian Pacific, has caused a mini sensation wherever it has gone.

We delve into its preservation days since lying in the scrapyard at Dai Woodhams at Barry and see some of its stunning use on the main line in blue livery as far afield as the Settle-Carlisle line.

The change into more usual green livery is seen at the Mid-Hants Railway and its early operations in this livery to Yeovil and on the ‘Steam Dreams’ tours in the south of England under the Cathedrals Express banner.

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Running Time: 55-mins (0hr 55min)

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60007 Sir Nigel Gresley (A4 Pacific) last ran in BR service in the mid 1960s after which it was purchased for preservation by the A4 Locomotive Society.It was unusually, overhauled and restored to LNER garter blue livery as No. 4498 at the former LMS Crewe works in 1967, which still had steam expertise available. It then returned to BR tracks to haul enthusiast’s specials, something which it has been renowned for ever since.

Sir Nigel Gresley has always had a special place in the hearts on LNER fans after being named after that railway’s Chief Mechanical Engineer at Marylebone station on 26th November 1937. The locomotive had a short spell away from main line duties between 1968 and 1972 when BR’s infamous steam ban was in force. Later its forays from Carlisle tended to be associated with the Settle and Carlisle line. We see Sir Nigel Gresley at work on the main line duties, as well as performing on some of our most prestigious preserved lines.

Also in this dvd we feature the locomotive in 1988 lined up for a photographic call alongside Mallard and Bittern as Silver Link, to mark its sister locomotive ‘Mallards’ 50th anniversary.

Contents: Early Workings – 4498 Turning at Yeovil, leaving Marylebone, Ais Gill and at York National Railway Museum.

After Overhaul – Test run at Derby shown at Alfreton, on Settle and Carlisle line.

On Preserved Lines – Severn Valley Railway, Great Central Railway, East Lancs Railway, Nene Valley Railway, Mid-Hants Railway and North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The Intercity Sunset and Shap – Shap steam trails. 2006 Reappearance and test run in April 2008.

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Running Time: 40-mins (0hr 40min)

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Ref: KF254D

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The dvd is about one locomotive – 35028 ‘Clan Line’, a member of the Oliver Bulleid’s ‘Merchant Navy’ Class for the Southern Railway. This locomotive is one of the best known on the modern-day steam locomotive scene, having worked since 1974 on most of the British Rail steam main lines.

The programme has been made with full approval and co-operation of the locomotive’s owners, The Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society Limted and is a tribute to their skills and efforts at presenting this magnificent manchine for the joy of the British public.

Contents:

London’s Engine – Main line working on the route from Marylebone to Stratford-on-Avon.

Home Run – A record of ‘Clan Line’s’ return to Southern Region metals from Salisbury to Yeovil in 1986 and 1987.

From the Archive – Her last run as a BR engine in 1967, from Nine Elms to Basingstoke, on the footplate, MNLPS members hard at work on her and her first railtour to Westbury in 1974.

On Shed – Locomotive preparation at Carnforth with explanations of cab fittings and equipment.

The Driver’s View – In the cab over the Settle and Carlisle in April 1989, with lineside footage.

The North Wales Coast Express – Whalley Arches on the way down to Crewe and working along the Coast Line in Summer 1989 and 35028 together with 34027 at Llandudno Junction.

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Running Time: 40-mins (0hr 40min)

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This title is about two locomotives – the first and last ‘Pacific’ locomotives built for the nationalised British Railways – 70000 Britannia and 71000 Duke of Gloucester.

Each has been restored for use on British Rail’s main lines today – against some of the greatest odds encountered in the history of railway preservation. In this respect the restoration of Duke of Gloucester, dubbed ‘Project Impossible’ by doubting Thomases, will always be held up as proof that determination, boldness and sheer grit can succeed.

As a tribute to those who have brought so much pleasure to so many, we present this dvd of No’s 70000 and 71000 at work today.

Contents include:

The Duke of Marylebone – A storming start!

Britannia on the Main Lines – Britannia’s return to the main lines in 1991, including trackside footage of emergency repairs and her first run on the Settle and Carlisle.

Return to the Nene Valley – Close-up details, lineside and in the cab shots of Britannia on the Nene Valley Railway.

The Duke’s Return – 71000 Duke of Gloucester on the Great Central Railway, under restoration, on early workings and her triumphant return to the main line.

Main Line Phoenix – A review of Duke of Gloucester’s main line workings in 1990 and 1991, from Didcot to Derby, Swindon to Crewe, to Holyhead, the Cumbrian Coast and her eagerly awaited debut on the Settle and Carlisle – including her record-breaking ‘Blue-Riband’ run.

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Number of discs: 1 DVD

Running Time: 48-mins (0hr 48min)

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Currently the only working example of the ‘Princess Royal’ Class, No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth is one of our earlier examples saved by pioneers in preservation.

This dvd traces the locomotive’s preserved life from the time it was bought by the Princess Elizabeth Locomotive Society from Carlisle shed in 1962. From its days at the Ashchurch site in Gloucestershire, this magnificent Pacific has graced the main lines of Britain since the mid-1970s.

In 2002 it re-entered service again following an extensive overhaul at Tyesley and Bury; views from this period are included along with the locomotive’s trials prior to its main line comeback in April 2002.

Footage of the first runs over the Settle-Carlisle Railway and its triumphant conquering of Shap begin a spell of sequences of the locomotive at work again.

Princess Elizabeth’s foray into Scotland in September 2002 and Devon in October 2002 conclude this dvd.

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Number of discs: 1 DVD

Running Time: 60-mins (1hr 0min)

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Ref: KF257D

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The Life & Times series features the ‘Life & Times’ of the most popular working steam locomotives during their ‘second golden age’. This video features one of the most popular smaller locomotives working today on the main lines of British Rail.

No.80080, a member of the Riddles designed BR Class 4 2-6-4 tank engines, has seen action on many parts of the system, from Salisbury to Carlisle, from Folkestone to Aberdare and this programme is a superb souvenir to enable you to watch her again and again – as well as ‘behind the scenes’ with here dedicated team of restorers and supporters. Contents: Homebase – Local Passenger – Main Line Tank.

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Running Time: 40-mins (0hr 40min)

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The Life & Times series of programmes features the ‘Life & Times’ of the most popular working steam locomotives during their ‘second golden age’.

The London and Midland and Scottish Railway had 852 Class 8F goods engines built to the design of Sir William Stanier. They were the backbone of its freight handling system until the end of steam under British Railways in 1968.

A number survive, but only one, David Smith’s 48151 has seen extensive use on the main line steam workings today.

This is a tribute and record of its second career, spanning the country from Carlisle to Salisbury and even including work for which it was designed - main line freight.

Contents: Peak Workings – Eight Freight – Mountain Express – Home Run.

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Most people think of the famous Express Steam Locomotives, such as ‘Flying Scotsman’, ‘Princess Elizabeth’, ‘Mallard’ and so on when asked to describe a steam engine. However, the true backbone of the steam railwy age was the conveyance of goods traffic, for which special locomotives were required – known as freight engines.

Perhaps most special of all were the Somerset and Dorset Class 7F 2-8-0s, the subject of this dvd. Their working lives were spent entirely on the famous Somerset and Dorset Railway and such was their charisma, that two examples, 53808 and 53809, have been saved for posterity.

This dvd shows the class at work in the 1960s by means of Ivo Peters incomparable 16mm cine film and features the preserved locomotives at work.

Contents:

Freight Engines – Ivo Peters’ colour films of the S&D 7Fs at work on the Somerset and Dorset Railways in the 1960s, on freight and passenger trains.

Renaissance – Ivo Peters’ film on the return of 53808 from South Wales to Radstock and restoration work at Minehead. 53808 – The Somerset and Dorset Trust’s ’88’ at work on the West Somerset Railway, including cab sequences.

53807 Remembered – Recreating the last 7F to work on the S&D!

53809 – Based at Butterley, on the Midland Railway Trust’s line, the second preserved 7F is seen at work on the MRT and on BR main lines.

53809 Back to Bath – Footage from the 40th anniversary weekend of the closure of the Somerset and Dorset line in 2006 at Green Park, includes Ivo Peters’ Bentley and the 92203 and 9F double headed, viewed together for the first time in preservation.

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Number of discs: 1 DVD

Running Time: 50-mins (0hr 50min)

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