Wired for Sound Cab Ride Series

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In 2016, Chiltern Railways’ 17.21 Marylebone to Banbury evening commuter service comprised a Class 68 and Mark 3 stock with ‘drop down’ windows, from which you could hear the loco’s Caterpillar engine hard at work on a tightly-timed schedule. This WIRED FOR SOUND cab ride DVD features 68012 on one such trip. With 3,750 horsepower on tap, the locomotive not only delivers an impressive audio performance, but also demonstrates how quick off the mark Class 68 are. Over the last 20 years, the Chiltern Line via High Wycombe to Aynho Junction has undergone a major transformation. Gone are the days when it was a run-down secondary route - today it is a fast 100mph railway, offering a journey time of just 78 minutes from Marylebone to Banbury. And that includes five station stops!

Immediately after leaving Marylebone, the line plunges into St. John’s Wood tunnel followed by Hampstead tunnel. As the Class 68 gathers speed, it emerges into daylight at Finchley Road to run alongside the London Underground as far as Neasden, where the journey continues past Wembley Stadium and Northolt Park to join the former Western Region route from Paddington at South Ruislip. With 68012 on full power, the line begins a 21-mile climb over the Chiltern hills to the summit at Saunderton. There are full-on standing starts from station stops at Beaconsfield and High Wycombe before the line descends sharply to another station stop at Princes Risborough. With the route now level, there’s some fast running up to 100mph, broken only by further stops at Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Bicester North. There’s a lively run to Aynho Junction where the Chiltern Line joins the Cherwell Valley route from Didcot. Five miles later, Banbury is mid-way through a major transformation, and Banbury South signal box and its GWR semaphore signals are in their last days of operation. Finally the Class 68 arrives at its platform 1 destination.

BONUS FEATURE: having been on board Chiltern Railways' newest piece of kit, their oldest train is the subject of this fifteen minute bonus cab ride. Providing something of a timewarp, British Railways 1961-built green bubble car 121034 is featured on an evening journey from Princes Risborough to Aylesbury.

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 2016

Running time: 100-mins

Availability: AVAILABLE
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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Locomaster waited a long time to add the Class 20s to their ‘Wired for Sound’ series, but it has been well worth the wait. This programme features no fewer than four of them! The train is one of the railway’s more unusual workings - GB Railfreight’s 8X09 Asfordby to Neasden, which is conveying brand new S Stock for London Underground’s Metropolitan Line. The unit is ‘top & tailed’ by DRS locos 20301 & 20302 at one end and 20304 & 20305 at the other. Due to numerous operating restrictions, the 8X09 has to travel from Leicestershire to London the long way round...which is a far more interesting route!

The first stage of the journey is along the short branch from the Asfordby test centre to the loop at Melton Mowbray. There, the train reverses and heads for Syston Junction where it joins the Midland Main Line for a spirited run to Leicester. South of there, the 8X09 enters Knighton loop where it reverses again – this time onto the 30-mile ‘freight only’ Leicester & Burton Line via Coalville. This is a fascinating route famous for its mining subsidence and the climb up Desford bank has Class 20s at full bore. Although the eastern end of this route is still busy with aggregate traffic from the quarries at Stud Farm and Bardon Hill, the only trains to use the route beyond Coalville via Moira West are the S Stock moves. So this particular section is rare track!

At Birmingham Curve Junction the 8X09 takes the little-used curve to Branston Junction where it joins the Derby to Birmingham main line. At Kingsbury Junction the train takes the route to Whitacre Junction. The journey across the West Midlands is via Water Orton, Washwood Heath, Tyseley and a pathing stop in Dorridge Loop. After that it passes through Solihull and Warwick to Leamington Spa. From there the Class 20s power their way uphill for the following 14 miles through Harbury cutting to Fenny Compton. Because the programme was filmed in June, it was still light as the train arrived at Banbury at 21.20. Not so when the train left there an hour and 20 minutes later, and so the programme concludes with a series of atmospheric lineside shots as the train passes through various stations on the last leg of its journey to London.

ROUTE FEATURED: Asfordby-Banbury via Melton Mowbray, Leicester, Coalville, Water Orton, Dorridge and Leamington Spa.

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 2011

Running time: 210-mins

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Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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A Double-Feature DVD featuring two programmes on D1015 Western Champion

A DAY ON THE CLAY

When D1015 Western Champion spent a day working china clay trips off St Blazey depot in Cornwall on August 30th 2002, it became the first diesel-hydraulic to haul a revenue-earning freight train for more than 25 years. Combining exclusive footage from the footplate and a series of superb lineside sequences, this programme is a detailed record of the day when D1015 re-wrote the history books. The days activities begin at St Blazey, from where the ‘Thousand’ sets off light engine to Fowey Docks to collect a rake of china clay wagons. With D1015 Wired for Sound to capture the distinctive Maybach music, the loco departs with the 6G11 to Goonbarrow. The view from the cab features the scenic run along the Fowey estuary, the climb to Treverrin Tunnel, the spectacular climb through the Luxulyan Valley and the arrival at Goonbarrow sidings. Lineside views then capture the sight and sound of Champion as it works the 6G10 china clay back to Fowey Docks. Packed with Cornish nostalgia, this is a fascinating record of the day that time stood still.

THE GOLDEN OCHRE YEARS

D1015 became the first diesel hydraulic locomotive to return to the main line since the demise of the Class 52 ‘Westerns’ in 1977. This 45-minute programme features the best of Western Champion’s main line workings in its unique golden ochre livery which began on January 28th 2002 with a test run from Kidderminster to Sheffield. Over the following four years D1015 appeared on 22 railtours and special charters, most of which are featured here. As well as re-visiting classic ‘Thousand’ haunts, the loco is also seen off the beaten track at locations such as the S&C, Hest Bank, Euston, York and Abergele. Other scenes feature D1015 blasting its way up the Luxulyan Valley en route to Newquay, double-heading with steam and on freight and mail trains. Also featured is Champion’s infamous passenger rescue in October 2002 when it assisted a failed First Great Western HST into Swindon!

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 2002, 2008 DVD

Running time: 110-mins

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Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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THE ultimate footplate experience - a 100 mph Deltic on the main line!

This ‘Wired for Sound’ cab-ride was originally released in 1997, but has now been digitally re-mastered to provide enhanced picture quality as well as the inclusion of around 20 minutes extra footage.

The journey on board D9000 Royal Scots Grey is over legendary Deltic territory - the East Coast Main Line, all 393 miles of it! The train is the "Deltic Scotsman" from King’s Cross to Edinburgh on 6th September 1997, the first Deltic-hauled passenger train between the two termini for more than 15 years. After easing out of ‘The Cross’, D9000 gathers speed through the North London suburbs of Finsbury Park, Harringay and Barnet. After a stop at Stevenage, D9000 is off again for a rousing run through Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire before calling at Peterborough. That’s followed by a spirited run up to Stoke Summit.

After descending to Grantham, Royal Scots Grey continues north through Newark and Retford, before blasting through the centre road at Doncaster. With a new driver at the controls from York, the famous four-track racing stretch to Northallerton has the twin 18-cylinder Napiers roaring away at full bore.

Continuing north through Darlington, Ferryhill and Durham, D9000 pauses briefly in Newcastle station before a performing a rousing run past Heaton depot. Next the train crosses the famous Royal Border Bridge at Berwick. As the train ran on the day of the Princess of Wales’ funeral, as a mark of respect the train stopped for a 2-minute silence on the England/Scotland border. And not at a signal either, but right next to the border sign. The final leg of the journey sees the Deltic storm through the Borders Region and into Lothian before arriving at Edinburgh’s Waverley station.

An outstanding performance that proves, even by today’s standards, the Deltic is a legendary machine - in sight, sound and power. So, climb ‘up front’ for this spectacular and historic journey!

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Cover photo: Front cover: Jarrod Cotter; Back cover: Paul Furtek
Narrated by: David Maxey
Edited by: Paul Furtek
First published on DVD: 1997 on VHS, 2006 on DVD
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 110-mins (1hr 50min)

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The third in the series of ‘Wired for Sound’ re-releases on DVD features a cab-ride on a pair of EWS Class 31s on the once-legendary Northolt-Calvert ‘Binliner’. In this programme, which was filmed in July 1998 (and released in 1999) locomotives 31 207 + 31 308 are given a thorough workout over the Chilterns with a trailing load of 1,648 tonnes. The climb to the summit at Saunderton is through Denham and Beaconsfield to High Wycombe. From there a series of double curves coupled with a stiff gradient has the 40-year old Type 2 veterans at full bore for the remaining 6 miles to the summit. After that, the line drops sharply down to Princes Risborough where the 31s take the scenic single line route through Little Kimble to Aylesbury. From there the train continues over the former Great Central route which is now a single track freight-only line to Claydon Junction. Shortly after Quainton Road station, the trains progress is halted when a herd of sheep escape from their field and onto the line in front of the train – causing the driver to perform an emergency stop! Despite the valiant efforts of the train crew who do their best to usher the sheep off the line, the animals are hemmed in by the lineside fences. In the end the Class 31s themselves have to gently cajole the sheep all the way to Calvert! It’s an extraordinary end to a fascinating journey.

Like the preceding two re-releases (ALL THE WAY and UNPLUGGED EXTRA) this programme has been completely re-edited from scratch and features additional scenes not included in the original VHS version.

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 1999 VHS, 2007 DVD

Running time: 80-mins

Availability: AVAILABLE
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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Class 56s have been a familiar sight hauling coal trains on Humberside for more than 20 years.

This programme features BR corporate blue-liveried 56 006 ‘WIRED FOR SOUND’ on a working synonymous with the class in more recent years - the Immingham to Scunthorpe coal.

The outward 7C77 working conveys imported coal from Immingham Bulk Terminal to the Corus steelworks at Scunthorpe. The trailing load is 1,600 tonnes, which provides a stiff test for the Rumanian-built 56. The train first weaves its way through the fascinating rail complex serving lmmingham Docks before heading towards Ulceby and Brocklesby Junction. At Barnetby, a location renowned for its superb collection of semaphore signals, the 7C77 bears right at Wrawby Junction to tackle the short but sharp climb of Elsham bank.

Manual crossing gates and more semaphores follow at Elsham and Appleby before the 56 encounters the most challenging part of the journey - the severe climb of Appleby bank which has the Grid at ‘full chat’. After that comes Scunthorpe and another fascinating maze of trackwork. After negotiating its way across an almost endless series of points, the 7C77 finally arrives in Scunthorpe Yard to deliver its wagon-loads of ‘black gold’. 56 006 then swaps trains by attaching to the 6C75 empties for a spirited non-stop run back to lmmingham Bulk Terminal.

The 46-mile round trip was filmed on a glorious winter’s afternoon, the blue Grid reviving memories of the late 1970s and early ‘5Os. With Class 56 operation on the Scunthorpe coal now at an end, this programme provides a nostalgic reminder of what was once an everyday sight.

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 2004

Running time: 90-mins

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Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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The first train from London to Sheffield Park via East Grinstead for over 50 years!

March 28th 2013 was a significant day in the history of the Bluebell Railway. Following the completion and opening of the £12 million extension from Kingscote to East Grinstead, the railway received its first ‘through train’ from London to Sheffield Park since 1963. This volume is a cab ride filmed on board that first historic train, which was operated by GB?Railfreight who provided newly re-painted 66739 for the occasion.

Immediately after setting off with ‘The Blue Belle’ charter train from London Victoria, the Class 66 first has to tackle the short sharp 1 in 62 climb to cross the River Thames. Then comes the complex rail network and a series of junctions as the train heads through the south London suburbs of Brixton, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill and Crystal Palace to Norwood Junction. At South Croydon Junction it diverges onto the Oxted branch to travel through the steeply graded Caterham Valley, through the Surrey towns of Sanderstead, Woldingham and Hurst Green. After passing through Lingfield and Dormans the train reaches East Grinstead, where it proceeds over the short connection linking the national rail network to the 11-mile long Bluebell Railway. The impressive Imberhorne viaduct is followed by the restored Imberhorne cutting, which for several decades had been a landfill site! Then come the delightful stations at Kingscote and Horsted Keynes. At Sheffield Park a large crowd is waiting to greet the arrival of the first train from London via East Grinstead in 55 years. The naming ceremony of 66739 at Horsted Keynes completes a historic occasion for the railway.

Although this cab ride is not billed as a Wired for Sound programme, the audio of the Class 66 at full power - with a trailing load of twelve coaches and two dead Class 73s - is quite impressive! This Locomaster DVD – issued in 2021 - is a digitally re-mastered version of the programme that was originally only available from the Bluebell Railway.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Narrated by: David Maxey
First published on DVD: 2013 but remastered & reissued 2021
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 110-mins (1hr 50min) , Colour
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Part of the former North Eastern Railway route from Whitby to Saltburn has survived as a freight-only line to carry vast tonnages of potash and salt from Boulby mine to Teeside. This programme features a cab-ride on board EWS’s 6F65 Boulby to Tees Dock, conveying potash mined from under the North Sea. The splendid views from the cab of 56115, filmed on a glorious summer’s day in 2003, feature the scenic North Yorkshire and Cleveland countryside and the contrasting industrial landscape of Teeside.

The first stage of the 22-mile journey is the short, sharp climb out of the Boulby terminal up to Grinkle Tunnel. We then pass the sites of the closed stations at Easington and Loftus, after which we cross the embankment that was once a viaduct spanning Kilton Beck. After passing Skinningrove steelworks, the single line ‘token’ from Boulby is surrendered to Crag Hall signalbox, which still retains an array of semaphore signals. With a 1,000 tonne trailing load, the Class 56 is then at full power for the taxing 1 in 64 climb up Warsett Hill where the line skirts the top of Hunt Cliff, which towers 300 feet above the coastline of the North Sea. After descending past the sites of Brotton and North Skelton stations, we cross the impressive 783-foot long Riftswood Viaduct before arriving at Saltburn West Junction. There we join the Tees Valley Line, originally the world’s first public railway - the Stockton & Darlington Railway - and travel through Marske, Longbeck and Redcar Central to Grangetown. There the Class 56 runs round its train before proceeding along the freight-only branch to Tees Dock.

There is some nice thrash to enjoy as the Class 56 tackles some nice gradients with a decent load. Two months after this programme was filmed, Class 66s took over this long-standing Class 56 working. Today, the workings out of Boulby are operated by Freightliner Heavy Haul so this is a double helping of Teeside freight nostalgia.

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 2012

Running time: 80-mins

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Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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To commemorate the end of the reign of Class 47s on its CrossCountry services, Virgin Trains specially re-painted four of its locomotives in historic liveries in the autumn of 2001. One of these was 47 851 which was transformed into two-tone British Railways green livery and re-united with original number – D1648. The locomotive made its public debut in its late-1960s identity on the 1S76 09.20 Brighton-Edinburgh on November 23rd – only three days before the service went over to Voyager units. This ‘Wired for Sound’ cab-ride video is a record of the first 185 miles of that journey, the loco having eight Mark 2 coaches and a dead Class 47 in tow.

The first stage of the journey is along the Brighton main line. After the climb from Haywards Heath to Balcombe Tunnel there’s another uphill run between Gatwick and Merstham via Quarry Tunnel. From East Croydon the 1S76 threads its way in and out of London via a myriad of lines through Selhurst, Streatham Common, Balham and Clapham Junction before joining the West London Line at Latchmere Junction. After crossing the Thames at Battersea Bridge, the journey continues through Kensington Olympia and West London Junction to Acton Wells Junction where D1648 takes the connecting chord to the Great Western Main Line. Full power is resumed for the run along the relief line from Acton Main Line to Southall, and again from Slough to Reading. The run through the Thames Valley continues to Didcot where the 1S76 heads north through Oxford and Banbury to Leamington Spa. From here, the ‘Brush’ takes the steeply-graded single-line ‘roller coaster’ to Coventry. Now ‘under the wires’, the veteran locomotive makes a spirited run through Berkswell and Hampton-in-Arden before pausing at Birmingham International. The final leg of the journey concludes as the Class 47 plunges into the depths of Birmingham New Street station.

This is a reminder of what was an everyday sight and sound for nearly 40 years – a Class 47 powering an ‘Inter-Regional’ passenger train. With a delightful touch of 1960s nostalgia, D1648’s Sulzer engine is faithfully captured hard at work on a route packed with interest, amid the golden colours of late autumn.

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 2002

Running time: 110-mins

Availability: AVAILABLE
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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This programme, which was filmed in July 1997, has more history in it than any other Locomaster ‘Wired for Sound’ title. And that’s because most of what’s in it has gone….the Longbridge Rover car plant, the regular trainloads of car components, Tinsley TMD and it’s Railfreight Distribution Class 47s, Saltley depot. Sadly, they are all now but a memory. But this cab-ride was filmed in happier times, when RfD’s Longbridge-Swindon-Longbridge car component trains travelled out and back via different routes, both of which were packed with interest and challenging gradients.

The outward journey is filmed on board a pair of immaculate Tinsley Type 4s – 47 236 & 47 375. After leaving Rover’s Longbridge sidings the 900 tonne train travels south (after a loco run-round at Kings Norton) descending the famous Lickey bank to Bromsgrove before continuing on to Cheltenham. At Standish Junction the 47s take the scenic Golden Valley route where they tackle the tortuous 12-mile climb of Sapperton bank. With gradients as steep as 1 in 60, the locos blast their way into the tunnel at the summit on full power! After descending through Kemble, the train continues over the single-track section to Swindon where it travels along the truncated remains of the Highworth branch to reach its destination at the Pressed Steel factory sidings. On departure from Swindon with the loaded train, the 47s travel east along the Great Western main line as far as Didcot, before heading north on a storming run to Oxford. The journey continues via Banbury, Fenny Compton, Leamington Spa and the steeply-graded Hatton bank before reaching the outskirts of Birmingham, where the train is routed via Solihull and Tyseley to Washwood Heath yard. After a short break for a locomotive change, there is a stirring finale as 47 286 & 47 285 tackle the notorious Camp Hill incline en route to Longbridge sidings.

Soon after this programme was filmed, RfD disappeared following its purchase by EWS and the Rover trains subsequently went over to Class 66 haulage. The car component traffic ceased following the closure of the Longbridge plant in April 2005, by which time the fleet of RfD 47s had also disappeared. As with our other re-releases on DVD, this programme has not only been completely digitally re-mastered from the original footage but because so much has changed in the intervening years, there is also an updated and revised script. We’ve also included some additional footage from inside the then-thriving Longbridge rail terminal - all of which has since been lifted! So this is a programme packed not only with traction nostalgia but also a significant piece of Britain’s car manufacturing history.

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 1997 VHS, 2008 DVD

Running time: 115-mins

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Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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Class 37s have been synonymous with South Wales since the first examples of the class arrived for trials at Cardiff Canton in September 1962. Forty years later the class were still hard at work on their old stamping ground. Fittingly, this double ‘Wired for Sound’ extravaganza features the unmodified Class 37/0 variant – the ‘standard’ original design that arrived in South Wales in the early 1960’s. For variety and comparison, one journey features a single 37 on a passenger train, the other a pair on a heavy freight!

PASSENGER: 37 055 is the featured loco on the passenger run which is from Cardiff Central to Rhymney. This was filmed in September 2000 at a time when, although the Cardiff Valley services were booked for Class 37/4s, they were frequently producing anything but. Although the train only comprises four mark 2 coaches, the 25-mile run is not only uphill all the way but there are no fewer than 15 station stops. And there’s a tightly-timed schedule to boot! With Mainline Freight-liveried 37 055 in fine fettle, it all makes for a highly-entertaining 60-minute run!

FREIGHT: 37 131 and 37 229 provide a complete contrast to the passenger run as they tackle the 6B89 Cardiff Tidal-Aberthaw tanks. Filmed on September 23 1999, both 37s came out of store from Cardiff Canton to work the train as a means of testing the two locos prior to the pair being re-instated for use on autumn ‘sandite’ duties. With a trailing load of 1,100 tonnes, the 37/0s never get the train above 40mph as the pair are given a serious workout over the Vale of Glamorgan Line.

Narrated by: David Maxey

First published: 2003

Running time: 110-mins

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Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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This ‘double-disk’ DVD set features a ‘Wired for Sound’ cab-ride on board 40 145 on a 190-mile journey from Aberdeen to Inverness. This was filmed during the ‘Whistlers’ marathon Scottish trip in August 2005. Thanks to the co-operation of the Class 40 Preservation Society and EWS, our cameras and microphones were on board the loco to capture the Class 40 as it tackled the challenging gradients of two impressive routes. The cab footage is complimented by lineside views of the train as it heads for Kyle where it became the first ‘Whistler’ to reach this remote Scottish outpost in 24 years.

DISK 1 : Aberdeen-Inverness features 40 145 on the108-mile route from Aberdeen to Inverness. It begins with the 32-mile climb through Dyce, Inverurie and Insch to Kennethmont summit. After dropping through Huntly the line climbs again through Keith to run through the heart of ‘whisky country’ to Tauchers summit. After descending to Elgin, a series of varying gradients carry the line through Forres and Nairn to Inverness. With all but 5 miles of the route single track, and with all but one of the stations still equipped with semaphore signaling, this line still retains much of its charm from when Class 40s regularly plied the route.

DISK 2 : Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh. After setting off from Inverness and crossing Clachnaharry swing bridge, 40 145 is at full bore as it powers alongside the Beauly Firth towards Muir of Ord. After a spirited run to Dingwall, the train leaves the Far North Line to take the 63-mile branch to Kyle. And that’s where the serious stuff begins. The four miles of 1 in 50 up to Raven Rock summit have the 40 slipping on a wet rail. The 1 in 50 climb from Garve to Corriemoillie summit is equally loud, as is the 15-mile slog from Lochluichart to Luib summit. The last 18 miles are truly picturesque as 40 145 whistles its way along the shores of Loch Karron before arriving at Kyle.

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Cover photo: Front: Graeme Elgar, Back: Tony Middleton
Narrated by: David Maxey
First published on DVD: 2005
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 2 DVD-R

Running Time: 240-mins (4hr 0min) approx , Colour
.

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