Indian Steam Sunset

Ref: RF614D

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Over 25 years Laurie Marshall has been travelling the highways and byways of India’s amazing railway system. His knowledge and experience, including taking eight large groups of enthusiasts on comprehensive tours (The Great Indian Train Journeys) along with his undoubted fascination in steam railways, is celebrated in this the first of a three volume set that is witness to the end of an era.

The modernisation of India’s industrial and transport infrastructure has brought about the demise of the steam locomotive and with it the skill and knowledge first imparted by British rule. Whilst Laurie Marshall’s Indian railway friends tell of their sadness to see the end of steam in their country they look forward to the economies that come with more modern motive power.

Included in this footage are footplate rides rare steam shed scenes and numerous train run pasts through fascinating scenery.

In volume one Laurie travels firstly south from Bombay to Hubli where the end of steam on the metre gauge is imminent.

Hastening this process is the conversion from metre to broad gauge of much of the Indian rail network. Behind diesel the journey includes a side excursion down the famous Western Ghats from Castle Rock towards Goa.

This programme encapsulates those experiences in sight and sound that could themselves only be India. The railways still rich in colonial propriety are very much a part of that whole experience. The warmth of the people that run them and the pride they display in their work are all evident in this film.

Back in Bombay the party then travel northwards into Gujerat taking in branches to the wilds of Waghai and Umarpada on what was the last week of regular steam operations on the Western Railway narrow gauge. This first volume concludes further north at Udaipur amidst the lake palaces and glowing sunsets of Rajastan.

Availability: AVAILABLE

Cover photo: Laurie Marshall
First published on DVD: 2003
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 62-mins (1hr 2min) , Colour
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Ref: RF617D

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In this second volume Laurie Marshall sets out from the Lake Palaces of Udaipur in Rajastan with his good friend driver Delamos at the controls of YP No 2777 and proudly displaying its Pride of Mewar headboard for the journey to Chittaurgarh. Onwards from here the party enjoy a brief visit to the Taj Mahal before getting back to their rail adventures in earnest.

At Varanasi a highly decorated metre gauge locomotive has been prepared and Laurie takes her for a run over one of India’s most impressive open viaducts - so creating further opportunities for railway photography.

Steam is also alive on various humble sugar mill systems and at Sardarnagar, Laurie encounters a truly vintage survivor. Tweed was built in Glasgow in 1873 and is probably the worlds oldest working industrial steam locomotive. Despite her years she demonstrates her ability by confidently hauling a dual gauged sugar cane train!

The highlight of this amazing programme comes when Laurie and his group reach Samastipur. Here amidst thousands of onlookers, a Black Beauty Parade of steam locos has been arranged by Indian Railways. It is probably the last time such an event will ever be held in India as steam ekes out its gasping last days.

Availability: AVAILABLE

Cover photo: Luarie Marshall
First published on DVD: 2003
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 54-mins (0hr 54min) , Colour
.

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Ref: RF620D

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In this final volume Laurie Marshall visits Nepal before moving on to one of the world’s great railway wonders - the Darjeeling Himalayan railway. Climbing to over 7000ft, high into the foothills of the Himalayas, this fantastic two foot in gauge railway performs the most amazing of railway curve and reversal acrobatics through the tea plantations towards Darjeeling. But steam on the broad and metre gauge lines is coming to an end as we witness atmospheric scenes on the Northern Railway at Moradabad and Saharanpur featuring the last of the mighty WW Pacifics. Laurie reflects on these final days of steam.

The group then fly down to Madras to take a journey on the Nilgiri Hills Railway. This scenic line had been severed by a disastrous landslide some months earlier but a Herculean effort has brought about the reconnection of the line on the day of Laurie Marshall’s visit, we witness the first through train to Coonor for many months.

At the old hill station of Ooty (Ooctamund/Udagamandalam) where the British came to escape the heat of the plains, Laurie’s old friend Walter Gilhooly is on hand to reflect on those days of the Raj. Here is a corner of the World that will be forever England.

Availability: AVAILABLE

Cover photo: Laurie Marshall
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 45-mins (0hr 45min) , Colour
.

To tell a friend about this item, click to Share or send an Email: