Preservation Projects

Ref: RF606D

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Now after more than 150 years Planet is steaming again. In a challenging and exciting project the Friends of the Museum have designed and built a full scale working reproduction of the Planet locomotive, with the support of the museum's own workshop team. This programme tells the story of that project, one of the most ambitious of its type ever undertaken by a Friends organisation, and shows step by step the progress made.

Working drawings were made based on Stephenson's original general arrangement drawings Each step of the way is then covered from the pouring of the molten metal to form Planet's distinctive wheels to the museum's workshop. Finally the big day arrives with Planet's first dramatic public appearance, steaming once again past Liverpool Road Station.

'Moody and effective... this is an extremely enjoyable tape which shows in impressive style just how today's steam engineers are pushing back the boundaries.' (Steam Railway)

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

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

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Ref: RF567D

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This programme was made with joint co-operation of Railscene, Stirling and Railfilms Ltd. Built in May 1939 and named Ogmore Castle No.5080 was renamed Defiant in January 1941 in honour of the Boulton Paul fighter aircraft which played a part in the Battle of Britain. The locomotive served the Great Western Railway and British Railways until withdrawal in April 1963.

Defiant which had covered more than one million miles in revenue earning service, was dispatched in February 1964 to Barry scrapyard, where it languished for a decade, until rescue by the Birmingham Railway Museum, in August 1974. The museum bought the locomotive as a source of spare parts for its working Castle No.7029 Clun Castle, but in 1985 there was a change of plan and restoration work on Defiant commenced in January 1986. Working in partnership with the Manpower Services Commission, the locomotive was returned to mainline running order in 8 months on outstanding achievement for a task which normally takes several years.

This programme follows Defiant's progress from scrapyard condition to its first steaming at the museum in July 1987, and its subsequent return to mainline service. Accompanying archive material depicts Castle at work in Western Region days, while modern footage shows Defiant at work on BR mainline specials - including exciting footplate sequences.

The Museums other activities are also outlined, and outings by Clun Castle and LMS jubilee No.5593 Kolhapur are also featured, together with a royal visit by HRH Prince Charles.

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

Running Time: 25-mins (0hr 25min)

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Ref: RF515D

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Pullman Car PEGASUS, built in 1951 for the famous Golden Arrow train, was the last of an established line of traditional Pullman Cars built at the Smethwick works of the Birmingham Carriage & Wagon Company. Complete with 14 dining seats and the unique Trianon Bar the coach represented in its day the height of luxury. After being withdrawn from traffic in 1972 PEGASUS languished for many years out of use and following purchase by its present owners was destined to be returned to main line running order in one of the most elaborate reconstruction projects ever undertaken.

The vehicle's original wooden frame was replaced with a modern steel structure to make it compatible with the stringent safety standards of the day. A new interior design would ultimately be fitted whilst original brass embellishments would once more adorn the walls and ceilings that would turn the heads of many in the railway industry as for the first time a project of great historical significance met head on the needs for substantially safer railway carriage design. Despite these extensive works PEGASUS retained her outwards appearance and triumphantly returned to the main line in 2000.

This film documents the various stages of the reconstruction process. The high's and lows of probably the most extensive railway carriage reconstruction ever undertaken are featured including workshop scenes and interviews with those at the heart of what became known as, The Pegasus Project.

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

Running Time: 57-mins (0hr 57min)

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