The Story of the Great Western Society DVD

Description

The full story of fifty years of progress by the Great Western Society at Didcot.

Always considered to be the prime mover in the preservation of ex-Great Western locomotives at the end of steam on the Western Region in 1965, the GWS has, in over fifty years, collected numerous locomotives directly from BR and latterly from Woodhams yard at Barry.

Added to that the Society has amassed a considerable collection of artefacts and items of memorabilia for exhibition in its museum at Didcot.

This programme examines the success of the GWS over this long period and the growth of the site at Didcot over the years.

We begin with the early days at Taplow before the old motive power site at Didcot was made available.

Footage of these times is added to early times on arrival at Didcot.

The full story of the wonderful achievements by members of the Great Western Society.

This programme delves into the fifty year history of the Great Western Society following progress since four school boys decided to save a 14xx auto tank and trailer in 1965.

From those early times the GWS has grown into one of the largest railway heritage sites in southern England and has accumulated dozens of locomotives and items of rolling stock – all stabled at the Didcot Railway Centre.

This is the story of the GWS from those early times right up to the current period where the depot is still creating new projects to tell the story of the Great Western Railway.

We see never-before-seen archive film from the mid-1960s through to the 1970s showing the early days of preserving locomotives Nos. 1466, 6106 and 7808.

We see the first arrivals from Barry scrapyard which set the scene for more restorations of a Castle class, a Hall and several other types which are now being converted into long-lost classes such as a Saint, a County and the beginnings of a class 47xx.

Archive films from the 1970s show the main line achievements of the vintage set of carriages and the many visiting locomotives such as Blue Peter and King Edward I.

We tour the site at Didcot with Frank Dumbleton to discover the many interesting features and historical items of rolling stock and the museum which holds a great treasure of ex-GWR items.

Exciting sequences show the Travelling Post Office vehicle as it drops off and collects mail bags.

Other topics include: Filming in South Wales with No. 1466 in ‘Young Winston’, turntable installation, Fire Fly launch, building and operation of the steam railmotor and much, much more.

Approx. 58 minutes.

This dvd is being sold on behalf of and with full permission of the copyright owner – Kingfisher Productions.