B&R .46 Dvd: Steam Routes West

Description

A journey to the West Country via the Great Western Railway.

This is a story mainly of branch lines and secondary services, connecting with the main line from Paddington, Reading, Gloucester, Bristol and Tiverton in 1963.

The Western Way takes a journey from Paddington to Saltash but not necessarily by the most direct route.

It is primarily to visit the less well covered areas by film cameramen dealing with secondary lines and branches.

Gloucester is reached via Reading, after which there is a look at the Chalfont auto service along the Golden Valley.

On via Bristol Temple Meads to find Tiverton Junction.

Here, in 1963, a railtour headed by 60022 ‘Mallard’ allowed participants a trip from Exeter via Cadleigh behind two 45xx prairie tanks to the Junction, before visiting the Hemyock branch.

An extensive look at the Teign Valley route between Exeter and Newton Abbot via Christow and its branch to Mortonhampstead via Bovey (all in colour) just before it closed passengers.

This was worked by 14xx auto tanks and this theme continues for a visit to the Teign Valley line from Newton Abbot to Exeter via Heathfield, filmed in 1958.

Then a visit to the Moretonhampstead branch also in 1958, Titfield Thunderbolt stuff this, racing the local bus!

A branch to survive into preservation was the Ashburton line from Totnes in 1958, again before its closure to passengers.

Before the Dart Valley or South Devon Railways came into existence, stock was stored and steamed at Totnes Quay including 6998, 1363 and 1466.

Banking on Rattery to Plymouth with a visit to Laira Shed, followed by the last ‘Castles’ to the city in 1964.

An auto train is used to journey across the Saltash Bridge and visit the station.

Journey by steam over the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash to see traffic into Cornwall when the ‘Cornish Riviera Express’ was still steam hauled, plus Castle, County and Grange classes.

Finally back to Paddington with ‘Burton Agnes Hall’, ‘City of Truro’ and the last County No. 1011, and Castle and diesel hydraulics at Iver.

No. 7025 ‘Sudeley Castle’ arrives under Brunel’s roof just how it was in the days of steam.

Twenty-five classes of steam, most of them ex-GWR, and the true GWR branch line atmosphere are well portrayed.

There is some very rare footage here!

Approx. 60 minutes.

This dvd is being sold on behalf of and with full permission of the copyright owner – B&R Video Productions.