Preservation Pioneers DVD

Description

This dvd tells the fascinating story of how our preserved locomotives were purchased from British Railways before the ‘Barry Scrapyard Phenomenon’.

Preservation Pioneers brings to the forefront the great achievements of those individuals and societies who saved our ever decreasing fleet of locomotives in the late 1950s and early 1960s, from the scrapyard.

Long before Woodhams yard at Barry, locomotives were purchased directly from BR at great risk and personal concern to those buying them.

We meet some of those early pioneers in preservation who tell their story.

We meet those involved and hear of the horror stories in their efforts and of the great difficulties in preservation at the time.

We see archive footage from the period, before their withdrawal and during their change of ownership.

Locomotives covered in this film include:

Nos. 6201 ‘Princess Elizabeth, 34023 ‘Blackmore Vale’, 35028 ‘Clan Line’, 4498 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’.

The various ones owned by North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group.

The Bluebell Railway.

The GWR engines at Didcot.

The many Black Fives preserved at Carnforth.

Plus those now in the National Railway Museum, York.

We hear from Captain Bill Smith who saved the first one, the GNR tank No. 1247 now part of the National Collection.

Approx. 55 minutes.