*Important: Produced by Videolines some years ago, the eight programmes in the Trainspotter's Notebook are now available again, exclusively from Videoscene.
Whilst many railway enthusiasts will have had regional preferences, those following the end of steam would have travelled the length and breadth of the country in search of the remaining pockets of activity. This DVD covers many of them.
Starting at Aller Junction we next visit Newton Abbot, Dainton bank, then on to Plymouth North Road before returning to Newton Abbot, the Exe Valley line, Tiverton Junction with Tiverton and Hemyock services, Reading General, Paddington, High Wycombe, Banbury, Gloucester Central and Worcester Shrub Hill.
On now to the Midland Region with City of Manchester on the Royal Train and activity at Rugby Midland before returning to the Western for a brief visit to Shrewsbury and the Birkenhead route.
Moving north we drop in at Oxenholme for the 'Grayrigg banker' and Black 5 arriving from Windermere.
Some time is spent in and around the Tebay area. Starting south of Tebay and with a mixture of monochrome and colour footage, the constant procession of steam hauled passenger and freight services along with the attachment of banking locomotives and those working towards Shap Summit with and without assistance are filmed from a number of locations including Dillicar water troughs and Scout Green.
An 8F plods across Ribblehead viaduct before the shed at Carlisle Kingmoor is 'bashed'.
Up to the Scottish Region where a Britannia arrives at Dunblane along with some freight movements in that area and Thornton Junction.
On the subject of freight, Gateshead provides a variety of motive power in a typically grimy atmospheric 1960s location. We drop in at Durham and Darlington before some time is spent observing the variety of trains into and out of the Scarborough area.
The maze of tracks around Leeds Holbeck, Whitehall and Geldard Junctions see freight and passenger followed by a host of services at Heaton Lodge Junction, west of Mirfield along with a brief visit to Standedge tunnel.
A short three-minute section finishes the programme showing a few of the enthusiast's specials that ran towards the end of steam.
A good representation of all the classes at work during this period are covered.
An informative but unobtrusive narration describes the scenes all of which have been digitally enhanced for exposure, sharpness and colour correction. Soundtracks have been added as accurately as possible using suitable classes of loco where available.
Produced by - Videolines
Running time - 60 Minutes (10 mins B&W, 50 mins Colour)
Format - 4:3
Colour
DVD only
Released - February 2019
