The film starts with scenes of early working parties in 1960 which wereoften family affairs, as seen here, with mothers, fathers, aunts anduncles all having a go.

We then take our first ride on the railway using motive power in theform of a home built trolley using an Austin Seven engine.  Note thestate of the track and the famous 'kink' due to tree felling on thebanks of the Banwy.

The first steam train we see is a special in August 1963 whichtraverses the full length of the line and includes rare footage of itspassage through Welshpool town.  This was before regular passengerservices started.

The return of the COUNTESS is covered with views of her being cranedonto the track at Welshpool, and of the special train that followed theunloading, again with shots of working on the town section.  The flaghad been borrowed from Boots the Chemist and caused much embarrassmentas it caught fire.

We follow with views of trains working to Castle, with the Chattendenand Upnor coaches, and of NUTTY the Sentinel geared steam loco, nowlong gone.

The railway used to provide transport for the vicar and hiscongregation on Rogation Sunday so that they could proceed across thecountryside blessing the crops. These scenes include the Drewery dieselin its original form.

The last W & L scenes show SIR DREFALDWYN running in undercoat and include a double headed run with COUNTESS.

The film concludes with some scenes on other local light railways nolonger in operation. Firstly, the Tanant Valley Light Railway atPorthywean, then the Oswestry Water Works' Filter Beds Railway, a 2ftgauge line operated by Liverpool Corporation. Both filmed in1969.Finally we have two very rare still shots of wagons on the 2ft 4¾"Snailbeach District Railway taken at Pontesbury sidings shortly beforeit was abandoned in 1959.

All 8mm silent cine film with commentary.

---

Produced by - PSOV
Running time - 35 mins
DVD only

---