2024 marks the 30th anniversary of Train Crazy railway videos and DVDs. Starting out as a hobby in 1994, then a full time job from 1998, over the last three decades, just about every type of locomotive and unit has featured, with more than 400 passenger, freight, cab ride and tram titles, released on VHS tape, DVD, Blu-ray and download.
Starting now in 2023 - to mark the occasion - a series of special low-price compilation DVDs and Blu-rays are being produced using the original film shot 30-years ago, right up to more recent times. Presented in a class-by-class format, and delving deep into the archives, some of this footage has been released before on VHS tape, some on DVD and some has never been seen at all.
Here's the good bit... In the last few years, software to restore old grainy and wobbly film has become more accessible. Previously it was expensive, slow and not very good, but in 2022 huge advances were made. The old film used on these new compilation programmes is all being reworked, improved, cleaned up and upscaled. For the first time, all of the film shot in standard-definition (720 x 576 or less) can be upscaled and presented in top quality high-definition (1920 x 1080).
Long gone and long scrapped EMUs, DMUs, 31s, 37s, 47s, 86s and many other locos and coaches which were only ever filmed in SD, can now be appreciated in full HD! Whether on DVD or Blu-ray, the picture quality of this new series is better than anything seen before, of trains filmed in the same era.
The first release features the Train Crazy film of the Class 117 and 121 DMUs, from 1994 to 2013. In 1994/95, the last of the 117s were working off Bletchley, Haymarket and Penzance depots with the 121s also at Bletchley. 117s are seen on the Bletchley Bedford line, Gospel Oak to Barking, Cornish Branches and on the Fife Circle, working from Edinburgh. The 121s are also on the Bletchley Bedford line and the Sudbury to Marks Tey branch plus in later years, working to Cardiff Bay and for Chiltern. Liveries include NSE, BR Green, Chocolate and Cream, Regional Railways, Silverlink and Arriva.
Presented in a no-nonsense format of on-screen captions with unit number, location and date, sit back and enjoy some top quality DMU action from up to 30-years ago - with much improved picture quality and in HD for the very first time!
Produced by - Train Crazy
Duration - 70 minutes
Format -
Blu-ray and DVD
Released - April 2023
