Following the last days of steam on British Railways in 1968 it was assumed that steam would never again grace the mainline rail network of Britain. Instead however of being restricted to the Preserved Railways of the day steam once again found itself performing on B.R. hauling enthusiast special rail tours.
This programme offers the viewer the rare opportunity to re-live, or see for the first time some of these tours from the 1970s and 1980s when video was by and large a phenomenon of the future. Thanks to cine film recorded at the time we are now able to witness mainline steam in its pioneering days, featuring some locomotives that have not been seen in steam for many years alongside more familiar engines. Locomotives featured include No. 6000 King George V, double headed Manor and Hall worked specials with No. 5900 Hinderton Hall, No. 6998 Burton Agnes Hall and no. 7808 Cookham Manor, No. 3440 City of Truro, No. 4079 Pendennis Castle (including its last run prior to shipment to Australia), No. 19 Bittern, No. 4468 Mallard, No. 1306 Mayflower (including double headed sequences with No. 4472 Flying Scotsman), Black five No. 5305, No. 777 Sir Lamiel double heading with Black Five No. 5407. 7F No. 13809, No. 5690 Leander, No. 46229 Duchess of Hamilton, No. 6115 Scots Guardsman and the Midland Compound No. 1000.
Cine footage supplied by:- K. Lawrence, T. Wright, M. Ellis, D.Coton, T. Law, T. Jenkins, R. Greenwood & D. Neal.
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