Description

Darlington Works built and repaired locomotives from 1863 until its closure in 1966 and many of the locos featured in this DVD were built or repaired in North Road Works, then run-in from Darlington shed before dispatch to their home depot. Shown hard at work are ex-NER J27s and Q6s with K1s, WDs with 9Fs working the Consett iron ore trains, followed by views of A1s, A3s, A4s, V2s and B1s etc. on Darlington Shed and Works Yard.

Journeys on the Richmond and Catterick Camp branches are followed by visits to Hartlepool and Sunderland to watch the numerous workings from South Docks shed. Leaving the coast line, Washington and the iron ore traffic is seen before returning to Darlington via Penshaw. Between 1959 and 1968, railway enthusiast and cine-cameraman, Michael Marsden, recorded views and sounds of the rapidly changing face of Britain’s rail network. For over twenty-five years after steam ended, he captivated audiences throughout the country with his unique film collection that captured steam’s last decade and the full emergence of the diesel locomotive. The blending of this film and that of other cameramen with true sounds of the era, plus an informative narrative, has resulted in the creation of this superb range of railway videos detailing the last decade of British mainline steam operations.

Additional information