Description

More unseen film from the Jim Clemens Collection, featuring a wealth of Southern steam mainly from the South Western Division and the Bournemouth area. Return to the 1930s for a journey over the Lynton & Barnstaple narrow gauge railway. Also journey over the old Salisbury and Dorset railway in the snow during 1963, visit Weymouth Shed, hop on a Swanage Branch M7 0-4-4T – and more!

Full description from the producer:

The second volume in our popular ‘Miscellany’ series to covering Southern steam. It again features previously unseen footage from the Jim Clemens Collection and is mostly compiled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels. In this volume we feature a wealth of Southern steam mainly from the South Western Division including some really rare footage. The first 10 minutes or so take us on a journey in the 1930’s over the Lynton and Barnstaple narrow gauge railway. In the 1960’s, Jim Clemens purchased two 16mm cine reels covering this much missed line and both are included here. Back to standard gauge and we begin at London Waterloo followed by coverage around Clapham Junction, Hook, Basingstoke, Micheldever, Bentley, Bordon, ‘The Alps’ line, Eastleigh station (plus the Shed & Works) and Southampton Central including some views of the liners ‘Queen Mary’ and ‘Queen Elizabeth’ at the Docks. The Warwick Railway Society’s ‘Farewell to Steam on the LSWR’ rail tour on 11th.June 1967 is covered in some detail followed by a journey from Cowes through Newport to Ryde Pier Head on the Isle of Wight. We spend some time on New Year’s Day in 1967 watching the Lymington Branch (the last steam operated branch line in the country).

Back on the main line we see activity at Lymington Junction and Brokenhurst. Jim Clemens married in February 1948 and honeymooned in Bournemouth. He often visited this popular seaside resort for an anniversary break. Therefore a considerable amount of film was taken around this area covering the last years of steam including Christchurch, Bournemouth Central and Bournemouth West. We also journey over the old Salisbury & Dorset railway in the snow during 1963 and spend time around Salisbury itself. All followed by a trip in a push-pull train propelled by an M7 0-4-4T along the Swanage Branch from Wareham, Worgret Junction and Corfe Castle! There is also coverage of Dorchester, Upwey & Broadwey and Weymouth including a visit to the Shed. We see a cross-section of 1960s Southern motive power during our travels including locomotives from classes M7, O2, Q, S15, U, USA as well as West Country and Merchant Navy Pacifics. BR Standards also put in an appearance with examples from Class 5 & Class 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-4Ts, Class 3 2-6-2Ts plus a few LMS Class 2 2-6-2Ts and a ‘Warship’ diesel. The archive film is in both colour and Black & White and apart from the L & BR footage mostly dates from 1963 to 1967. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of Southern steam.

Additional information