Description

Jim Clemens Collection No.33. The third of our “Miscellany” series to cover Great Western Steam. The film is taken from the Jim Clemens Collection and has mostly never been seen before. Once again the footage has been assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels and especially features the lines around Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Cambrian lines in Wales. We begin with extensive coverage of the Worcester to Bromyard branch followed by scenes at Tyseley shed (1961), Tenbury Wells, the Kidderminster to Buildwas Severn Valley branch with a GWR railcar (1961), Buildwas to Much Wenlock (1961), Kidlington, Wolvercot Junction, Oxford and Radley (1965), Didcot (1963) and Basingstoke (1965). Next, there is a visit to the Gloucester to Hereford line before covering the Gloucester to Stroud and Chalford push-pull (in some detail), Kemble, Trowbridge and Westbury (1962), Bristol, Swindon Works and the famous Crumlin Viaduct(1963). Then onwards to Shrewsbury for the Cambrian lines at Welshpool, Montgomery, Newtown, Carno, Talerddig Bank, Machynlleth, Aberystwyth, Fairbourne, Barmouth Bridge, Barmouth, Llanbedr & Pensarn, Llandanwg, Harlech, Pent Briwet Bridge and Portmadoc. Returning to the Cotswolds area, we visit Wotton Wawen, Stratford-upon-Avon, Long Marston, Honeybourne, Broadway, Laverton, Cheltenham (including the last day of the local service in March 1960), Leominster, Titley Junction, Kington, Presteign (in 1964 and witness its last ever in-bound freight), Worcester Shed, Worcester, Pershore, Evesham, Littleton & Badsey, Honeybourne, Chipping Campden.Bank, Moreton-in-Marsh and finally Ascott-under-Wychwood and Charlbury! A huge variety of ex-GWR steam locomotives is seen ranging from all types of 4-6-0s (Kings, Castles, Counties, Halls, Granges and Manors), 28xx, 2251, 72xx, 45xx, 41xx, 66xx, 57xx, 94xx, 16xx, 14xx and some GWR railcars. Plus BR Standards, mainly 9Fs, Britannias, Class 4 4-6-0s. There is something for everyone and a Great Western delight for all GW enthusiasts. The archive film is in both colour and Black & White and was mostly filmed in the 1950s and 1960s. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of GWR steam.

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