Description

The last main line steam on BR bowed out in August 1968 in the North-West. The West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Carlisle became a mecca for enthusiasts in these latter days and George Woods and Colin White have combined their film of the period to produce this video of what it was really like at the last, with particular reference to the section between Grayrigg and Shap Summit. We take the viewer on an imaginary journey from Crewe to Shap with lineside views of the principle locations which include Warrington, Wigan, Preston, Garstang, Hest Bank, Carnforth and Tebay. Five locomotive depots are visited to see the engines being serviced. There are some unusual workings to be seen and views of Hest Bank and Dillicar water troughs in some detail. Shap Incline is well covered, where locomotives worked particularly hard and a footplate ride on one of the bankers is included. There are eleven different Britannias, ex-LMS Black 5s and 8Fs, Ivatts and Standards including 9Fs and a Jubilee all filmed between 1966 and 1968. The men who worked the line are included showing their problems with run-down engines but game to the last to show what steam could do. No modern day footage has been included in this production and the sounds you hear are generally recorded at the time of filming.

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