Modern Traction Archive Volume 1: West Country Memories
Cornish class 50s: Filmed in the mid to late 1980s, we view the class on both passenger and freight services in the Royal Duchy. With some superb soundtracks, we cover the mainline to Penzance through the St.Austell and Par areas, as well as Summer Saturday workings along the Newquay branch.
Chesterfield: A real hotspot for enthusiasts to this very day. Class 20s on coal, class 56s, 45s, 37s, 47s, 31s all feature in this look back at operations in the BR-blue era.
Stockport: Filmed from the front coach as 40 044 departs with nostalgic thrash!
Class 56s in action: We study the class in action from the Yorkshire coalfields to Cornwall – yes, that’s right, we even have rare footage of 56013 on test in China Clay country!!
The class 26s & 27s: In the twilight of their years, we cover their last workings, such as class 27s on Dundee to Edinburgh stoppers, 26s at Mossend Yard and on the line to Ayr.
Severn Tunnel Junction: where do you start at such a fascinating location? Mid-1980s material reveals, class 25, 31, 33, 37,45, 47, 50 and 56 on all manner of workings at this freight hot-spot.
Class 45s in the West: Summer Saturday action in 1985 and 1986, from Exeter to Paignton and on the Dawlish sea-wall.
The clag shot – triple-headed 37s!! | | 60 Mins |  |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 2
Mossend Yard, Glasgow: Filmed in the mid to late 1980s, we view the action at one of the busiest rail centres in Scotland. Witness classes 20, 26, 27, 37, 47, 60, 81, 85, 86, 87, 90 and 303 EMUs in action.
Train ride: Filmed from the first coach behind 25 089 and 25 245 as they make their way around the Birmingham suburbs on a railtour in 1984. Classic ‘rat’ sounds.
Barnetby: A popular location with some classic action: freight traffic dominates as classes 31, 37, 47 and 56 all appear.
Westcountry profile: Wellington in Somerset is our chosen location as we sample the mainline action on the route to the West. Included are class 31s, 33s, 37s, 45s, 47s, 50s, 56s, HSTs and DMUs seen in the late 1980s and early 1990s – plenty of rail blue shots. Also featured are 50149 and 47 901 on freight, together with the aftermath of the fuel tanker train crash near Taunton. A day in the life of 37669 – pure thrash action as we follow the locomotive on china-clay traffic in Cornwall.
Bletchley: WCML action from the late 1980s as classes 20, 25, 31, 37, 40, 47, 56, 58, 81, 85, 86, 87, EMU and DMU all feature on a wide variety of freight & passenger services at this busy trainwatching location.
Cardiff: where do you start – Class 37s dominate as we see these, together with 47s, 56s and 60s on freight workings including coal, steel and iron ore; classic 1980s/1990s era. | | |  |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 3
West Highland Class 37s: 1980 film material featuring Large Logo ‘Tractors’ amidst the spectacular Scottish mountain scenery working passenger and freight trains. There are some awesome sights and sounds, such as: 37422 pulling out of Tyndrum Lower on a train to Oban; 37411 marshalling a timber train at Crianlarich; 37412 departing Ardlui; 37410 in the snow at Fort William; 37406 on the Oban line. We also include 20127 shunting at Fort William in the snow.
Trent Junction: A step back in time as we witness scenes such as 45148 on a test train; pairs of 37s on the Corby ‘Tubeliner’; 58s and 20s on MGR workings; 47s on ballast and Oil workings; and the sound of 20s struggling on long heavy coal trains.
Summer Saturdays in the West:
Location: Exeter in 1985, 37082 on Paignton-Liverpool; a ride behind 37058 on York-Penzance relief; 45044 on Liverpool train; plus 45136, 142, 143 and 45148. Blue class 47s and HSTs in original livery with blue/yellow power cars and grey/blue stock.
Class 50s nos. 50019, 034 and 50048 – and much more!
Crewe: from the 20s to the 90s – classes of loco that is! We see 20s on ballast; 31s on engineers; 37s on passenger; 45144, 47s on passenger and freight, plus 85s, 86s, 87s and class 90. Diesel Parcels Units and EMUs add to the action.
Chinley: Stone traffic featuring classes 20, 37, 40 and 45, passenger trains with 31s and Intercity ‘Transpennine’ DMUs – also class 56 in action from 1984! | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 4 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 5 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 6 | | | |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 7: King Coal
This programme is a dedication to the British ‘Merry-Go-Round’ coal train – a symbol of railway history for over thirty years. We begin our programme at Warrington and Winwick Jn where pairs of class 20s & single class 56s are seen on trains to Fiddlers Ferry Power station; Thornaby where 60008 is seen on a test train of HEA hoppers; Sunderland – in 1990 where Gateshead class 56s work the coal trains; The South of England features the early days of class 60-hauled coal trains to Didcot Power station; class 56 at Cheltenham, 58s at Bedford & 31 159 hauling MGR hoppers through Bletchley; Scotland is visited where class 26s are seen at Cockenzie Power Station, pairs of 20s at Kincardine Colliery, triple-headed 37s leaving Mossend Yard in 1991; Newport features class 37s & 56s on coal trains to & from Llanwern Steel works, including scenes of trains in the station & crossing the main river bridge; Stenson Jn (south of Derby) features pairs of class 20s on trains to Willington Power Station, class 58s on trains to Didcot as well as class 60s; we visit the Yorkshire coalfield around Whitley Bridge next to Eggborough Power Station & South Milford next to the now closed Selby Mine – class 56s dominate both in terms of sight & sound; Crewe & Chesterfield feature class 20s & class 56s on long trains of coal hoppers; the busy lines through Doncaster & Worksop are seen with class 56s & 58s dominating; finally we visit Cardiff where ‘heavy-weight’ class 37s abound before we head to Stormy bank where class 56s ‘storm’ their way up the grade! | | 86 Mins | – |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 8: Exeter St. Davids | 2009 | 60 Mins | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 8 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 10 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 11 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 12 | | | |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 13
WORKSOP – In 1985, coal trains through this Nottinghamshire town were still hauled by the superb British Railways Class 56 heavy freight locomotives: it is these that dominate in our visit to the area – even the MGR wagons seen are now virtually part of history! As well as Class 56, we have Class 31s on passenger, 47s and DMUs on a variety of services. Highlight is 56 135 wheel-slipping at the head of a heavy coal train.
EDINBURGH – It is difficult to imagine a Waverley station without overhead electric wires, given the current-day scene, but back in 1986, the wires hadn’t yet reached the Scottish city. Instead, it was diesels in the shape of Class 26s, 27s & 47s which were seen in everyday use. Class 120 & 101 diesel multiple units were also regularly seen. All of these are included in our visit, where loco-hauled passenger trains dominate.
DAWLISH – Red cliffs, the Sea Wall & Semaphore signals all play their part as we sample mainline motive power along this famous stretch of railway. Blue-yellow HSTs, largo-logo class 50s, blue 45s, 47s, & 33s hauling blue-grey rolling stock really bring the memories flooding back during a time when video cameras were rare.
BLETCHLEY – this WCML hot-spot is featured in 1986/7 with classes 85, 86, 87, 47, 31, 08 & DMUs all seen. Remember the roaring sound of the class 85s – relive them here!
CHELTENHAM – more from the 1986/7 era, where this busy route plays host to classes 108, 155, HST & diesels in the shape of 20, 31, 37, 45, 47 & 50 on a variety of passenger & freight workings. Superb nostalgia! | | 102 Mins | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 14: Exeter Revisted | 2012 | 71 Mins | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 15 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 16 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 17 | | | |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 18
Tamworth is the crossroads of two main lines, one from Birmingham to Derby & the other the WCML from Rugby to Stafford. Our camera captures scenes taken in April & May 1987 with classes 81, 85, 86, 87, & 58 on the WCML tracks and classes 20, 31, 37, 47, 150, & HST on the Derby lines. Both passenger & freight train action is witnessed in scenes now almost 27 years old.
Ayr in Scotland is our next section, which was visited on several occasions between 1988 & 1991 when Speedlink freight & coal traffic still dominated the area. We also call in to Kilwinning to look at the Iron-Ore traffic to Hunterston, which brought the first use of class 60s to the country. At Ayr, Class 26s dominate the scene with pictures filmed from the locomotive depot & the nearby Falkland Yard. Classes 20, 26, 37, 47, 60, 156 & 318 are all captured in action. Highlight is 26 008 shunting a loaded engineers train & a pair of St Blazey-allocated class 37s moving about the depot.
Retford Low-level platforms are on the regional rail route linking Gainsborough with Sheffield. It also forms the important coal-carrying line from the Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire coalfields to the power stations at West Burton & Cottam. Our visit goes back to between 1985 & 1990, where Class 56s & latterly Class 58s were the staple motive power for the coal traffic, whilst DMUs, Class 31s, Class 47s & HSTs are also seen, including on the adjacent East Coast Main Line. BR-blue, largo-logo 31 & trainload freight are just some of the liveries to be seen.
Winwick Junction (Warrington) is a WCML hotspot popular with rail enthusiasts. In this section, we again go back to the late 1980s, where 81s, 86s, 87s, 20s, 31s & 47s work a variety of passenger & freight services on this busy stretch of line.
Taunton in Somerset is our final location in this programme, with a look at services in the station, as well as to the south and to the north at Cogload Jn. Class 47s dominate, with classes 33, 37, 50, DMU & HSTs. Plenty of loco-hauled workings from the period 1987 to 1990. | | 102 Mins | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 19 | | | |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 20
Scotland – a detailed look at classic BR diesel traction from the late 1980s and early 1990s. We begin the feature at the busy Greenhill Lower Junction just outside of Falkirk. Classes 20, 26, 37, 47 and class 101 DMUs are seen. Passenger trains with Class 47/7s in push-pull mode are seen working Edinburgh – Glasgow high-speed services as well as on the Aberdeen to Glasgow intercity services. Class 37s appear on ballast, excursion and speedlink freight trains. Our second feature is again in Scotland. We begin at Carstairs with classes 26, 27, 37, 47, 86 & 87. Then we travel to Berwick-upon-Tweed with HSTs and 47s, Granthouse, and Cockenzie are featured with ECML HSTs. We then roll into Edinburgh with class 27, Falkirk with class 20s, Inverkeithing with HSTs, class 47s and class 27; then north to Stirling, where we see several class 101 DMUs in action, to Perth with class 26 and former class 25 ‘Ethel 2’ in the bay, and 20 217 on ballast. We then move west to the West Highland mainline with class 37 action from around the Crianlarich area. Our third feature from Scotland sees us at the pretty Larbert station with DMUs, class 20s and 37s on ballast, HST and 47s on passenger workings before we bow out with a class 27 departure for the north.
Devon Diesels – 1985, 1986 and 1990 material filmed on the classic mainline to the west and the Barnstaple branch at Crediton. We begin at Bradninch with class 47 and HST action (we see early intercity and Blue-yellow and blue-grey colour schemes throughout this section); we then travel south to Hele, where class 50s, 47s and HSTs again dominate on passenger trains. We then move to Exminster in the days when the signalbox was still active as we feature DMUs, class 50s, 47s and a 45 on passenger. We then travel to Teignmouth with more Class 50, HST and 45 action. To Paignton for class 45 and 31s before we head across to Totnes for class 47s on Summer Saturday trains. Finally, we head to Crediton, where DMUs and class 33s feature.
Trent and Toton – well actually we also cover Leicester, Sileby and Loughborough with classes 20, 31, 37, 45, 47, 56 and 58 dominating on a mixture of Coal, Oil, speedlink, ballast and parcels traffic. | | 110 Mins | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 21 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 22: Exeter In 1989 | 2013 | 104 Mins | |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 23
In this programme, we visit a number of locations around the country from 1985 through to 1994.
We begin in Doncaster in 1990 and 1991 with views both from the platforms and the multi-storey car park just north of the station. Class 91 electrics had not long been introduced, and we see these in their original Intercity colour scheme as they make their way past on a variety of services. We also witness plenty of freight, with the majority being of speedlink and coal – classes 31, 37, 47 and 56 are all seen, including some in BR-blue and others in the newer Railfreight liveries.
Mirfield – we call into this east-Pennine town to witness class 47s and DMUs in action;
Bedford – a look at class 317s, 319s, class 45s, HSTs, a class 60 and a 33/73 pairing in action from 1986 and 1994. Parcels, refuse containers, ballast, oil, as well as local passenger trains are seen in action.
The Southern region route between Salisbury and Exeter was visited between 1989 and 1991, with a look at class 50s and class 47s on Network SouthEast trains along this traditional stamping ground. We also have some unusual views of HSTs on diverted services over the West of England mainline with scenes at Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Junction and Honiton.
Severn Tunnel Junction in 1985 was full of BR-blue locomotives on freight and passenger services; this section travels back to the good old days when traditional freight trains were still to be found, just before the advent of airbraked block trains and speedlink wagonload services. Locomotives seen include 25 259 on a long steel train for Llanwern, class 56 on oil, class 47s on speedlink and parcels duties, class 37s on a variety of workings, including speedlink and ballast. Also included is 37 077 – a rare visitor in those times. We also see class 33 and class 45 on passenger duties, and a class 45 on an air-braked freight. A class 31 is seen on a passenger working for Cardiff. | | 98 Mins | – |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 24
In this programme, we visit a number of locations around the country during the British Rail era from 1984 through to 1993.
Our first section comes from Warrington, where a number of classes are seen, including Classes 08, 20, 31, 37, 40, 45, 47, 86 and 87 on a mixture of passenger and freight duties from the period 1984 to 1991. As well as BR-blue, we also see the early railfreight red-strip and sector liveries, such as Trainload Metals. Air-braked as well as unfitted freight trains are seen at this popular train-watching location on the busy WCML.
In 1993, we took our camera to Worting Junction, just to the west of Basingstoke. A variety of motive power is seen, such as HST, Class 73, Class 60, Class 47, Class 33, Class 442 and 159, as well as rare shots of Networker EMUs on test. We also visit Basingstoke station to witness class 33 and class 50 action.
The Duchy of Cornwall is visited as we study traction from 1985 and 1986. A wide variety of motive power is seen with some superb thrash soundtracks! Classes 08, 20, 37, HST, 40, 45, 47 and class 50 all appear. Class 37s dominate, including scenes of the old clay-hood wooden freight wagons in action. Other highlights include class 45s on passenger and freight; class 40, D200, at Penzance, class 20 054 and 20 011 at Truro and 37 196 on weedkiller duties along the Parkandillack Branch. Double-headed 37s on clay hoods, and 47 500 in GWR Green is also seen. Class 37s witnessed include: 37 123, 37 196, 37 207, 37 222, 37 235, 37 247 and 37 308.
Our final section comes from Scotland as we travel to the Inverness area in February 1989. Class 47s and 37s around Inverness dominate, as well as action from around Dingwall, where trains were terminating due to a bridge wash-out at Inverness. There’s plenty of classic Class 37 action here on trains made up of BR Mark 1 and Mark 2 coaching stock from the blue and grey era. Most class 37s are in the BR large-logo livery, where we see them at work at Achnasheen, Garve and Tain. | 2014 | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 25 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 26 | 2014 | | |
Modern Traction Archive Volume 27
Our British Rail Classic Traction series continues with another four locations from throughout the British Isles. We begin in South Wales in 1993 and 1994 with scenes taken on Stormy Bank, Aberthaw and at Pontyclun. Coal and Steel traffic dominates the traction under review, with plenty of trains seen that used to ply to and fro between Port Talbot and Llanwern Steel works, including Class 60s working the heavy Iron Ore trains. Class 56s also feature on loaded coal trains, as do class 37s. Light-engine, passenger and parcels duties also feature several class 47s. We also see class 31s and class 50s on railtour workings.
The Cambridge Open Day held in September 1990 brought several visiting locomotives to the area: in this short section, we find class 20s, 73s, 37s and a 56 on special train duties. Class 31s and a 47 also appear.
Our next feature comes from the popular train-watching location at Stenson Junction, just south of Derby. In this section, we see Class 31s on passenger and oil trains, Class 37s on steel and ballast workings, Class 58s on departmental and coal duties, Class 47s on passenger and departmental duties, as well as a Class 101 DMU on its way towards Crewe. Scenes were filmed in 1990 and 1991 and include several different liveries, from BR blue, Trainload Freight, Sector livery and intercity colours.
Our final feature comes from Scotland with a study of the trains and traction to be seen around Mossend Yard near Motherwell. Our scenes were taken between 1986 and 1991 during the Speedlink era, when the yard was at its busiest for many years. A wide variety of motive power is seen, from class 08 to class 87. Class 20s appear on Speedlink trip workings, class 26 on mixed freight and engineers, class 37 on MGR, Speedlink trunk services, Iron Ore, Cement, Oil, as well as numerous light-engine movements; class 47s also appear on Oil, Iron-Ore, mixed freight, cement and light-engine workings. On the electric traction scene, we see class 303 units, class 81, class 85, class 86 and class 87, on passenger and freight operations. | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 28 | 2014 | 112 Mins | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 29 | | | |
| Modern Traction Archive Volume 30: Exeter St. Davids – One Last Call | 2015 | 88 Mins | |
| Class 37s, Part 1 | | | |
| Class 56 In Retrospect | | | |
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