As well as nearly an hour of Mainline footage from 2004, this volume includes two short programmes, about The Watercress Line’s spring gala and City Of Truro’s exploits during 1990-92.
Programme 1: Main Line Album 2004
The undoubted star of 2004 was GWR 4-4-0 no. 3440, City Of Truro. She gets two long sequences all to herself, one from the late spring/early summer, and one from the winter.
Also: Tangmere delighted me on a series of VSOE Pullman trains via Oxford to Worcester; The MHR’s Standard Five once again punched well above her weight (see, for example, her climb through Chalford to Sapperton); The King and the Duke returned after overhaul; Nunney Castle struggled with 10 coaches on the climb to Tytherington Quarry; Taw Valley roared up Upwey bank as she turned a 30 minute late departure from Weymouth into a right-time departure from Eastleigh. All this and Union of South Africa, Flying Scotsman and Rood Ashton Hall too!
(Running time: 57 mins)
Programme 2: Mid Hants South Western Gala, 2004
I spent a day trying to dodge the showers (not always successfully, as you’ll see!) to record three visiting tank engines:
- The NRM’s LSWR Beattie 2-4-0WT 30587;
- LBSC Stroudley A1x “Terrier” 0-6-0 from the Kent & East Sussex Railway;
- Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST 813 from the Severn Valley.
- The MHR’s own BR Standard class 5, 73096, makes an appearance too.
(Running time: 7 mins)
Programme 3: City of Truro, 1990 – 92
Archive: 3440 City Of Truro on a main line trip from Derby to Didcot, 3rd May 1992.
The last time that 3440 toured the country was between 1990 and 1992. Here are a few shots from my Super-VHS archive:
- Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway gala, 14th October 1990;
- Severn Valley Railway gala, 21st September 1991;
- Main line trip from Derby to Didcot, 3rd May 1992.
(Running time: 9 mins)