The Glory Days of VHS Videos, DVDs & Blu-Rays

Whilst the days of buying a 'steam enthusiast video' in whatever format are not over, it goes without saying that the increasing popularity of YouTube and other social media platforms has radically changed the way in which we can access footage. The same can be said for the magazines and stills photography, wherein we've often already seen the photo's in the mags - or they hold less importance when ~30 photo's from ~30 different people have been posted within a few hours/days of the run online.

Given the present situation, I thought it might be nice to create a thread to share and discuss our favourite videos/DVDs and Blu-Ray films over the years - perhaps a good time to dust some of these off? This follows a comment I made in the Edinburgh Flyer thread.

A few of mine:

- Cumbrian Mountain Express. Produced by PSOV in 1993 (and updated slightly for DVD, but the original VHS edit gets my vote!). 90 minutes crammed with shot after shot of action, often in superb conditions. I don't think I'll ever tire of the first 5 minutes or so, including the musical introduction and shots of 777 Sir Lamiel in the snow, from on-board and the lineside, and the moments in Dentdale after bursting from Blea Moor Tunnel.
- Britain's Lost Mainline - The Waverley Route. Produced by Transport Video Publishing in 1995 and presented by Ron White of Colour Rail fame, who provides the perfect tone and commentary as he retraces the route from Edinburgh to Carlisle, with archive shots from the end of steam and some of the exploits of the MNA.
- Smoke and Steam on the Settle & Carlisle. Produced by Railscene (and Produced and Directed by Jeremy English of this very forum) in 1990. Railscene videos really were so well made - always interesting, and still enjoyable to this day with really strong story-telling. 40 minutes of preserved steam over the route from the relatively early days following its return. Favourite moment - the commentary 'there's no-one around...' as, I think, 45593 descends at Ais Gill viaduct.

There are many more favourites I could cite, assuming anyone else is interested in this topic! Over to others...

 

For me, anything from BTF gets top marks. I'll never forget the first time I saw this one...in a BR touring cinema coach, parked in the small unnumbered bay platform between P4 & 5 at Lancaster Castle. I'd have been aged 8 or 9 at the time and my spotting pals and I were impressed as 'Streaks' were much more interesting than 'Semi's, Prinnies, Scots, Jubs and Black 5's!' The Elizabethan Express, starring 60017, my favourite steam locomotive of all time

 

Note the bit of magic - however - as 60027 Merlin exits from Calton Tunnel !

 

I couldn't agree more about PSOV's Cumbrian Mountain Express Production. The first 5 minutes is just magical. It was always the go to video at my Grandads when I was a boy. I have the DVD version now, it gets an airing every so often.

I have to say your own DVD Production. Settle to Carlisle 1 in 100, which I bought in Settle station shop a couple of years ago, is just as good if not better. Not just the Filming of the Steam locomotives. But the clips of the surrounding area, commentary and the music. Make it a very impressive production.

 

Thank you!

 

Not the only interloper if you watch it carefully (and as often as I have down the years).

 

Thanks for the replies, chaps. Quite agree about the BTF, and a portal to the past for those of us not around at the time.

Thank you very much, Simon - greatly appreciated. It was a labour of love to make and some of the most enjoyable days filming were those without any steam!

You're welcome. Things are freely accessible now but more often are not crafted like your productions were. I also remember an amusing bit of your commentary about whether 850 Lord Nelson's livery was a result of its water stop at Sellafield

 

I don't know if anyone remembers it but John Barnes produced a film in 1968 called Black 5 which was shown on BBC TV at the time. It consisted of a lot of footage of the engines with various anecdotes by the crews who worked on them. it was one od those quick fire type films along the lines of the BTF classic, Snow. Does anyone know if it was ever available on video, I can't find it on YouTube

 

It's available on DVD according to Amazon.

 

Thanks John, didn't think of looking there.

 

Brilliant! I've not seen that film for 50 years. Am I right in thinking that most of it was filmed around Carnforth?

 

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0017ZM0LO/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_sGqDEbZAMTTHF

This one?

 

The very same.

 

My favourite steam loco dvd is the NYMR LNER Gala 2008 from YouTube user nymrfootage. Its features 3 A4s and Green Arrow running on my favourite heritage railway. No commentary, no music, just steam hard at work. I never ever get bored watching this dvd.

 

The Smoke & Steam series was always a go to when I had chance as a kid. Remember getting up early some mornings and sneaking downstairs to watch them before the rest of the house was up.

The Bob Symes TV series “Making Tracks” always got regurlarly watched too, as being on during school time they were recorded for when I got home.

Oh Mr Porter got a regular airing too, but guess that’s outside the original scope!

Wish S&S and MT were available on DVD, as I can no longer play them at home...

 

I used to watch Making Tracks with the late Bob Symes. It was a really good series. Something I look forward watching after I finished the day from school.

 

Plenty of railway videos on BBC iplayer as well, though they can take a bit of searching to find.

 

Agreed! I enjoyed one on iPlayer recently, 'With a fine feeling for steam', mainly because it features number 9, and a short piece with a younger John Cameron (it was filmed in 1977).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p01204m3/with-a-fine-feeling-for-steam