Jim Clemens Collection Vol.33: Great Western Steam Miscellany - B.
The second in our miscellany series covering Great Western steam, using mostly unseen film taken solely from the Jim Clemens collection, largely assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels, and with coverage across much of the old GWR Empire.
A wealth of GW steam that includes: the branch from Oxford to Witney and Fairford; the ‘Great Western’ high speed special on 9th May 1964 from Paddington to Plymouth and back; shed visits to Exmouth Junction, Gloucester (Horton Road), Worcester and Stourbridge; the route of the ‘Cathedrals Express’ from Hereford, via Malvern, Worcester, Evesham, Honeybourne, Campden Bank, Kingham, Oxford, Didcot, and Reading to Paddington; The last steam from Swansea to Milford Haven & Fishguard in September 1965; Dowlais Cae Harris and Dowlais Top; Savernake Low Level to Radstock West via Holt Junction in 1959; Three Cocks Junction and the Mid-Wales line; Kingham to Cheltenham via Stow-on-the-Wold; Chipping Norton; the Bromyard branch; Shepton Mallet High Street; the Helston branch; the Malmesbury, Highworth & Faringdon branches; the Ditton Priors branch; Stourbridge Junction to Wolverhampton Low Level.
Motive power seen includes a wealth of GWR steam: all types of 4-6-0 - King, Castle, County, Hall, Modified Hall, Grange, and Manor. 28xx, 43xx, 2251, 72xx, 45xx, 41xx, 61xx, 81xx, 66xx, 57xx, 94xx, 64xx, 16xx, 14xx, there is even a very brief glimpse of a condensing pannier tank. BR Standards put in an appearance as does the odd Warship
There is something for all GW enthusiasts - a Great Western Delight!!
Filmed largely in colour and mostly during the late 1950s & 1960s, a commentary plus sound track complements this nostalgic look at the last years of Great Western steam.
Cover photo:-7906 Fron Hall between Droitwich and Worcester in October 1964 (AJ Maund).