| VHS Cassette. Castleford's Central Station is the starting point for this journey through parts of the former West Riding of Yorkshire in the 1960s, when, despite the increasing presence of diesel traction, the steam locomotive was still an everyday sight. Leaving Castleford, the next location is Normanton, which was still a busy location although many of the depots' locomotives were in store, a scene mirrored at nearby Wakefield Depot. Wakefield's Kirkgate Station witnessed an almost endless procession of steam-powered freights, whilst at Westgate Station the Bradford portions of services to and from London were joined to those serving Leeds. Film of this rarely recorded, but everyday operation, is complemented by views at nearby Ardsley, where the Bradford line diverged from the Leeds route. The final sequence at Wakefield features a fascinating high-speed journey from Dewsbury Central via Ossett, completed in only two minutes! Leaving Wakefield behind, Healey Mills marshalling yard is passed before a pause at Mirfield, then Brighouse, before travelling onto Sowerby Bridge, where views of the depot show one of the last ex-LYR 2F 0-6-0s still in steam. The next major feature centres on Todmorden, together with the infamous climb from the town to Copy Pit Summit on the line to Burnley with 'Crabs', 'WDs', '8Fs', 'Black 5s' and 'Jubilees' in use. The rugged beauty of the Pennines gives way to the industrial landscape of Bradford, where the daily struggles of steam locomotives on the steep climb from the city's Exchange Station is vividly displayed, together with views at Low Moor Depot. The last section of the programme features the rural air of Church Fenton and the Tadcaster branch. A superb visual record, filmed by local historian and cameraman, Frank Dean, shows Tadcaster's final freight service and the aftermath of closure, as the demolition crews erased the line from the landscape. No Contents Listing Published, See Description Continent: Europe
Country: UK
Area: UK Yorkshire |
