| We complete the route of the 3-hour expresses into Glasgow resuming our journey over the former 'Caley' main line at Perth with 1960s shed and station scenes. Every station between Perth and Gartcosh is illustrated using an amalgam of cine film, historic photographs, 'then and now' scenes and maps welded together by a typically informative script delivered by SRPS stalwart Stuart Sellar. Throughout the programme the archive includes an incredible wealth of A4 footage, other former LNER classes included A2, B1, C16, J37, J38 and V2. Former LMS power includes Duchesses, Patriots and Jubilees, whilst BR Caprotti 5s work Dundee turns. Britannias and the occasional Clan also make appearances. The route is covered in depth with a good spread of locations as far as Stirling, Gleneagles and Dunblane being particularly well covered. Busy station scenes at Stirling, supported by a shed visit precede a fascinating cocktail of cine, ancient photographs and maps which takes us through the Stirlingshire coalfield to Larbert where we abandon the mainline to cover the Caley's only route into Clackmannan. The complete Alloa branch is traversed behind a brace of J37s whilst a 'Director' on a Queen Street service illustrates a pre-group anachronism. Alloa freight activity precedes a trip over the swing bridge on the local Alloa - Larbert DMU service. Further down the Forth the Caledonian's massive development at Grangemouth was accessed from its main line via Larbert or Carmuirs West thence Falkirk. 1950s steam passenger duties on the branch are supplemented with a WD 2-10-0 and scenes of the docks today. The steeply graded but exceptionally short Greenhill to Bonnybridge Canal branch is also included a 'Caley Bogie' climbing the steepest gradient on the 'Caley' system in May 1960 before traversing the Denny branch, both lines closed to passengers in 1930. We resume our mainline trip from nearby Greenhill with comprehensive coverage through Cumbernauld as far as Gartcosh, A4 hauled 3 hour trains complete our journey through Balornock and into Buchanan Street. Caledonian Routes Volume One & Two combine to offer 2 hours and 59 minutes of entertainment based upon the route of the Aberdeen to Glasgow 3-Hour expresses. Contents:
- A brief look at Perth today continues with 1960s station and shed scenes. Planet on the 2.45 Carstairs vans begins our `typical` afternoon, the feature including class 5s on Dundee duties, B1 hauled freights, Kingfisher on the `Grampian’ and Golden Eagle on the TPO. Sir Nigel Gresley departs with the`Granite City` to begin our trip south over the former `Caley` mainline; the archive includes a wealth of A4 footage.
- Other former LNER classes include A2, C16, J37, J38 and V2. Duchesses, Patriots, a Jubilee and Black 5s represent the LMS whilst BR Caprotti 5s, Britannias and Clans also make appearances.
- The route is covered in detail, including scenes at the closed intermediate stations to Gleneagles, and onwards through Blackford, Greenloaning, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan to Stirling, where busy station scenes and shed footage is included. We continue through Bannockburn and Plean Junction to Larbert where we diverge from the main line. Top link motive power contrasts with Wemyss No.20 heading for the SRPS at Falkirk after the end of BR steam!
- `Then and nows`, historic photographs and maps enhance coverage of the Alloa, Grangemouth and Denny branches. North British and `Caley` rivalry in the Alloa area is illustrated with `celebrities` on railtours and a `Director` on a Queen Street service at Thirsk.
- The complete Alloa branch is traversed behind a brace of J37s in 1966. Alloa freight activity precedes a trip over the swing bridge on a Alloa - Larbert DMU. Access to the Caley`s port at Grangemouth is gained via Larbert Junction (from the North) or Carmuirs West Junction (from the South), passenger duties are supplemented with a WD 2-10-0 and recent branch activity. The short but steep Greenhill to Bonnybridge Canal branch is also included, a `Caley Bogie` visited in May 1960 before traversing the Denny branch, both lines closed to passengers in 1930.
- We resume our trip to Glasgow from nearby Greenhill, locations include Castlecary, Cumbernauld Glen and station, Greenfaulds, Greenfoot, Glenboig, Garnqueen, Gartcosh and through Balornock into Glasgow (Buchanan Street).
Continent: Europe
Country: UK |
