Description from Lineside Video Productions

Run-time 1hour 42 mins approx.

Tamworth is the crossroads of two main lines, one from Birmingham to Derby & the other the WCML from Rugby to Stafford. Our camera captures scenes taken in April & May 1987 with classes 81, 85, 86, 87, & 58 on the WCML tracks and classes 20, 31, 37, 47, 150 & HST on the Derby lines. Both passenger & freight train action is witnessed in scenes now almost 27 years old.

Ayr in Scotland is our next section which was visited on a number of occasions between 1988 & 1991 when Speedlink freight & coal traffic still dominated the area. We also call in to Kilwinning to look at the Iron-Ore traffic to Hunterston which brought the first use of class 60s to the country. At Ayr class 26s dominate the scene with pictures filmed from the locomotive depot & the nearby Falkland Yard. Classes 20, 26, 37, 47, 60, 156 & 318 are all captured in action. Highlight is 26 008 shunting a loaded engineers train & a pair of St.Blazey-allocated class 37s moving about the depot.

Retford Low-level platforms are on the regional rail route linking Gainsborough with Sheffield. It also forms the important coal-carrying line from the Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire coalfields to the power stations at West Burton & Cottam. Our visit goes back to between 1985 & 1990 where class 56s & latterly class 58s were the staple motive power for the coal traffic, whilst DMUs, class 31s, class 47s & HSTs are also seen, including on the adjacent East Coast Main Line. BR-blue, large-logo & trainload freight are just some of the liveries to be seen.

Winwick Junction (Warrington) is a WCML hot-spot popular with rail enthusiasts. In this section we again go back to the late 1980s where 81s, 86s, 87s, 20s, 31s & 47s work a variety of passenger & freight services on this busy stretch of line.

Taunton in Somerset is our final location in this programme with a look at services in the station, as well as to the south and to the north at Cogload Jn. Class 47s dominate, with classes 33, 37, 50, DMU & HSTs. Plenty of loco-hauled workings from the period 1987 to 1990.