Description

The Cam Camwell collection is an exciting and nostalgic series of archive films now presented in DVD format from the footage of one of the best-known cine cameramen of the last century. Cam Camwell’s work is well known in his home area of the Midlands, and extracts from his material appeared regularly in ‘RAILSCENE’, the railway video magazine.

However, all the material in these programmes has never previously appeared on DVDs and covers virtually every part of the British Isles, including private railways, in the early 1950s.

During the 1950s Cam Camwell was the Secretary of the Midland Area of the Stephenson Locomotive Society and was instrumental in organising many railtours. So he was in a unique position to film, on his 16mm cine camera, many long-vanished scenes.

All material was filmed in black and white on 16mm film telecined to 3/4′ BVU and edited to 1′. 

VOLUME 1 ~ There are over 150 different steam locomotives in this dvd – too many to list here!

Some of these are:

SOUTHERN REGION – including LCDR ‘R’ on main line – ’D’ at Dorking – ’E4s’ and ‘D3s’ in Sussex, ‘H’ at Ashurst, ‘M7s’ at Midhurst, West Meon, Borden and Medstead – ‘L’ at Romsey – T9 at Romsey – N15X at Winchester – H2 at Brighton – AIX at Hayling Island – R1 at Whitstable, etc.

SOMERSET AND DORSET – Ivatt 4, 2P and Black 5 at Masbury – 4F, 7F and WC at Shepton Mallet.

WESTERN REGION – 45XX, 90XX, Britannia at Bristol Temple Meads – 73XX at Wooferton – 48XX on Golden Valley – Much Wenlock, Cleobury Mortimore, Counties, Halls and a Castle at Stafford, etc.

LONDON MIDLAND REGION – Webb 2-4-2T around Birmingham – SMJ – Buxton, 40726 at Chinley – Skipton and Hellifield – Low Gill – Cauliflower at Penrith, etc.

SCOTTISH REGION – GSWR branch – Caley branches, Highland Main Line – Boat of Garten, Elgin, Thurso, Georgemas – ‘Ben Alder’ – K2s and K1s on the West Highland, etc.

PRIVATE RAILWAYS – North Staffs Mental Hospital – MSC Railway – Easingwold Railway.

NORTH EASTERN REGION – V1s, Q6s and A8s on the North East Coast, G5s at Blyth – D20, J21, A5s and 01s.

EASTERN REGION – BR Trams at Grimsby – C13s at Shotton – Doncaster – Stoke Bank with ‘Plant Centenarian’ and Pacifics – N1s and N7s on branches – E4s, D16s, B17, F6s and F5 on GE branches – Welwyn – Hertford – Framlingham and Epping on Ongar, etc.

VOLUME 2 ~ This programme is made from the original black and white 16mm film of W.A. ‘CAM’ Camwell, who travelled Britain’s railways throughout the 1950s to record both everyday and special events. He made a special point of covering threatened branch lines and unique locomotives such as ‘Big Bertha’, so this series, on dvd, is a ‘must’ for those who remember the 1950s with affection as the ‘golden age’ of steam.

This is the second volume in the collection and covers all BR regions in order. Cam Camwell made a special point of covering threatened branch lines and unique locomotives such as ‘Big Bertha’, so this series is a must for those who remember the 50s with affection.

LONDON – C13 and L44 at Chesham – Rickmansworth electrics – L.T.S.R. centenary with ‘Thundersley’ at Shoeburyness.

EASTERN AND NORTH-EASTERN REGIONS – Cambridgeshire in the snow, with Classes E4, C12, J17, B17, G5 on a clerestory push-pull. Compound at York. Doncaster Works, York, C13 at Seaton, B16 at Bishops Auckland, A8s, Q6, L1, etc.

SCOTLAND – J69 with tender, Hawick, Wark, Pickersgill 4-4-0s, A3, V2, A2, Ladybank, Stirling, WDs, NB 4-4-2Ts, Throsk, Bo’ness, Kelso, etc.

LONDON MIDLAND REGION – Carlisle, Black 5, Scot, A2, Silloth, Drigg, Maryport, Furness 0-6-0s, Haverthwaite, 4Fs, 2-6-4Ts, Coniston, the ‘Ratty’, Lickey trials, and Big Bertha, etc.

WESTERN REGION – 46207 on WR, Welsh borders, 43XX, 7022, Severn Bridge stress test, Dean Goods and 2144, West Country branches, Devizes, Radstock, Langport, Chasewater, 55XX, 14XX, Buckfastleigh, Ashburton, Bridport, etc.

SOUTHERN REGION – King and Queen (N15s) at Yeovil Junction, Yeovil Town, M7, 35009, D1s, Hs, Britannia on ‘Golden Arrow’, L1, Schools, WCs Tonbridge, Goudhurst, Horsted Keynes, Isle of Wight, Ryde, Ventnor, etc.

This dvd covers British Steam in the 1950s and carries on ‘Cam’ Camwell’s personal record during the years 1956 to 1958. These were years of change, as the Modernisation Plan had been announced in 1955 and various older classes were being sent to the scrap heap. In addition, branch line closures were beginning to accelerate and some minor cross-country lines had succumbed. Standardisation was starting to become apparent as the Riddles classes made their mark from north to south, but steam was still ‘king’!

VOLUME 3 ~ This third volume of the series covers B.R. on a geographical basis from the West Country to Scotland.

THE WEST COUNTRY – From Penzance to Chard, via the Cornish Main Line and Branches, through Exeter and around North and South Devon, with Counties, Castles, Kings, Prairies, T9s, M7s, West Countries, etc.

WORKS VISITS – Brighton, Eastleigh and Swindon, with a mass of SR and WR locos, including LN, N15 10XX, City of Truro, Q1, etc.

SOUTH WALES – Both Western and LMS in Wales is covered, from Barry Pier to Moat Lane Junction, through Swansea Victoria, Pantyffynon, Dowlais Top, New Tredegar, Three Cocks and so on, featuring Jinties, Black 5s, Ivatt 2-6-0s, Panniers, Collett 0-6-0s, etc.

SHROPSHIRE AND MONTGOMERYSHIRE – The ‘Col. Stephens’ Railway’ under the heel of the military! A trip over the line, mostly in colour.

THE MIDLANDS – The North Staffs from the train, the Great Central in Nottinghamshire, train spotting at Clay Cross and the last days of the ‘Varsity Line’ to Kettering, with ‘Directors’, ‘Crabs’, 8Fs, 5s, 9F and Compound and an LTSR 4-4-2T at Uppingham, etc.

THE NORTH EAST – The East Coast Main Line at Thirsk, the Coast Line from Whitby through Sandsend, double heading at Goathland, with A2s, A3s, V2s, L1s, A8s and B1s, etc.

SCOTLAND – An interlude at Dumfries, then around the South West Coast to Largs, ending at Kilmarnock and Larkhall, with 2Ps, 3Fs, 4Ps, 5s and 6P!, etc.

VOLUME 4 ~ This volume covers the important last years of the 1950s and the first of the 1960s – the year in which B.R.s last steam locomotive was built. Change all around is seen, from branch line closures to locomotive withdrawals and this programme covers most parts of the United Kingdom except the South of England and North Wales.

SOUTH WALES – The last train, with a ‘Coal Tank’ and ‘Super D’, over the ex-LNWR ‘Heads of the Valley’ line from Abergavenny to Merthyr, and the branch from Risca to Tredegar.

WELSH BORDERS – Chepstow to Monmouth and Ross, also Ledbury to Ross, with 14XX, 57XX, 2251, 43XX, a Castle, Railcars, etc.

CROSS COUNTRY – Stow on the Wold, Savernake and then the Midland & Great Northern Joint from Great Ormsby to Sutton Bridge, with Ivatt 2-6-0s, D16/3, J6, etc.

BIRMINGHAM AND THE BLACK COUNTRY – Railtours around Birmingham, visiting Henley-in-Arden and the goods branch and lines around Wolverhampton, as well as Royal Oak industrials.

WORKS VISITS – Horwich and Crewe, with L&Y 0-6-0STs and 0-6-0s, Black 5s, etc.

LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE – Lines radiating from Blackburn, to Hellifield, Burnley, Bolton and Preston, including an interlude at Todd Lane Junction – with 8Fs, 5s, Fairburns, etc. Then GCR lines around Barnsley and a long feature on York Station, with many East Coast types featured.

SCOTLAND – Starting at Inverness, the 1960 Scottish Tour down the Highland Main Line to Perth with the ‘Jones Goods’, then the branch to Crieff with a Caley 4-4-0, and the West Highland from Tyndown to Fort William.

Please note this programme was filmed in black and white with some colour in Volume 3.

All material was filmed on 16mm film telecined to 3/4′ BVU and edited to 1′.

VOLUME 5 ~ This volume covers a wide ranging area during the first three years of the 1960s. It follows on directly from Volume 4 with further coverage of the Scottish Rail Tour of 1960, moving geographically down the British Isles via the Cromford and High Peak Railway, Kings Cross, Birmingham, the Central Wales and Far West of Wales, ending up in the West Country.

Highlights include a ride along the Kyle of Lochalsh line, Kings Cross “Top Shed”, a “Duchess” at Aston, Super Ds on the Central Wales, “Counties” and “Granges” in West Wales (in colour), and a cab ride on one of the ancient Beattie Well Tanks.

SCOTLAND – Forres with a 2P, the Black Isle Branch behind a Caley 0-6-0, the Far North Line, with Black 5s on passenger and freight, a trip to Kyle of Lochalsh behind a Black 5 and Pickersgill 4-4-0.

CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK – Lineside and action shots from open wagons on a brake van tour behind a J94.

GREAT NORTHERN SUBURBS – A1s, A2s, A3s, and A4s at Top Shed and on the main line at Belle Isle and Potters Bar, together with many other LNER classes. Also the preserved J52 on a railtour.

BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT – A ‘Super D’ takes us on a circular railtour of the city, and then we visit Walsall, Brickyard Crossing, and Bescot Shed. A ‘Duchess’, a ‘Scot’, and a ‘Britannia’ at Aston preceed a detailed view of the Barnt Green to Evesham Line.

WELSH BORDERS – From Ellesmere to Wrexham, then a major feature on the LNWR Central Wales line, with Super Ds, 8Fs, 5s and so on. Most stations south of Craven Arms to Llandridnod Wells are covered.

WEST WALES – Lines west of Carmarthen are seen – the Cardigan branch, Pembroke, Fishguard and Milford Haven. ‘Granges’, ‘Halls’, ‘Counties’, and ‘Castles’ mix it with Panniers, Prairies and Moguls.

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND – Starting at Plymouth, with a rebuilt B of B, this covers Scorrier, Perranwell, Par and Fowey, Callington and Wadebridge amongst others. A trip up the Wenfordbridge line takes place in the cab of a Beattie Well Tank.

VOLUME 6 ~ This dvd moves into the ominous years dominated by the infamous Dr. Beeching. 1962 to 1965 were amongst the darkest years for steam, as many old favourites met their end, and their old haunts disappeared – for good. However, this spurred “CAM” on to record as many everyday scenes as possible before it all went, and this dvd includes many previously unvisited locations, as well as a few favourites, but always gives a glimpse of how working railways really looked.

Highlights include ‘train spotting’ sequences on the old Great Western main line through Birmingham, at Rugby on the Great Central, at Basingstoke and Winchester in the South, and Southport in the North. An undoubted highlight is the Royal Train behind 4082 Windsor Castle – in full colour.

SOUTHERN ENGLAND – Reading (SR), Basingstoke, Winchester, Brockenhurst, Lymington, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Gillingham, Yeovil Junction and Templecombe – featuring all kinds of Bulleids, Maunsell Moguls, an S15 and M7s.

WESTERN LINES – 14XXs on the Chalford Auto, ‘Manor’ and Prairies from Stourbridge Junction to Dudley, Market Drayton to Buildwas, 4082 at West Bromwich on the Royal Train, Aberavon Town, Hirwaun and Abernant, with 57XX, 56XX, 41XX, etc.

EX-LMS ROUTES – From Swansea Victoria to Pontardulais behind a Black 5, comings and goings at Southport, with Black 5s, Fairburns, a Capriotti 5, Standards and so on; along the coast to Preston and Blackpool. A ‘Crab’ and a ‘Peak’ at Bromsgrove, together with 45552 ‘Silver Jubilee’, Lincolnshire, from Peterborough East to Seaton and Stamford. The Market Harborough and Newport Pagnall branches.

MAIN LINES UNDER THREAT – The Great Western’s line through Birmingham, at Snow Hill, Handsworth and Smethwick and West Bromwich, with continuous action of Halls, 56XXs, 41XX, Pannniers, 9Fs, Britannias, Black 5s, etc. Marylebone and Rugby Great Central, with more runbys including 9Fs on passenger trains and Woodhead electric 27001 at Hadfield.

FREIGHT IN THE NORTH EAST – NER Q6s and air-fitted 9Fs on the Consett Tyne Dock line, at South Pelaw, Lambton tanks at the colliery, BR Class 2 at Wooler.

SCOTTISH REGION ROUND-UP – From Killin to Forfar with the 1962 Scottish Railtour, featuring 0-4-4T 55260, ‘Glen Douglas’, 80092, 65345, 57375 and Caley 123 and ‘Gordon Highlander’.

Additional information

Weight	1 lbs
Producer	Kingfisher Productions