Between 1959 and 1968, railway enthusiast and cine-cameraman, Michael Marsden, recorded views and sounds of the rapidly changing face of Britain’s rail network. For over twenty-five years after steam ended, he captivated audiences throughout the country with his unique film collection that captured steams' last decade and the full emergence of the diesel locomotive.
Between 1959 and 1968, railway enthusiast and cine-cameraman, Michael Marsden, recorded views and sounds of the rapidly changing face of Britain’s rail network. For over twenty-five years after steam ended, he captivated audiences throughout the country with his unique film collection that captured steams' last decade and the full emergence of the diesel locomotive.
The blending of this film and that of other cameramen with true sounds of the era, plus an informative narrative, has resulted in the creation of a superb range of railway videos detailing the last decade of British mainline steam operations.
After views of Leeds’s Central Station, Bramhope, Arthington Jct. and Pool-in-Wharfedale feature, followed by Harrogate, which in 1964 was a busy rail centre, handling both freight and passenger traffic. Diverging from the Ripon line on the northeast outskirts of Harrogate was the line to York, and on this route Starbeck and the Boroughbridge branch are shown. North of Harrogate, workings are shown at numerous locations, including Nidd Bridge and Ripley Jct.: most stations between Ripon and Northallerton plus a journey from Ripon to Melmerby Junction and Masham. Learn More
The programme starts in 1962 at Goole, with an ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 'Pug' at work in the docks and the town's engine shed still home to a large number of steam locomotives. From Goole, the focus moves to Hull, where trolley buses still operated in the city's streets while rail services maintained links with the coastal resorts of Hornsea and Withernsea. Journeys on both these routes are featured. Learn More
1940s and 1960s views in King's Cross Station and the 'Top Shed', before leaving London behind 'A3', 60106 'Flying Fox'. Next, Peterborough is featured in the late 1940s and early 1960s, followed by a journey from Grimsby and Spalding to the ECML at Werrington Jct., with 'Britannia' Pacifics hard at work. Numerous ECML locations are shown including Essendine, Stoke Bank and Retford, which is host to the last ex-GC 'J19', on a railtour. At Doncaster, film taken in the 'Plant' in the 1940s shows locomotives under construction and a wide variety of steam and early diesel traction is shown in the station. Finally, fascinating scenes at York filmed between 1931 and 1965 bring to a close this first of a two-part programme featuring the ECML between London and Newcastle in the days of steam. Learn More
