1st.Take "Branch Lines of England" Series

Ref: FT136D

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1st Take’s series on the branch lines of England now continues its voyage of discovery on the very edges of the country, a stunning peninsula, in which no location is more than 20 miles from the sea: Cornwall. With the help of Les Whaley, Chairman of the Launceston Railway Circle, this film explores the old routes of the Great Western Railway and London and South Western Railway, beginning at Gunnislake in the Tamar Valley, and then travelling around the entire county.

The development of railways in Cornwall is closely associated with the county’s mining traditions, and this is revealed with a visit to the striking landscape in the area of Minions, the highest village in Cornwall, where the Liskeard & Caradon Railway once ran. There are also tributes to other lines which have long since closed, such as the North Cornwall Railway, inspired by the desire to attract tourists to the area, and which crossed the county from Launceston to Padstow; and the Lostwithiel & Fowey Railway, whose main traffic was china clay.

Happily, some of the old branch lines are still in service today such as the attractive Tamar Valley Line, which ventures over the border from Devon; the Atlantic Coast Line from Par to Newquay; the enchanting Looe Valley Line, which links the market town of Liskeard with the beautiful fishing port of Looe; the Maritime Line from Truro to Falmouth; and the St Ives Bay Line, which is among the most scenic in Britain. All of these are featured with superb modern film, comparisons with historic photographs and informed commentary.

The film also includes interviews with people who have created successful heritage lines in Cornwall, with enjoyable visits to Launceston Steam Railway, the Bodmin & Wenford Railway and Helston Railway as well as a delightful miniature gauge system at Hidden Valley.

This stunning DVD, enhanced by rare archive images and excerpts of historic film, will delight railway enthusiasts everywhere!

Availability: AVAILABLE
Published by: 1st Take
Filmed by/when: Andy Warren and Steve Richards
Narrated by: Dave Rogers
First published on DVD: 2017
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 109-mins (1hr 49min) , Colour and B & W
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1. Branch Lines of Warwickshire (Ref: FT142D)

Ref: FT121D

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1st Take’s popular series of films on the Branch Lines of England, based on the best-selling books of Colin Maggs, now features the beautiful county of Devon.

This first volume on Devon explores what remains of the stations and infrastructure of the branch lines in the Exeter area, and the central, eastern and southern parts of the county. Illustrated by superb modern film, explanatory maps and rare archive photographs and footage, we tell the story of railways which once provided a valuable service in carrying passengers and freight around Devon, as well as taking holidaymakers to the seaside.

At one extreme there was the Exmouth branch - the nearest the West Country comes to a suburban-type commuter railway - which still thrives as the ‘Avocet Line’ with stunning views of the Exe Estuary; and the Paignton branch, which could for many years almost be considered a main-line. At the other end of the scale was the Culm Valley Light Railway, an oddity which demanded restrictions on rolling stock and locomotives with a short wheelbase. Many Devon branch lines were originally built to the broad gauge and were later narrowed, some lasting until the very end of the wider gauge in 1892.

Our railway odyssey includes visits to Axminster, Seaton, Sidmouth, Exmouth, Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Dartmouth and a host of villages where minor stations and halts were once a lifeline to Devon’s rural community. Happily, not all these branch lines have been lost forever. Several have been recreated as preserved lines, and among the many highlights of our tour are visits to South Devon Railway, Devon Railway Centre, the Dartmouth Steam Railway, the Exeter & Teign Valley Railway and Seaton Tramway. The enthusiasm of those people who are keeping Devon’s railway heritage alive helps to make this DVD an essential addition to your collection, or an ideal gift.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Steve Richards & Paul Smith
Narrated by: Dave Rogers
Written by: Colin Maggs MBE
Edited by: Steve Richards
First published on DVD: 2015
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 Widescreen
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 100-mins (1hr 40min) , Colour and B&W
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1. Branch Lines of Devon Vol.2: North and West Devon, including Plymouth (Ref: FT124D)

Ref: FT124D

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In the first volume, we explored the branch lines in the southern, central and eastern parts of the county. This latest DVD explores the old branch lines of North & West Devon, including an evocative visit to Dartmoor and a special feature on the Plymouth area. The story is enhanced by stunning modern film as well as rare archive photographs and footage. It also includes interviews with people who have created successful heritage lines from what was left of the old system, with visits to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. the Plym Valley Railway and the Dartmoor Railway.

Happily, some of the old branch lines are still in service today, such as the attractive Tamar Valley Line, which ventures from Plymouth, across the beautiful Calstock Viaduct and ends up at Gunnislake in Cornwall; and the Tarka Line, which calls at a number of charming old-world country stations as it journeys from Exeter to Barnstaple. Other branch lines featured include Brent to Kingsbridge, Tavistock Junction to Launceston, the Yealmpton branch and Venn Cross to Barnstaple. In addition, a tour of the county’s beautiful north coast includes a tribute to the fondly remembered Barnstaple & Ilfracombe Railway, which was so busy that it was upgraded to main line status for over half its life.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Andy Warren & Steve Richards
Narrated by: Dave Rogers
Written by: Colin Maggs MBE
First published on DVD: 2016
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 widescreen
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 106-mins (1hr 26min) , Colour and B&W
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1. Branch Lines of Devon Vol.1: East, Central and South Devon (Ref: FT121D)

Ref: FT119D

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This DVD continues a series of films which explores the Branch Lines of England, many of which were lost during the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.

Dorset’s lines were shared almost equally between the Great Western Railway and the London and South Western, and every one is explored on this film. These routes varied from lightly built, rural railways with a low volume of traffic to the Swanage branch, which at times carried main line express locomotives. These railways conveyed goods in and out of the county, provided a vital role during the dark years of warfare and in happier times they allowed holidaymakers and day trippers to enjoy their visit to the seaside.

From the serendipity of stumbling on the owners of Powerstock Station House to tracing the Weymouth and Portland Railway on the Rodwell Trail, this film is packed with highlights, which also include an interview with former fireman Derek Phillips, a tour of Poole’s old branch lines with local historian Colin Stone and an extensive feature on the hugely popular Swanage Railway.

Numerous other locations are featured, including Yeovil, Dorchester, Maiden Newton, Bridport, West Bay, Upwey, Abbotsbury, the Weymouth Quay Tramway and Verwood.

Eminent railway historian and author Colin Maggs sheds light on a host of hidden treasures, with the help of wonderful archive photographs and colour archive film.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Andy Warren
Narrated by: Dave Rogers
Written by: Colin Maggs MBE
First published on DVD: 2013
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 Widescreen
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 100-mins (1hr 40min) , Colour and B & W
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Ref: FT118D

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Branch Lines of Gloucestershire

The Beeching cuts prompted a massive reshaping of Britain’s railway network in the 1960s, when almost a third of the country’s track was closed. Most of the victims were minor routes which linked rural locations; they were axed as they were simply deemed uneconomic. But they remain fondly remembered today and this film is intended as the first in a series which will celebrate the branch lines of England, in association with railway author and historian Colin Maggs MBE.

You will see a wide range of routes, from those initially worked by horses to one which boasted the longest railway bridge in England. These lines provided vital services for the industrial heartland of Bristol, and key places such as Gloucester Docks and Lydney harbour. They also reached out to towns and villages in the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean and many other parts of the county.

The story is illustrated by extensive use of rare archive photographs, and is enhanced by informed commentary from Colin Maggs, who has seen so many changes in the county’s railway network during a lifelong interest in the subject. You will also enjoy stunning modern film, excerpts of archive footage and visits to two of the county’s preserved lines - the Dean Heritage Railway and Avon Valley Railway – and the GWR Museum at Coleford. There are also fascinating interviews with former railwaymen and those who recall how important such branch lines were to rural areas.

Numerous locations are visited, including Avonside Wharf, Severn Beach, Mangotsfield, Westerleigh, Yate, Thornbury, Berkeley Road, Coaley, Dursley, Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Kemble, Tetbury, Lydney, Cinderford and Chepstow.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Andy Warren, Paul Smith, Paul TRee & Steve Richards
Narrated by: Dave Rogers, written and presented by Colin G.Maggs MBE
First published on DVD: 2012
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 90-mins (1hr 30min) , Colour and B&W
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Ref: FT137D

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Some Hampshire branches were closed even before the Second World War, and many have since been lifted, although happily a few remain active today.

In pre-grouping days the county was served almost exclusively by the LSWR. The GWR made inroads only as far as Basingstoke and Winchester, the South Eastern & Chatham Railway just encroached into the Farnborough area, and the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway served Hayling Island and shared the East Southsea branch with the LSWR. The southern tip of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway just entered the county and part of its station on the Tidworth branch was on Hampshire soil. The only other major branch line owned by any other company than the LSWR, or its successors, was the Longmoor Military Railway.

The only branches still extant in Hampshire are the electrified Eastleigh to Fareham line, the Alton and Lymington branches, the preserved Mid-Hants Railway from Alton to Arlesford and a section of the Totton to Fawley branch. We will also be visiting the evocative Hayling Seaside Railway, and although technically just across the Dorset border, another narrow gauge line, the Moors Valley Railway near Ringwood.

Packed with rare archive images, superb modern location film and adorned by excerpts of archive footage, this new DVD will be a treat for railway enthusiasts everywhere.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: October 2017
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 100-mins (1hr 40min)

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Ref: FT149D

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Although Oxfordshire’s branch lines were not as numerous as those of many other counties, they were extremely diverse in terms of locomotives and rolling stock and they included specialist lines such as those for Morris Cowley.

Many of the lines had their hub in Oxford itself, and most were rural – although some did form part of a through route.

In this volume we revisit all of Oxfordshire’s branch lines, from Henley and Shiplake in the south, to Banbury and the Wroxton Quarry Railway in the north. Along the way we uncover hidden station sites and sample some delightful Cotswold villages and towns.

We also celebrate the county’s heritage railway activity, and there is a special treat for GWR enthusiasts with a visit to Didcot Railway Centre.

The story is enhanced by Colin Maggs’ superb photographic collection and his unrivalled insight, as well as excerpts of archive film.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Narrated by: Colin Maggs MBE
Written by: Colin Maggs MBE
First published on DVD: August 2022
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 & 16:9 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 100-mins (1hr 40min) , Colour and B&W
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Ref: FT120D

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This series of films exploring the Branch Lines of England now takes us to Somerset, as we explore over 160 years of rail travel in the county, with the help of rare archive material and a whistle-stop tour of sites of interest today. This is an extra special journey for Bath-based author and historian Colin Maggs, on whose book the DVD is based, as it is a celebration of his home county’s railway heritage.

Most of Somerset’s branch lines were closed during or before Beeching’s cuts of the 1960s, and these are examined in depth on our journey, from the 792-yard branch at Dunball Wharf near Bridgwater to the industrial railways of North Somerset, the Bristol to Portishead branch, the Cheddar Valley or ‘Strawberry’ Line and the Norton Fitzwarren to Minehead Railway.

Happily, the county is well blessed with some fine preserved lines: the beautiful East Somerset Railway at Cranmore; the West Somerset Railway between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, England’s longest standard-gauge heritage railway; the unique Bristol Harbour Railway and the Sandford Station Railway Heritage Centre. You also have a rare chance to glimpse railway activity at Portbury Dock, as the freight line reopened there in 2001 and is now thriving. There is an accompanying feature on the campaign to re-launch a passenger service from Portishead to Bristol, and you will also enjoy a tribute to the fine work of the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway Group.

Packed with wonderful images from Colin’s lifelong photographic collection, stunning modern film, archive footage excerpts and fascinating interviews, this DVD is essential viewing for railway enthusiasts.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Narrated by: Dave Rogers
First published on DVD: 2014
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 & 16:9 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 101-mins (1hr 41min) , Colour and Monochrome
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Ref: FT142D

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1st Take’s ever popular series of films on the Branch Lines of England now takes us to the very heart of the country, as we explore the old railways of Warwickshire.

Although many lines eventually became part of the Great Western Railway, some belonged to the London, Midland & Scottish network. They were constructed between the early 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th, performing a wide variety of roles. Towards the north is the London & Birmingham Railway, which later became part of the London & North Western Railway, and other routes included the Midland Railway’s main line in the area, which ran from Bristol and Gloucester through Birmingham to Derby. You will discover how and why they were built and, providing comparisons with rare historic photographs, we visit the scenes as they are today.

Our tour extends from the bustling big cities of Birmingham and Coventry to delightful remote rural stations, and encompasses listed Victorian buildings, stunning viaducts, and a line which was crossed by the longest canal aqueduct in England. There is a special feature on the railway scene at Stratford-upon-Avon, as we call into the town’s railway museum. We also take a ride on the Shakespeare Express, a steam-hauled train which runs from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford, and visit the charming Echills Wood Miniature Railway.

This special tour of Warwickshire, based on the book by Colin Maggs, is packed with interviews, fascinating location film, maps and excerpts of wonderful archive film.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: December 2019
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 2 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 160-mins (2hr 40min) , Colour and B & W
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1. Branch Lines of Cornwall (Ref: FT136D)

Ref: FT139D

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1st Take’s exploration of the Branch Lines of England now encompasses a fascinating journey to the historic county of Wiltshire - based on a 1992 book by the eminent railway author Colin Maggs - who joins us for the entire tour. Our journey, which reveals that most branches sadly closed in the 20th century, benefits from the historical content of Colin’s book, while also providing a fresh appraisal of railway developments in the county since it was published.

We explore the old routes of the GWR, which dominated much of the county; pay tribute to the Wiltshire section of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway, which was absorbed by the GWR in 1923; and also feature the branches of the London & South Western Railway, which made inroads into the county’s southern region, which is where the film begins, by looking at the railways of the Salisbury area. This chapter includes those military lines which made such a vital contribution during wartime, as did the route from Corsham to Quarry Tunnel.

We then proceed to explore the lines in the area of Chippenham, Calne, Trowbridge and Devizes, which largely grew from the Wilts, Somerset & Weymouth Railway. Other highlights include a visit to the branch from Savernake to Marlborough; the quirky Dodsdown Brickworks Railway, which was only open from 1902-1910; the Swindon & Highworth Light Railway; and, in the far north of the county, the line from Dauntsey to the beautiful town of Malmesbury, with its majestic abbey.

All of these are enhanced by superb modern film, including many tranquil rural scenes, comparisons with rare historic photographs, and informed commentary. The DVD also benefits from interviews with two former railwaymen and a fascinating feature on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Wiltshire’s only standard gauge heritage line.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: October 2018
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 109-mins (1hr 49min) , Colour and B & W
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Ref: FT147D

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Due to an abundance of excellent material, this film is now a double disc edition, with a running time of 2 hours 44 minutes!

1st Take’s quest to revisit the Branch Lines of England now takes a particularly interesting turn, as we explore the varied railway landscape of Worcestershire with eminent author Colin Maggs.

These routes range from parts of the Severn Valley Railway – now one of the country’s longest and best preserved lines – to what were once main lines, including the one which ran between Droitwich Spa and Lye. At the other end of the scale are those which have always been branches, such as that from Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town, allegedly the shortest in Europe. You will also enjoy a special report on the recent extension of the delightful Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway to the Worcestershire town of Broadway, as we explore the former Honeybourne Line.

The basic pattern of railways in Worcestershire was relatively simple. The Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, known from its initials as the ‘Old Worse & Worse’ ran east to west across the southern half of Worcestershire and then turned north to bisect the county. In 1860 it became part of the West Midland Railway, and three years later it was absorbed by the Great Western Railway. The Midland Railway had a main line which ran north to south through the county, roughly parallel with that of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, and also a branch from Barnt Green through Redditch, Alcester and Evesham to Ashchurch, which could be used as an alternative route. This part of the county’s rail network was the first to see electrification, and recently benefited from a £1bn investment.

The Worcester area – with its ‘Vinegar Branch’ and Butts and Riverside branch – is rich in history. Other lines featured include the Great Malvern-Ripple branch, the Halesowen branch, and the Bromyard Junction-Suckley branch, which entered Herefordshire. Remote, rural delights are also uncovered on the Bewdley-Newnham Bridge branch, which skirted the Shropshire border.

Join us as we take a trip back in time to discover how, why and when these branches were built, and what survives today, on this special two-disc edition. Our evocative tour of Worcestershire is enhanced with interviews, rare archive photographs, stunning location film and maps. You can also enjoy brief excerpts of colour archive footage from the Barnt Green-Redditch line, the Great Malvern-Ripple line and the Bromyard Junction-Suckley line.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Steve Richards ab=nd Andy Warren
Narrated by: Dave Rogers
Written by: Colin G Maggs, MBE
First published on DVD: September 2021
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 SD & 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 2 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 164-mins (2hr 40min) , Colour and B & W
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