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Ref: VI326B

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Exeter St David’s to London Paddington.

We join a brand new class 802 IET (Intercity Express Train) upon arrival at Exeter St David's station en route from Plymouth to London. Our train is formed of 10 coaches and calls at Tiverton Parkway and Taunton before branching off onto the so-called Berks and Hants route, a series of disparate lines connected together to form a shorter and more direct route from the South West to the Capital.

Our train runs non-stop for over 100 miles from Taunton to Reading, only then do we join the original GWR main line into London, having switched from diesel to electric power and travelling at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour.

This cross-country scenic line was filmed during the summer of 2019. There's a great deal of interesting history to the route, only opened as a through line in 1906 with the completion of the last section of new track from Cogload Junction to Castle Cary.

Now is your chance to see this sinuous line as the driver does.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Peter Middleton, Summer 2019
Narrated by: Rob Curling, written by Peter Middleton
Sound: Stereo Sound, Dolby Audio
First published on DVD: Late November 2019
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 BLU-RAY
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 125-mins (2hr 5min) , Colour
.

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Ref: VI318B

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The 19th May 2017 was the last day that first-generation DMUs ran in regular passenger service on Network Rail. These were the two class 121 Bubble cars owned by Chiltern Railways that were used on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury branch.

To record and commemorate the event, Video 125 cameras followed the single units (affectionately dubbed Bubble Cars) in the weeks prior to their withdrawal. The idea for this film came from the former Managing Director of Chiltern Trains Holidays, Tony Parkins, who has been closely associated with Chiltern Railways ever since his involvement with the writing of our Driver's eye view Chiltern Take Two.

It was Tony's idea to produce this film and as such has not only co-written and researched the information but actually presents it to camera.

The film starts with a brief history of the class 121 with a couple of archive clips and old photos. We then come to 2017 and go inside the Chiltern Railways Aylesbury depot to interview the Production Manager who gives us an insight into the whys and wherefores of the DMUs. To find out more about the 121s in general, Tony then went to the nearby Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway to talk to members responsible for their own Bubble Cars' restoration and a former driver who used to drive the single cars on the Bedford to Bletchley line.

Back to Aylesbury and the Chiltern Railways senior driving instructor takes us through the start up procedure. He then drives unit number 034 from the depot into platform 1 at Aylesbury to start the afternoon diagram. A Driver's eye view of the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury branch follows, including the line's history and the operation of the Bubble car.

The final day arrives and the Chiltern Railways Managing Director gives a farewell speech. With both 121s coupled together for the final few services, it is drizzling when the last scheduled service arrives bringing down the curtain on the very last DMU service operated by a national train operarting company on Network Rail.

Filmed in May 2017

Availability: AVAILABLE
Narrated by: Tony Parkins
First published on DVD: June 2017
Region: 2
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 Bluray
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 48-mins (0hr 48min) Click here for a map

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Ref: VI258B

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Starting with a brief history of the island's railways, this is an in-depth look at the two survivors, one electric and one stream.

The Island Line is unique, being served by former London Underground tube trains dating way back to 1938. We join a 2 car train at Shanklin, the southern most terminus, to enjoy a driver's eye view of the line. Passing the down train at the seaside resort of Sandown we make our way through Brading onto the double line section controlled by the only operational signal box remaining - Ryde St Johns. Continuing in tunnel beneath the Esplanade we emerge at the station of the same name continuing all the way out to sea over Ryde pier into the one remaining platform at the end of the line.

The Steam Railway is a preservation gem also with unique elements such as the 100% original steam-hauled coaching stock and undoubtedly unique steam survivor class 02 "Calbourne".The railway links with the electric line at Smallbrook Junction where we join the crew of Calbourne for a magnificent journey along the line through the line's semaphore signalled base at Haven Street and to the current terminus at Wootton.More than just a driver's eye view we see the crew at work coupled with plenty of views of the train and scenery passing by.

Both electric and steam lines were also filmed in glorious weather for some truly stunning pictures.

Extras: Ryde St John's Road depot; Ryde St John's Road Signal Box; Island Steam Show; Future Traction requirements (presentation by Steve Oates IOWSR Chairman).

Availability: AVAILABLE
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 Blu-ray
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 75-mins (1hr 15min)

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Ref: VI312B

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The West Highland Railway (Mallaig extension) is arguably Britain's most scenic and what better way of seeing it than from "The Jacobite" steam train.

Our cameras followed one such service in the mid-summer sunshine on board Black Five No 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier. To see the scenery in all its glory, a helicopter followed our train all the way to Mallaig with a state of the art gyro stabilised camera filming in high definition. Cameras also show, lineside shots footplate shots and the radio signalling centre (RETB) at Banavie.

So sit back and take a front row seat on the magnificent "Road to the Isles".

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: filmed in 2015
Narrated by: Paul Coia, written by Peter Middleton.
First published on DVD: 2015
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 Blu-ray
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 85-mins (1hr 25min)

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Ref: VI323B

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The original Gotthard railway tunnel through the Swiss Alps, took ten years to build and cost 147 lives. It was a mammoth undertaking and required the construction of long ramps on either side totalling 85 miles. Dozens of tunnels, viaducts and bridges were necessary. The ruling gradient of 1 in 37 was deemed to be just about the maximum that the original steam locomotives could handle, even then, trains were usually double-headed and even had banking engines attached at the rear! In order even to keep to this severe gradient, the engineers had to construct a number of additional spiral tunnels to gain height, hewn out of solid rock.

Our film begins at the Swiss town of Lugano, where we see the funicular that runs from the picturesque historic lakeside town up to the main line railway station. There we take a front seat in the cab of a modern Regional Express EMU for a spectacular journey. As soon as we depart, our train has to climb up and through the Monte Ceneri Pass overlooking the Ticino plain below. Descending steep gradients we reach the junction town and the capital of the Italian speaking Ticino region: Bellinzona.

With a change of driver, we begin the gradual climb up towards the summit of the line. En route, we see the entrance of the current longest traffic tunnel in the world, the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, opened in 2016. Taking the original route, that has been the main Alpine railway passage for over a hundred years, we can marvel at the feat of engineering - building a conventional railway through this seemingly impassable mountainous region. Eventually the climb ends at Airolo where we enter what was, in 1882, the longest tunnel in the world. A brief history of the pass and the building of the tunnel itself, interjects our journey through the 9 mile long double track tunnel.

As we emerge on the German speaking northern side of the Gotthard Massif, the long ramp begins all over again, this time in a downward direction passing through many more spiral tunnels and avalanche shelters. The scenery is of course Alpine spectacular and what better way of seeing it than from the driver’s cab?

Filmed in mid-summer 2018.

The history of the route along with current train operating is expertly delivered by Jonathan Kydd, one of the UK’s leading narrators.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Published by: Video 125
Filmed by/when: Peter Middleton
Narrated by: Jonathan Kydd
First published on DVD: late October 2018
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 Blu-ray DVD
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 112-mins (1hr 52min)

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Ref: VI302B

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The Welsh Highland narrow gauge steam railway runs from coast to coast through the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park, and what better way of seeing it than from one of the Beyer Garratt steam engines. This is more than just a Driver's eye view. With cameras mounted on the buffer beam and around the cab, we can see the line and the scenery even better than the driver does.

Our ride begins at Caernarfon close to the famous castle, venue of the investiture of Charles the Prince of Wales. We not only see the railway from the locomotive, but also from the stations, the trackside, the carriages and even from the air. The 25 miles of scenic line was only reopened throughout in 2011 and Arfon Haines Davies's narration gives all the fascinating facts and chequered history of the line. This is your chance to see this magnificent route as never before.

Narrated by: Arfon Haines Davies

Availability: AVAILABLE
Narrated by: Arfon Haines Davies
First published on DVD: February 2014
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 Blu-ray
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 111-mins (1hr 51min)

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Ref: VI241B

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CHESTER to LIVERPOOL CENTRAL,

HOOTON to ELLESMERE PORT,

LIVERPOOL CENTRAL to WEST KIRBY

BIRKENHEAD NORTH to NEW BRIGHTON.

The City of Liverpool is served by Merseyrail, a suburban rail network unique in many ways and subdivided into two main routes: The Northern Line and the Wirral Line.

We travel over the latter on board third rail class 507 and 508 electric multiple units. While the Northern Line serves the Liverpool side of the Mersey, the Wirral Line runs beneath the wide river separating Liverpool from Birkenhead and the Wirral Peninsula. The Wirral Line consists of two main routes with four branches covering a route mileage of 33 miles.

We see all four branches from the Driver's cab in virtual real time:

Highlights include the 19th century river tunnel with its 1 in 27 gradients which we see in both directions along with the 20th century single loop line. The majority of the Wirral Line is signalled from the IECC signalling centre at Sandhills and Video 125 cameras were there to follow our trains from a signallers point of view.

EXTRA: Liverpool was all about the myriad of docks facing the River Mersey, all of which were rail connected. Included is a unique archive film showing these docks in full swing taken from an electric train running on the famous Liverpool Overhead Railway just a few years before the system was shut and dismantled

Availability: AVAILABLE
Narrated by: Alan Hardwick
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 Blu-ray
Media Format: DVD-R

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

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Ref: VI249B

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The term Welsh Marches refers to the border area between Wales and England. The railway diverging from the South Wales Main Line at Newport closely follows the border through Abergavenny, Hereford, Shrewsbury and Nantwich. We join a 3-car class 175 Coradia DMU en route from Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly on the approach to Newport, the area having only recently been re-signalled to the South Wales Control Centre. From the SWCC, signalling passes to a 1960’s panel signal box at Little Mill and then to traditional mechanical signalling at Abergavenny. Cameras inside all three signal boxes vividly show this technological progression.

Dozens of former and existing junctions coupled with some magnificent scenery make this a fascinating route, filmed in mid-summer sunshine all the way to Crewe. Dozens of mechanical signal boxes control our progress, including Europe’s largest at Shrewsbury. Much of the history of the line as well as the current day operation of this Arriva Trains Wales service is in the narration.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Narrated by: Richard Bath, written by Peter Middleton.
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 Blu-ray
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 115-mins (1hr 55min)

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Ref: VI244B

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The programme begins with a brief look at the abandoned Weymouth Tramway. We then board a 2 car class 150 Sprinter for a Driver's eye view of this former GWR cross country branch known as the Heart of Wessex Line . For the first few miles we are climbing steeply towards Dorchester over the only electrified line of our 87 mile journey. Sections of single and double track follow, taking us through the last semaphore signalled station on the line, Yeovil Pen Mill. We see inside the box as the single line token is exchanged. We then cut to Westbury Panel to see the process from the other side.

From Castle Cary, we follow the West of England main line through the classic Brunel shed at Frome and on to Westbury with its expansive freight yard. Now we turn towards Trowbridge and follow the Avon valley route through Bradford on Avon to Bath. We then run non-stop to Bristol Temple Meads. This is effectively the Somerset and Dorset line that Beeching didn't close. It is full of historical interest.

Filmed in 2012.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 Blu-ray
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 117-mins (1hr 57min)

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