Modern Traction Archive: Vol 16 - British Rail trains. Also on DVD from www.linesidevideos.co.uk

WCML north-west of Crewe – a study of electric & diesel action on this busy main line in November 1985. We see class 87/0, 86/2, 86/4, 87, 81 & 85 with blue/grey & early intercity-liveried coaching stock. We also see two shots of an APT-set on test as well as a light-engine class 27 - yes, this far south! Class 25, class 47 & class 58s are also viewed. We witness a Derby test train in action powered by a class 24 & class 46 combination & we even see an ex-Glasgow class 303 emu at work.
Colton Jn, South of York (March 1986) – a constant procession of passenger & freight locomotives as we spend a day beside the busy ECML & the four-track route down to Church Fenton. We see classes 31, 45, & 47 on passenger turns & blue/yellow HST power cars on Blue/grey & early intercity coaching stock liveries. Freight trains a numerous, with speedlink, coal, engineers, MGR, oil, cement, steel as well as parcels services. Classes 20, 31, 37, 45, 47 & 56 are all seen.
Westbury – a visit is made to the station & surrounding areas, including Frome & Merehead in March & June 1984 as well as February & again in May 1985. We have some real oldies in this section including a trainload of Presflo cement tanks on their way to Exeter: HSTs in their original livery are frequent sights, so too are class 33s on Portsmouth line passenger services. We witness class 47s & 50s on passenger turns to & from Paddington & even a class 50 working a train bound for Portsmouth! Freight traffic is dominated by stone workings & we view pairs of class 33s & 37s on these, as well as BR blue-liveried 45, 47s & class 56s - there are some superb class 56 soundtracks included here.
Manningtree - electric loco-hauled services were fairly recent additions when we paid our visit in February 1986. Class 86s dominate, but we also see class 47s on the Harwich boat trains. Cravens DMUs, class 31s, 37s & 47s were in charge of freight services: we also briefly visit Felixstowe with 37 022 & D3489 at work.