Western Blues – Class 52 Westerns Diesel TrainsLocomotives – on Region 2 DVD

30 years have elapsed sincethe demise of the famous ‘Western’ class diesels in service with British Rail,and we commemorate this anniversary with a very special programme looking attheir final four years in traffic.
The programme looks at each of the four years from 1974-1977, and with 50different locomotives appearing in the programme, we get the chance to see mostof our favourites in action once more.
The programme also features many of the special trains operating in that periodwith D1010, D1013, D1023, D1051, D1052 all appearing on railtour duties

Other highlights include: Double headed over Dainton; The summers of 1974 &1975 at Dawlish; Reading platform scenes; and a ride behind Western Ambassador!
Guaranteed to bring back glorious memories from that wonderful era!
DVD RunningTime: 62 minutes (approx)
RRP: £19.95

Traction Magazine Comments:
“Holdon to your seats as we are whisked back to the sunset of a golden era when theWestern Region’s iconic diesel-hydraulics were still to be found on a varietyof duties.
Many will remember them in BR blue livery and as this thoughtfully compiledprogramme features film from the period 1974 to 1977, that is very much whatyou get. The title would amplify that fact too, whilst hinting at the sadnessthat the ‘Thousands’ were being replaced by BR
Some of the scenes here of 52s on passenger duties prove that their driverswere not going to let their steeds go out with a whimper and got the best fromtheir machines.
It is unlikely that drivers were ‘playing to the cameras’ either since much ofthe film is amateur, hand-held footage – and thank goodness for it.
We all wish we had recorded more ‘classic’ scenes at the time and without thosewho actually went out and used their precious film, archive presentations likethis would not be possible. There are also
some wonderful quality sequences which look like they could have been filmedyesterday, and put us at the lineside at locations such as Dawlish Warren as‘Westerns’ whizz by with their rakes of blue & grey coaches.
Busy scenes at Reading will have viewers looking to see if they were amongstthe platform-enders enjoying the then everyday procession of loco hauledworkings.
Westbury is another location visited, where we experience the class hard atwork on freight duties.
You can take a seat as we enjoy a run behind D1051 Western Ambassador, orthrill to the spectacle of double-headed Class 52 workings on Dainton.
Memories of their final railtours are revived and at least we now know therewas a happy ending for at least a few survivors of this Class.
Some 50 of the 74 ‘Westerns’ are to be found on this programme which provides afitting tribute to a great class of locomotive.
Following hard on the heels of Globe’s ‘Regiments & Racehorses’ tribute tothe ‘Deltics’, this is another superb archive treat – lap it up!”

Customers thoughts:
I can't begin to tell you howenjoyable it is to relive the days when trains were interesting, keep up thegreat work!
AS, Cumbria