Marsden Rail 24: Somerset and Dorset (2003)
1h 5min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Starting at Bristol, the programme travels to Bath, the northern terminus of the 72-mile former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway. After views at Bath Spa and Green Park Stations, and the locomotive depot, the line south to Evercreech is followed, and from here the route to Glastonbury and Highbridge is traced, plus views at Wells and Witham. Rejoining the main line, Templecombe Junction follows, where the S&D passed under the LSWR London to Exeter route, and the complex everyday shunting movements between the Upper and Lower Stations are shown. Following the line south, scenes at Poole, Parkstone and Branksome precede arrival at Bournemouth, and here, film of the West and Central Stations, together with the former L&SWR loco depot is complimented by street views that show the once-extensive trolleybus system. 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 steam's 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 this superb range of railway videos detailing the last decade of British mainline steam operations. - Genres:
- Documentary, Special Interest