This DVD follows the steam locomotive King Edward I. According to the sleeve notes, the DVD is the most comprehensive ever coverage of a steam rail journey, because of the amazing number of lineside locations employed in the filming of the journey. A staggering total of 50 individual camera locations! Not to mention the hours and hours that were recorded on the train itself and helicopter-based camera crews, too.
The DVD is produced by Green Umbrella and has exactly the same rigorous and sympathetic production values as the other videos in the series Classic Steam Trains. (Please see my other review for those comments.)
In June 1999 the Great Western Locomotive, 6024 King Edward I was deployed to take a special rail tour from London to Bristol and then back as far as Didcot. Due to having to keep to a relatively high speed to keep up with the HST schedules, it would prove to be a very tough test for a locomotive that was 70 years old. Especially seeing as she was hauling a train weighing an impressive 500 tons plus! For the rail tour 6204 wore the headboard of the "Bristolian" service of many years ago.
As well as the 'usual' footage that makes up this fantastic series, there are some exciting and dramatic commentary as the locomotive makes the terrible climb through the Box tunnel, the doom of many locomotives who tried to make it through the tunnel, but could not do so.
Watching the searing glow from the firebox as the fireman methodically shovels one load of coal after another (with a colleague manually opening and closing the firedoor with methodical precision) was, for me, although an incidental point in the programme, what it was all about.
The crew on the locomotive was made up of members of the 6204 Preservation Society, plus six railcrew provided by the EWS company. Also, there were members of the paying public who enjoyed their journey in luxurious style. Damn! They knew how to travel in those days!
The journey was dramatic , as it took in all types of weather from blue skies and sun to "violent" thunderstorms. As the commenter said: "It's often said that a steam tour is not so much a journey as an adventure. And this was one adventure that would long be remembered by those that rode with the King."
The programme also shows the detailed and dedicated work that goes in (all done by volunteers) to prepare the locomotive for each journey. It's not an easy job. For example, there are "about 250 lubrication points" on the locomotive, all of which need to be lubricated. 100 of these are special oil pots with corks that have to be removed and replaced after oiling.
The paintwork gleams like a mirror and the volunteers feel privileged to be allowed to volunteer their time to clean the locomotive! Apparently, it gets you like that…
The description of the different parts of the locomotive is perhaps for techies only, but enjoyable for the sheer pleasure that the volunteers show in describing it.
There are some interesting moments in the programme. The moment when you see the train steaming at full pelt with the helicopter seemingly suspended in mid air as it follows the train for the aerial shots.
Although this programme was about the Bristolian trip, there's also other footage of the locomotive at work, including a very dramatic section of King Edward I working very hard on the notoriously difficult Settle to Carlisle line. According to the commentary: "this is the very limit for sustainable boiler output."
There are excellent footplate interviews whilst the locomotive is powering through the West of England countryside.
This is another "must have" and in best Little Britain tradition I am sure many railway fans will point at this DVD and say: "I want that one!"
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