Description

This is the first volume in a brand new series of programmes featuring original films from the exciting Fastline collection. While the steam trains naturally tend to take the spot light, this unusual new series gives you the chance to see exactly what the permanent way engineers did behind the scenes.

Thanks to the foresight of Andrew Dow the wonderful collection of original films and photographs of the LNER are now available for the delight of Railfans. Today’s Fastline Collection is a unique reference source of both stills and films created originally by the Photographic Unit of the Chief Civil Engineer of the LNER in York, and his successors on British Railways.

The Unit was the last railway-owned photographic team and became part of Fastline Track Renewals at Privatisation, within Andrew Dow’s responsibilities. The Unit was sold to Andrew Dow and Richard Hall by Jarvis in 2000. It is now an independent company and is the nation’s only specialist infrastructure photographic company.

Volume 1 includes:

– Limestone Quarrying at Hulands North Yorkshire

– Ballast production from iron furnace slag at Lackenby

– Badly packed rail joints

– Maintenance of the main line

– Sleeper treatment and preparation at Hartlepool sleeper depot

– Relaying track panels by steam crane

– The new Matisa tamper, 1947

– Dismantling old track

– The spectacular testing of concrete sleepers to destruction by derailment at Ingrow.