Description

When British Rail finally abandoned wagon load traffic, and appeared to put every obstacle in the path of any company who actually wanted to continue using their rail freight services, it seemed inconceivable that any form of rail freight renaissance could ever take place – and yet that is exactly what has happened!

The first years under English Welsh and Scottish Railway’s ownership has already seen the biggest investment programme ever to benefit the UK rail freight scene, with huge orders for rolling stock and locos being placed, and well planned new wagon load services already being extended. Each splendidly photographed regional volume features superb line side action from across the entire current rail freight spectrum including freight only branch lines, Enterprise and bulk flow services.

There’s also the unique opportunity to go ‘behind’ the scenes’ and visit customers’ premises to see wagons being unloaded and shunted. Supported by an informative and interesting script from the acknowledged rail freight expert Paul Shannon, Rail Freight Focus is the complete and definitive guide to all rail freight operations today!

Filmed in the late 1990s

Volume 1 – Scotland

Ayrshire coal – action at Knockshinnoch, Hunterston, and on the Chalmerston & Killoch branches. Also a look at the short term gypsum workings from Hunterston low level.
West Coast Main Line traffic flows – plenty of scenic action, plus a visit to busy Mossend yard, and the Euro terminal to see the new parcel force wagons being unloaded.
West Highland Line – lots of lineside action along one of Scotland’s most beautiful railway lines including Enterprise and wagon load services, plus site visits to Alcan, Arjo Wiggins to see wagons being loaded on site. Also a look at Taynuilt & Crianlarich timber loading points.
Grangemouth oil and container traffic
Highland Main Line traffic including timber at Birnam & Dunkeld.
Plus the Aberdeen Enterprise services, grain to Roseisle, & wood from Elgin.
Other features include coal to Longannet & Cockenzie, also waste traffic to Oxwellmains & a visit to see cement being unloaded at Viewpark.
Created by the same team that made the incredibly popular Rail Freight Today series – it’s your guarantee of exceptional quality.

Volume 2  North West England

The North Western corner of England featured in this programme is home to some of the most scenic railway lines in the UK. With the rail freight scene changing so rapidly as traffics expand and the EWS fleet is quickly updated this is an essential guide to all the most interesting rail freight movements in the North West. Features include:-
The Settle & Carlisle line , coal and gypsum traffic on the move, plus a visit to the gypsum works at Kirkby Thore.
Castle Cement at Clitheroe – although cement is not currently sent out by rail – there’s a regular flow of coal into the plant.
WCML traffics including Hardendale lime, coal, intermodal, Freightliner & Enterprise flows.
The Peak Forest area – lots to see here with plenty of aggregate traffics on the move.
The Warrington area – Enterprise trips to Dee Marsh, Dowlow and Middlewich, also coal to Fiddlers Ferry. O’Conners Container Terminal – a new freight customer.
Manchester – waste traffic from Bredbury & Northenden, and cement from Northenden. Heysham branch nuclear traffic – irradiated fuel from Heysham power station, and acid to Sandbach. Operated by DRS this is one of the few traffics not to be handled by EWS!
Enterprise services to Workington Docks – another new regular EWS flow.

Locos classes featured:- 08,20,37,56,60,86,90 & 92

Volume 3  South Wales & the West Country

South Wales Steel traffic: including a last look at the iron ore trains from Port Talbot to Llanwern and the Ebbw Vale branch. Also flows from Trostre.
Coal Traffic: Onllwyn, Tower, Aberthaw Power Station and a visit to Fifoots Point Power Station. Plus Avonmouth import terminal. Enterprise services in South Wales, including Cadoxton and Swansea trips and trunk service to Wembley. Gritstone from Cwmbargoed.
Oil traffic on the Westerleigh branch. Royal mail services. Freightliner flows.
NW 66s on services from Wentloog Freightliner terminal and on the Calvert-bath-Bristol waste train.
China clay services, including the Fowey branch and the Parkandillack line. Also a visit to Imerys site at Rocks on the Newquay branch, as well as the Cliffe Vale service.
Cement traffic to Moorswater.

Volume 4 The North East

Freightliner Heavy Haul activity at Dewsbury, A visit to Rexam Glass on the Monk Bretton branch.
Roxby rubbish flows A close look at traffic around Immingham and Scunthorpe featuring iron ore, steel, coal, oil, and paper traffics.
Potter Group railhead at Selby – one of the fastest growing rail freight terminals in the country. Traffics include the new Medite trains operated by GB Rail Freight, plus EWS Enterprise and aggregate flows.
Drax power station; behind the scenes to see EWS and Freightliner coal flows.
The scenic Boulby branch with its’ heavy potash trains.
Traffic around Lackenby including Freightliner services to Wilton.
Direct Rail Services nuclear traffic from Seaton-on-Tees.
Tyne yard traffic including oil from Jarrow and Royal Mail services. Alumina from North Blyth and coal from Butterwell.
Enterprise services including:- Hull, Wakefield and Tees Dock.
Loco classes:- 08, 20, 37, 56, 60, 66, 67.