This film by railway enthusiast and filmmaker Chris Lawson records steam engine traffic on the railways of North East England in the 1960's. The film captures what would have been a decline in the use of steam engines on the railways particularly with regards to passenger services. The film begins with a steam passenger train crossing the King Edward VII bridge, in Newcastle upon Tyne. The film cuts to a diesel engine as it hauls a passenger train slowly past concrete tower blocks. The...

This film by railway enthusiast and filmmaker Chris Lawson records steam engine traffic on the railways of North East England in the 1960's. The film captures what would have been a decline in the use of steam engines on the railways particularly with regards to passenger services. The film begins with a steam passenger train crossing the King Edward VII bridge, in Newcastle upon Tyne. The film cuts to a diesel engine as it hauls a passenger train slowly past concrete tower blocks. The film cuts to a view from a Newcastle station platform as a steam train 'Alberta' passes through on another platform and heads off towards the setting sun. Dark footage follows as a steam engine moves past in reverse pulling coal (?) wagons, the engine is a K1 Gresley (Peppercorn) 2-6-0. Next a high angle view looking down onto the complex rail crosssing just outside of the central station as a DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) sets out on its journey.  The film cuts to the engine going past a signal box. Another view shows a diesel engine  moving away from the camera with a single carriage. There follows a trackside view of an oncoming steam train, which is an A4 Pacific 4498(?) Sir Nigel Gresley. The film continues in open country as the same train speeds past. A trackside shot near a curve in a cutting shows the train as it carries on past a forest in the distance. Cut to another trackside view as the train passes a mass of enthusiasts next to a fence by the railway. Another cut showing the steam engine 'Alberta' coming under a bridge pulling a passenger train.  It passes a reversing B1 class Thompson 4-6-0 pulling a set of carriages. The next shot in strong evening sunshine shows Alberta reversing pulling carriages. Next a view of a small brick building on which is written 'Gosforth East Substation' The camera pans left to show a signal box nearby. The film cuts to a steam engine speeding along an embankment in open country. Next a newspaper showing a photograph of Princess Anne at a ship launch. A pocket watch is placed  above the picture on the newspaper. A brief view follows of a green steam engine, before cutting to a night scene at a Newcastle station (?) The film is quite dark, but flash photo's are taken from the platform. A reversing steam engine pulls a few goods wagons. The engine is no. 43071(?) 4F-A Ivatt 2-6-0. Cut to the famous 'diamond' rail interchange just outside the central station at Newcastle. A steam goods train comes off the diamond and goes across the High level Bridge. Traffic crosses the Scotswood suspension bridge as men appear to be working on the bridge deck, no doubt preparing the way for the bridges replacement which was built around this time. The camera pans left to what looks like a construction site on the river bank, presumably connected with building a new bridge. Views follow of traffic going over the bridge. The film cuts to a winter scene and a lone steam engine, reversing in a marshalling yard. Cut to another steam engine pulling goods wagons. A country scene in winter follows, minus the snow. A large steam engine speeds along an embankment, without a train, the camera follows its progress into the distance. The camera picks out another train coming from the opposite direction.  A view from a bridge as a steam engine no. 44997 a Black Stanier 4-6-0 goes past. The film cuts to a stationary A4 Pacific at a station platform. The engine is 60009 'Union of South Afrca'. No train is attached in this view. The view changes to a platform level view of the front of the engine. Then to a side on view with the camera panning right to left. A platform view from suburban station, shows a double header steam train coming through. The second steam engine, behind the pilot engine is the 'Union of South Africa' The film cuts to a solitary engine travelling at speed along an embankment, the camera tracks it as it speeds into the distance. The film ends with a longer distance shot of the same engine (a little out of focus) on the same embankment (?)