The Cambrian Coast Express (CCE) ran between London Paddington and Aberystwyth via Shrewsbury. Here the heavy ex-Great Western Railway four-cylinder 'Castle' and 'King' class 4-6-0s were detached and replaced by light two-cylinder 'Manor' class 4-6-0s, which had been designed c.1937 specifically for service over the former Cambrian Railways main line. The film was made during the last summer of steam working throughout (1962), although Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth...

The Cambrian Coast Express (CCE) ran between London Paddington and Aberystwyth via Shrewsbury. Here the heavy ex-Great Western Railway four-cylinder 'Castle' and 'King' class 4-6-0s were detached and replaced by light two-cylinder 'Manor' class 4-6-0s, which had been designed c.1937 specifically for service over the former Cambrian Railways main line. The film was made during the last summer of steam working throughout (1962), although Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth continued to be steam worked for two more years. The film opens people walking out of the station and a close up of the smokebox and double chimney of a 'Castle' class 4-6-0, actually No.7002 Devizes Castle, carrying the CCE headboard. Inside Paddington Station, one of the recently introduced 'Western' class C-C diesel hydraulic locomotives is visible. There is a display showing proposed new approaches to Paddington Station, although this did not eventuate, and passengers are seen seated awaiting their trains. There is a close up of the cab of No.7002, then the side of the locomotive along to the smokebox. The CCE headboard is seen being put in place. The blower is turned on, and there is another view along the engine, which then sets off, visibly slipping as it does so. The carriages are British Railways Mk1s. The leading vehicle is in crimson, but the rest are in Western Region/GWR brown and cream livery, and they carry Paddington-Aberystwyth carriage boards. A station light indicates the location is now Banbury. A single chimney 'Castle', No.7017 G J Churchward, enters, the leading coach being non-corridor. An unidentified 'Hall' class 4-6-0 approaches at speed pouring out black smoke. Also from a footbridge a 'King' is seen approaching also hauling the CCE. At the Shrewsbury Station, the very clean ex-GWR 'Manor' class 4-6-0 No.7803 Barcote Manor, stands waiting. There is a close up of the front end with CCE headboard in place. The driver 'oils round' in time honoured fashion and then climbs into the cab. There is a close up of a connecting rod and then crosshead. The fireman breaks up large pieces of coal at the front of the tender, and a 'King' can be seen entering the station with an ex-GWR Hawksworth coach in crimson and cream behind its tender. No.7803 begins to reverse and is seen passing tender first over the crossing, while in the background a train including three white milk tank wagons is passing. An unidentified double-chimney 'Castle' enters the station with an ex-LNER Gresley composite carriage behind the tender. No.7803 backs up with Shrewsbury Abbey visible in the background. Shrewsbury had a particularly large signal box which dominated the approaches, and there is an interior view showing the extremely long lever frame. Three levers are seen being pulled by the signalman. No.7803 and train departs for Aberystwyth, passing a very clean ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0 with a train for Crewe at an adjacent platform. Here many passangers disembark the train and walk along the platform. A sign at the GWR-style station sign at Moat Lane Junction reads: (change for Llandiloes, Rhyader, Builth Wells, Brecon & Central Wales). From a footbridge No.7803 approaches and passes and stops. The train is next seen entering Machynlleth, where there is a close up of the more recent British Railways 'sausage' totem in WR colours. Also in the station ex-GWR 2-6-0 No.7313 works a passenger train while two sheep wander on the tracks dangerously close by. The safety valves of BR Standard Class 3MT 2-6-2 No.82033 blow off furiously, before this engine and its train are seen approaching Aberystwyth past the golf links. The No.7823 Hook Norton Manor enters with very clean BR Mk1 stock, the first three vehicles in brown and cream. Passengers are seen walking down the platform with the Paddington-Aberystwyth carriage boards above their heads. The film closes with No.7823 reversing. END Historical Notes: Quite apart from the impending change in motive power, all thirty 'Kings' were retired during 1962. This film caught other details soon to disappear. Soon afterwards, c.1963, there was a concerted purge to withdraw pre-1948 carriage designs from service. There still remained 'colour-coded' regional identity, almost a throwback to pre-nationalisation, but in 1965 the BR 'Corporate Image' was introduced. This including a new all-BR blue and grey carriage livery, and the old GWR cream and brown carriage livery re-introduced from c.1956 on the Western Region quickly disappeared. The year 1962 thus represented something of a 'cusp' between the old order and the already rapidly encroaching modernisation and still approaching 'Beeching' eras.