This is contrasted with coal movement and loading today, with semi- trailers along Springs Road and the Glenlea coal loader, complete with a loaded coal train of 75 tonne hoppers under the loading bin.
Public passenger transport is covered next, with brief views of today's buses, the bus introduced in 1961 in competition with the train, followed by a typical passenger train towards the end of the era of the Camden line, namely a 30 class 4-6-4 tank loco hauling a single, usually empty, CCA coach.
The video next takes us further back in time to 1954, when 20 class 2-6-4 tank engines were the standard motive power. We see coal trains, and passenger trains including the "Railfans Mecca" of a pair of 20 class locos, 8 cars and another 20 pushing on the rear, making up one of the famous "Via Crucis" specials to Maryfields. The period from 1960 to the end of the Camden line is covered next with regular passenger, coal, goods, milk tank, and various combinations of these, hauled by 30 class locos, either single or double headed, a work train doing track repair including restoration of flood damage near Camden, plus a Via Crucis special powered by a 41 class diesel on the front, and a 30 class on the rear.
The video concludes with a look over sections of weed covered track soon after closure of the line, followed by a re-visit in 1989, to cover what remains of the line that opened up the Camden area.
Mostly in colour, 10 minutes of black & white. Sound was all recorded on the Camden line using a full size reel to reel 1/4 inch tape recorder, and where applicable, was carefully matched with the picture during editing. In addition, where possible, sound has been added to the silent film by choosing sound from a similar train on the line under similar conditions. The original film is standard 8mm, super 8mm and 9.5mm, professionally trans. & edited on Umatic. Please note that it is nearly all from old film.
Approximate run time: 60 minutes.