Featuring Destiny of Steam & Steam Returns to the Hunter Valley
Destiny of Steam features South Maitland Railways (SMR) who retained steam as their motive power long after other Australian railways had switched to diesel power.
This is a film with a quite different approach from most other railfan videos. While there is plenty of action, mostly with true ambient sound, the dialogue is presented by employees (driver, fireman, signalman, supervisor), telling their stories first hand of their lives on the railway (what fascinating stories they are), over a visual background of the ever busy locos on passing coal trains.
The locos featured in the film are the 10 class 2-8-2 tank engines, and these are superbly captured in glorious colour on 16mm film in a truly professional presentation.
The period covered is that when the 4 wheel wooden non-air braked wagons were giving way to government steel bogie wagons, and there was much speculation as to the future of SMR.
Filmed on 16mm Colour Cine Film. (Circa early 1980s)
Steam Returns to the Hunter Valley opens with a brace of four 48 class SRA diesels on a heavy coal train crossing the bridge at Abermain on South Maitland Railways Pty Ltd tracks in February 1990. The next scene shows a S.M.R.10 class 2-8-2 tank loco on a string of 4 wheel hoppers at the same place in 1968.
Continuing with the scene IN 1990 we see 10 class No 24 in action on trackage relaid by the Richmond Vale Railway Museum at their site near Kurri Kurri, N.S.W. with the loco being prepared and raising steam for the day's work. We take a ride, with an upfront view of the track ahead, followed by lineside views of 24 on several trips.
The new railway site is the old Richmond Main Colliery, and a look at the historic buildings is followed by detailed coverage of their blacksmith manufacturing firebox stays, a true craftsman working in a spectacular display of red-hot metal and a traditional forge albeit brought up to date with a compressed air hammer and an electric blower. The workshop is kept traditional as much as possible, with line shafting and flat belt drive to the power hacksaw.
The presentation continues with a brief look at the older buildings on site, followed by shunting moves using former BHP diesel 42, pacing 10 class 2-8-2 No 25.
The concluding scenes are of Marjorie, a Clyde built 0-4-0, with a cab ride, views of the running gear, and a "shunters platform" ride to the loco yard, with Marjorie proceeding into the restored engine shed.
Filmed on Betacam in 1990 and includes some 16mm Cine Film from 1968.
TWIN DVD BOX
Approximate run time: 100 minutes.