The last years of steam on British Railways have been well documented, particularly in photographs. During that time moving picture recordings were rare, with only the most dedicated enthusiasts being able to afford the use of cine film.

Geoff Holyoake was among that number, and this DVD features some of the most evocative sequences he captured.

Geoff’s home was near the South Western Main Line of the Southern Region in the 1960s and he recorded the last days of steam on what was to become the last steam main line of all, filming the King Arthurs, Charlies and Bulleid Pacifics as well as some of the final examples of the pre-grouping engines that worked there.

This is his record of his own favourite railway in the Sixties - the South Western lines.

Geoff Holyoake is a legend among railway enthusiasts. He was one of the small elite who used 16mm film rather than 8mm, producing films for commercial sale under the Meteor Films banner. His passion, skill and determination to capture the age of steam on film before it was too late ensured that, today, we have an incredible archive of footage showing the great locomotives, the historic lines and the beginning of the preservation movement.