This is the first of a series of five 100 per cent archive film programmes which trace the story of steam locomotives during the middle years of the 20th Century.

Our starting point is the great amalgamation, the Grouping, of the Victorian companies in 1923 to form the "Big Four" railways: the Great Western, the Southern, the London, Midland & Scottish and the London & North Eastern. Using unique archive film of the late 1920s, we first examine the stock inherited from the constituent companies.

We then look at the first new types introduced by the "Big Four". Many rare scenes are included for the first time on DVD, and locomotives shown include, along with many others, Great Western 'Dukes', 'Dean Goods', 'Aberdares', 'Counties', 'County Tanks' and 'Metro' Tanks; Southern 'Ds', 'M7s', "Lord Nelsons' and Beattie well tanks; LMS ex-LNWR 4-4-0s and 2-6-2Ts, Midland '2Ps' and ex-GSWR Baltics tanks; LNER ex-Great Central 4-6-0s, Atlantics and 'A1' Pacifics. Many pregrouping liveries are also seen.

Narrator: Ken Morgan
Producer and Director: Jeremy English
100% archive film, black & white and colour.