The second of these five 100% archive film programmes takes the story of the steam locomotive in Great Britain into the cold years of the Depression.

For the railways it was a period of austerity as they tried to meet the competition of the roads. The GWR, LMS and LNER embarked on massive steam locomotive construction programmes to replace the many different types inherited in 1923, although the Southern pursued its own agenda of electrification in order to eliminate steam.

In this programme we visit familiar and not-so-familiar locations to see steam at work, from the great main lines to rural branches. Locomotives seen include: Great Western 'Halls', Panniers, Prairies, 'Kings' and 'Castles'; Southern Maunsell-designed classics; LMS 'Duchesses', 'Black 5s', 8Fs', 'Jubilees' and 'Royal Scots'; LNER Pacifics, including streamlined 'A4' Silver Jubilee.

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