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Days of Steam
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PAL
60 mins.
Letters & Reviews
Table of Contents


Days of Steam
NSW Railways 1949-1970



Steam trains are a lifelong interest to many people and the Belbin family are renowned throughout Australia as dedicated enthusiasts.

It was 1949 when Phil Belbin and his wife, Cecily, decided to commit to film some of the workings on NSW railways.  Roundtop 36s, green 38s, Cowan Bank, 5711 and even the 1954 Royal Train were faithfully recorded for posterity, all in colour.

Upgrading from 8mm to 16mm in 1960, Phil and his two sons, Bruce and Graeme, set out to capture as much as possible of the final decade of steam.  Armed with cameras and tape recorder, they covered many spectacular locations from Tumulla Bank and Hawkmount to the Camden Line.

This program is a compilation of some of the Belbins' important archival footage and is a unique documentary of an age that, sadly, has gone forever.

 


Contents Include:
COWAN BANK :
Double-headed goods and passenger trains.
THE 1954 ROYAL TRAIN :
Green pilot 3808 and blue 4001+4002.
HORNSBY to MT.KURINGAI :
In pre-electrification days.
THE NEWCASTLE FLYER :
Action shots of the famous 38 Class Pacifics and a rare footage of 3641 and 3526 on an immaculate 'HUB' set.
HAWKMOUNT :
A variety of trains, including double 38s, battling the 1-in-40s.
ENFIELD :
The scraproad in 1962 shows a wide variety of locos, including 12, 13, 17, 18, 24, 25, 34, 57 and 58 Classes. A great sequence of 1022
struggling to haul 5711 onto the turntable outside No.3 shed.
RASPBERRY GULLY LINE :
A rare shot of 2553 working the long-extinct colliery line near Adamstown.
5711 :
Extensive coverage of the giant 4-8-2 working south from Goulburn in the Winter of 1960.
CAMDEN LINE :
Rare 16mm footage of double 30 Class working this remarkable branch line, including the
1-in-19 Kenny Hill.  Also shows the "last train" with three 20 Class locos.
SHORT SOUTH :
Good variety of workings including a 32 and 53 double heading 335 Goods from Picton.  Last of the 38-hauled Passengers.
MACDONALDTOWN :
 3107 slipping uncontrollably while shunting.

THE WEST :

 Double 19s on the last steam train to Oberon, in 1963.  The Bathurst Sesqui-Centenary vintage train from Lithgow to Bathurst behind red 1709 and 1243, including a fascinating cab-ride on the 17.
RAGLAN BANK :
 32+36, 38, 53, Garratt, etc. battle the grade East of Bathurst.  Includes a cab-ride on a 53 banking a 36.
TUMULLA BANK :
 Large selection of trains including 36s, 53s, Garratts, 6041 almost stalling at the top of the grade.  Double 38s on the Central West Express.  Cab-ride on 3620 banking two classmates up the hill.  Beautiful Winter scenes of the last 36 on the West.
ORANGE - MOLONG :
 Spectacular Winter scenes.  A lengthy sequence showing the first workings of double-headed Garratts in NSW on W44 ore train, including a cab-ride from Molong.

AND MORE .........

Duration : 60 min.
All colour - 4:3 format
Digitally mastered from 8mm and 16mm Kodachrome®.
Sound : Original and carefully dubbed.
Professionally narrated by Paul Ricketts.

©Belbin Video Pty Ltd - ABN 54 085 323 351
 


Letters & Reviews

At long last the trains themselves have become the subject matter. With sound track to match and intelligent commentary, I feel it is the best so far".
M.Morahan OAM., Magistrate

"The selection of images and the transfer to video are excellent, the narration is warm and informs the audience without annoyance and the music sets a sympathetic background to the majesty of steam".
Craig Mackey
BE BSc Grad IE Aust.

"Days of Steam is excellent. I would like to congratulate you on your fine
research"
J. Commisso, Victoria

"An excellent video".
J. Blon

"I met Phil many times when I was a fireman at Gosford. Really enjoyed the video - great!"
W. Cleary

"A short note to let you know how much I enjoyed the Belbin video production. 
Great stuff!"
B Page, Qld.