Belbin Video - Days of Steam 2

Letters & Reviews

"Congratulations on Days of Steam Vol. 2. It's marvellous!"
Andrew Grant,
Curator of Transport
Powerhouse Museum

"Your videos are appreciated, especially by those of us who grew up while steam was still more or less in command and who dabbled in movie making."
Tony Astle

"Days of Steam 2 is great."
M. Flinders, Admin. Officer, Steamrail, Victoria

"I have both Days of Steam videos and consider them the best of my considerable library of steam videos. They give me great pleasure and I watch them frequently."
W. Callahan,
retired Vic. railwayman

"My husband is a real rail buff and worked for the railways for 42 years. You will never know the thrill Days of Steam Vol. 2 gave him."
Mrs. E. Smith, Adamstown

"Please send me
a copy of Pioneers of Film. I have enjoyed your other products Days of Steam 1 and 2 so much, I'm not going to miss out on this one."
L.M. Roberts, Cairns

"I have recently purchased two of your videos, Days of Steam 1 and 2. I have found them to be of superior quality".
R. Aicken

"It's good to see your father's excellent work in circulation."
John McKenzie

".... best we have seen covering the Short North.... particularly impressed by the way it was edited
to show the two trains (opening sequence) at various locations during their journeys.
Congratulations on a job well done."
G.J. Wilson, Wyoming

".... enjoyed the film immensely."
G. Anderson

Days of Steam 2
Final Years of Steam on NSWR

The Sydney to Newcastle section of the main northern line is known as 'The Short North' and it was on the scenic, steeply graded stretch beyond Gosford where, in the early 1970s, the steam locomotive finally bowed out of Government service.

The future of steam was well and truly decided by the end of the 1950s and, over the next decade or so, dieselization would claim most areas in New South Wales and, indeed, Australia.

The steam that remained was largely concentrated in one area and this, combined with a dramatic increase in rail traffic, provided photographers with an incredible variety of loco classes on an almost unprecedented number of trains.

Fortunately for future generations, well known artist Phil Belbin was there to capture the action with a quality 16mm movie camera loaded with Kodachrome® film. From the thrill of the 38-hauled Flyers to the spectacular introduction of double-headed Garratts, Phil shot it all with the eye of an artist.

The drama of the steam age has gone forever but, thanks to stunning images like these, we can still look back and see just how exciting it really was.

Contents Include:
BROADMEADOW :	Sunday afternoon in the Winter of 1969 and the depot is packed with locos being prepared for the coming week.
637 GOODS :	A 59 and Garratt head North with a goods as 3820 heads South from Newcastle with No. 24, morning Flyer. The two trains meet North of Teralba.
FLYER :	Extensive coverage of the 38s at work on their final express duties.
LOCAL PASSENGERS :	35s, 36s, 38s and even a 59 on 'locals'.
GARRATTS :	260-ton articulateds double-heading with various classes and the introduction of double headed Garratts. Spectacular Winter scenes of these massive locomotives.
STEAM UNDER THE WIRES :	A Garratt assisted up Cowan Bank by an original-liveried 46 Class. 5268 and 5914 bring a load North following overhaul in Sydney.
THE 59 CLASS :	Including double-headed 59s , oil burning 5916 being towed North by 6009 and 5905 on the Wyong passenger following a diesel failure.
FASSIFERN :	Comprehensive coverage of the Newstan Colliery trains. Loading, backing out to the main and the spectacular 'standing start' at the foot of the Fassifern Bank. Beautiful scenes of the very last steam hauled Newstan train struggling over the summit in late afternoon light.
TORONTO LINE :	50 Class on 'the beer train', 30s on the passengers. The very last steam-hauled local.
END OF THE 38s :	The final months of the Pacifics in regular service. The tragic demise of 3822 when it derailed and turned over at Tuggerah.
THE POPE'S VISIT :	When additional traffic required the brief return to service of a number of preserved locos.
COALROADS :	Standard goods locos on 'non-air' coalies. 6009 paralleling 4540 through Hexham. 4015, the last of its class in service.
PORT WARATAH :	The last 'all steam' depot seen just after sunrise with 50, 53, 30T and the 95-year-old 19 Class at work on the coal stage.
SINGLETON PASSENGER :	Follows the last steam hauled passenger out to Singleton and back to Newcastle. Includes a lovely scene of the old Stockton Ferries .
FINAL WITHDRAWALS :	Details the passing of the last steam locos in Government service in NSW.
*AND MORE .........* Duration : 60 min. All colour - 4:3 format Digitally mastered from 16mm Kodachrome®. Sound : Original and carefully dubbed. Professionally narrated by David Capewell.