[lesleyholly]

Originally Posted by testimonyfilms

Dear All,

I just wanted to let you all know of a new documentary that will be airing on Tuesday 6th December, 7.30 and Tuesday the 13th December, 7.30 on BBC WALES, called 'Beating Beeching'.

50 years ago almost everyone in Wales lived in sight and sound of steam trains. They were part of the fabric of everyday life. Then in the early 1960s, chairman of British Railways Dr Richard Beeching, took an axe to the rail system of Wales. Within a few years his plans for modernisation and efficiency closed hundreds of branch lines, stations and tunnels. And steam power was scrapped in favour of diesel. But Beeching had not reckoned on the passion for steam trains amongst the people of Wales.
In 1975, just 8 years after the last steam engine ran on British Rail, a group of enthusiasts started the Llangollen Railway. Other enthusiasts, like amateur cameraman Jim Clemens, kept the spirit of steam alive by filming branch lines before they closed. Much of this rare footage has never been seen on television before. By weaving it together with images from heritage railways and memories of the last heyday of steam in Wales, this is the story of a world almost lost forever to Dr Beeching.

The first episode, ‘A Passion For Steam’ (BBC WALES Tuesday 6th December 2011, 7.30pm) is a celebration of the heyday of steam in Wales, in which we use some rare colour footage, not previously seen on TV before combined with the memories of passengers and railwaymen from the golden age of steam.

Programme two, ‘Steam’s Glorious Past’ (BBC WALES Tuesday 13th December 2011, 7.30pm) features interviews with the last generation of Welsh steam railwaymen and visits the heritage railways that keep their glorious past alive.

I hope you can all watch it, it will be fantastic treat for all those who love steam railways and yearn for a return to the days when almost every town and village was served by it's own branch line.

Best wishes

will love to watch it but cannnot get bbc wales on tv will have to try it on laptop