Steam engines being worked to their limit. Astley Green and Walkden Railway # 9

Last of the great steam railway systems in Manchester. Dramatic footage of Austerity steam engine being thrashed to the limit on the Astley Green and Walkden Railway system.

[@laszlofyre845]

I've said it before, but it stands saying again- solid gold, this. Preservation is OK, but it can't hold a candle to this. Proper steam, with its working clothes on, earning its keep. Notice the opening shot of Harry, with his 'bullshit blower' blasting away! Nice one, thanks so much for uploading. Cheers!

[@philnewstead5388]

Sadly as you say preservation can only ever give us a taste of this. Owners of the rolling stock and locos understandably want to keep them in prestige condition and modern H&S applies which means if you have a derailment as shown in this sequence the whole thing gets shut down while we have a enquiry and even on the mainline they are limited to 75 mph and don't have that workaday look that they had when in service. However all that said we should be grateful that we have so much preserved steam and that so much was saved albeit by accident and that the heritage railways which in normal times run most of the year with a published timetable. I live in France where the heritage railways which are mostly meter gauge only run on odd weekends and there is very little standard gauge steam either on heritage lines or on the mainline. So I take your point that preservation can never replicate this but let's be grateful for the amount and diversity of preserved steam we have in the UK.

[@JohnPW22]

So well captured, and in the right place at the right moment too for a derailment! Superb!

[@TheMendipman]

Nostalgia! I was working in the coal mines of the Somerset coalfield in the 1960s and this brings back many memories. Noel

[@lorrainedimmock4096]

I used to bunk off school to visit Kilmersdon, and whithrinton, all steam in 69, took a trip to the incline with Bert, great day out and that was a history lesson I will never forget..!!

[@squirrelorama]

I am so grateful that you were there to record it and here to share it with us! 🙏

[@highdownmartin]

The shunter in a suit is great A quick get away to railway club is planned!

[@DarkArtsTV]

I really appreciate your footage, I live in astley and the history of local collieries fascinate me. I would love to see more of your footage. Seen the rest of them and was super happy to see you uploaded a part 9! 😀

[@neildelaney5199]

I have only just found these little gems,, we owe you and others like you a debt of gratitude, a wonderful time vault many thanks

[@thomasselby4661]

Thank you for showing us this footage. It’s amazing to see what it looked like in those days. Thanks

[@ajaxengineco]

That NSR tank at the end was a cop & a half, especially in 1969. Great footage as always & huge thanks for recording these poignant reminders of English industrial heritage.

[@MysteryManBob]

I appreciate your choice to shoot in color for your films

[@evr4921]

I love your old footage of trains. That’s so cool to have documented history!

[@sightscreen66]

Thanks. Duly subscribed. That's a very pleasing transfer from 8mm to digital. I'd forgotten that the NCB had fitted so many of their Austerities with Giesl ejectors.

[@Hairnicks]

You have a great artistic talent in your filming, a real treasure trove of history and a joy to watch. I remember the anticipation of having films both still and moving arrive back after processing. I love our digital instant photography world now but miss that feeling of a film arriving home. I still occasionally take our a 35mm camera and have a selection of 8 and super 8mm cameras.

[@JDWorkshop-wn9tt]

Great film! Great history!

[@epj900]

Thanks ever so much for this , thank goodness you recorded it for us to see all these years later

[@stevenpeaketrainsandstuff3682]

I really enjoyed your presentation mate, thankyou for sharing this excellent footage. Seeing these engines being worked close up gives a new appreciation of the people involved. Hard yakka indeed.

[@emmascully9850]

Goodness me! thank you so much for sharing this, my dad was a deputy in Astey Green, (Ghastly Green, I seem to recall...). We lived in Abram, but, it seemed that most people either worked in the pit, Tyldsley, (Mosley Common) or Golborne or the CO-OP Glassworks... I remember the old pits, Junction in Bickershaw Lane and the endless rhythm of shunting at night. Lovely xx

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Hi Emma, I appreciate you comment. I remember going to sleep to the sound of steam engine as a kid.

[@TamesideCitizen]

Just to add to what others have already said: Absolutely brilliant footage and with such great commentary, including then and now images. You sir are star, and thank you for going to the effort of converting the footage and uploading so that we can all appreciate it.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Much appreciated!

[@barrydappleby]

I could not agree more very interesting you should make a full lengthy video

[@steveforrestsmith5982]

As always on this series a fantastic insight into the way things use to be. It’s also great to see Warrior in steam. This locomotive is owned by my local heritage line and is currently being restored. I stumbled across its old boiler in the corner of their car park with the name chalked on the side the other day. Hopefully it’ll be back in steam again soon.

[@michaelpugh2787]

Good film born in 1970 tyldesley on jig brow moved to mosley common in 72 due to the fact the jig was being demolished. Never worked down the pit myself due to the fact it was a outgoing industry at the start of my working age 1986..but my father did as did his father. Coming from Wales originally .it was all they knew. mi dad worked dow,nt nook and parsonage " and they can tell you ,describe to you this kind of life! but your film even though on the topside of the pit puts what they said into some kind of context heavy rough industry. I know these old railway paths well I ride them on my push bike, but I now look at them differently .cheers for film "good work "

[@JonWhitton]

Thanks for sharingvyour archive

[@lrmcwherter]

wow its amazing to see this old stuff

[@simmona21]

0:55 the "shunter" in the suit. That's my grandad Sidney Simmons, the last Forman of the Boothsbank tippler before closure. Perhaps his Forman status explains the suit. He did use the line to get to & from work and also later worked on it after the tippler closure.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks for the information. It's always great to identify the people in the film.

[@raztaz826]

What a neat place. There's something charming about little steam engines working hard.

[@captaindbheadcase1303]

Super film Jonathan. You can see the ring around Harrys chimney quite clearly. It released jets of steam to hide the black smoke and stop complaints. One of the wagons overran the tipplers at Boothstown and ended up in the canal. It was rescued and is now at Astley Green Colliery Museum.

[@floor993]

Amazing and wonderful images from the disappearing steam age.

[@msampson1949]

geat to see you back . films are geart reminder thanks

[@berniehayes9397]

Thank you for sharing these fantastic films, brings back lots of good memories, most of the engines I have seen, they ran at the bottom of my grandma’s garden near Dixon green sidings, an many a ride on the footplate, days I will never forget, thanks again.

[@bobbrown3141]

Probably the best footage of industrial steam I've seen. Great camera work, excellent narrative and the use of Google maps to show how it all is now is great. Thanks for uploading.

[@nicgeorgiou8054]

That could be tugboat Fred at the beginning with a 2 cylinder Gardner popping away. Would love to see any more canal footage you might have around the Astley pit.

[@spud3607]

I remember seeing the Walkden loco's working from the bus on my way to school in the early 70's . I was born just too late to see them on the mainlines.

[@Peasmouldia]

If I had had anything to do with it, that engine shed would have been a grade 1 listed building. Unfortunately, I didn't.... At least you had the sense and enthusiasm to record the remaining system for posterity. Many, many, thanks and blessings.

[@stephensmith799]

Wonderful footage😊 Diesels can't take punishment like that. One old steam driver was amazed when his 'Warship' diesel hydraulic failed due to his having spilled sugary tea on the control desk. Fitters took ages to find an electrical short. What did the crew think of the Giesel Ejector?

[@grogalot2]

Attest piece of history you have captured, thanks for sharing

[@jjskn93]

Thanks for uploading these. I find myself transposed whenever I'm watching them. So interesting.

[@mentalunicorn9567]

Thank god for people like you capturing this beautifull crazy footage that steam engine is a tank wow !! Thankyou

[@glennbyron239]

Absolutely magical footage remember those trains heading up towards Ashton field colliery in the late 60s.

[@EKSgarage]

I love the difference between our railways and the English while we have the same feeling about our steam locos being just as alive is true for both of us there’s just something a little bit more lively about a British engine just as they have their own names the seem to exhibit more personality I love it great footage cheers from across the pond

[@warrendibb394]

I've been waiting for this, great camera work......... I hope there's more of your old films to come, thank you.

[@GianUbertoLauri]

Beautiful and very interesting! Thank you!

[@perrysimpson7466]

Always look forward to your NCB videos. My dad was a fitter at Walkden yard and an uncle was a regular driver on Respite, Warspite, Renowned and North Staff no 1. Thanks again Johnathan.

[@davew9360]

Brilliant , when men knew stuff and did a proper job . all that knowledge lost for ever ! Reminds me as a child in the sixties watching coal shunting on Whitehaven docks . Firm trying to re-open coal mining in this area get knocked back by to many do-gooders !

[@steamgent4592]

Yaaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!! You're back!! Another great film. You do probably one of the best jobs I've come across at dubbing sound to old silent films! Hope all is well and you're getting to play with your steam over there. Think maybe you'll visit some preserved railways and post some videos ? I'm sure you'll be taking those in soon enough!?!? Thanks for the upload very enjoyable.👍👍👍

[@professorjamesmoriarty5191]

Such an excellent collection of videos you shot all those years ago, have you ever considered putting them all on a DVD as one long film?

[@GandyDancerProductions]

It's a thought. I have to take advice from Mr Holmes.

[@professorjamesmoriarty5191]

@@GandyDancerProductions I wouldn't, he has been at the opium again. In all seriousness if you ever decide to do that I'd happily buy a copy.

[@tobys_transport_videos]

Very well done! Your knowledge of 50+ years ago and how the area is now, is amazing! I saw your video featured on my KZbin home page and thought I'd take a look, so now I have and subscribed. I look forward to seeing more of your efforts!

[@austingurganus5816]

“As Harry was was shunting the trucks into place, the troublesome trucks begin to giggle and one knocked itself off the line. Bother said Harry, these troublesome trucks are a nuisance”

[@Philfothergill]

I am so impressed with these films. Beautifully shot, and brilliant telecine transfers from what I assume is standard 8 film. Is sound post-synched or actually recorded on location?

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

I have seriously enjoyed all your old railway movies because of just how immersive they are - The sound, the close-up views of things aside from just locomotives, and the virtuals tours of where the locations were filmed is a wonderfully complete presentation. The Astley Green series has really been a joy to watch, with all the working industrial line atmosphere. Interesting to see how quickly they rerailed that wagon - I suppose it'd be fairly common to have them jump off on rough colliery track.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Thanks for your comment.

[@Steven_Rowe]

Brilliant. Thanks for the vision you had to document it. What wonderful modelling information is in these videos. Industrial railways are so fascinating think

[@Weesel71]

A really interesting look at the way things were. Thank you for posting.

[@bobdtaylor1989]

This is amazing, not just what you captured but how you did it; it looks and sounds great. Really appreciated the narration and the modern day maps giving context

[@RiojaRoj]

Yeah, excellent ! Couldn't agree more. At 71 now, it seems like yesterday. What a valuable piece of social and idustrial history...... WoW !

[@gedhoughton9523]

I love these little Austerity tanks! Little hard workers. Brings me a bit of melancholy seeing these.

[@machiningbasics1729]

Truly sensational footage. Did you get an footage of the winding engines at the colliery ?

[@GandyDancerProductions]

I did seek into the winding engine when it was working and got a series of stills with the man operating it. He was happy to chat and shoe me how it worked but I never got his name.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Evening Buddy. Oh happy days. I’ve mentioned before that I was in a children’s home in Boothstown callAlderwood. Mosley common pit and the coal tipplers on the Bridge water canal was our playground hehe 😀 We saw a lot of the steam trains on the line and at Walkden shed when we walked up the line. I got moved to Trafford drive in Little Hulton and again played on the line that ran between the houses and to the old colliery. We sat in the demolition crane with his steel ball bashing the place to bits. We always got into trouble as we when home filthy lol 😆 Hope you’ve more of theses fantastic memories. Cheers Stevie.

[@MCW1955]

Greetings from Sacramento Ca. Another great train town. Just came across your channel. Really enjoyable, thanks. When humans can travel again, and you’re ever in Cal. Visit our train museum.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Hi Martin, I've heard great things about your museum there.

[@thomasthepaintrain8880]

this is really cool

[@Guitar6ty]

Brilliant presentation so good to hear the engines speak for themselves without cheesy music.

[@admiralcraddock464]

Amazing film. This grimy day to day activity is far more interesting than a main line loco at pulling out of a station or at speed. A lost world now, thanks for uploading it

[@stanfischer6175]

Back in the early 40's my father was "out west" in California and Arizona. He told me a story of hopping a freight with 3 big steam locomotives roaring away for all they were worth, something I was to never see........

[@looppia]

The bit were the trucks derailed reminded me of the really naughty trucks from Thomas The Tank haha. Great video from a time gone by.

[@simonmoore748]

Another great episode Jonathan. I have really enjoyed this series of videos so far. It always amazes me how this vast industries we once had have completely gone with very little trace left behind.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Hi Simon, I couldn't agree more.

[@MoleculeMind7]

The wagon sounds are taken from footage of the Bowes line

[@stephendavies6949]

I remember watching both steam & diesel locos battling with filthy, tired wagons, mainly of steel construction, but also with a few ancient wooden examples, just like in your footage, during the early 1970s at Merthyr Vale, Tower & Treharris collieries. Those little locos certainly worked hard.

[@harrypenn611]

This is priceless footage

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Did you ever capture the unique Kerr Stuart ‘Frances’ at Walkden?

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Hi James, I might have got a still of it in the scrap line but no movie. It was only worked by Austerities by the time I got there.

[@stepvanjoe3469]

Fantastic operational footage from the end of the steam era thanks for sharing this Footage I have not seen to many videos of UK steam. Amazing how much the lay of the land has changed

[@mattditchphotography5044]

Very enjoyable video!

[@dylang2975]

This is one special video. I haven't stumbled upon much home video of working steam from this late in time. I know it isn't exactly uncommon to find footage, but the way this is organized with the google maps references makes this very well done and unique.

[@Southerntrainspotter315]

Looks like me playing train sim

[@dansterland1824]

Fantastic videos love the sound of j94 loco 😀😀

[@mrmrst9020]

Brilliant footage all gone but never forgotten

[@computersfortheautisticfou9420]

for such a old video it is very clear very nice video

[@jodyreeder4820]

Love seeing locomotives from different countries.

[@saltleywsc]

Another superb video Thanks for sharing !

[@paulbissitt4754]

Just viewed this video for the the first time.What can I add? Wonderful, amazing, delightful.Thank you so much.

[@eliotreader8220]

its amazing watching these steam engines working for their living back went steam coal still being dug in Great Britain

[@eliotreader8220]

it must must have been amazing watching these steam engines working for their living back when steam coal was still being dug in Great Britain. something that will sadly end next year if any new planning permisson is not given

[@sofa_king_ay]

might be a bit of a dumb question buts why do the locos have curtains on the cab doors?

[@GandyDancerProductions]

The wind would blow unheeded across Chat Moss and into the cabs of the engines so the curtains were an attempt the protect the crew from it.

[@sofa_king_ay]

@@GandyDancerProductions cheers =)

[@marvwatkins7029]

Well done: then and now.

[@Bugster42]

very good record video with some artistic shots includedbeauty in the eye of the beholder rxcellent

[@JohnSmith-jl3fm]

Great narrating 👍👍

[@jameskarg3240]

Austerities in action :)

[@averagepokemonfan5510]

Harry, Warrior and Stanley are some dignifying names for two Hudswell Clarke locomotives, i'm thinking about writing a story about them

[@tezzrexx]

Have you dubbed the videos with custom sound or is that the actual sound recording?

[@philnewcomers9170]

thanks for your film ,im retired75 fitter/machineist i do work for4f project Barry wreck onAvon Valley Railway they have one ofthese j94s it allways seems very powerfull ttfn&tu

[@johnfox8174]

Great stuff makes you wish you had a tardis can watch this over again....thanks black 5 0....

[@alanhigson6924]

My dad drove Harry

[@chorabari]

Somehow KZbin recommended this video to me just a couple of days after I visited the Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green. Fascinating seeing how it once was!

[@TheYardLimit]

Excellant

[@colin5296]

Love the before and now format ,great work .

[@Mr_b_yorkshire_farmer]

What an absolutely fantastic bit of history! Very well put together, I am in complete ore of it all. I friend once said that movies are the only kind of time travel we have. Thank you for taking me to 1968. 👌👌👌👌👌

[@theshyguitarist]

Guy looks like a cross between Steve Martin and Andy Warhol with bigger lips and an accent. Lol.

[@billykegs8782]

Best railway film ever. Always wish I could find more photos or film of the Paddy Train for Waterloo colliery in Leeds.

[@michaelmiller641]

Wow just discovered your channel. well crafted, and presumably the sound was recorded at the time! On 8 mm!

[@Apollo_Vanron]

Fantastic film! Thank you for uploading it!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Is this original sound track?

[@DeafIaint]

Thanks for a great piece of industrial steam history. A super presentation.

[@martyn6792]

I watched this and part 10 really well filmed with great positioning

[@dustydusky8385]

What was it like Living around Steam Lovomotives ?? I feel like i missed alot compared to now

[@marionbloom1218]

Fantastic and so rare to have footage from this era with live sound. Steam buffs all owe you a great debt for capturing this! Fantastic engine the Austerity saddle tank, as evidenced by the fact they still kept building new ones through the 1950's, such was the demand. What an Austerity couldn't pull, wasn't going to be pulled. We saw then still in use when the new HAA hopper wagons came in, the latest thing for the modern merry-go-round trains in the 70's and 80's - the HAA hoppers were 47 tonnes loaded, at least 50% heavier than the old box wagons, but the Austerities still romped around with them with ease. It's nice to see a good number have been preserved, although I think not so many are active as more "main line" engines have completed restoration. My favourite place to see an Austerity working hard is at the Kent and East Sussex Railway, she makes a great bark pulling hard up the 1 in 40 of Tenterden bank with five mark one coaches! Almost like being back at "proper" work! Also your commentary is great. Marion

[@Straightcutbox]

@ Gandy Dancer Productions I fell into your videos after being gifted a book about Industrial railways in Manchester. Absolutely superb set of videos. Is the audio original? It really adds to your films. Many thanks.

[@GandyDancerProductions]

Hi, I describe the process of making these films in Railway Mania 25: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6TYqXV8qa58grs