The Strawberry Line Miniature Railway operates within the grounds of the Avon Valley Adventure Park at Keynsham, between Bristol and Bath in SW England. In this programme we will be showing what is involved in operating a commerical 5 inch ground level line and what goes on "behind the scenes".

Disc One: Introduction to The Strawberry Line followed by a morning briefing by Mike Bass to the members, then all the rolling stock comes out of the sheds. Dave Bateman gives us a track walk and explains why it is necessary. Ian Hunter takes us behind the scenes and shows us how to apply transfers to a new loco, then Richard Clayton allows access to the Workshops where he starts turning some new axles. Bob Vine restores some damaged trucks, then there is a full tour of the entire line behind a Class 40 locomotive. Jenny Timms shows off her gardening skills, Richard Clayton and Dave Pinch ballast some track, whilst Junior member, Daniel Timms talks about the benefits of being a member here. Ian Hunter gets to the bottom of some signalling issues and explains how the system works and finally Richard Clayton and Ian Hunter replace some worn out sleepers in the sidings. Once the visitors have left all the stock is put away, ready for another running day. Total running time 54 minutes.

Disc Two: Ken Parsons shows how to completely rewire a Class 33 Locomotive and junior member, Jack Stenner takes a goods train around the circuit and does some shunting in the yard. Total running time 29 minutes

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The Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia is a working, living museum for the logging railroads, the state once having over 3000 miles of logging lines. Sadly they are all gone now, except for this 11 mile (18kms) line between Cass and the mountain summit at Bald Knob, the second highest mountain in West Virginia (4,842 feet). The views on a clear day are of the Virginia border, some 20 miles away, although this logging line never carried passengers. Its sole purpose was to bring the logs off the mountain to the mill at Cass, as quickly and as cheaply as possible.

Disc One: Introduction to the town of Cass, plus a detailed look at the Shay locomotives. A workshop tour is also included, featuring both Shay #5 and the Western Maryland shay #6. The main feature of this film is the trip to the summit. We have captured various camera angles, including cab rides, front and rear shots, run bys and old still photographs. A stop at Whittaker allows us a detailed look at a loggers camp and shows Shay #11 being oiled round. Then we continue up the mountain, stopping at Oats Run for water and then on to the summit at Bald Knob. Total Running Time 56 minutes.

Disc Two: We head up to Bald Knob again but with the film increased to 4 times normal speed. The front view of the journey is captured on the first section to the lower switchback. This is followed by a reverse view up to the upper switchback before a return to the front view for the remaining climb to the summit. Again cab shots are included. On the return trip enjoy some traditional " Blue Grass" music. Bonus footage includes Shay #4 hauling the Whittaker train, plus shunting in the yard at Cass and deleted scenes showing Shay #2 climbing the bank to the second switchback.
Total Running Time 59 minutes.

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This Railway line is a master piece of Victorian engineering constructed deep in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. The Zig-Zag Railway lies 150Km west of Sydney, 10Km to the north of the region's main town of Lithgow. The original line was built between 1866 and 1869 as part of the western main line from Sydney to Bathurst. Produce was carried on the railway from the prosperous farming areas beyond the Blue Mountains to Sydney, the line also allowing the development of coal and iron ore deposits in the Lithgow Valley. Amazingly this section of the line lay silent for over sixty years, a group of rail enthusiasts getting steam up and running once again over the famous Zig-Zag in 1975.

Disc One: Introduction to Sydney and a brief look at the double decker suburban trains, before heading to the Blue Mountains. The Zig-Zag Railway is covered in detail. All the Stations and Signal Boxes are shown. The motive power is provided by No.1072, "City of Lithgow" a 4-6-2 Pacific which was built in 1956. Total Running Time 60 Minutes

Disc Two: A Cab ride over the entire 8Km of the line ( speeded up)with an additional cab ride over 1km of the new 3km extension currently under construction to Newnes Junction. Includes a detailed tour of the Engine Shed and Workshops at Bottom Points. Deleted scenes show No.934, a 4-8-0 in action at Bottom Points Station. Total Running Time 33 Minutes

This line may be one of the shortest preserved railway journeys in Australia, but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in its innovative engineering.

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The original Puffing Billy Railway was one of four low-cost, narrow gauge lines constructed around 1900 to open up remote areas of Victoria for settlement. Narrow gauge lines were relatively cheap to build and were more suited to the rugged terrain. During the hayday of operations there were over 200Km of track on these 4 regional lines.

Disc One: Introduction to Melbourne and the State of Victoria, featuring Flinders Street Station and the electric trains. The steaming of the engines at Belgrave. Double- header to Lakeside and onward to Gembrook, featuring interviews, cab ride and historic black and white photographs of the line.
Total Running Time 59 Minutes.

Disc Two: The return journey back to Belgrave, including the history of the line. Deleted scenes of engine 14A at Belgrave and bonus footage of engine 6A originally used in the opening black and white title sequence. Total Running Time 54 Minutes.

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The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, (pronounced Oat-tar-nee-qua Chew Chew) is the last remaining scheduled steam service still operating in South Africa, connecting the towns of George and Knysna on the country's Western Cape. Unfortunately, due to poor track maintenance and a landslide, the motive power has been replaced by a diesel and the journey reduced by a third of it's usual running length - the service now terminating at the seaside resort of Wilderness. The full service runs for sixty eight kilometers along the coast in an area known locally as the " Garden Route". The journey takes two hours in each direction.

The Class 32 Diesel locomotive, number 32029, was built by the General Electric Company of the USA in 1959. It provides the motive power until the track can be fully upgraded to allow the Class 19D's steam locomotives to again run on this line.

Total Running Time 59 Minutes.

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The North Borneo Railway was built by the British in 1896 and keeps alive the traditions of the white Rajah's once ruling over this land. The wild jungles provided grounds for great adventure whilst offering potential riches for plantation owners. As the need for larger plantations grew, the question of transportation became a major issue for these young entrepreneurs.

A Railway was proposed straight into the heart of Borneo and largely considered to be the only viable solution. It provided a relatively cheap and time saving option for the transportation of the produce to the coast. At the ports of Jessleton and Weston, The British East Indian Shipping Company could export the produce on board their Europe bound cargo ships.

The North Borneo Railway is transporting once again, although this time the cargo is of vistors - all keen to discover just what travelling in a by-gone age was like. Today this journey travels the 66Km from Kota Kinabula south to the small town of Papar. On route there is a short stop to view a Chinese temple and on the return the delights of a Tiffin lunch. The ride is behind a Vulcan Steam locomotive - built in Newton-le-Willows England in 1954 as part of the last order of steam engines before the factory converted to diesel.

Total Running Time 59 Minutes.

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The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway is perhaps America's most authentic steam line. Relive the excitement of twisting and turning through the beautiful San Juan Mountains on the tracks that tamed the West, crossing the Colorado - New Mexico Border eleven times. Count the turns as you look down from Windy Point, up to the spires of Phantom Curve, or into the depths of the Toltec Gorge. This 3ft.narrow gauge railway was built more then 120 years ago with very little changing since.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway is jointly owned by the States of New Mexico and Colorado. This 64 mile line connects Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado via the 10,015ft Cumbres Pass and is an archetypal remnant of the Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge railway system once stretching hundreds of miles through the Rocky Mountains. It is operated as a living history museum, the trains running from mid June until the end of October. We've captured a moment in time from a bygone era when travel was an adventure. An incredibly moving environment, let us share it with you as we steam to the summit through the showers.

Total Running Time 55 Minutes.

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The Durango & Silverton Railway was originally part of The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. It ran from Denver in the North, South to the Rio- Grande and West to Salt Lake City. This is the same branch line that connected Antonito and Chama, but unfortunately, the section between Chama and Durango was axed in 1968, cutting the two most scenic sections of the route.

The railway arrived in Durango on August 5th 1881, construction on the line to Silverton beginning in the autumn of the same year. By July 1882, amazingly only 11 months after construction began, the tracks to Silverton were completed, allowing the train to begin hauling freight and passengers over the 45 miles. The line was constructed to haul silver and gold ore from the San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realised it was the view that was truly precious.

Travel the route that visionaries and miners carved out through the Rocky Mountains, ride high above the rushing Animas river. It is more than just a train ride, it's a step back through time and history. Relive the sights and sounds of yesteryear on a spectacular journey on vintage rolling stock, hauled by locomotives built over 100 years ago.

Total Running Time 58 Minutes.

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The Verde Canyon Railway in Arizona was built in 1911, to standard gauge, to haul the mined ore from Jerome 40 mile north to Drake. Once there and on the main line it could be transported easily to anywhere within the United States. This freight only line has changed very little since it was built, cutting through a vast wilderness area to connect with the various isolated ranches. Until the railroad they were only reached with mule trains and pack horses. Today the only way to view this magnificent masterpiece of engineering is from the train.

This film was shot entirely onboard, with the scenery taking top billing.The journey takes you into the wilderness as it follows the Upper Verde River, over bridges, through inner canyons and a 680 feet tunnel before arriving at the old Perkins Ranch. Ride behind a pair of diesel engines built in the 1950s and in carriages that were once part of the El Capitan trains that linked the cities of Los Angles and Chicago.

In an age dominated by speed, this train never goes more than 15 miles per hour, allowing optimum viewing of this vast, almost forgotten canyon.

Total Running Time 58 Minutes.

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This magnificent 10 1/4 inch railway line runs within the grounds of Drummond Randalls estate in Kent.The track length is approximatley a mile long, passing a viaduct and tunnel (the longest on any private railway) before reaching one of the two stations on the line.

Featued engines are a Schools class 4-4-0 Tonbridge and a Terrier 0-6-0 Crowborough. Other loco's in service were John Terence and Dunalastair. There are also pictures from the 1983 tunnel construction. This railway opens to the public in aid of charity- for opening details please contact the Birchley Railway (webpage www.birchleyrailway.com )

Total Running Time 30 Minutes. Non-Narrated.

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This private 10 1/4 inch line is seldom opened to the public. It runs for 3/4 of a mile within the grounds of a private school in Sussex. This film shows the steaming of the loco's, the main stations along the line and features the L.M.S Compound, Lion, A G.W.R Tank "Burry- Port", John Terence and the Highland 4-4-0, all in steam.

The Railway has beautifully scaled stations with Engine and Carriage sheds, all of which were built over the last 30 years.The railway runs through open fields and woodland.

Total Running Time 25 Minutes. Non Narrated.

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We return to this delightful 10 1/4 inch line to show two visiting loco's- Pluto, a scaled London Transport steam loco used on the Metropolitan Railway and an G.N.R Altantic Class loco No 4442.

Again the steaming of all the engines is covered in detail with the addition of a model layout of Indian Hill. This 16mm narrow gauge model railway is always popular, as the attention to detail is superb. Other engines on duty were Lion, the L.M.S Compound and No 79 the Highland 4-4-0. This is an ideal opportunity to view a line rarely opened to the public.

Total Running Time 25 Minutes. Non-Narrated.

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The Strawberry Line Miniature Railway operates within the Grounds of the Avon Valley Country Park at Keynsham, between Bristol and Bath in SW England. This delightful and only commerically operating 5 inch ground level line is celebrating its 10th anniversary and as this DVD shows, a lot has changed in the last decade.

In this programme we show how the line started and how it has developed, thanks to the vast collection of photographs of the owner / operator Mike Bass. Plus, from 1999 we have discovered some rare archive footage of the railway in its first season of operation. A Santa Special recorded in Christmas 2001 shows the progres that has happened in just 2 years. Also included is extra video footage from club members showing the various stages of development in this lines history.

A major event in the history of this line occuried in 2006 with the building of the lines extension. This was achieved in just 21 working days and thanks again to Mike's collection of photo's, we can share it with you. Other items of interest over the last decade, include the building of the Signal Box, Station Area and The Goods Yard. The History of the line is brought up to date with the 2008 Gala Weekend. This saw the lines engines, plus visiting engines, both steam & diesel come together from all over the country and concluded with a 17 engine run-by at the end of the day.

For those that have followed this line's development, this programme is a timely reminder of how, thanks to all the volunteers help, this line is the sucess it is today.

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The Kidd Brothers Bluegrass Group was formed when Aaron and Andrew Kidd, both students at Hurricane Middle School in Putnam County, West Virginia, learned that 6th grade English teacher Markel Fertig played the stand up bass. The trio began to regularly jam together and were soon joined by mandolin player Willard Reynolds of Milton, West Virginia.
The group soon built up a following, based on classic Bluegrass & Gospel songs they played so well. They have had the pleasure of playing at numerous events, including several local fairs and festivals, churches, live radio broadcasts and various band contests. They have produced two studios CD’s, as well as this live DVD music video.

Andrew Kidd was placed 4th in the adult division of bluegrass banjo at the West Virginia Vandalia Gathering in 2007 and took 2nd place there in 2008. He also took 1st at the Clay County Golden Delicious Apple Festival in 2007. Andrew is 15 years old and has played the banjo since age 8. Older brother Aaron plays guitar and offers vocals, playing guitar since age 10. Both Markel Fertig and Willard Reynolds are seasoned professionals, having played with well known groups all over the country and having shared the stage with many well known bluegrass icons. It's the right combination of youth and experience that makes this group so unique.
The group accredits their success to their individual faith in God, and they continue to thank Him for their success and talent. They can be reached on the internet at http://kiddbrothers.tripod.com
The site contains song samples, information about ordering CD’s, contact details, and an upcoming schedule. The Kidd Brothers would like to thank Spruce Studios for their time and effort in making this DVD a success.

Total running time 30 minutes

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This DVD was originally done as a promotional film for the Owner/Operator Thomas Moore Jr.

The Jerico Bed & Breakfast and Pre Civil War Cabins are a family run establisment in West Virginia.The Main House has 6 Guest Rooms, all en-suite and serves a full breakfast. The 9 cabins, are within the grounds of this working farm. These cabins are all individual and of various sizes and all have modern facilities. This DVD shows what each room and cabin has to offer the visitor.

For more information regarding the accommadation www.jericobb.com

Total running time 60 minutes

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