Description

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, based in the heart of the Yorkshire opened to passengers in 1968. Today the railway runs from Keighley to Oxenhope via Ingrow West, Damems, Oakworth and Haworth. This DVD allows you to hop onboard the footplate of Lancashire & Yorkshire Class 25 No.52044 and travel from Keighley to Oxenhope.

About the railway

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway was originally opened in 1867 to serve the many mills in the Worth Valley and transport passengers between Keighley and Oxenhope. British Railways operated the last scheduled passenger train on Saturday 30 December 1961, however freight trains continued to run to Oxenhope until 18 June 1962.

A preservation society was formed in 1962, who created a company to purchase the line outright, lease access to Keighley station and operate a regular public service. After many years of volunteer struggle, the line re-opened to passenger traffic in June 1968, although that dream of operating a regular public service never came to fruition.

Today, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway runs for a total of 5 miles from Keighley to Oxenhope, passing stations at Ingrow West, Damems, Oakworth and Haworth.

Lancashire & Yorkshire Class 25 No.52044

L&Y No.957 was one of the last 50 of the class being built by Beyer Peacock of Manchester in 1887. The locomotive spent its life at Goole Shed for the passenger and goods services on the Axholme Joint Railway and latterly at Wakefield for the coal traffic to and from the Yorkshire and Lancashire pits to Goole and Hull. In 1923 at the grouping, 957 became a member of the LMS fleet as No.12044. After 72 years of service, and now numbered 52044 under British Railways, No.52044 was withdrawn from Wakefield in August 1959.

No.52044 moved to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in 1959, after been purchased directly from British Railways. The locomotive found fame after playing the star role in the original ‘Railway Children’ film, nick named ‘The Green Dragon’. Following overhaul at Haworth MPD, No.52044 returned to steam once again in 2021, sporting the fictional ‘Green Dragon’ livery, originally worn for the filming of ‘The Railway Children’ movie. In March 2022, the locomotive was repainted into its British Railways livery, sporting the number 52044.

Route map

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway runs for a total of 5 miles through the picturesque Worth Valley. Passengers travel from Keighley to Oxenhope, passing Ingrow West, Damems, Oakworth and Haworth.

What is included on this DVD?

Join the crew of Lancashire & Yorkshire Class 25 No.52044 and travel from Keighley to Oxenhope. Sit back and watch from the comfort of your living room as they tackle the 1 in 70 ruling gradient with their 5 coach passenger set. Using new technology and filmed in 4K, you’re able to witness No.52044 working hard through the Worth Valley from a whole new prospective.

Whilst watching the DVD, you’re able to follow No.52044 from a series of different angles, including onboard the footplate, both the driver and fireman’s cab side views, the front lamp bracket and from the motion gear.

Footage is also included from the lineside showcasing No.52044 at several different viewpoints along the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (please note lineside footage has been completed throughout 2022 and 2023).

Viewing options when watching the DVD:

There are two viewing options to this DVD, these include:
Option 1: Sit back and watch the action from the footplate, as you travel from Keighley to Oxenhope from multiple camera angles, including the lineside. This option includes short titles informing you of key locations and the gradient profile along the route.
Option 2: Take in the picturesque scenery as you watch the Worth Valley pass by, this option allows you to watch from the engines front lamp bracket, unedited from Keighley to Oxenhope.

Product Overview:

This product features no commentary, allowing you to fully appreciate the sound of the steam locomotive working hard. Short titles are included throughout informing you of key locations and gradients. This DVD & Blu-Ray is expected to last approx. 45 minutes and is available in UK 16:9 widescreen format only.

Footplate filming took place on the 3rd June 2022.

We’re currently editing this product; copies will be available to order during summer 2023. Sign up to our mailing list to receive updates on when the product is available to order.