AVSAL: This is Salisbury 1987-1994

Starting in 1987 – and covering each year until 1994 – this features the “rise and fall” of Network SouthEast.

Review by David Brown in Traction magazine January/February 2012:

“The lady station announcer informs us politely: “This is Salisbury ...” but really it could not be anywhere else. The male voice later announcing: “We regret the Exeter service is running ten minutes late” might be familiar to some too. The platform canopies echo to the sound of diesel power – locomotives and units on a number of main line and cross country services pausing for custom, while other services start and terminate there. The distinctive water towers are another familiar feature (we get a smattering of preserved steam too in this programme), while the view from the A36 bridge looking towards Salisbury reveals the cathedral in the background and the white house to the right of the tracks, which we’ve seen in countless photographs.

One of the main highlights at Salisbury back in the day were the loco-hauled Waterloo-Basingstoke-Exeter St Davids services and a number of these are seen with various Class 50s and Class 47s in charge. Different liveries including corporate blue, Large Logo, res and the Network SouthEast variations are recorded while celebrities such as faux GWR-liveried No. 50007 Sir Edward Elgar also appear (the latter in immaculate condition together with D400/50050 on a ‘farewell’ charter).

Another highlight is provided by Class 33s working in push-pull mode with a 4TC set, including a ‘top & tailed’ 8-car combination. Class 205 and 207 DEMUs are also seen, together with a Class 108 unit and a pair of Class 97 departmental ‘bubblecars’ on sandite duties.

This programme features film sequences from each of the eight years with modern units becoming increasingly common. Film is included from the train, on the platform and by the lineside. The sound is loud and clear and the memories are revived as we hear the idling chatter of a Class 50 as it prepared to head a long rake of coaches towards the west. "

Features Classes 33, 47, 50, 108, 121, 155, 156, 158, 159, 205 & 207 and steam locomotives 6998, 34027 & 53809.

Running time of this region-free DVD-R is 80 minutes.

Filmed on location in and around Salisbury station.

© Anbrico Felixjaz Railway and Transport Films, DVDs and Photography.