CHANNEL  5  PRODUCTIONS  (AUST.)

CFRD 1003    The Upfield Line – ‘Wooden Gates & Semaphores’ & The Inner Circle Plus [DVD-R]          90 min                    $34.50

The UPFIELD LINE

The Upfield Railway line in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, has for most of its recent history, been overlooked for modernization.  The semaphore signal which was the principal type used on railway systems around the world, is still in regular use on this 20 km line, which is almost exclusively the preserve of the electric multiple-unit train.  Similarly, the wooden level crossing gates are all but a memory on most of the Public Transport Corporation - Victoria’s statewide rail system, except for this line which boasts some 13 sets either operated by a Signalman in the traditional signal box or by a gatekeeper.  All this was about to change, with the announcement in late 1996 of an upgrade to the line after many years of uncertainty about its future.  This will involve new signaling, replacement of wooden gates on main roads and the closure of smaller crossings and signal boxes.  Before the changes took place , with the kind permission of the Public Transport Corporation, we took our camera into the Drivers cabin for journey from Flinders Street Station to Upfield for you to see the line with its gates and signaling from the Drivers perspective.  Running Time: 48 min  Narrated by Chris Guy.

The INNER CIRCLE Plus

Melbourne’s inner circle railway connected the Upfield and Whittlesea lines by way of a 4.1 kilometre track.  Opened in 1898 and electrified in 1921, this line was never a major success the planners had hoped.  Before closure of the Northcote end in 1965, we travelled behind a D3 class locomotive both ways in order to compare ‘then & now’.  The footage is accompanied by a brief history of the line.  Another short suburban line that has closed was that to Kew.  Only 3 short kilometers in length, this electrified line was closed in 1957.  Before closure, we have D3 659 doing the honours in taking the viewer over this line.  We journey to Thomastown and Hurstbridge in the early 1960s, the landscape was vastly different to that of today.  To complete our suburban journeys by steam, ‘E’ & ‘Y’ class locomotives haul special trains in the western suburbs and on the Goods lines.  As a special bonus, the introduction shows Melbourne Yard and surrounds in the early 1950s, including a colour shot of an ‘S’ class Pacific on the ‘Spirit of Progress’.  Running Time: 42 min.  Narrated by Glenn Hunt.

CFRD 1008         Train Driving [DVD-R]                                                                                          80 min                            $34.50

We take a look behind the scenes of what it’s like to be a train driver.  Go behind the scenes at V/Line Freight Corporation’s ‘Driver Training Centre’ and find out exactly what it takes to become a driver of one of these marvellous machines. Ride inside the cab of an ‘up’ Frankston suburban train, a ‘G’ class on a Bendigo goods trip and the ‘X’ class in Gippsland.

CFRD 1009        Rail Motors Remembered [DVD-R]                                                               50 min                            $34.50   

Go back to the days when the familiar Blue and Gold coloured diesel electric rail motors, more

affectionately known as DERM’s, and the Walker rail cars served the branch lines of Victoria. We feature Diesel Electric Rail Motors on lines North of Bendigo and the Mansfield lines.  Plus we see the Walker cars on regular services including Piangil and Linton.

CFRD 1012        Riding the Beechy and Other Narrow Gauge Lines [DVD-R]              55 min                         $34.50
Features footage from 1958 of Garratt G42 hauling the weekly goods train from Colac to Weeapriona and return, Added to this is film of the Fyansford Cement Works railway, the Puffing Billy line between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave and finally the Mount Lyell rack railway in Tasmania. All in colour with dubbed sound and informative narration. This title includes additional material.
 

CFRD 1013        The Bendigo Line  [DVD-R]                                                                                        90 min                            $34.50

Travel with the Driver on a ‘G’ class hauled freight between Tottenham Yard and Bendigo in March 1998.  

CFRD 1015       Steam Around the State [DVD-R]                                                                50 min                        $34.50

In this program we take you back to the 1950’s and 1960’s, the time when the need for steam locomotives was declining.  Thanks to Arthur Hill and Ian Scutt we can show some archival footage of the D3 676 on the Wahgunyah Mixed, X29 on a ‘down’ empty livestock train, J 541 from Ararat to Hamilton and much much more.

CFRD 1017       TWILIGHT OF VICTORIAN RAILWAYS STEAM [DVD-R]                                 50 min                        $34.50

In 1968, the Victorian Railways was officially dieselised.  During the decade proceeding, the decline of steam in Victoria occupied the interests or rail enthusiasts of the time.  Thanks to Arthur Hill we show you footage from that time featuring the ‘A2’ 995 between Bet Bet and Maryborough.  Plus we feature N 419 to Castlemaine and a J class on the main lines.

CFRD 1018            9461 Freight - A Driver’s View [DVD-R]                                             85 min                        $34.50

Join the crew aboard X 42 for the journey between Melbourne Yard and Morwell, in Gippsland, on 9461 Maryvale Freight.  Shot before all the wiring past Warragul had been dismantled, it is unique opportunity to experience ‘a driver’s view’ under the wires for part of the journey.

CFRD 1021      The Glen Waverley Line / The Frankston Line [DVD-R]                113 min                        $39.50

The Glen Waverley line is 22 kilometres in length and passes through some of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.  The line is used by thousands of daily commuters but few have been able to experience the view from the cab.  Join us as we take on a journey from Flinders Street to Glen Waverley filmed in Autumn of 1998.  We also feature historical photos of the line from 1955

Frankston is a bayside suburb of Melbourne situated 44 kms by rail from Flinders Street Station.  It was opened on August 1st in 1882 and has an intensive commuter system.  The electric multiple unit, which is the train we will be travelling in, represents one of the oldest electrical units still in service.  Accompany the driver of an Hitachi electric multiple unit train for the journey from Flinders Street to Frankston via the City Loop.

 
CFRD 1024     Railmotor Journeys Over Lost VR Lines [DVD-R]                                         50 min                          $34.50
Travel aboard rail cars and rail motors through Victoria during the 1950's through to the 1970's on lines now closed. Includes a short history of the VR's post WW2 rail motor fleet.
 

CFRD 1027     More Railmotor Journeys [DVD-R]                                                                     60 min                          $34.50
The Victorian Railways has changed dramatically since the 1960s.  Not only has steam gone from the tracks but most branch lines themselves have been ripped up in the name of ‘rationalisation’.  Fortunately, through films shot decades ago, you can relive the days when railmotors travelled on the

numerous branch lines that serviced Victorian communities.  In this program, we travel by 280 hp Walker Railcar on the Mornington Peninsula lines in 1956, the North East main line to Tallarook aboard a Diesel Electric Rail Motor (DERM) and then, further up the line, a 280 hp Walker takes the viewer on the Beechworth, Bright and Yarrawonga/Oaklands lines filmed in 1958.  To other parts of the state with a DERM on some of the wheat lines, and a 280 hp Walker travelling through the Western District, taking in Koroit to Hamilton, Balmoral and Coleraine lines before arriving at Horsham via East Natimuk, Ararat to Ballarat.

Added to this is some brief material of other lines such as, Warburton, Daylesford and Bolangum, as well as what remains of some of them today.  All in colour and with appropriate sound to bring these journeys to life.  Narrated by Chris Guy.

CFRD 1028     D3 – 100 Years of V.R. Service / R711 Back In Steam [DVD-R]                     100 min                       $39.50
Released to coincide with the centenary of the last survivor of the class, D3 639. This video is a tribute to 100 years of service on the V.R. It features a short history of the class, plus plenty of footage of the D3 class in action.
‘R 711 - BACK IN STEAM’ - This program covers the rebuilding of locomotive R 711 by the West Coast Railway during 1998 and its first regular run on the ‘Westcoaster’ between Melbourne and Warrnambool in Victoria’s west.

CFRD 1029     Maryborough – Victorian Steam’s Last Stronghold [DVD-R]                        55 min                         $34.50
In the mid 1960s, Maryborough still had plenty of steam activity. Although the classic locomotives had gone, the Js, Ns and Rs still presented a spectacular sight, particularly around Bealiba and the notorious Bank. Fimed by Ken Fishley, a lot of it with sound recorded at the time, this has spectacular material of the lines to Donald and Castlemaine as well as detailed shots of the locomotive depot. This title includes additional material.

CFRD 1030     Sandringham – A Driver’s View  [DVD-R]                                                    40 min                         $34.50
Join the Driver for a view from the cab of the historic Sandringham line. This line, which is 18 kilometres in length, passes Melbourne’s inner suburbs before reaching the bay at Brighton Beach and continuing on to terminate at Sandringham. Footage of Taits and Hitachi trains are also featured. This title includes additional material.

CFRD 1031     G42 – From The Otways To The Dandenongs [DVD-R]                                 70 min                         $34.50
This program features a short history of Victoria’s narrow gauge G42 locomotive in operation on excursions through the Otway Ranges and finally its triumphant return to service on the Puffing Billy Railway in 2004. This title also includes “PETER PECKETT & PUFFING BILLY” - This program provides an account of the operation of the Peckett built locomotive on the Gembrook extension of the Puffing Billy line, before it was joined to the existing line at Lakeside. Also included is the ‘Climax’ and scenes of the lines reconstruction.

CFRD 1032    JUNEE  –  ‘Still a Railway Town’ [DVD-R]                                                         50 min                        $34.50

Junee in Southern NSW is steeped in railway history.  Although steam has long gone, the large roundhouse is far from empty and semaphore signalling is still controlled from 2 manual signal boxes.  In this program we look at day to day operations in daylight and darkness of the railway.  Visit South Box and the Roundhouse, which houses a maintenance facility and Museum within its confines.  As an added bonus, we have included the Roundhouse Celebrations of 1997. 

This extra feature runs for 25 min.

CFRD 1033    Spencer St  to  Dandenong – A Driver’s View  [DVD-R]                                  55 min                         $34.50

The South East is one of Melbourne’s busiest routes with lines extending to Bairnsdale and Cranbourne. Dandenong was once the terminus of suburban train services in the district. Electrification was extended into Gippsland in the early 1950s to service brown coal traffic.  In this program, we cover the 33 kilometre journey from Spencer Street (now ‘Southern Cross’) to Dandenong aboard X 42 on the Maryvale Goods.  Unlike suburban services, this is an express run and you will see the line from the Driver’s perspective.  This has been made possible, thanks to the co-operation of V/Line Freight.

Many changes have occurred since the cab ride was recorded in March 1998, particularly at the city end of the journey.  The goods Yard has been removed, Spencer Street Station redeveloped and re-named, and more of Jolimont Yard rationalised and roofed over.  The remains of sidings where roadside goods trains picked up goods for transport through the state and beyond, are clearly visible as the train heads towards Dandenong.  This is the complete suburban journey (an edited version appearing in ‘9461 Freight - A Driver’s View’) and has been digitally processed to improve the steadiness of the picture caused by the rough riding of the locomotive.

As an added bonus, we have video of Melbourne Yard in the 1950s to compare with our journey over the goods loop towards Spencer Street.  Narrated by Chris Guy

CFRD 1034    ‘Riding the Rack’ [DVD-R]                                                                                75 min                       $34.50

The Abt Railway from Queenstown through to Strahan in Tasmania is an amazing engineering feat.  After being torn up it has been totally restored and is steam operated for the journey from Queenstown to Double Barrel.  The remainder of the journey is by diesel.  In 2004 our cameras recorded the entire journey from the cab.  Also see some never before published footage of the line in ordinary service prior to closure.

CFRD 1035    KEN FISHLEY’S 1960s VR STEAM ACTION (DVD-R)                                            70 min                     $34.50

The 1960s saw radical changes in railway operations throughout Australia and the Victorian Railways was certainly part of this.  Ever since 1951, when the first diesel electric shunting locomotive entered service, it was evident that main line units were not far off.  By the mid 1960s, most passenger trains and main line freights were the responsibility of the growing diesel fleet.  Money, however, was not in sufficient supply for the Victorian Railways Commissioners to completely withdraw all steam.  It would officially occur in July 1968, although small numbers of locomotives would still be used for shunting at workshops and major yards.  Some would also be set aside for enthusiast excursions.  The sight of withdrawn steam locomotives being shunted at workshops to await the cutter’s torch, was becoming an all to familiar sight.  With the writing on the wall for steam, Ken Fishley and others, took it upon themselves to record the passing of the steam locomotive and inadvertently, many lines that were to close shortly afterwards.  Ken and his wife travelled around Victoria recording on film and audio tape the last years of regular steam operation.  This program principally covers regular steam operations in the Ararat, Hamilton and Bendigo districts as well as the Geelong to Ballarat line.  There is also a segment on Newport Workshops where older steam locomotives spent their declining years as shunters.  All footage is in glorious colour, mastered from film transferred to digital videotape.  Narrated by Chris Guy

CFRD 1036    Rail Motors Across Victoria ~ ‘The 1950s and 1960s’ (DVD-R)                                    104 min                    $39.50

The rail motor fleet of the Victorian Railways performed a vital role in providing the people of Victoria with a comprehensive rail service until the 1970s, when rationalisation of the system, resulted in mass line closures and replacement of rail services by coaches on most branch line services.  Most of the lines filmed by Keith Atkinson, which appear in this program, are long gone.  It is fortunate that Keith took the opportunity to record their part in, not only the Victorian Railways history, but that of Victoria itself.  As such it makes this program an important social document as well.  It is also a tribute to the staff of the Victorian Railways of the era.

 LINES FEATURED:

Dandenong to Leongatha (filmed between 1958 & 1961)

Lilydale to Healesville (filmed circa 1960)

Fawkner to Somerton (filmed between Sept 1955 & May 1956)

Thomastown to Whittlesea (filmed between 1956 & 1959)

Clarkefield to Lancefield (filmed Saturday 4th & 11th August 1956)

Heathcote Junction to Heathcote (filmed between 1957 & 1962)

Tallarook to Alexandra (filmed 1st January 1957 & 1958)

Yea to Mansfield (filmed circa 1964)

Castlemaine to Maryborough (filmed January 1957)

Maryborough to Ararat (filmed January to March 1957)

The AEC Rail Motor, known affectionately as ‘The Beetle’ is prominently featured.  This was filmed just prior to it ceasing operations in 1956.

Digitally restored and with appropriate audio.  This program will transport you back in time when there were literally ‘Rail Motors Across Victoria’.  In Colour.