STORIES OF STEAM vividly brings to life all the splendour and spectacle of British steam in its heyday - the magnificent locos in their original liveries, the classic rail journeys and life on the footplate! Among the British steam classics on display are LOCOMOTIVE NO. 1, the CORONATION SCOT, HARDWICKE and the EVENING STAR, as well as many, many more, camptured on original archive film, the FLYING SCOTSMAN is also featured, with exclusive footage from its last official run from Edinburgh to London in 1966 and footplate shots from the 4472 prior to its 1969 U.S.A. goodwill tour. STORIES OF STEAM also captures the unforgettable experience of working for the railways in the steam era, not just for drivers and firemen but also for signalmen and track surveyors in peace time - and at war. Gripping World War Two footage looks at how Britain's railways and railwaymen coped with the Blitz - and how the R.A.F. struck back against the railways in German hands, with dramatic 'loco busting' gun camera footage. When steam began to die out, electric and diesel traction weren't the only choices available. Other methods that challenged the supremacy of steam are also featured here, uncluding the Railbus prototype, A.P.T.-E. and the early and very bulky 'hovertrain' experiments. Today, steam is making a strong comeback, with preserved engines on lines all over the country. Among the spectacular success stories of recent years is the Swanage Railway. STORIES OF STEAM takes you there to see its preserved CLASS M.7 0-4-4 TANK LOCOMOTIVE 30053, YANKEE TANK 30075 and the 'Battle of Britain' PACIFIC NO. 34072 '257 SQUADRON' - helping to keep the spirit of the British steam era very much alive into the next century...