For many railway enthusiasts, the sight and sound of a steam locomotive working hard up a steep gradient is an awesome sight to behold, be it a blitzing performance, or an epic slog. In this first volume of 'Steam Against The Gradient', filmed between early 2012 and late 2016, I hope to showcase a variety of locomotives climbing up the gradients in South West England, predominantly, with a few shots from Central Southern England, the Midlands and parts of Wales mixed in. The two most featured climbs are that of Dainton and Hemerdon, two thirds of the notorious group of climbs known as the South Devon Banks, featuring gradients as steep as 1 in 37 and 1 in 42, respectively.

Included in this video are the following locomotives:

- LMS Black 5 4-6-0s Nos.44871, 45407 'The Lancashire Fusilier' and 44932
- LMS Rebuilt Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 No.46100 'Royal Scot'
- LMS Princess Royal Class 4-6-2 No.6201 'Princess Elizabeth'
- LMS Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2 No.6233 'Duchess of Sutherland'
- SR Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2s Nos.34027 'Taw Valley' and 34046 'Braunton'
- SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No.34067 'Tangmere'
- Manning Wardle 2-6-2T No.190 'Lyd'
- LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No.60009 'Union of South Africa'
- A1SLT A1 Class 4-6-2 No.60163 'Tornado'
- WHR NGG16 Beyer Garratt 2-6-2+2-6-2 No.143
- BR(W) Manor Class 4-6-0s Nos.7827 'Lydham Manor' and 7828 'Odney Manor'
- GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 No.4936 'Kinlet Hall'
- GWR Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 No.6960 'Raveningham Hall'
- GWR Castle Class 4-6-0s Nos.5029 'Nunney Castle' and 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe'
- BR Standard Class 7MT 4-6-2s Nos.70000 'Britannia' and 70013 'Oliver Cromwell'
- BR Standard Class 8P 4-6-2 No.71000 'Duke of Gloucester'
- Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST no.31 'Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons'

Timestamps:

00:00 44871 & 45407, Dainton Bank
02:04 34046, Sapperton Bank
03:13 6201, Honeybourne Bank
04:47 71000 & 60163, Hemerdon Bank
06:59 7828, Eardington Bank
08:45 5029, Torre Bank
10:17 34046, Colwall Bank
11:31 34067, Sapperton Bank
13:13 5043, Honeybourne Bank
14:40 143, Nantmor Bank
16:24 5043, Dainton Bank
17:56 34027, Eardington Bank
20:33 70013, Hemerdon Bank
23:00 34046, Pilning Bank
25:02 60163, Upton Scudamore Bank
27:14 45407, St Germans Bank
28:32 60009, Dainton Bank
29:49 6201, Llanvihangel Bank
31:50 5029, Churston Bank
34:25 44932, Hemerdon Bank
37:41 70013, Sapperton Bank
38:57 34067, Sapperton Bank
40:24 6960 & 4936, Washford Bank
42:46 31, Fawley Hill
44:39 70000, Churston Bank
46:02 44932, Wellington Bank
47:11 34067, Colwall Bank
50:00 60009, Hemerdon Bank
52:10 45407, Dainton Bank
53:43 5043, Sapperton Bank
55:41 34067, Dainton Bank
57:18 7827, Goodrington Bank
58:55 5043, Sapperton Bank
01:00:56 5029, Hemerdon Bank
01:04:16 46100, Dainton Bank
01:06:02 34046, Torre Bank
01:07:05 190, Woody Bay
01:08:03 44871, Llanvihangel Bank
01:10:07 70013, Dainton Bank
01:11:41 46233, Hemerdon Bank

Filmed on a Panasonic HS900 with a Pro Sound L92AA microphone.

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