The British Steam Index

Volume 2

Heavy Freight

Freight - particularly coal, ore and steel was the lifeblood of Britain’s railways until the development of a comprehensive road network and   the decline of traditional heavy industry. Many thousands of tons of bulk commodities needed big engines - lots of them. Speed didn’t matter, but haulage capacity did. A surprising number of heavy freight engines have survived into preservation, and a good selection appear in this programme.  (Running time 60 minutes approx.)