dystribute.tv

Ages of Steam The Golden Age

In Great Britain, the Victorians built the vast bulk of the country’s railway system and   constructed steam locomotives to work them - many different designs were created, with many different results. The final form of the steam locomotive was seen in the designs introduced in the early years of the 20th century, from there on development was in detail and power. 

Using footage from the last quarter of a century, this programme looks at the way this final form was refined by some of the most famous engineers of their time, right up to the last steam locomotives built for main line service in the country.

This is The Golden Age, examining Victorian and Edwardian locomotives.

The Victorian engineers were artists as much as engineers, and their locomotives were as beautiful to look at as they were efficient at moving the goods and passengers around the country. However, even by the end of the 19th century, few large locomotives had been built.

The first decade of the 20th century would see what was known as the ‘Golden Age’ of the Railways, when locomotive size would double and the railways would reach their zenith. This DVD follows this development from the little 0-4-0 Victorian engines – passenger and goods as well as industrial designs – through to the large passenger and goods engines which set the scene for the way the railways helped underpin the War effort.

World Indoor Trials Review 2009

The Indoor World Championship delivered another amazing season, and this action-packed, official review brings you thrills and spills from every round. Amazing camerawork captures the extraordinary skills of the world’s leading trials riders as we relive the complete story of the 2009 championship chase. 

As well as a definitive round-by-round review, the DVD uses the most breathtaking footage – included plenty of close-ups – to demonstrate the sublime abilities of world-class riders like Toni Bou, Adam Raga, Albert Cabestany, Takahisa Fujinami, Jeroni Fajardo and Michael Brown.

Tags: FIM , Trials

Ages of Steam The Austerity Age

In Great Britain, the Victorians built the vast bulk of the country’s railway system and   constructed steam locomotives to work them - many different designs were created, with many different results. The final form of the steam locomotive was seen in the designs introduced in the early years of the 20th century, from there on development was in detail and power.

Using footage from the last quarter of a century, this programme looks at the way this final form was refined by some of the most famous engineers of their time, right up to the last steam locomotives built for main line service in the country.

This is The Austerity Age, examining the last private locomotives.

The Second World War virtually brought steam locomotive development to a halt in Great Britain - the watchword became "Austerity", as engineers tried to produce simpler and cheaper designs.

This was the case everywhere except on the Southern Railway, where the mercurial Oliver Bulleid produced some of the most complicated and expensive steam locomotives ever to work on Britain’s railways. Elsewhere, the GWR continued on its own course, while the LMS produced a series of efficient smaller types to work almost anywhere. Gresley’s sewing-machine engineering was swept aside by Thompson’s simple designs on the LNER and even the Government got in on the act by specifying special "Austerity" designs for the use of the WD, or War Department.

World Outdoor Trials Review 2009

The official review of the Outdoor World Championship brings you the definitive story of another thrilling season of trials action, featuring all the big names – including Toni Bou, Adam Raga, Albert Cabestany, Dougie Lampkin, Takahisa Fujinami and Jeroni Fajardo. Amazing footage delivers the round-by-round story of the season, with edge-of-the-seat moments captured in glorious close-up. With an amazing run of six victories in a row, it always looked like Bou had the title sewn up. However, the ultra-successful Spaniard had to work hard for his victory, as this dramatic season review records.

AMA Motocross Championship Review 2009

This is the official and action-packed story of one of the most memorable seasons of American motocross ever.

We bring you comprehensive highlights from all 12 rounds, from California to Pennsylvania, as the battles for the titles in both the 450 and 250 AMA MX classes go right down to the wire.

There's so much action, we've had to create two discs just to fit it all in!

It was one of the closest fought 450 championships in a decade, with seven different winners, and the competition was just as fierce in 250.

Awesome MX footage brings you the full story as Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey fight to end for class honours.

Tags: Motocross , AMA , MX

Trial Des Nations 2009

The 2009 FIM Trial des Nations saw the finest riders from 20 countries around the world descend on Darfo Boario Terme, Italy, to do battle for the pride of their nations. It produced an awesome demonstration of skill, and plenty of thrilling Trial competition.

Now you can relive this amazing event in the Official DVD Review, which is packed with stunning action from the Men’s and Women’s Trial des Nations, plus the nail-biting International Trophy Group and the gripping final round of the Women’s Trial World Championship.

The best footage delivers the full drama of the Men’s Trial des Nations, as the all-star Spanish team of Toni Bou, Adam Raga, Jeroni Fajardo and Albert Cabestany ignore the rain to put on a dominant performance, chased all the way by the Great Britain squad of Dougie Lampkin, James Dabill, Michael Brown and Alexz Wigg.

Exceptional camerawork captures the awesome skills displayed by all the stars, including the Italian team on its way to a superb podium place.

The Official DVD Review also charts the full story of the International Trophy Group, which saw Germany and the Czech Republic locked in an edge-of-the-seat battle to the very end. Matched on points, it would all come down to a tie-break to decided the outcome.

Witness Spain’s Laia Sanz secure the Women’s Trial World Championship, then watch Rebekah Cook take revenge as part of the Great Britain team which would defeat its Spanish rivals in the Women’s Trial des Nations.

There are thrills and spills all the way, and the breathtaking footage ensures you don’t miss any of the vital moments from four awesome contests.

The best action, informed commentary and a chance to hear from the stars delivers the comprehensive story of the thrilling 2009 FIM Trial des Nations.

Tags: FIM , Trials

Ages of Steam The Streamline Age

In Great Britain, the Victorians built the vast bulk of the country’s railway system and   constructed steam locomotives to work them - many different designs were created, with many different results. The final form of the steam locomotive was seen in the designs introduced in the early years of the 20th century, from there on development was in detail and power.

Using footage from the last quarter of a century, this programme looks at the way this final form was refined by some of the most famous engineers of their time, right up to the last steam locomotives built for main line service in the country.

This is The Streamline Age, examining the locomotives of the Great Depression.

The 1930s were the years of depression, and this had a marked effect on Britain’s railways. However, renewals of locomotive fleets were becoming urgent, so there was considerable change in the steam fleets, many of which would be the final designs of their types.

The Great Western renewed on an almost like-for-like basis, although there were some notable advances, whilst the Southern Railway saw some interesting machines such as the "Schools" class, the most powerful 4-4-0s in Europe. Both the northern rivals, the LMS and LNER saw great advances in steam machines, the former at last breaking out of its post-grouping slump and the latter producing some of the greatest steam locomotives of all - the immortal A4 streamliners.

Ages of Steam The Jazz Age

In Great Britain, the Victorians built the vast bulk of the country’s railway system and   constructed steam locomotives to work them - many different designs were created, with many different results. The final form of the steam locomotive was seen in the designs introduced in the early years of the 20th century, from there on development was in detail and power.

Using footage from the last quarter of a century, this programme looks at the way this final form was refined by some of the most famous engineers of their time, right up to the last steam locomotives built for main line service in the country.

This is The Jazz Age, examining the locomotives of the 1920s.

Following the Great War, the railways of Great Britain firstly had to renew war damage and then had to re-group, forming four large companies from 1923, known as the "Big 4".

We follow the progress of locomotive design as each of the "Big 4" developed its own style - although no-one would notice any change on the Great Western! The Southern Railway’s management was intent on electrification so most of its new locomotives were just developments of its constituents’ designs, whilst on the LMS pre-grouping rivalry simply continued as did the pre-grouping designs - with one or two notable exceptions.

Only on the cash-strapped LNER was there any real development - it was fortunate to have acquired the great Nigel Gresley to create a modern steam fleet.

Ages of Steam The Standard Age

In Great Britain, the Victorians built the vast bulk of the country’s railway system and   constructed steam locomotives to work them - many different designs were created, with many different results. The final form of the steam locomotive was seen in the designs introduced in the early years of the 20th century, from there on development was in detail and power.

Using footage from the last quarter of a century, this programme looks at the way this final form was refined by some of the most famous engineers of their time, right up to the last steam locomotives built for main line service in the country.

This is The Standard Age, examining the Standard locomotives.

Following the Second World War, the railways were somewhat worn out and run down, as was the steam locomotive fleet. The idealistic new Labour Government was committed to nationalising the railways, and thus produced a homogeneous railway system for the first time in Great Britain’s history.

However, there was no money for investment in the new technology of electrification or diesel locomotives which was taking place elsewhere in Europe and the USA, so steam designs were continued from the "Big 4" days and a new range of Standard locomotives was produced for construction in the 1950s.

There was to be one final steam ‘fling’ as the reconstruction of the controversial Bulleid Pacifics of the Southern produced what was to be effectively the last main line steam type of all.

Powerboat P1 - Evolution Review

A look back at the 2009 Evolution season, with a reveiw of each round.