I have recently been informed of the forthcoming release on DVD of "The
Wrecker", a film made in 1928 on the Basingstoke & Alton Line - as
indeed was the rather better known "Oh, Mr. Porter". 

I thought you might like the details of the DVD, which has a selection
of related "extras":

Publisher: Strike Force Entertainment 
DVD Ref No: 9971017
RRP GBP 19.99


Synopsis For The Feature ¡V The Wrecker, 68 minutes
==================================================

A demented crook organises a series of deliberate train crashes to
discredit the railways in favour of a rival bus company. Filmed in 1928
on the soon to be abandoned Basingstoke to Alton branch line and making
extensive use of many other Southern Railway locations, The Wrecker
contains the most spectacular staged steam locomotive crash in the
history of British Film recorded by no fewer than 22 cameras. This newly
restored version features an all-new score composed by world renowned
silent film composer Neil Brand and an extensive 32 page viewing notes
booklet.

DVD Bonus Features

THE WRECKER - Abridged 9.5mm Gauge Vintage Home-Movie Version With Piano
Accompaniment by Neil Brand. 14 mins

VINTAGE CINE KODAK SERVICES TRAILER featuring ¡¥THE WRECKER¡¦ With Piano
Accompaniment by Neil Brand.  1 min

FEATURETTE - SHOOTING ¡¥THE WRECKER¡¦  
Presented by Martin Dean at the present day site of the staged crash. 5
mins
 
FEATURETTE - WALKING THE LINE 
An exploration of the remains of Basingstoke And Alton Light Railway
track formations with Martin Dean. 16 mins

FEATURETTE - COMPOSING FOR THE WRECKER
A richly illustrated interview with composer Neil Brand. 20 mins
 
DERAILMENT - 1944
An archive U.S. Army training exercise filmed on the Claiborne ¡V Polk
Military Railroad in 1944. In wartime the sabotage of enemy trains that
transported the men and munitions of war was of utmost tactical urgency.
8 mins

IOWA STATE FAIR STAGED RAIL CRASH - 1932 - With Piano Accompaniment By
Neil Brand. 1 min

FEATURETTE -  MID-HANTS RAILWAY : A LINE PRESERVED ¡V  5 mins

IMPRESSIONS OF A TRAIN WRECK : KOREA 1952 ¡V  4 mins.





Also due out is another DVD from the same publisher, Ref no 9971018,
price 14.99, called "Great British Steam Railway Galas and
Anniversaries", which features the following:

1925 S&D centenary
1927 Conway Bridge Centenary
1930 L&MR centenary
1937 History in Trains
1938 TPO Centenary
1956 Centenary of the Caterham Ry
1956 Centenary of the Mid Kent and West End & Crystal Palace Rys
1959 Portsmouth Direct Line Centenary
1967 K&WVR Centenary
1969/70/73 Tyseley Open Days
1975 Rail 150, Shildon
1976 Bulmers Open Day
1979 Paddington 125
and
1980 Rocket 150, Rainhill


NB: I'm not on commission for the above, though I did help the creators
of the first one in an exceedingly minor way, and am looking forward to
it, as I have never seen The Wrecker before.
-- 
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p9683825.html
(158 715 at Edinburgh Waverley, 7 Jun 1999)