Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

Great Central Railway held their Autumn Steam Gala, Featuring four days of intensive timetabled engine movement along the line I took a trip to Rothley station to see the various arrivals and departures over the course of the Friday afternoon and early evening. From goods trains to double header express trains and even a cheeky diesel loco there was something for everyone. We begin at Leicester North but it's not long before we find ourselves arriving at the picturesque Rothley Station kept immaculately by a dedicated group of volunteers and station staff some of whom we see throughout the film. So take a step back in time (no TARDIS required) and witness the lost era of steam at one of Leicester and Leicestershire`s great attractions the ‪GCR‬ another great reason to ‪Visit Leicester.

A visit to the Mountsorrel And Rothley Community Heritage Center which includes the Mountsorrel Railway Museum for one of their March Steam Days . We begin the visit with an overview of the site with various steam powered locomotives moving about 'Pops' the traction engine is nearest to the camera and in the back of shot we see two steam engines moving about. Down beside the rails now and the imposing structure of the 1834 lift bridge can be seen (more on that later in the film). Panning left we see a green tank engine set for a goods run and past the sheds to the narrow gauge quarry bottom railway where a small grey engine visiting from the Statfold Barn railway is busy giving visitors a ride around the looped track. Next we see the green engine moving a goods train back and forth before number 2 turns a corner on another loop of the Quarry Bottom track loop. Then it's "All Aboard" from Quarry Bottom Halt for an eventful ride which ends in a rather dramat...

January brings the Winter Warmer Weekend to the Battlefield Line and a host of visiting engines including 6880 "Betton Grange", 1369, 71468 "Fred" and 2807. My film starts at Shenton Station where 2807 and 6880 "Betton Grange" arrive before recouping and heading back along the line to Market Bosworth where we meet 1369 and 71480 "Fred" in full steam.

Join me at the Battlefield Lines Winter Warmer Gala, my film traces the engines' journey from Shenton Station to Market Bosworth. We commence with a nostalgic scene, capturing the engines in reverse as they manoeuvre into position at Shenton Station, signalling the commencement of the return journey to Market Bosworth. Upon reaching Market Bosworth, the perspective shifts into the signal box, offering a commanding view as each engine takes it’s own train. The film showcases the grace and power of these historic locomotives against the backdrop of various station buildings etc completing the narrative with a nostalgic nod to the golden era of steam travel.

Join us as we take a trip on the Great Central Railways Santa Special train services, a festive treat and long running tradition for our family and may others in Leicester during the christmas period. The adventure begins at Loughbrough central as the previous service (The 8F) departs the station allowing our train (Perfectly named Leicester City) to arrive in the station. We board the carriages and take our seats where we are entertained by the "Head Elf" playing his Ukulele and his Swazzle (a device that allows the performer to produce the distinctive harsh, rasping voice of Punch in a Punch and Judy show) before the engine moves off and we travel along the line passing a frozen Swithland reservoir and through Rothley station before "Leicester City" changes ends and we travel back along the railway to Loughborough Central and the end of another magical journey on the GCR. Merry Christmas for more information and to book your seat on the Santa special visit...

Earl of Mount Edgcumbe thunders through Narborough Station at full speed on its way to a Christmas market.

  A poster designed by me for the Miniature Steam Weekend at the Great Central Railway featuring a traction engine and using a heavy serif-ed typeface as often used in traditional sign writing.  For more info on the event please visit http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/     

A poster designed for the Great Central Railway`s Easter Sale featuring bright springtime colors Easter eggs chicks and bunnies riding an Easter special stream train !. further details follow.

I visited the Wartime Weekend at the Great Central Railways Quorn and Woodhouse station where a large selection of vintage vehicles,demonstrations and characters from the era where amongst the attractions on offer.  The GCR Wartime weekend features a number of events along the railway and visitors have the opportunity to meet actors playing characters from the era including Sir Winston Churchill, his cabinet and many displays accurately re-creating Wartime Britain.  The event also includes a remembrance service and a poppy drop. (make sure to keep watching after the credits for a special extra).

My short film follows a Traction engine in steam as it arrives at the Abbey Pumping Station for one of their regular events. We join the beautifully kept engine as it makes its way carefully along the nearby streets and through the front gates of the Victorian Pumping house before later taking a closer look at the workings from a unique drivers perspective. Images follow.

My film follows two pannier tanks on the evening of December 1st 2013 as they arrive at Melton Mowbray Station to pick up passengers visiting the towns Christmas market before travelling on to Narborough Station lit only by the yellow glow of the station lights they make for an impressive sight as they thunder along the tracks. Images Follow

I travelled to Wales for the Ffestiniog Railway 150th Anniversary event '1863 and all that !'. Recreating scenes from the railway's early days authentic steam engines from the era where accompanied by costumed characters and events along the length of the railway. Highlights included a line-up of vintage engines at Porthmadog Ffestiniog, a variety of freight trains and an Early-morning Victorian Train with authentic carriages including the unique 'flying bench' on which passengers sit back to back along the length of the carriage. Alongside the events on the railway there where demonstrations of pre-steam mining techniques people in Victorian era dress and 'Rails On The Wharf' in which horse drawn slate wagons where demonstrated my video of which can be seen at Leigh984- 'Rails on the warf' images follow

On the evening of 28th March 2013 The Curry Train (5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe) completed a circular tour of the Midlands. Taking in several stations along the route the train was named The Curry Train due to its passengers being served Curry's from around the world as they travelled from station to station. My film features the train as it thunders through Narborough Station illuminated only by the lights of the station before continuing on its journey.

My short film follows Pannier Tank 1369 as it travels along a short section of the South Devon Railway. We join the engine steaming on a chilly march morning in 2013 as it waits to depart from Buckfastleigh Station, We then follow the service as it passes through the beautiful South Devon countryside briefly stopping at the country station of Staverton before continuing on to Totnes.

My video features 70000 Britannia as it steams through the spectacular natural landscape of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and across the Ribblehead Viaduct the longest and most famous viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle Railway. The Viaduct will be instantly recognisable to fans of the Harry Potter films as being part of the route taken by the Hogwarts Express from London to the famous wizarding School. My location afforded me a opportunity to use a single shot to show the engines full approach before passing me and continuing into the Blea Moor Tunnel the longest tunnel on the Settle-Carlisle Line.

On 13th January 2013, to Celebrate the networks 150 year anniversary, steam returned to the London Underground. The 1898 built steam engine known as Met Locomotive No 1 travelled to and from Moorgate station taking in part of the original Metropolitan Line - now the Hammersmith & City Line. Stations packed with spectators and photographers greeted the special train along its historic journey below the capitals streets. My video features the train on its various trips the coaches being pulled by both Met 1 and Electric Locomotive No.12 Sarah Siddons. Below are a few photos taken on the same day as above. Panoramic Photo showing the platform at Baker Street Station Panoramic Photo showing a modern underground train parked at Baker Street Station

Leonard is a narrow gauge steam engine that operates at the Abbey Pumping station, an industrial museum in Leicester, England. During the museums regular Christmas steam days the engine can be found giving visitors rides along a length of track which runs along the edge of the site. My video follows Leonard as oil and various parts of the engine are checked before heading off on a journey pulling small carriages full of exited visitors.

Every year, during the festive season, The Great Central Railway in Leicester runs special journeys along the length of the line called Santa Specials, in this video I follow one of the specials as it travels between two stations. The temperature was low and so the engine created more steam and due to the lack of wind the steam shrouded the engine making for a spectacular sight as it picked up speed and broke free of its veil. The sun having only risen a couple of moments earlier lends the video an almost magical feel illuminating the stream with an warm glow as it rises.

My short film Turntable features the Steam Engine Sir Lamiel as it is turned through a full rotation on the Great Central Railways Turntable at Quorn & Woodhouse Station. The low morning winter sun shines as the workmen turn the engine which stands hissing like a powerful beast waiting to be released and speed back along the rails.

On 29th May 2012 the Olympic Torch Relay reached its highest point visiting the summit of Mt Snowdon in Wales. The Torch was carried to the summit aboard a Snowdon Mountain Railway steam engine with the Everest mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington who then carried the flame the final few meters to the summit of the mountain cheered by an enthusiastic crowd of supporters waving welsh and union jack flags. The Steam engine and its precious cargo then travelled back down the mountain to continue its journey to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.