1940s and 1960s views in King's Cross Station and the 'Top Shed', before leaving London behind 'A3', 60106 'Flying Fox'. Next, Peterborough is featured in the late 1940s and early 1960s, followed by a journey from Grimsby and Spalding to the ECML at Werrington Jct., with 'Britannia' Pacifics hard at work. Numerous ECML locations are shown including Essendine, Stoke Bank and Retford, which is host to the last ex-GC 'J19', on a railtour. At Doncaster, film taken in the 'Plant' in the 1940s shows locomotives under construction and a wide variety of steam and early diesel traction is shown in the station. Finally, fascinating scenes at York filmed between 1931 and 1965 bring to a close this first of a two-part programme featuring the ECML between London and Newcastle in the days of steam.