British Transport Films Collection

The latest developments in British Transport - whether it be in London buses or in railway sidings at Margam steelworks, in the construction of a canal lock between Nottingham and the Humber ports or in the use of modern equipment at BTC laundries or continuous foundries - all such new things bring an echo from the past. The work-songs and popular ballads of yesterday serve to bridge time and remind us that the history of transport is continuous - that history is being made today just as certainly as it was made a century ago.

A light-hearted history of Britain's railways, seen through old prints, photographs and rare pieces of archive film as well as modern material to tell the story from Stephenson's Rocket to the new expresses. The film was made originally for a national children's competition. Pop-singer Joe Brown, a former railwayman, gives a happy-go-lucky narration as he comperes his group as they play railway songs in the Museum of British Transport at Clapham, where many of the most interesting items of railway history could then still be seen.

A feast of first generation diesel locomotives show the variety of motive power employed by British Railways, from the small diesel shunter to the mighty Deltic locomotives of the East Coast Main Line. By 1965 British Railways operated the largest diesel fleet in Western Europe. Close co-operation between the locomotive manufacturers and the railways had led to the development of many different types of engine for different purposes - providing enthusiasts with a much-missed variety of traction compared to today's railways.

Report No. 6 in a series of 13 topical films, produced since the far reaching plan for the modernisation and re-equipment of British Railways in 1955 started to take effect, to log the many developments - new services, equipment, techniques - wherever these have been introduced. They provide a unique pictorial record of the progress of British Railways.

Britain operates the most experienced diesel and electric railway in tne world. A century and a half ago she invented the steam engine and introduced a new system of transport; and in only nine years British Rail and the British locomotive industry designed, built and tested enough diesel and electric locomotives to replace fifteen thousand steam engines. The transition from steam to new forms of motive power, and its effects on rallwaymen and passengers, is the subject of this film. Produced in association with the Central Office of Information, the British Locomotive Allied Manufacturers' Association and the British Electrical Manufacturers' Association.

The newest Southern electrified route, London-Southampton-Bournemouth, is the subject of this film. After a glimpse of the old days of steam, we follow travellers of all kinds as they experience the pleasures of travel which is clean, quiet, fast and frequent.

Introducing the new electric services between the West Midlands, Stoke, London and the North-West. A service which started 6th March 1967 which is second to none in this country, and indeed of its type, second to none in the world. Bringing with it a number of new facilities for the passengers together with speed, frequency and electric reliability. Moving travellers across the country at 100 miles an hour much of the time.

Traces the development of the Freightliner services and introduces customers with differing freight problems, who describe the advantages the system has for them over other forms of transport. The story of the Ford Company train which daily links factories at Liverpool and Genk, in Belgium, and examples of the growing influence of the Freightliner system and the company train in the export field. Produced for Freightliners Limited and British Rail Shipping & International Services Division.

The star of this film, Norman March, is following a family tradition for he is a craft trainee at the Swindon railway workshops. As the chief instructor helps him to decide his future career, we are taken on an interesting and dramatic tour of the many places where Norman may one day work.

The film follows the fortunes of several groups of visitors as they travel by train around Britain able, in most cases, to reach distant destinations and return, within the day.

A film, narrated by actor Iain Cuthbertson, setting out a plan for an integrated road and rail transport structure in Scotland, to make it a modern, efficient country while keeping it "a land fit for folk to live in".

Explaining new developments in civil engineering survey work, and the latest methods of preparing accurate and highly detailed drawings.

A journey from London King's Cross to Peterborough on the fastest Inter-City Special - at a speed of well over 1250 mph!