British Transport Films Collection

Keeping pace with rapidly developing social and industrial needs is the aim of modernisation on the North Eastern Region. The building of new marshalling yards, the improvement of passenger and freight facilities and the design of modern aids for speed and safety on the track are among the features shown.

An insufferable journey by 'The Pain Train' shows how seconds lost by staff, for one slight reason or another, can quickly add up; causing a train to be seriously late even on a relatively short journey.

The London Motor Club members, with their families, took their cars by Motorail for a contest with the Torbay club, and the camera was there to record a victory for the home team.

Report No. 11 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. Because 1970 was European Conservation Year, this issue of the Rail Report Series was devoted to examples of what railways in Britain are doing to help conserve and improve our national environment. The conversion of former railway property - including that trendy temple, the Round House - is shown, yielding Nature Trails for children and training runs for race horses. Railway architecture, old and new, still makes its important contribution as does contemporary design.

A lively and sometimes evocative account of a mixed bag of passengers enjoying in their various ways a typical Inter-City journey. A cheerful and very colourful pastiche of live action with combined graphics set to the music of Muir Mathieson. This film typifies the image British Rail was keen to transmit during the early part of the 1970s. It marked the start of the age of the train, when 100mph running became standard and travelling inter-city took you from 'city to city - heart to heart'.

The film tells the story of the building of a new generation of high speed Inter-City trains. As well as providing speed and air-conditioned comfort, the design philosophy behind the trains was to extend the modular replacement concept as far as possible. Complete engines, alternators, cooling and brake systems, and electronic controls had to be modified so that they could be disconnected quickly and replaced, thus allowing fast, easy maintenance with a high degree of reliability.The film was made for the equipment manufacturers and British Rail.

The film takes place in the imagination of a schoolboy. As he looks over a railway bridge he thinks of the idea of a school sports day on the railway track. There are four events, all activities which children regularly participate in when trespassing on the railway: breaking the railway fence, last across the tracks in front of a train, throwing stones at a passing train and the Great Tunnel Walk. In the film though, we see the tragic results, including a badly injured driver, the result of a heavy stone shattering his cab windows. The film was horrible, made to shock and be remembered. The controversy it caused was great for bringing the issues to the public eye but it was quickly replaced by "Robbie" in 1979.

With Peter Purves, of television 'Blue Peter' fame, as our guide, we are taken on a rapid but very full tour of railway activities. Starting off in the comfort of the High Speed Train, we then move on through electrification, track relaying, rush hour at Waterloo, freight trains and Sealink, and enjoy a glimpse of railway history. A fascinating introduction to the subject of trains.

Explains the benefits of rail travel in Britain. Intended for American audiences.

The majority of railway vehicles are fitted with cast iron brake blocks which, although relatively cheap to produce, wear rapidly in service and need frequent replacement. The film shows how an investigation into some of the problems associated with these blocks led to the development of a new type with a higher phosphorus content which gives better performance and has a longer life.

In a world growing ever shorter of energy, railways are well suited to satisfy the world's future transport needs. This is the story of the new railways in Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Poland and Italy.

Young Robbie, a keen footballer and a railway enthusiast, is persuaded by his big brother to go through a hole in a railway fence on to the track. He has an accident so serious that he will never play football again. A film for showing to eight to eleven-year old children and their parents, which points out the folly of breaking railway fences and trespassing on the line, and illustrates the immediate dangers.

A report on the progress of the Bedford / St. Pancras suburban electrification scheme.

A gastronomic journey from Yorkshire to London on board a special train - made up of vintage restaurant cars, and steam hauled. This was to celebrate a hundred years of train catering. The Chairman of British Rail, Sir Peter Parker, was there to cut the cake!

Made for school children, Old Sam reminisces over the old days of the railways and tells of the modern railway of today and how modernisation has brought new level crossings. He explains how they work and how to use them.

The demand for Aggregates is steadily rising. The film explains the Railfreight option: its successes both environmental and financial and future developments within this strictly commercial operation. The benefits of co-operation between interested parties are stressed and specific examples are illustrated. A film made to promote the new Rail freight sub-sector marketing scheme to other large companies. It featured helicopter aerial photography and state of the art computer graphics. A little dated in appearance today but certainly impressive and modern in 1982.

The BR chairman in conversation with the popular broadcaster.

The BR chairman in conversation with the popular broadcaster.