Video and Film Clips

Film clips of railways within Warwickshire

Decades of Steam: 1920s
John Taylor writes, 'One of a set of five, whilst showing content from across the whole of the UK there are lengthy sequences from GWR locations at Hatton, Warwick and Leamington as well as LMS locations at Kenilworth, Milverton, Leamington Spa Avenue, Rugby and Brinklow, also Weedon although not in Warwickshire'. (85 minutes 39 seconds)

Decades of Steam: 1930s
John Taylor writes, 'One of a set of five, whilst showing content from across the whole of the UK there are lengthy sequences from GWR locations at Hatton, Warwick and Leamington as well as LMS locations at Kenilworth, Milverton, Leamington Spa Avenue, Rugby and Brinklow, also Weedon although not in Warwickshire'. (85 minutes 55 seconds)

Decades of Steam: 1940s
John Taylor writes, 'One of a set of five, whilst showing content from across the whole of the UK there are lengthy sequences from GWR locations at Hatton, Warwick and Leamington as well as LMS locations at Kenilworth, Milverton, Leamington Spa Avenue, Rugby and Brinklow, also Weedon although not in Warwickshire'. (85 minutes 53 seconds)

Decades of Steam: 1950s
John Taylor writes, 'One of a set of five, whilst showing content from across the whole of the UK there are lengthy sequences from GWR locations at Hatton, Warwick and Leamington as well as LMS locations at Kenilworth, Milverton, Leamington Spa Avenue, Rugby and Brinklow, also Weedon although not in Warwickshire'. (84 minutes 1 seconds)

Decades of Steam: 1960s
John Taylor writes, 'One of a set of five, whilst showing content from across the whole of the UK there are lengthy sequences from GWR locations at Hatton, Warwick and Leamington as well as LMS locations at Kenilworth, Milverton, Leamington Spa Avenue, Rugby and Brinklow, also Weedon although not in Warwickshire'. (85 minutes 53 seconds)

Railway Memories Around Nuneaton 1964-65
A series of films taken in 1964/5 during the period of transition from steam to diesel and electric at Nuneaton, Bulkington, Bedworth and over the Nuneaton - Coventry - Leamington line. Photographer - Geoff Edmands. (17 minutes 42 seconds)

Loco Testing (1948)
A British Pathé Film. New locomotive testing station in Rugby, with shots of LNER 4-6-2 No 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley'. (1 minute 2 seconds)

Locomotive Testing Station (1948)
A British Pathé. A more extended version of the two films seen above which shows No 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' on the track of test bed with the testing machinery and workers seen below. (5 minutes 40 seconds)

Steam and Diesel at Birmingham Snow Hill in the 1960s - Part One
A look at Birmingham Snow Hill in the 1960s. (13 minutes 15 seconds)

Steam and Diesel at Birmingham Snow Hill in the 1960s - Part Two
A look at Birmingham Snow Hill in the 1960s. (10 minutes 6 seconds)

Steam and Diesel at Birmingham Snow Hill in the 1960s - Part Three
A look at Birmingham Snow Hill in the 1960s. (17 minutes 27 seconds)

1960s Steam Snow Hill To Shrewsbury
This video shows parts of what the former Great Western Mainline from Birmingham Snow Hill to Shrewsbury was like in the 1960s. (12 minutes 23 seconds)

Shunting accident at Spon End Arches in Coventry
A uniques albeit poor quality private film of the derailment of ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48262 on the Nuneaton branch. (3 minutes 58 seconds). For still photographs of the recovery of the locomotive see:
http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/misc/lnwr189.htm and
http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/misc/lnwr190.htm

Birmingham New Street Station during the 1950s and 60s
A look at New Street Station during the 1950s and 60s in the days when natural daylight was available around the Station, before a shopping centre was placed on top of it during the mid 1960s, making it now at platform level the dark and dingy place it is today. (11 minutes 4 seconds)

The Sutton Coldfield Railway Disaster 1955
Its 23rd January 1955. A steam train has derailed in Sutton Coldfield station killing seventeen people and badly injuring a further twenty-five persons. (1 minute 34 seconds ©British Pathe)

Trent Valley Rail Crash
Various shots of wrecked carriages piled high on rail track with men clearing away debris. The Fleetwood to London fish train smashed into a local passenger train standing in Lichfield Trent Valley station. (0 minutes 44 seconds ©British Pathe)

Aftermath Of Trent Valley Rail Crash & Air Camera Footage 1946
Various shots of the people walking around rubble at scene of Trent Valley rail crash. Men working on clearing rubble, twisted metal, wood, broken wagons, seats etc. More shots of the destruction and people at work. (3 minutes 57 seconds ©British Pathe)

Lets Go To Birmingham: By British Railway's new Diesel Luxury Blue Train
A 1962 BTF film of the journey by 'Blue Train' from Paddington station to Snow Hill which has been speeded up in the manner of the noted 'London to Brighton in 5 minutes' film. The film shows the route from the driver's perspective recording all the station's enroute. Musical background with no narration. (5 minutes 36 seconds)

Lets Go To Birmingham: Unused Film
Snippets of footage that never made it into BTF's film "Let's Go To Birmingham" 1962. It covers the GW/GC line from Greenford - Banbury. The stations include Ilmer Halt, Haddenham, Ardley, Aynho Park Platform, Aynho Junction flyover, Banbury, Northolt, Perivale, Greenford, Northolt Junction, South Ruislip, West Ruislip, Denham, Denham Golf Club, Wycombe West, Saunderton and High Wycombe. (3 minutes 22 seconds)

Railway Roundabout 1959: 'Saltley Shed 1959'
Pat Whitehouse's and John Adam's S.L.S final shed bash of 1959 was a visit to Saltley shed on Midland Railway territory in Birmingham. (3 minutes 57 seconds)

Railway Roundabout 1959: 'Barnt Green to Evesham'
Featuring one of the Midland Railway's compounds of the early 1900s travelling on the Gloucester Loop Line to Evesham and onwards to Ashchurch. (4 minutes 37 seconds)

Railway Roundabout 1959: 'The S.L.S Special To Harborne'
A S.L.S special from Birmingham New Street to Harborne along the now closed Harbourne branch. (5 minutes 15 seconds)

Building a flyover at Rugby station
Film of British Railways building the Birmingham to Trent Valley flyover at Rugby station. (1 minute 23 seconds)

Last Days of Steam: Part Three - The LMS' lines
Midland main line around Leicester, the Lickey Incline, Rugby Midland and various West Coast lineside shots in 1963. (3 minutes 16 seconds)

Last Days of Steam: Part Four - The GWR' lines
Lineside shots West Country 1960, Birmingham Snow Hill station 1962 and Western meets Southern at Oxford 1964 (4 minutes 25 seconds)

General Railways Films

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On the LMS rail track between Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire and Euston, London. Originally part of the film 'New in a Nutshell'.

The Michelin Rail Car performing on Dutch Tracks. Its similar to that trialed in the UK.

British Railways in WW2: Part One
The role of British railways told through the memories of the railwaymen who served on them from 1939 to 1945.

British Railways in WW2: Part Two
The role of British railways told through the memories of the railwaymen who served on them from 1939 to 1945.

British Railways in WW2: Part Three
The role of British railways told through the memories of the railwaymen who served on them from 1939 to 1945.

British Railways in WW2: Part Four
The role of British railways told through the memories of the railwaymen who served on them from 1939 to 1945.

Railway Breakdown Crew At Work
Unused / unissued material of Railway Breakdown Crew At Work in 1941. Specific dates and locations unclear or unknown. (5 minutes 46 seconds)

Shunter Joe Black's night off - 1941
Trains & Railways during World War Two. Southern Railway worker Joe Black is enjoying an evening at home that is interrupted by a Luftwaffe raid on the marshalling yards. A train catches fire and it is up to Joe and his co-workers to save the day. (7 minutes 1 second)

Steam Locomotives: Power To Order
A 1942 Educational Documentary building a Locomotive at the renowned Doncaster works. 'Railways are the arteries of industrial Britain's trade. British engineering skill and British steel have made our engines famous all over the world. In this film an engine is built. The growing engine is followed through the boiler-shop, the machine-shop and the assembly-shop.' (9 minutes 39 seconds)

Forward To First Principles
A 1966 British Transport Film. Professor Jack Simmonds tells the story of the development of mineral and freight railways, and how they changed the geography, economy and life in the country. (30 minutes 0 seconds)

Steam Trains - Jobs in the British Railways 1946 - "The Railwaymen"
An educational movie about jobs available within the railways of Great Britain during the mid/late 1940's. Covers some of the less glamourous jobs withing the railways including cleaning locomotives, station work and other behind the scenes activities which were the starting point of your career in those days. (21 minutes 42 seconds)

British Railways in the 1950's - "Portrait of an Engineer"
Produced in 1954, this film depicts a typical day of production engineer Ted Wilson who has spent 30 years working at the Vulcan Foundry (located at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire). At this time the foundry was building both steam and electric locomotives for Britain and other countries. (19 minutes 1 second)

Vulcan Foundry - 1954 (Part One)
The Vulcan Foundry - Newton-le-Willows, 1954. Shows the production process. (9 minutes 58 seconds)

Vulcan Foundry - 1954 (Part Two)
A continuation of showcasing the Vulcan Foundry - Newton-le-Willows, 1954. Shows the production process. (9 minutes 9 seconds)

London Midland Scottish Railway Fims

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LMS Steam Around The Midlands in the 1950s and 1960s

A look at LMS Steam workings around the Midlands during the 1950s and 1960s. (9 minutes 47 seconds)

1930's LMS Absolute Block Semaphore Signalling- Part 1
LMS instructional Railway video "Sentinels of Safety" outlining the Absolute Block Signalling principle. Recorded some time in the 1930's. Features lots of LMS signal boxes and the staff that used to work them.

1930's LMS Absolute Block Semaphore Signalling- Part 2
LMS instructional Railway video "Sentinels of Safety" outlining the Absolute Block Signalling principle. Recorded some time in the 1930's. Features lots of LNWR signal boxes and the staff that used to work them. (7 minutes 32 seconds)

1930's LMS Absolute Block Semaphore Signalling- Part 3
LMS instructional Railway video "Sentinels of Safety" outlining the Absolute Block Signalling principle. Recorded some time in the 1930's. Features lots of LMS signal boxes and the staff that used to work them including Atherstone. (7 minutes 33 seconds)

LMS On the Shed - Part One of Two
Various shots of an engine being prepared and serviced ready for its next trip. Includes actions and responsibilities of crew. (9 minutes 44 seconds)

LMS On the Shed - Part Two of Two
Various shots of an engine being prepared and serviced ready for its next trip. Includes actions and responsibilities of crew. (9 minutes 31 seconds)

Trains in Engine Shed
A 1938 London Midland & Scottish Railway documentary which takes us inside a engine shed to show us how to improve safety in the workplace while working on trains, and also increase productivty by avoiding wasteful work practices. (9 minutes 31 seconds)

"Wash and Brush Up" 1953
Shows the procedures that a steam engine goes through as part of its regular maintenance cycle. The locomotive being featured in the film is a British Railways Standard Class 5MT 4-6-0 No 73020 at 6D Chester (Midland shed. (25 minutes 19 seconds)

LMS General Repair - Part One of Two
First part of an LMS film showing how a steam locomotive goes through a full overhaul in under 2 weeks in the 1930's. (15 minutes 0 seconds)

LMS General Repair - Part Two of Two
Second part of an LMS film showing how a steam locomotive goes through a full overhaul in under 2 weeks in the 1930s. (1 minute 55 seconds)

Night Mail 1936
Night Mail is a 1936 documentary film about a LMS mail train from London to Scotland, produced by the GPO Film Unit. A poem by English poet WH Auden was specially written for it, used in the closing few minutes, as was music by Benjamin Britten. (22 minutes 39 seconds)

The 1937 Coronation Scot record run
A film of the 1937 Coronation Scot Record Run by 6220 Coronation including shots of when she leaves the fitting shops. (3 minutes 2 seconds)

Railway Roundabout 1958 'Trains on the Lickey incline'
We now come to the Lickey incline, for the next 2 clips, on the main line from Bristol to Birmingham, well known for the workplace of the Midland 0-10-0 'Big Bertha' (sadly scrapped by the time of the clip). (5 minutes 16 seconds)

Fowler 0-10-0 `Big Bertha` LMS Bromsgrove
Rare footage of the Lickey Incline banker. (0 minutes 34 seconds)

Lickey Incline - A 9F 2-10-0
being banked by FOUR pannier tanks. (1 minute 43 seconds)

LMS Diesels 10000 and 10001 Newsreel Film
English Electric newsreel style film promotion of the LMS twins 10000 and 10001 prototype diesels. ( 5 minutes 8 seconds)

Mainline Diesel - LMS 10000
A promotional film by the London Midland And Scottish Railway showing construction and entry to service of locomotive No 10000. The locomotive, along with sister locomotive 10001, was built by the LMS at its Derby Works, using an English Electric 1600 hp diesel engine, generator and electrics. (13 minutes 42 seconds)

Building a Princess Royal Class Locomotives
A 1930s Trains & Railways Educational Film of the building of a Princess Royal class steam locomotive at Crewe locomotive works during the mid 1930's. (16 minutes 58 seconds)

Building the Coronation Scot Locomotive
Vintage Steam Locomotive film showing the building of the original LMS Coronation Scot in 1938. (5 minutes 52 seconds)

The Coronation Scot
London Midland & Scottish Railway film showing the construction and operation of a streamlined steam locomotive. (8 minutes 51 seconds)

Sentinels Of Safety
A London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) documentary from 1938 which explains how the railways mechanical signals work. (17 minutes 47 Seconds )

Carrying The Load
London Midland & Scottish Railway educational film that explains the role played by the railways during World War Two. (15 minutes 26 seconds)

Firing A Steam Locomotive
Training film for 'Black 5' steam locomotive firemen giving instructions on how often to shovel coal into the firebox, watching the smoke to determine how the coal is burning, adjusting the lower and upper air supply, and what to do when the locomotive stops and starts. The instructor notes '"The amount of coal needed by a class 5 varies between four and six shovelfuls, spread where they are needed. And here they are. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. And six. Between four and six shovelfuls is the amount." (12 minutes 39 seconds)

Trains & Scientific Research
The London, Midland and Scotish Railway produced this educational film in the 1930's to highlight many of the research projects being undertaken by the railway. (14 minutes 42 seconds)

Selling Transport
The London Midland & Scottish Railway produced this training film to educate workers on the do's and don't when working as a salesman for the railway. (17 minutes 48 seconds)

Relaying Train Tracks In 1947
The London, Midland & Scottish Railways (LMS) recorded these scenes in 1947 showing the relaying of St. Pancras Junction with new prefabricated crossings. The old signalling system is also shown as it is dismantled. (15 minutes 13 seconds)

British Railways Films

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Fully fitted Freight
A 1957 British Transport Film of a fast-moving freight train - the 4:48 pm Bristol to Leeds- links manufacturers whit their customers at the other end of Britain. We learn about the men who do the work, as well as the goods they handle. (19 minutes 26 seconds)

Train Time
A British Transport Film documentary showing how the railway responds to the needs of the farming community. (28 minutes 32 seconds)

DMU Diesel Train Driver - Part One
Part One, an Introduction To The Diesel Train. A training film made in the 1950s to teach train drivers about the then new diesel multiple unit railcar trains being introduced to replace steam trains. A class 114 Derby DMU when new at Lincoln shed. (7 minutes 20 seconds).

DMU Diesel Train Driver - Part Two
Part Two, Training the driver. A 'blow by blow' guide on the procedures drivers must follow when starting up the DMU and leaving the depot. Locations include Wickenby level crossing box on the Lincoln to Market Rasen line with the train arriving at Skegness. (18 minutes 33 seconds)

DMU Diesel Train Driver - Part Three
Part Two, Dealing With Faults. An insight into the job of a driver of the early DMUs. It has the irony of the DMU being rescued by an old GER 'Claud' steam loco. Wymondham and County School Stations are seen in their 1950s glory with some immaculate uniforms about too! (35 minutes 51 seconds)

DMU Diesel Train Driver - Part Four
Part Four, Operating Requirements. The final training film dealing with the operational requirements of driving the DMU and the everyday jobs required of the driver. Coupling cars together is just one of the many procedures dealt with. (17 minutes 12 seconds)

Single Line Working
This is a BTF film made for training purposes for British Railways. Single line working is explained in detail - too much for some perhaps!!

BR - Signalling
A British Railways film explaining signalling from 1989

Railway Journeys - English Branch Lines and Byways
A miscellany of films from the 1950s and 1960s. (56 minutes 54 seconds)

Elizabethan Express
1953 saw the dawn of the New Elizabethan Age and the “crack” non-stop holiday express from London King Cross to Edinburgh Waverley in six and half hours was named “Elizabethan Express”. This film follows the trains’ journey with reference to those who made this train possible, the locomen, carriage dept., catering staff, controllers etc. (20 minutes 13 seconds)

Farmer Moving South
A 1952 British Transport Film showing the story of how an entire Yorkshire farm -cattle, pigs, poultry, machinery, ploughs and tractors- was moved south to Sussex by rail in December 1952, on what turned out to be coldest night of the year. (16 minutes 12 seconds)

Transporting Parcels By Trains 1960
A documentary on the training of staff with regard on how best to deal with parcels traffic. (18 minutes 37 seconds)

Work In Progress - and other British Transport Films films
1 hour, 27 minutes and 27 seconds)

Blue Pullman
A contemporary story of the design and development of the Blue Pullman. (8 minutes 39 seconds)

Snow Drift at Bleath Gill
To rescue of a snowbound freight train stuck in a heavy drift in the Westmorland Hills. The Motive Power, Operating and Engineering Departmants go to work with snowploughs to reach the trapped train. (9 minutes 35 seconds)

This is York
A day in the life of York railway station. Fron dawn to dust on an Autumn day we spend the hours observing the activitien at one British Raylways’ junction stations busiest, guided by the stationmaster. (20 minutes 4 seconds)

British Railways Stores Department in 1954
An educational documentary showing the British Railways Stores Department in the 1950's. The film explains how the Stores Department met the needs of both maintenance work and building programmes. (21 minutes 54 seconds)

Oxford to Cambridge & Rugby Central To Nottingham Arkwright Street
Fantastic colour footage of closed routes from the late 1960s.

Great Western Railway Films

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How to Coal & Oil a Steam Locomotive for a Long Run
Interesting GWR Film period piece showing how things were on the railways in the UK many years ago. (5 minutes 44 seconds)

Swindon Locomotive Works GWR 4-6-0 Prince of Wales 1913
The building of Great Western Railway 4-6-0 no.4041 'Prince of Wales' at Swindon Locomotive Works circa 1913. (5 minutes 32 seconds)

History of the Great Western Railway
Huntley Film Archives. The story of the Great Western Railway from its foundation in 1835, with it's planning, construction and locomotives. Wonderful Swindon works heavy industry. The first 100 years of the G.W.R. in historical reconstruction. (31 minutes 47 seconds)

Of Coppersmiths And Kings Swindon Works
In 1985 the BBC broadcast a series of three programmes about Swindon Locomotive Works. The first was called Of Coppersmiths And Kings, the second was A Job For Life?, and the final episode was called Off The Rails. In this the first episode it was announced that the works were to close in 1986, a sad day for everyone at Swindon Works, all those jobs and skills lost. (29 minutes 6 seconds)

A Job For Life Swindon Works
This is the second episode of three BBC documentaries about Swindon Works and some of the men that worked there. Broadcast by the BBC in 1985. (29 minutes 36 seconds)

Off The Rails Swindon Works
This is the final episode of the three BBC documentaries I recorded on to video tape at the time of broadcast, filmed by the BBC in 1985 about Swindon Works and some of the men that worked there up until closure in 1986. Broadcast by the BBC in 1985. (29 minutes 30 seconds)

Castle Class locomotive construction in Swindon
Huntley Film Archives. The building of No 7033 'Hartlebury Castle' at Swindon Works for British Railway's Western Region, in the 1950s. (4 minutes 28 seconds)

How to coal and oil a steam locomotive for a long run
Interesting Vintage Steam Locomotive Film period piece showing how things were on the railways in the UK many years ago. (5 minutes 44 seconds)

Great Western Locomotives, 1960s
Huntley Film Archives. Birmingham Snow Hill Station and GWR locomotives filmed in and around Swindon. (12 minutes 40 seconds)

GWR - Steam Trains Speeding Along (1947)
Unissued / unused material. Various shots steam trains (passenger and goods) speeding along railway lines through Taplow station. (5 minutes 25 seconds)

Great Western Railway railway sleepers
Huntley Film Archives. Great Western Railway Wooden sleepers for railway lines. Arrival of wood by canal. Treatment in the factory, cutting the wood to shape, chipping and sawdusting the waste, treatment with creosote in sealed chamber, movement by steam crane to factory, trimming, arrival of the chairs, bolting the chairs to the sleepers, by women workers, despatch to all GWR system. (10 minutes 0 seconds)

Paddington Steam
Colour film of steam at Paddington. (10 minutes 50 seconds)

Great Western Railway Episode 1
A mixture of contemporary and preserved steam film celebrating the Great Western Railway. (55 minutes 30 seconds)

Great Western Railway Episode 2
A mixture of contemporary and preserved steam film celebrating the Great Western Railway. (55 minutes 34 seconds)

Great Western Railway Episode 3
A mixture of contemporary and preserved steam film celebrating the Great Western Railway. (1 hour, 8 minutes and 45 seconds)

Great Western Railway Episode 4
A mixture of contemporary and preserved steam film celebrating the Great Western Railway. 54 minutes 25 seconds

Great Western Railway Episode 5
A mixture of contemporary and preserved steam film celebrating the Great Western Railway. (1 hour, 22 minutes and 3 seconds)

Great Western Railway Episode 6
A mixture of contemporary and preserved steam film celebrating the Great Western Railway. (57 minutes 17 seconds)

Western Region Steam in the 1960s
On the Western Region in the 60's featuring many ex-GWR steam locomotives including Kings, Castles, Halls and Manors. (7 minutes 57 seconds)