British Transport Films Collection Vol. 1: On and off the Rails

Synopsis

The first of five double-disc DVD versions of bfi Video’s VHS series THE BRITISH TRANSPORT FILMS COLLECTION. Following the post-war thirst for visual teaching and educational entertainment and the nationalisation of transport in 1948, the British Transport Commission set up its own in-house film production and distribution unit in 1949. Over a period of 37 years, until its closure in 1986, it made over 700 films promoting travel on Britain’s railways or providing technical instruction.

These films entertain just as much as they inform and will appeal equally to film historians, transport enthusiasts and anyone wishing to catch a glimpse of a Britain rapidly vanishing from the present day.

Disc 1 - On the Rails
BLUE PULLMAN (1960 / Colour / 25mins)
ELIZABETHAN EXPRESS (1954 / Black and white / 20mins)
TRAIN TIME (1952 / Black and white / 28mins)
RAIL 150 (1975 / Colour / 14 mins)
THE DIESEL TRAIN DRIVER (1959 / Black and white / 7 mins)
ON TRACK FOR THE EIGHTIES (1980 / Colour / 15mins)
CYBERNETICA (1972 / Colour / 20 mins)

Disc 2 - Off the Rails
UNDER THE RIVER(1959 / Black and white / 27mins)
SNOWDRIFT AT BLEATH GILL (1955 / Black and white / 10mins)
THIS YEAR - London (1951 / Black and white / 25 mins)
THIS IS YORK (1953 / Black and white / 20 mins)
THE GREAT HIGHWAY (1966 / Colour / 20 mins)
A DAY OF ONE’S OWN (1956 / Black and white / 20mins)

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2005

Year of production

1951-1980

Documentation

A booklet containing an introduction and film notes by BTF historian Steven Foxon accompanies the discs.

Subjects

History; Media studies

Keywords

British Transport Films; social history; transport; archive films

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

261 minutes

Year

2005

Sections

Title

Blue Pullman

Duration

25 mins

Title

Elizabethan Express

Duration

20 mins

Title

Train Time

Duration

28 mins

Title

Rail 150

Duration

14 mins

Title

Diesel Train, The

Duration

7 mins

Title

On Track for the Eighties

Duration

15 mins

Title

Cybernetica

Duration

20 mins

Title

Under the River

Duration

27 mins

Title

Snowdrift at Bleath Gill

Duration

10 mins

Title

This Year - London

Duration

25 mins

Title

This is York

Duration

20 mins

Title

Great Highway, The

Duration

20 mins

Title

Day of One’s Own, A

Duration

20 mins

Title

John Betjeman goes by Train

Duration

10 mins

Production Company

Name

British Transport Films

Notes

Some BTF films are distributed by Beulah.

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email

video.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7957 8957

Fax

020 7957 8968

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

 

Available from retail outlets