Every now and then you find a video that really makes you want to laugh (or cry). During a spare five minutes, I found the above advert for British Rail's Away Day Return tickets (something I used to use a lot when I was younger).
Even in the 70's, it was noted that taking a train to Central London was still quicker, and cheaper, by train. Even today, once you take into account the rising cost of petrol and the congestion charge, it is still much better to take the train.
So enjoy this one, showing Hattie Jacques racing Jackie Stewart to Central London (Jackie obviously driving) from 1976.
First, let me say that I am sorry that I haven't posted for 8 days. Being self employed means that sometimes you have busy or quiet periods. The last few days have been a busy period, so I just haven't had the time.
So today I offer something in the meantime, until I find the time to really put some blog entries together. A piece from 1933 British Movietone film, shortly after the Brighton Line had been electrified. It is a silent movie I am afraid - but if you like, I will pull out the old Joanna, and see what I can come up with.
I love snow. Don't see enough of it in Southampton, but I do love it all the same. When I lived in Farnborough, it would snow every year, but not so in Southampton. Quite often I would be on the train leaving Farnborough in a bizzard, only to find that it had disappeared by Winchester. Quite often work wouldn't believe me that I was blocked in by the white stuff.
But there is nothing more fun than snow, and todays BFI film is fun, since it's about snow. It's also 1963, where steam and diesel are having to work together, and a lot is still done by hand.
The Film owes it's existence to a somewhat happy twist of fate, as the director, Geoffery Jones, was originally researching for a film about something else, and based on the footage he had, decided to create a separate film. What he came up with was a film that contrasts the comfort of the passengers with the often Herculean efforts of the workmen to keep the trains going in hazardous conditions.
Viewing the film can be a hypnotic experience. It begins with a slow military throb, with the railway station and tracks all but buried beneath a mountain of snow and ice. The pace increases with the workmen's clearing of the tracks, and while the trains barrel through the snow-covered countryside, the music accelerates. The percussive editing between trains and environment reaches a joyous crescendo with a rapid succession of pounding snow, churning pistons, fields of livestock and the ever-present tracks, ending in a wild flourish of percussion.
Today is part two of the film Cybernetica, from 1972 on behalf of the Union Internationale de Chemins de Fer (which, so Google tells me, means International Union of Railways), by British Transport Films.
With Christmas on it's way, I haven't had a chance to write anything up, so for the last couple of days, it has just been videos and films. And today and tomorrow are no different.
Today's offering is part one of a British Transport Film entitled "Cybernetica", made in 1972 on behalf of the Union Internationale de Chemins de Fer (which, so Google tells me, means International Union of Railways).
The story tells of three lovely girls (that's what the film says) travelling to Paris from different parts of Europe, and how new computer technology has changed their journeys from them olden times. It's the latest wonder of the new age, as everything was then. We tend to forget, with our latest computer, laptops, Ipads and phones, that computers are considered old hat, and nothing is new any more.
And remember that this film was made in 1972. Not only if the fashion suspect in the least, it is also extremely sexist, and at the same time, gay! But none the less, there is some great footage of European trains and stations, and not a TGV is sight (far to early for that).
This is one of those "just for fun" videos. But you do have to wonder how stupid people have to be. As her in doors would put it - they must have gotten their license free with a packet of corn flakes.
No reason behind today's selection, other than it really interested me. The Waterloo and City Line is always an interesting little line, as it is not connected to the main Tube network. So the only way to get something in and out was via the Armstrong lift (see the video above).
Sadly the Armstrong lift no longer exists, itwas demolished (along with the entire Western sidings) in 1992 due to the construction of Waterloo International – the former Eurostar terminal.
These days the procedure is carried out using a road-mounted crane in a shaft adjacent to the depot, south of Waterloo mainline station on Spur Road. This is only necessary for major maintenance work that requires lifting of the car body as the Waterloo depot is fully equipped for general maintenance work.
Until I started working on this blog, I had never come across this rail safety film. At the time it was made, I would have been 8 years old, and I can safely say that I had never seen it, even when we had visits at the school by train drivers and/or BTP officers promoting rail safety.
And now having watched it, I think it should be shown to all kids over the age of 8. It is a very poignant piece of work, and would certainly scare the crap out of any kid who sees it. That should be enough to stop them trespassing on the railway.
I love social history. Buildings and events are ok, but it compares not a jolt to how people lived and worked. And how the environment that they lived in affected their lives. So my first offering reflects a very interesting and important change in our countries history since the second world war. That first wave of mass immigration of the 50's.
The film was made by the colonial film unit, and highlights how easy it is to use the bus service in London. And at the time, bus travel would have been the best way of getting around town. So it makes sense to advertise this fact to anyone intending to move to the uk. I would imagine there was a lot of films like this, as it would have been important to get people prepared for their arrival.
