Following the nationalisation of public transport in 1948, the British Transport Commission set up its own in-house film production unit. Launched on 1 May 1949, British Transport Films was led for 25 years by Edgar Anstey – a founding father of the British documentary movement – and became one of the largest industrial film units in Britain.
This 2-disc collection includes 14 newly remastered films, most of which have never been released on DVD before, including Railbus for the 80’s, Five in Millions and Speedlink: The Quiet Revolution. Also included on this release is a new score for Safe on the Track? by composer Mordecai Smyth.
Includes a fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the films by BFI curator and BTF expert Steven Foxon and post-war transport historian and enthusiast Stephen Edwards.
This digitally remastered collection is a must for the transport enthusiast and the documentary aficionado alike.
Contents:
Disc 1
Diesel Train Driver: Driving the Train (1959, 19 mins)
Railway Electrification at Industrial Frequency (1960, 26 mins)
Contact with the Heart of England (1967, 8 mins)
Speed the Payload (1967, 15 mins)
Safe on the Track? (1969, 11 mins)
Flashing Yellows (1976, 10 mins)
Railbus for the 80's (1978, 6 mins)
Disc 2
Through to the Continent by Ferry Train (1978, 8 mins)
Carriage Cleaning (1978, 28 mins)
Great Britain: A Travel Guide (1978, 9 mins)
Five in Millions (1978, 26 mins)
Emergency Coupling Class 253/4 (1980, 14 mins)
Safe at Work? (1980, 26 mins)
Speedlink: The Quiet Revolution (1980, 9 mins)
Extras
Newly commissioned score for Safe on the Track by composer Mordecai Smyth
Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the films by the BFI’s Steven Foxon and post-war transport historian and enthusiast Stephen Edwards
