First saw this film in 1960 when I was a 13 Yr old schoolboy. I've watched it many times since and each time I remember the first viewing. It was already dated by 1960 but looking back now it seems like a totally different world. I love the steam locomotive and worked on the railways but in the days of steam there was a lot of hard and dirty work involved that few would tolerate today. The big thing that I notice is the way we all pulled together then, whereas now everyone seems to be an expert on everything and they all know better than the guy who's actually doing the job. Makes me wonder where we went wrong. Thanks for the memories of days long gone!

@johnjephcote7636

Жыл бұрын

I remember the old barrows, before the BRUTES came in. They would not steer precisely and we borrowed the Post Office red ones.

Back in the early 2000s, the Station Announcer at York would virtually sing the train times and destinations. It was a pleasure to hear.

@JCJTC

Жыл бұрын

I remember that. Easier on the vocal chords too

My dad is in this film - he was a Porter back then .

@Robert_Manners

3 жыл бұрын

Can you add a time stamp to him in the footage? Did he ever mention the production of the film at all?

@penelopefidkin109

3 жыл бұрын

He was loading parcels from the train

@penelopefidkin109

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry he never mentioned it.

“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams

Excellent very nice and unique old railway system wonderful communication

Very nostalgic video, makes life peaceful.

Lovely film.

Probably in my late 20s when I first saw this I'm not sure if I have the words to describe the beauty, and then you forgets and every few years you're taken back to this wonderful film, and it's just possible it gets a little bit better every time

British Railways seen as a huge organisation back then with everything working together. All the regions,their land transport,ferries,hotels and more. I’m 59 but missed this by a good few years and wished I could have been there.

a lovely film watched this a dozen times and I cant stop watching this amazing film

The general look at York station still looks the same Fantastic atmosphere with the big trains coming down from Scotland to London,not Deltics or A4 but still great to watch.Just beware of the chavs coming down from Newcastle at the weekend.York is still the most interesting City in GB with the walls , Barbican. Minster Old churches and of course,Pubs.Just choose your times,Atmosphere just before Christmas is fabulous indeed Greatest City in Britain

Amazing film.It is like reading a excellant novel.Very sentimental ending indeed.Just wonderful depiction of Golden era of steam.

A very informative (human documentary) day in the life of the station master, and the organisation that exists to serve the people.

My dad remembered that as a boy, you could set your watch to British trains.

I am glad that I visited that original railway museum...maybe where the first station had been. When I next went o the museum it was where I had visited the locos in the shed back in '64...a bit more pristine.

Fond memories as a child of the announcement "This is York" from back in the 50's and 60's Kings Cross to York for our holidays in Stillingfleet!

A Tribute to the people who made the goods and people move. And they did!

Fantastic film

Wonderful to see these scenes of a long gone time period.

Its always interesting to look at the credits on films, such as this lovely one, produced by an organisation's in-house film unit, as they include names of technicians who went on the greater and bigger things. The assistant cameraman on this film, Bob Paynter, became a highly respected DoP on many famous films such as Trading Places, American Werewolf in London and Michael Jackson's Thriller. The Coal Board also had its own film dept where highly esteemed cameraman and photographer Wolfgang Suschitzky (Get Carter 1971) worked early in his career. As for York Station itself, I recall being taken there by my father in the late 1950s and being thrilled by express steam trains thundering through its magnificent and beautiful curved structure. It has featured in several movies including Chariots of Fire and a Harry Potter film.

I have to watch films like this to actually believe it all happened compared with what we have now

@noelchild4217

3 жыл бұрын

Ex Guildford MPD

Excellent... Thanks.

Beautiful film! Thanks for this!

It would be fantastic if these were on DVD. So many lost once taken down.

@anthonyharrison3343

3 жыл бұрын

David, you wil find this film on the British Transport Films Collection DVD VOL 1 Titled - On and off the Rails. I bought mine on Amazon but have seen them on E-Bay. There are other short films on the DVD which i am sure would delight you too!

York Station hasn't changed much since this film was made.... I am glad to say.

@robertplace6131

Ай бұрын

I thought York Station was bombed and severely damaged during the war, yet pictured here, it looks just as the Victorians left it !

Brings back many memories, both painful and exciting . Trains still, at age 77, can easily turn me to tears as much of my childhood, being an Army brat, meant moving and leaving one place or another. Beeching pulled service from my North Yorkshire town of Kirkbymoorside and the station was torn down a couple of years ago so a physical representation of my life vanishes but it leaves strong memories to recall. Old films such as these also remind us of the horrible pollution which was exacted upon everything by this marvelous invention. It make one wonder how long it will be when existence on this Earth will come to an end for humans.

@nevilefoster2784

3 жыл бұрын

The interesting thing is that the Victorian road bridge over the station tracks (single span) is still in operation. It wouldn't have been designed for the ‘Very Heavy Loads’ currently carried from the engineering works at the bottom of Ings Lane. This is a testament to Victorian engineering, but it has been pointed out there is a very slight “dip” at the apex! You used to be able to climb on all the engines in the old museum and York station reeked of smoke in the "good old days", not conveyed by a video!!

@michaeldibb

Жыл бұрын

Passenger services stopped in 1953 due to lack of use, the station carried on as goods only until 1964 and Beaching's axe closed it altogether.

Thanks for sharing this! Really interesting

Very Charming.

Lovely

I love the music in this.

Now imagine a Spacex Mars shuttle being presented in the same nostalgic way... ;-)

That telephonist nearest to the camera, was a station announcer in another BTF film.

@trevorashworth7307

Жыл бұрын

I think that was in The Elizabethan.

And now I will show You what We have Lost (charles Dickens)

Got this on VHS, beautiful film ❤️

I was 2 years old when this came out.

@RebelWithACause-ts7de

2 жыл бұрын

Me too Paul!

Didn't realise that the Queen worked as a part time Announcer in 1953

@ephphatha230

2 жыл бұрын

This is the Duke of York

good....

Pity the dubbing wasn't as well informed as the train spotters; there was a Jubilee on the Sheffield train at 4:20, but the sound effects library couldn't seem to find a Stanier whistle

@AndreiTupolev

3 жыл бұрын

@MusicalElitist1 you're certainly an elitist, if that means pointlessly rude

10:00 the original sir tompham hatt

Changed days now the engine driver wears the bowler hat or evens owns the locomotive

13:20 "now the passengers have taken to buses, and the parcels by van": sorry, they're trying to make that a selling point? "We've closed your station! It's so much more efficient and user-friendly! 😋"?

@beeble2003

3 жыл бұрын

You can bet that _nobody_ was using those trains, if the line closed more than ten years before Beeching.

@AcombDave

3 жыл бұрын

@@beeble2003 cars were becoming easier to purchase strange now the roads are clogging up people are looking at yeopening some the rural staions.

Just wondering if anyone can help me. I had a video growing up whereby there was a history of the UK railways and the types of trains and then a procession of locomotives with commentary. This piece of film ‘This is York’ featured at the end of the video as the last piece. Does anyone know the name of it? Ive been looking and looking and cant find it and reminds me of my childhood. Any help would be gratefully received. Thanks

Must outages ? Would love to see the un-used footage

Wow

Can’t help but think that God the railway companies were cheap skates even back then, charging a ‘platform fee’ to kids wanting to train spot. It’s not as if the cost of the platform ticket was going to exactly make the difference between keeping them solvent.

@nevilefoster2784

3 жыл бұрын

Early education that you "don't get 'owt for nowt"

@RebelWithACause-ts7de

2 жыл бұрын

It was One Penny which sometimes we didn't have!

The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore; not like did back in 1954!

Can anyone identify the music that starts at 7:35 and continues for about 30 seconds?

@beeble2003

3 жыл бұрын

The credits at 0:19 say that the music was composed by Leighton Lucas (who also wrote the score for _The Dam Busters_, though not the famous march which was by Eric Coates).

I also worked as a BR projectionist out of Waterloo station around 1954 to early 1960s. B.T.Fs admin manager was also named Potter. Any relation David?

@AcombDave

7 ай бұрын

Hi just seen your comment. No relation but I too was a projectionist and also showed this film at various places including on the travelling cine coach. I was based in York in the 70s when I did some projection work but my career on the railway was also spent in London Euston and Manchester Picadilly. Happy days.

Why haven't we at Crewe got a proper railway musuem ?

@AcombDave

7 ай бұрын

York is the National Museum for the country and like Crewe was/is a massive rail centre.

The announcer with her forced RP accent and thinking that closing the lines and using a van is an improvement. Ha ha. I love steam like the next person but we should have got rid of it far earlier than we did!

No, this is Patrick.

9:30 well no it wasn't; most of the rest of the world had heard of electric lights several decades earlier

@AcombDave

3 жыл бұрын

But the oil lamps were used for hanging onto the exteriors of trains.

Very Harry Enfield, that

@paulmason4616

4 жыл бұрын

All the women sounded like Queen Elizabeth in those days.

@paulmason4616

3 жыл бұрын

@MusicalElitist1 Just a bad impression I Had!!

If you like this film try this one also Snowdrift at Bleath Gill kzread.info/dash/bejne/npNhtq-HZZu2Z5c.html

Everything useful in 20 minutes. These days there is a 26 week series full of reality TV wannabes.

Ringthebell

He's the right shape to be the Fat Controller!!!

Never to return again

@Sameoldfitup

3 жыл бұрын

@MusicalElitist1 up yours

@TheMusicalElitist

3 жыл бұрын

What an idiotic comment.

@TheMusicalElitist

3 жыл бұрын

@@Sameoldfitup great ‘comeback’, boomer.

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