British Transport Films: Blue Pullman

I recently purchased the BFI's British Transport Films collection, comprising all 125 short films produced by the BTF from 1950 to 1983. This first film, from 1960, followed the testing and running of a first-class Blue Pullman service from the Midlands to St Pancras.



This screen shot from the film is of two bridges near where I live, crossing the river Trent. The lines head into two tunnels underneath Red Hill and come out alongside the Radcliffe-Upon-Soar power station. The western tunnel into which the train in the film goes has an entrance in the form of a mock castle, complete with turrets.

Later in the film, a member of staff is seen checking the progress of the train against a printed list of checkpoints, including Sawley and Sheet Stores Junction, which both lie between here an the location in the above shot.