James Ritchie

Through the forward-looking windows of the new diesel multiple-unit trains reveals a new world of signs, signals and railway sights to those who ride behind the driver. For children, particularly, find this is a fascinating experience. This film communicates something of their excitement and wonder as well as some of the wry, un-conscious humour with which their pertinent and amusing questions and comments are so often interlerded.

Young Robbie, a keen footballer and a railway enthusiast, is persuaded by his big brother to go through a hole in a railway fence on to the track for some reason. His laces become caught on the tracks and he has an accident so serious that he will never play football again. A film for showing to eight to eleven-year old children and their parents, which points out the folly of breaking railway fences and trespassing on the line, and illustrates the immediate dangers. Part of BFI collection "The Age of the Train".

Features the 07.55 from Sheffield to St Pancras. The camera follows to Leicester, where a young man is late for a job interview thanks to a variety of incidents including a freight train blocking the line and an improperly secured door at Derby. The film is a modernised version of an older theme for British Transport 'Right Time Means Right Time', where the accumulation of many minor delays on the part of BR staff soon add up down the line to make a train very late.

A largely animated exposition of the need for, and methods of improvement, in British Rail Corporate Planning.

Made for senior and middle British Rail management and supervisory staff, to stimulate discussion and provoke action, by alerting them to their responsibilities for staff safety, and the pressing need to reduce accident figures.

The complex technology of modern rail track is shown, covering component manufacturers, current methods of laying track and its maintenance.

Through the forward-looking windows of the new diesel multiple-unit trains reveals a new world of signs, signals and railway sights to those who ride behind the driver. For children, particularly, find this is a fascinating experience. This film communicates something of their excitement and wonder as well as some of the wry, un-conscious humour with which their pertinent and amusing questions and comments are so often interlerded.

Young Robbie, a keen footballer and a railway enthusiast, is persuaded by his big brother to go through a hole in a railway fence on to the track for some reason. His laces become caught on the tracks and he has an accident so serious that he will never play football again. A film for showing to eight to eleven-year old children and their parents, which points out the folly of breaking railway fences and trespassing on the line, and illustrates the immediate dangers. Part of BFI collection "The Age of the Train".

Features the 07.55 from Sheffield to St Pancras. The camera follows to Leicester, where a young man is late for a job interview thanks to a variety of incidents including a freight train blocking the line and an improperly secured door at Derby. The film is a modernised version of an older theme for British Transport 'Right Time Means Right Time', where the accumulation of many minor delays on the part of BR staff soon add up down the line to make a train very late.

A largely animated exposition of the need for, and methods of improvement, in British Rail Corporate Planning.

Made for senior and middle British Rail management and supervisory staff, to stimulate discussion and provoke action, by alerting them to their responsibilities for staff safety, and the pressing need to reduce accident figures.

The complex technology of modern rail track is shown, covering component manufacturers, current methods of laying track and its maintenance.

In a world growing ever shorter of energy, railways are well suited to satisfy the world's future transport needs. This is the story of the new railways in Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Poland and Italy.

An illustrated lecture given by Dr. Beeching on the development and improvement of Britain's major railway trunk routes. Offers a forecast of the requirements of 1984 outlined in his 1964 report.

When a schoolboy's day-dream of a fantasy sports day includes events where acts of vandalism and trespass are required, dire consequences ensue. Originally created as an educational film, this somewhat surrealist short has a serious message at its core. This won't be a lesson you'll forget in a hurry.

British Rail's wagon control system and how it works, concentrating on the information most useful to the specific wagon operating staff.

A compilation film on the recent technical achievements of British Rail; made for screening in Washington on the signing of the 'Budd' contract. Material obtained from various BTF films directed and shot by others.

Introduces the principle of newly developed computer techniques for planning train movements, crew and locomotive rosters and for producing and printing timetables. Explains the programmes, shows the equipment in action and some of the changes in working methods. Intended for British Rail staff involved in train movement planning, overseas railway audiences and specialist computer-application, non-railway audiences.

“Promotes trade with Britain among other countries in the European Community after the UK's entry on 1st January 1973. Kelloggs is given as an example of how major British companies worked at this period.” - Robin Carmody.

Britain operates the most experienced diesel and electric railway in tne world. A century and a half ago she invented the steam engine and introduced a new system of transport; and in only nine years British Rail and the British locomotive industry designed, built and tested enough diesel and electric locomotives to replace fifteen thousand steam engines. The transition from steam to new forms of motive power, and its effects on rallwaymen and passengers, is the subject of this film. Produced in association with the Central Office of Information, the British Locomotive Allied Manufacturers' Association and the British Electrical Manufacturers' Association.

Britain operates the most experienced diesel and electric railway in tne world. A century and a half ago she invented the steam engine and introduced a new system of transport; and in only nine years British Rail and the British locomotive industry designed, built and tested enough diesel and electric locomotives to replace fifteen thousand steam engines. The transition from steam to new forms of motive power, and its effects on rallwaymen and passengers, is the subject of this film. Produced in association with the Central Office of Information, the British Locomotive Allied Manufacturers' Association and the British Electrical Manufacturers' Association.

A review of innovation and development within BR and its businesses, including: modernisation of freight facilities and service to new companies; progress of the Bedford/St. Pancras electrification project; paved track and permanent way maintenance; Sealink's "Galloway Princess"; Seaspeed's SRN4; and the Research department's magnetically levitated vehicle. For general showing.

A film about one of the most responsible and professional jobs on British Railways. Practical work in shop and signal box, on gantry and trackside, coupled with instruction in mechanics, electricity, electronics and draughtsmanship, lead the apprentice intro the intricacies of design, the excitement of research and experiment, and the intense satisfaction of being in on a big changeover from old-style semaphore signalling to a new coloured light system.

The history of the BRS (British Road Services), the general haulage network of the UK. Part of BFI collection "Points and Aspects."

A group of workers from a Leicester shoe-making company travel down south for a day in the Smoke.

A journalist chats on the unusual excursions possible from nodal stations on Europe's train networks. Douglas Browne, journalist and traveller, takes us about Europe re-telling his experiences of many countries (Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain) and letting us into the secret of making the journey over land and see an exciting part of a holiday or business trip.

Documentary from British Transport Films

‘St Christopher’s - for the children of Railway Servants’. About a hundred children are cared for at this Derby railway orphanage and this film gives a selection of scenes from a typical day: the breakfast mail, a boy with a problem, a girl with a worry, a visit from two widowers, a birthday tea party. An official insight into a forgotten aspect of railway operation.

The work of a team of men who tackle a special British Road Services job in the treacherous terrain of the Scottish Highlands.

A short documentary.

Short film documenting children's street games and songs in 1950s Edinburgh.

Intended for European audiences to encourage them to drive to Britain for their holidays. Shows the travel facilities offered by Sealink, and suggests some of Britain's tourist attractions.

A litter basket muses on the failure of people to feed it at a busy mainline railway station.

The achievements of BREL - British Rail Engineering Limited - are celebrated in this promotional film looking at two of the company's 13 workshops, at Horwich in Lancashire and Crewe, in which locomotives and carriages are built for British Rail and companies overseas.

Blue Pullman is a 1960 short documentary film directed by James Ritchie, which follows the development, preparation and a journey from Manchester to London on new British Railways Blue Pullman units. As with earlier British Transport Films, many of the personnel, scientists, engineers, crew and passengers were featured in the 20 minute film. It won several awards, including the Technical & Industrial Information section of the Festival for Films for Television in 1961. The film is also particularly noted for its score, by Clifton Parker, which, unlike the earlier Elizabethan Express is uninterrupted by any commentary.

Blue Pullman is a 1960 short documentary film directed by James Ritchie, which follows the development, preparation and a journey from Manchester to London on new British Railways Blue Pullman units. As with earlier British Transport Films, many of the personnel, scientists, engineers, crew and passengers were featured in the 20 minute film. It won several awards, including the Technical & Industrial Information section of the Festival for Films for Television in 1961. The film is also particularly noted for its score, by Clifton Parker, which, unlike the earlier Elizabethan Express is uninterrupted by any commentary.

A look at British involvement in the construction of the new double-track railway from Kowloon, on Hong Kong's harbour, to the Chinese border.

Promotional tourist film, presenting a history of Britain concentrating on landscape and Inter-City travel.

Underlines the importance of waterways as mans of modern transport. Details the way in which the network of waterways covers britain.

Thirty Million Letters is a 1963 short documentary film directed by James Ritchie and made by British Transport Films. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.

Thirty Million Letters is a 1963 short documentary film directed by James Ritchie and made by British Transport Films. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.

Electrification, and the raiIway men of Rugby adopt new methods and use new machines. In this film they tell in their own words of the great technological changes and the human problems of adapting which each has to face. As with seamen and farmers, railwaymen even today remain curiously close to nature; and gain flexibility of mind from the relationship.

Electrification, and the raiIway men of Rugby adopt new methods and use new machines. In this film they tell in their own words of the great technological changes and the human problems of adapting which each has to face. As with seamen and farmers, railwaymen even today remain curiously close to nature; and gain flexibility of mind from the relationship.

One of six films which examine in depth the work involved in this great engineering project. As they are of a technical nature, they were only available for showing to suitable audiences. In preparation for the construction of the new Victoria / Walthamstow line two experimental lengths of tunnels are driven using different lining materials. The film shows in considerable detail the aligning of the cutting equipment, the operation of the shield and cutters and the two techniques of lining.

A study of British forests, and the benefits that responsible management of their resources can bring in terms of ensuring constant renewal.