16mm film, original master 'SLS Special (Harborne & Halesowen Branches)'

Filmed in 1959 in the West Midlands, England. Footage of Birmingham New Street station, SLS Special No. 721 train led by steam locomotive No. 58283 arriving at platform, small crowd waiting, train departing. Footage of the train journey on Harborne and Halesowen branches. Footage filmed from the lineside, showing small crowds, adults and kids watching the train go by, from platform, countryside and on the tracks, passengers getting back on board after a stop on the tracks, electric train passing by signal box junction at Smethwick West, SLS special passing, Halesowen station, locomotive No. 58167 with driver and fireman chatting at station, SLS Special led by 58271 arriving at station, No. 58167 attached at back of train, locomotive detached at another station. A film made for Railway Roundabout BBC TV, by John Adams and Patrick Whitehouse. This is the original master film reel, black and white, silent. Duration: 5 minutes 20 seconds

This film is part of the Railway Roundabout collection donated by the makers of the programme, John Adams and Patrick Whitehouse. They produced films on contemporary British and foreign railways for the BBC Children's programme 'Railway Roundabout, broadcast monthly between 1958 and 1962 on BBC Television. The commentary was created and broadcast live, so the original films in the collection are silent. The Railway Roundabout collection includes the original masters, prints, some offcuts and working material for Railway Roundabout programmes as well as other films (non-Railway Roundabout) made by the John Adams and Patrick Whitehouse and a small number of films made by others. The collection also includes the original un-edited audio recordings made between 1960 and 1965 by John Adams and Patrick Whitehouse for the BBC radio programme Railway Roundup. Additionally, John Adams and Patrick Whitehouse were both photographers, their respective photographic collections are held by the National Railway Museum. This film is titled 'SLS Special (Harborne & Halesowen Branches)' on title frame on film and on Railway Roundabout 16mm masters list and 'S.L.S.' Special' on BBC Programme Index. First broadcast on 28 July 1959 on BBC Television.