16mm film, original master 'The Last Train From Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog'

Made:
1961 in Wales
maker:
Patrick Bruce Whitehouse
and
John H L Adams

Filmed in 1961 on Bala and Festiniog Railway (standard gauge), Snowdonia, Wales. Footage of British Transport Commission British Railways public notice board, notice of closure of Frongoch, Arenig and Blaeneau Ffestiog (Central) stations on 28 January 1961, shot of a map of North Wales, footage of Bala station, passengers waiting on platform, arrival of SLS special double headed train pulled by locomotives No.4645 and No. 8791, locomotives water refill at water tank, various shots of the train journey filmed from the lineside and further, train passing through Welsh landscape, Arenig signal box, semaphore signal, train arriving at station, water tank refill, continuing journey with shots taken from the top of the locomotive, view over tracks and landscape, photographers and observers occasionally seen on the lineside, passing over Cwm Prysor viaduct, Trawsfynydd station, arrival at Bala station, crowds watching the train, taking pictures, close-up shots of the locomotive, waving goodbye at the two locomotives leaving 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: 6 minutes

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 'Gordon Highlander on the Spey River Line' on title frame on film and on Railway Roundabout 16mm masters list and 'Last train to Blaenau' on BBC Programme Index. First broadcast on 11 April 1961 on BBC Television.

Details

Category:
Moving Images
Object Number:
1981-7103
Materials:
cellulose acetate, plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
type:
16 mm film
credit:
Adams & Whitehouse