U-Matic videotape of British Railways television commercials from 1980 to 1987

Compilation of British Railways television commercials made between 1980 and 1987 by advertising agencies including McMillan & Hughes Productions, Lowe, Howard, Spink, RSA films, J. Walter Thompson Agency. This tape contains the following commercials: 1985 Museum (filmed at the National Railway Museum, York), 1985 Intercity Scotsman (actually Intercity vs Flying Scotsman advert, titled 'Coronation Scotsman on label of tape)), 1986 Songs, 1986 French connection and 1980s 'Imposing trains' Britains railway (long and short versions), 1987 Intercity saver 21st anniversary.

This videotape along with others in the collection, form a representative sample of British Railways television advertising between the 1960s and mid-1990s. The different adverts feature the breadth of styles and scope of advertising companies used over the years. Some of the agencies represented are J. Walter Thompson Agency (now Wunderman Thompson), GPCC Advertising, Saatchi & Saatchi, Gold Greenless Trott, Abbott Meade Vickers, Allen, Brady & Marsh (ABM). Though, productions details have not been identified for all adverts. Some of British Railways adverts have had popular success and won awards, e.g. Relax, made by Saatchi & Saatchi 1988, promoting Intercity services, won 13 awards from various advertising competitions. The collection also includes different versions of same adverts: regional versions, short (10 seconds) and long (30-50 seconds) versions, seasonal versions.