16mm film, original master, two Air Raid Precaution films ‘Repairs to permanent way damaged by high explosive and contaminated by liquid blister gas’ and ‘Repairing bomb damage to the line in presence of mustard gas, reel 2 of 3’

16mm original film, black and white and colour footage edited with splices, descriptive captions and explanatory drawings. Two films on one reel separated by green leader. 600 feet on 800 feet plastic canister (approximately 17 minutes).

Shots of damaged tracks, plane attacking, and men repairing tracks, but most of the reel focuses on communication between station and control. Green leader separating two films on the reel, second film, on safety measures to be followed by the workers to take off their contaminated protective clothes and boots. Captions: 1. London Midland and Scottish Railway (credit). 2. Repairs to permanent way damaged by high explosive and contaminated by liquid blister gas (title). 3. Part I - Air Attack. 4. The line is bombed and cut. 5. Gas spray. 6. An incident is staged for practice. 7. Gas is reported. 8. The signalman is informed of the incident, safeguards traffic, and informs Control. 9. The District Engineer calls out the Gas Safety Officer and arranges for the Special Repair Squad to stand by and prepare train. GREEN LEADER. 1. Here is a badly twisted and heavily contaminated rail being lifted away and placed downwind of the crater. 2. S&T men decontaminate the point rodding by brushing over with bleach cream. 3. The damaged point rodding is then straightened. 4. Other men proceed to erect the telegraph pole blown down by the H.E bomb. This pol was heavily contaminated with mustard and has been brushed over with bleach cream. 5. It will be seen that the S&T men have rubber gloves to facilitate detail work with the fingers. 6. Notice the withe horse on which tools must be leant to keep them off contaminated ground. 7. The posts carrying the signal wires are driven in. Notice how the man with the hammer seems to be panting after his efforts and rests a few moments. 8. It is dinnertime for the next shift. They return to the A.R.P unit to be undressed and have a meal. 9. Gum boots are removed first by undressers who wear gloves, but protective clothing is taken off in the unit by undressers whose hands are covered with anti-gas ointment No.2. 10. Note teh mistakes of the men who allow their stockinged feet to touch the ground, and of the dresser who possibly contaminates the inside of a boot with his glove. 11. The correct procedure is to swing the feet round like this. 12. Respirators and protective clothing are removed and hung up outside the coach on special rails and hooks. 13. As soon as the men have been undressed they wash their hands, put on whatever of their own clothing they need, and proceed to the next vehicle to eat their dinner. 14. End of reel two

Part of a collection of Air Raid Precaution instructional films and footage made by the London Midland and Scottish Railways during World War 2, retained by British Rail Research Laboratories, Derby, alongside British Rail Research own production of technical films. This ARP collection includes edited original films and offcuts.