There are two separate films assembled to be projected in training sessions. The first film is ‘The Deltic Locomotive’, produced by Napier Film Production around 1960. Colour film with optical soundtrack. This is an incomplete version of the film, focusing on the replacement of the engine unit, as there are splices directly in the print, likely made to shorten the film’s duration and focus on sequences relevant to training.

The film starts with a Deltic locomotive in blue livery arriving at a maintenance shed or workshop. The locomotive is partially dismantled, one of the Napier Deltic engine is removed, a new engine is mounted, the connections are remade. The film includes wide shots of locomotive in the shed and many close-up shots of locomotive parts and workers dismantling or fitting in the parts. The engine shed workers are wearing white overalls. The film ends with the locomotive leaving the shed. Approximate duration: 6 minutes

The second film ' Diesel Power on British Railways (Excerpts from British Transport Films)' is a film produced by British Transport Films in 1965. The film illustrates the range of diesel engine use on British Railways (freight, passenger transports), listing the benefits of diesel in comparison to steam locomotives, with emphasis on the cooperation between the railways and the locomotive manufacturing industry. The film concludes that diesel power on British Railways is building an economic, efficient and modern railway for Britain. Approximate duration: 6 minutes

The Vulcan Foundry was originally opened in 1832, as Charles Tayleur and Company. It initially produced girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. From about 1834, the Vulcan Foundry started building steam locomotives, and from 1835 started exporting locomotives internationally, production for international exports remained an important activity of the company until its closure in 2002. From 1929, the works started working on diesel and electric engines. In 1955 it became a member of the English Electric Group of Companies and started manufacturing English Electric diesel engines, including the prototype Deltic, fitted with two Napier engines, and the subsequent order of Deltics/Class 55 locomotives for British Railways. The works continued other diesel and electric engines for BR and foreign railways. In 1968, English Electric became part of GEC, so did Vulcan Foundry.

This film reel was used for training of workers at Vulcan Foundry in the 1960s.

The films can be considered alongside other objects in our collection such as the Deltic proptotype (‘Deltic' Co-Co 3300HP, 1955, 1963-80), a sectioned Deltic diesel engine (1989-7252), the GEC Traction Archive (GEC) and oral history recordings in the National Archive of Railway Oral History.