Image
People
Corporate film produced by the film division of English Electric for English Electric Traction, in Stafford. Chinese (Mandarin) version of the film (title, commentary, captions and credits: all in Chinese). The film presents English Electric services and targets foreign clients. It details how locomotive construction projects are conducted, from the analysis of the local site to conveyance of the finished product and customer service. The film commentary is told by a traction engineer. The film starts with shots of diesel locomotive Class 55, Deltic D9021 ‘Argyll & Sutherland Highlander’, in green livery in station. Passengers are getting on board of carriages, guard and porters are seen on the platform, the train is filmed leaving the station. The following shots show the landscape from the moving train, the rails as well as inside carriage views. The train passes one of the English Electric buildings alongside the tracks. The commentary expresses the superiority of diesel and electric power to steam and lists the manufacturing covered by English Electric, from locomotive, power station to the household washing machine. This is accompanied with footage of locomotive frame at Vulcan foundry in Newton-le-Willow and footage of traction engineer office. A brief history of the company is also given. A map is featured with the location of its 24 factory sites in the United Kingdom and mention is made of the other six overseas locations. This also includes footage of a scrap yard and a steam locomotive being dismantled, trackside shots of electric and diesel locomotives, shots taken at Clapham Junction station and a train on a viaduct (possibly Meldon viaduct). Following the introduction, the film details the electric and diesel locomotives on offer and how English Electric proceeds with an order from foreign railways. Footage illustrates how an English Electric expert team goes on site in the foreign country to analyse the feasibility and needs of the specific site and prepare a report. The report is evaluated in the United Kingdom by engineers who prepare a project to submit to the client according to the site analysis. The project submitted is enhanced with numerous drawings of locomotive and parts. A standard contract can use up to 5000 drawings. The footage shows engineer drawing office. The manufacture of the locomotive and its parts is documented with many shots of the various stages of the process, close up shots of the machines and workers and large views at Preston works and the Vulcan factory. Footage also features the tests made in the factory and the first run on the special test tracks of the Vulcan factory with adjustable gauge. The locomotive filmed is prepared for delivery to the East African Railways and Harbours, the camera follows it being transported on road and lifted onto the ship to travel by sea. Once delivered, on a first order, English Electric ensures a team of British engineers is accompanying the locomotive on site to help the client bring the locomotive in service. Footage shows English Electric engineers explaining maintenance required and how to operate and drive the new locomotive to the East African railwaymen. A shot shows the new locomotive in its red livery passing an Equator sign on the trackside. A series of footage then illustrates how English Electric serves clients worldwide, featuring English Electric made locomotives in New-Zealand (freight train), Malaysia (passenger train), Sudan (freight train in the desert) , Australia (passenger train), Spain (coal and iron-ore train in the mountains), India (overcrowded passenger train) and in the United Kingdom. The film ends by reminding the history of the English Electric company and its importance in electric traction and rail transport history. The opening credits include a mention of English Electric acknowledging the following companies for their help in the making of the film: British Railways, Central Electricity Generating Board, Science Museum London, Indian Railways, Malaysian Railways, New-Zealand Railways, Queensland Railways in Australia, Spanish Railways, Sudan Railways, and East African Railways and Harbours for their special cooperation.

Film - The Locomotive Builders

Corporate film produced for GEC Transportation Projects Limited by Anvil Film and Recording Group Limited, directed by Peter Hopkinson. Brazilian Portuguese version for Brazil. The film presents the services offered by GEC TPL and targets potential foreign clients. Using footage of modern railway projects conducted by GEC TPL and animated drawings, the film argues the superiority of rail transport and diesel and electric traction while showcasing GEC TPL services to run railway modernisation and electrification projects entirely. Numerous shots were taken of various railway systems around the world, especially on Taiwan Railways, British Railways and London Underground. Film footage and animated drawings feature and compare examples of freight transportation by aircraft, barge, ship, road and rail. The film exposes and compares the existing options for modern railway: diesel, diesel electric or electric traction. GEC TPL is presented as an all-in-one company which can coordinate all aspects of building a new or modernise a railway system: design, construction, equipping, training, commissioning and funding. A map reveals the various railway companies around the world with which GEC TPL already works closely in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, etc. The film reviews the steps through how a modern electric railway is created. An assessment is made by specialists, consultants and local experts on site and a feasibility report is produced. This is illustrated with shots showing paper proposals previously produced by GEC TPL: Tender for Electrification of the Trunk Line from Keelung to Kaohsiung for Taiwan Railway Administration; Modernisation, Electrification and Development of the Kowloon-Canton Railway System (Hong Kong); Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway System; Carajas Railway Project (Brazil); Rede Ferroviaria Federal S.A (Brazil); Ferrocarril Suburban en Areas Metropolitanas del Valle de Mexico; Iranian State Railways, Modernisation and Electrification of Tehran-Tabriz Line. Close up shots of British Railways electric locomotives demonstrate the difference between low voltage DC third rail system and overhead high voltage AC system, and the existence of dual standard system with manual or automatic changeover. Footage of the London’s financial building illustrates GEC TPL ability to help clients with seeking funding and negotiations. Further step in making a modern railway is the actual construction or modernisation of tracks, which can be coordinated by GEC TPL, commissioning local contractors. This is shown using footage of track laying, construction, bridge and tunnel work around the world. Further footage shows computers in offices as well as tests, surveys and measurements conducted on site, checking ground conditions, rail alignment. These data are used to assess the best choice of structure and line side equipment according to the specific site. A segment explains the path of power, how it is conveyed and transformed from the power station to the railways. Some footage shows substation cabins, vacuum circuit breakers and modern interrupters necessary for underground railway. A modern signalling system is featured; cable circuits lodged along the trackside are filmed. Some shots were taken inside a control centre for Taiwan Railways. In parallel to track construction, power and telecommunication equipment build on site, locomotive and rolling stock are built and delivered as told by large shots of a factory followed by shots of carriage being unloaded from a ship in Taiwan. After delivery, GEC TPL ensures modern workshops are available to take care of the necessary maintenance on the locomotive and rolling stock and delivers a technical and managerial training scheme for the local workers. Using footage of the London Underground, the film also promotes GEC TPL service to help organising a network. Finally, GEC TPL is understood as a full package services in one single company handling all the aspects of the construction or modernisation of a railway for its clients. The end credits acknowledge the following companies for their help in the making of the film: British Railways, British Transport Films, Central Electricity Generating Board, Film Australia, London Transport Executive, Rede Ferroviaria Federal S.A (Brazil), South African Railways, Taiwan Railway Administration

Film - Railways for the World