Vintage railway film - The driving force - 1966

This vintage railway film, produced in association with the Central Office of Information, the British Locomotive Allied Manufacturers' Association and the British Electrical Manufacturers' Association, covers the transition from steam to new forms of motive power, and its effects on railwaymen and passengers.

Britain once operated the most experienced diesel and electric railway in the world. Almost two centuries ago, she invented the steam engine as we know it today and introduced a new system of transport. In only nine years, in the middle part of the 20th century, British Rail and the British locomotive industry designed, built and tested enough diesel and electric locomotives to replace fifteen thousand steam engines.

A short clip has been trimmed from the middle of this movie, as the BBC has seen fit to claim copyright over a 20 second segment of a public domain film. If this film was not trimmed, it would not have been able to be viewed in Great Britain. Hopefully it does not affect the flow of the movie to a great degree.

[gazs]

BTF always maintained interest from start to finish and this film was no exception. Thanks for posting

[TONYNORTHEASTERN]

I do love these old BFT films. many thanks for sharing Tony

[DanknDerpyGamer]

12:35 - 12:36 That fly buzzing in the mic as the train goes by... 😂

[tyrikuntamed]

I won’t lie, I got a pain in my chest when I saw those steam locomotives being scrapped

[simonf]

Wonderfull. The quality of all the BTF films is outstanding.

[antonysmith]

I do love the BTF films. They always seem to show a more idealic quality of life than we have nowdays. Thanks for uploading.

[smac]

I was surprised to see this is from as late as 1966 - It looks and sounds like it was an anachronism from the day it was released! Not that that's a bad thing, I love these films which strike such an optimistic, forward-looking note. Great upload, keep them coming :-)

[david]

Really great to see the positivity of the era. Some of the music choices were a bit odd though imho! Thanks for uploading

[MrScottmac]

These films are brilliant. Greetings from a still-locked down Melbourne.

[Pjs]

Thanks for sharing this film.
A style, colour tints & vocal tones from yesteryear.
What was is now a memory, stirred by these BTF words and views.

[BigGoucho]

Absolutely brilliant. One of the best yet. Thanks for posting.

[fifehope]

Brilliant film - every day is a school day! - had to chuckle though when they showed the Scotsman leaving KX behind D9004 and arriving at Newcastle behind D9000 - epic loco's those Deltics

[JasonNeil]

Love the sound the Deltic makes. Never gets old!

[andrewboyle]

Love the science fictiony orchestral score!

[fabshop]

Brilliant! Cracking video, cheers for posting.

[astra]

I'm a huge fan of the utterly gratuitous sequence at 6:52 where the VO asks 'What better machine for all the non-electric jobs?' Yes, one wonders, what? Wait for it, a swim-suited lovely is photographed brushing her hair ( *Smile, please. Hold it!* ) and holds up a mirror reflecting a diesel train passing behind her. Clever, but mystifying choice, especially when it cuts to the wide, and we see *two* 60's bathing-suited stunners! The narration is stand-out: Britain two-dey is a pyre-hice, of ideez, ixpirrimints, imagination. I was born in 1966, and missed out an all of this cutting-edge tech. My dad passed his driving test in 1974, and sadly the British Railways of yore became a foreign country to me.

[nikerailfanningttm]

It started with the romance between man and steam, now it’s the romance between man and diesel. Sadly today here in the states where I live, the romance between us men and our diesels is beginning to fade slowly, as our roads are introducing fully battery electric units for yard operations. Soon in a few years, we might see battery electric mainline power. And my romance with the diesel will still hold true.

[michaelstaley]

Very enjoyable excellent commentary very clear and precise….😎👍

[stevecurd]

Fantastic vid, I wonder if those locomotive models still exist

[OlivierGabin]

Great historical document. I love to see those, not only as modeller.