Newspaper Train (1942) | Railways on Film

The story of how newspapers were distributed during the Blitz, stressing the importance of an accurate and objective press on the home front. Digitised from the collection of the Imperial War Museum.

Narrated by American journalist Merrill Mueller, this film tribute follows the daily newspaper chain of delivery, kept alive through the dedication of those responsible for its circulation. Even under the strain of relentless bombing, readers are kept informed about wartime developments, helping to keep a check on hearsay and the spread of negative propaganda.

The IWM Film Archive is the oldest film archive in the UK, holding over 20,000 hours of film, video and digital material and covering the two World Wars and all conflicts involving British or Commonwealth Forces since the start of the Twentieth Century to the present. Our collection also reflects aspects of civilian life in wartime, military life in peacetime, military exercises and operations.

[tomsavageWalteroftheSea]

Still never ceases to amaze me what’s available via youtube-i need to find the best way to express what in looking for when i enquire about progs but i’ll get there! From Steve Gibbons band to U.S.mail trains in one stream= happy viewing. After a lifetime trying to explain things properly in the old way has made it hard for me to be brief about what i say herein. Gonna take lessons re enquiring with brevity from family and friends. Keep up the good work-TV is passé for me now! 🎸

[johnlawrence]

Newspaper trains ran everywhere long before passenger train schedules started in the morning (rather later than they do today) . In those days that was how daily papers in the shops carried that day’s news. However it was possible to travel on such a train if arrangements had been made in advance

[pj]

I used to see in the Ramsgate paper train - but that was in the early 80s!

[paultanker]

G'day to you, My Father worked on the Railway in Manchester in the War and he would tell me the Stories of the Bombing and Strafing by the Luftwaffe that used to happen, makes you think how hard it must have been then! Armadale West Aust.

[DarkGlassly]

Oh the irony, "Accurate objective newspapers" - and then it pans across The Daily Mail...

[xrlad]

Jimmy decided to hitch a ride. When a car pulled up the guy said ‘jump in, I know your dad’ ‘Oh you mean Frank Saville’
And Jimmy never looked back

[johnminshell]

As. A paper boy I would rush to the Station with the News Agent to grab the packs of News Papers which were hurled from the Express Train so they would come flying at you at 60 MPH .

[GaryNumeroUno]

the days when newspapers actually told accurate, unbiased news... not the crap they try to brain wash us with these days.

[dulls]

And now the enemy run the newspapers...

[northstar]

What's with the American accents at the end?

[Ballinalower]

Unless my eyes deceive me the bullets look like unfired .303 rounds.

[BR-bjot]

The odds were so far stacked against England and the Allies. It is only by the Grace, Mercy, Compassion and Love of God that England was spared and the Allies won the war.

[raymondwalker]

Why an American as a narrator. In 2025 we still seem to want to give Americans priority to be interviewed, narrate or have questions on BBC's "Pointless" on topics relating to America. The show is meant to reflect British culture. Who is the pushy person who promotes them over the British culture because there is NO SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP outside GCHQ.

[GlenHoff-pv]

Newspapers for the sheep. Sheep ate a free doughnut for a jab in 2020. Sad.