This film is part of Free

Liverpool Overhead Railway 1893-1956

Riding around the city on the Dockers' Umbrella - the last days of an iconic local landmark.

Amateur film 1956 12 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for North West Film Archive

Overview

This fascinating film shows the final days of the first overhead electric railway in the world. Built to connect Liverpool's many docks, it became known as the Dockers' Umbrella. At the time this film was shot, the railway was still a popular form of transport in a busy city, but corrosion of the iron viaducts meant that its days were numbered, spelling the end for an iconic local landmark.