National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is currently unavailable
Mumbles Railway - 1804 - 1960 - last journey
“A rather sad event in Swansea” says Mr Rees, Swansea's Borough Librarian, referring to the demise of the Mumbles Railway over footage of its last glorious day.
From the collection of:
Overview
"Windows out, panels out, choppers at work" – thus were the Mumbles Railway carriages dismembered when the service ceased operation in 1960. Mr Leslie M Rees, Swansea's Borough Librarian and amateur film-maker, believed the railway deserved a better end but at least it had a good send off. Thousands turned out to wave as it travelled the line for the last time and hundreds followed its journey by car, the cacophony of hooting and tooting reaching a deafening level.
Mr Rees filmed this footage in collaboration with Mr Harold Prescott, Llanelli's Librarian, who, having seen the footage Mr Rees was shooting of post-war Swansea was interested in recording Llanelli similarly, which he went on to do. Here, with the help of several other film enthusiasts, they have recorded the last ride on the world's first passenger railway service, built originally to carry limestone from Mumbles quarries to Swansea. It was horse-powered in 1804 but in time steam engines were used and then electric trams which were replaced in 1960 by buses. There have been frequent calls to re-open the line but none successful as yet.
Related
Watch for free
North, South and Neath North, South and Neath
Home movie 1954 5 mins Silent Location: Caernarfon
Neath plumber Vernon Hudson takes his family north to Caernarfon, south to Mumbles and Barry, and into the street when the circus comes to town.
Watch for free
Ingot Pictorial No. 21 Ingot Pictorial No. 21
Promotional 1954 23 mins Location: Swansea/Abertawe
Experience 150 years of rail transport at Mumbles, enjoy the red sails of Abbey Works’ boat club, watch Sterling Moss discover the steel industry’s impact on racing cars.
Watch for free
Showgirls is a Western Showgirls is a Western
Short documentary 2025 2 mins
In this mini video essay, BFI contributor Maha Al-Badrawi explains why Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls is a rhinestoned, stilettoed Western.
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.