This film is part of Free
A grand parade of locomotives to celebrate 100 years of railways and the world’s first passenger trains
Non-Fiction 1925 19 mins Silent
1n 1825 George Stephenson made and drove the first passenger locomotive. In 1925 the London and North Eastern Railway presented a historical parade and tableaux to illustrate the subsequent development of the railways. Debenhams of York were commissioned to record the proceedings, making this film record a candidate for one of the earliest films sponsored by a railway company. This version is complete with its original tints, meaning that for the first time in decades the film can be seen as Debenhams had originally intended.
Documentary 1970 7 mins
Sir John Betjeman reminisces about the phasing out of the mainline steam operation.
Non-Fiction 1898 2 mins Silent Location: Conwy Castle
Conwy's bridge, castle and station glide past, as if in a dream, in this beautiful phantom train ride film (no ghosts but apparently no train either) from 1898.
Non-Fiction 1926 4 mins Silent Location: Welwyn Garden City
Empire News Bulletin record the Conservative Minister Neville Chamberlain at Welwyn Station's official opening ceremony.
Non-Fiction 1964 5 mins Location: Derby
A sentimental sale or simply for profit? British Railways sells off the history that doesn't fit with the swinging sixties.
Public Information Filler 1959 6 mins
A heartfelt cry on behalf of the world's litter-baskets.
Amateur film 1960 7 mins Location: Bluebell Railway
Enjoy this charming film from Trevor White which charts the birth of the Bluebell Railway - from the germ of an idea into a fully functioning steam railway
Promotional 1964 11 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Is comedian Clive Dunn the Don Draper of the British advertising world? Watch this imaginative Tyne Tees TV marketing film and decide.
Amateur film 1988 13 mins Location: Darlington
A day in the life of the Lily in Darlington washing the town's dirty laundry.
Amateur film 1979 6 mins Location: Darlington
A promotional film to encourage motorcycle safety and training in Darlington.
Advert 1965 1 mins Silent Location: Darlington
There are bargains aplenty for Jean Bartlett of Darlington at her local Co-op in this upbeat 1960s ad
Amateur film 1929 4 mins Silent Location: Darlington
A full size replica of Robert Stephenson’s world famous locomotive, The Rocket, steams up a 1920s crowd at the North Road Works in Darlington.
School programme and Educational film 1965 19 mins Location: Darlington
Halcyon days for young wordsmiths at a Darlington primary school in the 1960s.
Promotional 2019 10 mins
A wandering warrior dreams of a new form of expression, in this promo for UNKLE’s album The Road: Part II / Lost Highway Pt. II directed by Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones.
1935 16 mins
A rare glimpse of 1930s London in colour: the Thames has never looked lovelier.
Advert 1946 1 mins Silent
Life is looking up! The war is over and the “Corona” Man can visit his “Corona” families once more, door-to-door.
Advert 1962 0 mins Location: Rhyl
Cinema advertisement for Marine Lake & Ocean Beach, Rhyl, a popular destination for crowds set on a day's fun on free rides.
Advert 1942 7 mins Silent Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Who could deny these advertising claims: "Attractive hair is the ambition of every woman", and "Your family will enjoy Lincoln potatoes"?
Advert 1955 1 mins
Operatic chickens, shrimps and salmon sing-a-long with a paste pot chorus in this vibrantly animated advert for Shippam's
Do you recognise a place, building or location in this film?
Help us populate the Britain on Film map by spotting and plotting the street or location you know. This is a BFI project and anyone can help.
Go to our Britain on Film crowdsourcing site and contribute to our mapping mission – to identify locations within our archive films.
Add a location
