This film is part of Free
Railway…
Desolate stations, abandoned locos and derelict tracks under grey skies become transformed by dedicated volunteers, unmotivated by money, into a marvellous steam railway.
Overview
This exceptionally lyrical film of the resurrection of the North York Moors Railway was made a year after it re-opened in 1973. Teams of enthusiastic volunteers, some quite young, repair the track and clean out steam loco boilers, all to the tune of “I’d like to be a lengthman” by former railwayman Dave Goulder. With the work done, we travel along one of the first steam train outings over the newly renovated and inspiring North York Moors line.
This film was one of several made by the Teesside College of Art in the 1970s under the name of Cumulus Films. This was started by a student at Teesside College of Art, David Eadington and two lecturers there, Murray Martin and Graham Denman, who went on to found Amber Films. The films document working class life in the north east. The Whitby to Pickering line was one of the lines closed by Beeching: the last passenger train ran in March 1965 and the last freight train in July 1966. In 1967, the NYMR Preservation Society was formed, and they eventually purchased the line, raising money through open weekends and steam galas, becoming a charitable trust to ensure it wasn’t run for personal profit.
Related
Enginemen Enginemen
Documentary 1959 17 mins
This poetic Free Cinema documentary, filmed near Manchester, reflects on the changing world of the engineman.
Severn Valley Railway Severn Valley Railway
News 1976 7 mins Location: Bridgnorth
Is Chris Tarrant up to shovelling a ton and a half of coal to keep the fire burning and the steam up between Bridgnorth and Bewdley?
Repairing Track After Mustard Gas Attack Repairing Track After Mustard Gas Attack
Industry sponsored film 1939 45 mins Silent Location: Northampton
With the horrific effects of gas warfare still fresh in the memory, rubberised men – like extras from a 1950s British sci fi movie – prepare for more, with 1940s attention to detail.
Railways - Derelict and Preserved Railways - Derelict and Preserved
Amateur film 1975 33 mins Silent Location: Rainhill
Come and see Rocket 150, and visit a selection of railway locations, past and preserved.
Snowdrift at Bleath Gill Snowdrift at Bleath Gill
Documentary 1955 10 mins Location: Bleathgill
Snowploughs are readied to rescue a snowbound train - in one of the most popular of all British Transport Films.
They Take the High Road They Take the High Road
Industry sponsored film 1960 24 mins
Telling the story of four British Road Services drivers who lived and worked together for two years.
Goathland Goathland
Home movie 1965 6 mins Silent Location: Goathland
Come and join a gentle wander through Heartbeat country with our seasoned troop of strolling players, stopping off for a train at Goathland station, a couple of months too late.
NYMR News No. 2 NYMR News No. 2
Non-Fiction 1974 9 mins Location: Grosmont
Rails are lifted, fishplates fitted and keys hammered into place, as another Sir Nigel Gresley, saved from the scrapyard, gets a second life on the North Yorkshire Moors.
Preserved Iron Horses Preserved Iron Horses
Non-Fiction 1972 27 mins Silent Location: Goathland
All aboard for the ‘Scarborough Spa Express’ as it joins the many refurbished steam locos ferrying railway enthusiasts back and forth over Heartbeat country.
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.
Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.