THIS IS YORK British Transport Films 1953

A film showing a day in the life of York Station in 1953. When I was a young man working for British Rail I used to show this film as a BR projectionist (princely sum of £5 per visit!) to Women's Institute groups, etc.

[@rodsmith3911]

First saw this film in 1960 when I was a 13 Yr old schoolboy. I've watched it many times since and each time I remember the first viewing. It was already dated by 1960 but looking back now it seems like a totally different world. I love the steam locomotive and worked on the railways but in the days of steam there was a lot of hard and dirty work involved that few would tolerate today. The big thing that I notice is the way we all pulled together then, whereas now everyone seems to be an expert on everything and they all know better than the guy who's actually doing the job. Makes me wonder where we went wrong. Thanks for the memories of days long gone!

[@johnjephcote7636]

I remember the old barrows, before the BRUTES came in. They would not steer precisely and we borrowed the Post Office red ones.

[@dukeofaaghisle7324]

Back in the early 2000s, the Station Announcer at York would virtually sing the train times and destinations. It was a pleasure to hear.

[@JCJTC]

I remember that. Easier on the vocal chords too

[@penelopefidkin109]

My dad is in this film - he was a Porter back then .

[@Robert_Manners]

Can you add a time stamp to him in the footage? Did he ever mention the production of the film at all?

[@penelopefidkin109]

He was loading parcels from the train

[@penelopefidkin109]

Sorry he never mentioned it.

[@noelchild4217]

I have to watch films like this to actually believe it all happened compared with what we have now

[@noelchild4217]

Ex Guildford MPD

[@KKTR3]

Probably in my late 20s when I first saw this I'm not sure if I have the words to describe the beauty, and then you forgets and every few years you're taken back to this wonderful film, and it's just possible it gets a little bit better every time

[@alantraish3368]

British Railways seen as a huge organisation back then with everything working together. All the regions,their land transport,ferries,hotels and more. I’m 59 but missed this by a good few years and wished I could have been there.

[@lindsaypeterholden2701]

The general look at York station still looks the same Fantastic atmosphere with the big trains coming down from Scotland to London,not Deltics or A4 but still great to watch.Just beware of the chavs coming down from Newcastle at the weekend.York is still the most interesting City in GB with the walls , Barbican. Minster Old churches and of course,Pubs.Just choose your times,Atmosphere just before Christmas is fabulous indeed Greatest City in Britain

[@NiSiochainGanSaoirse]

Agreed. Beautiful Jorvik, the central pillar of our proud Counties of Yorkshire. My Son, a Royal Signalman, is stationed at Jorvik, and absolutely loves the town, as do we, being Wessies.

[@Isochest]

A Tribute to the people who made the goods and people move. And they did!

[@AndreiTupolev]

13:20 "now the passengers have taken to buses, and the parcels by van": sorry, they're trying to make that a selling point? "We've closed your station! It's so much more efficient and user-friendly! 😋"?

[@beeble2003]

You can bet that _nobody_ was using those trains, if the line closed more than ten years before Beeching.

[@AcombDave]

@@beeble2003 cars were becoming easier to purchase strange now the roads are clogging up people are looking at yeopening some the rural staions.

[@andyoncam1]

Its always interesting to look at the credits on films, such as this lovely one, produced by an organisation's in-house film unit, as they include names of technicians who went on the greater and bigger things. The assistant cameraman on this film, Bob Paynter, became a highly respected DoP on many famous films such as Trading Places, American Werewolf in London and Michael Jackson's Thriller. The Coal Board also had its own film dept where highly esteemed cameraman and photographer Wolfgang Suschitzky (Get Carter 1971) worked early in his career. As for York Station itself, I recall being taken there by my father in the late 1950s and being thrilled by express steam trains thundering through its magnificent and beautiful curved structure. It has featured in several movies including Chariots of Fire and a Harry Potter film.

[@Sameoldfitup]

“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams

[@lindsaypeterholden2701]

And now I will show You what We have Lost (charles Dickens)

[@WanJae42]

Beautiful film! Thanks for this!

[@100Domas]

Fond memories as a child of the announcement "This is York" from back in the 50's and 60's Kings Cross to York for our holidays in Stillingfleet!

[@floor993]

Wonderful to see these scenes of a long gone time period.

[@misternewoutlook5437]

My dad remembered that as a boy, you could set your watch to British trains.

[@guytruth5598]

Very nostalgic video, makes life peaceful.

[@michaeljamesmacaulay1689]

A very informative (human documentary) day in the life of the station master, and the organisation that exists to serve the people.

[@darrenmillett8875]

Excellent... Thanks.

[@calebmumby5803]

a lovely film watched this a dozen times and I cant stop watching this amazing film

[@davidwayne1475]

It would be fantastic if these were on DVD. So many lost once taken down.

[@anthonyharrison3343]

David, you wil find this film on the British Transport Films Collection DVD VOL 1 Titled - On and off the Rails. I bought mine on Amazon but have seen them on E-Bay. There are other short films on the DVD which i am sure would delight you too!

[@DinseeNuffin]

Didn't realise that the Queen worked as a part time Announcer in 1953

[@ephphatha230]

This is the Duke of York

[@sadiqhussain7254]

Excellent very nice and unique old railway system wonderful communication

[@ITalkWithDragons]

Thanks for sharing this! Really interesting

[@AcombDave]

If you like this film try this one also Snowdrift at Bleath Gill kzbin.info/www/bejne/opCQhYCEap2DbZY

[@AndreiTupolev]

Pity the dubbing wasn't as well informed as the train spotters; there was a Jubilee on the Sheffield train at 4:20, but the sound effects library couldn't seem to find a Stanier whistle

[@AndreiTupolev]

@MusicalElitist1 you're certainly an elitist, if that means pointlessly rude

[@northstar1950]

That telephonist nearest to the camera, was a station announcer in another BTF film.

[@trevorashworth7307]

I think that was in The Elizabethan.

[@georgesutherland6706]

Fantastic film

[@robbojax2025]

Everything useful in 20 minutes. These days there is a 26 week series full of reality TV wannabes.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I am glad that I visited that original railway museum...maybe where the first station had been. When I next went o the museum it was where I had visited the locos in the shed back in '64...a bit more pristine.

[@KKTR3]

Must outages ? Would love to see the un-used footage

[@jamesrivis620]

Brings back many memories, both painful and exciting . Trains still, at age 77, can easily turn me to tears as much of my childhood, being an Army brat, meant moving and leaving one place or another. Beeching pulled service from my North Yorkshire town of Kirkbymoorside and the station was torn down a couple of years ago so a physical representation of my life vanishes but it leaves strong memories to recall. Old films such as these also remind us of the horrible pollution which was exacted upon everything by this marvelous invention. It make one wonder how long it will be when existence on this Earth will come to an end for humans.

[@nevilefoster2784]

The interesting thing is that the Victorian road bridge over the station tracks (single span) is still in operation. It wouldn't have been designed for the ‘Very Heavy Loads’ currently carried from the engineering works at the bottom of Ings Lane. This is a testament to Victorian engineering, but it has been pointed out there is a very slight “dip” at the apex! You used to be able to climb on all the engines in the old museum and York station reeked of smoke in the "good old days", not conveyed by a video!!

[@michaeldibb]

Passenger services stopped in 1953 due to lack of use, the station carried on as goods only until 1964 and Beaching's axe closed it altogether.

[@brianhepke7182]

York Station hasn't changed much since this film was made.... I am glad to say.

[@robertplace6131]

I thought York Station was bombed and severely damaged during the war, yet pictured here, it looks just as the Victorians left it !

[@NiSiochainGanSaoirse]

Once upon a time, England had the beat skilled men in the world. Nothing was too much for our legendary grafters. Replacing bomb damage in a heartbeat doesn't surprise me one bit for this generation.

[@prashantkaduskar646]

Amazing film.It is like reading a excellant novel.Very sentimental ending indeed.Just wonderful depiction of Golden era of steam.

[@ulysees08]

Very Charming.

[@anikanvader1]

10:00 the original sir tompham hatt

[@jimmywalker1568]

Changed days now the engine driver wears the bowler hat or evens owns the locomotive

[@MarkCoatesYork]

Lovely

[@melanierhianna]

The announcer with her forced RP accent and thinking that closing the lines and using a van is an improvement. Ha ha. I love steam like the next person but we should have got rid of it far earlier than we did!

[@fastonthedraw]

good....

[@xr6lad]

Can’t help but think that God the railway companies were cheap skates even back then, charging a ‘platform fee’ to kids wanting to train spot. It’s not as if the cost of the platform ticket was going to exactly make the difference between keeping them solvent.

[@nevilefoster2784]

Early education that you "don't get 'owt for nowt"

[@RebelWithACause-ts7de]

It was One Penny which sometimes we didn't have!

[@beakytwitch7905]

Now imagine a Spacex Mars shuttle being presented in the same nostalgic way... ;-)

[@Sameoldfitup]

Never to return again

[@Sameoldfitup]

@MusicalElitist1 up yours

[@TheMusicalElitist]

What an idiotic comment.

[@TheMusicalElitist]

@@Sameoldfitup great ‘comeback’, boomer.

[@christopherdibble5872]

The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore; not like did back in 1954!

[@20centurylimited]

Can anyone identify the music that starts at 7:35 and continues for about 30 seconds?

[@beeble2003]

The credits at 0:19 say that the music was composed by Leighton Lucas (who also wrote the score for _The Dam Busters_, though not the famous march which was by Eric Coates).

[@ericwalker52]

I also worked as a BR projectionist out of Waterloo station around 1954 to early 1960s. B.T.Fs admin manager was also named Potter. Any relation David?

[@AcombDave]

Hi just seen your comment. No relation but I too was a projectionist and also showed this film at various places including on the travelling cine coach. I was based in York in the 70s when I did some projection work but my career on the railway was also spent in London Euston and Manchester Picadilly. Happy days.

[@AndreiTupolev]

9:30 well no it wasn't; most of the rest of the world had heard of electric lights several decades earlier

[@AcombDave]

But the oil lamps were used for hanging onto the exteriors of trains.

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

Wow

[@beverleythwaites6164]

Lovely film.

[@danieljames4467]

Just wondering if anyone can help me. I had a video growing up whereby there was a history of the UK railways and the types of trains and then a procession of locomotives with commentary. This piece of film ‘This is York’ featured at the end of the video as the last piece. Does anyone know the name of it? Ive been looking and looking and cant find it and reminds me of my childhood. Any help would be gratefully received. Thanks

[@johnking5105]

Why haven't we at Crewe got a proper railway musuem ?

[@AcombDave]

York is the National Museum for the country and like Crewe was/is a massive rail centre.

[@jonfletcher147]

Got this on VHS, beautiful film ❤️

[@simonjackson7269]

He's the right shape to be the Fat Controller!!!

[@paulfrancis8836]

I was 2 years old when this came out.

[@RebelWithACause-ts7de]

Me too Paul!

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

I love the music in this.

[@Quasihamster]

No, this is Patrick.

[@jefferyconnelly367]

Ringthebell

[@a34rwl]

Very Harry Enfield, that

[@paulmason4616]

All the women sounded like Queen Elizabeth in those days.

[@paulmason4616]

@MusicalElitist1 Just a bad impression I Had!!

[@lyndawilson2618]

0

[@georgen9755]

king cross king cross king cross adyar adyar adyar