Vintage railway film - This is York- 1953

This vintage railway film, produced by British Transport Films in 1953, was conceived as an idea following the publication of an article written by the well-known railway correspondent O.S. Nock, which appeared in The Railway Magazine in 1949. The main setting is York station where we spend the hours from dawn to dusk on an autumn day. Our guide is the Stationmaster, who shows us something of the planning, hard work and human interest behind the scenes at a key point in the British railway system.

[@kenstevens5065]

When this film was made I was only three years of age but still hold memories of the time as if it were yesterday. The railway was still the mode of transport for so many and to most boys the number one interest. Who didn't want to be a train driver. How things have changed in our modern day life but I fear not always for the better. I do hope for my children, grandchildren and all of you that the current madness in this world does not prevail and that people can appreciate and enjoy their all too brief time on earth.

[@user-cp9zv4ev5m]

What a lovely piece of history, now sadly gone forever.

[@garryferrington811]

The organization and amount of hard work required is overwhelming. These were tremendous operations. And then the reader is so proud of the branch line being torn out...

[@martinpattison1567]

I was not born when this film was made, but it is nice to able to watch films like this as it is a part of our Railway History. Martin. (Thailand)

[@lauramarchant8167]

About 4.15 or so into the video, you can hear the lady read out the train for Pocklington, market weighton…”. Well that line has long gone!. Closed 1965.

[@normandunford5747]

Unfortunately, look at the state of the a1079 nowadays, biggest mistake ever by Beeching & his twisted mates.

[@everyguy]

Just visited York from America, including the Railway Museum. It's great being able to see how it once was. I wish I could visit for a day back then.

[@johnsharp8632]

When I see the name Edgar Anstey in the credits, I know that I am in for a treat. The man was something of a genius.

[@marvwatkins7029]

New station master: ' Don't let the door strike you on the way out, eh, what?'

[@Hushey]

Eerie seing York station the exact same but shops with different logos and steam trains

[@xr6lad]

Whats amazing is how many were employed at a station like York in those days. Entire departments of typists, telephonists, of course porters, ticket clerks, there will be refreshment room staff etc. now everything is tendered out or centralised elsewhere.

[@RHR-221b]

I will admit - on my 70th birth day - that I received an unconscious shiver of pride, with regard to what were then real British railways, via your upload, B B R ... in these 'modern' days of what are now rendered as 'That was then'. To all my/our yesterdays and future un-locked down [insert text here]. Stay free. 🍻💚😎

[@fookdatchit4245]

Seen this quite a few times. Lovely slice of history.

[@showmanpete2805]

what a brilliant film thanks for sharing

[@markcousins9337]

"Businessman from Middlesbrough"? That's one euphemism.

[@EndtimeElijah]

I really enjoyed this as I live in York.

[@stufromoz8164]

It really was a different world back then

[@rayvoss3166]

Stunning. Could be set on a different planet though. How things have changed and not for the better.

[@Sctronic209]

Much better times

[@McDuders]

At least we're in a time where you can watch rare films like this anytime you like and not on a film projector.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Some excellent views of a Thompson A2 (60500 Edward Thompson, no less.) Bet the driver was glad he managed to avoid slipping; it'd be difficult to arrange a re-take. And lovely views inside the awesome York panel box

[@barneswallace1944]

Crickey you're getting on, must go to York for a longer visit. Sad all daily steam gone.😢😢😢

[@iainclark5964]

Another gem from BTF, I always watch this before we go to York.

[@Nina-bh5jj]

I adore footage like this because York is so different and yet so similar. I’ve walked those same floors many times, so it’s fascinating seeing what it all looked like decades ago and who the people were back then.

[@brucenichols9153]

Brings back old memories well done

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

I enjoyed the video very much .Hope more to come .Take care

[@stufromoz8164]

What a gem and there is a truck with a single steer wheel I have never seen one before I will have to give my dear old father a call who is a diesel fitter who did his apprenticeship in the 1950's and ask about them they must be rare.

[@keith6400]

@Jon Clark I think you will find this early type with the external front wheel was called The Scammell Mechanical Horse it was replaced by the updated Scammell Scarab where the front wheel was internal. This was later update by a two headlight fibreglass version with two headlights called the Scammell Townsman.

[@barneswallace1944]

Thanks for the memory jog. People dressed respectfully not like the bags of rags of today.❤❤❤

[@marvwatkins7029]

York yearning for a railway museum.

[@justusilgner3647]

Thank you so much for sharing this outstanding documentary - gosh, I miss visiting Britain so much (being based in Germany, having studied in Manchester for a year). Sound and images are absolutely flawless, restored to perfection - great job! Thank you again. Two aspects mentioned in this film sparked my interest; a) there had been branch line closures before Beeching - and b) there was a railway museum at York before NRM opened its gates in 1975.

[@studebaker4217]

I think the York Railway Museum was housed in the shed shown with carriage repairs in progress (or a very similar shed). I was taken there in about 1959, so soon after this film. I may be wrong, but accessing it needed a hole cutting in the City's walls for the track, which is still there (not surprisingly!). Doubt that would be allowed now.

[@paulrerrie75]

Yes British Railways were closing lesser used routes before Beeching. After Beeching the emphasis was on re-modeling/modernising existing routes - but even British Rail opened some old stations or built new ones. Of course now we have old routes being re-opened.

[@McDuders]

5:49 You can actually google some of these on Discovery/National Archives. Not all of them are digitized, but the ones that are can be found here.

[@SimonFurber]

This is great entertainment.

[@MalacdenValleyModels]

Fantastic footage Dan 😊👍 what a machine! Thank you for sharing 😊😂

[@valeriebassett3107]

This is the best video yet. Thanks for sharing.

[@xr6lad]

The way they try to sugar coat the branch lines disappearing. They soon ran down the buses and vans...as quickly as they could.

[@simonf8902]

Probably the best BTF ever !

[@philaypeephilippotter6532]

Not by *BTF's* standards.

[@markcousins9337]

Aye, 'appens. Bring back that announcement and top hats.

[@Scotford_Maconochie]

Similar to to Canada's National Film Board "Station Master" filmed in the early 1950s on the Canadian Pacific Railway in Finch, Ontario.

[@Cleveland.Ironman]

It’s Sr. Topham Hatt in person making his rounds at the station.

[@amtrakjohn]

My thoughts exactly, when his shining Top Hat came out. I noticed he ran York without any "confusion or delay." It's a great look back. I visited York in 2001; mainly to see the NRM and the Minster. Retired US railway worker/ 25 years.

[@andrewelliott4436]

A voice - over done in 2022 would be in slang - including a sprinkling of swear words. This is much, much better.

[@GARYINLEEDS]

Thanks for sharing, shared.

[@anandiyer8655]

Wow those golden days when work was work and nothing else.

[@phwbooth]

One of Anstey's best.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Perhaps the inspiration for Mr. Toppenhat (?), Thomas' boss? (Though this gent wears a bowler!)

[@jorge-enriquemunoz7067]

Present days train service from King Cross to Edinburgh

[@simonsadler9360]

I remember homing pigeons loaded onto steam hauled trains at Liverpool Street stn , no one could understand the announcements via loudspeakers !

[@marvwatkins7029]

Oops! Correction. He DOES wear his top hat.

[@McDuders]

3:45 What is collecting engine numbers exactly? Is it like visiting a station for a record of the train? I heard this from one of Awdry's stories, where the boys threw stones on Henry's coaches, but he was wishing he'd check his number instead.

[@michaellongstaff4624]

There was a locospotters book by Ian Allan which listed the numbers and names, where appropriate, of all the locomotives in the UK. In the 50s and early sixties I used to watch the trains at Darlington Station, north of York, on the main East Coast Main Line, write down the numbers and underline them in my Ian Allan book. If it was the first time I had seen a particular loco it was called a cop! That was called trainspotting and there were thousands of kids like me all over the country doing the same. Happy days!

[@michaelrussell5346]

and Lo, THE FAT CONTROLLER. ( about 10.00)

[@namesurname6195]

It's Hiro on the cover!

[@martynbertalan9143]

@Marty Wood @Sophie Bertalan

[@IndianaNorthWestern]

I love how these films make everything look and work a lot better than it actually did, making all the people who can't deal with the present being the way it is, cry and whine in the comments complaining about every little thing and calling their governments dictatorships because they don't allign with their own political views. It's a film about a damn railway, shut up with your bs, sit down, and watch the film. Respectfully, cry about it on your own time.

[@xr6lad]

Stop whining.

[@xr6lad]

Stop whinging.

[@paulfisher3181]

Woke free ,victim free, climate change free, sensitive free heaven

[@joshtoth-thomas5847]

Racist, sexist, homophobic, and ignorant to environmental impact you mean? Nostalgia is nice but let's not pretend it was a good time to be alive for everyone

[@tenfold7493]

@@joshtoth-thomas5847 did that touch a nerve? Would you consider yourself a victim of that comment?

[@joshtoth-thomas5847]

@@tenfold7493 a victim of an inaccurate statement? Not really. People need to open their eyes

[@tenfold7493]

@@joshtoth-thomas5847 your so woke josh. Please tell these 80 year olds the way they were brought up was wrong. As you must have so much more life experience than them. “It’s ok guys woke josh is here now to tell us all about how wrong the 20th century was” 🤣🤡

[@tenfold7493]

@@joshtoth-thomas5847 the world must have been so bad back then,you know. How did people survive without woke josh and his political correctness 👏must have been a nightmare to walk down the street and not see smackheads and homeless encampments everywhere

[@simonf8902]

Adults dressed as adults. Not demented athletes.

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

What the fuck are you talking about? This was in the 50’s of course people wore shit like full dress coats and trousers. *TODAY WE CAN WEAR WHATEVER WE WANT*

[@Nina-bh5jj]

Nothing is stopping you from dressing like this. Just enjoy the trains bro.

[@simonf8902]

@@Nina-bh5jj 🌛

[@looneyirish007]

​​@@simonf8902if you look at York station 2023, adults are still dressed like adults and in clothes for the era. The world has moved on, to where you don't require a 3 piece suit to get some milk from the shops. If only we could smell the 50s, I'd say it stank of stale cigs, burnt coal, sweat from a bath once a week in clothes hand washed when the skid marks got crusty and it was all masked over with boot polish 😂

[@simonf8902]

@@looneyirish007 😂

[@steveworthington930]

Drab, grey and horrible, still had rationing in 53, steam enthusiat,s like me, could not handle that dirty, backbreaking grind, working steam. Only the middle class could afford travel back then, will HS2/3 be the same?

[@glennwatson1755]

Cobblers,Used to travel by steam to visit Grandparents most weekends.Also travel to Leeds & York as a young trainspotter. Certainly not middle class.

[@jackdavidson2612]

Not as I remember it, the exact opposite in fact.

[@DaniG.German883]

I assume you enjoy the cultural enrichment that has fallen upon us recently