New Bfi Railway Film Collection Online

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

A new suite of historic railway films are now available for free here http://player.bfi.org.uk/collections/railways-on-film/

[Chris from Nailsea]

Many thanks for posting that absolutely brilliant link to such fascinating archive material, SandTEngineer! 

One of those clips in particular caught my eye: http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-railway-cottages-at-blackwell-1972/

I was relieved to see that it relates to Blackwell in Worcestershire, rather than my local, occasionally mis-named, Nailsea and Backwell Station. 

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Ah, I used to go trainspotting at Blackwell.  Got the train from Coventry to Blackwell station, then walked down that path in front of those cottages and through a field to the favourite trainspotting place by the farm gate about half a mile from the summit of the Lickey Incline. We used to wander on the track in those days and no-one was too bothered. I've got photos of the Bromford Bridge oil train with a 2-10-0 on the front and a 2-10-0 and 4 Panniers banking, and also of an InterCity DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) being piloted by a Pannier.  I also remember a Class 47 pulling 51 empty wagons up: it was loose-coupled so needed a banker, the Pannier was just keeping up and only about the last 2 wagons were buffered up!