British Transport Films Volume Eight: Points and Aspects

Following the nationalisation of transport in 1948, the British Transport Commission set up its own in-house film production unit. Launched on 1st May 1949, and led for 25 years by Edgar Anstey – a founding father of the British documentary movement – it became one of the largest industrial film units in Britain.

All these films are now preserved in the BFI National Archive. This selection has been digitally remastered for this two disc set, which is a must not just for the transport enthusiast, but also for the documentary aficionado who will recognise traits and innovation in British non-fiction filmmaking.

‘Points and Aspects’ covers a variety of topics and illustrates the wide range of subjects the BTF Unit covered during its years of production. Training Films are represented by such films as Single Line Working and Day to Day Track Maintenance, travel is highlighted by Channel Islands and Scotland for Sport, and illustrations of technical achievement well-served by such titles as The Long Night Haul, Under the Wires and the namesake of this collection, Points and Aspects.

Disc one

• Single Line Working
• Day to Day Track Maintenance Pt 1
• Day to Day Track Maintenance Pt 2
• The Signal Engineers
• Mishap
• Spick and Span

Disc two

• The Long Night Haul
• Care of St Christopher
• Measured for Transport
• Channel Islands
• Under the Wires
• Points and Aspects
• Scotland for Sport