British Transport Films Volume 1: On And Off The Rails

Following the post-war thirst for visual teaching and educational entertainment and the nationalisation of transport in 1948, the British Transport Commission set up its own in-house film production and distribution unit in 1949. Over a period of 37 years, until its closure in 1986, it made over 700 films promoting travel on Britain's railways or providing technical instruction. On and Off the Rails(over 4 hours long), contains classics from the video compilations including Blue Pullman, Snowdrift at Bleath Gilland John Betjeman goes by Train, along with films new to the series such as This Year - London, The Diesel Train Driver and On Track for the Eighties. A booklet containing an introduction and film notes by BTF historian Steven Foxon accompanies the discs.Released alongside On and Off the Rails is the DVD Geoffrey Jones: The Rhythm of Film, a collection of highly expressionistic shorts by British film-maker Geoffrey Jones featuring three BTF films including Snow, which was nominated for an Oscar, Rail and Locomotion.