Title:EVACUEES & BRITSH SERVICE PERSONNEL AT WATERLOO STATION [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BTF 2
Other titles:RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Military personnel and evacuees at Waterloo Station, London. Locomotive engineering at the Eastleigh Works depot, and the BEF on leave from France.
Description: (1-12 December 1939) Scenes from the interior of Waterloo Station, London. A variety of service personnel, including Royal Navy sailors from training vessel HMS Ganges, fill the concourse. Signs around the station point towards an ARP (Air Raid Precautions) shelter and advertise the Union Jack Club, a local hotel used by service personnel. Navy personnel rush to use the public telephone booths, others feature in close-up shots buying flowers. Footage from a different reel begins at 97ft, with a London Midland & Scottish (LMS) locomotive entering the Eastleigh Works depot, Hampshire, for conversion to an ambulance train. MH8
(5 December 1939) LMS locomotives being stripped and reconditioned, including electric welding on Great Western locomotives. At least five War Department coal tenders are then shown leaving the Eastleigh Works depot (the first of these can be identified as No. 186). MH9
(14 December 1939) School children at Waterloo Station await evacuation, all carry gas masks and wear name tags. Accompanied by predominantly female family members they appear content and happy. Ages range from approximately 5-7 years (Technical: underexposed). Buses ferry more evacuees into the station, assisted by policemen and Civilian Evacuation Officers from the London County Council (identified from a close-up of an LCC brassard). MH10
(15 December 1939) Four mechanical diggers help clear a landslide blocking the rails between Folkestone and Dover. Assisted by a group of manual labourers with heavy duty tools. The coastal location is visible in medium shots. MH11
(21 December 1939) BEF (British Expeditionary Force) arriving at Victoria Station on leave from France. Close-up of chalk written notice board reads; “BEF YOUR LEAVE EXPIRES SUNDAY DEC 31st YOUR TRAIN DEPARTS FROM VICTORIA AT 09-00 HOURS.” MH12
Alternative Title:RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: Southern Railway Film Unit (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Women's Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
Royal Navy (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
London County Council (institution)
Keywords: Waterloo Station, London, England, UK (geography)
Victoria Station, Victoria, London, England, UK (geography)
transport, British civilian - rail (object name)
transport, British civilian - bus (object name)
society, British - precautionary: evacuees (object name)
buildings, British - commercial: railway station (object name)