FIRE FIGHTING LOCOMOTIVE [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: FIRE FIGHTING LOCOMOTIVE [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BTF 20
  • Other titles: RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: A demonstration fire drill by a Southern Railway fire fighting locomotive and its crew. The uses of concrete as a repair and reinforcement material on the rail network. Featured in the final part of the reel is a newspaper article covering the role of Southern Railway's staff in the evacuation of Dunkirk.
  • Description: (7 August 1941) A fire fighting 0-6-0 steam engine locomotive (Southern No. 2215), comes to a halt at Longhedge Junction (South London) for a demonstration fire drill. Southern Railway fireman jump aboard and begin to attach hoses to the pump mechanism behind of the drivers cab. Once unravelled, the fireman direct their hoses off to the side of the track. They access more water from a nearby hydrant. MH145 (18 August 1941) Repairs being carried out on damaged railway arches beneath Waterloo Station, London. Metal scaffolding has been erected beneath the arches, allowing workmen to concrete the underside for reinforcement. The workmen mix concrete in a cement mixer, shovelling the mixture into buckets, winching them up onto the scaffolding and pouring the mixture into custom-made wooden casts. (3 min) MH146 (28 August 1941) Female workers at the Concrete Works, Exmouth Junction in Devon. Using metal snips, they cut off sections of mesh fencing and carry them to a workshop. A workshop sequence then demonstrates the process of making concrete blocks, laying the trimmed mesh at the bottom of the casts. Having then set, the casts are removed and the blocks placed on a trolley for further processing. (5 min 08 sec) MH147-148 (29 August 1941) Female workers carrying buckets and brushes as they walk down some railway tracks en route to paint the Four Span Bridge, over the river Exe in Topsham (near Exeter, South West coast of Devon). They sit on suspended wooden platforms along the outer face of the bridge layering paint onto the metal girders. (8 min 24 sec) MH149 (8 September 1941) An article in ‘The Times’ newspaper entitled: “THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY”, features a letter written by the Southern Railway General Manager (E. J. Missenden) to the Editor of the newspaper: “…On behalf of the Southern Railways, officers and staff…” thanking the newspaper for the tribute paid to their work in assisting with the evacuation of BEF (British Expeditionary Force) and Allied troops from Dunkirk. The letter goes on to mention the efforts of Southern Railway marine crews, “… who in hospital ships and other vessels have taken their part in the evacuation under the most difficult and dangerous condition, and, in a number of cases, given their lives.” It also gives mention to the “civilian volunteers” who at short notice were on hand to give support. (The Times, Monday 3 June 1940) (9 min) MH150 (19 August 1941) Chilling system in operation on Merchant Class locomotives, Eastleigh Works in Hampshire. Close-up shots show the inner mechanical workings from various angles. (10 min 38 sec) MH 151
  • Alternative Title: RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BTF 20
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (BTF 20)
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1941-08
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Southern Railway Film Unit (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 1244ft ; 13 min
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BTF 20

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
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