British Transport Canteens…

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Something to watch over your tea break.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

At school 50+ years ago the school Railway Society (an amalgamation of the Locomotive Society and the Model Railway Club) used to meet Friday lunchtimes and several times a year we used to show British Transport Films – free to the school except for the return postage. All are now availble on dvd and many on Youtube or BFI as well.

We used to charge a nominal fee as far as I can remember, but as projectionist (they were all on 16mm) I got in free.

Favourites included 'Elizabethan Express', 'Giants of Steam', 'Snowdrift at Bleath Gill' and 'Lets go to Birmingham' and of course 'Night Mail' if the Benjamin Britten score is not too modern for you.

'A Letter for Wales' is only available on dvd but has some good shots of steam locos and a Hunslet quarry tank at work in its original setting.

An amazing film showing exactly what NOT to do to stay safe near the railway is 'The Finishing Line' Full version is 20min with lots of fake blood and gore!'

Nick

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Watching that takes me back to my post Apprenticeship days in the late 60s and some time spent at Reading Maintenance Depot..

There was a Staff Canteen behind Reading Station which seemed to be open all hours, lots of Railway Staff used it we found it was very handy on shift work (good food beats sandwiches at 2am that’s for sure).

I had stopped working in that area by about 1970 so have no idea what happened to this facility after that..

 

 

Edited By V8Eng on 14/01/2020 14:48:05

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