James Ritchie
Directing
Biography
James Ritchie is known for Blue Pullman (1960), The Driving Force (1966) and Second Nature (1967).
Known For

Young Robbie, a keen footballer and a railway enthusiast, is persuaded by his big brother to go through a hole in a railway fence on to the track for some reason. His laces become caught on the tracks and he has an accident so serious that he will never play football again. A film for showing to eight to eleven-year old children and their parents, which points out the folly of breaking railway fences and trespassing on the line, and illustrates the immediate dangers. Part of BFI collection "The Age of the Train".
Robbie

When a schoolboy's day-dream of a fantasy sports day includes events where acts of vandalism and trespass are required, dire consequences ensue. Originally created as an educational film, this somewhat surrealist short has a serious message at its core. This won't be a lesson you'll forget in a hurry.
The Finishing Line

A review of innovation and development within BR and its businesses, including: modernisation of freight facilities and service to new companies; progress of the Bedford/St. Pancras electrification project; paved track and permanent way maintenance; Sealink's "Galloway Princess"; Seaspeed's SRN4; and the Research department's magnetically levitated vehicle. For general showing.
Rail Report 13: On Track for the Eighties

Made for senior and middle British Rail management and supervisory staff, to stimulate discussion and provoke action, by alerting them to their responsibilities for staff safety, and the pressing need to reduce accident figures.
Safe at Work?
One of six films which examine in depth the work involved in this great engineering project. As they are of a technical nature, they were only available for showing to suitable audiences. In preparation for the construction of the new Victoria / Walthamstow line two experimental lengths of tunnels are driven using different lining materials. The film shows in considerable detail the aligning of the cutting equipment, the operation of the shield and cutters and the two techniques of lining.
Experiment Under London

Southampton, a deep-water port with four tides a day, is an ocean terminal for the world's largest liners. Their coming and going, and the people who work with them are the subject of this film as they reflect in their personal lives some of the drama and romance of its situation. Among them are a tug skipper and his crew, a stewardess on a Cape ship, an assistant wharfinger in charge of handling baggage and freight, a taxi driver, and a pilot taking a great liner down Southampton water at night.
Ocean Terminal
A light and somewhat satirical look at the problems and pleasures of Continental holiday travel. A passenger on the Hook Continental Express from Liverpool St. imagines the possible destinations of his fellow passengers.
The Travel Game

A romantic overview of England in the Elizabethan Age.
The England of Elizabeth

Originally intended as an advertising short, this film follows The Elizabethan, a non-stop British Railways service from London to Edinburgh along the East Coast Main Line. A nostalgic record of the halcyon years of steam on British Railways and the ex-LNER Class A4.
Elizabethan Express
An historical account looking at how Britain's canals were used, and declining, in 1951.
There Go the Boats
A journalist chats on the unusual excursions possible from nodal stations on Europe's train networks. Douglas Browne, journalist and traveller, takes us about Europe re-telling his experiences of many countries (Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain) and letting us into the secret of making the journey over land and see an exciting part of a holiday or business trip.
Europe by Train
“Promotes trade with Britain among other countries in the European Community after the UK's entry on 1st January 1973. Kelloggs is given as an example of how major British companies worked at this period.” - Robin Carmody.
The Key to Britain
A school journey through the city of London as seen through the eyes of the children and their teacher.
Capital Visit

A look at the transport system in the South Wales Valleys and how it effects peoples livelihoods and everyday lives.
Every Valley

Twenty-four hours in the story of the British Railways Channel ferryboats, the 'link spans' directly joining the roads and railways of Britain with those of France and all the Continent. The Lord Warden laden with an assortment of road vehicles from Dover, and the Night Ferry from Newhaven carrying passengers bound for Paris, Vienna or Rome are two of the ferries illustrated in this film; and freight is not forgotten.
Link Span

Features the 07.55 from Sheffield to St Pancras. The camera follows to Leicester, where a young man is late for a job interview thanks to a variety of incidents including a freight train blocking the line and an improperly secured door at Derby. The film is a modernised version of an older theme for British Transport 'Right Time Means Right Time', where the accumulation of many minor delays on the part of BR staff soon add up down the line to make a train very late.
Promises Promises...

Intended for European audiences to encourage them to drive to Britain for their holidays. Shows the travel facilities offered by Sealink, and suggests some of Britain's tourist attractions.
Sea Road to Britain
A largely animated exposition of the need for, and methods of improvement, in British Rail Corporate Planning.
Corporate Planning in British Railways
A BAFTA nominated documentary on the canals of England illustrated by a journey from London to Birmingham produced for the staff of the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive.
Inland Waterways

In the Hull Docks, the steamer S.S. Bravo arrives from Gothenburg with cargo.