John Shearman

Behind Britain's railway modernisation lies research, design and development. Research ensures in various ways that passengers travel fast, safely and in comfort. Design and development yield new vehicles, equipment and methods; from motor-car conveyors to micro-wave communications. The electrification of the busiest mainline in the world also depends on research, design and development.

An historical account looking at how Britain's canals were used, and declining, in 1951.

First transmitted in 1969, this documentary follows the construction of the world’s most advanced underground system. Macdonald Hastings narrates the story of one of the most complex tunnel engineering feats of its time. He reveals the isolation felt by the miners who spent six years burrowing deep beneath the streets of London, shows what they did beneath one of London's most famous department stores and explains why the ground at Tottenham Court Road had to be frozen during the hottest weeks of 1966. The result is a brave new world of transport with automated trains, two way mirrors, automatic fare collection and closed-circuit television, all choreographed by a computer programme played out by an updated version of a pianola located in a control room somewhere near Euston station.

A short documentary about the transportation of goods and livestock by train around the UK.

A study of the development of British Rail's hovercraft services in the Solent and across the Channel, using SRN6, HM2 and SRN4 air-cushion vehicles.

Part of BFI collection "Running a Railway."

The final episode of five reports on the construction of the Victoria Line in London. This one is edited highlights from the first four with very little new information.

A stop-motion animation aimed at young people, discouraging vandalism on railway lines, by pointing out the dangers.

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.

The City of Sheffield is renewing itself, but until recently Sheffield's railway network exemplified the confusion and inefficiency created by competitive railway expansion in Victorian times. Now British Railways has swept away the small depots and the conflicting lines, and has centralised its goods operations in a new Freight Terminal, a Diesel Maintenance Depot, and one of the most modern Marshalling Yards in Europe, thus providing freight services fit for Sheffield's needs.

Captures the work of completely modernising and remodelling the track and signal approaches to Paddington Station in five weeks, showing the important co-ordination, planning and interdepartmental co-operation.

Documentary from British Transport Films

Training film for drivers on the introduction of the new locomotive.

A BAFTA award winning documentary focussing on how drivers are trained to drive new electric trains in the UK.

A look at Derby's Railway Technical Centre, which exists to apply science to the practical problems arising from a changing railway system which has its roots in the past.

Lost, Stolen, Damaged - the constant £2 million a year problem of claims against British Railways is debated in this film, in which railwaymen, transport police and businessmen put their different points of view vividly and sometimes provocatively.

A musical illustration of life, where road traffic chaos breeds anger and frustration, but the rail network is fast, smooth and relaxing.

A BAFTA award nominated documentary for farmers showing the life cycle of the liver fluke - the cause of liver rot in sheep.

Everyday except Christmas London Transport run coach tours of London. The tours start from Victoria and from Piccadilly Circus; there is no booking and little waiting; they are popular with visitors of all nationalities, and they let you see the sights in comfort, though rarely with so well-orchestrated a musical accompaniment as David Fanshawe's.

Intended for training railway permanent way men, capturing how men working on the track react as a train approaches.