The prospect of reviewing a near-half hour look at the exciting world of railway engineering repeatedly put this release on the back boiler where it has remained for the last two issues. only repeated requests for the return of the review print and threats of the bailiffs calling round (and the failure to find a sucker to review it for me - so much for fellow reviewers John Kane and Peter Haigh supposing to be friends) finally prompted me, with time fast running out, to stump dejectedly beside the projector at 8.15am one wet and windy morning.
What unfolded in Cinema One of the Wilton household was a most pleasant surprise. Far from being a total bore this release is quite fascinating, and educational in the very best sense of the word.
Besides footage of glorious steam trains rounding sweeping photogenic country bends and crossing graceful viaducts, this documentary shows how the railways maintain the various bridges and lines and, more importantly, how modern methods have replaced the blood, sweat, tears (and shovels) of the navies who built what was the most extensive railway system in the world.
Pre-fabricated concrete tunnels, manufactured and then ' assembled section-by-section before your very eyes, even as the ground ahead is dug out and shipped out by conveyer belt.
Huge marshalling yards are constructed on what was once shifting sand and new methods of supporting old and failing bridges are shown - just a few of the many varied subjects covered here including the heat testing of new types of track - amazing to see a -length of which buckles and twists at critical point in the test.
There is far two much in the three-reeler to be encompassed here. Just take my word for it, if you love railways then you will certainly enjoy this release.
The print is slightly grainy - otherwise the B&W reproduction is fine with reasonable definition and contrast range.
The sound had very slight distortion in places, often heard on these type of releases so it's nothing to get worked up about.
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Original Distributed: DCR
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This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002