Actions
  • Title
    Film - Los Constructores de Locomotoras
  • Reference
    GEC/4/6/31/2
  • Production date
    1966 - 1966
  • Creator
    • GEC Traction LimitedBiography
  • Scope and Content
    Corporate film produced by the film division of English Electric for English Electric Traction, in Stafford. Spanish version of the film (title, commentary, captions and credits: all in Spanish). The film presents English Electric services and targets foreign clients. It details how locomotive construction projects are conducted, from the analysis of the local site to conveyance of the finished product and customer service. The film commentary is told by a traction engineer. The film starts with shots of diesel locomotive Class 55, Deltic D9021 ‘Argyll & Sutherland Highlander’, in green livery in station. Passengers are getting on board of carriages, guard and porters are seen on the platform, the train is filmed leaving the station. The following shots show the landscape from the moving train, the rails as well as inside carriage views. The train passes one of the English Electric buildings alongside the tracks. The commentary expresses the superiority of diesel and electric power to steam and lists the manufacturing covered by English Electric, from locomotive, power station to the household washing machine. This is accompanied with footage of locomotive frame at Vulcan foundry in Newton-le-Willow and footage of traction engineer office. A brief history of the company is also given. A map is featured with the location of its 24 factory sites in the United Kingdom and mention is made of the other six overseas locations. This also includes footage of a scrap yard and a steam locomotive being dismantled, trackside shots of electric and diesel locomotives, shots taken at Clapham Junction station and a train on a viaduct (possibly Meldon viaduct). Following the introduction, the film details the electric and diesel locomotives on offer and how English Electric proceeds with an order from foreign railways. Footage illustrates how an English Electric expert team goes on site in the foreign country to analyse the feasibility and needs of the specific site and prepare a report. The report is evaluated in the United Kingdom by engineers who prepare a project to submit to the client according to the site analysis. The project submitted is enhanced with numerous drawings of locomotive and parts. A standard contract can use up to 5000 drawings. The footage shows engineer drawing office. The manufacture of the locomotive and its parts is documented with many shots of the various stages of the process, close up shots of the machines and workers and large views at Preston works and the Vulcan factory. Footage also features the tests made in the factory and the first run on the special test tracks of the Vulcan factory with adjustable gauge. The locomotive filmed is prepared for delivery to the East African Railways and Harbours, the camera follows it being transported on road and lifted onto the ship to travel by sea. Once delivered, on a first order, English Electric ensures a team of British engineers is accompanying the locomotive on site to help the client bring the locomotive in service. Footage shows English Electric engineers explaining maintenance required and how to operate and drive the new locomotive to the East African railwaymen. A shot shows the new locomotive in its red livery passing an Equator sign on the trackside. A series of footage then illustrates how English Electric serves clients worldwide, featuring English Electric made locomotives in New-Zealand (freight train), Malaysia (passenger train), Sudan (freight train in the desert) , Australia (passenger train), Spain (coal and iron-ore train in the mountains), India (overcrowded passenger train) and in the United Kingdom. The film ends by reminding the history of the English Electric company and its importance in electric traction and rail transport history. The opening credits include a mention of English Electric acknowledging the following companies for their help in the making of the film: British Railways, Central Electricity Generating Board, Science Museum London, Indian Railways, Malaysian Railways, New-Zealand Railways, Queensland Railways in Australia, Spanish Railways, Sudan Railways, and East African Railways and Harbours for their special cooperation.
  • Extent
    Approximately 24 minutes of film on 16mm print
  • Physical description
    16 mm film print (copy), colour, optical sound, stored in metal canister. This is an acetate base film. In September 2016 it was tested with A-D strip as level 0 of deterioration (no deterioration). The general condition is good. Wear cotton gloves when manipulating 16 mm copies. 16 mm requires specific equipment to be viewed such as 16mm editing bench or projector. 16 mm can also be unrolled with the help of a manual film coiler to look at frames with a magnifying glass and a light table, but this system won't allow to see footage in motion.
  • Language
    Spanish, English
  • Level of description
    ITEM
  • Repository name
    National Railway Museum, York
  • Associated people and organisations
    • English Electric Company LimitedBiography
    • English Electric TractionBiography
    • British Railways BoardBiography
    • New Zealand Railways DepartmentBiography
    • Queensland Rail LimitedBiography
    • RENFEBiography
    • Sudan Government RailwaysBiography
    • East African Railways & HarboursBiography
  • Subject
  • Conditions governing access
    Access is given in accordance with the NRM access policy. Access to film collections is assessed on a case by case basis.
  • Conditions governing Reproduction
    Copies may be supplied of items in the collection, provided that the copying process used does not damage the item or is not detrimental to its preservation. Copies will be supplied in accordance with the NRM’s terms and conditions for the supply and reproduction of copies, and the provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Copyright is retained by the author of the footage.
Hierarchy browser