The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Train Journey from Gateshead to Hexham
A train spotter takes us on a thrilling high speed ride on the Tyne Valley Line.
From the collection of:
Overview
This exhilarating time lapse film proves the romance of railway travel continued long into the diesel age. Armed with his Super 8 cine camera, a schoolboy train spotter heads west along the Tyne Valley Line from Gateshead to Hexham. As the train hurtles ever forward, mesmerising, high-speed, smoky blue views of parallel tracks, telegraph poles and urban landmarks recede from the rear window into the past.
Shot on Saturday 9 March 1985, this journey commemorates the 150th anniversary of the first passenger services on the Blaydon to Hexham section of the Tyne Valley Line, built by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. A charming example of the special kinship between cinema and the railroad, John Briggs’ film captures evidence of change in these momentary landscapes – the new Metro Centre in Gateshead, old branch lines to the Derwenthaugh Coke Works (demolished in 1986), and the twin chimneys and cooling towers of the Stella South power station (demolished between 1992 and 1996), built on the site of the Blaydon Races in the “brick cathedral” design style and a landmark in the Tyne valley for almost 40 years.
Related
Watch for free
Wexford Railway Station (1902) Wexford Railway Station (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 2 mins Silent
A flurry of activity at Wexford Railway Station as passengers alight an Edwardian steam train.
Watch for free
Bicton Woodland Railway Bicton Woodland Railway
News 1976 2 mins Silent Location: Bicton Park
Bicton Woodland Railway reopens to passengers for the summer season
Watch for free
Godfrey Davies: The Last Train from Peterchurch Godfrey Davies: The Last Train from Peterchurch
Amateur film 1953 5 mins Silent Location: Peterchurch
Railway services on the Golden Valley line in Herefordshire slip into history.
Watch for free
Train Ride to Devil's Bridge Train Ride to Devil's Bridge
Travelogue 1964 11 mins Location: Aberystwyth
12 miles of magic as we journey on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, one of the Great Little Trains of Wales
Watch for free
This Is York This Is York
Travelogue 1953 21 mins Location: York
The Stationmaster at York guides us through a typical day, from dawn to dusk.
Watch for free
A Letter for Wales A Letter for Wales
Drama 1960 22 mins
Cinema star Donald Houston recalls his memories of railways and the romance of the Welsh landscape.
Watch for free
National Garden Festival Gateshead National Garden Festival Gateshead
Amateur film 1990 9 mins Silent Location: Gateshead
Experience the spectacle of landscape gardening on a grand scale in Gateshead.
Watch for free
Gateshead Games Gateshead Games
Amateur film 1974 8 mins Silent Location: Gateshead
Witness a world record-beating race on home ground by Gateshead’s local sporting hero, Brendan Foster.
Watch for free
Eartha Kitt Interview Eartha Kitt Interview
Magazine and Review show 1971 3 mins Location: Gateshead
Interview with the blacklisted American entertainer and activist Eartha Kitt who purred her way to success.
Watch for free
County of Northumberland County of Northumberland
Amateur film 1963 19 mins Silent Location: Holy Island
The toe-dipping delights and tranquillity of the Northumbrian Riviera and beyond.
Watch for free
The Film of the Film of the Film The Film of the Film of the Film
Amateur film 1977 3 mins Location: Gateshead
A double, double take on the art of making amateur movies in a 50th anniversary celebration for the Newcastle and District ACA.
Watch for free
Metro: The Way Ahead Metro: The Way Ahead
Promotional 1984 27 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
The fast track to an ambitious new Metro system that ends commuter misery on Tyneside in the 80s.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.