A Quaint Little Railway (1930)

This short, silent film captures one of Britain's minor little railways: the Leek and Manifold Light Railway on the Staffordshire Moorlands. The railway opened in 1907, linking the villages of Waterhouses and Hulme End, and was built mainly for agricultural traffic, with a passenger service being a secondary consideration. Its route went through beautiful countryside in Staffordshire, and it is unfortunate that the intertitles state it as being shot in Derbyshire!

In 1934 the entire line was closed by the North Staffordshire Railway. There is little in the way of recorded film material of this quaint little train, so this gem gives an invaluable insight into the railway. (Stuart Smith, Midlands Railway Centre)

You can watch this and over 1000 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank, London and at the new QUAD centre for art and film in Derby - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BFI
• trains
• railways
• steam
• Manifold
• Valley
• Staffordshire
• moors
• waterhouses
• 1930s
• Thirties
• transport

[waldenhouse]

Absolutely fantastic - a great glimpse of Railway History. Is it still in existence?

[MaryOMackie]

If the people back then ever knew what was to eventually become of their country...that's why man is never to know the future, it's far too depressing and frightening.

[dalekpower]

fantastic, what a shame it no longer exsists, it'd be a beutiful line to ride.

[WorldsGreatestMystic]

amazing look at the past..

[alanheath]

@jetporter The original uploader of a video can delete comments - and as far as I can remember it was always that way!

[alanheath]

@robinkimberley So it is still being used! Albeit without the rails!

[alanheath]

@MaryOMackie The standard of living is immensely better know that it was then. And despite the current economic slow down, it is fair to say that you have never had it so good.

[robinkimberley]

@waldenhouse

discontinued in 1933. Now a footpath/cycle track.

[Necrovamp101]

@waldenhouse No, though you can walk the route as they have paved it for walkers, and the tunnels and stuff are still there, there is also the platform for the station 'thors cave' but it's overgrown. Nice walk though

[curzmg]

Is this film now in the public domain, does anyone know?

[jetporter]

I think a good upgrade to "You tube" would be to give the original uploader of the video the ability to delete comments.

On topic, this is an interesting little railway. Makes a guy want to buy the live steam model of the locomotive that just became available.

[Rearda]

@organisten Thanks for the clarification. I never studied language and welcome any help that enables me to use it more clearly.