View from an Engine Front - Barnstaple (1898)

This 'phantom ride' along a stretch of partly elevated track through the Devon town of Barnstaple and its main station is an oddly haunting experience. Aside from two briefly-glimpsed London & South-Western Railway employees waving flags, no human activity is apparent until the train reaches the main railway station - an earlier platform is mysteriously deserted. However, this allows a greater opportunity to appreciate what are still clearly recognisable Barnstaple locations, with good views of the town as the train approaches the station. (Michael Brooke)

You can read more about early cinema's popular 'phantom rides' at: http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1193042/index.html

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI National Archive
• Warwick Trading Company
• silent film
• Victorian
• train
• railway
• tracks
• rails
• station
• signal
• signalman
• flag
• bridge
• elevation

[cliffocco]

I really have doubts that this dates from 1898.The Lumiere Brothers first film wasn't shot until until 1895, after all. My guess would be more likely something from the early 1900s. That having been said, still a fascinating piece of film

[BFIfilms]

@cliffocco British filmmakers were also active in 1895 (Google 'Birt Acres' or 'R.W. Paul' for more information), and the first British public screening of projected moving images was held on 14 January 1896, less than three weeks after the Lumière Brothers' equivalent. The new medium caught on so quickly that numerous British film companies sprang up over the next few years - the Warwick Trading Company, which made this film and many similar travelogues, was established in September 1897.

[sanderrodijk]

movie recordings from 1898? why are the recordings of titanic from 1912 so

awful while this is better quality and more 20's like

[BFIfilms]

@sanderrodijk In the case of films dating from the early 20th century or before (i.e. before film archives started to think about preserving them), it's a case more of blind luck than anything else. Some films only survive (if at all) as scratched, blotchy fragments, while others are almost pristine. Age has little to do with it - some of the best-preserved silent films can be found in the Mitchell & Kenyon collection (approx. 1900-1910), because the original camera negatives still exist.

[Godzilla473]

brilliant quality considering the age of the film ~ I've enjoyed viewing it, and that goes for all your BFI uploads ~ keep up the good work ~ many thanks

[littlequeen64]

Wonderful....Thank you.

[fishhead06]

@sammipink1 Depending on your social class.

[corporallee44]

This took me back to my youth days, I was born in Devon 1941 and am a northerner now, but traveled down many a time on the train, MAIN LINE, that station is now a cafe I believe and there are flats in front of it, My mother ended up in one of them. I am going back down to visit the area this year, check out the farm I was born on. That's a golf course now...!

[061369317]

The signalman's shirt collar shape and tie knot look really modern for 1898 IMHO

[thomas1140]

Great Video ! Interesting to see the old buildings like Shapland's factory, the museum & buildings on the strand as they were .

I dont know why they demollshed the iron bridge after it had been unused for so long, it wasn't a shipping hazard & would have made an attractive restored feature if only as a footbridge away from the main road . Still, I understand that another superstore is planned near to the site so that will be nice to see & visit won't it ? Thanks for posting - love this stuff.

[manglewurzel1]

@modelearth Sadly this line is long closed, but the station building, some platform and one signal box still exist. The long bridge was demolished in the late 70's

[manglewurzel1]

Possibly the flag waving was because of p-way work going on at the time maybe to warn the train crew or possibly there is some work being carried out to the signalling???

[30annielaurie]

No - it looks like broad gauge track to me as well - even on the straight sections where there is no guard rail.

[MK55A]

Someone as mentioned 'Broad gauge track' i think they mean the 'guard rail' which was placed in certain areas because of the sharp curve(s) on the rails

[MK55A]

Hope that wasn't a red flag the signalman was waving ?