British Film Institute

British Transport Films' penultimate production filmed on 16mm (but edited on video), Brunel's Railway Today marked the last gasp of extravagance on an ever-declining budget for the film unit, now rebranded BTF Video. The film was commissioned by the Western Region of British Rail to celebrate the 1835/1985 anniversary of the line and illustrate the significance of the reduced journey times over the last 150 years. Watching the film in the early 21st Century, the specially-composed electronic music of Edward Williams has not aged well - nonetheless, it is well suited to the high-speed journey and makes a very enjoyable 8 minutes.

Paddington to Bristol - 1841 journey time: 270 Minutes, average speed 40mph. 1985 journey time: 90 Minutes, average speed 125mph. This film: 8 Minutes, average speed 1562mph!

Steven R Foxon

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