NEW FILM TACKLES THE BEECHING YEARS: ‘THE END OF STEAM’

Dr Beeching – villain, bogeyman and government stooge. Among the heritage railway movement, he is known as the man who singlehandedly ripped up the railways and left a legacy of destruction.

But is this really so?

Timereel's latest release The End of Steam revisits the 1960s when the railways underwent massive change. This is a thorough and thought provoking overview of the transformation brought about by the Modernisation Plan and by Dr Beeching himself.

“Dr Beeching’s name has almost become a metaphor for wanton destruction”, says Andrew Gray, the Producer of The End of Steam, “so we decided to make a production that looks at an overview of the period. Timereel makes a point of using rare archive film, so the discovery of some unseen colour footage from the British Transport Films Unit presented a brilliant opportunity. They had shot a lot of material that was never released, and it is a wonderful illustration of that era.”

Composed almost entirely from unseen colour film, this DVD is a must for railway enthusiasts. It features heart breaking footage of scrap yards and the cutter’s torch, as well as the new diesel and electric traction in action. As well as the main network, the early preservation movement is also covered.

“There is no doubt that the speed of change in the 1960s was dramatic”, says Andrew Gray, “and it is probably this that gave the preservation movement its impetus. The sudden loss of familiar sights and sounds created a sense of longing for the recent past, which might not have happened had the railways been transformed slowly.”

The End of Steam runs for 60 minutes and will be released in November at www.timereel.co.uk and at Waterstones and HMV.

Timereel has a fantastic selection of nostalgia DVDs, all based on original archive footage; perfect gifts for Christmas.  All orders are dispatched within 48 hours.

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For all press enquiries; including DVD review copies, film stills, Timereel spokesperson interview requests - please contact:
Lisa Tyrie, Timereel Studios, 3 The Close, Norwich NR1 4DH Tel: 0844 556 3501

Notes to editors:

About Timereel Studios
Timereel Studios is a film production company based in Norwich.  Using original archive footage, much of it that has never been seen before, Timereel Studios creates unique and evocative films showing how the lives of ordinary people were affected by extraordinary events.

Added on 31.10.2011