A detailed record of the electrification of the railway line from Liverpool Street to Shenfield, one of the busiest lines in the country.
Genre:
Documentary; Industrial / Sponsored Film; Promotional
This technically detailed production chronicles the inception and fulfilment of the complex engineering endeavour carried out by British Insulated Callender's Construction Company for the London & North Eastern Railway.
Crowded platforms at Liverpool Street station and the polluting steam engines are contrasted with the new, clean electrically powered carriages. A map shows the route to be electrified.
At Romford, a manual labour force cleans and paints the steel supports. A mobile crane delivers the masts into the concrete lined foundation holes. The structure spanning the line is lifted into position. At Stratford, catenary wire, paid out from enormous rolls, is put into position by men on a carriage-top catwalk. The workers perform their highly skilled tasks amongst the overhead cables, high above the surrounding rooftops at Fenchurch Street station. High trestles on wheels provide a base for the clipping and 'droppering' of the contact wire. Embankment slippage at Shenfield creates a further challenge.
A brief shot of the Ilford flyover is followed by a pantograph train slowly checking the overhead installation. A suburban electric train is shown pulling in at Shenfield and Hutton Station.
Background Information:
LNER website:
http://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/shenfield.shtml
Featured Organisations:
British Railways; British Insulated Callender's Construction Company Limited
Featured Events:
Electrification of the London to Shenfield Railway Line
Featured Buildings:
Interior Liverpool Street Station, London