London to Paris by Silver Arrow Plane and Train Service C1959

A lovely video from the late 1950s promoting the "Silver Arrow" service from London to Paris. This amounted to a package offer using British Railways trains, and the Silver City airline aircraft, and then a Silver Arrow chartered train in France, to get to Paris. I think this dates to the late 1950s. I think the most intesting thing about this film (for me) is that the Silver Arrow service used a Handley Page Hermes MK IV plane, and these were a little rare...I think only 25 were made...

[@robertbevan2299]

What a splendid video showing one of my all time faves the Handley Page HP81 Hermes IV. The one shown G-ALDP was formerly wIth BOAC and Britavia before Silver City. It was withdrawn from use in October 1962. The last Hermes IV in service was G-ALDA operated by Air Links who retired it in December 1964. It appeared at the 1963 Biggin Hill Air Fair giving pleasure flights. It is one of my big regrets that I didn't have the money to afford a ticket. A handsome aeroplane which deserved much more than it achieved.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I think I saw it at the Air Fair as well. I have a torn page from my homework diary somewhere with the registration biro'd on.

[@DanDauzacker]

I'm currently Flying the BOAC Handley Page Hermes in flight simulador, and this is the only good footage that i found of this amazing an rare plane. Thank you for this!

[@maxustaxus]

Thanks for the feedback, and please be careful with that plane, as you say, it is rather rare as passenger planes go!

[@Ricarsley1993]

Thanks Maxusstaxus for posting this. I travelled Manston-Paris (Nord) on the Silver Arrow on 15th August 1959.
Great trip on a 4 engined Hermes. I still have my ticket. Memories.

[@maxustaxus]

That is amazing! I fear that there would be few that could make this claim now...much less to have retained the tickets. I have no doubt how wonderful an experience it must have been, and I sense this only from the video. Thanks for letting me know.

[@johnjephcote7636]

Those fox fur wraps! I remember the legs hanging down. these days one would be assaulted by an 'animal rights activist'.

[@johnjephcote7636]

The introductory music and the clipped accent (that in my long life I have never heard in reality) remind me of B movies in the old Watford Empire (the 'flea pit').