Early train film - 'View From An Engine Front - Ilfracombe' (1898)
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- This careering ride through the Devon countryside to the seaside town of Ilfracombe can offer us some insights into the first years of film. "Phantom rides" such as this were very popular with audiences as the novelty of movement was what was so new about the cinema. Films were often shown as part of travelling fairgrounds, so the rollercoaster nature of the trip is no coincidence.
One thing to bear in mind whilst watching is that early film cameras were cranked by hand. So please spare a thought for the man clinging to the front of the steam engine to take you on your journey. All aboard! (Jez Stewart)
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Oh how I wish I could have travelled this line, when steam was still King.
Wonderful to see. The track is now a cycle track, part of the National Cycle Network connecting Ilfracombe to Plymouth. Amazing how the trees have grown up over the past 30 years.
I lived in N.Devon for a few years up to 1970 & travelled from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe by train I think in 1969. I think the line closed soon afterwards sometime in 1970. The line was definitely always standard gauge being built for the LSWR rather than the GWR or one of its constituents. But there had been a plan to have a mixed gauge line at some point so that could explain the ties.
The film starts after leaving Mortehoe station, I walked up the tracks one evening, as a boy,(about 1950) from Ilfracombe station. After 60 years living overseas, I visited Ilfracombe, such a shame the tracks are now all overgrown, as are the Cairn woods, but I recognised every spot in that clip. Wonderful memories of how it used to be.
"steam for me" Feb 2011
I am amazed that film of this quality could be made in 1898. I travelled (with my parents) to Ilfracombe from Birmingham New Street by train on a summer saturday in 1948. In those days seaside resorts all over England had holiday services from many big cities. I was very young and remember little about the journey except having lunch (dinner in those days?) in the dining car and I Ilfracombe station and I think that we arrived at the same platform as this train.
stoysville. Yes. The film starts after the station, just over a mile towards Ilfracombe, marked on the OS as Higher Campscoll. (Maps online from the British Library.)
To other commentators: The film was taken by fixing the camera either to a wagon in front of a locomotive or to the front of the engine. Note how the camera points OUT on curves. Also, the line was built by the LSWR. So it was never broad gauge.
A great film. Thanks so much!
I always find it incredible that all over the world there is deforestation... Yet in every old photo or video I see of our area, there are no trees at all. But now, there are trees everywhere.
What fantastic stuff....well done to all concerned...(especially the train driver)
The place where the train track used to run is called " The tarka trail" and i cycle down it frequently and nowern again walk down it but it is still a beatiful place and yes they are reseervoirs.
Corrected comment. I am amazed that film of this quality could be made in 1898. I travelled (with my parents) to Ilfracombe from Birmingham New Street by train on a summer saturday in 1948. In those days seaside resorts all over England had holiday services from many big cities. I was very young and remember little about the journey except having lunch (dinner in those days?) in the dining car. I remember Ilfracombe station and I think that we arrived at the same platform as this train
blauckner i day
dessireluvals...
You are right. There is no requirement to stop at a distant signal. If the distant signal is ON, {at caution}, the driver must be prepared to stop at any signal within the section controlled by the signal box operating the distant signal. My guess is that the distant in this film was permanently at the ON position as the train would be approaching a dead end.
The gradient is 1 in 36 down all the way almost into the platform at Ilfracombe. The speed limit in BR days was 30 mph. No need for a speed limit going up - speed was typically 15-17 mph with an N and 3 coaches. A unrebuilt Spam banked by an N have taken 11 up the bank at normal speed - this was probably routine in the summer. The sound must have been tremendous.
What a splendid video and many thanks for posting.
My sympathies are for the camera operator. Film cameras at that time weighed about twenty pounds and needed two hands to crank-operate them (unless they were mounted on a tripod) As the viewpoint seems to be immediately above the left-hand rail, it would seem he was sitting on the nearside buffer. It must have been a hair-raising experience negotiating those reverse curves into Ilfracombe Station
A couple of years ago I'm sure I rode my bike up this line from Ilfracombe to Morthoe which must have been 'singled' many years ago & is now a very pleasant woodland ride. (I would much prefer it to still be a railway!!)
@JollyRodders You are right. One other thing I note is the Home Signal was held a danger until the train was close to it to slow it down. This was standard procedure at Junctions, too when trains had to slow for a turnout. I think that was why the flashing yellow aspect was introduced more recently.
track was not doubled until 1899, but still an amazingly early survivor as a film.
Very interesting, both as a film and as a record of the line.
How can you keep this video 110 years ago? Awesome
yes it is sbw,i moved to combe in 1972 the same year i think the station closed
Only if DCC would rebuild all 4 line to Ilfracombe, Bideford, Lynton and Taunton, railways are the future I think. It would reduce the amount of traffic on the roads and freight put onto trains and it would be cheaper to maintain the railways.
I agree but we are so used to having our own personal transport , I think people would be reluctant to give that up especially in times of pandemics.
Does the BFI know what year this was filmed in?
Interesting that the train goes against the Home signal, until it reaches the station. Could this be a 'Push-Pull' train, which would mean the cameraman would not be clinging to a buffer beam?
The shot is quite 'smooth' as if taken from the coaching stock (ie the train is not lurching about, which may be expected from a ride on the loco itself from the action of the pistons). This is pre ballest blowing days. Some research is needed
Not broad gauge at this time, but you can see where the BG rail was previously laid on the sleepers (ties) to the right of the right running rail.
The track to Ilfracombe was taken up during 1960s as part of Beeching's cuts, I assume.
However, the route is still clear in Google Earth, and the two lakes [reservoirs?] to the left of the track are obvious landmarks over a hundred years on.
Reservoirs.
The Ilfracombe branch line shown here was built by the LSWR to the standard gauge and opened in 1874 - it was never broad gauge. The North Devon Railway from Exeter to Barnstaple had been built to the broad gauge in 1854 and on being taken over by the LSWR, was gradually converted to standard gauge with for many years a mixed gauge permanent way. The line to Ilfracombe was closed in 1970.
Katherine,
Thank you for that detail.
Hmmm... A shame that it survived Beeching, but it still isn't there. (shrugs)
Still, the route is in place.....
.........Continued from previous post
I am pretty sure there would be no requirement to stop at a Distant Signal as it represents the position of the next home signal which would have been set at danger and requiring the train to stop. Bearing in mind that the decent in to Ilfracombe was at 1:36 (very steep) the driver must have been pretty confident that he wouldn't have to stop at the home signal
They should reopen this line it is so much needed now
WidowUK
all the line has been pulled off and the station building knocked down and the iron bridge connecting barnstable station to the other side of the river is all knocked down, they wouldnt make the profit to reopen it if they rebuilt it
i really like this film so good to see, bridge tunnel boxes still present. I painted the 2 boxes year before last at work along with others. top to bottom inc roof unfortunatly not my taste just following orders:-)
Sorry to have come so late to the party.
This is a great bit of film, but what the heck is the sound track supposed to be?
For reference the Ilfracombe branch was never broad gauge although the line as far as Barnstaple Junction from Exeter.
To Be Continued......
If people are interested there is a group called reversing the beaching ilfracombe line we as a group want our line back feel free to join the group
So much for helf and safety
Any ones of scotland from the late 1800s or early 1900s ?
Please ignore the soundtrack comment, just realised my 8 year old son left Club Penguin running in a different browser!!
@left888 I doubt it this was LSWR territory, the GWR's arch rival!
This is fantastic, where is the train travelling from?
Barnstaple
@stoysville. In reply to my own post, I think maybe it's going down the hill from the Morte Hoe / Woolacombe station? Can anyone verify this?
@blauckner Yes, it's a pity it's gone:-(((
Are you sure?
Is this Broad Gauge? Tracks look wider...
No, and it never was.
It must being scary for the camera man
Back in these days there weren’t any trees 🌲🌳🌴 at the time. Until the line closed in 1970, the trees 🌳🌲 grew slowly to begin with then eventually very fast 💨. There are other things on the ground are logs 🪵, grass and nature. I love ❤️ the Tarka line in Ilfracombe. If trains 🚊 were in Ilfracombe today in 2023, trees 🌳 wouldn’t grow. Line had to close because it wasn’t trusted by having lack of passengers on the train 🚊. The train 🚊 had a lavatory 🚽 and contains first class accommodation. British Rail honestly did their job by ripping the railway 🚃 track out between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple via Braunton and the bridge 🌉 was demolished in 1975. Goodbye 👋 trains 🚆, they won’t be in Ilfracombe in north Devon anymore. Touchwood in my circumstances that trains 🚊 won’t be in Ilfracombe anymore. Perhaps 🤔 that promise is a promise is a promise. 😄😃😀😁😆🥰😍😋🤩😎💜❤️🧡❤️🩹💖💘💕👍👍👍
lol 1 dislike what a guy
Just think; Even this is better than Adam Sandlers new movie or a Kevin Smith movie. Well anything is better than a Kevin Smith movie. 2 frames of dogshit is better than a Kevin Smith movie..