Passenger Train, The
Passenger Train, The is a short film from 1940 released on 16mm. It is held in the Prelinger Archives collection.
Contents. An account of a train journey.
Passengers arrive by cabs at the station. After they purchase their tickets, they pass through the gates to the track where their train is waiting. The streamlined Diesel engine locomotive stands ready for the trip. Mr. Shroder, the engineer, checks over his controls, and his attendant in�spects the big motors.
Final preparations are made for departure. Baggage and mail are loaded into the cars. The conductor calls "All aboard!" and signals the engineer. The train doors are closed, and Mr. Shroder opens the throttle. Sand pours onto the rails to keep the wheels from slipping as the train gets under way. A signal is set for "Stop," and the engineer applies the air brakes. When the signal changes to "Go," the train moves ahead.
In the coaches the conductor is taking tickets. The passengers are comfortably seated. The conductor passes through the vestibule from one car to another.
Mr. Shroder closes the throttle to slow down for a sharp curve. The train passes under a viaduct and speeds on its tracks along a river. The commentator explains that tracks are often built alongside rivers. In the observation car some of the passengers are talking, some writing, and others playing cards. Now the train passes through a deep cut and into a tunnel. At historic Harpers Ferry (West Virginia) it crosses the Potomac River.
In the dining car, dinner is being served. The chef and his staff of cooks prepare the food which the waiters carry on large trays. The Pullman porters prepare the berths for the night. Some of the passengers who are not yet ready to go to bed read newspapers and magazines. The porter places a ladder for a passenger to climb into an upper berth.
While the train rushes through the night, the engineer and his attendant are busy watching the motors, the controls, and the track ahead. The safety and lives of the passengers depend upon their skill and watchfulness.
Appraisal. Excellent for (1) showing the operation of a passenger train and (2) giving impressions of the experiences of a passenger traveling by train. Should be useful in developing an understanding of the contribution of science to modern transportation and in furthering an appreciation of the high level of organization and cooperation required in the operation of a railroad.
Photography and sound are excellent.| Passenger Train, The | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Inc. |
Production companies | Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Inc. |
| Distributed by | Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Inc. |
Release date | 1940 |
Running time | 11:00 |
| Language | English |
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