The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Pick up to Pickering
The railway tracks are ready for scrap as the last train and its crew to pass from Pickering to Rillington Junction makes its forlorn journey.
From the collection of:
Overview
Just two days after Jimmy Greaves scores four goals for England as they prepare for the World Cup, and the Beatles were number one in the charts, a lonely shunting engine makes its last way along the branch line to Pickering. We follow the journey along the line and past stations that were soon to close, filmed from on top of the loco by railway engineer Frank Dean. It heads to pick up just the one wagon of limestone, free shunted by guard Tom Redman on his last day with British Rail.
This is one of many films made by railway engineer, enthusiast and filmmaker Frank Dean, mostly documenting the loss of lines following the Beeching Report in 1963. On hearing of the lines to be closed Frank and his wife set about filming all those in the Yorkshire area before their demise. Frank went on to compile an impressive collection of railway films and films of his local community in Church Fenton, which he would show at public viewings well into his 80s. Part of the Whitby line was preserved thanks to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway which opened in 1973, but this did not include the line seen in the film that continued south of Pickering to join the Malton to Scarborough Line at Rillington Junction.
Related
Joanna Scanlan - Exclusive Q&A Joanna Scanlan - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 51 mins
Actor and writer Joanna Scanlan talks to Mia Bays, director of the BFI's Filmmaking Fund, about her career in film and television.
Baldwin's N***** Baldwin's N*****
Documentary 1969 44 mins
Horace Ové's striking portrait of the American writer James Baldwin at his sharp-witted best addressing a group of radical West Indian students in 1960s London.
Shoot Your Shot Shoot Your Shot
Drama 2022 12 mins
An emotional stand-off takes flight, as teen best friends Ronit and Brennan come to terms with navigating that fuzzy feeling in their stomachs, all whilst learning to skateboard.
Look Like You Look Like You
Drama 2022 13 mins
While visiting the adoptive family of her eight-year-old biological son, Tara relays advice she gathered from growing up as a queer outcast.
Yellow Yellow
Drama 2023 13 mins
In Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Laili walks into a Chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full body veil from a Talib shopkeeper and face a new future.
Nehemich Nehemich
Drama 2023 23 mins
Banished in a dilapidated village hut during her menstruation, a young girl waits to elope with her lover.