British Film Institute

The BFI (British Film Institute) has a number of interesting films available for viewing on line free of charge.   Films may be searched & selected in a number of ways, including from a regional map.   The BFI web site may be slow to respond, but once you have selected a film, they seem to be fairly quick to download.   I've included links to 10 examples, shown below the map.

Open the BFI site, click a filter (on the right) such as Rail Transport, then click on a flag to zoom in to a region 

Coast of Commerce - 1962 - Tyne Tees TV production, including Whitby, Saltburn, Harlepool, & core sampling for coal mining off South Shields - 26 mins


Construction of a Graving Dock - 1935 - Swans - 18 mins
Many 2ft & std gauge scenes - anyone identify the loco 7'25" in?

The River Tyne - 1962 - Tyne Tees TV -  41 mins

Full Ahead - 1965 - Shipbuilding at Austin & Pickersgill, Sunderland - 22 mins

Renewal of Crossing at East End of Newcastle - 1949 - 15 mins

Darlington Railway - 1960 - Tyne Tees TV film of railwaymen on the line, shed, works & away from work - 12 mins

The Rocket - 1929 - tribute to George Stephenson featuring a Rocket replica destined for USA at Darlington North Road works - 4 mins

Snow & Flood - 1947 -  clearing Stanmore - 17 mins

The Blackhill Campaign - 1963 - following closure of a colliery near Berwick - 50 mins

Tour of a British Coal Mine - 1929 - includes many railway scenes - early British docudrama for a Danish audience - 50 mins