An amateur film shot by Harry Wills recording the architectural and environmental features of Durham railway station before major refurbishment in the early Sixties. The film shows notices and posters that would have been key features around the station, plus other places such as a waiting room interior which seems to hark back to a much earlier era in travelling by rail. The film opens on a view of a signal gantry, which straddles the railway at the end of the platform. A long shot shows...

An amateur film shot by Harry Wills recording the architectural and environmental features of Durham railway station before major refurbishment in the early Sixties. The film shows notices and posters that would have been key features around the station, plus other places such as a waiting room interior which seems to hark back to a much earlier era in travelling by rail. The film opens on a view of a signal gantry, which straddles the railway at the end of the platform. A long shot shows the rail track running between the two platforms, with another signal gantry in the distance. A diesel passenger train comes across the Durham viaduct and into the station. Passengers are seen getting on to the train followed by an inspector checking the ticket of a woman passenger at the ticket barrier. A general view follows of rain on a pavement, which then cuts to a shot of a N.E.R. (North Eastern Railway) station clock. An information sign hanging from the steel supports of the roof reads ‘Through Subway for Way Out, Trains for The South, Ticket and Left Luggage Offices, Waiting Room’ General views of a wooden staircase and then to people walking along a narrow walkway (possibly the subway) towards the camera with a metal rail to their left. Various views follow of railway timetables, advertising boards, railway offices and buildings. A door on a platform building reads ‘station master’. A parcel barrow laden with goods stands on the station platform. Brief shot follows of two boys watching through iron railings as trains pull into the station.  A large advert for Royal Exchange Assurance takes up a large section of wall. General views of a platform and a trolley stacked with parcels. A close up follows of stacks of wicker baskets containing racing pigeons The film cuts to a train information board where a chalked number indicates that a train is running 47 minutes late. Another brief shot of the N.E.R clock, shows the time at 4.10pm. General notices near the refreshment room, one notice announcing its closure. A vending machine made by the British Automatic Company Ltd, dispenses cigarettes. General view of two doorways one leads to the ‘Refreshment Room’ the one next to it is the ‘First Class Refreshment Room’. A shot follows of another cigarette vending machine On another platform, a machine which is described as a ‘Print Your Own Metal Nameplate Machine’ is demonstrated. A large dial points to the letter you want to print, the operator puts some money into the machine and pulls a lever. A shot follows showing a poster advertising the railway museum at York. A tap, a cup on a chain mounted on a stone tablet promises ‘Filtered Water’ A plaque on a wall reads ‘Ambulance Station No.25’, below it a glass cupboard which has written on it ‘Fire Appliances’. A general view of a personal weighing machine and another vending machine. The film cuts to a shot of the platform post box showing collection times, another brief shot follows of a pigeon in a wicker basket. General view of a public telephone kiosk, an old wooden box structure followed by platform views of parked parcel trolleys. The camera pans left and a general view follows of two trolleys one empty and another stacked with boxes. Other trolleys lie empty on the platform, the camera pans left to a shot of another weighing machine. A notice on a piece of wood attached to a wall reads ‘Taxis – D’ham 5696’. A panning platform shot reveals parcel trolleys parked in a line along the platform. A diesel engine passes through the station, and halts at the opposite platform. A wall advertisement promotes ‘Camping Apartments in Scotland’. A montage of shots follows, British Railway Posters and a notice ‘Withdrawal of Passenger Services between Sunderland & Bishop Auckland’. Graffiti on wall – ‘Down with Diesel’, followed by other posters and notices filmed in rapid succession. A solitary railway wagon stands next to a platform, above, the camera picks out the steel frame of the glazed canopy which forms part of the roof of the station and a basket containing plants which hangs from the roof. Next a ladies waiting room notice, and an interior view of a very bleak and cold looking waiting room. The door to the waiting room opens and inside a plain wooden bench which runs around the room is the only seating offered, and heat is provided by an antique cast iron stove. The camera pans upwards showing the long pipe which serves as the stove’s chimney. A water tower for the steam engines becomes the subject for scrutiny followed by a view through an open door marked ‘Staff Only’ with a redundant kettle silhouetted against a far window. The film cuts to two men sitting on a platform bench, behind them a display of train timetables. A woman uses a personal weighing machine. Rapid cuts follow showing a poster advertising glorious Devon and a notice which reads ‘Please Have All Tickets Ready’. A shot follows of an electronic bell mounted high in the glass and steel roof. A brief shot of a couple as they walk into the station. Out on the platform a diesel train approaches ‘3B15’, a high angle shot of the train in the station follows. Passengers leave the train. An inspector tears a passenger’s ticket at the ticket barrier. The train driver in his cab looks down from a window down the length of the train. Passengers queue at the ticket barrier. General views follow along the platform. The train driver gets the all clear from station staff and the train pulls out, moving off into the distance and past the signal box which is on the opposite side of the line. The film ends as it began with a shot of a signal gantry.