French Expresses - Yesterday and Today

Running time: 45 minutes
Black and white and colour
RRP: $10

The first part of this programme features two films on the famous 231 Pacific type steam locomotives that used to haul expresses over northern and central France.  Included is a run with 231 D 735 between Paris and Le Havre.  These films are not documentaries but visual celebrations of the steam locomotive and were made in the late 1940s, just as the golden age of steam was poised to yield place to the diesel and electric age.

The second part of the programme features the Train a Grande Vitesse, known the world over as the TGV, the world's fastest train.  Also featured is the RER regional passenger train network around Paris.