Old Bill Aka Historic Transport (1960)

Point of view M/S from the carriage of a horse-drawn tram moving along a line by the sea front on the Isle of Man; another tram carrying lots of children passes us going in the opposite direction. M/S from further back in the tram so we see the driver and some passengers paying the conductor their fare. M/S of an electric tram at the British Transport Commission in Clapham, London; a sign on the top reads 'Douglas Southern Electric Tramways Ltd'; commentator tells us this one was built in 1896 and operated until the outbreak of war in 1939. M/Ss and C/Us of two men who are painting the stairs and frame of the tram. M/S and C/U of B/W archive film of 'Old Bill'; a double-decker bus that served as a troop carrier in France during World War One. Cut to M/S of a modern day double-decker bus pulling out from a bus stop in a London street, to be followed by Old Bill. Commentator says it is now looked after by the Auxiliary Omnibus Companies Association and is one of the few remaining B type buses introduced to London in 1910 to replace the horse bus. M/S of Old Bill driving up the road towards us (NB. Although constantly referred to as 'Old Bill', the sign on the front of the bus says 'Ole Bill'). M/Ss of Old Bill driving along, pulling into a yard and stopping next to a K-type bus. The driver checks the radiator; the radiator cap has the head of a WW1 soldier in helmet and scarf which he polishes; tilt up to show the 'Ole Bill' signs on the front of the bus and a regimental badge behind. The man checks the engine, then polishes a brass plaque on the side of the bus; C/U as we see names of the various battles of the First World War. The driver gets back into the cab and drives off as commentator says "Relics such as this have become just a faint memory, so it is good to know that the collection will one day soon be open to the public". Note: there are notes and correspondence on file about these vehicles plus news articles bemoaning the fact that the public can't see the most interesting parts of this collection. Also on tape PM0119 - transferred twice in error. FILM ID:115.15 FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT http://www.britishpathe.com/