Training Diesel Drivers

Farewell to the faithful steam war-horse as modernisation brings diesel power to the railways of Britain.

At Derby in 1962 the modernisation of British Railways is in full swing. The old days of the driver and fireman conjuring life out of their monsters of smoke, steam and flame is fading into memory with one-man-operation and efficient new diesels taking over. Lionel Hampden finds out how the training is progressing, including a look at the new safety measure of the 'dead man's handle'; vital for drivers who will now have to work alone.