Brainchild of boss Peter ‘Mitsubishi’ Parker, British Rail’s first proper TV ad campaign was a whistles-and-bells extravaganza of cut-price offers and posh cinematic entreaties. Dozens of Inter-City fleets, bodywork glistening in a perpetual rainstorm, plied forever-rolling countryside. Their cargo: the honourable Sir Jim’ll Savile. His armoury: a dark suit, a Maxpax coffee, shockingly sensible hair and an endless amount of paperwork that had to be done before that pressing engagement with the man who makes the machines for the hospitals. Wine-bar funk played while the kid who sang ‘Walking in the Air’ (Not Aled Jones, The Other One) belted out, ‘this is the age of the train.’ From a time when audiences were impressed by extended sequences of carriage exteriors, the ads did their job in leaving the slogan – somewhat meaningless out of context – in everyone’s heads.
British Rail’s ‘Age of the Train’ ads
5 Responses to “British Rail’s ‘Age of the Train’ ads”
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Top of the Pops
Thursday, 19.30, 01.05, BBC4For the first time in a while, two consecutive episodes, so it’s a completely different line-up to the last time and some belated debuts for Ian Dury and Sham 69 who we’d have otherwise seen two weeks ago, in a classic Pops juxtaposition with another Cilla flop and the first appearance of a record that, even skipping all the Savile and Travis episodes, you’re going to hear a hell of lot over the next few months.
Not mentioned in the advert- inedible food, stewed tea, the likelihood of industrial action and platform staff at Newcastle Central with all the charm of Pol Pot. However, the Inter City 125 was a good train in its day and certainly cut journey times from Newcastle to London.
And of course, a double thumbs up. Although I thought Peter “Pub Quiz Argument” Auty only sang “This is the age…”… it was Sir Jim’ll that did the “of the train” bit. Time to check out youtube.
Although to correct Glenn, the InterCity 125 will never be bettered. Surely the Creamiest of trains, with the posible exception of Glasgow commuter trains – although that’s more due to their brown-and-orangeness
Jimmy got more money for the adverts than Peter Parker got for running the railways. That’s according to Michael Palin’s diaries.
Not a patch on the late 80′s ‘relax’ tv adverts for BR, though.
Remember when BR trains were painted blue and yellow during the Cream era?
Adrian
The local DMUs/EMUs tended to be blue all over with yellow ends for elf and safety purposes and Inter City trains were blue with light grey window surrounds. A yellow band above the windows, or a 1 sign on the windows, indicated, this was first class seating. The red band above the windows indicated this was the buffet.