Prior to its sudden closure in 2024 the Electric Cinema in Birmingham opened its doors to us for private showings of railway-themed films preceded by a British Transport documentary. The screenings commenced at 10.15 in the morning and were followed by refreshment at The London and North Western Wetherspoons pub directly opposite.
On 25 May 2023 we screened The Train, the 1964 film loosely based on the non-fiction book Le front de l’art by Rose Valland starring Burt Lancaster as the heroic railwayman attempting to stop a demented Nazi officer (Paul Scofield) from pillaging art treasures from France in the dying days of the Second World War.
On 5 October 2023 we screened The Unstoppable, a 2010 American disaster action thriller film directed and produced by Tony Scott, written by Mark Bomback, and starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. It is based on the real-life CSX 8888 incident, telling the story of a runaway freight train and the two men who attempt to stop it.
We held the suggested donation at just £5 to be paid on the day in cash per person. Guests were welcome, also for a suggested donation of £5.