Vital Link, The

The Vital Link Dir. V.R. Sarma. Steam locomotives in Assam, India w/ construction and operation thru mountains, etc. Constructing & expansion during 27th Jan48--26Jan50. Various steam trains through gorges, over bridges etc. Railway tracks. Indian engineers and staff. AV Jungles and plateau of Assam, AV bridge over river. Map showing partition and how Assam could not be reached except through Pakistan. 01:10:43 Chief Engineer in office with others. AV reconnaissance over route of proposed rail link, rivers, mountains, trees. Elephants with riders - ground survey. Jungle clearance by hand by natives from different parts of India. Temporary accommodation for work force. Feeding and recreation, wrestling. Medical centre, workers taking anti-malaria pills. Temporary bridges and roads. Truck crossing river on punt. CU clock pendulum. 01:12:54 Heavy machinery moved in by truck. Railway construction, laborers using hand tools, dirt carried away baskets on heads. Bulldozer and digger. 01:13:49 AV rivers. Rivers in full flood. Bridge construction - engineers. Sinking pylons into river bed. Erecting girders. AV bridges over rivers. GV Steel RR bridge over rivers. Various different designs of RR bridges. 01:15:54 Laying railway tracks by hand. Tracking shot from train. 01:16:42 New train station at Siliguri junction. 01:16:43 calendar 9th Dec 1949 Railway opens, Points and signals change. Steam train up and past. Various character shots locals. Transportation; Railroad Construction; Asia; Workers; Laborers; Trains; 1940s; 1950s; NOTE: One continuous minute sold at per reel rate.