GB 1965 1hr 29mins Dir: John Boulting Starring: Anton Rodgers and Charlotte Rampling
Crooks plan an Army payroll robbery
This crime comedy features an elaborate heist towards the end of the film. The robbery of the payroll train was filmed on the Guildford-Christ’s Hospital line with Baynards and Christ’s Hospital stations both appearing, the former renamed ‘Longhampton Halt’ and the latter ‘Longhampton’. The train itself was hauled by a Class 33 diesel on a short rake of Southern coaches. Two Class 33 diesels were used in the film, No’s D6584 and D6550 with the latter temporarily renumbered D6584 for continuity purposes. The train was carrying the wages of German Army dignitaries and soldiers used in a NATO exercise and the Class 33 was fitted with a large circular headboard displaying both the flags of NATO and the UK. In addition to this, London Marylebone station provides the setting for the final scenes. There is an earlier sequence with Eric Sykes on the London Underground that involves 1959-built tube stock (one vehicle of which is No.2154). This was filmed at Aldwych station, which interestingly portrays Brompton Road, one of the deep-level Piccadilly Line stations that closed in the 1930s.