30 IS A DANGEROUS AGE, CYNTHIA

GB
1968
1hr 25mins
Dir: Joseph McGrath
Starring: Dudley Moore and Suzy Kendall

A piano player and composer decides to write a musical and marry before he reaches his thirtieth birthday in six weeks time

This romantic comedy has a number of interesting railway scenes, the most notable of which are two, good, low-level run-by shots of passing expresses on the LSWR main line hauled by Bulleid Pacific’s, one of which is ‘Battle of Britain’ Class No.34060 25 Squadron. There is also a scene overlooking the Regents Canal basin at St Pancras and a Class 27 is shunting in the background with possibly another loco behind. The glimpse of the 27 is rare as by 1969 the entire class was concentrated in Scotland. In addition to this there is a very unusual view from the gasometers overlooking the Great Western main line at Ladbroke Grove and Kensal Green but no trains are visible. There are two scenes filmed in goods yards, the first of which features a rake of four wheel vans at King’s Cross Goods Depot whilst the other is filmed at night and has Dudley Moore and John Bird onboard a Pullman coach. A bogie bolster wagon is also present in this scene but it is not known where this was shot. Finally, there is a brief comedy scene outside the entrance to an as yet unidentified SR station and a shot early on in the film of Dudley Moore and Eddie Foy Jr on the escalators of a London Underground station. All in all, a good mixed bag.

Bulleid pacific run-by No.1
Bulleid pacific run-by No.2. The loco in this case is No.34060 25 Squadron.
Dudley Moore and Eddie Foy Jr on the London Underground. The escalators look quite distinctive and may belong to St. Johns Wood.
Dudley Moore exits a railway station, but which one? Initially I thought this was the side entrance to Marylebone but this can be ruled out as the brickwork is wrong and the large NO PARKING enamel sign is Southern Region green.
Unless I am very much mistaken this is King’s Cross Goods Depot with John Bird standing on the swing bridge across the Regent’s Canal
This is the Regent’s Canal Basin at St. Pancras. Immediately to the left of the policeman is a Class 27 doing a spot of shunting. What MAY be another loco is between the policeman and Dudley Moore.
This view from a gasholder gives us an unusual elevated view of the Great Western main line at Kensal Green. Apart from a couple of wagons bottom left the entire railway seems deserted. Must have been a Sunday!!
Dudley Moore walks alongside a bogie bolster wagon…..
…..before making his way towards a Pullman carriage, which looks somewhat forlorn standing on its own
Dudley Moore inside the opulent Pullman car