TRAIN OF EVENTS – A PICTORIAL TRIBUTE TO THE 1949 FILM
This is Camden bank, and the approaching train is hauled by a ‘Royal Scot’, possibly No.6151 The Royal Horse Guardsman
‘Jubilee’ No.45588 Kashmir passes out from underneath Mornington Street bridge
And now we have a ‘Black Five’. Note the electrified Watford DC lines to the left of the train.
Back to another ‘Jubilee’, in this case No.5733 Novelty
Behind the acknowledgement to the LMR is a passing express, hauled in this instance by a ‘Duchess’ (or ‘Coronation’) Class 4-6-2
This interesting view shows a train crossing a river bridge, though the watercourse is possibly the Grand Union Canal. The loco at the front of the train looks to be another ‘Black Five’.
A ‘Patriot’ Class 4-6-0 steams across the River Colne at Bushey
A ‘Black Five’ quenches its thirst on Bushey Troughs
In this by now very familiar view of Bushey Troughs we see a ‘Jubilee’, though in this instance not picking up water
This shot of an express crossing a viaduct at night later reappeared in The Gold Express (1955) but I am at a loss as to what it actually depicts.
This is a close up image of a ‘Royal Scot’, and its distinctive ‘badge’ nameplate narrows it down to two examples, either 6127 Old Contemptibles or 6170 British Legion (though it could also be 6100 Royal Scot itself).
This is part of the old Willesden Depot, with at least eleven locomotives of various types present in this shot
In this view of the depot sidings, the jib of a Ransomes & Rapier breakdown crane is just coming into the right of the shot. The main locomotive in the foreground is a ‘Black Five’, above that is what appears to be a Fowler 2-6-4T, whilst in the centre background is what looks likely to be a Fowler Class 4F 0-6-0. The vintage loco in the right hand background coupled to a single van is quite rare however. It is an old Johnson 2F Class 0-6-0.
This apparently random view of a ‘Royal Scot on a turntable inside Willesden shed shows the smoke box number plate of 46125, with the 5 painted out. 3rd Carabinier, as it was named, played the part of No.46126 in these scenes, though it would have been better surely to remove the number plate altogether?
There are many views inside Willesden shed, and this is just one. Opened by the LNWR in 1873 it was closed by BR on 27th September 1965.
In this view of the shed interior an ex-Midland Railway ‘Compound’ 4-4-0 stands in the background, its boiler streaked in shadow from the roof
To the right of Susan Shaw is an ex-GWR Pannier Tank doing a spot of shunting at Westbourne Park
In this shot of Patric Doonan, the platforms of Westbourne Park are clearly visible, the express passing through in the hands of a ‘Castle’, less so
As Joan Dowling muses in a shop window, a pair of London trams pass by in the background
This is London Road, SE1, and to the immediate right of the approaching policeman is the Leslie Green designed entrance to Elephant & Castle Bakerloo Line Underground station
This tram crossing Westminster Bridge meanwhile is not particularly well lit!!
This is a view looking east from Westbourne Park station, with the now demolished terraced houses of Southam Street on the right and Golborne Road bridge in the distance
This is one of the entrances to Strand station, now redeveloped as part of the large and confusing Charing Cross complex of entrances, platforms, and subterranean passageways
This may not be the Strand, however. Laurence Payne and Joan Dowling make their way down a flight of stairs with glazed tiling on the wall.
This, too, is an as yet unidentified location on the Underground. The couple have now reached a passageway that gives access to lifts. Did the Strand have lifts?
A train of 1923 Standard stock stands in the platform of a deep level tube station. This may well be the Strand.
Having arrived in ‘Camden’, the errant couple discuss their future together. This is definitely not Camden, as a ‘Spam Can’ in Southern Railway sunshine livery is steaming by outside. The ‘white’ plaque on its streamlined casing shows that this is a ‘Battle of Britain’ Class member.
Willesden TMD at dusk
In this marvellous shot, Jack Warner makes his way towards ‘Old Lizzie’, which is in reality ex-LMS Class 3F ‘Jinty 0-6-0T No.47327. In total, 422 ‘Jinty Tanks’ were built and ten have been preserved. Happily, 47327 is one and it currently resides on the Midland Railway at Butterley.
This overview of the old Euston station appears twice in the film
What looks likely to be an ex-LNWR G2 Class ‘Super D’ 0-8-0 brings its freight into a yard. In the film this is said to be Macclesfield Hibel Road though this is almost certainly somewhere around London.
‘Jinty’ No.47527 carries out pilot duties at London Euston. Whereas No.47327 seen in the earlier screen capture had early BRITISH RAILWAYS branding, this example still has LMS lettering on its tanks. The film was shot during March and April 1948 during the first few months of British Railways existence.
Jack Warner on the footplate of ex-LMS ‘Royal Scot’ Class 4-6-0 No.46126 Royal Army Service Corps, a loco which would go on to appear again in No Love for Johnnie (1961). This shot shows to good effect the early, and relatively short-lived, BRITISH RAILWAYS branding.
A ‘Jubilee’ pulls out of Euston and beneath Hampstead Road bridge at the start of its journey
This is rare. Although the ‘Black Five’ on Bushey Troughs is common enough, the Bakerloo Line train of 1938 stock is not. The Underground ran services all the way to Watford Junction until 1982 when they were cut back to Stonebridge Park. They currently terminate at Harrow & Wealdstone.
The aftermath of the crash used Wolverton Works and scrap stock. Just visible on the right is a very rare glimpse indeed of an ex-LNWR ‘Special Tank’. These were saddle tank versions of the DX Goods Class of 0-6-0 tender locos but only five had survived into BR ownership at the time of nationalisation, four of which were Carriage Department shunters at Wolverton.
The props department built this replica of 46126 for use in the crash. It is seen here lying on its right hand side with the cab roof in the centre.
The injured are helped from the smashed train, one carriage of which is rising up in the background
The final scenes in the film show the third ‘Jinty’, No.47675, again with early BRITISH RAILWAYS branding
