A HANDFUL OF DUST

GB
1988
1hr 58mins
Dir: Charles Sturridge
Starring: James Wilby and Kristin Scott Thomas

The wife’s affair and a death in the family hasten the demise of an upper-class English marriage

This romance based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Evelyn Waugh features a number of scenes that were filmed on the Bluebell Railway, with Sheffield Park station and various lineside locations featuring. These scenes include some particularly fine shots of Southern Railway U Class 2-6-0 No.1618. There is also a scene filmed on platform 1 of London Paddington station though without the presence of any trains.

SR U Class 2-6-0 No.1618 approaches the camera
Steaming well, the loco gets closer to the camera
No.1618 and its two coach train is captured approaching a bridge. Judging by the lengths of rail lying in the four-foot this could well be a view from the bridge seen in the above two shots.
A young boy watches on as No.1618 arrives at Horsted Keynes
In a scene reminiscent of father’s return in The Railway Children, a passenger on the platform of Horsted Keynes
Horsted Keynes on a wet day
The roof gives it away. Cathryn Harrison at London Paddington
Platform 1 at London Paddington. The BRIGHTON destination board suggests that it is portraying Victoria.