GB 1949 34 mins Dir: James Hill Starring: Robin Netscher and Audrey Manning
A young trainspotter dreams of becoming an engine driver
All the railway material for this very pleasant film was shot on the old LMS network. There are scenes at Polmadie Depot in Glasgow and a shot of the stock for the ‘Midday Scot’ arriving into Glasgow Central station behind ex-Caledonian Railway ‘439’ Class 0-4-4T No.15224. The main star of the film is ex-LMS ‘Coronation’ Class 4-6-2 No.6253 City of St Albans, still in LMS livery. Jeremy drives the loco all the way from Glasgow through Carlisle and Crewe to London Euston, and the ‘Coronation’ is the same locomotive used throughout, unusual yet admirable consistency. The journey to London via stops at Carlisle and Crewe features a number of decent lineside views but most shots show the train arriving at the stations en route. Interestingly, all the locomotives seen in the film are still wearing their LMS identities but only a small number can be readily identifiable. These are LNWR Class 1P 2-4-2T No.6711, an LMS Hughes ‘Crab’ (quite possibly No.2769), another ‘439’ Class 0-4-4T No.15231, and ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0s No’s.4872 and 5383 (no film is complete without a ‘Black Five’!) There is also a view of a Glasgow Corporation tram crossing the Clyde as the express leaves Glasgow Central, and a shot of a narrow-gauge battery locomotive working in a coal mine (used to depict the ‘industrial north’). This short little wonder is now apparently forgotten but a poor quality version without sound is available to view as part of the Huntley Film Archives. A shot of the lower three quarters of No.6253 City of St. Albans meanwhile appears in the 1955 movie The Gold Express (qv). This is taken from the sequence where Jeremy brings the express to a stand after he spots a cow on the line ahead! Very grateful thanks to Ruth Whatling for providing me with a link to the film which I thought was lost completely.
A darkened scene inside the main running shed at Polmadie (pronounced Paw-ma-dee) MPD with several locomotives and their crews visible. The kettle nearest the camera might be an old Caledonian 0-6-0.
I believe that this is a former Caledonian Railway Class 2F 0-6-0 tank
This expansive view of Polmadie shows the empty coaching stock for the express being hauled from the carriage sidings passed a yard packed full of locomotives and other items of rolling stock.
Ex-Caledonian Railway ‘439’ Class 0-4-4T No.15224, in LMS livery but in BR ownership by now though not for much longer. It would be withdrawn in January 1950 as No.55224.
Former LNWR Class 1P 2-4-2T No.6711 trundles past the camera. The loco was withdrawn in May 1949, shorlty after filming, and never received its allocated BR number of 46711. In the left hand background is the smokebox of ‘Coronation’ Class 4-6-2 No.6253 City of St Albans.
No.6253 City of St Albans moving off shed. This is a year into the life of the new British Railways, but the loco still sports LMS branding on her tender. The corporate image was slow to take effect.
A packed Polmadie, with City of St. Albans steaming in the foreground.
The very clean locomotive seen in the background of the above image might be a Jubilee 4-6-0, again with LMS branding on the tender.
A member of the footplate crew makes his way to the cab. Not long to go now before departure.
6253 City of St. Albans begins its departure from Glasgow Central
An unexpected bonus in the form of a Glasgow Corporation tram crossing King George V bridge across the Clyde
As the train leaves Glasgow several other locomotives pass by. This is an LMS Hughes ‘Crab’ 2-6-0, possibly No.2769.
Another ex-LMS ‘Coronation’ Class 4-6-2, sadly unidentifiable
Followed immediately by an unidenified Jubilee Class 4-6-0
Another former Caledonian Railway ‘439’ Class 0-4-4T No.15231 passes one of Carlisle’s signal boxes. It had 8!!
No.6253 at Carlisle
No.6253 at Crewe
I particulalry like this shot of No.6253 dappled in sunlight
As the fireman potters about on the footplate, ex-LMS ‘Black Five 4-6-0 No.5383 passes slowly by outside
Although this is a poor image, this scene at London Euston completes the journey
There are a handful of other interesting shots including this passing express, the locomotive of which might be a ‘Royal Scot’ 4-6-0
Yet I can’t identify the locomotive hauling this express
The final shot in the film shows Jeremy’s younger brother on the footplate of ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No.4872. All a part of his dream of course. No.4872 was renumbered 44872 in March 1949.
