A KIND OF LOVING

GB
1962
1hr 52mins
Dir: John Schlesinger
Starring: Alan Bates and June Ritchie

A young man is forced into marriage and subsequent life living with his mother-in-law

This classic ‘kitchen sink’ drama is based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Stan Barstow. Filmed on location in the north west of England it features a good number of atmospheric railway shots around Bolton and Oldham. Although there is much smoke and steam no trains are actually seen, though they are heard. Later on however, towards the end of the film, Alan Bates is captured waiting on a station at night and two, separate, ex-LMS Class 5MT ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0’s run light through the platform tender first. It is not known which station was used for this sequence, though Oldham Central has been mentioned. Soon after this, there is a shot of a freight hauled by what appears to be an ex-LMS Class 4F 0-6-0 passing through an industrial town. This was a view from Sparrows Park, at the rear of the Parish Church of St. Michael, Macclesfield.

A moody shot at night of a ‘Black Five’ passing light engine through an as yet unidentified station. This may be Oldham Central, which closed in 1966.
Alan Bates reads the posters on the wall and ponders his next move
Having sat down to wait for the next train, another ‘Black Five’ runs through tender first. This is probably a different loco, though it may be the same one filmed at different times that was shuttling up and down through the station for the benefit of the production crew.
A freight train clanks slowly through the heart of Macclesfield. The loco maybe an ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0.