EDUCATING RITA

Image result for Educating Rita 1983

GB
1983
1hr 50mins
Dir: Lewis Gilbert
Starring: Julie Walters and Michael Caine

A hairdresser enrolls on an open university course

There is a scene in this popular comedy drama that was filmed at Dublin Pearse station with old CIÉ laminate-type carriages painted on one side only in BR blue & grey livery complete with logos and numbers. The repaint was done to a very high standard using water-soluble paint but it rained just before filming so some of it needed touching up! The former carriage ramp to Westland Row is also visible in this scene. The reason for the ‘BR repaint’ of an Irish train was the fact that Dublin was playing the part of Liverpool!! The film was based on Willy Russell’s 1980 stage play of the same name.

Michael Caine at Dublin Pearse station
Julie Walters at Dublin Pearse. The Irish Rail coaching stock was not only given BR corporate colours, but BR double arrow logos and numbers too. The vehicle on the right is ‘70283’ actually the number of a BR Class 411 4 CEP!
This is the entrance to Dublin Pearse that once led to the old carriage ramp. The whole area has now been totally subsumed beneath an annex of Trinity College though the station is still open.