FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS

GB
1959
1hr 19mins
Dir: Gordon Parry
Starring: Arthur Askey and Megs Jenkins

During the Cold War, a working-class British family have to entertain two visitors from Soviet Russia

This rather insipid comedy was adapted from the play of the same name by Austin Steele. The Russian duo travel to Askey’s home town by train, and this journey opens with a really good shot of former GWR ‘Hall’ Class 4-6-0 No.4953 Pitchford Hall labouring along the Great Western main line between West Drayton and Iver. The local station used in the film was Bourne End, though the train departing at the end is flagged away from Hayes & Harlington! In addition, there is a single stock shot of a Southern Railway ‘Lord Nelson’ 4-6-0 awaiting departure from London Victoria.

This particularly fine shot shows the now-preserved 4953 Pitchford Hall slogging along the down main between West Drayton and Iver on the GW main line
This is Bourne End station in Buckinghamshire, with a coach standing in the Marlow bay platform in the centre and the Railway Hotel on the right
Tilda Thamar leaves Bourne End station. The Marlow bay platform is to her right.
The odd one out in proceedings is this stock shot of a Southern Railway ‘Lord Nelson’ 4-6-0 simmering at London Victoria
The train is flagged away from Hayes & Harlington station…..
…..yet the departure scene uses Bourne End again, which on this occasion masqueraded as Bursley Junction