LONDON TOWN

GB
2016
1hr 32mins
Dir: Derrick Borte
Starring: Dougray Scott and Daniel Huttlestone

In 1970s London, a 14-year old boy is introduced to The Clash by his estranged mother

This musical drama has scenes filmed on the Epping-Ongar Railway, using the line’s BR blue Class 31 No.31438 and a rake of blue & grey coaching stock in what is a good representation of a 1970s BR service. These scenes include shots filmed onboard the train, as well as one of the Class 31 pulling out of Ongar station but, most notable, is a particularly fine external run-by of a similar train hauled by 37029 in BR green. According to the end credits, the film was based on the screenplay The Untitled Joe Strummer Project by Kirsten Sheridan and Sonya Gildea.

31438 runs past a field of ripening wheat on the Epping-Ongar Railway
Daniel Huttlestone inside a Mark 2
In this nagnificent shot, 37029 storms past the camera, having replaced the 31 on its train of blue and grey coaches
As dusk begins to fall in deepest Essex, 31438 pulls out of Ongar station. This was served by London Underground until September 1994 and remains the ‘zero’ point for all LUL track mileage measurements to this day.