GB 1935 1hr 11mins Dir: Harry Hughes Starring: Stanley Holloway and Betty Davies
The Heckdyke Brass Band head south for a national competition in London where two of their members get accused of a jewel theft
This musical comedy has some scenes filmed at a Midland Region station called ‘Heckdyke’ in the film, which in reality was Dunstable North, on the former LNWR cross-country line from Leighton Buzzard to Welwyn Garden City. The locomotive at the head of the departing train is Fowler Class 4P 2-6-4T No.2403, one of the last batch built in 1933 that differed from the rest in having a side window and doors. There are also some later street scenes in London that feature trams and these include shots around the Elephant & Castle and along the Camberwell Road.
Crowds gather on the station platform to see the band off. This is Dunstable North station and the loco just creeping into shot is an LMS 2-6-4 tank.
Lots of cheering as the band proceeds further down the platform
Ian Wilson and Billy Bray attempt to board an LMS 3rd class compartment coach at Dunstable North’s bay platform
The peg has ‘dropped’ giving the train a clear road ahead. The locomotive is an LMS 2-6-4T and the unusual chimney pot water filler forms an interesting comparison to the funnel.
The driver looks back ready for the off
The signalman in Dunstable North box keeps a watchful eye on the departing train. The locomotive visible through the window is Fowler Class 4P 2-6-4T No.2403, presumably the same loco seen in the earlier views. This signal box was replaced by BR in 1958 due to subsidence.
This interesting photo from the Dunstable Gazette shows the film crew in action at Dunstable North station, masquerading as Heckdyke. The locomotive creeping into shot looks to be a rare glimpse of an old LNWR Webb 2-4-2 tank, unless someone knows differently.
We are now in London, and this shot taken from the Elephant & Castle Hotel sees a tram at the junction of Newington Butts and St. George’s Road.
In this shot looking down Camberwell Road the approaching tram is working Route 60, Southwark Bridge to Dulwich
Another tram is visble in the centre distance of this view looking north down Camberwell Road
The studio car plays host to, from left to right, Frank Atkinson, Betty Davies, Amy Veness, and Stanley Holloway. The back-projection features an E1 tram on Route 38, Abbey Wood to Abbey Wood circular via Plumstead – Woolwich – Greenwich – New Cross – Old Kent Road – Elephant & Castle – Lambeth North – Westminster Bridge – Victoria Embankment – Blackfriars and St George’s Circus.
