SHADOWLANDS

GB
1993
2hrs 11mins
Dir: Richard Attenborough
Starring: Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger

The story of Oxford academic C. S. Lewis and his relationship with an American woman

The screenplay for this biographical film was by William Nicholson and it is based on his 1985 television production and 1989 stage adaptation of the same name. The critically acclaimed film is about the love-relationship between Oxford academic C. S. Lewis and American poet Joy Davidman, her death from cancer, and how this challenged Lewis’ Christian faith. The railway scenes in the film were shot on the Great Central Railway, with Loughborough Central standing in for ‘Oxford’. Ex-LMS Class 5MT ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No.45231 and ex-GWR ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 No.7029 Clun Castle were used in the film and were commendably weathered so as to look like typical work-stained locos of the 1950s.

This excellent shot shows passengers awaiting the arrival of the next train, which is just arriving behind ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No.45231. The locomotive’s grimy condition and soot filled exhaust are an excellent period portrayal for the 1950s.
Debra Winger on the platform at Loughborough Central
No.45231 begins to pull away from Loughborough Central
Passengers come and go as one train gets ready for departure
Whilst another train arrives on the opposite platform, hauled by a filthy ‘Castle Class 4-6-0 No.7029 Clun Castle
The production crew did quite well at recreating authentic scenes for the film, even down to the contemporary Hereford and Worcester roof destination boards