THE IRON MAIDEN

GB
1962
1hr 38mins
Dir: Gerald Thomas
Starring: Michael Craig and Anne Helm

An aircraft designer’s main passion is his traction engine called ‘The Iron Maiden’

This is a truly delightful film, with plenty to interest the transport enthusiast. It was produced by the same team that made the Carry On films and was widely perceived as an attempt to repeat the success of the film Genevieve (qv), with traction engines in place of vintage cars. It has been unofficially called ‘Carry On Genevieve’ as a result, though it should be noted that the film Genevieve was not produced by the Carry On team and that the finished productions are really quite different. The main character works as an aircraft designer for Handley Page and there are some very good shots of a Victor bomber at Radlett Aerodrome. In the background of one scene there is a clear view of Class 127 DMUs passing on the Midland Main Line. In addition to this, some early scenes were filmed at Southampton Western Docks with some good shots of the eastern end of Passenger & Goods Sheds No’s.106 and 107 with the rear of a boat train standing outside the former (the United States Lines ocean liner SS United States and Orient Line’s SS Oriana can also be seen berthed).

Passenger & Goods Sheds No’s.106 and 107 at Southampton Western Docks. The SS United States is out of shot to the left, the boat on the right, with its unique and unmistakable superstructure, is the SS Oriana.
Michael Craig on Radlett Aerodrome with a formation of Class 127 DMU’s scuttling along behind him on the Midland main line.