THE LOVES OF JOANNA GODDEN

GB
1947
1hr 29mins
Dir: Charles Frend
Starring: Googie Withers and John McCallum

In Edwardian Britain, a young woman has three suitors who seek her hand in marriage

This historical drama is based on the 1921 novel Joanna Godden by Sheila Kaye-Smith. Ealing Studios shot much of the film on location on Romney Marsh in Kent, and there are a couple of shots of the New Romney branch line from Appledore. Interestingly, a locomotive was borrowed from the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway for filming. This was ex-LBSCR Class A1X ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T No.3, suitably lettered SE&CR for the film. Some coaches were also requested from the Kent & East Sussex but for one reason or another these failed to materialise, and a couple of ex-SECR coaches owned by the Southern Railway were used instead. These too were suitably adorned with old South Eastern & Chatham lettering. There are two shots of the train in the film, one of it en route along the branch and one of it arriving at Lydd Town station, which masquerades as the interestingly named ‘Brodnyx’.

This brilliant shot shows a train running along the New Romney branch hauled by ex-LBSCR Class A1X ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T No.3. This shot later appeared in the 1953 film 36 Hours (qv).
Joanna Godden (aka Googie Withers) waits at Brodnyx (aka Lydd Town)
The train arrives behind Terrier No.3, with SE&CR lettering on the tank side
As the train draws to a stand people begin to alight in what was once a familiar scene the length and breadth of the country. The carriages have been emblazoned with ‘SOUTH EASTERN & CHATHAM RAILWAY’ wording.
As Googie Withers stands alone on Lydd Town station we get an excellent glimpse of the station’s signal box. Note also the single four-wheel van in the goods siding to the right.