Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the gd-system-plugin domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114 TIGER BY THE TAIL - British Railway Movie Database
GB 1954 1hr 20mins Dir: John Gilling Starring: Larry Parks and Constance Smith
An American journalist works to expose a criminal gang in London
This crime film is an adaptation of the 1941 novel Never Come Back by John Mair and features quite a number of good railway scenes. There is a fight scene that takes place in a railway yard which results in one of the villains falling to his death beneath a train. This thrilling sequence was filmed at Taplow on the Western Region with the villain making his way onto the railway by jumping from a window of the Station Master’s house, which originally served as the GWR Boardroom when the railway first terminated here. A couple of ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0’s pass by on expresses, as well as a 5101 Class 2-6-2T on a freight. Taplow station is visible in the background to several of the shots and the goods yard has on display a fine collection of period wagons. The only problem is that the scenes have been filmed day-for-night so they are a little darker than one would really like. There is another scene filmed at Walton-on-Thames on the Southern Region with an electric train arriving in the background. Meanwhile, the movie has several good scenes filmed on the London Underground at both High Street Kensington and Gloucester Road stations, with excellent shots of Q-stock trains formed from a mix of vintage clerestory stock and Q38 flared stock. Gloucester Road is said in the film to be ‘Cannon Street’ and, confusingly, the concourse of the ‘real’ Cannon Street station does appear as part of this sequence of events, though no trains are visible.
An express thunders past a goods yard on its way to London. The locomotive is a former GWR ‘Castle’ whilst the location is Taplow.
A moment later and a goods train passes in the opposite direction hauled by an ex-GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T
Ronan O’Casey stands in the goods yard at Taplow. The carriages of another express can be seen passing behind the goods wagons.
As Ronan O’Casey crouches down between wagons., we get our first glimpse of Taplow station, which can be seen in the background
Robert Westwood makes his way along the line of empty wagons as another freight train is on the right. Taplow station footbridge can again be seen in the distance.
As Robert Westwood thinks about jumping from a wagon, the platforms of Taplow station can now be seen. Note that the other freight train has now disappeared from view!!
This is a rather interesting shot. This appears to be actual footage from a camera in the four foot at Taplow which is then replayed as part of back-projection for the death scene. The approaching train is fast bearing down upon us.
The locomotive of the express is probably another ‘Castle’
Larry Parks asks directions from the platform staff for trains to ‘Cannon Street’. This is the old entrance to platform 4 of Walton-on-Thames station with a formation of 2 BIL EMU’s in platform 1 heading towards London.
Constance Smith arrives into High Street Kensington station
John Watson watches on as Constance Smith walks passed on her way into the station.
Constance Smith hurries to catch a waiting train at High Street Kensington
The train now departs with Constance Smith onboard. This shot shows to good effect the wonderful station architecture, with its glazed roof, opened by the Metropolitan Railway in 1868.
John Watson onboard a train of District Line clerestory stock as it departs from High Street Ken. This is a wonderful and quite rare view of an original LT District Line stock interior.
A lovely shot indeed of a train of clerestory stock arriving into Gloucetser Road on a District Line service to Upminster. The Nestlé’s Chocolate machine will no doubt hold fond memories for many.
This is now the westbound platform 1 of Gloucester Road station, on today’s District & Circle Lines
In a slight continuity error, this shot shows a train of entrirely different stock pulling out of platform 2 of Gloucester Road on a District Line service. The flaring of the Q38 stock was an absolute design classic that even stemmed to the window ventilators.
Larry Parks at London Cannon Street
Constance Smith arrives onto the concourse at Cannon Street from the Underground
