Railway sequences in films

[Invicta]

Just whiling away my Saturday afternoon watching 'Young Winston,' the early 70's pic about Churchill's early life.

 

The part about his spell in South Africa as a war correspondant during the Boer War includes a number of railway sequences, which were clearly filmed in the UK- unless South African Railways or their predecessors were widespread users of the GWR 14xx and BR Standards....

 

Anyone know where these were filmed? I know we had a thread on old RMWeb covering railways in the movies, and think that at least part of the answer might have been in that.

 

AFAIK, there are 3 distinct sequences-

1- Churchill is travelling as a war correspondant on a patrolling armoured train, which is attacked leading to his capture by the Boers. The engine, although partly disguised by fake armour plate for the film is clearly a 14xx. The armoured train is made up of a mix of bogie wagons and at least one, maybe a couple of BR 16-tonners

2- After escaping from captivity, Churchill stows away on a goods train. It only appears briefly, but possibly a USA 0-6-0T

3- He finally is helped to ecape across the border on another train- I missed a little of this as I was on the phone, but the loco looks to be a BR Standard tender loco- possibly a 4MT? BR 16T minerals and plate wagons or similar are in evidence in both scenes.

 

A quick Google only brings up a reference to the previous RMWeb thread which mentions the 14xx, but so far nothing more. Anyone know where it was filmed, or able to identify the locos involved? The only mention on the credits is for the GWR Society and BR- so presumably the GWRS at Didcot supplied the 14xx (1466?)

[bertiedog]

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Chartwell House, Westerham, Kent, England, UK

Harrow School, Harrow, Middlesex, England, UK

Morocco

Pen y Cae, Powys, Wales, UK

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey, England,

UK Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

These are listed for general reference as locations on Imdb, no specific locations for railways mentioned, an enquiry to the BFI might reveal more.

 

Stephen

[ChrisH]

I seem to remember Longmoor being involved, certainly for 2 & 3. The USA tank 30064 was there at the time & the BR Std was 92203.

 

Chris

[bertiedog]

I seem to remember Longmoor being involved, certainly for 2 & 3. The USA tank 30064 was there at the time & the BR Std was 92203.

 

Chris

 

Certainly Longmoor was used widely for filming in the 1970's, St Trinian's train robbery for instance, but no mention of Young Winston, just an omission I expect, as such details have to be submitted to Imdb and nobody may have got around to it so far. Young Winston was by no means a big budget film.

 

Stephen.

[bertiedog]

Just tried the obvious.........try entering Young Winston Railway Sequences, in Google and all is revealed, it was nearly all shot in South Wales, Swansea Valley to Penwyllt on at least one reference, with detailed recollections from people watching the filming with the "armoured" 14xx etc.

 

One reference for Longmoor Railway says Young Winston sequences were also shot there as well. This would explain the BR standard etc., in some shots.

 

There are also some slide picture clips on You tube of the loco used in the South African sequences shot in Wales.

 

 

There is also reference on a specialist film location website, giving more details and map references..............

 

Stephen.........should have thought about it harder earlier!!!

[chris p bacon]

My wife and I watched Cranford at Xmas, couldn't figure out where the railway sequence was filmed, Bellopheron was the loco.

 

Anyone know?

[sn]

Here's one I've thought about a lot. It was a film from the 1960's The final scene consisted of a high location shot looking down on a group of children running out over disused sidings to the sound of The First of May by The Bee Gees.

 

Never seen the film again! Why does it stick in my mind for 35 odd years??!!!!! I remember nothing else about the film.

 

If anyone knows what film it was is I'll be gobsmacked but very pleased 'cos I don't!

[Dave777]

Here's one I've thought about a lot. It was a film from the 1960's The final scene consisted of a high location shot looking down on a group of children running out over disused sidings to the sound of The First of May by The Bee Gees.

 

Never seen the film again! Why does it stick in my mind for 35 odd years??!!!!! I remember nothing else about the film.

 

If anyone knows what film it was is I'll be gobsmacked but very pleased 'cos I don't!

 

 

Put 'The First of May' into Wikipedia, it then says 'In 1971, the song was featured in the soundtrack to Melody, a British motion picture about puppy love', and then Google 'Melody' and you find this:

 

http://www.imdb.com/...067418/#comment

 

Is that it?

[wollastonblue]

My wife and I watched Cranford at Xmas, couldn't figure out where the railway sequence was filmed, Bellopheron was the loco.

 

Anyone know?

 

 

Cranford was filmed on the Foxfield Railway. They are and quite rightly so using for publicity.

[JZ]

The railway sequences in the coming BBC docudrama 'Daughters' were filmed between Avonmouth and Severn Beach.

[chris p bacon]

Cranford was filmed on the Foxfield Railway. They are and quite rightly so using for publicity.

 

Of course, Duh! thanks for that. I sat there with the wife saying "go on then, I know you're dying to tell me where it is" but I had a complete mental block.