Flying Scotsman, The
Date: 1929
Director: Castleton Knight
Production Company: British International Pictures (BIP)
Stars: Moore Marriott, Pauline Johnson, Raymond Milland, Alec Hurley
Location(s): Edinburgh, Hertfordshire, London, Northumberland
Region(s): London E-G, North, Scotland, South East E-L
Storyline:
Dismissed for drinking alcohol at work, a disgruntled fireman decides to take revenge on the engine driver who reported him on the day he is due to retire after years of distinguished service.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson
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- Capture 1
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"The Flying Scotsman - always crowded with thrifty Scots -- bent on saving time."
- Capture 2
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Having left Scotland earlier in the day, Driver Bob White brings the prestigious express into London's Kings Cross station. The terminus stands on Euston Road in N1.
- Capture 3
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Passengers begin to alight as the train comes to a stand. King's Cross station can also be seen in 'The Ladykillers', 'Hoffman', 'Career Girls', 'Friday the Thirteenth', 'Anything to Declare?' and 'Mrs. Brown, You've got a Lovely Daughter'.
- Capture 4
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Fireman Crow (Alec Hurley) looks on as a Passenger offers Bob White (Moore Marriott) a bar of chocolate for making "A splendid run."
- Capture 5
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After Crow is discharged for drinking on duty, Bob and his new fireman Jim Edwards (Raymond Milland) arrive for work the next day.
- Capture 6
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Bob drives the locomotive into the station to couple to the train. King’s Cross Top Shed off Wharf Road to the north of St. Pancras Basin on the Regent's Canal in N1 identified by Jonathan Horswell on his Railway Movie Database. Part of the footage can also be seen in 'Thursday's Child'.
- Capture 7
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Vowing to get even with Bob for reporting him, Crow takes a seat on the train. King's Cross station in London N1.
- Capture 8
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Overhearing Crow's threats against her father, Joan White jumps onto the train as it departs. The westernmost bore of the three Gasworks Tunnels to the north of King's Cross station.
- Capture 9
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After the Flying Scotsman pulls out of Kings Cross, Joan takes a seat opposite Crow in one of the compartments.
- Capture 10
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Leaving the compartment, Crow climbs onto the outside of the train and makes his way towards the engine. Much of the action takes place on the Hertford Loop Line which was opened in stages between 1871 and 1924.
- Capture 11
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Bob sounds the whistle as the train approaches a tunnel.
- Capture 12
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Crow reaches the locomotive and a fight ensues on the footplate. Passing over North Road to the south of Stapleford in Hertfordshire. The station, which closed in 1939, stands just to the north of this point and Warrenwood Industrial Estate now occupies the site of the sidings to the left.
- Capture 13
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Suspicious of his intentions, Joan White (Pauline Johnson) follows Crow to the front of the train. The plaque indicates that this is bridge 56, a footbridge crossing the line near Widow Bushes to the north of Stapleford. The bridge has since been removed.
- Capture 14
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After knocking Bob out, Crow uncouples the locomotive from the train.
- Capture 15
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Out of control, the engine continues onward with the unconscious driver and his daughter on board. North of at Watton at Stone station in Hertfordshire, a reverse point of view to the next capture.
- Capture 16
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Crow watches the distance between the locomotive and the train increase. Looking south towards Watton at Stone station, a reverse point of view to the previous capture.
- Capture 17
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Gathering speed, the runaway engine streaks through a station.
- Capture 18
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The locomotive thunders past a signalbox where the Signalman raises the alarm.
- Capture 19
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Managing to bring the engine to a stand, Joan runs back to change a set of points to divert the approaching carriages. Looking towards bridge 52 crossing North Road to the south of Stapleford, Hertfordshire. Note that the Network Rail name for the bridge is used as street maps identify the roadway passing beneath as High Road.
- Capture 20
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After Crow is apprehended by the train's Guard and Passengers, the journey north restarts.
- Capture 21
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The Flying Scotsman passes a southbound train hauled by number 4476 Royal Lancer, identified by Jonathan Horswell.
- Capture 22
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An urban landscape near the coast . . . Spittal to the south of Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland with the North of England Chemical Works to the left of St. Helen's Terrace in the centre.
- Capture 23
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In the distance, a trail of smoke traces the expresses progress. Looking inland from the breakwater protecting Berwick Harbour, towards the North of England Chemical Works at Spittal, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
- Capture 24
- 26 Mar 2024
The Flying Scotsman arrives in Edinburgh. Princes Street in Edinburgh with the Scott Monument to the right.
95 years later, Antony Blair returned to Princes Street.
- Capture 25
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Bob applies the brakes as the train approaches the platform at Waverley station. This is the eastern approach to the station with the Down Main platform, number 1, on the right.
- Capture 26
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Passing beneath Waverley Bridge on platform 1 at Waverley station off Princes Street in Edinburgh. The station also features in 'The 39 Steps' from 1959, 'Upstairs and Downstairs', 'The Girl with a Pistol' and 'Hallam Foe'.
- Capture 27
- 'Now' required
Sounding the whistle, Bob takes 4472 Flying Scotsman to the shed after completing his last run before retirement. The west end of Waverley station in Edinburgh.