Runaway Railway (Children’s Film Foundation)

The start of this Children's Film Foundation feature sees an express train steaming through the countryside. This is Gordon on the Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire. The locomotive is a WD Austerity 2-10-0 locomotive that currently resides on the Severn Valley Railway.

The camera gets ready to pan with the train as the express approaches. Longmoor Yard on the Longmoor Military Railwy (LMR).

As the express speeds on it's way, the Barming Loop Line train passes over the main line. This viaduct was east of Longmoor Downs station and yard and carried the line from Liss.

The final train pulls into Barming station on the day of the railway's closure. This is the BR Southern Region station at Bordon, Hampshire that closed to passengers in April 1966.

Mr. Waterhouse (Roger Avon), the Station Master, listens as Charlie (John Moulder-Brown), Arthur (Kevin Bennett), John (Leonard Brockwell) and Carole (Roberta Tovey) talk about saving the line. Bordon station once stood on Old Station Way off Oakhanger Road, Bordon.

The next morning, Carole looks up the line as an official approaches on a motorised rail trolley. Bordon was at the end of a 4½ mile long branch line running from Bentley, on the route between Farnham and Alton.

The trolley bringing the Disposals Man enters the station. The station stood on Old Station Way off Oakhanger Road, Bordon in Hampshire.

Grample (Graham Stark) conducts a small band consisting of engine driver Llewellyn (Bruce Wightman) and the boys. Bordon goods shed with the LMR sidings to the left.

Also to cover runra008. With re-development and no landmark it is difficult to be totally precise but it is not far off. (RL)

The villagers shout in protest as the Disposals Man (Hugh Lloyd) makes his way into the shed to take away the line's engine, Matilda.

The band plays again as the Disposals Man departs without Matilda due to the children sabotaging her on the previous evening. In the background are the platforms of the Longmoor Military Railway's Bordon station.

Given fencing restraints more or less the right location, at least the tree line remains. (RL)

Waterhouse and Llewellyn sit despondently before being told that the local landowner, Lord Chalk, will buy the line if the engine is in running order. In the background stands Railway Cottages and Old Station Way, Bordon. The station site is now given over to industrial units.

The background cottages at least provide a reference point. (RL)

The children hold a dance in an effort to raise money towards rescuing the line.

Mr. Jones (Sydney Tafler) and Mr. Galore (Ronnie Barker) appear, claiming that they are railway enthusiasts and will help to save the line if the engine is repaired.

Early the next morning, the children head to Matilda's shed to take her on a test run. The Deers Hut, Liphook which is also seen in 'The Challenge'. (RL)

David O'Donogue captured the scene now.

John and Arthur wait as Carole climbs from her bedroom window.

Charlie leaves Grample asleep and heads to join the others.

Chris and James provide this picture with the added detail that it is the former occupation crossing on the Hollywater Loop to Whitehill on the Longmoor system.

With robbery in mind, Mr. Jones and Mr. Galore leave their hotel and make their way to the railway. The Royal Anchor public house on The Square in Liphook, Hampshire identified by Tim Penycate.

The hotel now, captured by David O'Donogue.

An express mail train leaves London. A stock shot of London's Paddington station.

As planned, the mail train comes to a stand at a signal and Mr. Galore uncouples the mail van.

Range 2 Signal Box long gone. I acknowledged that my shot should have been further back so Chris and James provide a more accurate replacement shot adding "The WD 2.10.0 waits for the road at No2 Range Box, Woolmer Yard is to the right the shot is looking towards Whitehill. (RL)

After the express continues on it's way, the children back Matilda onto the main line, towards the lone mail van. But from those that know, James and Chris, we learn that the class J94 is seen running bunker first off the Hollywater Loop and joining the section from Liss as it approaches Longmoor Downs station. (RL)

And this is the scene now they say. (RL)

Mr. Galore gets ready to couple the van to Matilda as Mr. Jones tells the shocked children of the robbery plan.

Range 2 Signal Box on the left and once again. Once again my shot in 2016 should have been further back, so James and Chris provide a more accurate replacement telling us that it was where the lines were diverging into Woolmer Yard behind the loco (RL)

The robbers' accomplices drive their getaway van onto a level crossing as Matilda pulls the mail van onto the loop line.

An additional capture from Chris and James Churcher who tell us that the goods van is seen just at the junction at Whitehill, beyond to the right is the site of the Form signal box. (RL)

It is not difficult to see that Chris and James have established the same position for this comparative shot. (RL)

An express carrying Lord Chalk approaches as Matilda and the mail van runs back onto the main line after the robbery is thwarted. Whitehill on the Longmoor Military Railway. The railway closed in October 1969 and was also used for scenes in 'The Magnificent Two', 'The Rescue Squad', 'Bhowani Junction', 'The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery' and 'Sons and Lovers'.

The Whitehill junction and the Hollywater Loop line. (RL)

Grample struggles to open a level crossing as Matilda approaches, pursued by the express. Chris and James elaborate, Graham stark allows the Longmoor based class J94 to pass over the crossing, this scene is looking in the direction of Hopkins Bridge and Hollywater, to the right is the entrance to No1 range that still remains today. (RL)

Chris and James provide a shot of the same scene today. (RL)

As the Lord Chalk peers through the carriage window, the express passes landowner's country home. Identified by Steve Randall, this is Blair Drummond House, about a mile south of Doune on the A84 Callander to Stirling road in Perthshire. The building dates from the late 1860's and can also be seen in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail ' and 'Trio'.

Points are changed as the chase continues. Matilda was played by a 1953 0-6-0 saddle tank engine number WD196 and named 'Errol Lonsdale'. The locomotive survives in private ownership in Belgium.

Hollywater Loop line and Whitehill platform far left....as it is now. (RL)

A general view of the junction at Whitehill with the station top right.

A general view from ground level, given constraints. (RL)

As the train runs out of control, Mr. Jones climbs over the mail van.

All that remains of the Whitehill Box, but there is evidence within the undergrowth. (RL)

Passengers, police and staff wait at the London terminus. This is retouched and animated picture of an original work entitled 'London Midland Electrification, Stafford Station' which was painted by John Greene in 1963.

And this is the reality. PW

The Station Master (Jon Pertwee) and Chief Constable watch as the runaway train approaches.

Matilda and the mail van enter the station. A reversed stock shot of Platform 7 at London Victoria with Eccleston Road bridge passing over the line in the background. The shot pre-dates the film by many years as indicated by the signals to the right, which were installed in 1920 but replaced in 1939. Identification made with the assistance of Robert Shrives.

The train heads for the buffer stops and the end of the line for the robbers. Another stock, or second unit, shot. This time of platform 4 at Brighton station in Sussex as recognised by Andy Wassall.