Time Bomb

Bound for the dockyards of Portsmouth, a train conveying sea mines to Portsmouth departs from a goods yard in Birmingham.

Having jumped from the train, a Saboteur (Victor Maddern) runs from the yard. Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot off Chiswick High Road, London W6.

After fighting with Constable Baron, the Saboteur gets away. Along the south side the viaduct carrying the District and Piccadilly lines west from Stamford Brook station in W6.

The injured Constable Charles Baron (John Horsley) watches as the Saboteur escapes over a wall. Looking onto Prebend Gardens with the entrance gate to Stamford Brook station to the left. Location identified on the Britmovie forum.

As many of us experience, Christopher Matheson now wonders if he could have obtained a better angle. It is fine, blame the tree! (RL)

Railway Security Chief Mr. Jim Warrilow (Maurice Denham) waits for the Chief Constable, Sir Evelyn Jordan, while Constable Reed interrupts a dinner at which the Chief is speaking. Looking onto Shenley Road in Borehamwood.

The camera pans to see police cars speed along the road before Warrilow and Sir Evelyn Jordan are driven away. Shenley Road in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire located by members of the Britmovie forum.

While Warilow makes contact with Lyncort, police are dispatched throughout Birmingham to hunt for the Saboteur. The Britmove forum gives this location as facing east on Chiswick High Road with the corner of Prebend Gardens to the left of centre.

And Christopher Matheson proves the Britmovie Forum to be correct. (RL)

The squad cars arrive at the city’s Snow Hill station. The concourse of Snow Hill station on Colmore Row, Birmingham with Livery Street visible through the archway to the centre.

No 'Dares' Bitter at the station these days . . . although the name has been reintroduced by a nearby brewery. (PW)

A Policeman walks towards the queue at the booking office. The concourse of Snow Hill station in Birmingham 3, which was in Warwickshire at the time of filming.

The entrance to the station is the opening to the left of centre. (PW)

Prospective passengers are scrutinised. Snow Hill station closed in 1972 but was rebuilt and reopened fifteen years later.

Not so ornate now. (PW)

Cars are stopped in the streets to check the identity of occupants.

The house of bomb disposal expert Peter Lyncort on the film’s Greville Road, Birmingham 12. As suggested on the Britmovie forum, this appears to be Pudfield on Barham Avenue in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

The train is stopped by the Signalman (Ernest Butcher) at Felsworth East who tells the Driver of the danger and that the train must be sent to Felsworth Sidings. The train has just passed over the North Circular Road in Stonebridge NW10 and this is Willesden Carriage Sidings South signalbox.

Carrying a suitcase, Janine Lyncort (Anne Vernon) closes the front door behind her as she leaves her husband following an argument. Pudfield on Barham Avenue, Elstree.

Having backed the deadly load into a siding, the locomotive returns to the main line. The bridge carries the District and Piccadilly lines over the lines at the north end of Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot in London W4.

The wagons lie silently behind the houses of fictional Felsworth. The properties stand on Cleveland Avenue in Chiswick.

Regulars at the nearby Gaping Goose enjoy their evening. Members of the Britmovie forum locate this as the corner of Chiswick Common Road and Fisher’s Lane in W4. It appears that the building was never a public house.

Christopher Matheson confirms the location and also tells us that Kelly’s, 1954, states that 50 Chiswick Common Road was ‘Russell, Frank, beer retl’ so likely to be an off licence used as a pub for the film. Certainly looks like an "offy" to those that might remember them. (RL)

The peace is shattered as Police arrive to evacuate the town. Facing south-east on Chiswick Common Road. The awning seems to have been a prop constructed for the film.

Townsfolk are directed towards hastily arranged buses. Belmont Grove in Chiswick.

Residents are moved from Felsworth Old Peoples Home. The Almshouses that once stood opposite the corner of Burlington Lane on Great Chertsey Road in Chiswick W4 identified on the Tardisbuilders website.

Major Peter Lyncort (Glenn Ford) is introduced to Inspector Branson (Campbell Singer) before heading to the train to begin looking for the sabotaged mines. Church Street in Chiswick with St. Nicholas’s church in the background.

A more colourful shot of the steps to front of church, taken by Antony Blair.

A Police Car drives Inspector Branson to one of the evacuation centres. Looking north on Belmont Grove in W4 with the District line running between Gunnersbury and Turnham Green in the distance.

A much changed location captured by Antony Blair.

Deciding not to run away to Paris, Janine discovers that all of the taxis have been used in the evacuation at Felsworth. This has the appearance of a studio set.

Morning dawns as Major Lyncort continues his dangerous mission. St. Nicholas’s church on Church Street, Chiswick W4.

With a clear blue sky as the backcloth, Antony Blair provides this comparison of the church tower.

Constable J. Reed (Bill Fraser) looks across at the wagons in the railway yard. The graveyard of St. Nicholas’s church in Chiswick, which also appears in 'Impulse', ‘Quatermass and the Pit’ and ‘Victim’.

The church yard at the back of the church captured by Antony.

Warilow joins the Major in an attempt to speed up the task. Looking north at Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot. Location identified by members of the Britmovie forum.

The two look along the train at the work yet to be done. Facing south at Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot in Chiswick.

Suspecting that the Saboteur will show up to see the outcome of his work, Constable Baron is dispatched to Portsmouth where he meets up with a local Detective. The concourse of Portsmouth & Southsea station on Commercial Road in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

In civilian clothes, the Railway Policeman meets every train. In the background can be seen the viaduct carrying the high level platforms and lines to Portsmouth Harbour.

The Saboteur is the last passenger to alight from the Paddington train. Platform 5 at Portsmouth & Southsea station.

Seeing the Saboteur walking along the platform, Constable Baron gives chase. The station was opened as Portsmouth in 1847 and renamed Portsmouth Town in 1876 before the current name was given in 1925.

The Detective takes aim with his pistol as Constable Baron tackles the Saboteur to the ground. Portsmouth & Southsea station on Commercial Road.

Returning home in the early hours to find Peter missing, Janine sets off for Felsworth when she learns that he is attempting to defuse the explosives on the train.

The camera follows the car from the drive. Looking along Barham Avenue towards Allum Lane, Elstree.

On the outskirts of town, Constable Reed waits for Constable Baron and the Saboteur who are being flown from Portsmouth by Navy helicopter.

Followed by Reed, Constable Baron leads the Saboteur towards the waiting police car.

The three climb into the car and are given a motorcycle escort to Felsworth Siding.

The Canadian expert looks across when Warrilow calls that he’s discovered a wire in one of the mines.

Warrilow is sent to take over as Lyncort disarms the device. Looking towards the throat of Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot with the bridge carrying the Piccadilly and District lines crossing the scene.

Christopher Matheson stood as far back as he could without trespass to provide us with what is now a car park at the end of Welstead Way, London W4. He tells us that he churchyard was a total fiction at this location and clearly built by the film makers. (RL)

Having removed a chemical timer from the mine, the Major carries it to safety. Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot with buildings on Chiswick High Road in the left distance.

As the hours tick by, Janine speeds towards Felsworth. Andrew Lees advises that this is looking east along Lower Richmond Road in North Sheen, Surrey.

There are just a few more road markings in Antony Blair's comparison.

The camera pans to follow the car. The corner of Lower Richmond Road and Manor Road with a gasometer occupying the site where a Sainsbury’s supermarket now stands. Location identified by Andrew Lees.

Antony took this view of the same roundabout exit.

Janine slows the MG TF as she approaches a row of parked buses.

The car is brought to a stand as Inspector Branson arrives on the scene. The Buses on Screen website tells us that the vehicles used were owned by a company in Streatham.

Getting out of the car Janine hears the Inspector tell the residents that they can return to their homes.

The camera moves with Janine as she takes in the situation.

Jim Warilow and Constable Baron lead the Saboteur towards the train. Built on the site of an earlier goods yard, Hammersmith & Chiswick station opened in 1858 but was closed to passengers in 1917.

The Saboteur is taken to be handcuffed to one of the wagons without being told that the detonator has been found. Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot closed in 1965 and the site was redeveloped in the 1980s.

As the Saboteur becomes more and more agitated the residents of Felsworth continue to file back to their houses.

Constable Reed brings everyone a welcome cup of tea as Constable Baron alerts Lyncort when he sees the Saboteur frantically waving his free arm. St. Nicholas’s church in Chiswick W4.

Antony Blair provides this modern view of the location.

The Saboteur speaks to tge principal characters. The background building to the right is Flanders Cottage which still stands on Gainsborough Road W4.

Janine makes her way to Felsworth Siding. Facing west from the level crossing where the line running between South Acton and Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot crosses Bath Road in W4 with Bath Road Signalbox standing to the left. Welstead Way now occupies the line of the railway.

Christopher Matheson shows the scene now and what replaced the signal box. (RL)

Janine races along the track towards Peter Lyncort. Ravensmede Way now stands on the site of Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods Depot.