Train of Events

“The train about to leave Platform 13 is the 3.45 for Liverpool”. Euston Station. The station was completely redeveloped in the early 1960's

Behind the credits we see a train having departed Euston, passing under Mornington Street Bridge with Mornington Terrace in the background.

Mornington Street Bridge looking NW with Park Village East in the background. Due to extensive vegetation growth it is not possible to take a shot looking SE incorporating Mornington Terrace.

Various stock shots of various trains, in various locations, going in various directions follow until this stock shot of a Jubilee Class locomotive passing over Bushey water troughs leads to the fatal crash. The location was also seen in 'One Wild Oat', 'Hide and Seek', 'Night Mail', 'Beat Girl', 'Escapade', 'Left, Right and Centre' and the engine has been identified by Jonathan Horswell.

The start of the first story unfolds three days before the crash with a view of Willesden Motive Power Depot, London NW10 now totally redeveloped. Identified by James Churcher.

Jim Hardcastle (Jack Warner) returns to his home after a days work as an engine driver. St. Pancras Way, London NW1

Now. St. Pancras Way, NW1, taken from Barker Drive and looking towards Georgiana Street. Terry Morgan.

A pan from the previous capture.

Now. SJ.

Ron Stacey (Patric Doonan) explains to Jim that he has been switched to night shift. Formerly Southam Street, now Elkstone Road, Westbourne Park, London W10 identified by James Churcher who adds that a King Class can be seen behind Ron on its departure from Paddington.

Now shot from Chris Churcher.

Ron has to break the news to Doris Hardcastle (Susan Shaw) that they cannot go to the dance as he has been switched to night shift. As te007, looking in the general direction of Paddington. Behind them, James adds, is the site of the former Westbourne Park Station and the current London Underground station.

Now from Chris Churcher.

The second story commences with Ella (Joan Dowling) musing in a shop window at an advertisement that suggests emigrating to Canada. St George’s Road, London SE1.

The window has long gone and buses can still obscure what would have been a very different background.

As she glances to her left she see a policeman coming towards her. She wouldn’t have in reality as the entrance to Elephant and Castle Bakerloo Underground Station, to the right of him, is in London Road, London SE1

At least the entrance and some of the original building remains.

With that she turns and runs…….. Elephant and Castle looking east to New Kent Road.

A very much redeveloped area.

…….to where she lives… Princess Place, London SE1

Now absorbed into the redevelopment of the area.

……and eventually arrives at her lodgings. 11 Princess Street, London SE1

A much smarter property now even if the railings are less ornate.

The third story begins with a view of Alexandra Palace Transmitter aerial before an insight into early TV broadcasting and unfolds with no further external locations.

By Peter who adds, "This is taken facing south from the car park. Weird! I worked on the 9th floor of a office block in Wood Green when the famous Palace fire started and could not be bothered to go the short distance home and get my camera. We watched the fire start and spent our two hours overtime watching it spread. Those were the days".

The fourth story sees a theatre company dispersing at the end of a day and departing the following day to Liverpool for an American tour. Philip Mason (Peter Finch) walks through Covent Garden WC2.

Looking south with St Paul's, the actors' church, on the right. SJ.

On his arrival at his lodgings he finds his ex wife Louise (Mary Morris) waiting for him. She taunts him and he strangles her. A tram goes over Westminster Bridge perhaps representing the passing of the night.

A somewhat busier Westminster Bridge now.

Passing train carriages leave us with this scene of tracks and the rear of houses reminding us that it is the railway and an eventual tragedy that binds the four stories. James Churcher advises that this was shot from the former GWR station at Westbourne Park and Paul Robinson adds that the view is looking away from Paddington. In the distance stands Portobello Bridge and to the right, the rear of properties on Southam Street. The area was seen in 'Col cuore in gola', 'The 14', 'Bitter Harvest' and 'Bedazzled'.

Returning to the first story Ron calls on Doris just before she is about to leave and later meet and ex GI friend. The building behind them says “Courage’s”.

Ron catches Doris up as she hurries by a canal. Canal View now known as Lyme Terrace, London NW1.

One is now limited to using the towpath for comparative shots.

They stop to exchange words. Canal View standing alongside the Grand Union Canal in NW1. The location appears in 'Flame in the Streets', 'Police Dog' and 'The Hostage',

Canal Terrace, now rebuilt. SJ.

Meanwhile Jim says goodbye to his friend and colleague Johnson (Miles Malleson).

The scene switches to Haymarket, London and the second story once again.

There is no facility to park in the middle of the highway these days.

Then to the offices of “French Line” 20 Cockspur Street, London SW1

It is not possible to capture the scene through the window now.

And specifically to see Ella dreaming of a new life in another country.

Taken from the pavement as the window is now piled high with tourist memorabilia.

She learns that it costs £39 for a single passage.

The doorway has been moved to the side and the window almost obliterated with tourist souvenirs, so taken from outside.

Meanwhile her German boyfriend Richard (Laurence Payne) is waiting to hear whether she has found any new lodging for them. Trafalgar Square.

Sometimes nothing changes.

They think that they are being watched. I believe this is Wylie Watson who was uncredited.

I was beginning to think that people would never stop climbing on the lion and having their photographs taken. Even then one has had to be "photoshopped" out!

He appears to chase after them as they run away.

A greener cleaner London.

They head for Strand Station, now known as Charing Cross.

Now. Forecourt of Charing Cross Station. SJ.

The third story unfolds with Irina Norozova (Irina Baronova), a classical pianist, visiting, by invitation, Stella (Valerie Hobson) the wife of Raymond Hillary (John Clements), the conductor/composer with whom she is in love. Steve Randall puts me out of my misery after five years to say that this is (was) Someries House in Regents Park. Badly damaged during WWll, and not considered worthy of rebuilding, it was replaced by what is now the Royal College of Physicians building, that believe it or not, is Grade 1 listed.

The view on the east side of the Outer Circle just south of Cambridge Terrace, unrecognisable except that both trees seem to have survived. SJ

Reverting to the fourth story, having hidden Louise’s body in his travelling trunk a similar one on stage prompts Philip to forget his lines and feels the world is closing in on him. He runs from the stage door of the theatre. The Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane, London WC2. Philip is running up what was Shelton Street, all now absorbed into the redevelopment incorporating the New London Theatre.

The interior of the Winter Garden Theatre for the record. The Theatre closed in 1959 and was sold to a developer, gutted and left vacant until eventually replaced by the New London Theatre in 1973. Research has revealed that there are few, if any, pictures of the interior.

He runs on and that hazy building in the background looks like it could be Grand Lodge, Freemasons Hall, London. Paul Stroud found the exact location, Parker Mews, looking out to Parker Street, and the tower of Freemasons’ Hall beyond.

Paul supports his identification with this excellent shot showing that Aldwych Buildings, on the left behind the tree, looks unchanged.

Philip arrives back at his lodgings. Paul Stroud also found this for us, Exchange Court, leading from The Strand up towards Maiden Lane.

As Paul says "The buildings along this part of the passageway have changed, but the street facade is still recognisable".

We revert to the first story with Jim arriving home after a shift to see his daughter Doris arriving home late by taxi. St. Pancras Way, London NW1 once again.

Now. SJ.

The second story comes into focus once more with Ella and Richard in their new lodgings discussing their future. Delancey Street, London NW1 identified by Danny Nissim.

Building and lamp post both sadly demolished as evidenced by Danny's photo.

The fatal journey commences at Euston followed by a re-run of footage and studio enactments of how three stories end. Despite protests the Euston arch was demolished in December 1961 to make way for the redevelopment of the station.

James and Chris Churcher provide this shot of Euston Station now, looking in the general direction of where the former Doric Arch stood which was on the walkway to platforms 8 to 11. Behind the Arch was the great hall and concourse entrances of the former London and North Western railway terminus, a number of yards behind the camera position are situated the lodge gates that lead on to the Euston Road. (RL)

Jim survives the crash and leaves home on his cycle wearing a bowler hat, having received the promotion he thought he had recently lost. St. Pancras Way, London NW1. The Constitution public house out of sight to the left and what was the St. Pancras Generating Station dominating scene.

Now a less industrialised landscape.