What happened to The Titfield Thunderbolt?

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To celebrate the film's 70th anniversary since release (5th March 1953), we're exploring the abandoned branch line where The Titfield Thunderbolt was filmed to see what remains today and where the mechanical stars are now.
This is one of several videos I'll be releasing about the film inspired by the real people who have saved steam for our generation.
#TitfieldThunderbolt #GuideRail

[@harri2626]

One of my favourites films of all time. Gentle British humour at its best. I still marvel at the timing when Titfield trains and mainline trains pass with such precision. After all, the cameramen can't shout "cut - run it again" with a service train. Mention was made about radio control, so this must have been the factor. I can just imagine someone nearly a mile away shouting "the train's coming!" and the 1400 or Lion quickly getting up speed to make the correct interplay. The same applied to the bus and train sequences. Wonderful stuff. Finally, we are always being told that we have lost so many trees over the years, but whenever "then and now" films are made, there are always masses of trees obscuring what was once open landscapes all those years ago.

[@nickmiller76]

I like the Stanley Holloway line where he proposes a toast to "our magnificent generals: general Gordon and general Booth".

[@johnjephcote7636]

I use that toast myself but never get so much as a smile of recognition.

[@nectafarious8842]

My wife is a fan of General Sipsmith...

[@octopus680]

We visited all the locations just two years ago and my girlfriend was shaking her head when i stroking the gate posts at long last to the long gone station after seeing this film in my youth it was a dream come true but one thing you failed to notice was the old telephone box down the road from Midford Viaduct and can clearly be seen in the film was still there! -but nothing in it but at least it has been kept and left alone in that spot etc, thanks i loved your video and info.

[@Terrier55Stepney]

I can understand both sides haha, it's significant to those who know why it's special. Interesting about the telephone box! I'll have to find that when I next visit and to spot it in the film. Thanks!

[@diabeticlifewithtim3145]

I was one of the very first passengers on the W&U tramway car #7 in preservation. I was, at the time, part of the NNR’s junior club and got to have an impromptu ride on it when it was out for testing of its brake gear.

[@speleokeir]

The Titfield Thunderbolt is my favourite Ealing comedy, though The Lady Killers is a close second and also has something for train enthusiasts. It's still often shown on TV, especially around Christmas and I've lost track of how many times I've seen it. Seeing the mainline viaduct going over the branchline, which was going over the canal and road is giving me ideas for my current layout build too!😀

[@GeorgeLowther2000]

This Film is Great One for me, it has stayed in the hearts of many Railway Entunstiats and always has. My Favourite Scenes are the Steamroller Duel Scene & The Engine on the Road Scene

[@wessexdruid7598]

A great childhood favourite of mine. And it never clicked that I now live nearby. I should have guessed, from the GW locos used.

[@Rog5446]

I've often wondered where Titfield was, and know I know it's Freshford, it's on my bucket list. Thanks for the memories.

[@welshpete12]

I remember going to see this film , when it was shown in Oxford , in I think about 1952 . We were given a little card , much like a Christmas card . That when opened , had a second part opened out given a 3D affect of the train . I had mine for years , it's strange how you remember little things like that all these years later !

[@Terrier55Stepney]

That's something I've never heard before, must be a little known fact around the films release. Thank you for sharing this!

[@eliotreader8220]

@@Terrier55Stepney during filming how did they manage to service Lion as the station doesn't look like it had inspection pit to clean the fire. I am very curious to how they to supply her with coal. I understand that she didn't need much to be kept in steam

[@alanthompson8515]

Teaching in Bath in the early 1970s, I had a colleague who loved to relate his experience as an extra for this film. At c 12 minutes of this excellent video we see the cricket ground. John was the batsman about to take strike, who was distracted by the appearance of Lion in the direction of mid-on. The idea was that the bowler, running with his back to the train, would continue with his delivery and bowl John out. Now, you've probably guessed it. Take after take, but no stump contact. In the end, they tied a string around John's off stump and jerked it as the ball flew past. John swore that you could see that even this ball missed his stumps by a mile!

[@Terrier55Stepney]

This is a wonderful story, thank you for sharing this. If you look closely at that shot you can certainly see that the ball flies about a foot over, but at the right time the stump falls. I can imagine how frustrating it must have been to roll the train back and refilm!

[@alanthompson8515]

@@Terrier55Stepney So true. John said the bowler was a nervous wreck by the end. Hit the stumps? He couldn't hit a barn door!

[@joshslater2426]

Happy 70th birthday Thunderbolt! You’re pretty much the best train film of all time. Nice use of Harry’s Thunderbolt music video for the end credits too.

[@neilbain8736]

The Titfield Thunderbolt caught me at a tender and vulnerable age. Years later I lived in Bath and cycled all over. I had no idea where it had been filmed yet it was all so close. The place names stir up fond and nostalgic memories of living there. It's all so beautiful and it was the first time I had lived on my own. If I had known where it had been filmed, my explorations would had had quite a different fervour.

[@Terrier55Stepney]

Very picturesque and unspoilt part of the country. Would love to cycle round the area too.

[@ptonpc]

I remember seeing this on TV as a kid. It's good to see so much behind the scenes as it were.

[@stephenrowley880]

As an old cinema projectionist there were only ever two good films to watch The Smallest Show on Earth and The Titfield Thunderbolt.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I loved the Smallest Show, especially when the station announcement from above travels down into the Bijou Cinema and onto the Western film, where an American loco has been halted by train robbers.

[@Roger.Coleman1949]

They are indeed two great films but as a child , The Titfield Thunderbolt was often twinned with contemporary ' Genevieve ' , another truly great film from the same year and must have seen both more than 50 times !.

[@paulbriggs3072]

As a rural farm New Yorker in the 1970's I saw and loved this movie. It featured locomotives that were contemporary with New Yorks' earliest. In fact the Stourbridge Lion was an English locomotive for the Delaware and Hudson railroad. An agent went to England in 1828 and purchased one engine from the Stephenson company in Newcastle and three others from Foster Rastrick and Company in Stourbridge. One of the three was named the “Stourbridge Lion” after the lion’s head painted on the front of the boiler. It first ran August 29th, 1829. There was the 1831 DeWitt Clinton built in the West Point Foundry in Cold Spring, NY for the Mohawk and Hudson RR. In 1840 there was the Pioneer built in Schenectady for the Ithaca and Owego RR. There was also the beautiful Orange of 1841 by the well-known Philadelphia firm of Norris for the New York and Erie railroad. These and others were all lovely early steam locomotives of the Titfield Thunderbolt era.

[@DieselD7101]

I really enjoyed this in-depth look into the history and development of this iconic film! Great work, Terrier!

[@aodhganmerrimac]

One of my favorite films! That's so much for the view of the line today & a bit of history!

[@StuartStudios5]

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The most interesting trivia about this movie is the production crew. As allegedly none of them were rail enthusiasts themselves. T. E. B. “Tibby” Clarke (screenwriter) was said to loathe trains, people said that Michael Truman (producer) couldn’t get out of them quick enough, and as for Charles Crichton (director), “Well, you wouldn’t find him taking engine numbers at Paddington Station”.

[@joshslater2426]

That honestly surprises me. There are very few locomotive inaccuracies or railway operating violations. I thought the people who worked on this knew how to fabricate a working railway so well they could probably have done it in real life.

[@stevenmosco20]

Its amazing to see the director screenwriter and producer despising locomotives yet still made a film about them anyways

[@JRS06]

Finally, I've been waiting for this for ages. Thunderbolt is a childhood classic of mine (growing up in the 2000s as a Thomas fan) and as sad as I am that little of it still exists today, I'm glad people like you still have a love for it.

[@CycolacFan]

Fantastic work, I’ve lived in the area since 2006 and often drive through Midford. Keep meaning to stop and explore.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I still remember seeing it in 1953. My father obtained some stills from the film in monochrome which he framed.

[@Terrier55Stepney]

That's so lovely! Thank you for sharing this.

[@colinchiefengineer]

A lovely film showing behind the scenes, and modern day views, a very interesting post script to this iconic film. Just one thing, the A & P steam roller featured in the film has been resident in North Wiltshire for near on 25 years, and is not the piston valve version shown in the museum.

[@samuelfarris1949]

Thank you very much for this. As an outward film fanatic, I enjoy 'The Titfield Thunderbolt' for not being convoluted, especially once it gets rolling on a steady progression of twists and turns into the well-constructed final sequence of events. As a more professional film critic, I can see it has a critical problem in that it does not go into inside detail as to why the branch line would matter to the villagers - we get a mention of it being laid down by the Squire's Great Grandfather, but really that's it; this also has an effect in paying off what the popularity faced by the local enterprise would entail for them when they react negatively to it later in the film. My assumption is that they drew out the script before prop and location choices had been thought out; considering that the writer, T.E.B. Clarke, was, according to a book I have about railways in film, not an established railway enthusiast, it might have been better if he had done more research while he was developed the plot in order to get the most out of what he needed. Still, for what virtues it has, the film delivers wonderfully when compared to other flawed films. Regards, Samuel Farris.

[@eliotreader8220]

a few years ago I went to see a stage production of the film. the people who put the show on in my local town hall had done it to mark 50 years since the closure of the North Cornwall railway in 1966. they had adapted bits of it to make things fit in the 2010s The original female characters had a much bigger role in it than in the original film. I believe the Rev had a Lady fireman during the final part featuring Thunderbolt

[@javiergilvidal1558]

@@eliotreader8220 Yeah and, let me guess, everyone' a nigga .... England's gone down the drain since 1952 ....

[@vincegibson4721]

Know the area very well but didn't realise its importance. Thanks

[@Terrier55Stepney]

I had driven passed so many times but wouldn't have known exactly where it was had I looked on a map before.

[@barry5787]

Had the boiler and bits of Lion not been discovered at Liverpool Docks, then The T. F. T. would have been a totally different engine.

[@OfficialTrainzGod]

say what now

[@tonyclough9844]

It was working as a stationary engine at Liverpool so was rocket.

[@OfficialTrainzGod]

@@tonyclough9844 oh

[@patrikwright2658]

The last week at school 1973 the headmaster put this film on for us school leavers.watching it in assembly hall.great film,still remember that day 50yrs later.

[@zacharyspinks6207]

This is Pretty Amazing, I certainly Enjoyed this Video, Nice Job Terrier.😃👍

[@angelsone-five7912]

Very good video young man, love these then and now vids.

[@boramengo]

Y E S THIS FILM IS PERFETCTION

[@jerry2357]

Back in 1988, “Lion”, the locomotive that played the Titfield Thunderbolt, was in working order, and I rode on trains pulled by it twice while it was working at the Birmingham Railway Museum, Tyseley.

[@Bulletguy07]

"Splendid dear boy, absolutely splendid" as Walter Valentine would have said! The Titfield Thunderbolt is one of my favourite Ealing comedy movies I often watch and the characters and story always amuse and entertain me.

[@Steamenginesunited3456]

4:40 reminded me that Man United and Liverpool play on Sunday.

[@soledweller]

Excellent work, it’s thanks to individuals as yourself that our past, and indeed recent history is remembered and documented for future generations to enjoy snd recall.

[@DieselD182]

Nice outro at the end!

[@iwasglad122]

It's a film that makes you long for that quintessential British past. It was perhaps rose-spectacled, but beautiful nonetheless. Thank you so much for this fascinating insight. I am delighted that the star of the film still exists!

[@mitchelldakelman7006]

Great video, I always wondered what became of the filming locations. I acquired a 16mm color print many years ago, along with a similar film, GENEVIEVE

[@FredWilbury]

What a wonderful bit of trivia and history thanks for doing this consequently I subscribed

[@Terrier55Stepney]

Thank you very much, that's kind of you. Welcome to the channel.

[@GRAHAM1514]

Excellent thanks ,A few of the behind the scenes clips I haven't seen before

[@gerry343]

I saw the film at school as a Christmas treat in the early 60s. Thanks for all your research in finding the original locations.

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

Thank you very much indeed! The Titfield Thunderbolt is one of my favourite British comedies! (I'm an Aussie btw)

[@James_Rivett]

The steam roller shown at the Dover Transport museum IS NOT the one used in the film. The claim in the website of the "100 objects made in Kent" (which I guess is where you got this misinformation from), has been completely erroneous attributed to the photo in question and was only used to mention a "famous" steam roller. CH3282 is in fact Aveling & Porter works number 5590 "Maid Marian" and is a 10 ton slide valve roller type R10 type engine of 1904. The pictures of the roller you showed in the museum and of a much later 10 ton 1924 E type piston valve Aveling Porter steam roller. If you study the photos of 5590 and the roller at DTM you will see significant differences, 5590 is in private ownership and can be seen out and about at rallies and not on display in a museum, and has a canopy these days, but was removed for the NNR Titfield thinderbolt gala. You can find photos of this roller of Steam Scenes website. We pronounce Aveling a "A"ve-ling. Apart from that little tiny hiccup, a fantastic video. Some double checking of facts might have been in order. As the inspector, as appointed by the minister of transport (and played by John Rudling) said to Sam at the end of the film, "be more careful next time" lol :-)

[@Terrier55Stepney]

My bad! Thank you for this, I'll make this correction in the next video. I appreciate the constructive criticism. :)

[@James_Rivett]

I couldn't believe how much the area has changed. I wonder if the owner of the garage realises it's on such a famous film location. I think it would be wonderful to construct a "new build" Thunderbolt, but using Stephenson's link motion rather than Gab type, injectors rather than Cross head water pumps, working pressure of 150 (rather than Lions 50, fitting of a steam blower (lion dosnt have one!) and fitting of a vacuum ejector and screw link couplings so it could run with normal passenger stock. Essentially it would look much the same as the loco was restored in the 1930s but would be a much more modern machine. As Mr Valentine said "A dreamer of beautiful dreams".

[@georgedheard]

Thank You, I drive through monkton Combe every day and have never been able to figure out which part was the railway alinement

[@Theforestbandit]

This was the very first film I ever Saw at the Cinema as a very young child . and years later I was old enough to go to Saturday morning pictures for 6d sixpence

[@BruceFJRay]

Thank you so much for this video. It took me quite some time to see the movie via my computer. But your video makes it all the more real. Thank you again.

[@nw8000]

OMG! I was at that museum not so long ago and must have walked right past it!

[@Rick88888888]

Highly interesting, well done!

[@sudrianrailwaystudios676]

That was a great video.

[@gregduck7455]

Wow, great video & very interesting. CBC TV Canada used to broadcast ' The Titfield Thunderbolt ' quite often when I was a boy in the late 1960's / early 1970's. I loved this movie when I was a kid. Last time I saw ' The Titfield Thunderbolt' was about 35 years back, I have never seen it pop up on TV again. My favourite British train movie, as far as I am concerned. Excellent job you've done with your look at this iconic Ealing comedy. Best regards from British Columbia, Canada.

[@stevie-ray2020]

This was really interesting even though I don't recall ever watching the movie!

[@jeremyfdavies]

Brilliant! No other word for it.

[@SDE1994]

A few years ago it was found that the loco now known as lion is not the original l&m lion, it was is some other unknown loco that the docks bought at the same time

[@railwaychristina3192]

My favourite film!

[@Locoman3801]

Many Thanks for sharing this great video about a fictitious train that was so brilliantly brought to life in the movies , I loved seeing it back in the late 70's & I still love it now many years later ; well done to you in bringing the "behind the scenes" kind of thing ( or then & now thing ) to us all as it's always great to see how things have changed over time , if I could travel to the UK from Oz ( Australia ) - I'd love to visit & see this for real as it's still an Iconic movie after all of these years & I'd love to see the loco up close.

[@Resgerr]

The 'Thunderbolt' or her real name Lion is in the Liverpool museum( at the Pier Head) and she looks beautiful. There is a bench in front of her so you can sit and just look at her. 😊

[@fortnitedevsareabunchofcuc3836]

Nice vid man

[@lastationproductions]

One of my favourite movies

[@eliotreader8220]

I heard that one member of the cast actually drove the 14xx tank engine under the watchful eyes of the real engine driver

[@John01GM40]

what a lovely video. Thank you.

[@tomhaskett5161]

Lovely video, many thanks! I love the film, not because of the trains, but for the story of oeople fighting authority, a frequent topic in Ealing films!

[@Jason_the_Persian_cat]

Cool You’re nice and fun KZbinr to Watch

[@peddersmeister]

Loved the film and an interesting video 👍

[@TheSuperHarrygeorge]

Excellent video. Thanks 👍

[@Ballinalower]

Just came across this video and your channel. This is a very well made and researched production. I remember seeing the film in the cinema when it first came out. Liked and subscribed.

[@abethpezarkar9946]

Thanks for sharing this exciting information. We still love watching TTT today also.. Being a train enthusiast I still love watching movies with trains. Thanks to today technology..

[@bramdeheus718]

That remix at the end is realy good. Could you please release that on youtube or spotify or whatever?

[@Terrier55Stepney]

Made by Wo1f on Soundcloud! soundcloud.com/the_real_wo1f/thunderbolt

[@bramdeheus718]

@@Terrier55Stepney thank you very much!

[@mollyfilms]

I grew up in that area and know every part you show. I wasn’t aware of the Winsley garage I have to say, I will try and figure where that was.

[@caledonianrailway1233]

This film is free on safari

[@michaelemery5219]

I explored the area when I walked the two tunnels route and used the pub for my meals

[@zeddboy46]

Excellent video, fascinating.

[@dinmorejunctionmodelrailway]

Your video is a really enjoyable watch. It was great to see the then and now images

[@juniusvindex769]

As a family we did the two tunnels walk starting from the pub. We took 100's of photos, the last photo of me and my son taken by the wife 50 yards behind, was of me and son walking along the old station at midford, we only live a few miles away in Wiltshire, and I have never seen this movie, will be keeping my eyes open for it ! Great upload, many thanks.

[@FutureFlash2034]

@Terrier55Stepney Could we get an in-depth into Will Hey Oh Mr Porter?! It was a brilliant locomotive film and it would be nice to see what happened to all the locations and the locomotive. Similarly could we get an in-depth look at the St.Trinians The Great Train Robbery?

[@Terrier55Stepney]

I'd like to visit the filming locations of Oh Mr Porter as they aren't far from me, but from what I've seen there isn't much left! Not sure how accessible the St Trinians places are but again one to look into. Thanks.

[@HSMiyamoto]

Please use stabilization on your future videos, especially the handheld shots. I am sick now. It's a small request. I know you didn't intend to give people motion sickness.

[@gregthompson3274]

Love the film

[@robnewman6101]

R.I.P Cast of the film.

[@theironlegionp5786]

whatever happened to the mock up 1400? 1462, i know its HEAVILY unlikely she survived, but i cant find any info about her.

[@johnjephcote7636]

The mock-ups were really convincing-wonderful work. I note that one of the real 1400s had its GWR initials hastily rubbed out. Those initials could still be seen on the odd tender even in the 1960s. The Castle at Temple Meads by the Milk Dock is a rebuilt Star. I could just make out 'Knight of...'

[@theironlegionp5786]

@@johnjephcote7636 i agree, theyve VERY convincing.. the 1400 is my favorate train (plus 1401 is my birthday) so im biased about why i love the film, but i just wonder what ever happened to the mock up 1400.

[@joshslater2426]

I would love it if the mock up 14xx survived. It would truly be something if it attended rail conventions and let people ride it down the streets.

[@BerlietGBC]

Very excellent presentation

[@Terrier55Stepney]

Thank you!

[@greenfingersgardener822]

I have the movie & i think I will watch it again now..

[@scopex2749]

I still have my copy of this film all be it now on DVD.

[@paulsullivan3291]

Thanks!

[@Terrier55Stepney]

Very kind of you for the support, Paul. Thanks very much, I'm happy you enjoyed the video. Cheers.

[@michaelcampin1464]

Hornby also make a Lion train pack. Sams Trains has just done a review of the set.

[@andyaccount]

They also make a train pack of it's sister locomotive, No.58 Tiger, so it's not a one-off as mentioned, unless you mean in the film.

[@BlackGriffin195]

More useful than HS2.

[@rotax636nut5]

Excellent, I really loved this

[@billmcallister-lovatt6920]

I knew some people in the film & lived nearby

[@jamestrains66]

are you going on scotsman on the bluebell line or east lanks?

[@DavidSmith-tc3se]

it is so sad that this line was not saved imagine if it was a working heritage railway because now they would be raking it in because of the link with the film

[@caseyvillemodelrailroad3877]

Great vidio, nice layout...

[@Kashi-K]

isnt it weird that the movie isnt on ANY site so we cant watch it anywhere

[@brainjones9847]

I believe it was an engine called the lion and can be seen in museum of Liverpool. Engine also made an appearance in the film about Queen Victoria

[@andrewthomasfinney752]

A bit of trivia maybe mentioned below but here it is again if it was. 'Tibby' Clarke's next door neighbour was non other than Dr Beeching. (Courtesy of the book:- The Secret Life of Ealing Studios: Britain's favourite film studio by Robert Sellers.)

[@eliotreader8220]

the tramway passenger carriage had a grey and red livery during its use during filming was that its real livery or had they repainted in a fictional one for the film?

[@neilfurby555]

Super interesting, thank you.

[@NJPurling]

The film company were apparently the cause of damage to Lion's tender. What is the well wagon that carries the old railway carriage (Dan's home) that is borrowed for the official inspection? Dan & Mr Valentine are sleeping off a bender in jail of course. It has only two axles, so is not a 'Weltrol'. Nor does it seem to be a 'Lowmac'.

[@alastairpreston3237]

It's one of two " Loriot Y machinery wagons " built for the Great Western Railway.

[@fishpop]

7:22 Rebecca and Oliver :P

[@railwaychristina3192]

The film was an allegory of wartime efforts to rally together to defeat an enemy.

[@harrisonallen651]

The movie made her famous, even if it wasn’t the same locomotive.

[@fredbailey2076]

if that line was still open it would be a licence to print money

[@abethpezarkar9946]

Also does anyone remember a movie or TV show probably Famous Five wherein they had shown a chase sequence of Trains.. One big train with lots of compartments and the other with a steam locomotive and only 1 wagon which has kids in it. Its goes and bangs into the station in the end.. Or before the end.

[@joshslater2426]

I’ve heard of a famous five story about ghost trains used by smugglers, but I can’t recall said film or TV show.

[@genislebastard3491]

Where did you get the good maps of the old railroad line. I wanna find a site that I can upload old railroad lines 2

[@Terrier55Stepney]

The site I use to track down the routes of now extinct lines is railmapsonline. They're great for mapping out old railway and canal routes.

[@boramengo]

Wait where is the 14xx replica ?

[@rogerbeck1293]

Who is the girl in the green dress who appears at 8.17 and 15.28. was she deliberabely put into the video ?

[@joshslater2426]

Might be his fiancé Holly, or just a random bypasser who just happened to cross paths with Max twice.

[@Kukaak]

Do you know where the movie can be watched?