These are the scenes I grew up with. One of my early memories is after a bus journey from New Moston, Manchester, after visiting my grandmother, we arrived at Miles Platting Railway Station (no more) and walked under the tracks where the corridor was very low and up onto the platforms (3) and with my Mother, my brother and I, waited in the Ladies Waiting Room with, in winter, a banked up coal fire roaring in the grate. I remember the trains arriving on the opposite platform going into Manchester with pre-war carriages with on the doors the numerals 1, 2, and 3. The line split here, as it still does, the left side went to Halifax and Yorkshire the right to Ashton-under-Lyne and Sheffield. Those were the days when a train journey was an adventure, although I must add I was 8 years of age, but took everything in and kept it in my pocket.
My dad used to take me to see Bolton Wanderers play in the mid 1950's, Nat Lofthouse was center forward for Bolton, I know some of these locations. Born Manchester 1944, went to Australia 1960. Good childhood, but glad we went.
Snap! I was born in Manchester in '45, my dad used to take me in the 50,s Lofthouse was my hero. We used to meet my Uncle Pete there he was Bolton born and bred. He emigrated along with my Aunt and 3 cousins to Oz in the mid 60,s. Myself and my sister and brothers have just got back from Sydney where we had a big family get together. Got to admit you live in a great part of the world.
One of my favourite films, since I first saw it on Channel 4 in about 1984. Love to see these real-life locations. I must make a pilgrimage to Gas Street bridge one day. My wife and I still make a private joke when I say "Yes, and I'm yer 'usband... if you did but know it."
I'd suggest going in broad daylight with an escort. It's not a nice place to go anymore. I'm working on a full length history of the area. Coming soon.
Truly brilliant, there are also scenes from Kersal (moor lane) in this film, the railway scenes combining the actual talking with his father are brilliantly done.
Got that film on Blu-Ray (seen at least twice so far); great setting, decent cast and overall interesting plotlines. Definitely part of a good handful of films set in modern-day Greater Manchester (county established 12 years after this film).
Very much enjoying this and your related ‘then and now’ videos about the Werneth Incline and thereabouts. Not being overly familiar with the area (I moved to Middleton two years ago) I wouldn’t have guessed that first scene was Radcliffe, though the view north from Stand is recognisable now I know. The platform scene can’t be Oldham Central as that station didn’t have a horizontal fascia on the platform edge of the canopy. Oldham Werneth did, however, as did Middleton station (which would have been a good place to film, though I don’t think it’s there either) and Bury Knowsley St. Check your Incline part 5 video at 15:50 to see Werneth’s up platform.
As an admirer of the John Schlesinger film and a fan of Stan Barstow's novels and short stories I really enjoyed your well-researched video. Vic Brown, the narrator of the novel, is a miner's son, but Stan Barstow told me that Schlesinger and the screenwriters (Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall) made Vic's father a railwayman because it would be more visually effective. Trains are integrated into the film's story and your maps are instructive. Perhaps you could do the same for the film Room at the Top which opens with a train scene and closes inside a car, suggesting the way the future would go. Someone pointed out that the coinage trainspotter only became a patronising term after the supremacy of the automobile. Like so many train lovers I was furious at the selling off of our public railways in the dying days of John Major's lamentable government: safety standards fell resulting in deaths and serious injuries in rail accidents. Thanks again.
This has got me thinking...In the early 1960s I lived pretty much on the Bury Bolton border where the Jolly Carter pub was. I used to go down the road towards Bury and go across the field to the right to watch the trains on a line going east west. Has that line been removed I wonder. I also used to go further into Bury and wander around the train sheds further east of the above location. Would it be safe to assume all of those have also gone? Bill
Great piece of research. Interestingly the very short sequence at 6.40+ is in fact Macclesfield. The building in the background is Arighi Bianchi's - still there although a lot cleaner! and the mill in the foreground is now a Travelodge with its tower a bit reduced. You can see Buxton Road on the right and out of shot to the right would be Macclesfield Central, another possible candidate for the station which follows this scene. I'm sorry to disagree with the theory that it's Oldham Central as the canopy there was ridge and furrow and open at the front (rail side) unlike the one in the film. Great work and many thanks.
Gas street Bridge Oldham was the bridge we used to walk over to get to town from Glodwick, where I lived.
Great film 😊 have watched many times over the years 😊
These are the scenes I grew up with. One of my early memories is after a bus journey from New Moston, Manchester, after visiting my grandmother, we arrived at Miles Platting Railway Station (no more) and walked under the tracks where the corridor was very low and up onto the platforms (3) and with my Mother, my brother and I, waited in the Ladies Waiting Room with, in winter, a banked up coal fire roaring in the grate. I remember the trains arriving on the opposite platform going into Manchester with pre-war carriages with on the doors the numerals 1, 2, and 3. The line split here, as it still does, the left side went to Halifax and Yorkshire the right to Ashton-under-Lyne and Sheffield. Those were the days when a train journey was an adventure, although I must add I was 8 years of age, but took everything in and kept it in my pocket.
Wow. Good work. Much appreciated. 👏
awesome film, amazing how many changes have taken place at the locations
My dad used to take me to see Bolton Wanderers play in the mid 1950's, Nat Lofthouse was center forward for Bolton, I know some of these locations.
Born Manchester 1944, went to Australia 1960. Good childhood, but glad we went.
Snap! I was born in Manchester in '45, my dad used to take me in the 50,s Lofthouse was my hero. We used to meet my Uncle Pete there he was Bolton born and bred. He emigrated along with my Aunt and 3 cousins to Oz in the mid 60,s. Myself and my sister and brothers have just got back from Sydney where we had a big family get together. Got to admit you live in a great part of the world.
Well done,very interesting,loved this film,thanks to this love more !
I am a massive steam enthusiast and Kind of Loving is one of my favourites. Many thanks for this great research.
Brilliant
One of my favourite films, since I first saw it on Channel 4 in about 1984. Love to see these real-life locations. I must make a pilgrimage to Gas Street bridge one day. My wife and I still make a private joke when I say "Yes, and I'm yer 'usband... if you did but know it."
I'd suggest going in broad daylight with an escort. It's not a nice place to go anymore. I'm working on a full length history of the area. Coming soon.
Nicely done
Enjoyed that. Thank yiu.
Truly brilliant, there are also scenes from Kersal (moor lane) in this film, the railway scenes combining the actual talking with his father are brilliantly done.
Thank you, much appreciated.
Very interesting, I've watched this film more than once for the railway content, but didn't know any of the precise locations!
Thanks, Andy.
Great work Colin, great to see some history on the railways in the north. 👍
Thanks, David
Excellent one.do upload more videos of abandoned railways.
Thanks. Will do.
Very interesting,
Got that film on Blu-Ray (seen at least twice so far); great setting, decent cast and overall interesting plotlines.
Definitely part of a good handful of films set in modern-day Greater Manchester (county established 12 years after this film).
I'm working my way through them all eventually. I've seen most of them already, just need to double check locations with other sources.
Defo Macclesfield on the railway i live in Macc
Very much enjoying this and your related ‘then and now’ videos about the Werneth Incline and thereabouts.
Not being overly familiar with the area (I moved to Middleton two years ago) I wouldn’t have guessed that first scene was Radcliffe, though the view north from Stand is recognisable now I know.
The platform scene can’t be Oldham Central as that station didn’t have a horizontal fascia on the platform edge of the canopy. Oldham Werneth did, however, as did Middleton station (which would have been a good place to film, though I don’t think it’s there either) and Bury Knowsley St. Check your Incline part 5 video at 15:50 to see Werneth’s up platform.
Thank you, I do agree that it could be werneth.
Well done, excellent research.....more please!
THAT station platform? Dalston Junction, in London!
As an admirer of the John Schlesinger film and a fan of Stan Barstow's novels and short stories I really enjoyed your well-researched video.
Vic Brown, the narrator of the novel, is a miner's son, but Stan Barstow told me that Schlesinger and the screenwriters (Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall) made Vic's father a railwayman because it would be more visually effective.
Trains are integrated into the film's story and your maps are instructive.
Perhaps you could do the same for the film Room at the Top which opens with a train scene and closes inside a car, suggesting the way the future would go. Someone pointed out that the coinage trainspotter only became a patronising term after the supremacy of the automobile.
Like so many train lovers I was furious at the selling off of our public railways in the dying days of John Major's lamentable government: safety standards fell resulting in deaths and serious injuries in rail accidents. Thanks again.
Thank you for your insightful message. I've added you suggestion to my to do list and I'm going to look for the film right now.
This has got me thinking...In the early 1960s I lived pretty much on the Bury Bolton border where the Jolly Carter pub was. I used to go down the road towards Bury and go across the field to the right to watch the trains on a line going east west. Has that line been removed I wonder. I also used to go further into Bury and wander around the train sheds further east of the above location. Would it be safe to assume all of those have also gone? Bill
Yes, you would be safe to assume that, Bill. cheers.
It were grim up north
Great piece of research. Interestingly the very short sequence at 6.40+ is in fact Macclesfield. The building in the background is Arighi Bianchi's - still there although a lot cleaner! and the mill in the foreground is now a Travelodge with its tower a bit reduced. You can see Buxton Road on the right and out of shot to the right would be Macclesfield Central, another possible candidate for the station which follows this scene. I'm sorry to disagree with the theory that it's Oldham Central as the canopy there was ridge and furrow and open at the front (rail side) unlike the one in the film. Great work and many thanks.
Did I see a young James Bolam there?
You did indeed
Yes at the football match
... 🌟🌟🌟👍
Phil Liverpool UK 🇬🇧
Typical Oldham full of litter 😮