What Remains of the Titfield Thunderbolt Today?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
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Happy St David's Day! This video has nothing to do with it.
Facts and Rumours about the movie: • Facts and Rumours abou...
Magical Mystery Tour: • I wasn't told where we...
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.
0:00 - We're doing a sequel
1:43 - Titfield station
3:40 - Dan's coach house
5:15 - The Train Crash
6:10 - Pump trolley
8:00 - Cricket field
9:00 - 14xx Bus chase bridges
10:50 - GWR Mainline junction
12:15 - Bus crash
13:15 - BEALE'S FARM!
15:55 - Unseen bridge
17:25 - Stranded train bridge
18:35 - Opening shot viaduct
19:30 - Bus race embankment
20:40 - Chimney ducking bridge
21:30 - Steamroller duel crossing (and more bridges)
23:45 - Pearce and Crump bus depot
25:40 - Limpley Stoke station
26:00 - Titfield village
28:20 - Mr Valentine's house
29:20 - Mallingford Museum
31:00 - Minister of Transport office
32:50 - Mallingford Station
34:20 - 14xx on the streets
37:40 - Map and Finale
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OMG! This is FANTASTIC! The fact this movie is still providing this much enjoyment after 70 years is truly a testament to its genius.
I’m always fascinated by old railway Infrastructure, but a bit sad too😢. When I think of all the sweat and toil they took to build it always seems such a waste
some fence posts are incorrectly referred to in this video as 'tramway rails'. They are in fact rails from the Broad Gauge era of the great engineer I K Brunel, who built the Great Western Railway. The last broad gauge lines were lifted over one weekend in 1892, and services recommenced on the following Monday, but on the standard gauge. Vast amounts of these scrap rails were repurposed as railway fence posts, and if you go poking around in the shrubberies that grows along the boundaries of many ex-GWR lines you will probably find one. My own house in Newton Abbot in Devon was built right next to the Paddington to Penzance mainline in the very year of the final gauge conversion, and when we investigated some spalling concrete on a long lintel above our basement we found an old broad gauge rail inside it, acting as reinforcement. Whether the house builder bought it legitimately or simply commandeered it one dark night when nobody was looking will forever remain a mystery. But all he had to do was to drag it for a few yards from the trackside, so I suspect the latter
Thank you for sharing this info, how amazing that such simple infrastructure dates back to a long lost era of railways. That is so fascinating about the rail you've found in your house. How resourceful.
I wish that 1401 had survived to be preserved, same goes for some of the various ex-GWR locos seen in the background (only ones I can see the names of are Princess Margaret and Lysonshall Castle at the Mallingford scenes).
me too i wish that 1401 survived too imagine like oliver and his older brother reunion?
And plus I wish the Tramway Coach that was used in the film got preserved as well.
@@JosephRailwayStudios2000 it's sister coach was, and has been restored on the north Norfolk railway in Great Eastern crimson, complete with a titfield thunderbolt style bar.
@@James_Rivett And that’s good to hear
R.I.P Actors & Actresses who were alive in the flesh back then during the time of filmings.
What a lovely video, well researched and filmed
What a jolly video. I can't believe how these 40 mins just flew by. The light hearted dynamic between you guys is perfect and belies what must have been a fair amount of preparation and groundwork.
I used to live in Bath and did a lot of cycling down there. if I'd known where the Titfield Thunderbolt had been filmed, I would certainly have cycled off and explored for myself.
Thank you for the kind comment, I'm happy the video didn't drag on! As my first two visits to Monkton Combe were very unexpected, I made sure to plan properly this time! Would like to cycle around more too, it's a beautiful landscape.
Great research guys and very well presented. Enjoyed it tremendously, I must find the film and watch it all again. many thanks
Absolutely brilliant! I’d regard it a real privilege to go on a Titfield tour with you.
The runaway 14xx was a wooden mock up with a Ford petrol engine. My father gave me some monochrome press pictures and I always believed it was real. It was a very good mock up!
I saw the film on first release, travelled often on the S&D thro' Midford and living in the area in the 1970s, the lower bridge of the Camerton line was still in place at Midford. The nice opening shot of the two bridges with passing trains I never forgot,
It's nice to hear you're familiar with the film and the area. I agree, in the film the faux 14xx is quite believable. Once you see it under closer scrutiny you can't unsee it!
Brilliant, so very well researched and filmed, giving a great overview of then and now. Top marks.
Thank you for saying so, I'm happy you've enjoyed it.
What really great video fellas! Many thanks indeed from an Aussie fan of the film! My favourite exchange in it is when the vicar (Weeks) is told by Messrs Gordon and Blakeworth that the line's going to be closed. The following exchange then occurs -
Weeks: "The oldest branch line in the world, they can't close it!"
Blakeworth: "What about the old Witstable - Canterbury line? They closed that!"
Weeks: "Perhaps there were not sufficient men of faith in Canterbury!"
My late Dad was an Anglican priest and whilst I don't recall him ever seeing the film I can imagine how he would've roared with laughter at that line!
That was a superb line, delivered with true Anglican fervour.
his surname was Weech
I really wish that this line had been preserved because they could do titfield events or dress it up at titfield permanently. Lion might have to move house though!
What a brilliant vid! But looking at these scenes it is truly amazing how places change so much!.
It definitely was much,much better when the film was shot than it appears today,very sad😢
Fantastic. Was waiting for your friend to recreate the 3 legged dog running down the road lol.
Its a shame really the branch was already closed prior to filming, had it made it until the late 60's it might have been saved simply because of this film, but alas not in the 1950's
Lots of things have changed.... even the church clock was showing a different time haha.
when John Gregson was cast in the Film Genevieve a few months after filming the Titfield Thunderbolt, he still didn't have a full driving licence. Legend has it, that Gregons took his driving test in the Darracq veteran car that was playing the part of Genevieve .
I didn't know about that with John Gregson, how funny.
Expertly researched. Entertaining production. Congratulations to all involved.
Well done and thank you for showing this
The movie depicted a time when standards in all areas was different. Even to non railway aficionados the movie is very enjoyable because of the locations and actors involved. Stanley Holloways character reminds me of a few people I knew who just lived for the pub opening and all the social comings and goings within. Perhaps in many generations from now, more learned people than we have in Gov now ( wouldn’t be hard) will bring back these old lines but they can never recreate the manners, the atmosphere and general demeanour of those who have lived before us and in a world so different from the one we live in now.
You can watch the movie over and over and still discover little things you previously missed. It’s a movie to please all generations A little Gem of a film.
Thank you so much! That was amazing! I've lived and worked in this area pretty much all of my 52 years and hadn't realised just how much was in that film. To my shame I haven't watched TTT yet but it was one of my late dad's favourites. I will definitely now have to correct that misdemeanor! He certainly would have loved your film too.
It's certainly worth a watch to pick out places you recognise! I'm very happy you enjoyed this, thank you for your kind words.
Ohhh thank you guys marvellously put together. Very entertaining and wetted my appetite to go visit for myself. Thanks
Going to give you both too marks for this .finding. unearthing. These landmarks of the film . Of what was . Now consined to history. Dont know how many days weeks and hours into this work . But thank you very much. 1000/ 1000 for this publication magnificent work guys . Truly magnificent .
Thank you very much. A lot of scouring over maps and pausing the film went into this, though the exploration trips themselves were very joyful.
@@Terrier55Stepney you deserve top Mark's.
Excellent that and ive visited most of them locations and you have showed me the ones i missed too.
There's certainly many places they went to film!
Best then and now video I've seen about the Titfield Thunderbolt and I've seen a few. Well done!!
Thank you very much, I'm happy you enjoyed it. This week I will be releasing a direct then and now comparison for each shot, without all the dialogue.
At the very end of your video you show John Gregson driving over a little bridge and then coming up against Sid James in his steam engine. This scene comes just a few minutes into the film. This bridge is situated down the lane from Carlingcott and is next to Splotts Farm. I walk over this little bridge on one of my walks. I call it the 'John Gregson' bridge!! A bit further up the lane is the turn where Gregson turned into a field to get away from Sid except it's not a field just a little muddy path!! Movie magic!!
I did wonder where those narrow lanes were! Thank you very much for sharing where that is. The film crews certainly used a good amount of the local landscape.
I thoroughly enjoyed this! It is one of my all time favourite films. I didn’t know they filmed the runaway 14XX in Woodstock. I visit Blenheim Palace regularly and was unaware of this. Next time I visit and have a stroll around the village, I’ll see it in a new light. I can also bore my wife and other poor unfortunates, with this new useless information 😅. Just subscribed to see all of your other videos!
I'm sure it'll be a pleasant piece of trivia for an otherwise unsuspecting market street! Woodstock itself is lovely.
Thank you for subscribing. I have a new documentary style video on the first Friday of each month.
You say the cricketers and public ram towards the train to see it “for no apparent reason”.
But surely this was the train the inspector was on in the film to determine whether the locals were going to be given a permit to run the railway . I think I would have run across to it cheer it on .
True, though some are running through fields about a mile away in the hopes of seeing the train. Certainly optimistic!
@@Terrier55Stepney At 8:02 - it's not an aqueduct by the cricket field - it's a viaduct, carrying the A36 Warminster Road.
I’ve never seen Titfield Thunderbolt before, but I’m all here for the scenery and trainspotting
Lovely video, super work gents. This was a real treat!
7.21 , what you refer to as fence post is very old ' broad gauge rail ' ex GWR i believe, once broad gauge became obsolete, to standard gauge, the rails were reused in this and many more applications.
Thank you for clarifying! I wouldn't have guessed.
Well done boys! Great fun!
I've got to watch the film again, now ..... 😁
The rail at 7.30 looks like broad gauge rail...!
Great video. Fascinating to see how things have changed. Not just since 1952, when my father was at the school and watched the filming (apparently trying to sneak into the crowds in some of the scenes) but also from my time there later, in the 1970’s. Keep them coming.
Couple of quick points. You were right before you corrected yourself: it’s a viaduct, not an aqueduct. The former Viaduct Hotel (to where we’d sneak from school for a crafty pint) still looms over the junction at its north end.
And Brassknocker Basin is actually around the corner, branching off the Kennet and Avon canal just before Dundas Aqueduct. That spur is the start of the Somerset coal canal which ran from there, through Monkton, to Radstock, along the same route as the railway which later replaced it. What you identify as the basin is the Longmead sports field, the one where the cricket match is being held in the final scenes of the film. It’s always been there (unless covered by winter floods). The canal ran on the embankment behind, where the railway was and the access road now is.
As above, great series. More please.
Thank you for clearing up my error about the viaduct. That makes more sense regarding the canal.
How lovely to hear you and your father have a connection to the area and the filming.
I'm happy you enjoyed this. I have a new documentary style video on the first Friday of each month.
Indeed - Brassknocker basin is still there, still full of narrowboats - you can see it on Google Maps.
Back in the 1970s, the spur from Dundas basin to Brassknocker basin was still filled in and only later reinstated. Before the full Kennet and Avon restoration, there was very little canal traffic. The current bustling scene is almost as unrecognisable as Monkton Combe now is to Titfield.
The track - now road - between school and viaduct was/is known as (the) Clank, named after the noise the trains made, one presumes.
I got mobbed when I went down there exploring about in my dirty yellow 3 wheel van lol I live over in North Dorset and often explore the old lines and was somewhat vocal in trying to get the Frome to Radstock line reopened as doing so could have furthered attempts to get something going between Radstock and Blandford at least connected to the main network. Council were supposed to protect the former rail lines but all it took was some big bungs and dirty bribes and all that protection just vanished into the night down the local lodges...
Good to have someone here who has explored more of the S&D. It's a true shame that more of it has not been revived. A line from Dorset across to Bath and Bristol would be so useful!
A very enjoyable and fun video. Well Done guys. I have been a fan of 'The Titfield Thunderbolt' for years and had marked out as many film locations as I could on Google Earth. Your film has filled in a lot of gaps for me.
The posts by the old footbridge look like recycled broad gauge bridge rails to me ?
Yes
Great work! How do you even go about finding these locations?
As a long time fan of the film, who watched it long before you were born, and shortly after the S&D closed I love this. I also used to drive 159s past Limpley Stoke from Salisbury to Bristol.
Have you thought of doing the Oh Mr Porter locations on the Basingstoke to Alton Light Railway. When I retired in 2019 the track turning off West of Basingstoke was still in situ. You can follow it on Google Earth.
The opening sequence in the film is approaching Southampton tunnel. You might be able to use a cab view for that.
Addendum:- I just had a look on Google Earth and there is not a lot left of the trackbed to see 😕 The line at Basingstoke is plainly visible though. I don't know how it has remained in place almost 100 years later.
Oh Mr Porter is next on my list to track down the filming locations of! It will be more of a challenge as from previous people who have tried I gather there isn't much left to compare to. Thank you for pointing out those locations, I wasn't aware of those and go along the SWR line often.
@@Terrier55Stepney The Wrecker 1929 (Listed on Amazon as The Wrecker (DVD) [2013] £4.09 ) was also filmed on this line. There are a few clips of it on here including a dramatic crash.
Great Video, Max!
Maybe one day you should make a publishing book of the Titfield thunderbolt movie before and after photos.
That would certainly be a nice casual read.
What a interesting video on going to the locations of where this train themed movie takes place. There's definitely a difference between how the location looked in the film and how it looks like today.
The terrain and area definitely looks different from one another. You could bearly tell if they look the same.
31:12 I don't recall that, from my long ago watching of the film - but the MoT civil servant is riding a Welbike, or Corgi - 98ccs, originally built for SOE agents to make a quick getaway and for paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines (they were used at Arnhem). They can be worth well upward of £40K, today:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welbike
might have to go and check out these locations
Many thanks for the reminders of Midford.
Great video I was there not to long ago on holiday and had no idea until a local told us we looked about and its really interesting to see how the environment has changed
It's a shame it was never rebuilt as a heritage line though, it would have been fun to ride on it though!..
wel lads .. thank you for the fun of knowing were to go ..im of now to watch the film from my hard drive.. thanks... atb to you all TONE U.K.
The crumbs of an England that is fast disappearing......
Have you done a similar exploration of the area where 'Oh Mr Porter' was filmed? I wonder if anything remains of Buggleskelly today? Love both 'Oh Mr Porter' and The Titfield Thunderbolt. But out of the two titfield is my favourite. Lovely to see you re-visiting the area once again.
I was always told that the conflict between the steam roller and the steam engine, was on the road crossing on the branch line between Alton and Basingstoke..
Just to add if anyone wants to checkout where this bridge is its at the bottom of Withyditch Lane next to Splotts Farm. See you there!!
I understand that Lion went to the film set under her own steam. I understand that a member of the cast actually drove her or one of the two 14xx tank engines
Happy 40th anniversary
THE TRAM-RAIL AT THE FOOTBRIDGE
I reckon you've hit 'paydirt' lads in finding the old, vertical piece, of Tram-Rail at the old Footbridge site.
I would suggest that this was a part of the Footbridge itself.....?
It is clearly a substantial piece of Steel, and from the footage shown of the old Footbridge, it would appear to be a part of the structure. It is certainly in the right position.
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
Cool
Nice video but are going to review the book of thunderbolts last run because I got it for Christmas and I read the hole book and i would love hear other people’s thoughts on weather it’s good or not
Waiting for the guide rail on Friar park.
If they let me in, I'll do it. I hear they're very welcoming at Crackerbox Palace.
Interesting.
Perhaps one important star to mention that has survived is Lion found at the Liverpool Museum. Stewart Dorrell
A good point! In next week's video I will be taking a trip to Liverpool to see Lion for myself and compare it to the recent model of it.
great
Hey max you should recreate the howl movie with you friends
Is there a TH-cam channel where I can watch a copy of the original film?
I've seen a YT movie that was about the making of it, but not the movie itself!
Plot twist: Oliver is actually 1401
Could you put down the link to the remix theme that can be heard on 37:41 Please.
It's 'Thunderbolt' by Wo1f on Soundcloud. soundcloud.com/the_real_wo1f/thunderbolt
@@Terrier55Stepney Thank You
30:38 The lions are facing the other way.
i thought a stork was pink. not orange..?? Lol but he dose deliver his lines very well lol
lonkg live the lion
Great Film from you Guys, surprising just how much shit building work and crap is now spread about the place. In the days of the film everything looks so sunny and clean. Just take my Roes tinted glasses off and back to Yuck... I grew up next to a small branch line now it is a Six lane motorway, sob!
Of course there was the stuff in Hyde Park
are you sure thats a tramway rail at 7:20? not a street type tram, possibly a light railway rail. the rail looks like a very early type of rail that was superseded by modern profiles that did the job much better..
That rail is GWR broad gauge rail pre 1892….. when the 7’ gauge went to standard gauge they used the old rail for fencing. So it’s original railway infrastructure.
@@mrbaker7443 , thank you for that nugget of knowledge.
some steam oil aday .. keeps the doctors away.. lol..
I wish there was information on 1462, the fake 1400 that ran on the road.
It was a wooden mock-up body mounted on a lorry chassis. If you look closely when it is being driven through the streets of Woodstock you can see the lorry tyres inboard of the dummy loco trailing wheels.
Does anyone know what the website at 1:48 is?
RailMapOnline. A fantastic tool for tracing canals and railway lines past and present.
@@Terrier55Stepney Thank you!
I don’t know whether you covered it or not but I need to know where the yard they steal the 14xx from is
I have done my own research into the filming locations and have seen many quotes saying it was Oxford loco depot. That was closed in the late 1960s and nothing now remains. So far I haven't been able to find any photos of the site to confirm that.
But you missed a trip up north to visit the Lion itself.
That is in next week's video! Can't forget Thunderbolt herself.
@@Terrier55Stepney my nans neighbour was a cleaner at the museum, and I managed to polish some of Lion, and a traction engine for cub scouts "bob a job"
Oh, dr Beeching. What a numpty.
was shut long before BR poached Beeching from ICI. But yes Beeching was a foolish in my opinion.
Is it just me or is Max becoming far too obsessed with this movie?
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I am sure that the makers of this film did their best but it suffers from the same faults that other amateur films do. The makers clearly know what they are talking about and what was and is now there but unfortunately they do not actually show us, they rush everything and the pictures flit from one thing to another so quickly that we cannot keep up with the commentary so do not know what we are watching or what we are seeing. I am sorry to be so negative but was unable to enjoy what would have been a fantastic film.
The Titfield Thunderbolt is a wonderful film - a cinematic gem like all the other Ealing Comedies - Lavender Hill Mob, Lady Killers, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Man in the White Suit, Whiskey Galore. It lifted British spirits after WW2 providing a healing balm. I applaud the guys who made this film about a film. Where else can one find such stunning, one line put downs as: "Perhaps there were not men of sufficient faith in Canterbury"? Where next for the guys? The Train Burt Lancaster? Silver Streak Gene Wilder? Thomas the Tank Engine Ringo Starr?
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this. At 40 minutes I didn't want to drag out the time looking at empty fields and old garages any longer than needed to compare how it once was in the film. Sadly they're seen for even less time within the film itself!
so sad 😥could the rail line ever get rebuilt ?🛤