Tag Archives: London & North Eastern Railway

The Flying Scotsman 1929

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Warner Brothers

Here I go again with another foreign film. This “British International Picture” came in JUST at the start of talkies and consequently is half silent, half sound (dubbed in post-production). Who’d a thunk the star of the show (London & North Eastern Railway #4472 Flying Scotsman) would still be around and kicking in 2023?

Well it is, and it was an exceptional, historic piece of locomotive pulchritude. Britain’s favorite Class A3 4-6-2 (A1 class as built / Doncaster 1923). She looks simply smashing in that LNER apple green (see below).

LNER #4472 was named after an existing passenger train between London (King’s Cross) and Edinburgh (Waverly). This film has it all. Forbidden romance. A villain bent on revenge. Treachery. Pungent overacting. AND…a thespian I’ve actually heard of, playing the hero. Let’s check out this tasty bit of crumpet!

GO BIG GREEN! LNER #4473 steps smartly away from the platform with another trainload of her fans. Contrast this with a frame from the movie as it approaches the bumper post at King’s Cross. Same locomotive, many decades apart.

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The Plymouth Express 1991

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Picture Partnership Productions

It’s “Urk-Yul” Poirot! Yes, everyone’s favorite Belgie detective, Hercule Poirot (played by David Suchet) is once more investigating a murder — this time on a steam train from London’s Paddington Station to Bristol (and eventually Plymouth).

Our first steam engine encounter is in the credits of every TV episode of the series (see above). It looks to be an “artist’s conception” of a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 streamlined 4-6-2 designed by Sir Nigel Gresley.

Today’s episode features two different Southern Railway (U.K.) steam engines as well as location shooting at Hull Paragon Railway Station (standing in for London’s Paddington, Bristol & Plymouth) and along the Bluebell Railway.

In a moving crane shot, we find SR #777 “Sir Lamiel” pulling its’ four-car train into Plymouth…er Hull Station. A grisly discovery is about to be made onboard!

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