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The Titfield Thunderbolt Overview:

The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) was a Comedy - Film directed by Charles Crichton and produced by Michael Balcon and Michael Truman.

The Titfield Thunderbolt BlogHub Articles:

The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953): A Review by Kyle Edwards

By Raquel Stecher on Nov 30, -0001 From Out of the Past - A Classic Film Blog

The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) is an early-1950s British comedy which tells a story similar to many real occurrences throughout the world. After Britain's large, nationalized railroad company "British Railways" decides to cease operations over a rural branch line, a small group of concerned locals ... Read full article

The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953): A Review by Kyle Edwards

By Raquel Stecher on Nov 30, -0001 From Out of the Past - A Classic Film Blog

The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) is an early-1950s British comedy which tells a story similar to many real occurrences throughout the world. After Britain's large, nationalized railroad company "British Railways" decides to cease operations over a rural branch line, a small group of concerned locals ... Read full article

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The Titfield Thunderbolt Quotes:

Valentine: [proposing a toast] Our magnificent generals, General Gordon and General Booth.
Mrs Valentine: Do you know what time it is?
Valentine: Yes, my love: summer double time.
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The Titfield Thunderbolt Facts
The credited driver, fireman and guard were not actors, they were British Railways employees from Westbury depot and were originally to be uncredited extras. After director Charles Crichton spoke to them on location and realized they "looked and sounded the part", they were given speaking parts.
The role of the pre-accident locomotive #1401 was played by two separate 14XX locomotives, facing in opposite directions to allow as much filming as possible. #1401 starred as herself while #1450 masqueraded as her sister with identical number-plates. Though #1401 was later scrapped, #1450 was preserved and today operates on steam railways throughout Britain.
The 'Thunderbolt' is a genuine veteran locomotive, its real name is 'Lion'. It was built for the Liverpool and Manchester railway in 1838, making it 115 years old when it was used in the film.
Writer T.E.B. Clarke ("Tibby") was inspired to write the Titfield Thunderbolt saga after a 1951 visit to the volunteer-operated Talyllyn Railway, which carries passengers along the Cambrian coast between Tywyn and Abergynolwyn, in Wales. "The Titfield Thunderbolt" reflects Clarke's fascination with the volunteers' preservationist spirit there.
The final scenes of Mallingford station were filmed at the Bath Road Bridge end of the main platform at Bristol Temple Meads station, Bristol, UK.
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