Within the last few days, I have been lucky enough to acquire quite a few items of memorabilia from the film world.

One of these items was the original Press Book from the famous film ‘The Railway Children’ of 1977 directed by Lionel Jeffries

Maybe not a Fifties film but there are connections here because in 1957 BBC Television had an 8 part serialisation of The Railway Children with Jean Anderson as the mother and Anneke Wills as Roberta. Norman Shelley played the old gentleman

This 1957 version of The Railway Children  also featured Cavan Kendall as Peter and Sandra Michaels as Phyl.

Jean Anderson reprised her role of Mother from the earlier 1951 BBC version, with Hilda Barry also returning as Mrs Viney. The script stuck closely to Dorothea Brooking’s original 1951 script.

Baynards railway station, on the Cranleigh line in Surrey (now disused) was used for location filming.

In the 1951 BBC Television version Clive Dunn had an early role and so did Ysanne Churchman from The Archers.

ABOVE – The poster really hits the button as regards the joyousness of the film

A tranquil family scene ABOVE – Lovely picture

Oakworth Station

I cant recall if the above scene was in the film – I don’t seem to remember it being though – maybe this is from the NEW version filming now

ABOVE – A tense and dramatic scene from the 1977 film

ABOVE and BELOW – The New Film – The Railway Children Return currently in production

I am quite looking forward to this new film being released early next year and seeing it in the cinema on the big screen – I think it will be good. Then again, I thought that the 2016 film version of ‘Dads Army’ was excellent but my views are not shared be everyone I know.

From the original 1977 film Press Book BELOW

As a friend pointed out, the address ‘Wardour Street London W1’ has been closely associated with the film-land over the years