Mrs Biggs - ITV1

[Ian L Jamieson]

Did anyone watch 'Mrs Biggs' last night? It was about the Great Train Robber's wife and an on-screen caption showed that it was set in 1958.

But what did we see? Several shots of a Class 47, and another shot with a Class 52 in evidence. They obviously want to make a diesel connection because of the actual robbery being a diesel-hauled train, but surely a little bit of research would have shown that these two classes were not around in the 1958-1960 period. Why didn't they feature a Class 40 or Class 42/43? I imagine that plenty of footage of these classes exists.

[jules]

Did you ever see one of the older films about it? Can't remember which one but it was 1960s and the train was hauled by a DB (Deutsche Bundesbahn) loco!

Or should that be "lok"

Anyhow, I didn't think it was an at all accurate portrayal of the ECML at the time ...

[jolly47roger]

The Great Train Robbery was August 1963 at Linslade on the WCML.

[gresh]

I watched it being filmed!!!!!

[Robin Summerhill]

Did anyone watch 'Mrs Biggs' last night? It was about the Great Train Robber's wife and an on-screen caption showed that it was set in 1958.

But what did we see? Several shots of a Class 47, and another shot with a Class 52 in evidence. They obviously want to make a diesel connection because of the actual robbery being a diesel-hauled train, but surely a little bit of research would have shown that these two classes were not around in the 1958-1960 period. Why didn't they feature a Class 40 or Class 42/43? I imagine that plenty of footage of these classes exists.

I missed this thread - probably because I don't watch much TV

I had a conversation with somebody about this sort of thing some time ago - my gripe was with the TV show "Heartbeat" and their assertion that they went to some trouble to recreate the 1960s to meticulous accuracy, whilst there they were featuring a S&D 7F in the titles. One of those, of course, would have got no nearer to North Yorkshire than Derby Works and, in railway terms, that ain't very close.

The answer I got was twofold:

1. Whilst obsessives like me might pick up on this sort of thing, Joe Public doesn't know the details of such things and wouldn't give a toss even if he did. If a "steam train" (pardon the term, that's the one that was used) is needed for authenticity, then anything that looks like one will do.

Perhaps its worth mentioning, seeing as I brought up "The Titfield Thinderbolt" on another thread just recently, the scene in the film that shows "1401" going down the High Street isn't really 1401 - its a prop designed to look like it.

2. Bearing in mind (1) above, everything depends on locomotive availability. The media in general and TV companies are notorious for thinking that the world revolves around them, and they have a nasty tendency, when they want something, to want it NOW. If what they really want immediately isn't available, they'll use something else or just not bother.

I heard some tales about this when I was on the committee of the Rover P5 Owners Club back in the 90s - we had a "Show Cars Officer" whose job it was to match the requirements of the media to the cars, and he would get such requests as "can you send us a concourse condition blue coupe to Stranraer for filming at 0630 tomorrow morning?" - when the nearest one was in Leeds and the owner was expecting/ expected to go to work that day...

In terms of this show, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the producer simply told one of his/ her minions to "go to the archive and find some footage of old BR diesel engines"

[oldchapie]

i have often thought how the movie buffs worked out one type of loco enterd the tunnel and came out with a different one it !!!! british films with trains in the scenes are rubbish so spoils any film for at least railway men.

[the green mile]

So "anything that looks like a steam engine will do"!

I recall a kids magazine programme many years ago (not Blue Peter) where the presenter was discussing trains. I fell off my seat laughing at the comment "most trains these days are diesels and look something like this" which was accompanied by a side view of an unrebuilt Battle of Britain.

[Robin Summerhill]

So "anything that looks like a steam engine will do"!

I recall a kids magazine programme many years ago (not Blue Peter) where the presenter was discussing trains. I fell off my seat laughing at the comment "most trains these days are diesels and look something like this" which was accompanied by a side view of an unrebuilt Battle of Britain.

I hear the gentle thud of a case resting A researcher told to go away and find something in the archives, when they're not 100% sure what they're looking for.

Mind you, it could have gone the other way. You could just hear a presenter saying: "O V S Bulleid built his "Leader" class, and here is a clip of a development of it, still in use in Russia"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEETEOcQW90

[the green mile]

Now that's what you call a train! Reminds me a bit of a double header climbing up through Devonshire Tunnel.

[railwest]

Did anyone watch "The Bletchley Circle" on ITV over the last 3 weeks? Part of the plot revolved around people using train services into/out of St Pancras, so they did indeed show some nice views of that station - but most of the action took place at Horsted Keynes with plenty of SR stock and locos in evidence! Oh, and the series was set in the early 1950s - funny how all the stock was still in shiny SR pre-1948 livery!

[Ian L Jamieson]

Did anyone watch "The Bletchley Circle" on ITV over the last 3 weeks? Part of the plot revolved around people using train services into/out of St Pancras, so they did indeed show some nice views of that station - but most of the action took place at Horsted Keynes with plenty of SR stock and locos in evidence! Oh, and the series was set in the early 1950s - funny how all the stock was still in shiny SR pre-1948 livery!

Oh, dear. This was really painful! In several shots we saw Routemasters, and as you say, we had Southern malachite green coaches hauled by a Southern mogul going to Barking. And I swear that I saw a sign over a station which read 'Redhill Train Station!'

There again, I suppose we railway buffs are a bit obsessive, while the man in the street doesn't care a jot about these things.

It is annoying, even so.

[Agency_Scum]

It's good to be obsessive. Whether it's bikes ( I disorganise a cycling club ), trains or transistor radios. If we don't pull the media peoples' socks up, no one else will. Mitchell and Webb summed it up best with their LAZY WRITERS sketches.

[jules]

If we don't pull the media peoples' socks up, no one else will.

I couldn't agree more - see posts passim. Mostly it is down to a sheer lack of research, attention to detail and common sense - plus a good dose of professional laziness. But when their stock in trade is generally smut, gossip and false celebrities, what better can we expect?!

[Ian L Jamieson]

If we don't pull the media peoples' socks up, no one else will.

I couldn't agree more - see posts passim. Mostly it is down to a sheer lack of research, attention to detail and common sense - plus a good dose of professional laziness. But when their stock in trade is generally smut, gossip and false celebrities, what better can we expect?!

You are so right, Jules.

[Roger]

I have just received a mailshot from the Avon Valley Railway advertising the Santa specials.

The drawing on the poster is a good outline image of a Thompson B1. However the cabside number is of Stanier Class 5 45379.

Oh dear!!!