Railways in Pop Culture

[61653 HTAFC]

Surely the Wandsworth referred to by Squeeze was HMP Wandsworth...?

Clapham Junction I'll give you

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Surely the Wandsworth referred to by Squeeze was HMP Wandsworth...?

Clapham Junction I'll give you

Yes - when they could reminisce about "counting out the fivers in a shed out at Hea(ff)throw"

 

[RPM]

Not sure of the connection between Dickie Pickle and the rather workaholic producer and Shellac frontman, but MES seldom makes a whole lot of sense! (And I say that as a fan of The Fall).

Indeed, MES lyrics are beyond cryptic.

Incidentally, the new album has a track called 'Victoria Train Station Massacre'.

 

[nom de guerre]

KLF 'Last Train to Trancentral'

D A Pennebaker's 'Don't Look Back' (now-legendary documentary following Bob Dylan during his 1967 UK tour) shows a Peak at - IIRC - Newcastle, plus various shots of Dylan holding court inside Mk1 compartments.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (the 2011 film version) includes a scene depicting a short train of Pullman-type coaches crossing a bridge near Smiley's secret base, in a down-at-heel hotel, supposedly near Liverpool Street (but according to Wiki, shot in Wilkin Street, NW5 - which is just north of Kentish Town West).

 

[nom de guerre]

What about Amberley chalk pits museum in the Zorrin airship scene in A View to a Kill? -can't recall if any of the narrow gauge lines feature.

Lots of narrow gauge action, bombs on wagons etc. Didn't realise that was Amberley (never visited).

 

[nom de guerre]

My first thought too, taken from the signal box, with the W London line diverting to the left, but ....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Could be in with a shout?

I thought there was some kind of division between the Brighton lines the SECR lines though? And what is the line diverging to the left - a connection towards the old Bricklayers' Arms or ...?

I'm leaning towards Clapham: Latchmere Curve to the left; the other WLLs curving round on the right, past Pig Hill. Plus at least three of the tower blocks seem to be in the right place.

 

[OuterDistant]

The producers of Hinterland always seemed keen to include the railway in the scenes set around Borth, normally to the point where you'd hear a train going past far more often than they do in real life.

Some instances I can remember are:

• One episode focusing around a workshop next to the AOCL near Borth Zoo
• A grim clue found on a model railway in the Borth Station Museum
• DCI Mathias having his pursuit interrupted by a train at Ynyslas crossing - although he keeps swapping which side he's approaching from in different shots!
• The scenes in a house next to Ynyslas crossing, with lots of trains going by

 

[RPM]

Lots of narrow gauge action, bombs on wagons etc. Didn't realise that was Amberley (never visited).

Amberley also features in the Dr Who episode "The Deadly Assasin", with plenty of narrow gauge action. One of the best Tom Baker era episodes IMO.

 

[RPM]

I know Reggie Perrin has already been covered in this thread, but I don't think anyone mentioned the 2009/2010 remake starring Martin Clunes. The railway filming for this was done on Chiltern Railways at various locations, including some on-train filming.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I know Reggie Perrin has already been covered in this thread, but I don't think anyone mentioned the 2009/2010 remake starring Martin Clunes. The railway filming for this was done on Chiltern Railways at various locations, including some on-train filming.

But were his explanations still based on the LSWR?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The producers of Hinterland always seemed keen to include the railway in the scenes set around Borth, normally to the point where you'd hear a train going past far more often than they do in real life.

Some instances I can remember are:

• One episode focusing around a workshop next to the AOCL near Borth Zoo
• A grim clue found on a model railway in the Borth Station Museum
• DCI Mathias having his pursuit interrupted by a train at Ynyslas crossing - although he keeps swapping which side he's approaching from in different shots!
• The scenes in a house next to Ynyslas crossing, with lots of trains going by

Also in the last one , a 158 passing the superb , enclosed boat yard south of Penhelig Halt on the Coast line. Borth appears to have a Metro service on this excellent series.

 

[Trackman]

Amberley also features in the Dr Who episode "The Deadly Assasin", with plenty of narrow gauge action. One of the best Tom Baker era episodes IMO.

Brockham Lime Works (now gone), the locos used have been preserved I think.

 

[Jamesrob637]

"Wannabe" filmed on the staircase of what is nowadays the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Berlin Hauptbahnhof had a supporting role in the finale of the last-but-one season of Homeland.

 

[Dan Electro]

No-one seems to have mentioned Mansun's Taxloss yet:

Parlophone had originally planned to only release five singles from The Attack of the Grey Lantern album, though, with it's unanticipated success, they decided to release a sixth single.

However, at the time, the band were busy on tour, and didn't have time to shoot a 'proper' video. So, GBP 25,000 in fivers was withdrawn from the bank, and thrown from a balcony at Liverpool Street station, and filmed using hand-held camcorders.

Independent of whether people enjoy the band or the music, surely one of the most innovative rock videos of all time?

Not sure the policy on YouTube linking; however easy to find for the curious.

Cheers

DE

 

[IanXC]

I'm always intregued by this Yes Minister clip (which I know has been mentioned before):

https://youtu.be/t3zNCg55kiw

Is that genuinely a sleeper service, and genuinely filmed at Kings Cross?

 

[Michael.Y]

I'm always intregued by this Yes Minister clip (which I know has been mentioned before):

https://youtu.be/t3zNCg55kiw

Is that genuinely a sleeper service, and genuinely filmed at Kings Cross?

The dispatch procedure needs looking at. Station work complete and right away given before an Off indicator even lights, which lights a full ten seconds before the actual signal changes?

 

[High Dyke]

There have been many references to film and tv shows, but don't forget the Ealing comedies and the many references to railways in them, as well as the Great St Trinian's Train Robbery.

In other songs:
Madness - Bingo, on the Liberty of Norton Folgate contains the lines

(This train is destined for all stations to High Barnet. Thank you.)

(Mind the gap)

Half Man Half Biscuit.

Back In The DHSS
Time Flies By (When You’re A Driver Of A Train)

F****n’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus contains the line

Oh as the train pulled into platform three

Most notable has to be The Coroner's Footnote on 90 Bisodol (Crimond) which regales the tale of a love torn male who plans to commit suicide by jumping in front of a train. Something that sadly occurs too often. It does end by expressing concern for the welfare of the train driver.

 

[yorksrob]

"Under Your Thumb" by 10CC contains a story about a suicide on the line and is written to a railway rythem.

 

[High Dyke]

Trains by The Vapors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNowJK1vDQA

 

[Agent_Squash]

The music video in Hard Fi’s ‘Living for the Weekend’ begins with a shot of a SWT Class 450.
And what about Harry Potter?

 

[markem41]

Have we had :

'smoke lingers 'round your fingers; train heave on to Euston'

'and when a train goes by it's such a sad sound'

'and if you ever need self-validation; just meet me in the alley by the railway station'

'I came back to my old city; with fierce determination; and I couldn't find my way out of the station, it's all changed'

 

[Harbon 1]

Doves - There Goes The Fear features some of Euston, ACs, steam and first gen DMUs near Paddignton and Pullman stock...all very briefly in the second half of this very American video

Also in Broken Social Scene's - Vanity Pale Kids there is an American train near the end. I won't tell you where abouts so if you're really interested you have to watch the strangest music video ever

 

[Three-Nine]

Heres a really obscure one, and it just barely qualifies as "UK Railways" - an episode of the anime "Hellsing", which is set in the UK, featured a character arriving on the Eurostar at what would have been at the time the anime was produced Waterloo International. In a nice example of how cultural mores sometimes get transposed onto depictions of other countries, the Eurostar staff were shown bowing to the character in the Japanese fashion!

 

[simon7929]

The video for "The Everlasting" by The Manic Street Preachers has some wonderful shots of 87's and 125's at Euston in InterCity livery. Very nostalgic video with a deeply moving song.

The Pet Shop Boys iconic "West End Girls" video has some lovely shots of the concourse at Waterloo in the 80's with a blue/grey VEP in the background.

"The Everlasting" is one of my favourite songs. Love the shot of 87031 and the Vigin HST leaving Euston. Just as moving to watch as the song itself.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

The sixth Detective Conan (An anime about a teenage detective who gets poisoned and shrunk to a child) film features the titular character being trapped in a simulation of 1890s London, which includes a train out of Charing Cross hauled by a GNR Stirling Single.

 

[markem41]

Can't omit a bit of The Fall:

This is not an autobahn
It's an evil roundabout
That leads to the Haywain
And you'll never see good trains again
In the late 60s, my daddy said to me
'You'll never see trams and clogs again'
Now they roam the city

 

[GatwickDepress]

K-On! is an anime about a bunch of girls who form a music band after school, and the movie has them go to London with beautifully rendered scenes of the city - including the London Underground!

Earl's Court is particularly recognisable, with screencaps on this blog post here.

 

[yorksrob]

"The Everlasting" is one of my favourite songs. Love the shot of 87031 and the Vigin HST leaving Euston. Just as moving to watch as the song itself.

They should have done a longer 'Director's cut' to go with the album version !

 

[Wavertreelad]

It's surprising how often the word train features in a song title including some dubious ones!

Took the Train - Bread
Peace Train - Cat Stevens
Train on a Track - Kelly Rowland
This Train Don't Stop There Anymore - Elton John
Train - Leo Sayer
(Waiting for The) Ghost Train - Madness
Mule Train - Frankie Laine
Last Train to Clarksville - The Monkees
The Day We Caught the Train - Ocean Colour Scene
Train in the Distance - Paul Simon
Midnight Train to George - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Downtown Train - Rod Stewart
Night Train - Visage
Train - Smokie
Soul Train - Swansway
The Runaway Train - Vernon Dalhart
Trains and Boat and Planes - Billy J Kramer and The Dakoras