1950

If you should have any information about any of these T.V. productions
that I have not included here, please contact me with the details.

1951 1st Series / 1951 2nd Series / 1957 Series / 1968 Series

Full Cast List Where Possible

Michael Croudson (Peter), Carole Lorimer (Phyllis), Marian Chapman (Bobbie),
Marjorie Manning (Mrs. Perks), and Thomas Moore (Master Perks).

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN. Transmitted. BBC. Tuesdays. 5.30-6pm. 06/02/1951-27/03/1951.

( See also 4 part serial from 10/07/1951 which was the same
serial with a slight cast change and some new footage ).

4 part serial, the same adaptation that was used in the 8 part
serial of 06/02/1951 - 27/03/1951, with largely the same cast.
Each episode is 60 minutes and a different actor plays the role of Perks.
Includes film footage shot in the original serial as well as new footage.

With A special thank you to Natasha at the B.F.I. for the above information.

Transmitted in eight episodes from Sunday the 3rd March 1957
on British Television by the B.B.C.

The Old Gentleman: Norman Shelley.
Bobbie: Anneke Willys.
Peter: Cavan Kendall.
Phyllis: Sandra Michaels.
Mother: Jean Anderson, ( As 1950 series ).
Father: John Richmond.
Ruth: Ysanne Churchman.
Cook: Vi Stevens.
Perks: Richard Warner.
The Stationmaster: Donald Morley.
Carter: Paddy Ward.
Also appearing:
Arthur Mason.
Edward Wade.
Norman Shelley.

"In 1951 I produced a dramatised version of Mrs Nesbit's book
called 'The Railway Children'. It was actually the second serial
we presented on children's television and now almost a new
generation of children has grown up apart from the countless
families who were not able to see the television in those days.
So it seems the right moment to produce it again.
This is a story for all ages and both sexes and although the railway
itself- with Perks the Porter, Mr Gill the Stationmaster, and the Old
Gentleman- becomes so dear to the three children, Roberta,
Peter, and Phyllis, it is not a book about Railways. It is about a
family- who have their exiting times, their sad times, birthdays,
illnesses, and accidents just like any family who might be watching.
Half the charm of Mrs Nesbit's books- and their names are as familiar
today as when they were first written- 'The Treasure seekers', the
'Would-be-goods', 'Five Children and It', and so many more- lies in
their early Edwardian atmosphere. Those were the days when boys
wore knickerbocker suits and the girls pinafores and red flannel
petticoats- petticoats which were to prove so enormously valuable
to the children and to the train on one momentous occasion.
Filming in 1957 for the period of 1906 means finding a station and
a bit of line that is not electrified. After quite a long search- walking
on remote bits of line in the home counties and consulting ordnance
maps, we have found a country station and a line that winds through
a tunnel between high wooded hills- but there are difficulties involved
in that there are also modern trains running their day to day schedule.
However, thanks to the great co-operation we have received from
British Railways we hope we shall manage to get all the shots we want
without any keen trainspotters feeling compelled to write us critical letters".

A contribution from website visitor: Mr Alan Wise

Dear Sir,I looked with great interest at your website about the railway children.I was especially interested to find out about the various tv programmes and films that have been made.I would love to see the 1957 tv series made by the BBC,but I think I'm right in saying that it has been lost forever.Presumably they wiped it,as they did with many other of their programmes.What a shame.If anyone knows differently or can tell me how I could get to see it I would love to hear from them.

But I can tell you and other viewers to your website about the location.It was filmed around Baynards station in Surrey on the old Guildford to Horsham line which closed in 1965.Seven other films were also made at Baynards because of it's quiet,picturesque location.

1941 The black sheep of Whitehall,1942 They were sisters,1958 Room at the top,1960 The horsemasters,1960 The grass is greener,1965 Rotten to the core,1965 The house at the end of the world.

Fortunately you can still walk the entire length of the line because it's now an official bridleway called the downslink.And most importantly for railway children fans the station at Baynards is still there.Beautifuly restored as a private house which you can easily see.If you look at the book,Branch lines to Horsham(middleton press)by Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith there's a photo from the 1957 BBC series showing a classT9 loco with two carriages approaching Baynards station fom the road bridge (cox green).The reason I know all about this is because the Guildford Horsham branch line started at Peasmarsh junction.I have lived in Peasmarsh all my life.I've read everything I can about the line,and I love the railway children.I fear that this one photo is all that remains to be seen from the 1957 BBC tv series.

Anyway I hope some of your viewers to the website find this interesting.

Best wishes, Alan Wise.

Produced by: Dorothea Brooking, ( As 1950 series ).
Film Cameraman: Peter Sargent.
Film Editor: Ron de Mattos.
Designer: Eileen Diss.

Title Music: ( As 1950 production ) Symphonic Dances No.1-4 op.64 by: Grieg.
Versions used:
Danish National Orchestra of the
State Radio, Conducted by Eric Tuxen.
The London Symphony Orchestra,
Conducted by Piero Coppola.

With sincere thanks to Colin Jones of New South Wales for the above information.

Transmitted in seven episodes on British Television
by the B.B.C. from 12th June to the 23rd July 1968
and repeated the following year from 14th August
to the 25th September 1969.

Bobbie: Jenny Agutter.
Mother: Ann Castle.
Father: Frederick Theves.
Peter: Neil McDermott.
Phyllis: Gillian Bailey.
Old Gentleman: Joseph O'Coner.
Jim: Christopher Witty.
Ruth: Mary Healey.
Perks: Gordon Gostelow.
Dr Forrest: John Ringham.
Station Master: Brian Hayes.
Signalman: Bart Allison.

Dramatised by: Denis Constanduros.
Script Editor: Michael Voysley.
Cameraman: John Baker.
Lighting: Derek Hobday.
Sound: Alan Edmonds.
Film Editor: Bill Harris.
Costumes: Ann Hollowood.
Make-Up: Nathalie Calfe.
Designer: Oliver Bayldon.
Producer: Campbell Logan.
Assoc' Producer: John McRae.
Director: Julia Smith. ( "Eastenders" )

Title Music: ( As 1950 and 1957 production ) Symphonic Dances No.1-4 op.64 By Grieg.