Train drivers, volunteers and extras tell their stories of historic movie as celluloid is preserved for digital age

IT IS now 40 years since the adventures of three Edwardian children – Roberta, Peter and Phyllis – first captivated film audiences.

Since then, there have been several adaptations of Edith Nesbit’s classic tale The Railway Children, but it is probably the 1970 film version starring Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins that is the most famous.

It is a movie that helped put West Yorkshire’s Bront Country on the map. Filming at picturesque locations such as Oakworth Station in Haworth was very much a community affair – with locals appearing in the film and others helping out behind-the-scenes.

Footage featuring majestic steam engines and coaches was shot on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Now, film-makers have been back in Yorkshire –recording interviews with some of the local people who featured in the original movie ahead of a restored and digitally re-mastered version being released in the UK later this year.

Among them was Nick Hellewell, one of the train crew in the original film, who was interviewed on Oakworth Station platform. Nearby was locomotive 95, the Green Dragon in the film.

Bill Black, the current vice president and former chairman of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society, also remembers when the film-makers came to the area.

He said: “The filming of The Railway Children was a real community affair and the large numbers of volunteers were a crucial part of making it a success.

“My wife, son and daughter can vividly remember the original filming, especially the scene where the three children wave at the train from the fence.

“My wife and I were involved behind-the-scenes. I helped the film crew by driving a diesel railbus to move camera equipment and my wife was responsible for refreshments for the actors.

“She remembers like yesterday her encounter with the late William Mervyn who played the Old Gentleman in the film.

“She remembers him as a very modest man. She was a huge fan.

“Taking part in the filming last week made me very proud to still be involved in the railway over 40 years on.

“The film was an incredible success all those years ago and I’m delighted that it will be re-released later this year so we can re-ignite our memories,” said Mr Black.

The Railway Children is the story of a family whose lives are shattered after their father is arrested on suspicion of betraying state secrets.

They move to a house near the railway and the three children – Roberta, Peter and Phyllis – find amusement in watching the trains on the nearby railway line and waving to the passengers.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of The Railway Children.

To celebrate, Optimum Releasing are restoring the original film, ready to distribute a digitally re-mastered version across the country in a few weeks’ time.

The newly-restored version will premiere at the Bradford International Film Festival on March 28, before it is released in cinemas nationwide in April.

The interviews from Yorkshire will be spliced together with others involving the original stars, other cast members and the crew.

They will then accompany a DVD of the newly-restored version, which should be available in May.

A series of special events and activities will also take place throughout the year as part of The Railway Children 40th anniversary celebrations.

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway will hold a three-day event at Oakworth Station over the May Bank Holiday when visitors will be able to board The Green Dragon, blow the whistle of Sir Berkeley and take cream tea in the Old Gents Saloon.

[email protected]