The Flockton Flyer

The Flockton Flyer
Written by Peter Whitbread
Directed by Colin Nutley
Starring
Theme music composer Jugg Music
Opening theme The Flockton Flyer theme
Ending theme The Flockton Flyer theme
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 17 written
12 filmed
Production
Executive producer(s) Lewis Rudd
Producer(s) Colin Nutley
Location(s) West Somerset Railway
Camera setup Joe Hardy
Peter Greenhalgh
Roy Page
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s) Southern Television
Distributor Renown Pictures Ltd
Release
Original network ITV
Original release 18 April 1977 (1977-04-18) – 13 February 1978 (1978-02-13)

The Flockton Flyer was a children's TV series made by Southern Television for the ITV network. It was a popular programme, which ran to two series, and provided early screen appearances for upcoming actors such as Peter Duncan and Gwyneth Strong, as well as some well-known 1970s classical and situation comedy actors. The on-screen title for series 1 was "The Flockton Flyer", but for series 2 it had become "Flockton Flyer". This may have been a result of complaints from some railway enthusiasts, who pointed out that it is convention that locomotive names do not start with the definite article "The". However, whilst locomotive names do not take the definite article, train names often do so (for example, The Flying Scotsman or The Blue Train), and in the programme the locomotive carries engine nameplates, and also a train-name headboard, all marked with the same Flockton Flyer name.

Broadcast dates

There were two series, each of six episodes. Series 1 was first transmitted in spring 1977, and Series 2 followed in early 1978. Programmes were shown at 4.45 pm on Monday afternoons.

Series 1 was repeated on ITV on Friday afternoons, commencing 8 September 1978; series 2 was repeated on Friday afternoons, commencing 7 December 1979, and running into January 1980.

Both series were again repeated on The Children's Channel, on cable TV in Britain during the early 1990s. Dubbed versions of the programmes were shown on Dutch and German TV stations.

In 2010, reruns of The Flockton Flyer were shown on the now-defunct British satellite television channel Film 24.

In August & September 2015 reruns of the series were shown on UK satellite channel Talking Pictures TV.

Location

The location filming was done on the newly re-opened West Somerset Railway, during 1976 and 1977, that railway also being the owner of the engines and rolling stock used.

The locomotive

6412 near Minehead

The star of the show was the steam locomotive that gave the series its name. The Flockton Flyer, was, in reality, an ex-Great Western Railway 0-6-0PT ("pannier tank"): 1934-built, 6400 Class no. 6412. This class was fitted with equipment for working push-pull trains. No. 6412 was based at Gloucester loco shed[1] and, aside from its many years of reliable operation on local branch lines, operated the last passenger train to Monmouth over the Wye Valley Railway in 1959 [2] and the final 'Chalford Shuttle' autotrain service between Gloucester and Chalford in 1962.[1]

After being sold into private ownership for preservation, this locomotive was one of the first on the West Somerset Railway, arriving in 1976, and taking part in the opening ceremony a few days later. It was found useful for the lighter-loaded trains on the Minehead Branch line,[3] and also visited a number of other preserved railways.

Owned by the West Somerset Railway Association, No. 6412 remained on the heritage railway for 32 years. During that time, the success of the railway led to the use of longer and heavier trains – beyond the capability of a pannier tank – and Association members decided, reluctantly, to sell it. On 8 January 2009, part-dismantled for a major overhaul, 6412 was transferred by road to the South Devon Railway, the new owners.[3]

Overview

The two series follow the adventures of the Carter family, as they struggle to re-open and run the old Flockton to Lane End branch railway, closed by British Railways five years previously. At the time of production (1976) a large number of newly closed railway branch lines were being bought and preserved by local railway preservation societies, which has given rise to an extensive network of 'heritage railways' in the United Kingdom.

The railway is said to have very limited rolling stock - one locomotive (restoration of which was completed in episode 1), one passenger coach (restoration of which was completed in episode 3), a small number of freight vehicles (three are specifically mentioned and featured - an open wagon, a box van, and a tanker truck), and a hand-pumped inspection truck. Despite this plot line, large amounts of other rolling stock are regularly seen in the background of shots - multiple passenger coaches, various freight vehicles, a second steam tank locomotive (in steam) in the opening shots of episode 1, a diesel multiple unit in certain scenes, including the arrival of the Flockton Flyer to meet the road ambulance in episode 4, and a large GWR steam engine under tarpaulin sheeting at Flockton in episode 5. Although these other vehicles are not explained away in the script, there are various references to the nearby 'mainline railway' and it may perhaps be assumed that shots involving otherwise unexplained rolling stock are shots of the Flockton line meeting the mainline railway. The direct connection of the two is confirmed by the storyline of episode 5 in the first series.

Episodes (from film and novel)

Script writer Peter Whitbread wrote a total of 17 episodes, of which 12 were filmed (6 in series one, and 6 in series two). Whitbread, who died following a road traffic accident in 2004, is best remembered as a scriptwriter, though he also acted and directed; he was not a novelist. The publication in the summer of 1977 of a Flockton Flyer children's novel appears to have been merely the adaptation of 6 storylines intended for filming,[4] including a script with all the hallmarks of a Christmas Special edition. The novel was published by Arrow Books and Look-in Books, the latter being a trading name of a subsidiary of ITV. The novel's first and second chapters were essentially the script of filmed episode 1.1, whilst the seventh and final chapter was the script of episode 1.6; however, the other four chapters (numbered 3, 4, 5, and 6) were self-contained storylines which could have formed the basis of additional filmed episodes, but were never actually recorded. The total of 17 episodes written includes the 12 filmed, the additional 4 from the novel, and one other episode which was written in detail, with scripts and production notes issued to cast and crew, but subsequently abandoned; see below (episode 2.X) for details.

Series 1 (1977)

No. Episode Name Broadcast Date Plot Overview
Series One
1.1 Be It Ever So Humble 18/04/1977 The Carter family are introduced. They are evicted from their home and work (running a petrol station, as tenants). Bob Carter (the father) is a volunteer in the local railway preservation society and agrees that he and his family will undertake the running of the restored line, in return for taking up residence in Flockton station. Bill Jelly is introduced as a local tramp, living in a nearby platelayers' lineside hut. The railway's 4-wheeled open freight truck is used to transport the Carter family's possessions to Flockton.
1.2 Game Set and Match 25/04/1977 Disaster is narrowly averted when the Flockton Flyer steams towards a tree deliberately felled across the line. In attempting to move it, Bob Carter is injured. A nearby farmer rescues him, but also proves to be the culprit, fearing that a restored train service will threaten his cattle, wandering in search of water during the drought. The railway's 4-wheeled water tank truck is used to bring gallons of water to the thirsty cattle, and relations are restored.
1.3 Pull the Other One 02/05/1977 Ghosts appear to be haunting both Flockton station and Jelly's hut. At Flockton the 'ghosts' turn out to be tearaway teenage vandal Don Davis. Having been caught, he is befriended, and becomes a volunteer on the railway. The ghosts at Jelly's hut appear real, however, and a local vicar is called upon to perform an exorcism (the camera remains outside the hut during the 15-minute ceremony due to 1970's ITV regulations on children's programming). This clergyman also runs a hostel for homeless boys, a hostel of which Don Davis is a resident; this leads the Carters to put him up for a few days in their home as they befriend him.
1.4 Under the Circumstances 09/05/1977 The excitement on the railway is the reinstatement of the telegraph system, allowing communication between the various stations, signal boxes, and the Carters' home. The system is immediately used by Commander Frost to notify the Carters of a traffic accident - there has been a pile up on one of the railway's level crossings. The Flockton Flyer returns to Flockton to collect medical supplies, blankets, the family, and the railway's 4-wheeled box van, which is to serve as a makeshift ambulance. Meanwhile, elder daughter Jan, out marking the route of the new nature trail, stumbles upon an injured woman, and having taken her to shelter spends the rest of the episode fruitlessly dashing back and forth attempting to get help - her failure largely due to everyone dealing with the other, more serious emergency. Meanwhile, the lady in question is rescued by Bill Jelly. By 1970s standards it is high drama when a somewhat primitive motor ambulance (with two-tone horns blaring) is seen speeding down a station platform to rendezvous with the Flockton Flyer and remove casualties. Finally the injured lady is identified as a well-known writer and archaeologist, and she agrees to officially open the new nature trail. The exhausted Jan receives no thanks for her efforts, but is criticised for having failed to produce the promised assistance.
1.5 Oo Do You Suppose Will Get the Medal? 16/05/1977 The Bristol Mail has been held up at gunpoint on the mainline, and as the police will take a long time to arrive, the train has been diverted onto the Flockton branch. The episode involves much furious use of the hand-pumped inspection truck by Jelly and the Commander, and a much larger than usual additional cast. These additional roles include not only the three robbers, and the driver of the Bristol Mail, but also a troop of mounted police who have a rousing gallop scene set to classical music (Vaughan Williams' Overture to the Wasps) as they ride into the final scenes to save the day. They find the robbers already thwarted by the Carter family, Bill Jelly, and the Commander. The police are said to have come from 'Nutley', actually the name of the series Producer, Colin Nutley. Some scenes were filmed in Dunster, including views of Dunster Castle.
1.6 I Name This Ship 23/05/1977 The grand opening of the restored Flockton to Lane End Railway. The storyline revolves around two features - firstly the frantic preparations at Flockton for the grand opening, including the provision of refreshments and the arrival of a brass band with an overly nervous conductor in charge - secondly, the desire of Commander Frost to drive the engine (for which he is not qualified) which proves an uncontrollable desire. Having intended to drive the engine along the platform, the Commander finds himself unable to stop the locomotive and moving at speed down the line; ultimately his progress is stopped by Jan and Bill when they arrange a 'controlled' collision to stop the engine. Bill and some railway volunteers arrive on the hand-pumped cart, but a passing quartet of shire horses are needed to pull the Flockton Flyer free of the debris. In the single most serious continuity error of the entire series, during the attempts to recover the crashed locomotive the action returns briefly to Flockton Station where there is a general panic about the whereabouts of the locomotive - unfortunately the engine, complete with its 'Flockton Flyer' headboard, is clearly visible standing at the platform edge behind the characters. Finally the engine is named by Frost's wife, and the band plays Sir Edward Elgar's triumphant Land of Hope and Glory as the first public train pulls away from the station.

Series 2 (1978)

No. Episode Name Broadcast Date Plot Overview
Series Two
2.1 Race You For It 09/01/1978 The 17th Duke of Flockton has died, and his son (now the 18th Duke) reclaims the 4 miles of track previously on loan from his father. This leaves the Society with 8 miles of track in two 4-mile sections, with a big gap in the middle. Bill Jelly proposes the solution - a bet, based on a race between the Flockton Flyer and the Duke's locomotive 'Vulcan'. Vulcan, a more powerful machine, is set to win, until the arrogant Duke celebrates too soon and accidentally hits the regulator shut, allowing the Flockton Flyer to cross the finish line first. Harry Lee, the actual West Somerset Railway driver used in filming, had an acting role in this episode as the Duke's engine driver. In other series-wide plot lines, the Carters have moved from Flockton to a smaller station down the line, as the main station is now required by fare paying passengers. The mother, Kathy, is absent due to two months of study in Canada for her Open University degree (in reality actress Sheila Fearn could not be spared from filming for George & Mildred). Bill Jelly has also moved from his platelayers' hut into a disused passenger coach at the platform of the Carters' new station-home.
2.2 Ready When You Are, Mr Cutley 16/01/1978 The title is a deliberate play on the name of Colin Nutley, series Producer (series 1 & 2) and Director (series 2). With noticeably less railway activity then previous episodes, the plotline revolves around the visit of a filmcrew to make a historical re-enactment of the Indian Mutiny. If the rolling hills of Somerset are a far-fetched 'India', the Great Western Railway pannier tank bears little resemblance to any Indian Railways locomotive, although a number of cosmetic touches were employed, including the fitting of an Indian-style cow-catcher to the front buffer beam, a star emblem to the front of the smoke-box door, and temporary nameplates, renaming the Flockton Flyer as the Star of India. In the two main strands of action, Jan Carter falls in love with dashing young actor Christopher Bell, playing Captain Ponsonby (and in reality played by actor John Moulder-Brown), whilst Bill Jelly (who has a small part as an Indian prince) saves the day when funding runs out, by securing £200,000 from an Arab Sheikh who owes him a favour - a story that nobody will believe until first the money, and then the Sheikh himself, arrive on set. Interestingly, Bob Carter reveals in the dialogue that the railway's facility fee will help open a further 10 miles of the old line, which would take the total length to 24 miles; in reality the West Somerset Railway was hoping to achieve just such an end through the facility fee from allowing filming of the Flockton Flyer, and their total railway length is now 23 miles, with some trains operating the extra mile or so over Network Rail tracks to Taunton. In a comical sub-plot Commander Frost returns from a holiday in Folkestone unaware of the filming contract and repeatedly stumbles into shot, accidentally spoiling shooting; his hints that he might make a good further extra (as a senior British officer) are ignored. The actors rode on a bogie flat truck. This episode was originally intended to be 2.3, but was swapped with 2.2 when the original 2.2 was abandoned and totally re-written (see 2.X, below).
2.3 What a Little Beauty 23/01/1978 The seventeenth and last episode to be written: plans for series 2 were complete when the original 2.2 was dropped (see 2.X below), episode 2.3 became 2.2, and a new 2.3 was written. Commander Frost is finally undertaking training as a steam engine driver, but his ability is limited. His wife Althea joins him on the footplate of the Flockton Flyer in the opening scenes, but Bob Carter is forced to take over when Frost cannot manage even a simple braking manoeuvre. The action takes place away from the railway preservation society's tracks, on the abandoned Nettlecombe branch line. "Should we be here?" asks Mrs Frost. Carter replies that the line is unused, although he has heard a rumour that it may have been privately purchased. Almost at once another locomotive is discovered sitting in a nearby platform. Frost states "What a little cracker", to which Carter adds, "What a little beauty" - giving the episode its title. The owner turns out to be a Chief Petty Officer (retired) who served on the same ship as Commander Frost. CPO Potts has unwittingly become involved in cattle rustling, and the Flockton Flyer (with 4-wheel box van) is used to return all the cows to their rightful owners. Frost also gets extra steam engine driving lessons on the Little Beauty, which is an 0-4-0 Peckett saddle tank engine, real name Whitehead.
2.4 A Question of Honour 30/01/1978 In a simple storyline, the Flockton Flyer (operating the society's regular passenger service) encounters the local hunt, and a row ensues between Bob Carter and the Master of Foxhounds. Bob's bad mood later leads to his falling out with his children and Bill Jelly - the latter immediately packing his bags to move away. The girls seek the intervention of Commander Frost, but he is similarly preoccupied with a war against sparrows in his garden. For the men it is a "matter of honour", but for the women it is mysterious behaviour. Eventually a letter arrives from Kathy Carter in Canada, and a much relieved Bob is able to apologise to Bill Jelly. Meanwhile, an accident leaves the hunt far from any road with an injured horse, and only the Flockton Flyer (with a 4-wheel box van) can assist, by transporting the injured horse and the vet. There follows a general reconciliation of all parties, and a mutual admission of hot-headedness.
2.5 Op It 06/02/1978 Everyone is very busy. Bob and the volunteers have freight deliveries up and down the railway; Jimmy has passed his driving test, and he and Jan are buying a van to establish a removals firm; Bill is preparing for, and then attending, his British Legion reunion dinner; Jack and Althea also have a full diary, although Jack and Jessica meet briefly at the docks. Meanwhile, Jessica, with nothing to do, and nobody to socialise with, meets a young man cleaning his father's boat and hatches a plan. The following morning she stows away on the train, then walks to the docks, and persuades the young man and his father to sail her over to a nearby island which has been a cause of much interest to her. She is subsequently found to be missing and a huge, but fruitless, search ensues. Finally Jack remembers his conversation with Jessica about the island, and Bill recalls a similar discussion; Jack secures a boat and the whole party sails over to the island where the missing Jessica is rediscovered.
2.6 A Little Bit of Somewhere 13/02/1978 In the series finale of what turned out to be the final series, Bob Carter is obliged to make an emergency stop with a service train loaded with passengers, due to a mother and her two children walking on the railway line. The mother is the head of a group of travelling gypsies, though later in the programme she states that she self-identifies as a true Romani. The little group is being moved on from the field in which it is camped and Bob tries to get permission for the group to stay in a field near the Carters' house, owned by the railway - however, the Committee will not countenance the plan. Meanwhile, encouraged by Bill, they simply move in anyway. At the same time Jimmy's very first load of furniture (for his new removals company) is stolen during the night. Despite being accused, it is the gypsies who successfully locate the stolen furniture and recover it, thus saving the day. In a rather obvious adult overtone to the episode there appears to be a romantic attraction between gypsy Sylvia and Bob Carter, whose wife remains away in Canada, studying. The final conclusion is that yet another abandoned branch line (owned by the railway society) is remembered, with a large field at its far end, out of sight of passengers - so the whole gypsy community is loaded onto the bogie flat truck and transported by train to their new home.

Unfilmed episodes

No. Episode Name Broadcast Date Plot Overview
Unfilmed or Abandoned Episodes
2.X (No title) (Not made) In August 1977 cast and crew received initial filming instructions for an episode that was never made. The extant notes reveal that the episode involved a storyline based around the coast, and a stretch of the railway running beside the sea. The plot revolved around Commander Jack Frost and his wife Althea (who had appeared in episode 1.6), and also involved all of the Carters, and a character named Chalky White (who was to be played by a guest actor, but was never cast). Ten scenes were listed to be filmed at Watchet Docks. Props listed included two boats (one the property of Chalky White), a heavy chain, a bicycle, and the Flockton Flyer. The finale of the episode involved an Air Sea Rescue helicopter, and would have been the most ambitious episode yet. However, before filming commenced the entire episode was abandoned, probably due to the production team failing to secure the use of a helicopter.[5] Originally intended to be episode 2.2, it was replaced in the line-up by the original 2.3, whilst a brand new episode 2.3 was hastily written, entitled 'What a Little Beauty'.
Ch.3 The Show Must Go On! (Not made) It is Hallowe'en night, and there is an appropriately ghostly fog. Three actors with Arts Council funding become lost, and are rescued by the Flockton Flyer. This episode was published in the 1977 paperback novel, but (unlike preceding chapters 1 & 2, which together formed episode 1.1) was never filmed.
Ch.4 Christmas Special (Not made) Commander Frost and Bill Jelly fight over the role of Santa Claus, in a storyline about a train service taking children to visit Father Christmas. The title has a double meaning as 'Special' can refer to an extra train service or to an extra seasonal episode of a television series. Published in book form, the episode was never filmed.
Ch.5 Anchors Aweigh! (Not made) In the most overtly political episode, Welsh nationalist protesters, staging an anti-English campaign, resort to kidnap, and Commander Frost is obliged to save the day. There is much maritime activity. Published in book form, this episode was never filmed.
Ch.6 Circus Side-show (Not made) Jan Carter takes centre stage in this episode, falling in love with a young boy from a travelling German circus. There can be no long-term relationship between the English girl and the German boy and in any case disaster strikes when the circus catches fire; although the railway comes to the rescue, and the Flockton Flyer becomes a railway fire engine. Unlike the following chapter 7, which was filmed as episode 1.6, this chapter 6 was only published in book form, and was never filmed.

Characters

Regular cast

Guest appearances

Production notes

DVD release

The rights to "The Flockton Flyer" are now (April 2008) held by Southern Star Group, an Australian media company who also hold the rights to several other Southern TV productions, including "Worzel Gummidge", "Freewheelers" and "The Famous Five".

Under Southern Star's authority, the series was cleared for DVD release in the UK (by Simply Home Entertainment) in early 2009, and pre-orders of the two-DVD set, containing the complete Series One and Series Two, arrived with customers on the release date, 16 March 2009.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "6412 - '64xx' class pannier tank locomotive". (Visiting locomotives). Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  2. ↑ "Is it really 50 years ago?". Wye Valley Railway. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  3. 1 2 "News from January 2009". ("6412 leaves the WSR"). West Somerset Railway. 8 Jan 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  4. ↑ This assumption is made by Alistair McGowan and Nick Jones in 'Flockton Flyer Viewing Notes', published 2009 by Simply Home Entertainment, serial 131410.
  5. ↑ See pages 12-13 of 'Flockton Flyer Viewing Notes', published 2009 by Simply Home Entertainment, serial 131410.
  6. ↑ Flockton Flyer DVD at Play.com, including useful Plot Summary (in customer review!) [Accessed - 2009-01-30]
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