The Titfield Thunderbolt

The Titfield Thunderbolt
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Charles Crichton
Produced by	Michael Truman
Written by	T.E.B. Clarke
Starring	Stanley Holloway George Relph Naunton Wayne John Gregson Hugh Griffith Gabrielle Brune Sid James
Music by	Georges Auric
Cinematography	Douglas Slocombe
Edited by	Seth Holt
Distributed by	General Film Distributors (UK) Universal-International (USA)
Release date	March 1953
Running time	84 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 British comedy film about a group of villagers trying to keep their branch line operating after British Railways decided to close it. The film was written by T.E.B. Clarke and was inspired by the restoration of the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway in Wales, the world's first heritage railway run by volunteers.

It starred Stanley Holloway, George Relph and John Gregson, and was directed by Charles Crichton. Michael Truman was the producer. The film was produced by Ealing Studios. It was the first Ealing comedy shot in Technicolor and one of the first colour comedies made in the UK.

There was considerable inspiration from the book Railway Adventure by established railway book author L. T. C. Rolt, published in 1952. Rolt had acted as honorary manager for the volunteer enthusiasts running the Talyllyn Railway for the two years 1951-52. A number of scenes in the film, such as the emergency re-supply of water to the locomotive by buckets from an adjacent stream, or passengers being asked to assist in pushing the carriages, were taken from this book.

The residents of the village of Titfield rely on the railway branch line to commute to work and transport their produce to market, so they are shocked when the government announces that the line is to be closed. The local vicar, railway enthusiast Sam Weech (George Relph), suggests that it should be run locally. He and the village squire, Gordon Chesterford (John Gregson), persuade wealthy Walter Valentine (Stanley Holloway) to provide the financial backing by telling him they can legally operate a bar while the train is running, so he will not have to wait for the local pub to open.