The Flockton Flyer
Encyclopedia
The Flockton Flyer was a children's TV series made by Southern TV for the ITV network. 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. The on-screen title for Series 1 was "The Flockton Flyer" but for Series 2 it had become "Flockton Flyer" after railway enthusiasts pointed out that it is convention that locomotive names do not start with "The". In 2010, reruns of The Flockton Flyer were shown on the now-defunct British satellite television channel Film 24
.
, during 1976 and 1977, that railway also being the owner of the engine used.
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 train
s. No. 6412 was based at Gloucester loco shed 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 and the final 'Chalford Shuttle' autotrain service between Gloucester and Chalford in 1962.
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, 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.
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.
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, 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.
OTHER CAST (by episode number):
SERIES ONE
SERIES TWO
A Production by Southern Television
for ITV
.
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 repeated on The Children's Channel, on cable TV in Britain during the early 1990s. It appears that the programmes were shown on Dutch and German TV stations.
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
".
Film 24 (channel)
Film24 was a British production company and television channel, available on Sky channel 157.The channel averaged around 170,000 viewers a week, for the first five months of 2010, before the channel entered liquidation, it averaged 800,000.-History:...
.
Location
The location filming was done on the newly re-opened West Somerset RailwayWest Somerset Railway
The West Somerset Railway is a railway line that originally linked and in Somerset, England.It opened in 1862 and was extended from Watchet to by the Minehead Railway in 1874. Although just a single track, improvements were needed in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the...
, during 1976 and 1977, that railway also being the owner of the engine used.
The locomotive
The star of the show was the steam locomotiveSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
that gave the series its name. The Flockton Flyer, was, in reality, an ex-Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
0-6-0PT
0-6-0PT
The GWR 0-6-0PT , is a type of steam locomotive built by the Great Western Railway with the water tanks carried on both sides of the boiler, in the manner of panniers. They were used for local, suburban and branch line passenger and goods traffic, for shunting duties, and as banker engines on...
("pannier tank"): 1934-built, 6400 Class
GWR 6400 Class
The Great Western Railway 6400 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive introduced by Charles Collett in 1932. All 40 examples were 'auto-fitted' – equipped with the remote-control equipment needed for working autotrains....
no. 6412. This class was fitted with equipment for working push-pull train
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
s. No. 6412 was based at Gloucester loco shed and, aside from its many years of reliable operation on local branch lines, operated the last passenger train to Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
over the Wye Valley Railway
Wye Valley Railway
The Wye Valley Railway was a standard gauge railway that ran for nearly between Chepstow and Monmouth along the lower part of the scenic Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, Wales, and Gloucestershire, England. It followed the route of the River Wye for most of its length...
in 1959 and the final 'Chalford Shuttle' autotrain service between Gloucester and Chalford in 1962.
After being sold into private ownership for preservation, this locomotive was one of the first on the West Somerset Railway
West Somerset Railway
The West Somerset Railway is a railway line that originally linked and in Somerset, England.It opened in 1862 and was extended from Watchet to by the Minehead Railway in 1874. Although just a single track, improvements were needed in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the...
, 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, and also visited a number of other preserved railways.
Owned by the West Somerset Railway Association, No. 6412 remained on the heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
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
South Devon Railway Trust
The South Devon Railway Trust is a charitable organisation that operates a heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon, alongside the River Dart...
, the new owners.
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.
Introduction
Script writer Peter WhitbreadPeter Whitbread
Peter Bruce Pauling Whitbread was an English actor and screenwriter.He was born in Norfolk, England and educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk....
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, 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
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. 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.
Synopsis
| 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' Platelayer A platelayer or trackman is a railway employee whose job is to inspect and maintain the permanent way of a railway installation.The term derives from the plates used to build plateways, an early form of railway.... 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 Vicar In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant... is called upon to perform an exorcism Exorcism Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed... (the camera remains outside the hut during the 15-minute ceremony due to 1970's ITV ITV ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK... 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 Mounted police Mounted police are police who patrol on horseback or camelback. They continue to serve in remote areas and in metropolitan areas where their day-to-day function may be picturesque or ceremonial, but they are also employed in crowd control because of their mobile mass and height advantage and... 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 Dunster Castle Dunster Castle is a former motte and bailey castle, now a country house, in the village of Dunster, Somerset, England. The castle lies on the top of a steep hill called the Tor, and has been fortified since the late Anglo-Saxon period. After the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century,... . |
| 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 horse Shire horse The Shire horse is a breed of draught horse or draft horse . The breed comes in many colours, including black, bay and grey. They are a tall breed, with mares standing and over and stallions standing and over. The breed has an enormous capacity for weight pulling, and Shires have held the world... s 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 Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos... triumphant Land of Hope and Glory Land of Hope and Glory "Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.- Composition :... as the first public train pulls away from the station. |
| 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 Colin Nutley Colin Nutley is an English director successful in the Swedish film industry.-Career:Nutley went to Portsmouth Art College and began his career in British television as a graphic designer. He then turned to drama and documentary film-making for ITV, BBC and Channel 4... , 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 Sheikh Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"... 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 Network Rail Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland... tracks to Taunton Taunton Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset.... . In a comical sub-plot Commander Frost returns from a holiday in Folkestone Folkestone Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its... unaware of the filming contract and repeatedly stumbles into shot, accidentally spoiling shooting; his hints that he might make a good further extra Extra (actor) A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background... (as a senior British officer) are ignored. The actors rode on a bogie Bogie A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar... flat truck Flatbed truck A flatbed truck is a type of truck which can be either articulated or rigid. As the name suggests, it has an entirely flat, level 'bed' body with no sides or roof... . 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 0-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven... 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 Fox hunting Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current... , 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. |
| 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. 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:- Bob Carter - David NealDavid NealDavid Neal was a popular British television actor, active in the 1960s, 1970, 1980s, and 1990s. He is chiefly remembered for a prolific range of supporting roles in major productions....
- Kathy Carter - Sheila FearnSheila FearnSheila Fearn is a British actress best known for playing Audrey, the sister of Terry Collier in BBC situation comedies The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, and also later on as Ann Fourmile, the next door neighbour in the Thames Television sitcom George and Mildred.On film...
- Commander Frost - Anthony SharpAnthony SharpAnthony Sharp was an English actor cast for roles on television and film principally from the 1950s onwards....
- Jimmy Carter - Peter DuncanPeter Duncan (actor)Peter Duncan is a British actor and television presenter, best known as a former presenter of Blue Peter and for his later family travel documentaries.-Education:...
- Jan Carter - Gwyneth StrongGwyneth StrongGwyneth Strong is an English actress. She is probably best known for her role in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses as Cassandra, who was married to Del Boy's brother Rodney.-Career:...
- Jessica Carter - Annabelle Lanyon (Series 1); Catlin Strong (Series 2)
- Bill Jelly - Geoffrey RussellGeoffrey RussellGeoffrey Russell was a British actor. Russell appeared in a number of films and television dramas, including the 1990 BBC adaptation of The Silver Chair, when he appeared as King Caspian.-External links:**...
- Althea Frost - Margaret Wedlake
OTHER CAST (by episode number):
SERIES ONE
- 1.1 Ted Phillips (Denis Gilmore)
- 1.2 Joe Pratt (John Barrett)
- 1.3 Don Davis (Phil DanielsPhil DanielsPhilip W. "Phil" Daniels is an English actor, most noted for film and television roles as "cockneys" such as Jimmy in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum, Stewart in The Class of Miss MacMichael, Mark in Meantime, Kevin Wicks in EastEnders, DCS Frank Patterson in New Tricks and Edward Kitchener "Ted"...
); Reverend Walker (Stacy Davies) - 1.4 Samantha Peters (Peggyann Clifford)
- 1.5 Toff (Michael RipperMichael RipperMichael Ripper was an English character actor born in Portsmouth.He began his film career in quota quickies in the 1930s and until the late 1950s was virtually unknown; he was seldom credited. He played one of the two murderers in Richard III. Ripper became a mainstay in Hammer Film Productions...
); Eric (Ben Howard); Diesel Driver (Steve Kelly) - 1.6 Mr Jenkins (Dudley Jones)
SERIES TWO
- 2.1 The Duke of Flockton (Patrick MowerPatrick MowerPatrick Mower , whose original name was Patrick Archibald Shaw, is an English actor well known for his many television and occasional film roles, often as a detective or secret agent.-Life:...
) - 2.2 Christopher Bell (John Moulder-Brown); Nolan Cutley (Harry FowlerHarry FowlerHarry James Fowler, MBE is an English actor in film and TV. He started in juvenile roles, most notably in the first recognised Ealing Comedy Hue and Cry, made in 1947...
); Felicity (Penny IrvingPenny IrvingPenny Irving is a former actress and Sun newspaper Page 3 model. She is best remembered for her roles in the 1970s sitcom Are You Being Served? and in the movie adaptation of The Likely Lads .Penny also starred in the cult director Pete...
) - 2.3 C.P.O. Potts (Colin DouglasColin Douglas (actor)Colin Douglas was an English actor. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Douglas was educated at the Farm School in Cumberland...
); Farmer (Thomas HeathcoteThomas HeathcoteThomas Heathcote was a British character actor.He was educated at Bradfield College, near Reading in Berkshire, England. His films included A Night to Remember , Village of the Damned , Billy Budd , A Man for All Seasons , Night of the Big Heat and Quatermass and the Pit...
) - 2.4 Master of Foxhounds (Gerald HarperGerald HarperGerald Harper is an actor, best known for his work on television, having played the title roles in Adam Adamant Lives! and Hadleigh ....
); Vet (Edward UnderdownEdward UnderdownEdward Underdown was an english theatre, cinema and television actor. He was born in London.Early theatre credits include: Words and Music, Nymph Errant, Stop Press and Streamline ....
) - 2.5 Young Man (Christoper Douglas)
- 2.6 Sylvia (Illona Linthwaite)
Production notes
- Written by: – Peter WhitbreadPeter WhitbreadPeter Bruce Pauling Whitbread was an English actor and screenwriter.He was born in Norfolk, England and educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk....
- Theme Music: – Jugg Music
- Film Camera: – Joe Hardy and Peter Greenhalgh (Series 1); Roy Page (Series 2)
- Film Sound: – Stan Phipps
- Dubbing Mixer: – Ron Hussey
- Film Editor: – Christopher Wentzell (Series 1); Michael Hunt (Series 2)
- Design: – John Dilly (Series 1); Gregory Lawson (Series 2)
- Executive Producer: – Lewis Rudd
- Producer (Series 1) and Producer/Director (Series 2): – Colin NutleyColin NutleyColin Nutley is an English director successful in the Swedish film industry.-Career:Nutley went to Portsmouth Art College and began his career in British television as a graphic designer. He then turned to drama and documentary film-making for ITV, BBC and Channel 4...
A Production by Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
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 repeated on The Children's Channel, on cable TV in Britain during the early 1990s. It appears that the programmes were shown on Dutch and German TV stations.
The rights to "The Flockton Flyer" are now (April 2008) held by Southern Star Group
Southern Star Group
Southern Star Group is Australia's largest independent television production and distribution group....
, an Australian media company who also hold the rights to several other Southern TV productions, including "Worzel Gummidge
Worzel Gummidge
Worzel Gummidge is a British children's fictional character who originally appeared in a series of books by the novelist Barbara Euphan Todd. A walking, talking scarecrow, Gummidge has a set of interchangeable turnip, mangel worzel and swede heads, each of which suit a particular occasion or endow...
", "Freewheelers
Freewheelers
Freewheelers is a British television series made by Southern Television between 1968 and 1973. It was the brainchild of television producer Chris McMaster, who was aware of the popularity of adult action series such as The Avengers and Department S amongst teenagers and saw the potential of a...
" and "The Famous Five
The Famous Five (series)
The Famous Five is the name of a series of children's novels written by British author Enid Blyton. The first book, Five on a Treasure Island, was published in 1942....
".
DVD release
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.External links
- Flockton Flyer at Renown Pictures – includes comprehensive plot summary (same as the one at Play.com!)
- IMDB entry – much more detail but appears to be the same plot summary again...
- BFI Film & TV Database entry – not a lot of information here yet! (Jan 2009)
- DVD on Amazon – better picture of sleeve!
- TV-Ark - download of title sequence
- BBFC Classification for DVD release (PG) – includes full list of episode titles