The Railway Children Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett and Gary Warren

Jenny Agutter has had a very successful acting career which has included films such as 'Walkabout', 'Logan's Run' and 'The Eagle Has Landed'. In 2000 she played the role of Mrs. Waterbury in a well-received ITV production of 'The Railway Children'. Sally Thomsett starred in the TV sitcom 'Man About the House', which ran between 1973-76.

Not long after this she gave up acting to become a housewife. Gary Warren featured on television shows during the 1970s, but he also retired from acting and moved to Canada.

Answer: Dinah Sheridan and Iain Cuthbertson

Both Dinah Sheridan and Iain Cuthbertson are solid British actors. Dinah Sheridan starred in the film 'Genevieve', a story about two couples travelling from London to Brighton in vintage cars. Iain Cuthbertson sadly passed away in 2009, and can be remembered starring alongside Sigourney Weaver in 'Gorillas in the Mist'.

Answer: Three Chimneys

Three Chimneys is a chilly old cottage with worn stone steps leading up to the front door. Thick curtains line the windows and doors to ward off as much of the cold as possible. The cottage is enclosed by a stone wall and wooden fence, with a wild garden for the children to play. In the film you can see Peter running to the nearby home of Doctor Forrest to get help. The house used for this scene is actually called 'The Parsonage', and is the former home of the Bronte sisters, famous for literary works such as 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Jane Eyre'.

Answer: Oakworth

You can often see the children leaving the cottage and running across a buttercup strewn meadow which backs on to the railway line. They follow the line to nearby Oakworth station, which was originally opened in 1867. During the film, you can clearly see old gas lights on the platform, and a wooden railing displaying advertising signs for Virol and Old Calabar.

At the end of the platform is the railway crossing, and next to this is the cottage belonging to the station porter.

Answer: Perks

Albert Perks is a proud, yet kindly porter who lives with his wife Nell and their children in the railway cottage next to the station. Bernard Cribbins plays the part of Perks to perfection, starting out very gruff and slightly comical, but then showing a warm affection towards the children as the film progresses.

Answer: "Look out at the station"

The children are concerned when their mother becomes ill, and they ask the old gentleman for help. After he sees the sign on the bed sheet, he reaches Oakworth station only to find Phyllis waiting with a note. Not long after, a hamper of food is delivered to Three Chimneys cottage. William Mervyn plays the part of the old gentleman in the film.

He can also be remembered as the voice behind the TV advert, "Kiplings....makes exceedingly good cakes".

Answer: Modern electric cables can be seen overhead.

The electric cables can be seen during the scenes that follow the landslide. The cables run alongside the railway track and the viewer can catch a glimpse of them when the children are waving their red petticoats, and as the train approaches. Other bloopers can be seen throughout the film. These include seeing modern concrete sleepers, a white car and an aeroplane vapour trail across the sky. All of these are not possible as the film is set in the early part of the 1900s.

Answer: Jim

Doctor Forrest treats young Jim, and it is agreed that the boy spends the rest of his time convalescing at Three Chimneys. The children spend a lot of time with Jim, reading and playing games to help alleviate any signs of boredom. Jim's grandfather pays a visit, much to the delight of the children, as they discover he is the old gentleman on the train. Bobbie has a quiet talk with the old gentleman about her father, and asks for his help once again.

Answer: "Daddy, my daddy!"

Throughout the film we see Bobbie trying to act like an adult by looking after her siblings, and saving everyone from disaster. At the end of the film she is suddenly back to the little girl who has missed her daddy. Surely nobody can keep a dry eye after that superbly acted scene?

Answer: Lionel Jeffries

Lionel Jeffries became a very successful British actor, normally playing comedy roles such as Grandpa Potts in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. During the 1970s, he turned his talents to writing and directing children's films, including 'The Railway Children' and 'The Amazing Mr. Blunden'.