First Great Train Robbery (1978)

Various scenes from the shooting of this film. Locations were around Moate, and in Dublin Heuston and Cork railway stations. It starred GS&WR J15 No.184, with co-star GS&WR J15 No.186. Other stars were Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down.

No.184 in its film guise at Dublin Heuston in May 1978. The early railways tried to reassure first class passengers by painting railway carriages to resemble stagecoaches. The vehicle on the left is a second class. (F. Geraghty)

No.184 disguised as 134 at Heuston station, Dublin. (D. Carse)

Filming in steam.

Filming the rooftop stunts, with Sean Connery in the middle. The tall man on the right is the author and director Michael Crichton.

Setting up a shot.

Castletown Station on the Mullingar-Athlone line during the filming. (R. Newman)

17/5/1978: Tender-first through Castletown returning from a shoot. (R. Newman)

20/5/1978: Sean Connery on the carriage roof between Moate and Castletown. (C.P. Friel)

20/5/1978: Sean Connery approaching the van with the bullion. (C.P. Friel)

21/5/1978: Sean Connery in the breakfast queue at Castletown. (C.P. Friel)

21/5/1978: At Castletown driver Morgan D'Arcy gets his book autographed. (C.P. Friel)

21/5/1978: Script conference at Castletown, with actors Michael Elphick, Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and author/director Michael Crichton. (C.P. Friel)

21/5/1978: At Castletown, cameraman Gordon Hayman, Donald Sutherland, Michael Elphick, Sean Connery, Michael Crichton - rigging camera platforms on rear van. (C.P. Friel)

21/5/1978: At Castletown, Donald Sutherland and Sean Connery rehearse the bullion drop. (C.P. Friel)

21/5/1978: Sean Connery (sitting) is taking directions. The sheepskin with the white fringe belongs to producer Tony Waye. Michael Crichton is at the back. (R. Bramley)

21/5/1978: Early on a Sunday morning and No.184 in full flight, filming the bullion drop about a mile east of Castletown.

21/5/1978: Setting up a polystyrene signal arm near Castletown. (C.P. Friel)

21/5/1978: An afternoon shot just west of Moate. Society volunteer Sullivan Boomer is sitting on the tender. Joe Byrne, Morgan D'Arcy, Eamon Lacken are the crew on the footplate. (R. Bramley)

22/5/1978: Sean Connery at van door, leaving Castletown for bullion drop. (C.P. Friel)

22/5/1978: No.184 roars up to 76th Mile Box - Sean Connery on roof. (C.P. Friel)

23/5/1978: Sean Connery talks to partly hidden chief cameraman Geoffrey Unsworth at Ashford aka Moate. (C.P. Friel)

23/5/1978: No.184 and train stationary at Moate. (C.P. Friel)

23/5/1978: The cameraman setting up a shot at Moate. (C.P. Friel)

23/5/1978: Drivers Morgan Darcy and Joe Byrne with other cast at Moate. (C.P. Friel)

11//6/1978. Leaving Limerick Junction en route to Cork. Locomotive No.186 (at front in photograph) took a break from filming to participate in the RPSI "South Wexford" railtour with locomotive No.4. (B. Pickup)