My Dear Palestrina (1980)

On 16th July 1980 No.171 and train spent a day at Poyntzpass to film for a BBC2 Playhouse production "My Dear Palestrina". Some of the passengers got parts as extras! Whitehead - Belfast York Road - Antrim - Lisburn - Poyntzpass. Poyntzpass - Bridge 200 - Poyntzpass (wrong line working). Poyntzpass - Lisburn - Antrim - Belfast York Road - Whitehead.

Lisburn - No.171 and train have run from Whitehead via Antrim.

The train has arrived at Poyntzpass and the locals seem to be plentiful even though it was mid-week!

The train had to shunt to the Down platform to allow the Up Enterprise with Hunslet 102 to overtake.

The film camera is set up beneath the GNR(I) signal cabin.

Inside the cabin, with No.171 going over the crossing. The typical gate wheel is well illustrated. (B. Pickup)

To the great disgust of the footplate crew, they had to set off on a number of false starts with the drain cocks open to produce clouds of steam - for 'atmosphere'.

Another start and a wrong road run out to Bridge 200 so the station 'leaving' could be completed.

No.171 runs round to prepare for the run back to Whitehead.