1 9 6 0 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes 1 9 6 1 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes
This Tuesday afternoon ITV series was based on the children’s novel Danger On The Old Pull ‘N Push by future Wombles creator Elisabeth Beresford and produced by Associated-Rediffusion.
Debuting on 1 November 1960, the series revolved around a little steam engine and the fight by two children – Judith (Waveney Lee, pictured) and Andrew (John Pike) – to keep the single-track (hence “pull” and “push”) railway line between Coudhurst and Mill End from closing.
Other characters included John’s kindly uncle, station master Uncle Horatio (Joe Gibbons), Miss Bunch the gossipy postmistress (Ann Wrigg) and Signor Perelli (Nicholas Amer), a suspicious Italian who was the erstwhile villain in the first series but reformed for the second series.
Also against the railway (initially) was young Simon Hearst (Melvyn Baker), whose father made motor car equipment.
After a disagreement with his father, Simon had a change of heart and decided to back Judith and Andrew.
The series returned in May 1961 as The Return of the Old Pull ‘N Push.
Having saved the railway line, Judith and Andrew now had to find a way to make it pay. Keeping the railway on the right financial track involved the cast in action-packed episodes, with suspense created by an efficiency expert, a jewel theft, some smuggling and a mystery about hush-hush passengers.
Location scenes were shot on the real-life (now defunct) single-track line on the Hawkhurst to Paddock Wood line at Goudhurst in Kent.
The theme tune – written by bandleader Terry Lightfoot and Peter Ling and recorded by Terry Lightfoot’s New Orleans Jazzmen – was adapted from an American railroad tune called The Wreck of the Old ’97.
Judith
Waveney Lee Andrew
John Pike Uncle Horatio
Joe Gibbons Signor Perelli
Nicholas Amer Miss Bunch
Ann Wrigg Simon Hearst
Melvyn Baker Reginald Hearst
Leon Sinden Percy Miller
Michael Collins Sid Miller
Philip Stone Mr Lambkin
Douglas Bradley-Smith Miss Spinks
Rosemary Dorken Neale
Peter Hughes Gerrard
Gerald Harper “Porty” Davenport
George Tovey
Other characters included John’s kindly uncle, station master Uncle Horatio (Joe Gibbons), Miss Bunch the gossipy postmistress (Ann Wrigg) and Signor Perelli (Nicholas Amer), a suspicious Italian who was the erstwhile villain in the first series but reformed for the second series.
