Flockton Flyer, The

1 9 7 7 – 1 9 7 8 (UK)
12 x 30 minute episodes

After being evicted from their family car-repair business, the Carters get involved in the re-opening and running of the Flockton to Lane End railway, an old branch line that’s been disused for years.

After the eviction, the Carters set up home at Flockton Station, meeting up with a tramp by the name of Bill Jelly (Geoffrey Russell), who had been living in a trackside hut. In return for being allowed to move into the station, Bob Carter (David Neal) makes an agreement with Commander Frost (Anthony Sharp) – the Chairman of the railway re-opening society – that he’ll get the “Flockton Flyer” (a vintage ex-Great Western locomotive, engine no. 6412) ready for re-opening of the track.

The kids in the Carter family were Jimmy (Peter Duncan pre-Blue Peter), Jan (Gwyneth Strong, who would much later become Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses) and Jessica (Annabelle Lanyon in the first series and then Catrin Strong, Gwyneth’s younger sister, in the second series), a little girl who takes in all the waifs and strays, unruly animals usually put to comic purposes.

By the second series, the Carters had moved downline to Crowcombe station as Flockton station was now in use once again.

Bob Carter
David Neal
Jimmy Carter
Peter Duncan
Jan Carter
Gwyneth Strong
Jessica Carter
Annabelle Lanyon (1)
Catrin Strong (2)
Kathy Carter
Sheila Fearn
Commander ‘Jack’ Frost
Anthony Sharp
Althea Frost
Margaret Wedlake
Bill Jelly
Geoffrey Russell