Where Are The Railway Children Cast Now?
Now nearly fifty years after the film was released – we’re feeling old too – where are The Railway Children now?
Since it was first published in 1905, Edith Nesbit’s The Railway Children has spawned three television series, two films and many plays. But the British classic will always be remembered for that scene at Oakworth station, the one where Roberta’s father emerges through the steam of a departing train.
I mean, I’m sure everybody can recall sobbing when the young Jenny Agutter is reunited with her father.
I’ve got a lump in my throat even just thinking about it:
“Daddy, my Daddy!”
Oh, here I go again…
So, what are the 1970 cast up to now? Put it this way, the ever-so-innocent child centred cast are not so childlike anymore!
Bernard Cribbins
Source/My Reviewer
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The film wouldn’t have been the same without Cribbins, the Station Porter. Everyone’s favourite comedian narrated The Wombles, a BBC children’s television programme that ran for 60 episodes between 1973 and 1975.
He also played the pretentious guest Mr. Hutchinson in “The Hotel Inspectors” episode of Fawlty Towers (1975).
He doesn’t stop there! The belligerent barman in Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy (1972) was another character that was plentiful of laughs.
In 2014 he was awarded the J.M. Barrie award for his “lasting contribution to children’s arts”. Well deserved!
A very happy 90th birthday to the legendary Bernard Cribbins. pic.twitter.com/vWUXDUNC9i
— Doctor Who News (@DoctorWhoNews) December 29, 2018
Source/Twitter
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Jenny Agutter (OBE)
Known for playing Roberta ‘Bobbie’ Waterbury, the oldest of the three “Railway Children”, Jenny made her first big break in the 1970 film.
Source/ Yahoo
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The next year, Hollywood called and she spent several years there, appearing in films including BBC Play of the Month: The Cherry Orchard (1971), Walkabout (1971) and The Snow Goose (1971) with Richard Harris, for which she received an Emmy Award. It really was her big break!
In the 1990s, she concentrated mainly on television, with roles in TECX (1990); Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less (1990); Red Dwarf (1988). If you haven’t been on Red Dwarf, have you even made it? Nah.
More recently, Jenny has appeared in Avengers Assemble and on the TV Series Call the Midwife as Sister Julianne.
Period Drama TV gives us complex characters who are often invisible in pop culture, or used as objects of horror: the older woman. #CTM showcases the dignity and grace of aging and the beauty of female friendship. https://t.co/8pJfYIHr1L
— PeriodDramaMen (@DramaMen) May 15, 2019
Source/Twitter
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Sally Thomsett
Actress, Sally Thomsett famously blagged her way into the role of 11-year-old Phyllis despite being 20-years-old at the time of filming. She was then forbidden to reveal her age during production. Could she still blag her way now? Most probably not, no…
Source/IMDB
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After shooting to fame, she played Jo in the TV sitcom, Man About the House (1973–76) and appeared in the film, Straw Dogs (1971).
Source/Yahoo
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Gary Warren
Source/Yahoo
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After playing (cute) little Peter Waterbury, Gary also played Cedric Collingford (“Owl Face”) in the TV series Catweazle (1971) and Taplow (the troublemaking pupil) in Whacko.
He then appeared in the sitcom Alexander the Greatest (1971) and played Mame’s nephew in the West End musical Mame starring Ginger Rogers.
Not so little anymore, huh? In 1970, he released a single musical recording with two songs: “Lucky Guy” and “Jennifer Please”. Nope, definitely not little anymore.
Source/Tumblr
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Dinah Sheridan
Source/Sky News
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The Railway Children didn’t make her, she made The Railway Children. The actress – a quintessential English rose – was an established actress way before her performance as Mrs Waterbury.
She broke into films at age 16 and appeared in such films as Irish and Proud of It (1938) until her momentum was interrupted by WWII.
Only appearing in one more film, Dinah appeared in the 1980’s Miss Marple mystery The Mirror Crack’d.
Her last screen appearance was in an episode of ‘Jonathan Creek’ in 1999. She sadly died in 2012.
Source/Mirror
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