The Titfield Thunderbolt Page #3

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- Come in, Mr Chesterford.

- Thanks a lot, Joe.

- Driver didn't see you, did he?

- I don't think so.

That's the lot.

- Open her out, Ben. May I?

- Steady, now. Steady.

(Train whistle blows)

(Horn honks)

(Whistle blows)

(Whistle blows)

(Horn honks)

(Whistle blows and horn honks)

Faster, Alec. Faster.

(Whistle blows)

(Horn honks)

(Tyres screech, car honks horn)

It's safer by road!

(Whistles blow)

In view of the very grave dangers

of a privately run railway,

I feel the only solution to

the problem is a privately run bus.

Hear, hear!

(Cheering)

(Ruddock) Quiet, please.

All right, so it all boils down

to a question of safety first.

There's no doubting the fact

that the Titfield people as a whole

are somewhat disturbed at the idea

of an amateur-run railway.

I don't know, of course, how many

have...reasons of their own

for opposing it.

I do wish I could be sure

of one impartial view.

I think I can provide that, sir.

As town clerk here,

I am able to keep a close touch

on the pulse of local opinion.

It is my public duty to say

that the opposition does arise

from a genuine doubt

as to whether

these gentlemen

can provide a safe service.

If you decide that they can...

I have recently taken a course

of private tuition as an engine driver.

- I'm learning how to be a guard.

- Where, how and who from?

And who may you be, sir?

The name is Coggett, Mr Coggett.

I'm here to enter a protest

on behalf of the National

Association of Railway Workers.

I see. What is the nature

of your protest, Mr Coggett?

My association would take

a grave view of the proposal

to employ staff in disregard of

the scale of wages for railway workers.

Tell us where we can get some.

We'll use them at full union rates.

My association is not

an employment bureau.

It is concerned only to prevent

the exploitation of cheap labour.

- But we want to be exploited.

- It doesn't matter, brother.

It's what the bosses want

that we're out to stop.

We ARE the bosses.

In our company, there's no quarrel

between capital and labour.

My association will view

any such situation as exploitation.

- (Crowd murmurs)

- Thank you, Mr Coggett.

As an old railwayman myself,

I cannot help sympathising

with those who want to keep

this line in operation.

I see that they're ready

to make every effort

to fit themselves for their duties.

But, in their enthusiasm,

I don't think they realise as clearly

as the rest of the community

what a very big responsibility

it would be.

If I were to grant the order

they've applied for,

I think they might find,

in a few weeks' time,

that they'd taken on more

than they could manage.

I do not feel justified in recommending

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