Phil Collins goes train robbing in the Midlands
midlandsmovies • June 16, 2020
Phil Collins goes train robbing in the Midlands
With a brand-new remastered edition of Buster coming to BluRay this month, we take a look back at the 80s film and its unlikely production connection with the Midlands region.
The British comedy Buster was a surprisingly controversial film when it was released in 1988 where musician Phil Collins starred as real-life Great Train Robber Buster Edwards.
Accused of glamorising crime – which resulted in Prince Charles and Diana avoiding the premiere, at Collins’ advice no less – it also featured a famous soundtrack with two huge hit singles. Written by Collins, "Loco in Acapulco" was performed by the Four Tops and his own performance of his track "Two Hearts" even received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
The film played loosely with facts and transformed Edwards into a loveable rogue who, in 1960s Britain, worked as part of an East End gang who robbed a Royal Mail train of £2.6 million. But Edwards, along with a number of his counterparts, subsequently fled abroad to avoid the authorities, and for a time lived the life of riley off the proceeds.
And in the film, the real Buster Edwards in fact plays a small cameo seen walking out of an airport with his girlfriend, played by Phil Collins’ wife (!). Not the most subtle rebuttal of criminal behaviour.
Yet with strong support from the likes of Julie Walters, Larry Lamb and Sheila Hancock, the film was a success. But although the film’s exciting train robbery scenes are set in the real location of the heist in Buckinghamshire, it was in fact shot in the Midlands on the Great Central Railway.
The Great Central Railway (GCR) is a heritage railway in Leicestershire and is named after the company that originally built the stretch of railway. Running for just over 8 miles between Loughborough and the north of Leicester, the track provided a perfect location to recreate the retro heist.
With period signalling, locomotives and rolling stock, it’s the only double track mainline heritage railway in the world giving it even more realism for films set in the past.
The GCR’s website explains how it has “an extensive collection of steam and diesel locomotives, passenger carriages, freight wagons – even a post office train”. Perfect for the robbery in Buster in fact!
Filmed at Swithland Sidings, the original type of locomotive involved in the Great Train Robbery had been withdrawn from service and scrapped by the time of filming. A sister locomotive D306 (40106) had also been withdrawn but had been preserved by enthusiasts on the GCR.
“But I’ve never heard of it” I can hear you say. Never heard of it? Well, we bet you have seen a film or TV series situated on the railway line at some point. TV’s The Crown has scenes set on the line whilst Ricky Gervais’ Cemetery Junction (2009) significantly featured the track and its stations.
Control (2007) which was also filmed partly in Nottingham had a number of scenes on the GCR and other films made on the line include The Hours (2002) with Nicole Kidman, Enigma (2001) and Shadowlands (1994) with Anthony Hopkins.
Again, bringing it back to the Midlands, the recent 2018 biographical comedy-drama Stan & Ollie about the lives of double-act Laurel and Hardy was partly filmed in Birmingham theatres, but its train station scenes were again filmed on this adaptable historical railway.
Fancy a visit in the future? Well, each of the stations between Loughborough and Leicester have plenty of additional attractions at each location. Loughborough has a café, emporium, retail outlet, ticket office, Loco Shed and museum. Quorn has a café, turntable and restored cattle docks. Rothley has a miniature railway, the C & W works and a café. And Leicester North has a platform café and here you can see the train change ends.
A filmmaker yourself and want to use the line? Well, it’s not too much of a stretch and you could get the chance to film on diesel locomotives, railcars and modern carriages, as well as those that were used in the 50s, 60's and 70s. Shoots could also include other additions seen on the line including over and under bridges, a level crossing, a tunnel and cuttings and embankments.
Please call to arrange a visit to the railway on 01509 632 315 or email at filming@gcrailway.co.uk
Back to Buster however. In the end, it mostly avoided a critical mauling and we can only wonder what would have happened if Phil Collins-lookalike Bob Hoskins, the actor the production originally had in mind, had taken on the role. But it was Collins, who was in fact a childhood actor who had attended the Barbara Speake Stage School and appeared on a stage version of Oliver as the Artful Dodger, who surprisingly nailed the role.
Especially since he gave up acting as a young man after saying he knew he was a better drummer than he was an actor!
Buster: The Special Digitally Remastered Edition is available on BluRay from the end of June 2020
Michael Sales
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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