Train of Events

A Liverpool-bound train leaves London Euston shortly after the Second World War, beginning its northbound journey. The night scene is quiet until a lantern flickers by the track, signaling danger to the driver. He applies the brakes, but a stalled road tanker across a level crossing looms ahead, and the action fades to three days earlier.

Philip learns of his estranged wife's infidelity during a visit aboard the train. The tension sparks his desire for revenge as the drama unfolds around the party heading to Canada. The danger is hinted at as the coach atmosphere tightens with secret resentments.

In a moment of chilling violence, Philip strangles his wife while a song plays on the gramophone. The body is hidden away in a costume hamper among the luggage, staying hidden from most of the passengers. Detectives have been tracking him and are on the train, closing in.

Detectives move through the carriages as the murder on board haunts the journey toward Canada. The tension doubles as they search for the killer among the festive passengers. The crew keeps moving, trying to maintain calm despite the danger.

Richard and Ella are on the run after the war, living in misery in seedy lodgings they call home. Ella hopes they can start anew abroad, away from their grim present. They dream of emigrating together, seeking safety and a fresh start.

Ella steals money from their landlady to pay their fare, realising there is only enough for one to emigrate. She resolves that if only one can leave, it should be Richard, displaying her selfless devotion. The plan to depart abroad tightens the emotional stakes.

Raymond Hillary, a noted composer, travels with his star pianist Irina and a troupe of musicians toward a concert. The mood is tense beneath the polished surface, reflecting Raymonds history of affairs and Irina being the latest in line. The journey foreshadows conflicts behind their musical partnership.

Engine driver Jim Hardcastle faces a career crossroads as he pursues a management job at the locomotive sheds. He longs to swap the footplate for office hours, a move his wife supports. The potential promotion heightens the risk he faces should secrets come to light.

To cover for his daughter's future husband, who had been knocked out during a failed attempt to resign, Jim covers his mate's shift. The ruse includes moving a fish wagon that was attached to a locomotive destined for Macclesfield, a scheme Jim keeps secret to protect his friend's future. If the truth surfaces, Jim could lose the promotion he seeks.

Back to the present night, the lantern and the looming tanker signal danger as the collision finally erupts. The derailed train shatters the silence and lies ruined along the line. Passengers scramble through the wreckage, shocked by the sudden catastrophe.

Jim regains consciousness amid piles of coal and twisted metal. He helps other survivors as they stumble through the wrecked cars. Among the chaos, Richard is found, while Ella lies gravely injured on a stretcher and dies soon after.

Philip attempts a break for freedom, but as he nears the wreckage an unstable coach collapses onto him. The attempt to slip away ends in tragedy under the fractured train. The collision reveals the reach of fate as the truth about his crime nears light.

Irina and Raymond emerge bruised from the wreck, yet their music company survives the disaster. They regroup with the other musicians, continuing the concert spirit even as the train lies ruined. The performers endure, underscoring the resilience of art amid catastrophe.

There is a hopeful note for Jim as he waves goodbye to his wife and cycles toward the locomotive sheds. He starts his first day in the new job with a sense of renewed purpose. The night of tragedy gives way to a quietly optimistic future.