Steeltown Murders: Why BBC drama has upset trainspotters

Viewers of BBC drama Steeltown Murders has upset trainspotters - who noticed the wrong model of train appearing in the background.

The true crime drama, starring Philip Glenister, is set in Port Talbot in South Wales in 1973 when the community was shaken by the murder of three teenage girls: Sandra Newton, Geraldine Hughes and Pauline Floyd.

The drama used CGI to show a train passing along the railway line behind one of the streets in the Welsh coastal town.

Read more: Steeltown Murders: The true story behind the harrowing BBC crime drama

But the large logo featured on the engine meant the train featured was a British Rail Class 56, not introduced until 1976.

One viewer tweeted: "BBC at it again! Who cares if the trains are right in historical dramas? A large logo 56 in 1973 in #Steeltownmurders , and the double arrow is back to front! The arrow was the right way round later when the (CGI) train was going the other way. #getthetrainsright"

Another said: "#SteeltownMurders was good, but the wrong logo on the train completely ruined it for me and I will never watch the BBC again"

And one posted: "And thats the second time we've seen a Class 56 in Large Logo in South Wales in 1973. Its beginning to grate.... #SteeltownMurders"

Another exclaimed: "A Class 56? With wraparound yellow ends? In 1973? #SteeltownMurders"

The BBC drama is set over two time periods, 1973 and 2002, as it follows the investigation from its initial stages to the breakthrough police had using DNA technology that would see them finally find the culprit three decades after the murders.

Glenister previously starred as 1970s cop Gene Hunt in Life On Mars sequel Ashes to Ashes.

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He said: "I haven’t played a policeman since Gene Hunt in Ashes to Ashes. I am so aligned with that role, so it’s really — not to use the word exciting, but — I wanted to play another policeman, and this was totally the opposite to Gene Hunt in many respects.”

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