How can a train disappear on an open track between two stations eight miles apart? That is the mystery at the center of the short story "The Lost Special" (1908) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Escape's version of the "The Lost Special" makes a few changes to the story, but it is a well-executed radio adaptation. If you are interested in reading the orginal work, it is available online as a Gaslight e-text.
The story begins at the railway station in Liverpool where a man named Monsieur Caratel, recently arrived from Central America and on his way to France, has asked to hire a special train to London. The station agent, Mr. Bland, makes the arrangments and soon Caratel and his bodyguard are on their way.
Reports from the railway stations along the route indicate that everything is running smoothly, but somewhere between the stations at Kenyon Junction and Barton Moss, the train disappears.
Inspector Collins, an agent from Scotland Yard, is called in by Mr. Bland to determine what happened to the missing train and why.
"The Lost Special" was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield with editorial supervision by John Dunkel. Norman MacDonnell produced/ directed and Ben Wright starred as Inspector Collins. Also appearing were Parley Baer, John Dehner, Edgar Barrier, Lawrence Dobkin, and Paul Frees. This episode aired on February 12, 1949.
. Download escape_1949.02.12_The Lost Special.mp3
Suspense presented "The Lost Special " starring Orson Welles on September 30, 1943. For more information about their version and this formerly lost episode visit Rand's Esoteric OTR.
(Image from Morguefile.com)
(Rev. 10/17/08)
Not a bad episode. The original story was included in French editions of Sherlock Holmes at one time, as a sort of "lost" Holmes story.
Posted by: Mike Hobart | February 12, 2008 at 02:13 AM
And this hit the airwaves again on 12 February 2008 when it was aired on "When Radio Was" last week.
http://www.whenradiowas.com
Posted by: Mike Hobart | February 17, 2008 at 03:27 PM
That's interesting. I think this particular story was an unusual choice for Escape. The original work doesn't have a lot of dialogue, and it isn't the kind of written work that is easily adapted for radio. Yet, they did a good job of it. - Christine
Posted by: cmillinsf | February 17, 2008 at 04:49 PM