Career
Born in Plymouth, Devon, Train was on British Broadcasting Corporation radio in many productions, but his characters in the British Broadcasting Corporation series ITMA (lieutenant"s That Manitoba Again) with Tommy Handley gave him fame. He appeared in several British films, none top-rated. In ITMA, the wartime comedy show, he created Colonel Chinstrap, a pickled former Indian Army officer who perpetually believed he was being offered a drink, replying: "I don"t mind if I do".
Chinstrap was based on a real person.
The arrival said: "John, I"ve just done the most marvellous piece of business. I"ve bought a water heater on 10 years" hire purchase and what the gas company don"t know is that I am drinking myself to death." lieutenant was not difficult for Train to turn him into Colonel Chinstrap, actors being encouraged to create characters from experience.
When the man heard the show he failed to recognise himself but commented: "Wonderful character. I knew silly buggers like that in India." And then, nine years and five months after the first meeting, Snagge sent Train a telegram: THE COLONEL BEAT THE GAS COMPANY BY SEVEN MONTHS. He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1957 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the British Broadcasting Corporation Television Theatre.
Train made two cameo appearances in The Goon Show as Colonel Chinstrap.{cf: The Shifting sands of Waziristan Ser.
7 broadcast 24/1/1957} He was also a regular panellist on the popular radio quiz show Twenty Questions. He died in London on 19 December 1966.
