Severn Valley Railway hosts Sherlock’s sister
THE Severn Valley Railway plays an important role in the latest film release on Netflix, Enola Holmes.
Last year, the SVR hosted a starstudded cast including Millie Bobbie Brown, Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin, during an intensive three days of filming.
The film showcases Kidderminster and Arley stations, along with No 2857, a Great Western 2800 Class heavy goods locomotive built in 1918, and several vintage carriages, all of which are currently in use on the railway as part of its regular services.
Filming took place in July 2019, under extremely tight security. Duncan Ballard, the SVR’S contracts manager, made arrangements for the production company and was lucky to get close to all the action.
Duncan said, “We were sworn to secrecy about the whole project, although it caused quite a stir when the film crew was here. It was exciting to see the stations transformed for the film. Although they look a little different on camera, they are clearly recognisable as ‘ours’. The production company chose to use locomotive 2857 because it had exactly the look they were after, and our ‘toplight’ carriages also fitted in well with their plans.
“Catching a glimpse of the actors was definitely a thrill. The SVR has hosted many film and TV crews over the years, but you can’t help being impressed when so many top Hollywood stars come to Kidderminster!”
Enola Holmes is based on a spinoff series of novels about Sherlock Holmes’s younger sister by American author Nancy Springer, and has just been released on the Netflix streaming service.
The railway is operating at weekends and throughout half term week in October, and tickets can be booked at svr.co.uk. Arley station, which is featured in the film, is currently closed to the public, but can be seen by passengers as they travel through.