Enola Holmes was partly filmed at SVR:

Last year, the Severn Valley Railway hosted a star-studded 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 steam locomotive No 2857 and several vintage carriages, all of which are currently in use on the railway as part of 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.

Locomotive No 2857 as seen in Enola Holmes. Picture: Lewis Maddox

He 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 into fictional locations 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!”

Helen Smith, general manager added: “I must admit to closing my eyes in one scene where one of our precious carriages appears to suffer some serious damage, and all I can say is thank goodness for special effects!”

Filming for Enola Holmes at the SVR took place between Kidderminster and Arley in July 2019 and that section of the line was closed to the public.

Kidderminster Town became Basilwether station, with parts of the concourse repainted into maroon. The buildings at Arley were repainted green, and the station was renamed as Ferndell.

Enola Holmes is based on a spin-off series of novels about Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister, and has just been released on the Netflix streaming service.

Of course, this isn't the first time SVR's stations, engines and stations have been used as backdrops in cinema releases and on the small screen.

Films to have featured include live action Disney film Candleshoe (1977) with David Niven ending up being sandwiched between one of SVR locomotive’s buffers and a Rolls-Royce!

There followed, among others, the 1978 production of The Thirty Nine Steps, The Elephant Man (1980), The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (1995), the Robert Downey Junior blockbuster Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (2014) and The Black Prince (2016).

The Sherlock Holmes movie includes a scene at Victoria Bridge, where Holmes pushes Dr Watson's wife, Mary, from the train as it crosses the bridge

Filming of the bridge and its environs was done from a crane jib mounted on a flat truck propelled by a diesel; the steam train and falling body were later added by CGI.

IN 1978 the film A Man Called Intrepid used the SVR for location shots

Appearances on television include (as you might expect in the first instance) Miss Marple, The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Oh, Doctor Beeching!, ChuckleVision, Cider With Rosie, Goodnight Mister Tom, Doctors and, last year, Father Brown.