Stills Work

Period-style still photography

We have two stations which have been restored into different colour schemes, to help the setting and atmosphere of your shots. Our first (larger) station has been restored into 1880-1930s period, and can represent a mainline Victorian or Edwardian station, with an impressive front canopy, tall ceilings with period gas type light fittings both inside and along the station platforms.

The station has many of its original Victorian features, including coal fires, waiting rooms, tall doors, a grand ticket office and ticket window, complete with brass change dish, while outside the long platform has a tree lined vista opposite and leads the eye to the period signalbox, while looking up the track to the approaching or departing train.

We also have a smaller station, representing the small branch line station that used to be common throughout the country. It is set at the top of a sweeping Station Approach road, and has been accurately restored into 1940-1970’s period, but which has a timeless feel that has been used to represent a modern station. This station has a smaller cosy booking hall, ticket office and even a small Ladies Waiting Room. Outside are two platforms, which can have trains move in either direction, and a working signalbox, from which the signalman controls the trains.

One platform can accommodate 6 coach trains, and the other is shorter 4 coaches. Additionally there is also a bay platform to one side, where a connecting branch line train can be positioned and a shunting area, where engineering or goods wagons can be placed. There are long views up the track in both directions, a footbridge connecting the main platforms and the station has semaphore signals at the end of many of the platforms.

The station has unspoilt countryside vistas to 3 sides, and a fully operational level crossing at one end of the station, complete with white swinging gates, which is not on a public highway, allowing for complete control over the scene without needing to apply for road closures.

At both stations we have all the fixtures and fittings that you would expect of a railway to help you dress your shot, including sack barrows, period luggage, parcels weighing scales and platform benches. As well as crews to operate the trains, we can also provide staff in period dress, and are happy to help with a few words of friendly advice or even work in conjunction with your team to assist with historical accuracy.

To act as a backdrop, or indeed set of their own, we have a range of trains, including:

Large Steam engines, from the 1930’s onwards
Small shunting steam engines, as used in many industrial settings
Mainline diesel locomotives from the 1950’s onwards, as both used on primary and secondary routes
Smaller shunting diesel locomotives as used in many stations from the 1950’s-1980’s
British Railways 1950s coach, open saloon
British Railways 1960s coach, open saloon with tartan design and headrests
British Railways 1970’s coaches, with both first and second class compartments, iconic of travel in days gone by
Network South East 1980-90’s coach, open saloon
Network South East / Connex Suburban Unit, complete with tube and connection maps on the walls and modern fittings
Southern type electric multiple unit, straight out of service on the mainline, with both open and enclosed saloons.
A first class coach with buffet, that has come straight out of service on the mainline
A standard class coach, full length that has come straight out of service on the West Coast / Great Western mainlines
British Railways 1950-1980s diesel railcar (diesel multiple units), one end restored into 1960s, the other in 1980s.
Other items of rolling stock can easily be sourced within our many contacts in the industry and with our new unloading facility can easily be transported, please enquire with your requirements

With over 6 miles of railway, we are sure to be able to offer a lineside scene to suit most assignments. The line passes over and under a number of bridges, from single arch types, through to our 5-arch viaduct. Despite being in Essex, the branch runs through both rolling farmland, with occasional farm buildings, and through deciduous forest and is by no means flat! Our line is quite steep in places, and so locomotives can be seen hard at work, emphasising the drama of your shot. As well as curves, uniquely we also have two locations where the line is dead straight, meaning the atmosphere can be built by seeing the train appropriately framed or inter-relationship with the rails. One of these is level and the other the train can be seen working up the steep incline.

As well as the pictures shown above, you can see some of our Past Projects that have been filmed at Railway for Hire.