Our Railway on BBC 1 Next Week

[nferguso]

Good evening,

Next week, BBC1 will be showing a new drama series called Five Days 2 which includes many scenes filmed on our line.

The BBC Press office link can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/y9eatlh (http://tinyurl.com/y9eatlh) and you will notice a certain familiar train.

Filming took place last August and we played host to several well-known actors including Anne Reid (Corrie's Valerie Barlow), Suranne Jones (Corrie's Karen McDonald) and Bernard Hill (Boys from the Black Stuff, Titanic, Lord of the Rings... need I go on?). Meanwhile, the cinamatographer was one Stephan Pehrsson who has credits for Hustle, Holby Blue, M.I. High and Bad Girls.

I still think that we should be putting big W I R K S W O R T H sign (Strapline "At least we're not Matlock") over Bolehill!

I shall be in my trailer...

Neil

[Stella]

This is exciting news, Neil. I look forward to seeing you and the railway on the telly.

[nferguso]

Thank you Stella! The definitive press release has just been published and I have included its text below:


Wirksworth on National Television AGAIN!
Rail-Based Drama “Five Days 2” Airs on BBC1 in Early March


Wirksworth, 22nd February 2010: The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is featuring once again on national television when BBC1 airs the drama Five Days 2 nightly at 9:00p.m. from 1st to 5th March.

A gripping five-part mystery produced by Gwyneth Hughes (Five Days, Miss Austen Regrets, Cherished) for BBC Drama is set around an intriguing plot: A tiny newborn baby is abandoned in the toilets of a Yorkshire hospital. At the same time, the Trans-Pennine commuter train is halted by a suicidal jumper – are they connected?

“Filming at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is like having your own giant train set. All the staff understand the filming process and are willing to go that extra mile for you to get the perfect shot” remarked Andy Morgan, the BBC’s location manager.

The Trans-Pennine train has been provided by the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and follows several major productions for TV and cinema that have used the railway’s RailFilmLocations.biz facilities. Formed in 2004, RailFilmLocations.biz specialises in providing rail vehicles and appropriate locations along the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for film and TV productions which have included Casualty, The ITV Drama ‘Mobile’ and several big screen productions including ‘Oranges and Sunshine’, a film addressing one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the organised deportation of children in care from the United Kingdom to Australia.

Stephan Pehrsson, the shoot’s cinematographer with credits as diverse as the BBC’s Hustle, Holby Blue and M.I. High complemented the railway’s facilities: “I had a great time filming on the train, the staff was very helpful and managed to keep us all safe around the big machines. We did some great scenes there that would have been impossible to do anywhere else.”

RailFilmLocations.biz continues to expand its facilities at Wirksworth and as the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway moves toward opening its entire length to Duffield, just north of Derby, the range of scenery and locations available will continue to expand, allowing a range from gritty, modern urban to picture postcard rural.

The RailFilmLocations.biz team can be contacted on 01629 821828 or by email at wirksworth_station@wyvernrail.co.uk (http://www.wirksworth.net/forum/wirksworth_station@wyvernrail.co.uk).




Ends.




Note to Editors:
Four high-quality digital images are available to download:
http://www.e-v-r.com/press/fd001.jpg (http://www.e-v-r.com/press/fd001.jpg) depicts Anne Reid (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies) and Suranne Jones (Coronation Street, Vincent, The Sarah Jane Adventures) filming a scene on one of the railway’s trains.

http://www.e-v-r.com/press/fd002.jpg (http://www.e-v-r.com/press/fd002.jpg) depicts Anne Reid and Suranne Jones at Wirksworth Station, dressed as West Yorkshire station ‘Castlebury’

http://www.e-v-r.com/press/fd3.jpg (http://www.e-v-r.com/press/fd3.jpg) depicts two young actors alongside the railway’s sylvan location.

http://www.e-v-r.com/press/fd4.jpg (http://www.e-v-r.com/press/fd4.jpg) depicts the film crew in operation on the railway line

About the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway:
WyvernRail plc is working with the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association to reopen the Duffield to Wirksworth railway in the heart of Derbyshire.
The line passes through the beautiful Ecclesbourne Valley to the award winning and beautifully restored town of Wirksworth, nestling at the foothills of the Peak District.
The line is a time capsule, with its intermediate stations largely intact and the layout at Wirksworth virtually unchanged since the days of steam.
There are 8½ miles of single-track railway, which meet the Midland Main Line at Duffield Junction near Derby. There are five station sites, two level crossings, a yard with extensive sidings and a mineral branch to the old Middlepeak quarry at Wirksworth. Since 2004, 4½ miles of the line have been reopened and it is planned to complete the reopening by April 2011.

[nferguso]

Just a quick reminder to set all your videos and Sky Plusses for 9:00 p.m. every night this week!

Neil

[nferguso]

Me again! A cracking clip here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g39C7QPmi2Q

[NOW]

A great clip...recommend sending in to wirksworth.net to replace existing railway video.

NOW congratulates Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and is proud of all its creative achievements.

[nferguso]

A great clip...recommend sending in to wirksworth.net to replace existing railway video.

NOW congratulates Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and is proud of all its creative achievements.

Thank you! I shall pass this on to the team. We have 150 active volunteers who believe passionately about the future of this line and your kind words will be much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Neil