Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi guys, I am new on here and have been doing research for a film that I am producing, commissioned for by the British Youth Film Academy.

It is a massive job for me, only graduating from Oxford University last year, and I am delighted to have got the opportunity.

Basically this is where you guys can help. I have been given a script that involves a shot nearby to a stationary train not at a platform, long story that I wont go into of why this is a very important shot in the script. And being based in Newbury and after doing some location research, I have thought that it might be possible to film in the field nearby to where the First Great Western trains turn around at Bedwyn. No trespassing is going on and aslong as the train is in the background of view the shoot will be perfect.

I need a very short slot where it would be possible for a small crew to get a very short piece of film with the train in the background stationery. I just wondered whether any local people or drivers, workers, anyone knows if the train stays there for a certain matter of time? Or if it ever stayed there late or overnight? By the way the shot is at night but not due to be filmed until November where light will be dim by 6pm.

I understand that this isn't what many on here often debate (after a short browse through) but any help would be greatly appreciated. I wish I had the financial clout to get a train company to set a shot like this up, but being a small budget feature film I cant see it happening  :D

Looking at the arrival times at Bedwyn from Padd'n, and the departures back again, most of the daytime turnrounds on a Monday-to-Friday are quick - just five minutes. But there's two where you've got a longer time (sufficient for several shots!). In bold in list below:

Arrive-depart
09:03-09:36
10:31-10:36
11:31-11:36
12:31-13:12
14:31-14:36
15:31-15:36
16:31-16:44
17:28-17:36

On Sundays there's a 20-minute booked layover (give or take a minute or two) in the siding every other hour starting at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30 and 18:30.

I'll check the weekday ones when I have a little more time to confirm Worcester_Passenger's reply and expand on it by giving the exact booked times in the sidings.

In the meantime: Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, SamuelBaines!

Chris.  :)

You could probably get a good shot from the K&A towpath if the trees don't get in the way.

If you look on Google there is a train which has  just come out of the siding and going under Brook Street bridge. You can also see what appears to be  a what appears to be a cul-de-sac ending overlooking the siding.

Otherwise there appaers to be a footcrossing or foot bridge right at teh end of the siding.

As promised, here's a list of the weekday trains that are booked to lay over for more than 10 minutes in Bedwyn's siding:

5K29   06:26 to 07:05
5K45   09:03 to 09:34
5K61   12:38 to 13:10
5K75   16:31 to 16:42
5K83   18:46 to 19:01
5K91   20:39 to 20:52

I hope that's of use to you, Samuel?

Thank you all so much. Just a quick question is 18 30 on a Sunday the latest or does it go for every service? I am pretty sure dependant on when I get the exact dates that 18 30 will be late enough but just curious.

20 minutes is plenty, although a weekday is more appropriate to the shoot. You have been a great help. I'll pop back on the forum nearer the shoot and maybe send you a link to the finished film after it has been previewed on Channel 4!

The next one arrives at 20:40 and departs at 20:50, so that might be a little tight.  It's also worth pointing out that some of these trains may well get the signal back into the platform before their booked time, so it's probably best to avoid anything that is scheduled to dwell there for less than 20 minutes. 

Good luck and I'm sure some of us would love to see a link to the finished film.

Ok thanks again. I was infact in contact with First Great Western earlier regarding a similar idea to Bedwyn, and they were not in allowance of arranging a film crew in one of their depots for an idea like this, somewhere in Reading? Due to health and safety which is fair enough, but were willing to perhaps arrange something at a place out of a depot where a train parks for the night. Does this place not do anything like that ever?

If any are interested, the scene is about a man on a train that breaks down, and due to First Great Western being very negative towards us, the inside shots of the train are being filmed in Germany where they have slightly less relaxed laws etc. Budgeting and schedule doesn't allow enough time out there so this why I need to get a location for the external set.