Hollywood in Leicestershire Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the location for so many films, I couldn't think of one to pick. The reseaon for this popularity is that it's rather a unique place, being the only preserved substantial main-line town station in the country. Many closed railways have been reopened in the UK by volunteer train enthusiast groups, but all the others were secondary routes, which have a very different character from this.

This trunk route was about the last major railway built in the country until construction of the new high speed tunnel link line began recently. It opened early in the 20th centuary, and was built for high speed travel, with gentle curves and low grades, and, in anticipation of the eventual building of a tunnel under the English Channel, to European loading guage. With the typical British flair for strategic infrastructure planning, we closed it in the 1960s, it could have been our main arterial TGV route, at virtually no expense.

The line between Leicester and Loughborough, in the UK midlands, was reopened over 30 years ago, and all the stations restored and laid out how they would have been in the early 20th centuary. One intermediate station has a wartime theme.
The main station at Loughborough can pass for just about any period between 1900 and 1960. Most recently it was used for 'The Hours' and Enigma'. The platform pictured is where Nicole Kidman, as Virgina Wolf, argued with Stephen Dillane, playing her husband Leonard.

Galeota, ChrisJ, wata081, elihesamian, jrj, Jeppe, jiherka, cmartos, bebel, Burnham, Yorik, avigur_11 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Galeota (10334) 2004-07-04 3:17

Great view on this quay of a train station. YOu have definitely found a great way to tone some of your photographs with sepia, giving them an out of date atmosphere. Very interesting note also.

ChrisJ (70317) 2004-07-04 4:02

Good sepia b&w choice. Sharp, too.

wata081 (54) 2004-07-04 7:34

If there is one thing the British do not have, it is certainly not a sense of history.
It looks like things are made to become history over there whereas in Asia people scorn history for the ever present dream of future riches.
With someone coming out of the train, your picture would be great. Maybe you just too this one while you were waiting...

elihesamian (26091) 2004-07-04 10:44

Great informative shot in archi gategories you posted here,Richard!
I like it,sorry ,I would like to say more,but just no time now.
Excellent composition.

jrj (34779) 2004-07-04 13:55

Interesting pix and a good choice to have it in BW. Creates the right 'mood' I think. Well done Richard..

yesterday (9787) 2004-07-04 15:48

Good perspective, nice light and color tone, good contrast in picture.

Jeppe (18623) 2004-07-04 16:13

Great to watch this place - I must relay pay attention next I watch a movie with a train scene - very fine perspective in this shot - thanks for sharing Richard.

jiherka (4465) 2004-07-04 17:02

Nice picture. the B/W used here is great. It makes the good athmosphere of the old time for a station that seems have not change.
Well done Richard.

cmartos (6086) 2004-07-04 19:44

Excellen perspective and very nice sepia tones. The light you cought here is really soft and picture doesn't lack of contrast in midtones, that's really good. An excellent illustration to your very documentary and interesting note. Well composed, with a good angle, it's an excellent post Richard.

Rockyboy (20580) 2004-07-05 3:08

Very nice framing of this station and the B&W composition make me feel i am watching a old movie. Bravo!

bebel (7343) 2004-07-05 5:23

hi Richard, two visits today for you !
I found this station shot and I liked it very much for his atmosphère, like a live museum.
Very good choice for black and white and sépia color. great nostalgique picture
Pierrot

kaychambers (1196) 2004-07-05 5:53

Very good Richard.

Vic, Singapore. 5th July 2004

Burnham (2426) 2004-07-05 7:59

Really good note, see I didn't know that, however this train station does look somewhat familiar :o) What really cathes my eye here is that little part of train on the left and the lines around it, this is a really good compo, and the BnW or sepia is exellent.

Yorik (704) 2004-07-08 14:01

To see yours photos it is like to visit continent, countrys, places.

avigur_11 (21301) 2004-07-09 16:25

A fine "old" image of this station. Sepia works great here, and the angle creates a nice perspective. Good informative note, too. Well done, Richard.

adamchewts01 (838) 2007-05-03 0:45

Hi Richard,

I was in Loughborough University back in year 1996 & 1997. I use to hand around this train station to relax my mind, sitting on the bench and draw the picture there.

Very nice picture you have there. Thanks for sharing.

Adam