It may look like any other old-fashioned steam train and station cafe, but visitors to Bassenthwaite Lake Station, located in a sleepy UK village, will actually be dining on the set of a major Hollywood film.
The “hidden” Lake District railway station, which has been lovingly restored into a cafe and tea room, is home to a replica French SNCF steam train featured in the 2017 film Murder on the Orient Express, starring Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer.
The train’s carriage still has many of the special features installed to allow for filming, and has been widened to accommodate a film crew. It can seat up to 32 diners.
“The carriages are slightly wider and slightly taller and it was to allow the crews to get their angles when they were filming. The tables were actually Velcroed into position so they could be moved easily as well – that’s quite fun,” owner of the train cafe, Di Parums, told the Press Association.
“And it has quite soft suspension so it wobbles around when you climb into the carriages because it didn’t actually move when they were filming so they needed to make it sway as waiters and waitresses were carrying drinks and food.”
Parum bought the station and steam train alongside her husband, Simon, and has spent the past few months restoring it. She used to visit the station, which has not been in use since the 1960s, as a child, and wanted to bring her memories back to life.
