the challenge
The S&C South Alliance required film coverage of their track redevelopment works at Willesden North Junction. This work included the replacement of two sets of points and associated plain line at the junction. With the work taking place just outside of London over Easter weekend, the S&C South Alliance required a film to fully showcase the works to passengers, stakeholders and rail enthusiasts alike. The timing of the works was a key consideration for filming too; with the current control period coming to a close and CP6 on the horizon, a video would present an opportunity for the S&C South Alliance to celebrate the innovations made in both procedures and hardware to date.
Inside Out Group worked with Nick Matthews on a landmark project in 2017 when the S&C North Alliance achieved the UK’s first 125mph S&C replacement, in Belford, Northumberland. Following the success of this collaboration, Nick approached us to discuss producing a film that would focus on the Easter programme at Willesden North Junction.
the approach
There were a few key factors that shaped our approach to this project. The video would need to inform rail passengers why the lines had to be blocked. With the site being part of a main arterial rail route in and out of London, it was important to the S&C South Alliance that the location and scale of the work site was well translated in our video.
This informed our decision to utilise drone filming on the project, which ensured that we were able to capture the scale of the site and works. To deliver the most comprehensive video possible we also committed our PTS accredited on-the-ground film crew to cover the works. This would ensure that we captured the works in intimate detail too.
The S&C South Alliance is, as the name suggests, a collaboration of several key partners. It was therefore also important that this partnership was proportionately represented in the video. We were able to meet this need by offering five filming shifts across the bank holiday weekend. Distributed across the full schedule of works, these allowed the full range of activities to be captured in conventional video and time lapse. We also took advantage of our time on site to conduct a series of interviews with personnel each representing different facets of the S&C South Alliance. No small feat when you’re also ‘running and gunning’ with all of that camera gear!
the result
In addition to the main video, we also delivered a shorter video for a more rapid turn around. This video (click here to watch) was edited and released the same week as completing the on site filming. In comparison to the longer video, it offers a more ‘shown’ rather than ‘told’ story of the Easter works.
Our Willesden videos were received very well at the Leading with Pride conference held on April 15th. It looks set to prove testament to the S&C South Alliance’s capabilities so far and to their forward thinking vision as the UK rail industry moves into CP6.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Inside Out Group. Despite very tight time scales they took the time to plan and resource the production of the film. On site they understood they needed to be invisible and they were. During filming and editing they were always open to feedback. Equally they ensured their knowledge and experience in producing films was at the forefront. Well done Inside Out Group. Thanks again for offering a great product and service. I look forward to working with you again on my future projects.”
Nick Matthews – Programme Engineering Manager at S&C South Alliance
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