The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution was a 1976 Universal Pictures film starring Nicol Williamson as Sherlock Holmes, Robert Duvall as Dr. Watson and Laurence Olivier as Professor Moriarty.
Filming of the railway scenes took place during 30 days of 1975 and saw considerable involvement from the SVR. ¾ of a mile of the old Stourport branch was relaid for filming to take place. 46443 and 46521 were repainted in Furness Railway red livery and had flared stovepipe chimneys and large brass domes added as a representation of Austrian Railways locomotives, a livery they carried for some months (the two locomotives were identically numbered but faced in opposite directions to take advantage of the sun and lineside locations). Black 5 45110 and 8F 48773 were also ‘paired’ in this manner for filming, being of similar appearance (above the footplate level!). A fifth loco, normally 5764 or 4566, was used to move the film company’s equipment around.
45110 was bought from its previous owners by SVR(H) at this time; the purchase contract included a clause that it was conditional on the filming contract being signed.