Doris day and Jack Lemmon in a movie with Trains! Steam at that!
That's 97, a 2-8-2 Mikado and the last steamer on the New Haven, it went to the scrapper right after filming wrapped. Too bad.
Now the "Night Train" has come for Doris. Well, at 97 she had a good run, a hell of a good run!
Rest easy on the "Night Train," Golden Girl!
Hmm, Mikado #97, Doris passes away at 97. Makes you wonder...
Wayne/Flintlock-- Wow! You have earned your pay for the month and the next one. The last New Haven steam locomotive! Holeeee Mackinaw. Then they scrapped it? Stunning.
97 at 97. Foretelling.
From Mike: here's a link to the entire movie, not perfect, a little fuzzy.
I did a bit of research this morning, that IS a New Haven steamer, the last one, but the "97" is a ficticious number, as is the railroad name on the tender.
NH 2-8-2's were numbered in the 3000 range, the last in the series being 3024.
The Valley Railroad in Connecticutt operates a Tang-Shan Mike they purchased from the Knox and Kane Railroad, and modified it to look like a NH Mike. They renumbered it "3025" to continue the series.
I forget exactly where I read about the NH steamer used in the movie, but don't believe the climax of the film where the engine's mounted on a platform as a preservation piece. Sadly, it didn't happen in real life.
There IS some good railroad action in the movie though!
Amazing! Peter did one hell of a job there!
Thanks Peter, if you're looking in!
BTW the boy next to Jack Lemmon is Teddy Rooney, the son of Mickey Rooney and Mickey's third wife, actress Martha Vickers. He left acting to become a musician, and served in Vietnam. He died in 2016.
The girl is Gina Gillespie. She's perhaps best known for playing the young Blanche Hudson (Joan Crawford's character) in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?".
wjstixThe girl is Gina Gillespie.
Who was surprisingly good-looking in later life. Her sister may be famous to Disney fans. A good mix of Irish and French-Canadian.
Darlene's story is unbelievable. Got involved with quite the savoury character fir third marriage.
Clarification of exactly what happened to New Haven 2-8-2 3016. A sad tale of woe.. nobody wanted them and a last minute reprieve was too late. Not good.
Mike e-mailed me the sad story as well. What a shame. What a loss.
The moral of the story is, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!" and "For free, you take! For pay, shop around!"
You never know, do you? I'm sure the Valley Railroad would love to have a real NH steamer instead of the ersatz one.
Flintlock76 Amazing! Peter did one hell of a job there! Thanks Peter, if you're looking in!
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter