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toy trains in movies

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Posted by BR60103 on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 9:52 AM
Not previously mentioned:
The Titfield Thunderbolt -- local minister tries to keep branchline running; has scenes with oldest operating British steamer (Lion). (Available in N.A. in boxed set with 4 other Ealing comedies.)
An Inspectore Morse TV series - set in a brewery -- scion of family has roomful of Hornby OO gauge -- complains when mother comes back from hobby shop with wrong guards van. Not a favourable portrayal of hobby.
Re: the Lady Killers -- the original English version with the house sitting abouve the tunnels from Kings Cross station. (Haven't heard any mention of trains in the remake.)
Movie: Suddenly (1950s) lots of train shots. Saw it as a child on a double bill with another picture with RR title (Union Pacific?). Suddenly seemed to have more trains.

--David

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 10:15 AM
Donavan's Reef with John Wayne and Lee Marvin. lee plays with a cool marx set in the bar. The set had switches, gates and lights. Movie was from 1952 I think and if I recall the cars were the delux plastic 8 wheel variety.

I always liked Holiday affair from the 50's as well.
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Posted by Brutus on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 9:45 PM
WOW - I didn't know they released those Ealing comedies! On my wishlist - I'll wait until Deepdiscountdvd has one of their bi-annual sales (should be in May) with 20 percent off! I love Whiskey Galore (aka Tight Little Island) and the rest sound terrific!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 12, 2006 6:15 AM
Well Im off to BlockBuster Video this weekend[(-D]
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Posted by darianj on Sunday, January 15, 2006 7:42 AM
OK...Not really a movie or a train; but I thought I'd give an honorary mention to the Trolley on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
There's light at the end of the tunnel.... It's a Train! http://www.tmbmodeltrainclub.com
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 3, 2006 9:11 AM
In one of the Halloween movies I think....I twas a horror movie. A guy who is a model train nut is sadly killed . you an tell because of all hst models including a BN caboose in a goldfish blwl
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Posted by Jumijo on Monday, July 3, 2006 10:34 AM
HBO recently had a movie on about FDR's handicap and subsequent purchase of the Warm Springs spa. Cynthia Nixon of Sex in the City played Eleanor. Anyway, one scene showed their children playing with what were supposed to be Lionel Standard Gauge trains on the floor. But the trains all had operating whistles.

Jim

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Brutus on Monday, July 3, 2006 11:45 AM
2 episodes of the first season of Wild Wild West feature toy trains. In one episode, a bad guy has a working model to demonstrate how his train killing tank/locomotive will destroy American trains unless his demands are met. In another, Dr. Loveless sends exploding toys to rich peopole in a bid to take over California - including a train set. The guy who got it has his servants and bodyguards helping him as he schedules the trains and changes consists (sort of).

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by ironhorseman on Monday, July 3, 2006 12:00 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Sask_Tinplater

Originally posted by jimhaleyscomet


...

In Throw Momma From The Train (1987), there's a very quick scene with Danny DeVito running postwar Lionel trains on the front porch of his house. A diecast steamer pulls a three-dome Gulf tank car and a maroon LV hopper car around an oval of track. There are a gateman and a 252 crossing gate which aren't hooked up. DeVito pushes the crossing gate down himself. You can also see some orange and blue Lionel boxes lying around.

...


Yes! Throw Momma From The Train! Funny stuff!

yad sdrawkcab s'ti

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Posted by thatboy37 on Monday, July 3, 2006 7:27 PM
could be wrong but noboby said the movie the Toy with richard pryor in it if you havent seen it. it is a must see because it has a toy train layout that was showed many of times from different angles and you really get a great look at the setup its in the little boys bedroom. i thought it was really cool and thats one of the reasons i bought the movie. i remember seeing the movie when i was a child and just recently purchased it well not recently in november. they sale it at wal-mart in the 5.99 to 9.99 section of movies hope you get a chance to see it
LIVE LIFE AS IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE ! UNTIL NEXT TIME PEACE !!! REGGIE thatboy37@hotmail.com
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 3, 2006 7:28 PM
I just thought of some other movies featuring toy trains that I didn't remember when I first posted in this topic.

The Electric House (1922): This old Buster Keaton short film has Keaton outfitting a house with all sorts of modern conveniences. This includes a Lionel standard gauge train that brings meals from the kitchen to the dinner table. The train consists of a No. 38 electric and gondola cars. Naturally, derailments do occur.

Jingle All The Way (1996): Arnold Schwarzenegger sneaks in the his neighbor Phil Hartman's house to steal a Turboman action figure from underneath his Christmas tree. For a brief second, a train is shown running around the tree, which I'd be willing to swear is the O gauge version of the Ives Prosperity Special!

The Man Who Saved Christmas: This was a made-for-TV movie from a few years ago about A.C. Gilbert. It takes place during the First World War, long before Gilbert gained control of American Flyer. The man is played by Jason Alexander, of all people (yes, George from Seinfeld!). Twice Lionel standard gauge trains are seen. In a toy store window, there is a set from the late 1920's or 1930's running. Also, an earlier set appropriate for the time period of the movie is seen in a play area at the Gilbert factory for employees' children.
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Posted by macdannyk1 on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 11:43 AM
Stuart Little has the G-Gauge trains in the basement, where George and Stuart get to start liking one another. One of the Wallace and Grommitt shorts has the ever expanding train set in it.
Dan Member and Webmaster, Golden State TTOS
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Posted by statistician on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 7:04 PM
I really can't believe that no one mentioned a movie called The Billion Dollar Hobo with Tim Conway. The entire movie is about both real and Lionel trains.

It was a children's film in the 1980s that I remember watching as a kid, and in fact Lionel was thanked for their help in the production of the movie. There is a scene where Conway enters a white room (Carrail??) that has nearly every vintage Lionel model in full view.

I vaguely remember a scene where the railroad tycoon character in the movie tries to teach his bumbling assistant how to operate a Lionel layout, but can never seem to get it right.

A great film to watch if you like Lionel Trains and Siberian Huskies (of which I like both)!!!
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Posted by jmpmap on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 7:14 AM
Has anyone been able to find a copy of the movie "Four's a Crowd"?. It starred Errol Flynn. There was a prewar garden railway that displayed hudsons and other prewar trains running. This has to be my all time favorite. I saw the movie many years ago on TV, but have not been able to locate a copy on DVD or VHS. It was also mentioned inside the cover of one of the later prewar catalogs. Great movie.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 15, 2006 7:14 PM
This has got to be the ultimate toy train movie, A Holiday Affair, starring Robert Michum.  He is selling Lionel trains in a department store, circa 1950, I think.  A woman buys a set, returns it the next day, Michums character dates her, finds her son thought he was getting the train, Michum buys one for the kid for christmas.  The layout in the store is impressive, the very beginning and end of the movie are also excellent.  (I wont spoil it and tell you how it ends, I didn't begin to scratch the surface of the plot)
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Posted by Brutus on Friday, September 15, 2006 8:46 PM

There was a separate thread on this, but I'll add Superman Returns - widow's husband had a huge setup in the basement, very very cool.  Best part of the movies almost.

There was a Donald Duck cartoon where he's putting in a garden railroad and the chipmunks move into one of his model houses!  Hilarious!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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