Trains in movies

[Anonymous]

Hi Guys
Hope this isn't old news, but I thought I would pass it on.
I was watching King Of The Cowboys last night, staring Roy Rodgers.
At the end of the movie saboteurs were to blow a train as it came across
the bridge, luckly Roy saved the day. The engine pulling this train was
a cab-forward! First one of these I have seen in a movie. Have any of
you guys seen anything odd like this?[:0]
Thanks
Keith

[FJ and G]

Keith,

Kinda funny they would use a cab-forward. I don't think many people these days would get it. However, back in the days of the cowboys and marlboro ads, the general public probably new that a cab-forward is supposed to look like that.

I personally never cared for the look of the cab-forwards. For that matter, I didn't care for SP's paint schemes either, except for the Daylight train. I suppose UP is collecting royalty fees on SP these days too.

Anyway, trains in a movie is always a fun topic to discuss.

I recently got Satellite (never had cable or satellite ever) and was amazed at all the channels. They even have one called "Wings." Now, trains are just as important as wings so how come we don't have a trains channel or even a toy trains channel? Something's not right here. Also, I'm still waiting to hear all of the presidential candidate's planks on railroad, amtrak and commuter lines.

[Anonymous]

Dave
I agree what this country needs is a 24/7 train channel.
Sounds like you have come up with a good idea.[^]
When will it aire?[:D]
Keith

[SPFan]

Probably due to the Espees proximity to Hollywood, there are close to 100 movies where SP equipment makes it way into the scene. I'll try and dig out my list.

Pete (aka SPFan)

[Kooljock1]

David,

Check out RFDTV on your dish. They run a show on Thursday nights called "I Love Trains". This week it was TM videos excellent "Pennsylvania Suite".

And last night AMC ran "The Day The Earth Stood Still", a movie that's all about a boy who has a roll-away LIONEL layout under his bed.

There's also some ancillary stuff about an invasion from outter space, messages of peace and yadda yadda yadda...but I think we all know what the movie is really about: a boy with a train under his bed!

Jon [8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by keithrd

Dave
I agree what this country needs is a 24/7 train channel.
Sounds like you have come up with a good idea.[^]
When will it aire?[:D]
Keith

Actually, there is such a thing in Germany, BahnTV. I also agree that we need one over here, too.

As far as trains in movies goes, there's a topic all about it in the Trains magazine forums that's had quite a few posts in it.

[Anonymous]

Yeah--I like the trains-channel idea! Here are some shows we could have:

1.) Martha Stewart Railroading, in which she teaches us how to make pretty collored railway flares--"its a good thing [:)]."

2.) Railway Jeopardy, possible discourses inlude, "I'll take valve gear for 1,000" and then, "Okay, your clue here 'the Allen ported valve is a type of unbalanced this.' "

3.) Railroad Week in Review, with Jim Lehrer, in which political pundits debate Amtrak policies.

See you around the forums,
Daniel

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29

Yeah--I like the trains-channel idea! Here are some shows we could have:

1.) Martha Stewart Railroading, in which she teaches us how to make pretty collored railway flares--"its a good thing [:)]."

2.) Railway Jeopardy, possible discourses inlude, "I'll take valve gear for 1,000" and then, "Okay, your clue here 'the Allen ported valve is a type of unbalanced this.' "

3.) Railroad Week in Review, with Jim Lehrer, in which political pundits debate Amtrak policies.

See you around the forums,
Daniel

I love this response!! Thanks Trainjunky!!

Martha doesn't come up much in the context of trains, but I once dragged her into it. Check this out:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12147

Jeopardy, we haven't played, at least not to my knoledge. However, Don Phillips writes a column for Trains Magazine. He recently left the Washington Post, and IS a political pundit on just such matters. What you may have thought to be totally outlandish, actually exists![:D] The secret is to know which rock to look under.

Please don't think that I'm picking on anyone when I say these things, as that is NEVER my intent. Trains.com is a vast landscape of train related material, just waiting to be explored. I have visited many places in this landscape, in the short time that I've spent here, and have left my mark on quite a few. There are also many interesting people to meet on this journey, and while I try not to leave my mark on them, sometimes that happens too, and we become friends.

The title of this topic said MOVIES, and if it is train related movies you seek, then this is the topic for you!!
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6375

HAVE FUN!!

[guilfordrr]

Okay, here's my train-channel lineup...guess I'll call it Trainz TV [:D]:

1. Reruns of the History Channel show "Trains Unlimited"

2. "Potomic Pundit"- TV version of Don Phillip's column

3. Saturday Movie Night: a train movie

4. TrainJunky's Jeopardy idea

5. "TrackSide", sorta like the fishing shows on nature channels, except about train-spotting

6. "Toy Tech"- how-to projects for model railroads

7. "The World by Rail" - a travel show

8. Early-morning kid shows, like Thomas the Tank Engine, Shining Time Station or I Love Toy Trains

9. "Classics"- focusing on well-known railway icons ( F3s, 20th Century Limited, Shay, etc)

10. any Tom McComas toy train film

11. any Pentrex film

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by guilfordrr

Okay, here's my train-channel lineup...guess I'll call it Trainz TV [:D]:

1. Reruns of the History Channel show "Trains Unlimited"

2. "Potomic Pundit"- TV version of Don Phillip's column

3. Saturday Movie Night: a train movie

4. TrainJunky's Jeopardy idea

5. "TrackSide", sorta like the fishing shows on nature channels, except about train-spotting

6. "Toy Tech"- how-to projects for model railroads

7. "The World by Rail" - a travel show

8. Early-morning kid shows, like Thomas the Tank Engine, Shining Time Station or I Love Toy Trains

9. "Classics"- focusing on well-known railway icons ( F3s, 20th Century Limited, Shay, etc)

10. any Tom McComas toy train film

11. any Pentrex film

And maybe train companies -real and toy- would start TV advertising!!!!!!![:(!]

You have my vote for programming director for the new Trainz TV channel. That is a nice well balanced lineup, something for everyone. It sure beats some of the crap that's out there.

Frankly, if they can devote an entire channel to GOLF, one would think that TRAINS could find a home on the cable box. Its not that I dislike golf, but devoting an entire channel to it may be a little excessive, as it is a fairly straight forward subject.

Trains however are a much more complex subject, and can appeal to children and adults alike, AS WE ALL KNOW VERY WELL!!!!

I'll take "Fallen Flags" for $1000 please Alex.

[:D]

[guilfordrr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Frankly, if they can devote an entire channel to GOLF, one would think that TRAINS could find a home on the cable box. Its not that I dislike golf, but devoting an entire channel to it may be a little excessive, as it is a fairly straight forward subject.

Trains however are a much more complex subject, and can appeal to children and adults alike, AS WE ALL KNOW VERY WELL!!!!

Amen!

[Anonymous]

hey, does anybody see " tracks ahead" on pbs? i like it[8D]

[Anonymous]

I saw that too kooljock.I have seen that movie many times and I dont remember the train.

[spankybird]

Yes Jerrylovestrains,

Tracks Ahead is a great show. [tup] I try to watch it every time it’s on. I even have recorded many of them. It covers every thing from real trains, HO, and many O gauge and scale layouts.

Our local PBS station (in Akron – Canton ch. 45-49) shows it. Right now it’s not on the programming list [sigh] , so I wrote them and ask when it will be back on. They put me on a mailing list to inform me when it will be showing again. I think it will be back on this July.

You all should check this out.

tom

[guilfordrr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jerrylovestrains

hey, does anybody see " tracks ahead" on pbs? i like it [8D]

Yes, I used to watch the show, but I think its temporarily off the air here in New Hampshire / Massachusettes; I guess untill they fini***he next season. Is it so hard to show reruns? [V]

Here's the show's website:
[url] http://mptv.org/Trax_main.htm [url]

[Anonymous]

I love Tracks Ahead! Unfortunately the only PBS station we can get here is Detroit and the show isn't on Detroit any more! While it was on I taped every episode, though.

[brianel027]

A little off the topic of movies, but last night - Saturday 3/20 - I was watching the NBC nightly news. After the usual bad news around the world, there was a commentary at the end of the broadcast - on TRAINS!

On how railroads - especially passenger service - is so much more advanced and used in other countries. And how America should take more use of and invest more in railroads. That up to WW2 we had the best railroads in the world, and how that has changed.

I was really surprised, but also very pleased to see this topic come up on the national news without the preface of some major derailment or news on Amtrack funding.

[Big_Boy_4005]

It is very unfortunate that Tracks Ahead is so hit and miss. This is a huge problem with PBS, leaving every local station to pick it's programming. Tracks Ahead is not shown here to my knowledge, and hasn't been for years.

I used to watch PBS a lot, but I feel that my local has gone way down hill. I really wi***hat this show was marketed to a cable channel rather than PBS. I guess I have no real say in the matter, as I have never contributed to a single
"BEG-A-THON" in my life.

Perhaps with all of the variety, and the ever increasing growth of cable and dish, the entire PBS concept had lost it's meaning. The idea of voulenteer pay for content is archaic to say the least.

Oh my God, as I reread what I had just typed, it hit me. Does that last paragraph have any application to what is happening with OGR???? See the connection???

[spankybird]

I guess I am lucky. Our one local PBS (WEOA 45-49 Akcron-Canton) station does show a lot of train programs. In years past (like around ’97) there was a program call All Aboard. Anyone else ever here of it? As I said, they show Tracks Ahead and also many Train trips and Scenic Rail trips.

Now Elliot, I don’t want to be shot, hung or banned from the Form, but Rich does support this station and when they have their membership drives, he donates video tapes of either OGR or Hopewell Videos. He even makes guess appearances on the drive. Of course Canton is in his back yard.

If you e-mail, call, or write the PBS, they will listen you your wishes.

tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

Tom, I think you know me well enough by now, that I don't go after people that don't share some of my STRONG opinions. I may argue a little and try to persuade, but I do listen as well. As I feel that I know you well enough by now, I recognize the shot , hung , or banned, as humor in spite of a lack of smileys.[swg]

Actually, I find your comments interesting and enlightening, even refreshing. Unfortunately I don't have that kind of support to offer these days, but back when enterTRAINment was around I did help sponsor Shining Time Station.

You should consider yourself lucky that your local PBS station can afford to give you programming that you like, because I suspect that there are many around the country that can't, and that this problem will only continue to worsen as time goes on.

PBS was created as an alternative to THE BIG THREE networks back when television was still fairly young. Today there is so much to choose from, in many markets PBS is getting lost in the shuffle.

For years now, I have heard them plead that they see no revenue when people pay for cable, a fact which is sad but true. The problem is that people vote with their dollars, and most can't afford to support two different forms of television. Perhaps PBS needs to reexamine it's premise, and bite the bullet and have commercials like everyone else.

I realize that this has carried us slightly off topic, but it is an interesting side effect that may impact more train lovers nationwide than we will ever hear from, and is worth discussing.

[spankybird]

Hi Elliot,

Of course I forgot the smiles. [:I][:D][:I] With some of the strong feelings today about Rich and OGR, I don’t what people to mis-understand me. I still don’t believe in the $18.00 fee but I will also give credit where it is do. OGR is publish in Poland, Ohio which is just south of Youngstown, Ohio. And Youngstown is about 70 miles from Cleveland. Just in my backyard to speak of. At the last two train show, ORG has had a booth there. I have talked to Ed Boyle at both shows.

tom

[Anonymous]

PBS ran train trips and such here in North Carolina today .
They are having their yearly fund raiser. The Nuese River club
brought in their 3-rail stuff for the show and even took calls![tup]
Also Kalmbach and Bachmann trains helped as sponser of this
show( way to go guys)!!!!![:D]
Thanks
Keith

[brianel027]

Actually since the topic has turned a little to PBS, the local affiliate here - WSKG out of Binghamton, NY has done a series of their own in-shop produced shows called "The Southern Tier Memory Store."

In that series they covered the Erie RR running into Elmira. And did an utterly fascinating look at the Lehigh Valley Railroad: how at the turn of the century they fitted gondolas and flat cars with bleechers so tha sports fans could watch the race via a train running along the lake where the Cornell University Crew team would compete. They ran 2 steam engines, one at each end, to run up along the east shore of the lake to follow the collegiate action. The crews communicated with toots of the whistle. (There's an idea that pushes the "protoype" envelope!)

They also did a show on the Cornell University connection with the Lehigh Valley. How Cornell actually fought to keep passenger service running into Ithaca even past the date it was to be dropped. Needless to say, the color Cornell Red is no small coincidence. They explained trains leaving Ithaca running south would have leave slow as the college frat boys would run after the train to give their girlfriends a last goodbye wave. Trains leaving Ithaca north had to get a hard running start with helpers to make the steep grade northward. Those north bound trains made so much racket that the one room school house (located nearby the tracks) had to stop classes as the train made the northbound climb. Where as today, the busses run student discount fares, the Lehigh Valley in its day ran student specials also. (Some things never change!)

Fascinating history - and the kind of info you don't always see in a train book. For all the faults of fund drives, this is the kind of programming that regular TV wouldn't provide. Tip of my train hat to WSKG.

[Big_Boy_4005]

All of those stories sound great guys, consider yourselves lucky. Perhaps the fact that you live in a part of the country with a gerater density of train lovers may help to influence the local PBS stations there. Maybe its just a greater population density in general, that gives those stations better support.

Keep in mind that I have nothing against PBS in general, but I am trying to point out that ECONOMICLY, they have a tough road ahead.

The comment about Kalmbach and Bachmann as sponsors is a bit misleading. Those two paid to PRODUCE the show. The local stations have to PAY to AIR the shows, and that cost is covered by local companies, or some of the money raised from viewers. I learned this back when I sponsored Shining Time Station as a business.

If I remember correctly, different rates were charged for the same program, based on market size. More economic problems, what a mess.

[dougdagrump]

Our local PBS afiliate has shown several train related programs over the past couple of years. Since I am in the San Diego area my favorite has to be about the San Diego & Arizona Eastern, the Corrizo Gorge Trestle is a thing of BEAUTY.
For a little history and some nice photos check out :
www.slackaction.com/goatcyn.htm

[Anonymous]

I think there should also be a talk/interview show, ala the national "Sunday morning" news programs. Half an hour with manufacturers, clubs, collectors, display builders and others, in addition to the most recent national railroad/model manufacturers news, might make fodder for the local internet forums.
AND, a business report ~ stocks and other info related to the railroading/hobby industries.

AS far as "Tracks Ahead", I have to agree with Elliot. In all the years that program has been discussed, I have looked for it, and never seen it.

Can we see "Railroad Story" and other railroads' "promo" films too?
How about old Lionel, American Flyer, and other train manufacturers ads? Could we do a series or twelve on articles from the TCA Quarterly as well?
"All Trains ~ ALL the time"
Who would advertise? Any manufacturer that knows men are watching... beer, tools, the beef industry, certain pharmecutical companies, transportation firms...

[Anonymous]

http://my.execpc.com/~jruss/tahp.html#list] is the link to "Tracks Ahead."

[pennsy_fan]

Did anybody here see the Chuck Bronson movie "Breakheart Pass"?
Its a movie set in the late 1800's that takes place almost entirely on a train.
Cool Movie...........I recommend it the next time you want to rent (or buy) a new movie.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Last night I visited the website for our local PBS station and reviewed the next month's line up. WHAT A DULL LOAD OF BLAHHHHHH !!!! Pretty much childern's programs from 6AM to 5:30 PM. My kids are 9 and 11, and that stuff is pretty much beneath them.

The evening prime time schedule ain't much better, mainly arts with a little science and nature thrown in. Late night is mainly very old british stuff (I suspect they don't have to pay much for that) and then they rerun stuff til 6AM.

I checked PBS.org and found only one train related item. The American Experience on the building of the Transcontinental Railroad done By Ken Burns. I know the story fairly well, but I do like Burns' style and will watch.

I checked a number of local PBS stations around the country, and only found a couple that were showing Tracks Ahead. I'm not sure how many seasons of the show have been produced, but I have only seen a couple.

The bottom line is I think I've given up on PBS. For my family's needs it has out lived it's usefulness, sorry.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Pennsy_fan's right, I've been a little side tracked here, Let's talk MOVIES!!!

The following is my post from the Trains Magazine forum topic that I mentioned earlier, and provided a link for. That topic is in its 8th page, and has a ton of great movies listed. Some are well known, and others obscure.

---

Hey all you Silver Streak fans ( Wilder and Pryor), has anyone noticed that through the entire movie you only see one side of the train? It doesn't make the movie any less great though.

I also love Emperor of the North, I taped it off cable, and put it on when there's nothing else to watch. I've damn near worn that tape out.

Sask Tinplater mentioned Buster Keaton and an American Flyer train that served food. There's another movie that borrowed that idea. Nothing But Trouble, staring Chevy Chase, Dan Ackroyd, Deme Moore, and John Candy has a great scene featuring a Lionel train that comes up out of a long oval dining table. A tank car was turned into a mustard dispenser, and a 1960's rocket launcher hurls little pickels at Taylor Negron. The scene only lasts a little over a minute, so a DVD copy may be the best way to enjoy this one.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Switchback, with Danny Glover. This is a real good suspense film, and has a great mountain railroad sequence.

As for Under Siege 2, I agree that the wreck at the end is rather cheesy, but there's another piece of Hollywood that was rather unrealistic. Did anyone see Steven Segal slide open a window and climb out?

Beside being a train buff, I'm a movie buff too. Its a bonus when the two are combined.