Hi Gang:
This is an excellent video on the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Rocky and Selkirk mountains. It also has some fantastic footage of CPR #2816 hard at work.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5bgzwf_rocky-mountain-express_tv
Compliments of a ghost from the past - Brent, aka 'batman'.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thats a great video, Dave. Really strange that you mention Brent, aka "Batman".
I was on the Atlas forum earlier, and there is member there, Brent, who uses the name Batman. Even his avatar seemed familiar. Just seemed strange.
http://atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/user/1394
Mike.
My You Tube
Hi Mike:
It's the same Brent. For reasons unknown he got banished from the MR forums so when he wants to contribute here he has to do it through a third person.
Did the sound cut out on you?
Cheers!
I watched it again this morning. Last night, I turned it off and went to bed, after the first ad started playing. I had the sound way up for the film, and when the ad came on, it almost blasted the speakers off the shelf!
It cuts out about 15:34, back on at 16:50, than at 27:40, it fades away, back on at 30:20. At 41:05, it fades on a off again, at a lower volume, until almost the end. The music is beautiful, along with the scenery. What a history lesson. Excellent!
I'm really embarrassed about Brent. The way his name has been mentioned in here, I thought he actually passed. The ARF profile blew me away! Sorry Brent! Live on!
Brent sent me a new copy of the video where he says the sound doesn't cut out. I replaced the link in the first post. I haven't checked it yet.
hon30critterCompliments of a ghost from the past - Brent, aka 'batman'. Dave
Wow! That was fantastic!
I was lucky enough to ride the CN route to Vancouver from Toronto, but—alas, only as far as Winnipeg, on the CP.
The drone shots were amazing and I like the views with the remote cameras placed around the 2816. A few of the runs didn't have the silly "back-up" diesel, too. And the sound !
I'm surprized the fellows didn't have safety glasses on during the prep work early in the film. Anymore, FULL FRA or TC compliance is mandatory and "zero-tolerance" for infractions.
I get bummed when I see steam crews wearing HI-VIS jackets but, "dems the regs"!
I saw that "Batman" was making a few cameos at the ARF. Good for him.
Thanks Dave!
Ed
Those were not drone shots, but from a helicopter. The weight of an IMAX camera would be a challenge for the size of drones hobbyists are familiar with, nor would it be likely to yield the same professional level of results.
As to the diesels sometimes used, the main line sequences were all using trips that CPR was running for other purposes, not a special operation for the film. The railway gave lots of co-operation within limits, but the movie took a distant second place to train operation. No backing up for a second run-by, hope for another chance perhaps a year or two later. In particular, the diesel was of most benefit descending the 2% grades because its dynamic brakes saved a lot of wear and tear on the historic running gear.
Just like we railfans, the film crew had to "chase" the train. Of course the speed of a helicopter made that somewhat easier with no highway traffic or speed traps to worry about. On the other hand it had to land when film needed to be reloaded -only about 5 minutes in a reel - and a suitable landing site was not necessarily nearby in mountainous terrain.
I would love to see some of the footage that ended up on the cutting room floor, even if silent. (The IMAX camera was not recording sound - that was added in later from separate recordings of the locomotive.)
John
Hey John:
Yes, the arial shots were done from a helicopter, as it states in the credits.
I had no problem with the diesel helper. The locomotive needs to be preserved for eternity, or at least however long it can possibly be made to last. There is nothing to be served by flogging it to death.
The out takes would indeed be interesting. I somehow doubt that they were scrapped. Maybe someday they will be released. I would have liked to have seen more details of the refueling procedures. Those are as much a part of the operation as anything IMHO.
Regards,
hon30critterYes, the arial shots were done from a helicopter, as it states in the credits.
Aah! I should have thought that out better before I replied. Actually, I hadn't seen the credits before I posted as I watched the film in ten-minute chunks. It was 6 AM and I was watching with one eye open.
These days with the prevalance of drone photography that was the first thing that came to mind. I hadn't noticed the reference to IMAX. When I saw the scene with the tree trunk balancing on the rock in the river my brain thought... drone.
hon30critterI had no problem with the diesel helper.
Nor do I. It is just nice to be able to see the steam locomotive without any modern accoutrements in view (like the ditch-lights and high-vis. vests).
In most cases the diesel is tagging along and only there to assist if there is a mechanical problem and the equipment has to get to a "safe harbor" and off the busy main line. Or as John pointed out, for dynamic braking.
hon30critter I would have liked to have seen more details of the refueling procedures.
She's an oil-burner, yes? I don't imagine there's much to it... I could be wrong.
[edit]
Speaking of big cameras, It reminded me of a film I saw once in Cinerama.
Cinerama Holiday!
I found this Classic Trains article covering the filming in 35mm x 3 anamorphic lensed cameras!
http://ctr.trains.com/~/media/files/pdf/when-cinerama-rode-the-cz.pdf
Regards, Ed
gmpullmanhon30critter I would have liked to have seen more details of the refueling procedures. She's an oil-burner, yes? I don't imagine there's much to it... I could be wrong.
Ed: You're probably right. It might be boring to watch a hose being hooked up to the tender. However, I'm totally intrigued by that sort of detail, boring or not. I love to see how things are done behind the scenes just as much as seeing the finished product in operation.
I'll give you an example of my strange interests. A long time ago in the '60s when my family was buying corn syrup by the gallon the manufacturer was offering free pictures of the Maple Leafs hockey players. All you had to do was send in a coupon. I asked for a picture of Punch Imlach who was the long serving coach at the time. This was just before their Stanley Cup successes in the mid 60s. They sent me a very polite note saying that they didn't have any pictures of Mr. Imlach. I was horribly disappointed! Every other kid on the block wanted pictures of the players. I guess I was the odd man out but somehow I was enthralled by his ability to motivate the team.
Please don't commit me to a mental institution, that is unless Nurse Cratchett is there to keep me alert, and the big indigenous gentleman is there to help me escape!
Cheers all!
hon30critter Please don't commit me to a mental institution, that is unless Nurse Cratchett is there to keep me alert, and the big indigenous gentleman is there to help me escape!
Playing now in Montréal.
http://www.rideauvert.qc.ca/programmation/
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's
I have the DVD. I think I have watched it 6-7 times. The picture quality and sound is amazing.
I thought the diesel was in the train to supply electric to the passenger cars. Never thought of dynamic braking. Learn something every day.