Hey, what's that steam locomotive in the beer commercial?

[Anonymous]

If you haven't seen it, there's a beer commercial out now for Something and Artois beer that documents the frustration of a bar car counterman trying to pour a beer without slopping it.  He solves the problems of slack action by going out and uncoupling the bar car from the rest of the train.  (Funny, he knocks the head off the beer all over the beer glass.  Tacky.)

There are a couple of exterior shots of the train, pulled by a steam locomotive.  It's got that tall, sort of top heavy look Chinese locomotives have in my mind, and it's pulling a Vanderbilt tender.  Whoever is firing the thing is doing a great job- the smoke is white.  The two car train appears to have British cars behind it.  And the interior of the bar car has a Springbok herald behind the bar, which makes me think it's set in South Africa.  The train is uncoupled on a very tall, curved trestle going over what looks like an ocean bay.

So, having given an eyewitness and therefore highly flawed account of what I saw, maybe someone can answer the following:

1) Where was the commercial filmed?

2) What kind of locomotive was that?

3) Is is still running, or was this a one time only restoration?

Thanks!

[nanaimo73]

Is this the commercial ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1K5xYR_btw

I'll say it was filmed in Europe.

[Anonymous]

That's the one- the beer is Stella Artois.  I googled it and was unable to find any informative mention of the train commercial.  I'd guess by the rolling stock that you would be right- it's somewhere in Europe.  Still looking for information on the locomotive, if anyone knows- let us know.  Thanks!

[coalcracker]

I saw it too, neat commercial.  With computer animation being used for everything today (it ruined "I am Legend" in my opinion), the entire scene may have been CGA fiction.

[MStLfan]

If you haven't seen it, there's a beer commercial out now for Something and Artois beer that documents the frustration of a bar car counterman trying to pour a beer without slopping it.  He solves the problems of slack action by going out and uncoupling the bar car from the rest of the train.  (Funny, he knocks the head off the beer all over the beer glass.  Tacky.)

There are a couple of exterior shots of the train, pulled by a steam locomotive.  It's got that tall, sort of top heavy look Chinese locomotives have in my mind, and it's pulling a Vanderbilt tender.  Whoever is firing the thing is doing a great job- the smoke is white.  The two car train appears to have British cars behind it.  And the interior of the bar car has a Springbok herald behind the bar, which makes me think it's set in South Africa.  The train is uncoupled on a very tall, curved trestle going over what looks like an ocean bay.

So, having given an eyewitness and therefore highly flawed account of what I saw, maybe someone can answer the following:

1) Where was the commercial filmed?

2) What kind of locomotive was that?

3) Is is still running, or was this a one time only restoration?

Thanks!

Some time ago Boyd asked the same question over in the general forum. I answered it on the 1oth of december:

The one where the last car is left standing on the viaduct?

Looks like the SAR 2 ft. line from George to Knysna.

SAR is the South African Railways.

According to this site  http://www.baobabtravel.com/south_africa/garden_route.shtm it is known as the Outeniqua Choo-Choo.

http://www.onlinesources.co.za/chootjoe/ is their official site. In the picture gallery are pictures of the bridge which is called Kaaimans bridge.

Since I am on dial up at home I have not checked the link. Hope this answers your questions.

greetings,

Marc Immeker

[MStLfan]

I also like the one where the Norwegian tells, back then, how the Belgians stole their beer and that their retaliation got a bit out of hand.....

greetings,

Marc Immeker

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Marc.  It was driving me nuts... and the link is a good one.

[dknelson]

And as a sort of additional joke that maybe only our cultured friends in Europe would get, the music when the beer is sloshing and when the coach is uncoupled from the train is taken from Verdi's opera, La forza del destino: The Force of Destiny.

Dave Nelson

[switch7frg]

  Marc, How very true  of the quote of Socretese 470 bc .

                 History doth repeat itself.

                                               Cannonball

[dale8chevyss]

I've seen that one-  I thought you were talking about THE SILVER BULLET!