Railroads in the movies

[Anonymous]

Ron, I cannot remember the name but the best train movie I saw was about a railfan trying to save a narrow gage steam railroad that operated from Merced to Yosimite just after WWII. It was awsome and won an Academy Award. I will try to get the name because every railfan should see it. As a whole the movie suffered from a disjointed plot but the rail road action was great and the passion the young man had for railroading brought a tear to my eye.

[Onetrack49]

What is the of the movie where Walter Matthau was the star, his family checked him into a nursing home, then during a bus trip to an amusement park, some of the nursing home residents took the amusement park train out onto the main line? Thanks for any help!

[Anonymous]

Disney's "Great Locomotive Chase" for steamers,
a classic!

and in the not-so-authenic-but-fun class:

"Continental Divide" for AMTRAK (ok - so ya CAN'T pay cash as you go, or hop on the last car as the train pulls out - but it sure shows the joy of a sleeping car ;-)

And "Back to the Future III" - how wonderful to mix SciFi with a steam loco !

George

[Anonymous]

Derek, your mention of "Union Pacific" reminded me of an old western that had a lot of rail action in it. Unfortunately, I don't remember the title. It was made around 1956-58 and I THINK it starred James Stewart and possibly Audie Murphy. Much of the action centered around a yard and engine terminal. The movie I'm thinking of is NOT "Night Passage" which was made around the same time and had the above mentioned stars in it. Ron.

[Anonymous]

there was a circus movie, I think called "the Greatest Show on Earth", had charlton hesston and several other stars in it. had lot's of circus train action as well as a good storyline anyway. had a very good train wreck towards the end, (special effects were quite good for the time). there was also another old movie called "Union Pacific" that isn't bad. like some of the other guys have said, there's several old westerns that had pretty good train scenes/robberies/bridge collapses/etc. Runaway train really wasn't too bad, lot's of action and cab views, somewhat unrealistic at times but definately worth watching, and a pretty good plot, too.

[favuprailroadfan]

One other good movie that really involves a train is the movie Under Siege II. Excellant work with the train in that one. At the end, where the pyrotechnics took over with the collision on the bridge. One of the best explosion scenes I've ever seen. If you haven't ever seen it, watch it.

Dru

[Anonymous]

i also liked the movie "Runaway Train". the movie "switchback" also has some good shots of Rio Grande trains twoards the end. the problem i have with recent movies involving trains is that they seem to make the trains out as bad things. they always involve a train wreck threatening a town, or a train running someone over. you rarely see trains in movies portrayed (sp) in a good way anymore.

[favuprailroadfan]

Even though it ain't a train movie, there are snipits of old steam in the movie, "Tombstone". Good movie in itself, but there is a good scene in there where they have it steaming at night. Good work on lighting, and getting the chuff chuff in the sound as well.


Dru

[Anonymous]

Let us not forget "Emporer of the North" with Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin. There was also Van Ryan's express with Frank Sinatra and "The Train" with Bert Lancaster. The " Good Bad and Ugly" had train parts in it too. All of the above were good movies that I try to watch every time I can.

George in Murfreesboro

[Anonymous]

I remember seeing the movie "Runaway Train" it was made in the early 1980's. It was about two convicts who jump onboard a freight train in Alaska. It was somewhat realistic but had its faults. If you come across it I would rent it. The scenes filmed inside the cab were pretty interesting.

[Anonymous]

Interesting article in the new "Classic Trains" about the movie "Danger Lights". The article prompted me to watch it again. I had forgotton just how hokey the plots and acting were in some of these old flicks! The original "Silver Streak" was similar in terms of plot and acting abilities of the cast. The trains were the real "Stars" of these old movies. Does anyone know of other movies, either "oldies" or newer movies, where trains played a significant role, and were portrayed with any degree of realism? One that comes to mind is "Breakheart Pass", from I believe in the '70's. Are there any that you guys think are pretty good? Any real dogs? What did you most like or dislike about them? Ron.