Greatest Train Movies

So, a movie with a couple scenes of a train station and a GG1 at the end counts as one of the "greatest train movies?"

Sounds pretty dull compared to "Danger Lights". 

smd4 posted:

So, a movie with a couple scenes of a train station and a GG1 at the end counts as one of the "greatest train movies?"

I suppose so.  The Trains magazine had some turkeys listed that I wouldn't even bother to watch for free.

Joe Hohmann posted:

Sounds pretty dull compared to "Danger Lights". 

Danger Lights was a much better film than Murder In The Private Car, but look how much fun you can have critiquing these films.  If you have ever watched Mystery Theatre 3000 you'll know what I mean.

As for Bright Victory, the film was excellent, in my opinion.  It told a good story, albeit with only a cameo by the Pennsy.

I have to vote for "The Train" with Burt Lancaster.  The man did all his own stunts and did a fine job playing the WWII  part of a French manager who knew all aspects of the operation from yardmaster to mechanic to running a steam engine and outsmarting the Nazis while doing all those trades and even finding time for a little romance. Like any movie it's all make believe but for entertainment value this one is hard to top.

The best "railroading" movie has to be "Emperor of the North." I have no idea how the filmed the near-head-on sequence.

smd4 posted:

The best "railroading" movie has to be "Emperor of the North." I have no idea how the filmed the near-head-on sequence.

Planning, timing, multiple takes, editing and a spring switch.

Rusty

...haven't seen many "train" movies, but RUNAWAY TRAIN with Jon Voight is memorable to me when I was growing up - great story.

OC Patrick posted:

...haven't seen many "train" movies, but RUNAWAY TRAIN with Jon Voight is memorable to me when I was growing up - great story.

"great story"?????   That movie was an affront to all professional railroaders.

Hot Water posted:

OC Patrick posted:

...haven't seen many "train" movies, but RUNAWAY TRAIN with Jon Voight is memorable to me when I was growing up - great story.

"great story"?????   That movie was an affront to all professional railroaders.

I put "train" in quotes. As far as the story, it's subjective and like I said, it was memorable while I was growing up. By the way, both lead and supporting actors were nominated for the Academy Award that year for this movie.

Danger Lights.....

And the best train "comedy" is "Railroadin'" with the Little Rascals. Train action from start to finish.

From Hollywood for me its "The Train".

For movies about trains on celluloid its the dozens of documentaries and promotional films commissioned by the the railroads themselves.

One of my favorites is "This is My Railroad" by the Southern Pacific.

Pete

I like “Silver Streak” •  below is the official movie trailer.

This movie was released in 1976. While on a cross-country train ride, overworked book editor George Caldwell (Gene Wilder) begins an unexpected romance with an enigmatic woman named Hilly Burns (Jill Clayburgh). His vacation is interrupted, however, when he witnesses a murder for which he is then accused. The true villains kidnap Hilly and eject Caldwell from the moving train. Desperate, Caldwell teams up with car thief Grover Muldoon (Richard Pryor), and together they must save Hilly while avoiding the police.

It is now playing on: xfinity On Demand.

Gary

Just watched "The Seven-Ups," from 1974, which was on TCM over the weekend. While not a train movie, the climactic action takes place hard by Penn Central trackage in the Bronx, on Erskine Place. A couple GG-1s roll by, one in PC paint, one in Amtrak. And a TurboTrain goes by behind Roy Scheider.

Oh, and for fans of chase scenes, Bill Hickman, the driver of the car Steve McQueen was chasing in "Bullitt," is the lead driver in a chase in this movie. They cross the GWB to Jersey, and then, by magic, they're back on the other side of the Hudson, on the Taconic at the exit for Briarcliff Manor and Millwood.

David

Danger Lights is a good look at steam power in the 30s or 40s.   I understand it was filmed on the Milwaukee road.    Lots of good steam scenes that I remember, but it has been a long time.    The plot was very 30s and the acting very exaggerated as all movies were in those days.   

Another to add to the list is Breakheart Pass.    Filmed on a narrow gauge line.   

Ski Train or something like that. About a runaway mountain train coming down from a ski resort. Show on TV about 1972 ish. Only place I've seen it since is on YouTube. 

The Polar Express is one of the most memorable train movie I remember watching, I know it's new, but man is that movie good.

Berkshire posted:

The Polar Express is one of the most memorable train movie I remember watching, I know it's new, but man is that movie good.

Except,,,,,,,,,it isn't "real", i.e. it was mostly all computer generated.

Well, I see your point. But that movie is pretty good (Aside from the inaccuracies in identifying the locomotive at the beginning of the movie).

Another favorite of mine was, i think it was called Snow Piercer, But I'm not sure if it counts because the train was CGI

Surprised no ones mentioned Unstoppable. Silly at times but I enjoyed it

prrjim posted:

Danger Lights is a good look at steam power in the 30s or 40s.   I understand it was filmed on the Milwaukee road.    Lots of good steam scenes that I remember, but it has been a long time.    The plot was very 30s and the acting very exaggerated as all movies were in those days.   

Another to add to the list is Breakheart Pass.    Filmed on a narrow gauge line.   

Breakheart Pass was actually filmed on the standard gauge Camas Prairie RR with Great Western #75.

Both "Runaway Train" and "Polar Express" were entertaining movies...regardless if they were an "affront" or not "real" to some.  Good choices.  Matt

Once again...It Happened to Jane; also Kansas Pacific; Denver and Rio Grande; Union Pacific; etc.

Phil McCaig posted:

I have to vote for "The Train" with Burt Lancaster.  The man did all his own stunts and did a fine job playing the WWII  part of a French manager who knew all aspects of the operation from yardmaster to mechanic to running a steam engine and outsmarting the Nazis while doing all those trades and even finding time for a little romance. Like any movie it's all make believe but for entertainment value this one is hard to top.

I will set my vote for that one to.

mlavender480 posted:

prrjim posted:

Danger Lights is a good look at steam power in the 30s or 40s.   I understand it was filmed on the Milwaukee road.    Lots of good steam scenes that I remember, but it has been a long time.    The plot was very 30s and the acting very exaggerated as all movies were in those days.   

Another to add to the list is Breakheart Pass.    Filmed on a narrow gauge line.   

Breakheart Pass was actually filmed on the standard gauge Camas Prairie RR with Great Western #75.

I liked that movie very much.Only I noticed the locomotive was a lot bigger than your wood burning steam locomotive.But that is o.k. its still a great movie.

There are hit lists and there are best of lists and there are favorite lists.  So many great movies, tons of good ones, and a lot of turkeys too.  

Here's another list:  https://www.slashfilm.com/the-...probably-never-seen/

and another: https://www.americabyrail.com/...ies-of-All-Time.aspx

What about the recent "The Lone Ranger" movie starring Johnny Depthcharge and Arm & Hammer?  Those incredible film sequences of a couple of old 4-4-0 Americans EACH pulling a string of 24 or more 60' and 80' long baggage cars, combines, and coach cars through the mountains are just the absolute ultimate in realism  and believability , aren't they??? 

Mixed Freight posted:

What about the recent "The Lone Ranger" movie starring Johnny Depthcharge and Arm & Hammer?  Those incredible film sequences of a couple of old 4-4-0 Americans EACH pulling a string of 24 or more 60' and 80' long baggage cars, combines, and coach cars through the mountains are just the absolute ultimate in realism  and believability , aren't they??? 

For all wood mock-ups, yes.

Tough Guys was a great movie

I'm surprised no one has mentioned The Taking Of Pelham 123, 1974.  Remade in 2009.  I'm more familiar with the original release.  What I have seen of the newer version doesn't impress me, although the cast has fine actors.  

Mixed Freight posted:

What about the recent "The Lone Ranger" movie starring Johnny Depthcharge and Arm & Hammer?  Those incredible film sequences of a couple of old 4-4-0 Americans EACH pulling a string of 24 or more 60' and 80' long baggage cars, combines, and coach cars through the mountains are just the absolute ultimate in realism  and believability , aren't they??? 

A much better use of the real thing, models, CGI and a better story:

Rusty

Hot Water posted:

Berkshire posted:

The Polar Express is one of the most memorable train movie I remember watching, I know it's new, but man is that movie good.

Except,,,,,,,,,it isn't "real", i.e. it was mostly all computer generated.

Psst....most of these movies aren't "real" anyhow.   

The #1225 is a real loco. It is a movie. What are the "operating no no's" (besides ice skating in a Berk and such)

  Where does it seem like it might be correct, but really isnt; if it's just an operational rivet count?      Or if easier, were was it correct?

So many great movies mentioned but let me add...

The Great Train Robbery with Sean Connery & Donald Sutherland.

Murder On The Orient Express, the original.

Adriatic posted:

Psst....most of these movies aren't "real" anyhow.   

The #1225 is a real loco. It is a movie. What are the "operating no no's" (besides ice skating in a Berk and such)

  Where does it seem like it might be correct, but really isnt; if it's just an operational rivet count?      Or if easier, were was it correct?

 

I can't really understand what you're trying to say ("Operational rivet count?" "were was it correct??" Huh??), but...Polar Express is a CARTOON. I'd much rather see a train movie with a REAL TRAIN in it. You know, not computer generated?

smd4 posted:

Adriatic posted:

Psst....most of these movies aren't "real" anyhow.   

The #1225 is a real loco. It is a movie. What are the "operating no no's" (besides ice skating in a Berk and such)

  Where does it seem like it might be correct, but really isnt; if it's just an operational rivet count?      Or if easier, were was it correct?

 

I can't really understand what you're trying to say ("Operational rivet count?" "were was it correct??" Huh??), but...Polar Express is a CARTOON. I'd much rather see a train movie with a REAL TRAIN in it. You know, not computer generated?

Oh, I don't know.  Lemony Snicket had a pretty good CGI T1 in it, although I wouldn't classify it as a "train movie," greatest or otherwise:

There was another scene with the T1, but I can't find it on YouTube.

Rusty

I remember that scene vividly. One of my favorites. Also, I know the movie Hugo had a ton of scenes with trains in it, particularly one that mimicked the Montparnasse derailment. I will get a screencap of the movie and show you all that scene if I manage to get my hands on it.

There is also the great train wreck in the movie "The Greatest Show On Earth" starring the venerable James Stewart & Charlton Heston.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ITp_xSaxE

The Railroad portion of  "How the West Was Won"  was pretty good.

Steve

I cannot decide between "White Christmas" and "Emperor of the North". These are the only (2) DVD's I own.

Donald

The Wild Bunch!

And finally, how could we forget the "Marx" Brothers in "Go West" .... pouring liquor down the smokestack to speed up that old woodburner and the popcorn in the firebox.   Groucho leaning out a window of the house that's impaled on that engine saying "there's a lovely fire in the living room".  Harpo sharpening an axe on one of the wheels as they're speeding along.  

Steve24944 posted:

The Railroad portion of  "How the West Was Won"  was pretty good.

Steve

Which reminds me "Once Upon A Time In The West". My top western movie.

balidas posted:

Steve24944 posted:

The Railroad portion of  "How the West Was Won"  was pretty good.

Steve

Which reminds me "Once Upon A Time In The West". My top western movie.

Wasn't that a Spaghetti Western filmed in Spain ?

Steve24944 posted:

balidas posted:

Steve24944 posted:

The Railroad portion of  "How the West Was Won"  was pretty good.

Steve

Which reminds me "Once Upon A Time In The West". My top western movie.

Wasn't that a Spaghetti Western filmed in Spain ?

A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western yes. The opening scene was shot in Spain while the rest of the movie was shot in other parts of Spain as well as Rome & the US.

The opening scene set I want to replicate when I build my layout.

 Claudia Cardinale, Charles Bronson, Peter Fonda, Jason Robards.... how can you go wrong?

Does the 1948 CNJ Promotional "The BIG little Railroad" count?   

As far as CGI, I'm pretty sure the scene in "Unstoppable" where the engine and cars have their wheels lift off the track on one side going around a tight curve wasn't 'real'....

wjstix posted:

As far as CGI, I'm pretty sure the scene in "Unstoppable" where the engine and cars have their wheels lift off the track on one side going around a tight curve wasn't 'real'....

Bingo. 

The laws of physics and gravity wouldn't allow it.  Swell melodrama, bad science.

Rusty

What movie had a Southern Pacific (I think) run the border into Mexico at the end? It was a pretty good scene.

balidas posted:

There is also the great train wreck in the movie "The Greatest Show On Earth" starring the venerable James Stewart & Charlton Heston.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ITp_xSaxE

Yes . The clip doesn't show the engineer whistling  out the flag  ________  __ __ __ and the rear brakeman heading out to protect the rear of the train just before the tail end collision. Great movie.

My vote goes to The Train tied with Von Ryans Express with the Emperor of the North a close second.

Breakheart Pass another great one with Charles Bronson.  I will also agree with previous posts, The Train and Von Ryan's Express are also favorites.

GVDobler posted:

What movie had a Southern Pacific (I think) run the border into Mexico at the end? It was a pretty good scene.

That would have been the movie "Tough Guys", staring SP 4449, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Eli Wallic (sp), Charles Durning, and a host of others, like Doyle McCormack and the rest of us on the 4449 crew (behind the scenes anyway). For what it's worth, this movie is now finally, after being done in 1986, available on BluRay DVD, through Amazon.  

My favorites are Emperor of the North, Von Ryan's Express, and the Train. All three classics. My favorite Christmas movie with a train is White Christmas with Bing Crosby. I think in White Christmas they show footage of a Santa Fe with palm trees. I guess in the movie Santa Fe was in Florida but it is okay with me. In my basement Santa Fe runs right next to the Monon, the N&W, the Katy, etc.  All good fun. We grew up listening to Bing Crosby and White Christmas Album and it is still our favorite Christmas music. Brings back memories of Christmas from my youth. 

Dean

Hot Water posted:

That would have been the movie "Tough Guys", staring SP 4449, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Eli Wallic (sp), Charles Durning, and a host of others, like Doyle McCormack and the rest of us on the 4449 crew (behind the scenes anyway). For what it's worth, this movie is now finally, after being done in 1986, available on BluRay DVD, through Amazon.  

I've read a handful of hobby press articles on the making of that movie.  Do you have any particular stories you'd care to share?

Here's another vote for "Emperor of the North".
For those concerned about a film without 'real' locomotives and/or trains...the equipment used to make "Emperor of the North" is about a real as it gets.

Pardon me if I miss your Thanksgiving dinner, I'll be riding the '19' to Portland.

Another wreck scene, this one from "The Train," featuring actual engines and rolling stock (no models or CGI).  Can only imagine what would be involved if a producer tried to stage something like this today. 

The Natural,  has a locomotive in the early scenes starting at 6:50 into the film.  I cannot determine if it is a Mikado or a Northern.  The number plate on the front of the loco is visible briefly, but again I cannot make it out.

https://youtu.be/Y-wVvVk7E6o

How can we forget Buster Keaton in 'The General" .  Years later he did this film called "The Railrodder".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiqqxyZeDXo

Both Trains and Railfan and Railroad had extensive stories on the making of "Tough Guys". A full size mockup was made of the 4449 and it was buried in sand up to the  walkways.

When the 4449 was heading down to make the movie, we were able to pace it at 60 mph between San Jose and Morgan Hill.

“Danger Lights” is one of the best movies with real railroad locations and action. 

I caught “Murder in the Private Car” on TCM last week.  Lots of 1930’s Southern Pacific fun!

My favorite though is “It Happened to Jane” with Doris Day, Jack Lemmon, and the last surviving New Haven Steam Locomotive!

Jon  

This  scene on the locomotive from "La Bete humaine"(1938) is great:

Note at 2:00 the use of  a water scoop.

And there is more in the remainder of the movie (also on YouTube) which is about an French steam locomotive engineer.

Regards

Fred

This crops up:

Rusty

Tough Guys is one of my favorites with one of my favorite actors, Kirk Douglass.  There are many I like, and many I don't, including the horrible one with Wilford Brimley where they steal a loco.

However, in recent years my favorite movie with lots of real train action (which I saw because of my son but glad I did) was Paddington 2 which featured the Tornado.  Train station scene starts at about 3:25.  While there is much CGI, the trains are real along with most of the train action.

How could anyone overlook "Broadway Limited?"

Absolutely dreadful movie with a number of fine scenes of PRR equipment.

sncf231e posted:

This  scene on the locomotive from "La Bete humaine"(1938) is great:

Note at 2:00 the use of  a water scoop.

And there is more in the remainder of the movie (also on YouTube) which is about an French steam locomotive engineer.

Regards

Fred

Video does not play

Rusty Traque posted:

This crops up:

Rusty

Video does not play

1 - The Train 

1- Von Ryans Express

3 - Silver Streak

easy

Rusty Traque posted:

wjstix posted:

As far as CGI, I'm pretty sure the scene in "Unstoppable" where the engine and cars have their wheels lift off the track on one side going around a tight curve wasn't 'real'....

Bingo. 

The laws of physics and gravity wouldn't allow it.  Swell melodrama, bad science.

Rusty

I agree, once the science goes wrong, the movie is a total loss.

I didn't see any mention of Switchback with Danny Glover and Dennis Quaid. Good train scenes in that one.

Another is Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Steven Seagal.

Those don't make my top 5, but they are worth noting.

For me it's Emperor of The North, The Train, Von Ryan's Express.

Dan Padova posted:

sncf231e posted:

This  scene on the locomotive from "La Bete humaine"(1938) is great:

Note at 2:00 the use of  a water scoop.

And there is more in the remainder of the movie (also on YouTube) which is about an French steam locomotive engineer.

Regards

Fred

Video does not play

I am sorry; it does play from my location (Netherlands); I tried to find another copy, but there isn't.

Regards

Fred

Just saw a title for a train movie..."One More Train To Rob" with George Peppard. Never watched it so I can't comment.

Then there's "Money Train" with Wesley Snipes & Woody Harrelson.

And come to think of it, the movie "The Wild Wild West" with the most beautiful Selma Hayak.

Just watched The Day the Earth Stood Still again. In one scene the boy rolls a train layout out from under his bed with a Lionel set, runs it blows the whistle and etc. until Klaatu enters and offers to tell him about trains that run with out rails.

sncf231e posted:

Dan Padova posted:

sncf231e posted:

This  scene on the locomotive from "La Bete humaine"(1938) is great:

Note at 2:00 the use of  a water scoop.

And there is more in the remainder of the movie (also on YouTube) which is about an French steam locomotive engineer.

Regards

Fred

Video does not play

I am sorry; it does play from my location (Netherlands); I tried to find another copy, but there isn't.

Regards

Fred

I believe this is the scene you have pasted into your post.  I'm not sure what is happening in the clip.  A man is walking on the tracks.  The fireman sees something.  Then at the end of the clip, another man wearing a hat walks by a trackside shanty. 

https://youtu.be/8HkAuF1M0p4

Lots of Good picks. There are many on my Train movie list:

The Great Locomotive Chase 1956- Fess Parker. Classic Disney Civil War

The Denver and Rio Grande- 1952-Edmund O’Brien. Battle among competing Railroads.

Narrow Margin 1952 -Charles McGraw or the remake 1990 with Gene Hackman. A good guy protects the witness.

Northwest Frontier -1959-Kenneth Moore & Lauren Bacall. Great stream locomotive runs thru high desert country of India followed by bad guys. This is a hidden gem of a movie.

Human Desire-1954- Glen Ford, Broderick Crawford, Gloria Grahame, Railroad guys battle over a woman.

Any of the Murder on the Orient Express. Agatha Christie mystery.

Happy Thanksgiving 

Seacoast posted:

Lots of Good picks. There are many on my Train movie list:

The Great Locomotive Chase 1956- Fess Parker. Classic Disney Civil War

The Denver and Rio Grande- 1952-Edmund O’Brien. Battle among competing Railroads.

Narrow Margin 1952 -Charles McGraw or the remake 1990 with Gene Hackman. A good guy protects the witness.

Northwest Frontier -1959-Kenneth Moore & Lauren Bacall. Great stream locomotive runs thru high desert country of India followed by bad guys. This is a hidden gem of a movie.

Human Desire-1954- Glen Ford, Broderick Crawford, Gloria Grahame, Railroad guys battle over a woman.

Any of the Murder on the Orient Express. Agatha Christie mystery.

Happy Thanksgiving 

Dang! Looks like I need to do some more collecting. I keep thinking there's a movie set in a foreign country in perhaps the 1800's involving an escape by train starring Humphrey Bogart. I seen it some time ago but cannot remember the name.

In 1932 there was a movie called "The Hurricane Express" starring a very young John Wayne.

Dan Padova posted:

sncf231e posted:

Dan Padova posted:

sncf231e posted:

 

 

 

I believe this is the scene you have pasted into your post.  

No, it is not. As I said: I tried to find another copy, but there isn't.

Regards

Fred

Another overlooked movie, Dark of the Sun:

Mercenaries hired to retrieve a fortune in diamonds during revolution.  The train will get wrecked (no models, no CGI) towards the end of the movie.

Rusty

"Emperor of the North" is my favorite railroad movie.

I just found this one about the Big Boy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8gnK9JaU7Y

Trussman posted:

"Emperor of the North" is my favorite railroad movie.

 

I just found this one about the Big Boy.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8gnK9JaU7Y

 

I have to chuckle on how an early NBC TV drama from the Lucky Strike Theater is now an "educational documentary." 

I still have this on VHS from the olden days of 1997, bought it from Pentrex.  Doesn't appear to be in their catalog anymore.

Rusty

Another vote for Emperor of the North! How could you go wrong with both Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine, two masters of their craft! And they both had comedic chops as well in Cat Ballou and McHale's Navy respectively!

The Little known and a good storyline with plenty of train and action. Ken Moore and Lauren Bacall.

Click on link below. You can even watch the full movie on YouTube for free.

Northwest Frontier 1959

Breakheart Pass starring the inimitable and intimidating Charles Bronson and also his wife, Jill Ireland. A film critic once described Bronson as a "housebroken Attila the Hun" for his "tough guy" rolls!

Seacoast posted:

The Little known and a good storyline with plenty of train and action. Ken Moore and Lauren Bacall.

Click on link below. You can even watch the full movie on YouTube for free.

Northwest Frontier 1959

Also known as "Flame over India."

Rusty

Seacoast posted:

The Little known and a good storyline with plenty of train and action. Ken Moore and Lauren Bacall.

Click on link below. You can even watch the full movie on YouTube for free.

Northwest Frontier 1959

This is the movie I was referring to in a previous post about a train movie with Bogey. This is a good movie.

balidas posted:

Seacoast posted:

The Little known and a good storyline with plenty of train and action. Ken Moore and Lauren Bacall.

Click on link below. You can even watch the full movie on YouTube for free.

Northwest Frontier 1959

This is the movie I was referring to in a previous post about a train movie with Bogey. This is a good movie.

????

Bogey is nowhere to be found in the cast & crew of North West Frontier. 

I can't think of any "train movie" Humphrey Bogart starred in.

Rusty

No he's not in this or any other train movie but Lauren Bacall is so anytime I see Lauren Bacall I think of Bogie.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

wjstix posted:

As far as CGI, I'm pretty sure the scene in "Unstoppable" where the engine and cars have their wheels lift off the track on one side going around a tight curve wasn't 'real'....

Bingo. 

The laws of physics and gravity wouldn't allow it.  Swell melodrama, bad science.

Rusty

I agree, once the science goes wrong, the movie is a total loss.

I didn't see any mention of Switchback with Danny Glover and Dennis Quaid. Good train scenes in that one.

Another is Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Steven Seagal.

Those don't make my top 5, but they are worth noting.

For me it's Emperor of The North, The Train, Von Ryan's Express.

I liked Switchback as well. Not great, but very good, as you say. I thought it told the story of itinerant railroad men quite well. 

Has anyone noticed a pattern among the movies that several participants have nominated as the all-time greatest train feature? Films including Breakheart Pass, Emperor of the North, Unstoppable and Once Upon a Time in the West all open with an approaching train, and end with a scene of the same train, although usually several days later.  The Train doesn't include railroad images in the opening scene because the art theft theme has to be established, but the trainload of stolen paintings figures into the plot early enough to fit this pattern. An exception may be Bad Day at Black Rock where the same Southern Pacific Daylight train appears in the opening and closing scenes, but no time in between.

Gil Hulin

Still Polar Express For me. The little o gauge layout under the tree at the end made me smile. It's attention to detail that seals the deal for me.

There is a western titled "Denver and Rio Grande".  It is a story about fighting for right of way between the D&RG and the ATSF back in the day.  This movie was made in the early 50's and was true to events as they really happened.  The Santa Fe did not seem to fare well as to it's business practices,ha,ha. 

Entertaining train movie and western.

Norm 

Norm posted:

There is a western titled "Denver and Rio Grande".  It is a story about fighting for right of way between the D&RG and the ATSF back in the day.  This movie was made in the early 50's and was true to events as they really happened.  The Santa Fe did not seem to fare well as to it's business practices,ha,ha. 

Entertaining train movie and western.

Norm 

The other side of the coin: Santa Fe (1951) Randolph Scott, Janis Carter, Jerome Courtland.  The D&RGW is the"bad guy" in this one...

From IMDb:

After the Civil War four brothers who fought for the South head west. Yanks are building the Santa Fe Railroad and one of the brothers joins them. The other three still hold their hatred of the North and join up with those trying to stop the railroad's completion. The one brother unsuccessfully tries to keep the other brothers out of trouble but eventually has to join the posse that is after them.

Rusty

Norm posted:

There is a western titled "Denver and Rio Grande".  It is a story about fighting for right of way between the D&RG and the ATSF back in the day.  This movie was made in the early 50's and was true to events as they really happened.  The Santa Fe did not seem to fare well as to it's business practices,ha,ha. 

Entertaining train movie and western.

Norm 

One my favorites Paul Fix is also in it as Monahan the train engineer.

Hello friends,

I don't want to drive this train too far off topic, and I agree with most of the top picks such as "The Train" and "Breakheart Pass," but since we have also cited such movies as " Le Bête Humaine" and the "Polar Express," I would like to mention three of the many movies featuring trains that are particularly high on my list.  I first saw these movies years ago, and I believe they actually influenced the direction taken by my interest in toy trains.  These films were: 

Bad Day at Black Rock

Toccata for Toy Trains

Pacific 231

Gil has already mentioned "Bad Day at Black Rock" above.  It is a great movie with a stellar cast, but the streamliners that open and close the movie have stuck with me since first seeing the film on the recommendation of my Dad who grew up in SP country (Oregon) and who himself was a veteran of WW2.  I have since learned, of course, that FT locos did not pull Daylight streamlined cars, that the paint scheme of the A and B units had not yet been used by the SP in late 1945 when the movie is set and that the horn blast and hand signals used during the sequences were all wrong, but seeing that relatively short, streamlined passenger train pull up to a tiny station in a tiny town, looked like a scene right out of my various floor layouts that I imagined it to be as a kid.

Not long after getting out my old toy trains and taking my first tentative steps to becoming a "toy train collector," I came across a VHS video of "Toccata for Toy Trains" (This was well before the advent of the internet and YouTube!)  This well known, short 1957 film by Charles and Ray Eames makes creative use of antique toy trains and other trains set to a wonderful score by the incomparable Elmer Bernstein.  Again, I found myself drawn into the world of toy trains as they relate to the larger world, not always as accurate scale miniatures, but also as representing a world seen through the eyes of a child and toys of our youth.  All this set to a great score.

On the same VHS tape as the Eames film was the even shorter French film "Pacific 231."  Like the train scenes from the 1938 movie "Le Bête Humaine" previously mentioned on this topic, the film "Pacific 231" shows big steam railroading in France in 1949 set to the music of a 1923 composition by Arthur Honegger of the same name.  The filmmaker used innovative camera work along with expert editing to create a piece that not only documents the operation of a powerful steam locomotive, but also seamlessly follows the music to the point that one could believe that the music was actually written to score the film. 

Any time I can combine good filmmaking, great music and trains, both real and toy, is a win, win, win for me.

Cheers!

Alan

The Great Train Robbery: a Sean Connery movie that has great scenes featuring a preserved Irish 0-6-0 dressed up to look like a period 2-2-2. 

https://www.steamtrainsireland...-collection/10/no184

If you like handcars "They Came To Cordura" with Gary Cooper.

John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor, Ben Johnson "The Train Robbers" 1973

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, baby!

Seacoast posted:

Norm posted:

There is a western titled "Denver and Rio Grande".  It is a story about fighting for right of way between the D&RG and the ATSF back in the day.  This movie was made in the early 50's and was true to events as they really happened.  The Santa Fe did not seem to fare well as to it's business practices,ha,ha. 

Entertaining train movie and western.

Norm 

One my favorites Paul Fix is also in it as Monahan the train engineer.

I always get a kick during the head on collision that the tenders exploded...

Rusty

Berkshire posted:

The Polar Express is one of the most memorable train movie I remember watching, I know it's new, but man is that movie good.

I wound up watching it because I was with my girlfriend who was babysitting her grand-rug-rats.

C'mon, great movie? 

Maybe if you're ten years old.

Nick Chillianis posted:

Berkshire posted:

The Polar Express is one of the most memorable train movie I remember watching, I know it's new, but man is that movie good.

 

The Polar Express is actually quite creepy, given the "dead eyes" look of most of the characters.

Nick Chillianis posted:

Berkshire posted:

The Polar Express is one of the most memorable train movie I remember watching, I know it's new, but man is that movie good.

I wound up watching it because I was with my girlfriend who was babysitting her grand-rug-rats.

C'mon, great movie? 

Maybe if you're ten years old.

Not our fault if you chose to outgrow having fun.

Adriatic posted:

Nick Chillianis posted:

Berkshire posted:

The Polar Express is one of the most memorable train movie I remember watching, I know it's new, but man is that movie good.

I wound up watching it because I was with my girlfriend who was babysitting her grand-rug-rats.

C'mon, great movie? 

Maybe if you're ten years old.

Not our fault if you chose to outgrow having fun.

Polar Express is OK.  But just OK.

Personally, I find the old Rankin-Bass Christmas specials fun.

Rusty

Murder in the Private Car is on TCM as I type this. VERY GOOD movie

Toccata for Toy Trains is the true art film of toy trains and nothing else comes close. The filmakers were the famous designer team of Charles and Ray Eames, with a beautiful score by Elmer Bernstein. The collection of vintage toys are staged so creatively, and the camera work is uniquely unsurpassed, especially in a non-digital age! Finally, the narration has a poetic quality that matches the music quite well. A true gem, worth repeated viewings!

I really like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when young Indiana was on the circus train. That was great! I also liked North by Northwest when they were on the 20th Century Limited. There are a lot of good movies that showcase scenes with trains. I even enjoy Back to the Future III. 

Gentlemen,

IMO the best train movie ever made was Night Passage, because of General Jimmy Stewart and SGT Audie Murphy.  The open air rolling stock and old coach cars are just incredible.  

PCRR/Dave

Then I realized I was holding the bravest man who ever lived in my arms - Jimmy Stewart

nikkormat posted:

Murder in the Private Car is on TCM as I type this. VERY GOOD movie

Just finished watching it.

Gentlemen,

IMO the best train movie ever made was Night Passage, because of General Jimmy Stewart and SGT Audie Murphy.  The open air rolling stock and old coach cars are just incredible.  

PCRR/Dave

Then I realized I was holding the bravest man who ever lived in my arms - Jimmy Stewart

High praise from the General!  Jimmy's & his wife Elaine were close friends with my parents.  Audie Murphy was my military career mentor, and my Fathers good friend.  No train movie will ever top this one for me.

[URL=http://www.jpgbox.com/page/55676_800x600/][IMG]http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/55676_800x600.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Addams Family comes to mind; though the Lionel trains did not figure prominently, they made quite an impression on me from an early age. I took pride in collecting and running the NP passenger train.

Octopussy starring Sir Roger Moore as James Bond.  Some great train action in that movie.

bobdavisnpf posted:

Addams Family comes to mind; though the Lionel trains did not figure prominently, they made quite an impression on me from an early age. I took pride in collecting and running the NP passenger train.

"The Modern Coal Burning Steam Locomotive" by the N&W Railway!

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Gentlemen,

IMO the best train movie ever made was Night Passage, because of General Jimmy Stewart and SGT Audie Murphy.  The open air rolling stock and old coach cars are just incredible.  

PCRR/Dave

Then I realized I was holding the bravest man who ever lived in my arms - Jimmy Stewart

High praise from the General!  Jimmy's & his wife Elaine were close friends with my parents.  Audie Murphy was my military career mentor, and my Fathers good friend.  No train movie will ever top this one for me.

[URL=http://www.jpgbox.com/page/55676_800x600/][IMG]http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/55676_800x600.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I too grew up with Jimmy Stewart and his wife, although to us she was Gloria. I have his autograph hanging in my office here at home. He would walk his dog past our house almost every day when I was a kid and I finally worked up the nerve to ask him for his autograph (neighbors weren't supposed to do that :-)

Rusty Traque posted:

Adriatic posted:

Nick Chillianis posted:

Berkshire posted:

The Polar Express is one of the most memorable train movie I remember watching, I know it's new, but man is that movie good.

I wound up watching it because I was with my girlfriend who was babysitting her grand-rug-rats.

C'mon, great movie? 

Maybe if you're ten years old.

Not our fault if you chose to outgrow having fun.

Polar Express is OK.  But just OK.

Personally, I find the old Rankin-Bass Christmas specials fun.

Rusty

My daughter (who I started reading PE to in 1988) took my 3yo granddaughter and I on Saturday. It was much better suited to her than most early-childhood movies: rich scene depictions, plenty of good deeds and well-meaning, lots of belief in higher ideals, no implied violence, relatively little death-defying suspense, an almost complete lack of vindictive plotting, and very little dishonesty. As I read the book, I've always imagined it best as a 30-minute "featurette". But it works much better for young kids than I had expected, and far better than any other feature-length adapted childrens' story I've seen before.

Its inclusion of book-exact dialogue, complete with scenes to match the pictures, really helped. When she got antsy and said it was time to go, I said "no, there's still 2 pages to go - remember?" She did, and settled down to watch the final 10 minutes of the story.

Night Passage (1957) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4gCFpP2aWQ

Anything with with Jimmy Stewart is Excellent. I met him in Telluride, Colorado.

The original trailer in high definition of Night Passage directed by James Neilson and starring James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Dianne Foster, Brandon De Wilde and Elaine Stewart.

Gary

James Stewart, Cary Grant, Humphery Bogart, james Cagney and a few others were all very talented gentlemen, who graced the silver screen in many memorable roles. Stewart flew bombing missions during WWII, and went on to become an Air Force General.

Saturday Night at The Movies • I have seen this movie back in the day. Wanted to watch it again, this movie combines one of my favorite actors and trains.  I did a search on all the free and paid channels on xfinity & Netflix. Not available at this time.

Went to my local public library and they had a DVD copy, brought it home and we watched the movie, in theater mode. Had a favorite snack from a Michigan candy company, Sayklly’s, making candy for over 100 years. The Yooper Bar.

Gary: Rail-fan

There's one I have to see.  Thanks.   BTW, what's in a yooper bar?

Not really movies, but Clive Cusslee wrote some good books in the Isaac Bell series that include some really detailed railroading of the early 1900s. Mostly based on the SP. 

NS6770Fan posted:

Not really movies, but Clive Cusslee wrote some good books in the Isaac Bell series that include some really detailed railroading of the early 1900s. Mostly based on the SP. 

I was always fond of Dirk Pitt in Night Probe.

Just watched "Lady on a Train".  New York venue. Snipets of electrics and finally a steamer at the end. Entertaining movie but not a great train movie.

Sounds like this thread should be re-titled to "Greatest movies that show a train in a couple of scenes."

May not be the greatest movie, but Unstoppable was on cable the other day, lots of action,

Oldmike

Runaway Train. Runaway Train  1985.   Super thrilling prison break action film.

If any of you get the THIS TV Channel, tonight's movie at 8pm is:

Tom 

One of my all time favourite Christmas movies, White Christmas features a pair of passenger trains. This is what I found when I did some research;

"The first glimpse of a real train follows a dining car scene. It's a daytime scene darkened to appear like it's at night, and it shows a long Santa Fe streamlined train behind four Santa Fe warbonnet F-units, (A-B-B-A) running alongside the ocean in front of palm trees apparently meant to suggest "Florida" but undoubtedly actually on Santa Fe's "Surf Line." The next scene, depicting a daytime segment of the trip, shows a Southern Pacific passenger train, with an A-B-B set of F-units in Black Widow paint, followed by several heavyweight head end cars and a string of heavyweight passenger cars."

  I've never seen it before, but an old black&white...40s?... "Christmas Eve" is about to come on right now on "The Movies" TV station.  Something about a goofy millionaire and shows a dinner table train scene in the preview/trailer.

MNCW posted:

If any of you get the THIS TV Channel, tonight's movie at 8pm is:

Tom 

 

I still think this original version is better than the remake.

Dan, 

 I agree. Merry Christmas. 

Tom 

While not a train movie, The Greatest Show on Earth, has a train crash. Have not seen since the 50's. oldmike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ITp_xSaxE

One of my favorite train movies "The Narrow Margin" is on Movies! TV Network today at 11:30 PM here in the east. A noir film that takes place almost totally on the train from Chicago to LA and several scenes in stations.

Scotie,

  Yes, that's one of my favorites, too. Thanks for the "heads-up." 

Tom 

If you folks like murder mysteries set on trains (or at least some portion), TCM has a couple tonight.

• 8pm- Murder She Said (1961), Miss Marple, the Agatha Christie character 
• 11:15- The Lady Vanishes (1938). Early Hitchcock! 

Tom 

As many have mentioned, "the Train" and "Emperor of the North" are two of the all time great train films.

I would add Disney's "Great Locomotive Chase" also very good is "Making the Great Locomotive Chase" view able on YouTube.

While not a commercial movie, "Daylight Express" is excellent.

MNCW posted:

If you folks like murder mysteries set on trains (or at least some portion), TCM has a couple tonight.

• 8pm- Murder She Said (1961), Miss Marple, the Agatha Christie character 
• 11:15- The Lady Vanishes (1938). Early Hitchcock! 

Tom 

Tom, Miss Marple is a classic and we are watching it now, thanks.

Yes, I've seen several of the Miss Marple movies. Glad you can enjoy it. 

Tom 

Just watched a good WWII spy movie on YouTube which mostly takes place on a train. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock "The Lady Vanishes"          j

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdRkq2v3ezY

" This Property is Condemned": A fair bit of train shots, since Robert Redford works for "the" railway...speaking of Redford: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

"The Heat of the Night": Opening and closing shots of GM&O(?)

"Valley Of the Dolls": Opening scenes with NYC RS3.

I prefer the last two, as the shots are of "real" trains, not staged for the film... 

Mark in Oregon

@Trinity River Bottoms Boomer posted:

Run for Cover, Western, 1955, starring James Cagney. 

 

Just watched that last night earlier in the evening on local TV. They seem to run that movie about once a month so I have seen it several times. Not enough screen time for trains is the only flaw.  However just after Run for Cover ended I found The Lady Vanishes on YouTube. Eighty percent of the movie takes place on a train and they cut to exterior shots fairly often.          j

Terrible railroading from a not so great train movie, Atomic Train:

Rusty

The Train with Burt Lancaster, 

Von Ryan's Express with Frank Sinatra, 

The General with Buster Keaton,  and any 3 Stooges short that had the lion walking through the Pullman. 

Sorry, fat fingers.

ROCKY passed a Conrail switcher, and ran under the Rockville Bridge.

Didn't anyone else see the Marx Brothers in 'Go West'?  They staged a chase scene with a wood-burning steam engine.  Good stuff.  Chopped up the coaches for firewood.  

I'm a huge fan of the Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. One of my favorites takes place on a train, the 1946 movie Terror by Night.

@third rail posted:

The Train with Burt Lancaster, 

Von Ryan's Express with Frank Sinatra, 

The General with Buster Keaton,  and any 3 Stooges short that had the lion walking through the Pullman. 

Sorry, fat fingers.

The General and The Train are definitely on my list - also The RailRodder with Keaton crossing Canada on a speeder. 

@Dominic Mazoch posted:

ROCKY passed a Conrail switcher, and ran under the Rockville Bridge.

Correction:  Bridge 69 on the NE Corridor.  

There is an old old one called "Danger LIghts".    The acting is typical 1930s very exaggerated.    I don't think it is the greatest.    However, there are many great scenes of steam on the Milwaukee Road I believe.    There is one series of shots of a big Steam Wreck Crane doing some rerailing too.   If is fun movie for the train scenes.

Not so much a "railroad movie," but the gang at Disney doing sound effects for Casey Jr.

Rusty

Rails Into Laramie is a western in color made in 1954 that stars John Payne and Dan Duryea. Payne plays an army sergeant who is ordered into a town to investigate repeated sabotage at the rail-head and it turns out an old friend is involved. Some nice shots of 1870s vintage railroad equipment though much of the movie is of personal interaction between Payne and Duryea and does not include trains.            j

@Trinity River Bottoms Boomer posted:

Human Desire (Glenn Ford is the engineer on the passenger rain) is loosely based on Le Bete Humaine, and was filmed 16 years (1954) after it's French counterpart.  Looks like there are several train shots taken from PR railroad promotional movies, however, the Alco FA ABBA set that Ford runs appears to have been given a special paint job especially for the movie.  In the original French release, the steam locomotive is cut off the train after it reaches its final destination, and runs to the roundhouse.  In Human Desire, the lead FA is cut off the ABBA set and heads for the roundhouse by itself with Ford at the throttle???  Hooray for Hollywood......LOL

Yes!  Human Desire doesn't just use a train as a set for characters who are traveling.  It is about railroaders.

Broderick Crawford is perfectly cast as an iron-pants railroad official of the 1950's, in a brown suit and a fedora.  Glenn Ford is cast as a fairly young Locomotive Engineer, who holds a regular assignment on a passenger train.  (In reality, passenger service was highly sought after by those at the top of the seniority list, and Engineers Ford's age could not hold it in most places.)  Since it is about railroaders, there has to be a woman of easy virtue, and who could be better to portray her than Gloria Grahame?

The studio constructed a set that was supposed to look like the cab interior of an EMD F-unit, and actually does have some of the equipment from a real locomotive.

@OldMike posted:

While not a train movie, The Greatest Show on Earth, has a train crash. Have not seen since the 50's. oldmike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ITp_xSaxE

The Greatest Show on Earth is a great train movie because it also gives an intimate look a RBBB Circus in it's hey day.  Discovered it late -- just a few years ago and have watched it several times-- because I saw 3 of the last real RBBB Circuses and want to incorporate a circus scene along with my RBBB K-Line cars.

One of my favorite train movies was Silver Streak -- a Gene Wilder classic.

@Seacoast posted:

Lots of Good picks. There are many on my Train movie list:

The Great Locomotive Chase 1956- Fess Parker. Classic Disney Civil War

The Denver and Rio Grande- 1952-Edmund O’Brien. Battle among competing Railroads.

Narrow Margin 1952 -Charles McGraw or the remake 1990 with Gene Hackman. A good guy protects the witness.

Northwest Frontier -1959-Kenneth Moore & Lauren Bacall. Great stream locomotive runs thru high desert country of India followed by bad guys. This is a hidden gem of a movie.

Human Desire-1954- Glen Ford, Broderick Crawford, Gloria Grahame, Railroad guys battle over a woman.

Any of the Murder on the Orient Express. Agatha Christie mystery.

Happy Thanksgiving

I watched the Denver and Rio Grande Movie last night, (was an "on demand" movie on Xfinity with no extra charge, I also see it listed as an Amazon prime movie)..  Its about the building of the railroad, lots and lots of train action, most of it narrow gauge.  Also has a actual crash of two engines (they look like generals).   Its in color, lot of great railroad track scenes and amazing scenery from the Colorado Rockies.   Found it highly entertaining and a nice distraction.  Best, Dave

Some great ones listed here. I enjoyed these "less than classics but featuring nice train footage."

100 RIFLES...Revolution in Mexico (actually Spain) featuring Raquel Welch, Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, and a great battle involving a train.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063970/

BANDIDO, another Mexican revolution film starring Robert Mitchum has another great battle scene involving a train.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048983/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

DUCK, YOU SUCKER,  and another psuedo Mexican film featuring a train. Lee Marvin, Rod Steiger, and a bunch of dynamite!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067140/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

@Former Member posted:

I watched the Denver and Rio Grande Movie last night, Also has a actual crash of two engines (they look like generals). 

Not even close.

Is it really that easy to think that a wagon-top boilered 4-4-0 American (not "General") looks the same as a straight-boiler 2-8-0 Consolidation? What are the similarities? That both have wheels?

@smd4 posted:

Not even close.

Is it really that easy to think that a wagon-top boilered 4-4-0 American (not "General") looks the same as a straight-boiler 2-8-0 Consolidation? What are the similarities? That both have wheels?

At least they were painted "Bumble Bee."

Well, they were built in 1881.  At least they didn't use any of the K-class mikados.  Plus, seeing there were no operable narrow gauge 4-4-0's at the time the movie was made, ya gotta go with what ya's got.

What I got a kick out of was during the head-on collision, the tenders exploded.  Mighty unstable water out there...

Rusty

I just watched White Christmas (1954) and really enjoyed the brief scene of an SP mail train pulled by A-B-B F7's on a super elevated curve.

@Number 90 posted:

I just watched White Christmas (1954) and really enjoyed the brief scene of an SP mail train pulled by A-B-B F7's on a super elevated curve.

And wasn't that supposed to be in Vermont?!

Yes.  They board the AT & SF in Miami, and step off the SP in Vermont.

Jon

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Yes.  They board the AT & SF in Miami, and step off the SP in Vermont.

Jon

Just like when Fonzi and the gang went from Milwaukee to California via the Pennsylvania with a GG1.

Rusty

I liked the episode of the Waltons were Jonboy says goodbye to his girl friend and the locomotive is SP 3025 in Griffith Park, CA  not West Virginia! But they made it look real. Engineer, steam etc.

White Heat from 1949.  James Cagney and his gang rob an SP mail train in the beginning of the movie.

Also, Tough guys from 1986.  Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster rob the special train pulled by the 4449.  I haven't seen that movie in a long time but, if I'm not mistaken, Doyle McCormick makes a cameo as the engineer.

There’s a few interior shots in Rocky where you can hear the chuffing and whistle of a steam engine go by in1977!

@Bryan Smith posted:

Here's another vote for "Emperor of the North".
For those concerned about a film without 'real' locomotives and/or trains...the equipment used to make "Emperor of the North" is about a real as it gets.

Pardon me if I miss your Thanksgiving dinner, I'll be riding the '19' to Portland.

Including the Conrail boxcars!

This is by no means a great movie and only contains 1 scene with an O-gauge train, which is promptly destroyed.

I watched it for only the 2nd time the other night, the 1st being way back in 1980 while in the Navy.

It is Steve McQueen's 'The Hunter', his last film, and probably his worst, although I found it enjoyable. In the film's beginning, he attempts to subdue a rather large fellow while a Lionel train steams around on the floor. I had completely forgotten about the train.

Here's a video of the fight. It doesn't include Steve walking through and kneeling.

https://youtu.be/9K6vQ9BryOI