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I just recently purchased the DVD (I loved this latest version of the movie!) and it included some really amazing bonus features.  That coupled with what I've read about the making of the movie, they really did some great visuals with the train.

First off, they built what amounted to 2 complete trains for the filming.  That included building a replica of the 241 type loco and Wagon-Lits cars (which was one nitpick I had: the observation balcony at the end of the train, which I don't think ever existed!)

The loco and cars were shuttled back and forth by a diesel locomotive or sometimes other power they could find, with the 241 loco having some extra rolling "casters" to help the driving wheels move more freely with the siderods attached.

The exterior shots were filmed I believe in Italy, when you see the train moving, as well as when the train is snowbound.

There was another train made, housed in a studio in England.  For that, they filmed almost 360-degree landscape on track running in Switzerland, then showed it on screens through the windows of the cars for filming of interior scenes.  The actors said it was unsettling to be on a soundstage, then feel like they were on a moving train, since the screens completely surrounded each car and looked like they were moving!

 

Hope this helps!

Eddie Marra posted:

I just recently purchased the DVD (I loved this latest version of the movie!) and it included some really amazing bonus features.  That coupled with what I've read about the making of the movie, they really did some great visuals with the train.

First off, they built what amounted to 2 complete trains for the filming.  That included building a replica of the 241 type loco and Wagon-Lits cars (which was one nitpick I had: the observation balcony at the end of the train, which I don't think ever existed!)

The loco and cars were shuttled back and forth by a diesel locomotive or sometimes other power they could find, with the 241 loco having some extra rolling "casters" to help the driving wheels move more freely with the siderods attached.

The exterior shots were filmed I believe in Italy, when you see the train moving, as well as when the train is snowbound.

There was another train made, housed in a studio in England.  For that, they filmed almost 360-degree landscape on track running in Switzerland, then showed it on screens through the windows of the cars for filming of interior scenes.  The actors said it was unsettling to be on a soundstage, then feel like they were on a moving train, since the screens completely surrounded each car and looked like they were moving!

 

Hope this helps!

Wow.  I assumed they used a loco from some European tourist train.  Built a complete replica... hope they filmed that as well!  I read that elsewhere about the soundstage.  That would be a pretty cool feature to add to a man cave or train room

Actually, the loco is a replica of the 241A locomotive, linked below:

https://dieter-holliger.jimdo.com/

http://www.voisin.ch/vvt/mater...tres/241-a-65_e.html

There is a YouTube video with Kenneth Branagh, where he takes someone on a tour of the train, starting with the engine (he says, "As you can see, this is a little more serious looking than Thomas!") and into the dining cars.

Also, here is a video of them filming the actual 241A loco, to use for some shots in the movie:

There are other people on here who know much more about the actual train than I do, but since I really liked the movie, I have been finding out all I can about how they filmed it!

Garrett76:

        Anytime you want more information on ANY movie (old or new) go to the International Movie Data Base- www.imdb.com  Just enter the film's title.

       Here you will find all sorts of information about the movie, like the full cast, filming locations and lots of detail under two headings- "Trivia" and "Goofs."

      Google may give you some information, but I doubt that it will be as extensive as at IMDB.

John

 

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