Railroad Movies - Stay Indoors and Still Enjoy Trains.

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News and Views
Railroad Movies - Stay Indoors and Still Enjoy Trains.
By Dennis Winger
Aug 24, 2005, 05:54

By Dennis Winger

Okay - the weather is miserable and you're looking for something to do indoors away from the workshop. How about a movie? Not just any movie, but a movie with trains in it! I've put together a list of my all-time favorites that show up from time to time on the Westerns channel or the late, late show. All the movies on my list include the locomotives and the human stars. I won't vouch for the plot or the quality but - hey - they have trains!

Let's begin with movies featuring the Virginia and Truckee Railroad:

UNION PACIFIC (Paramount 1939) Without a doubt, this is the railroad movie to see. It features #11, #18, #21, #22 and a variety of other V&T equipment. Great railroad construction scenes. With Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyck trying her best to sound Irish. Available on video.

ROAR OF THE IRON HORSE (Columbia 1951) The last film shot on the V&T before the rails were pulled up. It features #27 and Jock Mahoney. I haven't been able to find this one on any video guide.

WHISPERING SMITH (Paramount 1949) Lots of good footage of #18 and #22 in service, with Alan Ladd trying to look tall and threatening. Dang - this one isn't on video, either!

ROCK ISLAND TRAIL (Republic 1950) In addition to some V&T shots, this is the only film of Baltimore and Ohio's "Thatcher Perkins" (a 4-6-0 now at the B&O Museum) in service. Forrest Tucker stars. Not available on video, either.

THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE (Disney 1956) Davey Crockett as a train thief?! B&O 4-4-0 "William Mason" and 4-2-0 "Lafayette," with #22, give Fess Parker a chance to get rid of that coonskin cap. An excellent video offering.

CARSON CITY (Warner Bros. 1952) #22 again, this time with Randolph Scott and Raymond Massey. You won't find this one on video.

Now let's look at films which featured the Sierra Railroad:

THE VIRGINIAN (Paramount 1927) The first "talkie" shot on the Sierra RR, it stars #3 lettered for Union Pacific. Co-stars are Gary Cooper and Richard Arlen. Get this one on video and have fun comparing movie scenes with all that is still at Jamestown and the surrounding area. By the way, Sierra #3 has a storied past and was the mainstay of Sierra's movie business for many years. It is currently undergoing a major rebuild.

WYOMING MAIL (Universal 1950) Okay fare, with Sierra #3 and #18 making Stephen McNally look good. Not available on video.

KANSAS PACIFIC (Allied Artists 1953) "Built with bullets, dynamite and bloodstained spikes!", says the old movie poster. Maybe so, but that's not what I saw. Pretty good movie, in spite of Sterling Hayden's overacting. An unknown 4-4-0 co-stars with #3. Available on video.

DODGE CITY (Warner Bros. 1939) Features #18 in service with Errol Flynn and Alan Hale, Sr. Olivia DeHaviland and Ann Sheridan also star.

GO WEST (MGM 1940) A typical Marx Bros. vehicle. Hey Boss, it has some good shots of #18! Like most Marx Bros. movies, this one's on video.

CIMARRON KID (Universal 1951) This has the last footage of #18 in steam, some good stuff around Sierra's roundhouse and shops, and Audie Murphy. What a shame it's not available on video.

NORTH OF THE RIO GRANDE (Paramount 1937) This is the only film starring #30, which is now under rebuild at Niles Canyon RR. Great pacing and in-cab shots. Who cares about the plot - Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) and "Gabby Hayes" are in it! Thankfully this one's available on video.

BOUND FOR GLORY (United Artists 1976) Great biographical story of Woody Guthrie, with David Carradine trying to steal scenes from #3, #28 and #34, along with McCloud River #25. A truly great video to own.

The mountains provided producers with a dramatic backdrop for railroad movies and plenty of excuses to blow that whistle! In this last part I've included only those movies I consider to be the best of mountain railroading.

DENVER AND RIO GRANDE (Paramount 1951) From the beginning credits to the head-on between #319 and #345, this movie ranks right up there with "Union Pacific" on my list of all-time railroad movie greats. Even Sterling Hayden and Edmond O'Brien can't upstage #268. A great video to include in your library.

A TICKET TO TOMAHAWK (20th Century-Fox 1950) A fun movie with Rio Grande Southern #20 and a studio-built look-alike. Also stars Dan Dailey and Marilyn Monroe in her first movie role (she's one of the dancers). Dang! Not available on video.

NIGHT PASSAGE (Universal 1957) This movie has three great actors: Jimmy Stewart, and Denver and Rio Grande #476 and #478, which makes it worth watching. Sadly, it's not available on video.

BITE THE BULLET (Columbia 1974) Good excuse to watch D&RG #483, but you also have to endure Gene Hackman, Lee Marvin, et. al. This one's on video.

EMPEROR OF THE NORTH (1972) Lee Marvin again, with Ernie Borgnine. Oregon, Pacific and Eastern #19 and #27 provide the steam on their home road near Cottage Grove, Oregon. Great 'bo camp stuff along with the train scenes. Sadly, OP&E no longer exists, but you can see it all you want - it's on video.

THE GENERAL (1927) Also shot on the OP&E with some unknown locomotives, this is considered a classic even by non-railfans. Buster Keaton deadpans his way through this silent film which was later re-made by Disney as "The Great Locomotive Chase." Thankfully, both are available on video.

And that's it. Due to lack of information, I left out several, such as "Silver City," a great movie shot on the West Side Lumber Company with plenty of Shays, log trains and a great foot chase through the operating mill. The same goes for "Hurricane Express," originally a twelve-parter starring a very young John Wayne as the pilot of a Ford Tri-motor competing with the title train, played by a large Southern Pacific locomotive. I haven't been able to find "Silver City" on video, but the John Wayne film has been condensed into a continuous movie and is available on video.

Pop the popcorn, get out the TV Guide, and start looking for these - perhaps you'll find some of your own favorites! Happy viewing!