Over a year ago there was a forum about railroad movies and the question was “Which one was the best?” Of course this is just an opinion.
Well just for the sake of fun I wanted to restart this topic and hear about everyone’s favorite rr movie and just why they think it is. When I was a teenager I saw Silver Streak with Gene Wilder and thought it was just grand.
Well everyone take care and stay safe. And don’t forget, Look, Listen and Live.
My all time favorite remains The Train with Burt Lancanster. the trains are French but the action is great – WWII steam. There is also some very good acting in this film which unfortunately you cannot say about Disney’s the Great Locomotive Chase.
Dave Nelson
I agree, The Train is a great movie but …
THE BEST RR movie ever is THE GENERAL, Buster Keatons masterpiece.
Some random runners up…
The Train
Von Ryans Express
Silver Streak
Number Seventeen (Hitchcock)
Union Pacific
The Iron Horse(silent)
Emperor of the North
I’m sure I’m missing some good one’s that others will submit.
Thanks guys for the replies, everyone keep up the good work. Hey vsmith, your right in my backyard, the southern part lol.
Everyone remember our armed service people defending our country.
One of the best railroad movies is “Danger Lights.” It features Milwaukee Rd operations during the 1930’s. The best scene is when two steam engines try to push or shove each other back. Whistles sounding like battle cries and wheels spinning. It’s kinda like a backwards version of tug-a-war. You certainly won’t see something like that today being done with diesels!
Your pushing match reminded me of another great RR movie
“The Titfield Thunderbolt” which has a great shoving match between a locomotive and a steam tractor, also a hilarious scene where two drunks try to steal a locomotive, drive it off a turntable and down the streets and lanes of an English Village, its very funny.
Amtrak!!.. uh… i mean “The Great Train Robbery” With Sean Connery
Don’t forget Night Passage, Jimmy Stewart as the trouble shooter and Audie Murphy as the Dakota Kid. Excellent Colorado mountain narrow gauge railroading. Hear Jimmy Stewart sing the Bullfrog line, and Follow the River.
Another great RR movie was a western called “Denver and Rio Grande.” It was shot sometime in the 1940’s or 1950’s (its that CRS kicking in LOL), and the opening pictures feature D&RGW passenger trains running at that time.
W O W, I never knew there were so many railroad movies. This winter I am going to watch alot of old railroad movies. Danger Lights really sounds interesting, and there was an article in Trains a while back that talked about Danger Lights and a few other railroad movies.
Hello again Trainnut484, how is the weather up there. Looks like its raining in Springfield, Mo. right now and it is trying to here.
Everyone keep posting your favorite railroad movies, and remember the troops serving our country.
Stay safe, and always Look, Listen, and Live.
Don’t forget “Union Pacific”
And How the West Was Won had some great railroad shots.
Dave Nelson
It’s HOT and HUMID[:(][V]
We need some rain here in KC. I’d do a rain dance, but don’t think the neighbors would approve, and call the men in the white coats[:D][:o)]
Anyone know where you can buy these movies cheap? Or should I say inexpensive?
Don’t want to sound cheap. Blockbuster wants and arm and a leg to order and buy them. Any inexpensive website for movies?
Stay safe, and Look, Listen, and Live
Don’t forget the troops.
Well ebay is a good source for out of print videos,but its caviet emptor. Dont spend too much. Amazon.com is another good place to start esp. for DVD’s. trouble is that DVD selection is still slim conpared to # of movies made over the years. Dont throw out that VHS just yet. I got most of my videos at Suncoast Video out here on the west coast but I would try ebay or Amazon first. Also there are a lot of on-line video stores but again its caviet emptor.
vsmith Thanks for the info, will look when I have time. Thanks again.
Stay safe and remember to Look, Listen, and Live.
Don’t forget the troops (2 killed today), please remember them and their families.
Night Passage was recently released in DVD format <www.universalstudios.com/home>. The Titfield Thunderbolt is only available in PAL format. Searching on the title will turn up distributors in the UK. I had a copy converted to North American format at a nearby store that specializes in electronics for overseas travelers. Asian-oriented video stores can probably do these conversions, too.
Titfield Thunderbolt IS avalible in Region 1 format [:D] but its an out of print video[V], hence ebay , where I got my copy.
Be advised on ebay when purchasing video. A lot of titles are transfers from PAL, or Asia type formats and the pic quality is lesser than normal. Still beats not having certain titles.[;)]
I’ve seen a lot of railroad movies. The movie called “The Tall Target” has some of the most exciting Civil War era railroad action I have ever seen. Unfortunately it is not available on video or DVD.
engineer 1 Does that movie center around a mountain with troops on one side having a cannon up in the mountain keeping the trains from going through? I very well could be confussed, but I have seen a movie such as this (when I was little). You just jogged by memory about it. The other side took piano wire and wrapped it around their cannon, to keep the barrel from blowing up, and then they could add enought gun powder to reach up the slope and knock out the other cannon. If this is the same movie, it was a good movie.
Everyone stay safe, and always Look, Listen, and LIVE.
Remember the troops.
The Train and Emperor of the North (Long Version) are my favorites.
Larry