Saw this on the Movie Railroads list, thought some might be interested:While surfing around the web I happened to find a book some on thislist may be interested in.It's called "John Paterson McGowan: A Biography of the HollywoodPioneer". It was written by his screenwriter son John J. McGowan.As I'm sure most everyone here knows, J. P. McGowan directed manysilent railroadthrillers in the 1920's most starring his wife Helen Holmes. He wasalso an actorand turned up in his own (and other) films in supporting roles.One of the train films he directed "CROSSED SIGNALS" (1926) has just beenreleasedon DVD-R from Grapevine Home Video.His films include:"Mistaken Orders" (1926)"The Open Switch" (1926)"Blood and Steel" (1925)"The Lost Express" (1926)"The Fast Freight" (1926)"Perils of the Rails" (1926)"Red Signals (1927)"The Hurricane Express" (1932) Starring John Wayne. This one you mayfind on the cheapie DVD rack at your local supermarket!How many on this list love those old Railroad thrillers from thesilent era?Ken Gear

I've seen one or two. I own the Hurricane Express. By fare though my favorite railroad movie is the Emperor of the North. By the way. In that movie the #19 is a coal burner but to the best of my knowledge she was built as an oil burner and still is. Did they convert her to coal for just that movie or is there an oil supply we cant see (like in the tank car right behind the loco)?

The opening of "Hello Dolly" with PRR 1223 and the Strasburg coaches running down the Hudson River line is one of my favorites.Wesley