Back to part of my original question - could Burt Lancaster (or anyone for that matter) singlehandedly hoist a locomotive rod as he appeared to in the movie? Solid rods or hollow rods? Were these used in WW2 France, or in the US?

PS - Keaton wrote and played his character in "The General" from a Southern perspective. The Yankees were the bad guys!


tmanz@afo.net

First, my apologies for digressing to the flippant side. Sitting around at home on a holiday weekend, not enough to do.....

And, you're right, nobody answered your question. I don't know the answer, nor do I remember the scene in detail (awesome movie, and that was one of the awesomer scenes, if not the awesomest). I doubt a prop was used, so whatever Burt picked up was no doubt real.

We need a French steam expert. Don't have Porta's email address handy. But, I tried to find a place we could e-mail and ask. Didn't succeed but I did find the link below. Have to go back to work (on my lunch break), but I'll look some more tonight.

Meanwhile, I thought the picture was cool. I've never seen tracks cross over and have frogs right at the edge of the turntable like they do in the photo. Was that ever done here in the USA? (Sorry to digress again.)



French Train Link

hkading@rypn.org

I purchased "The Train" on DVD a few months ago and have watched it a couple of times since. The main rod on that French locomotive looks no bigger than the eccentric rod on many American locomotives. It's heavy but can be carried by a strong back (and with a weak mind).

The DVD has some great stuff on it including a short on the making of the film. If you can find it, I'd suggest buying it. Now if we could just get "Danger Lights" on DVD....

TVRM Shop Updates
aw90h@cs.com

I seem to recall seeing such a design in some older photographs. I doubt that such a practice was common but it would make sense. It appears that the intention was to allow the railroad to house more locomotives under cover through more efficient use of space in a smaller roundhouse (perhaps a roundhouse built where land to construct the facility was limited).

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
envlink@voyageronline.net