Denver and Rio Grande movie from the 1950s

Ted Miles · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:49 pm

Folks,

I usually find railroad themed movies to b a stretch from preservation topics.

But this western melodrama is something else. It was filmed on the line of todays Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The film starred in addition to Sterling Hayden; the D&RGW 268 (now on static display) and at the other end of the train painted green was the recently restored D&RGW 0579 caboose.

The movie gave the other locomotive used in the climatic head on colission the number 318. Can any of you movie fans tell me what locomotive that was?

Also both of these were 2-8-0s. I am remembering that the railroad was built with 4-4-0s; but this did not stand in the way of Hollywood movie making.

I just saw it on a VHS cassette; I do not know if it is available on a DVD.

The opening and closing scenes were shot with then current views of the California Zypher showing ABA Diesels and six Vista Dome cars. If you can get past the corny plot; then you will see some equipment that has been in museums for many years.

Ted Miles

Dave Lewandoski · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:58 pm **Posts:** 1083

Denver & Rio Grande 1952 Sterling Hayden,Edmund O'Brian Dean Jagger
great movie, have it on tape.

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Overview
Director:Byron Haskin

Writer:Frank Gruber (writer)

Release Date:3 November 1952 (Sweden) more
Genre:Western more
Tagline:TWO FIGHTING RAILROAD CREWS BATTLE FOR THE ONLY RIGHT OF WAY! (original print ad - all caps)
Plot:A romanticized history of the building of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in the Colorado mountains. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:Collision | Company | Rival | Train Crash | Competition more
User Comments:I've Been Working On the Railroad... more

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Cast (Credited cast)

Edmond O'Brien ... Jim Vesser
Sterling Hayden ... McCabe
Dean Jagger ... Gen. William J. Palmer
Kasey Rogers ... Linda Nelson alias Linda Prescott (as Laura Elliott)
Lyle Bettger ... Johnny Buff
J. Carrol Naish ... Gil Harkness
Zasu Pitts ... Jane Dwyer
Tom Powers ... Sloan
Robert Barrat ... Charlie Haskins
Paul Fix ... Engineer Moynihan
Don Haggerty ... Bob Nelson
James Burke ... Sheriff Ed Johnson
more
Create a character page for:

elueck · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:37 pm

Actually, the engines used were the 319 ( a twin to #318 which is dissassembled at the Colorado RR museum and also a twin to #315 at Durango) and the 345 (a twin to the 346 at CRRM), which was a stand in for the 268. After the "crash" numerous parts from #345 found their way on to #346 which was then at the Narrow Gauge motel in Alamosa

Bob Davis · **Joined:** Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:25 am **Posts:** 1025

Haven't seen the movie for many years, but as I recall the opening and/or closing scenes show contemporary action on the D&RGW (as of the mid-50's) including Alco PA's.

1702 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:10 pm

Ted Miles wrote:

Folks,

I just saw it on a VHS cassette; I do not know if it is available on a DVD.

Ted Miles

Ted,

It isn't available on DVD. Used VHS copies start at $22.99 on Amazon. I checked Turner Classic Movies and Encore Westerns, and neither site shows it scheduled at this time.

Jim Tatum