587: The Great Train Robbery

James Hefner · **Posted:** Wed May 05, 2004 1:49 am

My wife rented this DVD, and I sat down with the family to watch it tonight. But we will definitely be buying it for the family library.

This is not a serious movie; rather it is one to watch with your children and grandchildren. But, as a steam preservationist, you will love the plot behind this movie. And like Thomas, I believe it will inspire another generation to become involved in railway and steam preservation. You can't buy publicity like this.

The "Lost Engines of Roanoke" make a cameo appearance at the beginning of the movie; but one of the stars is NKP 2-8-2 #587 from the Indiana Transport Museum in Noblesville, IN. The movie's website (below) includes a link to the musuem's website; another nice bit of publicity.

The neat thing was being able to tell my son that I and another individual are checking out yet another steam pump tomorrow. It is in a previously unexplored building in a remote corner of the chemical plant I work at. The maintenance folks found it while looking to see what needed to be saved before the entire building is scrapped, and they have already indicated they will set it aside for me.

"Two Flags Up!" - Surviving World Steam Project

587: The Great Train Robbery
james@survivingworldsteam.com

David · **Posted:** Wed May 05, 2004 7:49 am

> My wife rented this DVD, and I sat down with
> the family to watch it tonight. But we will
> definitely be buying it for the family
> library.

> This is not a serious movie; rather it is
> one to watch with your children and
> grandchildren. But, as a steam
> preservationist, you will love the plot
> behind this movie. And like Thomas, I
> believe it will inspire another generation
> to become involved in railway and steam
> preservation. You can't buy publicity like
> this.

> The "Lost Engines of Roanoke" make
> a cameo appearance at the beginning of the
> movie; but one of the stars is NKP 2-8-2
> #587 from the Indiana Transport Museum in
> Noblesville, IN. The movie's website (below)
> includes a link to the musuem's website;
> another nice bit of publicity.

> The neat thing was being able to tell my son
> that I and another individual are checking
> out yet another steam pump tomorrow. It is
> in a previously unexplored building in a
> remote corner of the chemical plant I work
> at. The maintenance folks found it while
> looking to see what needed to be saved
> before the entire building is scrapped, and
> they have already indicated they will set it
> aside for me.

> "Two Flags Up!" - Surviving World
> Steam Project
is the 587 still active?

LL675@aol.com

David · **Posted:** Wed May 05, 2004 10:15 am

> is the 587 still active?
forgot to ask, when was this movie made?

LL675@aol.com

James Hefner · **Posted:** Wed May 05, 2004 11:02 am

> forgot to ask, when was this movie made?

It's a new release, in the new release section of the video store. 587 is definitely operational in the movie; I don't know how long it has been in the making. I can't imagine that long.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project
james@survivingworldsteam.com

Erik Ledbetter · **Posted:** Wed May 05, 2004 11:51 am

Interesting. Looks like it was a small-budget, largely direct-to-video, independent release targeted at children and adolescents. Got good reviews from people who review that genre. Released in January 2004.

http://www.filmmonthly.com/Video/Articl ... y/587.html

587 Great Train Robbery
eledbetter@rypn.org

Steve Freer · **Posted:** Wed May 05, 2004 12:49 pm

>Released in January 2004.

Actually, that should be "re-released" in Jan '04. It was shot and released at least 4-5 years ago. I think it was produced by Railway Productions (of "Narrow Rails Still Shine" fame) and can be found at www.a-trains.com.

sfreer@tvrail.com

James Hefner · **Posted:** Wed May 05, 2004 8:50 pm

> Actually, that should be
> "re-released" in Jan '04. It was
> shot and released at least 4-5 years ago. I
> think it was produced by Railway Productions
> (of "Narrow Rails Still Shine"
> fame) and can be found at www.a-trains.com.

That is correct; the review on trains.com mentions that it was filmed from 1998 through 2000; and first screened at the Palm Springs Film Festival in January 2000.

If 587 is not running now; that would also explain how it was running for the movie. I also saw this locomotive in about the same time frame, and took the photograph that appears on the "Surviving World Steam Locomotive" CD-ROM.

Still, this is the first time I have seen the film in the video store; this second release appears to reaching the mass market; while the first release only reached the railfan market.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

trains.com review
james@survivingworldsteam.com

Les Jarrett · **Posted:** Thu May 06, 2004 1:16 am

Steve is correct that I carry the 587 movie at A-Trains, although I did not produce it. A production company on the other side of Indianapolis did, and in my view, pulled off a nice little movie.

BTW, Steve, I sill have not given up on getting down there to shoot more TVRM. Just waiting on you folks to get some of the "new" things running so that I can expand upon what I already have.

Les Jarrett
Railway Productions
http://www.A-Trains.com

> Actually, that should be
> "re-released" in Jan '04. It was
> shot and released at least 4-5 years ago. I
> think it was produced by Railway Productions
> (of "Narrow Rails Still Shine"
> fame) and can be found at www.a-trains.com.

A-Trains
Les@A-Trains.com

Steve Freer · **Posted:** Thu May 06, 2004 7:28 am

> BTW, Steve, I sill have not given up on
> getting down there to shoot more TVRM. Just
> waiting on you folks to get some of the
> "new" things running so that I can
> expand upon what I already have.

> Les Jarrett
> Railway Productions
> http://www.A-Trains.com

Les-
Does freshly painted NC&StL GP7 #710 count as "new"? Still fresh and awaiting travel to Etowah, TN for 'Hiwassee River Rail Adventure' trips on the ex-L&N Hook & Eye line.
Steve

T.V.R.M.
sfreer@tvrail.com

GP40 · **Posted:** Thu May 06, 2004 3:09 pm

Is the 587 running now? If not, will
it run again
> If 587 is not running now; that would also
> explain how it was running for the movie. I
> -James Hefner

James Hefner · **Posted:** Thu May 06, 2004 4:38 pm

> Is the 587 running now? If not, will
> it run again

Both my "Surviving World Steam" CD-ROM and www.steamlocomotive.info list it as operational, but Steam Central does not.

Going straight to the Indiana Transportation Museum's website; they show pictures of it being operational, and mention it's return to service in 1988. No mention is made of it's current condition. 587 is not mentioned in the schedule of events.

I assume they have to undertake the Form 4 required inspection and overhaul before they can run again. Can anyone supply any more details about its current status?

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives

DSS · **Posted:** Thu May 06, 2004 5:21 pm

As far as I know right now the engine is in pieces and there is a good deal of work that needs to be done before it can run again including some boiler work. I don't know exactly how much boiler work is needed to be done. Needless to say the engine is NOT operational right now and it is waiting on a grant to continue the restoration. It may be a while before you see it polishing the rails again.

Don