I’ve been meaning to ask this question for years, but near the beginning of the movie, “The Natural,” they show scenes of a train that has GTW 4070 on point, but it sure doesn’t look like it’s under steam. When the locomotive takes off from a station, you don’t see the cylinder cocks opening, and when the entire train rolls by the camera, you can clearly see a break in the film, as if maybe a diesel was in the consist somewhere? Anyone here know what was up with that? Wasn’t 4070 roadworthy at that time?

Movie was filmed in western NY and 4070 travelled from Ohio to NY to take part in filming. Discussed recently on a EL email group.

Joshua

The engine may have been "under steam", but it is my understanding that it was unable to move under its own power due to insurance or mechanical issues, but she sure looks pretty good as the backdrop for the baseball game...The 1980's was a good time for steam locomotives and movies (not to forget the 1990's October Sky, as one good modern example.)

Another great movie of the 80's or 90's with lots of steam was "Fried Green Tomato's" Lots of A&WP 290 rolling through the background of the movie. Any others?

Steve

What about the 2000's?

http://ociee.com/trailer.html

I'm pretty sure that was done about the fall of 1982. Shortly after the movie was filmed, I relocated to very near South Dayton, NY (where the filming took place). The locomotive and train was towed by Conrail through Jamestown, NY (todays WNYP) and up the Waterboro-Buffalo EL line that is now the New York and Lake Erie (owned by Cattaraugus Co. EDA). The locomotive was 'hot' for filming, according to the locals, but was reportedly pushed around by a diesel. I'd heard there was mechanical trouble, which at the time, wasn't uncommon for 4070, but that's third-hand information at best.

There was a beautiful night shot of 4070 on the cover of Railfan at South Dayton that was taken while it was up there for the movie.

I moved within eyesight of the track that connected Waterboro to Cherry Creek, NY, in 1983 and I'll verify that that train ferry move of 4070 was the very last move over that trackage. The rail is still there, but there are trees through the ties, and the connection at Waterboro hasn't been used since. I missed the ferry move by a couple months.

The other great oddball movie filmed on the New York and Lake Erie at South Dayton was "Planes, Trains and Automobiles". I was there for that one. Remember "Contrack"? That was the paint scheme the ex-N&W Alco C430 hi-nose was painted up in. What a sight....

What about " Tough Guys". The model was 1in scale and the cars are still for sale at discoverlivesteam.com. The engine was SP 4449.

"Back to the Future III" The engine was Seirra #3 or the "Petticoat Junction" engine.

I am sure there are several more.

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

Having been involved with the group at the time but not present in New York here is what I know. The engine was hot and did run under her own power at times. I understand that the movie company had a diesel on the rear move the train to cut down on unwanted background noise. She did have some trouble coming home. If my memory is right I believe she lost a few superheater units. She missed the following weekend on the CVL but was back up and running the next.

I also was involved with the group at the time and Andy's recollection is the same as mine.

So whats going on with the 4070 these days? Anything?

Les Beckman

It is still owned by the Midwest Railway Preservation Society. They have a website which might supply more current information. The engine remains in Cleveland and when I last saw it in 2001, the main drivers were dropped and the jacketing and insulation had been removed. They do, I believe, have long-range plans to restore it, but, like others it's a 'time and money' issue.

Hey JD,

Rob, here, in NE Ohio. Happy New Year!

The 1" equipment was built by Jack Sessums, a well-known live steamer from Southern California, who built a lot of 1" scale equipment through the years. Much of it was movie related work when miniature equipment was the way to go.

One of those early live steam memories I have is of an article in an old Railfan or MR issue about his 1" scale SP 4-10-2 that he built. I've just been reacquainted with it through some back issues of Live Steam that were just given to me. Jack built the 4-10-2 back in the early '70's. I'm pretty sure it was one of his early projects.

As you mentioned previously, a complete 1" scale SP Daylight Train complete with a live steam GS-4 4-8-4, was built for filming in Tough Guys, primarily the sequence at the end when they run the engine off of the end of track trying to get across the Mexican border. For obvious reasons, Doyle McCormack and the City of Portland would not have been in favor of using a full size Daylight for this scene as the engine winds up buried up over the drivers in sand. When they shot the sequence with Jack's 1" equipment, instead of real sand which would have required a complete shopping of the running gear afterwards, they used shredded Graham Crackers to simulate Southern California sand!

Anywho, the 1" Daylight and cars was recently up for sale on Discover Live Steam.com as Jack passed late last year. He still owned the GS-4 and the matching train at the time. (I wonder where the SP 4-10-2 is?). A couple of cars were still for sale within the last few months.

Jack also had a very extensive 1" scale railroad complete with roundhouse, turntable, etc. and a very elaborate track plan on a very vertical piece of property. Within the last 15 years or so he took an interest in 15" gauge and the 1" scale track slowly started to disappear. I believe he had built a Shay and a 4-6-0 in 15" gauge before his death. He was a simply incredible craftsman and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was largely self-taught, too.

Hope that throws a little more light on the subject for those who want to know!

Also, regarding 4070, that was the first full-size steam locomotive I got around as a youngster back in the late '70's. Guess I should blame Mom, Dad and 4070 for my unshakable affliction!

Happy New Year,

Rob Gardner

I always knew they'd used a replica for the Tough Guys crash, but never knew it was still around. I've looked for it on the aforementioned site, but can't find any listing or photos.

I just recall my father, a former FWRHS president, pointing out to me everytime that Doyle himself had a cameo in the film...

"You're crazy, nobody robs trains anymore..."
"I'm afraid you've been misinformed."

Kelly,

I just checked the site again and there is a 5 car set for sale at 7500.00 for the set or 2500.00 per car. This includes pullmans, baggage car, and observation car.

The site is www.discoverlivesteam.com

When are you guys going to update the 756 website? I would love to see the rest of the restoration photos. You guys did such a great job.

I hope that the big railroads will let you guys come out this spring and run up some miles and maybe back to New River Gorge.

Happy New Year,

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

Kelly,

I fogot to tell you that the cars are on the for sale page about 3/4 of the way down on the right hand side complete with photos.

JD