Q: Can you tell me what the train in the movie, “3:10 to Yuma” consisted of? — Frank Latorre, Baltimore
A: Regarding the question of the origin of the railroad equipment on both versions of “3:10 to Yuma,” from the website, Obscure Train Movies, I found this information on the original 1957 3:10 to Yuma:
“Not as well known as 1952’s High Noon, ‘3:10 to Yuma’ features a Southern Pacific Railroad Class M-4 Alco 2-6-0 steam engine and train. Filming of the railroad scenes during the movie’s exciting climax occurred in and around little Elgin, Arizona on Espee’s former Patagonia branch — long since abandoned.
No one seems to know for sure exactly which SP 2-6-0 was used. In the picture, the engine is lettered as X62 for the fictitious ‘Yuma & Benson Southern Railroad,’ as is the rest of the train (stock car, coach, baggage car, caboose).”
From what I’ve been able to ascertain, the rolling stock was various pieces of equipment either stored on a studio back lot or from a railroad deadline. Other websites offer additional information, including on the 2007 version, that is far less complete. — David Lustig
