Rail consulting firm FMW Solutions and several heritage railways combined to recreate a 1970s-era commuter train for the recent Tom Hanks film “A Man Called Otto,” which makes use of equipment and locations of the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railway, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and Washington D.C. chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.
The film’s railroad sequences were shot on three days at three locations, with aerial exterior work at Romney, W.Va., with the Potomac Eagle’s diesel locomotive and passenger cars. Interior scenes were shot on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic in Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, with and moving-train shots on a modified former Budd Rail Diesel Car between Jaite and Rockside, Ohio. And the Potomac Eagle locomotive and two Cuyahoga Valley cars were used to shoot at Toledo’s Central Union Terminal.
“This is an era of passenger rail rarely seen on film,” said FMW movie train coordinator Kelly Lynch. “In some cases, car interiors were rejected because they were restored and looked too nice.”
Ultimately, the train work makes up about 5 minutes of screen time.
Also assisting the effort were Mid America Railcar, Carload Express, Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum, Horizon Rail, Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, and McRail Insurance, Brian Smith, and Chris Homco. A more detailed exploration of the filming effort is available at the FMW Solutions website.
Central Union Terminal? It’s been called Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza for well over 20 years now, come on.
Go to the link above. There is an excellent description of the entire process. AND Norfolk Southern got some good coverage during the assistance of this process.
At least a movie where they do not wreck the train!
Years ago the South Carolina Railroad Museum was approached by a major movie and TV production company for equipment to be used in a pilot for for a series based on the US Civil War, sort of a “Civil War 90210” (my description). The museum allowed the use of three vintage cars that were heavily refurbished, transported over 200 miles, safely returned, and then SCRM received an additional $1500 and a copy of the pilot. The cars appeared for no more than a minute. The pilot was AWFUL and never made it to TV. The production company is still in business. It amazed me the amount of money that is spent by these companies all “on spec.”
Trains and railroads are the “supporting actors” in films and play that role and part that gives the movie or even tv show that extra touch and atomosphere to the story line. But aside from the credits that appear on the screen at the end of the movie nothing else. Not even an Oscar for the train or the folks who make this possible. On another note, more movies, shows, songs, musicals are written about trains and where the train plays an important role in the story and that is because the train still hold a romantic and magical aura about it more than airplanes, cars and trucks Only the ship would join the train in songs and movies. Lack of space would not permit us to list every song, movie, Tv show, drama or musical where the train is featuredin song and story. Finally I remember a story I read featuring celebrities and entertainers and movie stars who are railfans and love trains and Tom Hanks was listed as a railfan. Who doesn’t remember his work and great part in “The Polar Express”
Joseph C. Markfelder
Well, going back to 1933 or ’34, in the original “Silver Streak” the Burlington Zephyr got TOP BILLING in the credits at the end–maybe the only time I’ve seen that in a movie! Some other movies the railroad(s) got credits; my girlfriend and I used to watch credits to the end (4-5 minutes worth) for filming locations, etc. and historical society credits. Usually we got good music with it and several more minutes of air conditioning!