Models in Movies

[J3a-614]

Over the years, models of trains have been used in movies, very often (and understandably) for wreck sequences.  Sometimes the effects are spectacular, other times, the effect is a bit less so.

A classic sequence, even if it is a disaster of a rear-ender, with a number of technical errors (such as having a second section in the same block, even if it is apparently an unsignalled railroad), from "Greatest Show on Earth," 1952; models are live-steamers, one-inch to the foot scale:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUtf_RE6r5Q

A short segment starting at 5:26 in this opening clip from the horror spoof, "Transylvania 6-5000;" ugh, I thought 1970s hairstyles and clothes were awful even then!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vABa1kaWkUw

For the really, really low, low-budget movie people, there were, believe it or not, Lionel trains; from "The Giant Gila Monster," 1959, between 49:00 and 51:00:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Bcw35NWBI

Then there was "The Black Scorpion," from 1957, with what I am guessing are HO models, utilizing what I think is an American Flyer 4-6-2 mated to a tender lettered "Lionel Lines!" And the tender is, in best toy train tradition, coupled backwards, too! Running from 0:58 to 1:14:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfKakOgshxw

Don't think you could quite get away with this today. . .and can anyone who is better versed in old toy trains than I am confirm or correct my guesses as to what was used in these low-budget flicks?

[Jim Banner]

I love the backward tender in "The Black Scorpion."  But I think the whole train is Lionel 0-27.  I would say the locomotive is a Lionel 1666 2-6-2 with the E-unit lockout lever missing on top, a screw missing below that, and all the valve gear and main rod are gone.  In fact, all that is left are the side rods.  I guess the movie was so low budget that the only locomotive they could afford was a junker.

The cars appear to say something PACIFIC but I can't make out if it was SOUTHERN or CANADIAN.

1970's hairstyles and clothes may have been awful but those lobster guys in "The Black Scorpion" were downright ugly.

Jim

[WoundedBear]

Jim.........

The passenger cars in that clip have Southern Pacific on them.........if you pause and go full screen it's pretty clear.

Sid

[NarrowMinded]

Funny this subject came up, last weekend I turned the channel to find an old black and white movie with a model train being attacked by a giant prehistoric bird, this bird was terrifying the nation. one scene had me laughing as the giant bird grabbed the entire train and flew of with it dangling from it's talons like a string of sausages.

I wish I could recall the name...

Nm-Jeff

[poliss]

The movie is called The Giant Claw. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAUhX6lLl_Q

[Michigan Railfan]

And I believe this is the clip NM was talking about:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gbJLxc9YH5U

[J3a-614]

Now that locomotive I recognize--it's the MDC-Roundhouse 0-6-0 (HO scale), based on a Southern Pacific prototype, and in production in various versions from the late 1930s.  I'm afraid I can't spot all the cars, but the couplers are undoubtedly Mantua hook-loop types that would stay together like that.  

In fact, those couplers were notorious for doing just that in the worst possible situations--not so much as failure to uncouple when you wanted them to do so in switching, as much as staying coupled when a locomotive derailed and headed for the floor, taking the whole train with it!

[NarrowMinded]

Blink, Yep that's the movie... must have had a big budget for special effects maybe as high as three or four dollars

Nm-jeff

[Woody Elmore]

The train wreck at the end of the "Bridge on the River Kwai" uses models. It's obvious when you watch the film. However the scene is well done.

Not necessarily a train wreck but the dining car and roomette scenes in "north by Northwest" are studio sets so I guess that qualifies them as models.

I'm inclined to say that the train wreck at the beginning of the "Fugitive" used models but the scene was actually filmed full size on the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad in North Carolina.