Nostalgia & History > SP4449 El Monte 1986 "Tough Guys" Train.

SP4449 with the "Tough Guys" train heading East off the State Street Line at
El Monte, California March/April 1986.
After 2 weeks of filming at Taylor Yard, train is going to The Eagle Mountain
Mine railroad for some more filming, mostly the BIG crash at the end of the movie.

---

---

---

More.....

---

---

---

Running about 3 hours late, if I remember correctly.

Last one. Note the 2 rear flat cars. Under that tarp is the fake engine cab
that was used while filming Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas' scenes.

---

Fast forward to today, and there are over three dozen Metrolink trains following this same route.

DNRY122 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fast forward to today, and there are over three
> dozen Metrolink trains following this same route.

Probably not as far as Ferrum though... :-)

Compare that simple, effective, seemingly low cost cantilever signal bridge vs. the monstrous ones they put up now. Must be OSHA-driven.

This is the Gold Coast Flyer. No one has robbed this train in over 50 years!

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Compare that simple, effective, seemingly low cost
> cantilever signal bridge vs. the monstrous ones
> they put up now. Must be OSHA-driven.

In large part, yes. Presumably safer ("Meets Federal Government Regulations") for someone that has to climb up there. It probably would be safer in a force 7 gale with lightning all around than the old bridge. Of course, in the old days people would have had the sense to not go up there in a force 7 gale with lightning all around.

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Compare that simple, effective, seemingly low cost
> cantilever signal bridge vs. the monstrous ones
> they put up now. Must be OSHA-driven.

That signal bridge is still there, although it's not being used and there's no signals on it. It's funny, I just passed under it yesterday on the KG1LA and wondered why it was never torn down.-BMT

Here is a link to a webpage devoted to "TOUGH GUYS" -- and there's some interesting stuff on it....
http://www.fast-rewind.com/making_toughguys.htm

For instance, there is a LINK to the 1986 movie on IMDB.COM (SHOWN BELOW) which, if you click on "show full cast/crew" includes:
"Doyle L. McCormack ... Train Engineer"
He had a line in the picture, near the end with the two stars in the cab - Doyle's big Hollywood break, not that he needed one when he has the SP 4449 to take care of!

"TOUGH GUYS" on IMDB.COM full cast/crew listing:
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092105/fullcredits#cast&gt;

"TOUGH GUYS" RAILROAD SCENES TRIVIA (from IMDB.COM):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092105/trivia?tab=gf

---BURT LANCASTER and DOYLE M. (still shot) in the SP 4449 cab:
http://www.virtual-history.com/movie/image/160

---BURT L. and KIRK DOUGLAS (still shot) posed in RR yard w/ SP 4449 behind them:
http://www.virtual-history.com/movie/image/161

These are from this website: http://www.virtual-history.com/movie/film/203/tough-guys

"TOUGH GUYS" on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tough_Guys_(1986_film)

TEXT EXCERPT from "TOUGH GUYS" from Wikipedia:

TRAIN
"The locomotive Southern Pacific 4449 was also used to pull the American Freedom Train exhibit during the Bicentennial, now based in Portland, Oregon. The locomotive engineer is played by Doyle L. McCormack, the man most responsible for the actual restoration of SP 4449. A portion of the Eagle Mountain Railroad was used in the filming of the movie. During the filming of the exterior shots of Southern Pacific 4449 the train was stored nightly at the Eagle Mountain rail yards. The local school children from Eagle Mountain School took a field trip in early 1986 to see and tour the train on the location of the shoot along the Eagle Mountain Railroad south of Interstate 10."



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/12 06:37 by rbx551985.

I waited for what seemed like hours in San Timoteo Canyon. The 4449 was late and running slow. Does anyone know what the problem was? I thought that I had heard that there was a hot bearing problem.

Steve

Steve, Pasadenasub's dad was part of the pilot crew that day between West Colton and Ferrum. The train did stop between the San Timoteo road crossing above El Casco and Hinda crossovers account a hot bearing on the engine. The engine crew had to get out and get under the 4449 to access the problem. After some time it was repacked with grease and they were on their way.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/12 17:34 by PasadenaSub.

I watched it climb the "hill" to San Luis Obisbo, at dusk that nite, and went out and got good'n'drunk after seein' that!!! (an dat's da troof!)