"HOLLYWOOD'S RAILROADS"
Dozens of historic trains were "cast" by filmmakers for "supporting roles" in thousands of comedies, dramas, and epics over the years. Chases, races, robberies, wrecks, and derring-do on and around speeding trains have provided thrills for generations of movie-goers and made "stars" out of a select group of locomotives. Now you can learn about these venerable iron horses in a series of books from Cochetopa Press researched and written by historian Larry Jensen.
"Hollywood's Railroads" takes you past the studio gates to visit the backlot railroads. You'll also journey "on location" to various railroads around the country that were used in films and hear some of the behind-the-scenes tales of making movies with trains. Each 72-page book is 8.5 by 11 inches, printed on glossy paper, and packed with high resolution photos of old trains and movie stars. While it is a series of books, each volume tells a complete story.
Volume One: Virginia & Truckee is now available. It covers four steam locomotives from Nevada's famous Virginia & Truckee Railroad – No. 11, No. 18, No. 22, and No. 25 – that were purchased by Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and RKO-Radio Pictures between 1937 and 1947. Those locomotives were used in more than 150 movies and TV shows. Three of them have been restored by the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. The fourth is still a prized possession of Old Tucson Studios in Arizona. Also included are the movies shot on the V&T, circa 1948-1950, featuring locomotives No. 5, No. 26, and No. 27. This volume has a list of films and 115 photographs – with 15 in color – that show various trains and film companies in action.
"Hollywood's Railroads" takes you past the studio gates to visit the backlot railroads. You'll also journey "on location" to various railroads around the country that were used in films and hear some of the behind-the-scenes tales of making movies with trains. Each 72-page book is 8.5 by 11 inches, printed on glossy paper, and packed with high resolution photos of old trains and movie stars. While it is a series of books, each volume tells a complete story.
Volume One: Virginia & Truckee is now available. It covers four steam locomotives from Nevada's famous Virginia & Truckee Railroad – No. 11, No. 18, No. 22, and No. 25 – that were purchased by Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and RKO-Radio Pictures between 1937 and 1947. Those locomotives were used in more than 150 movies and TV shows. Three of them have been restored by the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. The fourth is still a prized possession of Old Tucson Studios in Arizona. Also included are the movies shot on the V&T, circa 1948-1950, featuring locomotives No. 5, No. 26, and No. 27. This volume has a list of films and 115 photographs – with 15 in color – that show various trains and film companies in action.
Volume Two: Sierra Railroad is now available. It tells
the story of the central California short line that became Hollywood's most popular destination to shoot railroad scenes. The line was first "discovered" by silent filmmakers in 1919. During the past century, it has been used in more than 300 films, including High Noon, Back to the Future III and Clint Eastwood's Academy Award winning Best Picture, Unforgiven. Generations of television viewers saw it on The Lone Ranger, Tales of Wells Fargo, Rawhide, The Big Valley, The Wild
Wild West, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Little House on the Prairie. This volume has a list of films and 140 photographs – with 25 in color – that show various trains and film companies in action.
the story of the central California short line that became Hollywood's most popular destination to shoot railroad scenes. The line was first "discovered" by silent filmmakers in 1919. During the past century, it has been used in more than 300 films, including High Noon, Back to the Future III and Clint Eastwood's Academy Award winning Best Picture, Unforgiven. Generations of television viewers saw it on The Lone Ranger, Tales of Wells Fargo, Rawhide, The Big Valley, The Wild
Wild West, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Little House on the Prairie. This volume has a list of films and 140 photographs – with 25 in color – that show various trains and film companies in action.
Volume Three: Narrow Gauge Country is now available and covers the railroads in southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico, which run through some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States. They have been used in more than 60 films made between 1935 and 2014. The railroads covered in this volume are: Denver & Rio Grande Western, Rio Grande Southern, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge, and Cumbres & Toltec Scenic. Even though these lines are among the most popular topics in railroad literature, their use in motion pictures has never been covered extensively before. This volume has a list of films and 130 photographs – with 22 in color – that show various trains and film companies in action.
Volume Four: Studio Lots & Ranches is being compiled now and will have "behind-the-scenes" coverage of the seven steam locomotives located at motion picture studios in the Los Angeles area, including Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad No. 5 at Universal Pictures, Eureka & Palisade Railroad No. 4 at Warner Bros., and Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad No. 8 at 20th Century-Fox. The book also contains more information on Virginia & Truckee trains at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, and RKO-Radio Pictures.
Volume Five: Locomotive Stars wraps up the series with a look at other trains around the country that achieved "star status" through repeated use in films.
If your favorite dealer doesn't stock our books, ask for them! We believe that "brick and mortar" stores are important to thriving local economies. Bookstores and model train stores have been negatively impacted by e-commerce. We encourage you to support those that remain!
If you don't have a store nearby, we have an online Store. It has options that include postage to Australia, Canada, Great Britain, or New Zealand. To shop now, click here:
https://www.cochetopapress.biz/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Our books are also available on eBay. The eBay Global Shipping Program will get books to any country. If you order more than one volume, be sure to wait for an invoice from us that will include lower postage. The Global Shipping Program does not allow us to adjust postage if you don't wait for an invoice. To go to eBay, click here:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/cphrrbooks/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
Find us on FACEBOOK by clicking the small icon at the top of this page. The page contains many stories and photos about Hollywood movie trains. Be sure to "Like" us.
DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED – Use the "Contact" form above.
Volume Four: Studio Lots & Ranches is being compiled now and will have "behind-the-scenes" coverage of the seven steam locomotives located at motion picture studios in the Los Angeles area, including Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad No. 5 at Universal Pictures, Eureka & Palisade Railroad No. 4 at Warner Bros., and Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad No. 8 at 20th Century-Fox. The book also contains more information on Virginia & Truckee trains at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, and RKO-Radio Pictures.
Volume Five: Locomotive Stars wraps up the series with a look at other trains around the country that achieved "star status" through repeated use in films.
If your favorite dealer doesn't stock our books, ask for them! We believe that "brick and mortar" stores are important to thriving local economies. Bookstores and model train stores have been negatively impacted by e-commerce. We encourage you to support those that remain!
If you don't have a store nearby, we have an online Store. It has options that include postage to Australia, Canada, Great Britain, or New Zealand. To shop now, click here:
https://www.cochetopapress.biz/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Our books are also available on eBay. The eBay Global Shipping Program will get books to any country. If you order more than one volume, be sure to wait for an invoice from us that will include lower postage. The Global Shipping Program does not allow us to adjust postage if you don't wait for an invoice. To go to eBay, click here:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/cphrrbooks/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
Find us on FACEBOOK by clicking the small icon at the top of this page. The page contains many stories and photos about Hollywood movie trains. Be sure to "Like" us.
DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED – Use the "Contact" form above.