"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 now at the Virginia & Truckee tourist railroad in Virginia City. 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 now at the Virginia & Truckee tourist railroad in Virginia City. 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 coming soon and will have "behind-the-scenes" coverage of the seven steam locomotives located at motion picture studio lots and ranches 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 operating at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Lot 2 and Lot 3 in Culver City, Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, and the RKO-Radio Pictures Encino Ranch.
DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED – Use the "Contact" form.
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, you can purchase our books on this website. It has options that include postage to the United States or Canada. To shop now, click here:
https://www.cochetopapress.biz/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
If you don't live in the United States or Canada, buy our books at eBay.com. Search "Hollywood's Railroads" in All Categories. The eBay Global Shipping Program can get our books to your country, anywhere in the world.
If you would like to contact us, click on Contact form at the top of this page.
Find us on FACEBOOK by clicking the small icon at the top of this page. Our page has more than 100 stories and photos about Hollywood movie trains. Be sure to "Like" us.
Volume Four: Studio Lots & Ranches is coming soon and will have "behind-the-scenes" coverage of the seven steam locomotives located at motion picture studio lots and ranches 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 operating at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Lot 2 and Lot 3 in Culver City, Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, and the RKO-Radio Pictures Encino Ranch.
DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED – Use the "Contact" form.
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, you can purchase our books on this website. It has options that include postage to the United States or Canada. To shop now, click here:
https://www.cochetopapress.biz/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
If you don't live in the United States or Canada, buy our books at eBay.com. Search "Hollywood's Railroads" in All Categories. The eBay Global Shipping Program can get our books to your country, anywhere in the world.
If you would like to contact us, click on Contact form at the top of this page.
Find us on FACEBOOK by clicking the small icon at the top of this page. Our page has more than 100 stories and photos about Hollywood movie trains. Be sure to "Like" us.