Tag Archives: Around the World in 80 Days

Around the World in 80 Days 1956

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Warner Brothers

There were TWO distinct train scenes in this 182 minute, Oscar-winning monstrosity: the first in India and the second in Colorado. I plan to just review the footage taken along the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, narrow gauge lines. <– This last link is a FANTASTIC resource.

Taking its shape from the Jules Verne book of the same name, 80 Days follows the adventures of the fictitious Phileas Fogg (played by David Niven) and his loyal and resourceful valet, Passepartout (played by Cantinflas) as they attempt to circumnavigate the globe.

Of course, the REAL star of this entire production is D&RGW #315, a class C-18, 2-8-0, narrow gauge steam locomotive. She was originally built for the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad as their #3 “Elkton” by Baldwin in 1895.

Let’s have some fun and check out the Wild West portion of 80 Days. All Aboard!

Ignacio, Colorado’s depot, on the D&RGW Durango to Chama, NM line, stands in as Fort Kearney (note the cavalry riding in). Filmmakers painted up the town’s depot into a pleasing red, white and blue scheme.

This was the best view of the entire passenger train in the movie. From left to right: D&RGW #315, diesel hiding in a baggage car, combine #212, coach #320 and parlor car “Silver Palace”.

More about the hidden diesel later.

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Confessions of a Train Spotter 1980

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BBC Manchester

When this series cropped up on PBS, I was a big Monty Python fanatic. Still am. At the time, I had no idea that Michael Palin was a train spotter from an early age. As soon as it became available, I got a copy on VHS tape. Of course by now, good copies can be found on YouTube (see end of this review for a link).

I’ve said several times in past reviews, I’m not much of a railfan of European/British rolling stock, but…but…the Python/Palin continuum is just too juicy to pass up. Monty Python reminds me of all those “key phrases” we used to quote in college like “Shunt’s work is a load of rubbish about railway timetables” or “a very brave and influential Knight (waggles his left hand).”

Anyway. This TV show started Palin on a second career as a globetrotter filming his experiences. His next big travel project was 1989’s “Around the World in 80 Days” which included a ride on Amtrak’s Desert Wind and California Zephyr.

Back to our feature, it was Sir Michael’s intention to visit Kyle of Lochalsh and the Isle of Skye — and wanting to get there entirely by train. Along the way, there were several detours and stops to visit interesting and famous railway destinations…at least as far as Britain is concerned.

Here’s Sir Michael riding a Flying Scotsman excursion and chatting up some of the passengers.

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