Tag Archives: CBS Television Network

For All Time 2000

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CBS Television

Remake! As promised last month, I have reviewed this TV movie re-do of the classic Twilight Zone episode, A Stop at Willoughby 1960. For train exteriors and some interiors, filmmakers traveled to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Featured trains included the CTrain light rail system (present day) and steam locomotive with short train at Heritage Park (1896). THIS LINK was a tremendous help in identifying the Heritage Park equipment.

How about that gazebo? This above scene is lifted directly out of “Willoughby”. Hey, that’s Mark Harmon! (Playing burned-out advertising exec Charles Lattimer.). Every time I see Mark Harmon, I can’t help but think of his wonderfully-psychotic performance as Ted Bundy in The Deliberate Stranger.

New Train / Old Train – Calgary’s downtown stands in for “Saint Louis” as an inbound CTrain rumbles by in the background; The 1896 train rounds a curve and disappears into the mist at Heritage Park. More about that high cupola Canadian Pacific caboose later.

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A Stop at Willoughby 1960

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CBS Television

How many times did they actually say “Willoughby” in this feature? I’ll have to go back and count. Update: 44 times. Reported to be Rod Serling’s favorite episode from the first season of The Twilight Zone, here’s another reviewed “movie” where we hear, but never actually see, any railroad motive power. Yep, just old passenger coaches being shoved up and down the track.

Still, trains play a major part in the story of burned-out Advertising Executive Gart Williams (played by James Daly) dreaming of a more serene lifestyle. Where have I seen this guy before? There’s a Star Trek TOS connection, natch.

Be sure to visit this blog next month when I review a Year-2000 remake movie based on A Stop At Willoughby. In color. And now, on with the show!

1960 train and 1888 train interiors. I believe the 1960 car is just a studio set at MGM where most of Twilight Zone was filmed, whilst the 1888 coach was (probably) on Paramount’s back lot. More about that later. Maybe.

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Incident on the Road Back 1961

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CBS Television

Rawhide! “Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’…” Who can forget Frankie Laine howling those opening and closing lyrics…especially after the Blues Brothers reintroduced the show to a newer generation (me) in 1980?

According to my research (Hat tip to Larry Jensen – Hollywood’s Railroads, Volume 2), the production company of Rawhide spent a month in Tuolumne County filming bits of various shows for Season 3. Today’s review features Sierra Railroad #3, “shorty” passenger cars #5 & #6 as well as several stock cars borrowed from Southern Pacific Railroad.

In addition to the iconic 1891 Rogers 4-6-0, feast your eyes on one of the screens most recognized actors, Clint Eastwood, in his breakthrough role of Rowdy Yates. Two classics in one. Let’s get started…

Clint Eastwood (Rowdy) poses with co-stars Paul Brinegar (as Wishbone) and Eric Fleming (as Gil Favor) alongside Sierra #3.

Do ya feel lucky? Well do ya, punk? Rowdy waits for the train, sporting his now-famous annoyed grimace. Note the stock car on the siding and water tower in the background.

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Case of the 12th Wildcat 1965

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CBS Television Network

Oh, this one should make both my brother and my wife go, “Gah!!…NOOOOoooo!!” (neither can STAND Perry Mason for various reasons, best not discussed here).

But…it’s my blog and there’s trains in it, so a-posting I will go. Three different railroads are seen in stock footage, but more about that later.

Originally broadcast on Halloween night 1965, “12th Wildcat” featured a Southern Pacific passenger train from San Francisco to Los Angeles on SP’s Coast Line. The action takes place in the dark of early morning onboard a lounge car and a couple sleepers in the first 12 minutes of the feature.

Come along and watch with amusement as I search for clues to the identity of some poorly-lit railroad equipment. Objection! Counsel is assuming a fact not in evidence and is leading the witness!

I include this interior shot of the lounge car purely for this guy’s wonderful, leering smirk.

It’s probably just a set, but includes a well-stocked bar — which fuels a drunken souse leading to murder!

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