Tag Archives: Star Trek connection

Project Phoenix 1972

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Universal Studios

Banacek! George Peppard stars in this NBC Wednesday Night Mystery Movie. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” fans will remember him as the courtesan to Patricia Neal and companion of Audrey Hepburn.

This train-laced movie (both prototype and model) features 4 character actors from Star Trek TOS and Batman 1966 and includes overhead (helicopter) scenes of railroads in Boston, Massachusetts.

Banacek is brought in when an expensive, experimental sports car vanishes from a non-stop freight train. The solution to the mystery is so preposterous, you just HAVE to come along for the ride (no pun intended). Let’s roll…

Would you believe an Atlas O scale (two rail) Great Northern, Big Sky Blue box car is a key exhibit in explaining how they done it? Read on…

42 years later, this is what Big Sky Blue fades to, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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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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Love Me Tender 1956

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20th Century Fox

B&W Cinemascope

Elvis! Guess what the baby said! Okay, I’m already getting off track here (pun intended), but I always think of the above Apes of Wrath 1959 cartoon when Elvis’ name comes up.

Yeah, Elvis. Here he appears in his first movie as brother Clint, of the notorious, train-robbing Reno Gang. Although he isn’t shown next to a train at any point, he aids and abets his brothers in their crime spree. Actually, Elvis was brought in as an excuse to include some of his musical numbers and be the third figure in a messy love triangle. More about that later.

Today’s movie features TWO studio-owned stream locomotives: 1. Virginia & Truckee 4-4-0 #22, “The Inyo” and; 2. Dardanelle & Russellville 4-4-0 #8. Both of these locomotives are still with us and located in Carson City, Nevada.

It’s the Confederates vs. the Damn Yankees towards the end of the Civil War. Here comes the train. Time to rob the payroll!

Presented here are two contemporary views of our feature’s two steam locomotives at the Nevada State Railroad Museum. While the Inyo is operational, the D&R #8 is stored awaiting restoration.

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