Locomotives
Can anyone provide any background info on the locomotives? I remember reading somewhere they were from some logging railroad in California. Any info would be appreciated...
shareThey are. The original trains from the Civil War that participated in the chase did, and still do exist. The General is in Kennesaw, GA and the train the chased after it, the Texas, is in Atlanta. Neither of the originals were used in Keaton's film. One was borrowed from the lumber company in California, and the other one (after being dropped off a bridge) was left in the river until WWII when it was removed and scrapped. If your interested in the real story, and the real train the general, visit www.southernmuseum.org
In another thread, someone said that bridge scene cost $42,000. I'm assuming that includes the cost of the engine. So why did they just leave it there? Couldn't they have recovered it and sold it for scrap at the time? If they recovered it right away, they may even been able to have it fixed up and put back in use.
shareThe Texas crashing into the Truckee river is considered to be the most expensive single movie shot of the silent era. At the time, though, it was a different world. 'Hey, we pulled off this shot and it looked great!' In the 1920s, nobody in the movie biz was thinking of recycling costs. They just shot and walked away, never dreaming that the location would become legend.
- Crazy. All crazy but I'm.