02-07-2010, 10:27 AM
I wasn't sure where to post this, and a moderator may wish to move it, but here goes:
One of my favorite train movies is "Emperor of the North" and I just bought a DVD and watched it again.
Anyway, watching it carefully, I have a few questions:
1) One scene shows the hobos picking a lock to set a turnout to divert Shack's train as it leaves the yard. Did they really use locks to keep a turnout in one position? Wouldn't ALL the locks on a railroad have to use the SAME key??
2) In the scene where Shack's train ducks off into a siding just BARELY avoiding a collision with the oncoming train ( a classic scene!) HOW did the turnout get set to divert his train off to the right? Also, did the oncoming train just push the turnout back to a straight position? Wouldn't this have caused a derailment or am I confusing the real world with model railroading?
3) Another scene shows Lee Marvin ("A#1") being beaten with a chain by Shack. He reaches down and pulls a pin or something and uncouples all the cars behind the car that he was on while the train was still in motion. Was this really possible?
4) Towards the end of the film, Lee Marvin and "Cigaret" are riding along underneath a car. Shack is attempting to dislodge them using a rope and a heavy metal bar bouncing up and hitting them as they ride. Lee Marvin pushes something with his foot and causes the entire train to come to a screeching halt. What was it? Was this possible?
5) I noticed one of the boxcars on Shack's train was yellow and might have had "Green Bay and Western" lettering on it. Is this correct? Because if it is, then my "Yard Boss" train set has one of those boxcars!
All best, and thanks,
Joe
One of my favorite train movies is "Emperor of the North" and I just bought a DVD and watched it again.
Anyway, watching it carefully, I have a few questions:
1) One scene shows the hobos picking a lock to set a turnout to divert Shack's train as it leaves the yard. Did they really use locks to keep a turnout in one position? Wouldn't ALL the locks on a railroad have to use the SAME key??
2) In the scene where Shack's train ducks off into a siding just BARELY avoiding a collision with the oncoming train ( a classic scene!) HOW did the turnout get set to divert his train off to the right? Also, did the oncoming train just push the turnout back to a straight position? Wouldn't this have caused a derailment or am I confusing the real world with model railroading?
3) Another scene shows Lee Marvin ("A#1") being beaten with a chain by Shack. He reaches down and pulls a pin or something and uncouples all the cars behind the car that he was on while the train was still in motion. Was this really possible?
4) Towards the end of the film, Lee Marvin and "Cigaret" are riding along underneath a car. Shack is attempting to dislodge them using a rope and a heavy metal bar bouncing up and hitting them as they ride. Lee Marvin pushes something with his foot and causes the entire train to come to a screeching halt. What was it? Was this possible?
5) I noticed one of the boxcars on Shack's train was yellow and might have had "Green Bay and Western" lettering on it. Is this correct? Because if it is, then my "Yard Boss" train set has one of those boxcars!
All best, and thanks,
Joe
"I've got my facts pretty clear . . . all I want now is to know what they all mean."