There are a number of cars in that set that are definitely from the wrong time period. The movie is supposed to be Dec 1945, aka the first Christmas AFTER the war. Lionel was only up to limited production at that time. I suspect that the DP selected rolling stock based on how it looked rather than whether it was appropriate for the time period. You can easily freeze frame the video on the DVD and then compare the cars to a reference source. Tank car is from 59, hopper is from 1964
Originally Posted by chuck:
There are a number of cars in that set that are definitely from the wrong time period. The movie is supposed to be Dec 1945, aka the first Christmas AFTER the war. Lionel was only up to limited production at that time. I suspect that the DP selected rolling stock based on how it looked rather than whether it was appropriate for the time period. You can easily freeze frame the video on the DVD and then compare the cars to a reference source. Tank car is from 59, hopper is from 1964
Well Chuck,Do ALL these trains have BOX COUPLERS on them, or are they all KNUCKLES, or is there a mix. HMMMMMMM. I don't know what the "DP" stands for , or what it pertains too. Obviously you never knew Boyd Mason. You don't know Jack Daniels about the era and the trains in the movie, and probably don't know Dick Yeungling either. That says about as much as you have said pertaining to the consist. Have a nice night. 148th
Originally Posted by chuck:
There are a number of cars in that set that are definitely from the wrong time period. The movie is supposed to be Dec 1945, aka the first Christmas AFTER the war. Lionel was only up to limited production at that time. I suspect that the DP selected rolling stock based on how it looked rather than whether it was appropriate for the time period. You can easily freeze frame the video on the DVD and then compare the cars to a reference source. Tank car is from 59, hopper is from 1964
I'm not going to waste my time looking at that movie. Tell me the engine, tender, and consist numbers of ALL in the movie. You might be surprised at the documented account. Remember this, Lionel and AM Flyer took Ives into receivership. Are you aware what happened? Happened twice !
The only reference that I could find to the trains in the store window is from this website http://www.internetantiquegaze.../1911_lionel_trains/ .
It states that the train set used in the movie was from the late 60's. I wish that Boyd was still around.
DP is the Director or Photography, aka the person that actually in charge of filming the movie. They can and often do make changes for what they perceive to be artistic reasons like the original PW set was too short or too dull (aka not enough color).
While I may not know Boyd Mason I do know he was over ridden on the consist of that little train set that's in the window. Two dome tank cars weren't even introduced until 1946 which makes their appearance in a scene for Christmas 1945 unlikely irregardless of the type of couplers on the train.
FYI, both of my kids work in the film/television industry (production/scenic design and editing) and I've actually got a screen credit on a feature length film for "weather effects". This film was not a documentary and there was the usual amount of artistic license taken with respect to historic accuracy or geography or even weather. None of this takes away from the core story so it really doesn't matter. At least they had a Lionel train set in the film.
I may not be an expert on early PW trains but I do know how to use the knowledge I do have and the reference material I have access to determine that the train set in that window is not an accurate representation of a Christmas 1945 train set. If you feel differently YOU can examine the film the way I did and post your analysis for discussion/debate. If you don't want to watch the film that's fine too.
Originally Posted by Putnam Division:
This picture is from the Forum from a few years ago.....Does anyone know who made it? I probably would get one.
Peter
Peter, I seem to remember this being posted by "ratpack" a while ago. Maybe you could try e-mailing him?
- Mike
The correct 1945 Lionel Christmas time train would have consisted of the following items: 224 Loco, 2224 Tender, 2458 Auto Car, 2452 Gondola or a pre-war 3659 on early postwar trucks, a 2555 Tank Car, and 2457 PRR N5 Caboose "TINTYPE" with the numbering of 477618. FYI the 2555, 2755, 2855 & 2955 tankers can cause confusion because they were also used in postwar sets. Technically speaking most 2755's have 2555 leftover decals and were boxed in 2555 boxes. Furthermore the cast frames for these illegitimates are stamped 2955! Pre-war Sunoco cars had the arrow on the right, and the rail marking and the number to the left. This was soon reversed when 2755 decals ran out. Now you know the 1945 Christmas set ! Does what is in the store window MATTER ? Chuck, my mother & father were friends with Sinatra & the Bongiovanni's. I don't care what your family does for a living, that doesn't make you an expert on Lionel! I don't need to examine the movie frame to determine what is right or wrong in the film. Furthermore that movie portraits trash elements composing of murder, violence, drugs and theft. ALL of which come from the wrong side of the tracks from where I was raised. I'm not interested in viewing it. 148th
If anyone else is interested, the 3 cars I can identify in the store window are:
1) An orange two dome tank car – If it is a 6045, the earliest it would have shown up was 1959. If it is a 6465, the earliest it would have shown up was also 1959.
2) A white 6014 box car – If it is an x6014 white Baby Ruth car the earliest it would have shown up is 1951. If it’s a 6014 Frisco (I really think that’s what it is), the earliest it would have shown up is 1957.
3) A yellow two bay hopper that appears to be a Lehigh Valley. The earliest this would have appeared is 1964.
Fred
Arguing over the correctness of a toy train set thats in a 30 second scene in a 40 year old movie? REALLY?? Somebody needs to get a life 'cuz this one doesn't seem to be working out very well.
