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Watched a documentary on TCM today where the man that played Timmy in the film was given the custom Lionel trains used in the film and brings them out each year.  The film was made in June and he said the trains were packed away after filming.....but Christmas morning he got a box....with all the movie trains! These have to be some of the most  historic Lionel trains and would be cool to own. If you can watch the first 5 minutes if nothing else!! 

 

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johnstrains posted:
Steamer posted:

IIRC there was a thread on the movie here last year, and the actor that played Timmy still had the trains.

Yes, there was.

When they show this film on Turner Classic Movies they frequently show a short interview with the actor (Gordon Gebert) and indeed he mentions that he still has the Red Rocket Express.

Kinda the point of my post!!! I had to go back and read it myself.....thought my old brain had forgotten to post what I saw......did you guys read the post????

AMCDave posted:
johnstrains posted:
Steamer posted:

IIRC there was a thread on the movie here last year, and the actor that played Timmy still had the trains.

Yes, there was.

When they show this film on Turner Classic Movies they frequently show a short interview with the actor (Gordon Gebert) and indeed he mentions that he still has the Red Rocket Express.

Kinda the point of my post!!! I had to go back and read it myself.....thought my old brain had forgotten to post what I saw......did you guys read the post????

You're right Dave!

Guess I need some of those reading comprehension vitamins.

This information is in conflict with the article in the December 2016 issue of Classic Toy Trains. In that article about the Red Rocket Express the actor Gordon Gebert is quoted as not receiving the Red Rocket Express train set.  His statement of the facts are that he did receive a Lionel train set from the movie staff but it was a cataloged Lionel set not the one shown in the movie Holiday Affair. Do not know which is correct but I tend to think he does not own the Red Rocket Express shown in the movie.

6462 gondola posted:

I agree he seems to have selective memory but it was a long time ago. In the CTT article he says that he has no idea what happened to the train..

Merry Christmas and thanks for starting an interesting discussion!

 

At his age, I don't think his memory can be trusted.  After all, many of us are about the same age as him!

Bill

 

AmbBob posted:

The movie was remade about ten years ago. I think Cynthia Gibb was the female lead. The train  was an Amtrak. Curiously, the last time I saw the new version, the network clipped off the last minute or two where the family is seen on the train, transitions into the model train.

I found on YouTube the full length video of the 1996 remake - appears to be a chromed F3 with 4 cars (and rather irritating to me is the baggage car in the middle of the consist).

Still a nicely detailed layout and it even has a Rico station!

The finale takes place aboard a VIA train.

https://youtu.be/l0KZhmeOFRU

Anyone else happen to see the latest special Christmas & Electric Trains by the other magazine ?  The plot thickens regarding the original train sets used in the movie.  There is an article in the issue where someone bought a Lionel layout that was used in the movie Rat Pack and years later when working on the layout they supposedly discover two sets of the Red Rocket Express. Not much detail regarding the exact items that were found. The story almost seems a bit unbelievable in that the purchaser knew trains were included with the layout but didn't get around to looking at the sets until quite some time after the purchase.

Whether or not the child actor later received the trains is moot to me after seeing the 3-rail scene in the opening credits!  WOW! That Lionel brand train set looks FABULOUS negotiating that snowy, mountainous scene! I've attached a clip of the credit/opening scene. BUT... you'll have to endure the YouTube wanna be's opening credit...

 Andre

 

 

Last edited by laming

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