The Christmas Train • A Novel • & Now a Premier Movie • Sat. Nov., 25 8E / 7C

A little Danny Glover goes a long way, but I'm in!  

Good morning, hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving !!!!!

My wife came home with the book the Christmas Train and gave it to me 2 years ago.

I was flying somewhere every week so it gave me something to pass the time.

She asked me what the book was about and I told here it wasn't much about the train or trains as a story of mystery and romance.

It will be interesting to see how the movie is compared to the book. The previews are missing a lot of parts that are in the book. There are some colorful individuals on the train.

I guess we will know tomorrow evening.

I have not heard of the book, but have heard of the author, though I don't think I have read any of his work.

Already had this scheduled to record as part of our countdown to Christmas, but thanks for the reminder anyway.

 Just missed it I suppose. I seldom watch any tv to know; so what network? It's not mentioned.

Adriatic posted:

 Just missed it I suppose. I seldom watch any tv to know; so what network? It's not mentioned.

The Hallmark Channel.

Arthur posted:

Adriatic posted:

 Just missed it I suppose. I seldom watch any tv to know; so what network? It's not mentioned.

The Hallmark Channel.

And they repeat often

Per TV Guide website. Times are Eastern Standard

 Sat Nov 25 8:00pm

 Sun Nov 26 2:00pm

 Tue Nov 28 6:00pm

 Thu Nov 30 8:00pm

 Sat Dec 2 4:00pm

 Sun Dec 3 10:00pm

 Wed Dec 6 6:00pm

 Thu Dec 7 10:00pm

Hi Mark & all members:

Mark Strittmater: Pleased to hear you read the book.  Look forward to  reading  your movie review, comparing the book to the movie. Please come back and give us your view points, along with all OGR Members.

Tonight is the Movie's Premier on the Hallmark Channel, Sat. Nov. 25th @ 8 E & 7C.

Gary

Well we don't get Hallmark channel.  Guess we can find it on the Internet someday and watch it on the computer.

Mark Boyce posted:

Well we don't get Hallmark channel.  Guess we can find it on the Internet someday and watch it on the computer.

Hi Mark:

Hi Mark: Check out the Hallmark Channel on Youtube. This is the link: About ten hours after the show airs.

https://www.youtube.com/user/HallmarkChannelUSA

There may also be illegal copies on YouTube on other channels.

Gary

Leave it to Gary to come up with the latest!!  Thank you!

I tried watching it right now and its too cheesy for me...... good thing I have " men who built America" on dvr, get to see it tonight...

Well Jim, I agree with you, it is a little cheesy, but since I'm in the house with my wife and 4 daughters!   Heck, even our two pups are girls.  At the moment, the train is stopped in the mountains by a snow storm.  I was hoping for a steam locomotive like the 844 leading the train, but no such luck.  Anyway, two of the characters have left the train in search of help.

There's something about a train...

Excellent Romantic Movie on an Amtrak

I love train travel and one special thing happens on long distance trains. The diner car is not like a restaurant, you will be seated with total strangers. Just like in this movie you will meet new friends.

Yes: an adventure will start.

Gary: On an Amtrak, some where……….

Good morning, well it was close to the book.

The reason Tom was on the train was he was blacklisted from the airlines and could not fly.

I was surprised  the actor that played some of the parts. Agnes the railroad security and Roxanne the porter where described as very large size women. Agnes had several encounters with Tom ( one of the main actors)in the corridors of the train and they would have to pass each other. Roxanne's daughter was the porter on the first part of the train, the Capitol and her mother Roxanne was the porter on the Captain which went all the way to LA.

In the book there are many details about each person and the train itself.

None of this was in the movie. Roxanne was also a very good singer and sang along with the boys choir in the station and then on the train. she also seemed to rule the roost even at times putting Tom in his place.

The young couple get married on the train not in a church or the station. They packed extra food and drink on the train paid by Max Powers, for the wedding and this gave them extra supplies to last the two days they were stranded.

Mr Kelly in the book was a retired catholic priest. It did turn out that he was the thief and no charges were ever pressed against him.

Max Powers had an assistant with him and he was the one that his sunglasses stolen. Don't recall the model of the Genesis engine being stolen or mentioned.

In the end Tom's girlfriend ended up with Max's assistant and they were a couple.

The train is stuck for art least two days before Tom and Elenor take off looking for help. The main problem they are running out of diesel for the heating system.

Higgins the former Amtrak employee was in the book but in the movie he seemed to spend most of his time looking at the sky and out the window staring at the sky. He did not really have much to say.

When Tom and Elenor took off looking for help it was at night because they thought they could see the lights at the ranch. They were on skies not snow shoes. They took off in blizzard type conditions.

They ended up on top of one another trying to stay warm and eventually passed out from exhaustion.

The following morning the storm passed and the sun was shining. A young boy finds them both and Tom wakes to think he died. Of course the boy gets them to his parents ranch and the form a rescue effort.

I think the only shot of the train that was correct was when they showed a side view of the train going over a bridge other than that it looked like an early diesel toy train stuck in a snow scene, and not much of a snow scene at that.

I think if you are interested in the story line you will need to purchase the book.

Was the movie close, sort of.

Hallmark was more than likely working on a tight budget to make the movie.

It is still a train, and maybe it will inspire a few people to take the train on their next trip.

Merry Christmas !!!!!!

I lasted exactly 13 minutes. A love story that centers around a train that has HUGE private rooms, and that does not shake, sway, or make noise while running at over 5 mph. A main character is asked "Are you the famous so-and so", and he replies, "Guilty as charged" TWICE in 8 minutes. I went back to reading my book.

Joe Hohmann posted:

I lasted exactly 13 minutes. A love story that centers around a train that has HUGE private rooms, and that does not shake, sway, or make noise while running at over 5 mph.

Plus, from what I see on the preview (admittedly, I don't have cable, satellite or whatever to see the flick,) the train consist of RDC's, which are all coach internally.  And the internal shots the train is set up like a heavyweight car.

Artistic license stretched to the breaking point.

Rusty

Dave 

trainroomgary posted:

Excellent Romantic Movie on an Amtrak

I love train travel and one special thing happens on long distance trains. The diner car is not like a restaurant, you will be seated with total strangers. Just like in this movie you will meet new friends.

Yes: an adventure will start.

Gary: On an Amtrak, some where……….

Have yet to travel a long distance on a train, but from your description and the movie, Gary, it seems like what happens on a cruise ship but on a ship it's on a much larger scale.

I enjoyed the movie and even thought Danny Glover did a good job.  Yes it is a typical Hallmark romantic Christmas movie, but had enough side stories to keep it interesting.  Apparently Amtrak now is running RDC's coast to coast, and allow passengers into the cab unit. I suggest that before viewing be in a happy "Christmas mood", and drink heavily.

On the DVR but haven't watched it yet.  Looking at the preview it seems like a typical Hallmark Movie with a different backdrop.  Might be nice to watch with your wife/girlfriend but I don't see the train club guys gathering around this one.  

Some of the interior shots seem to be VIA (they still run sections).

The RDC cars stuck in the snow were amusing at best.

And of course the shot of the train on Gaviota trestle was out of place (as were a number of others).  Maybe the train was on a long detour?

Never the less I enjoyed seeing the railroad scenes but the "plot" was transparent after about 5 minutes

Don

Never the less I enjoyed seeing the railroad scenes but the "plot" was transparent after about 5 minutes

Don

It's the Hallmark Channel.  NO surprise there!  

Yah, so it's a Christmas movie, see? If ya wanna see dis one, ya gotta prepare, see? Not for the faint of haht or semimental, see? Ya gotta watch it wit' a buncha femmes, see, or eighty-six it. Nuttin' here for tough guys, see? We ain't got much of a sense of humus around da place, see, an' ya wanna make sumpin' of it, then talk to Al, he's da boss, see? Frikkin' Hallmark - whaddaya espect, see? If she makes ya watch it wit' her, have at least a few goddam highballs sittin' there by yer side an a good cigar or two, see? Dis crap's jist for broads, see? Dey didn't even use a Yb6 or sumpin dat a guy can check out witout pukin, but no, dey shoots it aboard a frikkin RDC. How's dat for pansy-time? Aaaah, frikkin' Hallmark. Whadidya espect? 

My Wife and I Enjoyed the movie, but there were plenty of things that I caught "Wrong" in the details, the Clerestory windows in some of the passenger cars, the already mentioned RDC's, at one point supposedly "West of Chicago" by the descriptions, they showed an external view of the train running under wire, uh west of Chicago? , the cab scene showed the "Engineer" on the left side of the locomotive, there were other "Issues" but overall it was what you should Expect of a CHRISTMAS MOVIE, Not a Trains Documentary, and viewed in that light it was a Good Movie. If you are expecting Rivet Counting accuracy, this movie is NOT for you, BUT, if your are among those of us who "Still Believe" you just might Enjoy it too.

Doug

ClarkA posted:

I enjoyed the movie and even thought Danny Glover did a good job.  Yes it is a typical Hallmark romantic Christmas movie, but had enough side stories to keep it interesting.  Apparently Amtrak now is running RDC's coast to coast, and allow passengers into the cab unit. I suggest that before viewing be in a happy "Christmas mood", and drink heavily.

Farmer Bill Wrote:

On the DVR but haven't watched it yet. Looking at the preview it seems like a typical Hallmark Movie with a different backdrop. Might be nice to watch with your wife/girlfriend but I don't see the train club guys gathering around this one.

Ding, Ding, Ding  

We have a couple of winners here, you guys will have to Arm Wrestle or something to decide who gets the (Non-Existant ) Prize .

Doug 

ogaugeguy posted:

trainroomgary posted:

Excellent Romantic Movie on an Amtrak

I love train travel and one special thing happens on long distance trains. The diner car is not like a restaurant, you will be seated with total strangers. Just like in this movie you will meet new friends.

Yes: an adventure will start.

Gary: On an Amtrak, some where……….

Have yet to travel a long distance on a train, but from your description and the movie, Gary, it seems like what happens on a cruise ship but on a ship it's on a much larger scale.

Hi Kenn, ogaugeguy 

Fact checking. Today I sent a e-mail to Jim Loomis, who writes travel guides about Amtrak

TRAINS & TRAVEL WITH JIM LOOMIS jploomis@maui.netp3plcpnl0435.prod.phx3.secureserver.net 

My question: Does Amtrak seat passengers with strangers in the diner car?

Jim’s answer: Jim Loomis <jploomis@maui.net>

Gary,

Yes … absolutely … and, trust me on this, it is one of the great pleasures of train travel in the U.S. I can’t begin to tell you how many interesting people I have met in an Amtrak dining car. If you are planning an Amtrak trip and are hesitant about that, I beg you to forget your concerns. A writer/reporter friend of mine once told me that everyone has at least one interesting story to tell; the challenge comes in finding it; the fun comes in hearing it. Do not miss out on this important and rewarding part of your Amtrak experience.

My story: Gary

My wife’s family is from Ouray, Colorado and we have travel from Dearborn, Michigan to Grand Junction. Colorado over twenty times in the month of August and on just about every trip we were seated with strangers. This is a comment practice on Amtrak. Below is link to Jim’s web site.

http://www.trainsandtravel.com/

Hope this helps: Gary

Gentlemen,

   Good Hallmark Christmas Movie, Trains and all!  My Father and Mothers favorite way to travel, my Father had many wealthy friends with their own private RR Cars.  These WWII RR People really knew how to travel.  A Generation like no other.

The modern movie is quite good.

PCRR/Dave