Unstoppable

I would venture to think there are costs to license the roadname from Fox, and I'm sure they're far more than could be recovered by selling models.

Maybe both Lionel and MTH didn't feel that paying the licensing fee would be a good enough investment, i.e. they probably both felt that VERY FEW people would purchase anything painted & lettered for that "railroad".

Yep! Combine license cost and narrow appeal of the models and you end up with zero profit. I liked the film too....and had plans to paint up a WbB Dash 9 and Weaver SD-40-2 like the movie locos....but found other projects to use these on. I still have the decal artwork ready to print me some decals....someday.....

I really enjoyed that film, and it is semi-permanently loaded on the DVD player in my train room. I especially enjoy the use of the term 'Lash-up' in the film too! 

 I'm sure to get blasted for saying this....

When I read the account of the CSX8888 runaway train, the event seemed more real than movie stuff. I don't work on real trains so yeah, I'm probably way off. I found it interesting at least, that the report said the train ran for 2 hours and reached 51 MPH!!

At least Unstoppable held up in the theaters longer than Lone Ranger...

 

Rusty

Not by much.  Unstoppable made $167,804,705. So far The Lone Ranger has made 

$164,704,802.  The Lone Ranger just cost more to make.

I agree with the point about the engines being attractively decorated, but I sure thought the movie (which I saw in the theater when it was first released), was pretty ho-hum at best.

 

Personally, I'm glad none of the major manufacturers jumped on that bandwagon.  And Lionel should have passed on The Lone Ranger, as well.  Just let the film die in peace, as it deserves to do.  One of the biggest losers in a summer of losers.  

The hoppers behind the SD are ex Rock Island cars.  My friend Lynn paints Bessemer versions of these.  They looked almost white when they got old.

 

http://mercerjunction.com/shop...-ri-hopper-blackblue

 

I also think Atlas did a box car.

 

Dave

Atlas O was planning on releasing an AWVRR box car for their Golden Spike Club members, but they did not get enough orders for it and they cancelled the project.

The movie, though somewhat based on a real event, is ENTERTAINMENT. 

 

It is not a documentary.  

 

Enjoy it for what it is.   

 

I own the Blu-Ray and the extra features that explain and show how the movie was filmed are amazing.  Go get it.  

Now I have to wonder how many people would have ran out and brought the Silver Streak Train Set if it was ever made.

By the way the Budget was 6.5 million and the movie made almost $51.1 million.

 

Don't hold back Allen!!!! Tell us how you REALLY feel!!!

 

Now if Lionel had done a Lone Ranger train as it was in the film, a 4-6-0 and a 4-4-0 in scale I'd bought them all. The very tired General run over and over holds no interest. I modified one Lionel General but the work required was WAY too much.

I still have 3 Lionel SD40-2's to get custom painted to look like the 3 used in the film. Personally if either Lionel, MTH or anyone else made the engines, there would be some things that may not match up with the movie versions, and that would get on the nerves of many perfectionists.

 

And yes, while Unstoppable does fall into usual Hollywood genre action, it still manages to be effectively heart pumping and entertaining, with of course Denzel Washington in it always a plus. I'm also glad it was not CGI-heavy....that gets really tiresome these days.

 

Plus, I find it fitting that this movie was a hit before director Tony Scott committed suicide last year.

Well, back in the day, I did rework the paint on a pair of Athearn CP Rail F7's to AMRoad.

 

Rusty

 

Silver Streak has achieved classic status. I bet an AMRoad set would sell fairly well. I know I would buy one. Sure, I guess GGD could do a couple sets of the Canadian in movie dress, but I think you'd do better with a slightly more reasonable price point with a fictional train. A true bonus would be an opening rear observation car door with Gene Wilder running behind the train.

And the ticket prices were higher for LR...

 

Rusty

I've thought about doing an HO Silver Streak. Wouldn't be too difficult... Just make up some AmRoad decals and put them on a pair of CP F-units and some passenger cars. That's how they did it for the movie!

There where also 2 Highhood GP35 that sported a Wheeling and Lake Erie paint scheme for the AWVR.

 

It could be worse....you could've sat through After Earth, R.I.P.D., Smurfs 2, or Grown Ups 2....

I enjoyed this movie.

If you had to attend any of those, Thomas, you have my sincere sympathies.  However, I do hope the popcorn was good.  

 

I had given some thought to going to see Grown Ups 2, but my better judgement prevailed.

I do not have a clue about how real or ficticious this movie was.  But it is just a MOVIE made to entertain.  I thought it had some great acting and some really good action drama.  To that end I thought it was really entertaining.  If I wanted fact based realism, a hollywood movie would not be my first choice.

 

Ed

Bravo!! Sir

"I've thought about doing an HO Silver Streak. Wouldn't be too difficult... Just make up some AmRoad decals and put them on a pair of CP F-units and some passenger cars. That's how they did it for the movie!"

 

That's exactly what they did for the movie.  However, when shooting was completed, the decals or coatings did not come off.  So the production company had to bear the expense to have the two FP7s repainted.

Yes, it was!  I only wish it had accomplished that goal. 

I loved this movie. After all how can any movie be a flop with trains, fire engines, police cars and helicopters!

It also needs cute puppies and kittens!

Rusty

Let's see...

 

Unstoppable is certified "fresh" on rottentomatoes.com, with 86% of critics liking it.

 

Polar express is classified "rotten" on that site with 56% of critics liking it.

 

The original poster is right!   Lionel should have made models from this movie instead of Polar Express!

"I especially enjoy the use of the term 'Lash-up' in the film too!"

Oh Nicole you are a bad bad girl!

Don 

I love the SNL parody of the film just as much as the movie itself.

 

When they have the two diesels in front 777, why didn't they have someone standing on the rear deck and just step over on to #777 as they matched the speed.  Hey, there is a little door on #777 you can go through.  Oh wait, that would be the end of the movie.

Never saw the movie. I will some day. I do wish that MTH or Lionel would of done the engines. I thought they were sharp looking.