Rail consulting firm FMW Solutions and several heritage railways combined to recreate a 1970s-era commuter train for the recent Tom Hanks film “A Man Called Otto,” which makes use of equipment and locations of the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railway, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and Washington D.C. chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.
The film’s railroad sequences were shot on three days at three locations, with aerial exterior work at Romney, W.Va., with the Potomac Eagle’s diesel locomotive and passenger cars. Interior scenes were shot on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic in Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, with and moving-train shots on a modified former Budd Rail Diesel Car between Jaite and Rockside, Ohio. And the Potomac Eagle locomotive and two Cuyahoga Valley cars were used to shoot at Toledo’s Central Union Terminal.
“This is an era of passenger rail rarely seen on film,” said FMW movie train coordinator Kelly Lynch. “In some cases, car interiors were rejected because they were restored and looked too nice.”
Ultimately, the train work makes up about 5 minutes of screen time.
Also assisting the effort were Mid America Railcar, Carload Express, Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum, Horizon Rail, Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, and McRail Insurance, Brian Smith, and Chris Homco. A more detailed exploration of the filming effort is available at the FMW Solutions website.
Share this article
