# Train movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541 "2011-12-27T17:47:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/1 "2011-12-27T17:47:14Z")
I’m looking for movies- kids’ movies are best- that heavily feature trains. My roommate’s little boy loves trains. His favorite movie is Polar Express. I swear to god if we have to watch Polar Express one more time, I’ll shoot myself. That movie is awful. I’ve taken to switching the dubbed language just so I don’t have to listen to the dialogue one more time. He doesn’t mind- he’s memorized his favorite parts and just likes looking at the train and all the Christmas stuff. But everyone here is burned out on Polar Express. So, I’m looking for another train movie. Something that also doesn’t involve Thomas the Tank Engine. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/2 "2011-12-27T18:16:33Z")
Have you considered some of the documentary type films that have lots of footage of trains running? [One source.](http://www.railfandepot.com/servlet/StoreFront) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/3 "2011-12-27T18:42:09Z")
He probably wouldn’t get the gags, but if ever there was a train that was funny, it was the old time train Buster Keaton built for **Our Hospitality**. Of course, lots of trains also in Keaton’s **The General**. These are wonderful movies. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/4 "2011-12-27T18:54:00Z")
[Transsiberian](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800241/) is quite good. [Runaway train](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089941/) is also. Oh, for kids? Never mind… ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/5 "2011-12-27T18:58:12Z")
For kids? Well, there’s always Disney’s Civil War adventure, [The Great Locomotive Chase](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049279/) (based on a true story). ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/6 "2011-12-27T19:07:47Z")
[Thomas the Tank Engine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_and_the_Magic_Railroad) had his own movie. Going back in time, how about [The Railway Children](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Railway_Children_%28film%29)? [This movie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molester%27s_Train:_Nasty_Behavior) is probably not what you’re after. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/7 "2011-12-27T20:52:01Z")
[Rat Race](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Race_%28film%29) is a kid friendly film with some train bits. There’s even Barbie for any passing little girls. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/8 "2011-12-27T22:06:01Z")
Runaway Train - good movie. Probably not for kids though you may like it. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/9 "2011-12-27T22:09:26Z")
[Galaxy Express 999](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080772/), and its sequels. And its spin-off TV series, [The Galaxy Railways](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389633/). These “trains” are actually spaceships, but I don’t think that would matter. The original movie is a bit dated, but the TV series is much newer. [Castle in the Sky](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092067/) has a good train sequence near the beginning. The rest of it is mostly flying machines, but I think the steampunk aesthetics would appeal to someone who likes trains. [From Russia With Love](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057076/) is good too, if you think he’s old enough for it. There’s also [Wild Wild West](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120891/). ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/10 "2011-12-28T04:36:40Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin;14606903Going back in time, how about [The Railway Children] ([The Railway Children (disambiguation) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Railway_Children_%28film%29))? [/QUOTE] This is the one I thought of too. I saw it a few years ago and liked it a lot, but was still a little surprised to see it appear on a list of “Best British Movies Ever Made.” Not because of the quality, I was just surprised it was a famous movie given I’d never even heard of it before picking it up at the library one day. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/11 "2011-12-28T05:37:38Z")
[Train Crazy Kids](http://www.amazon.com/Train-Crazy-Kids/dp/B001DZLAVE) [The Little Engine That Could](http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=123953701/st=product_tab&mode=about_kidstvmovies&) [Train Master](http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=121091201/search=train%20master/st=query&mode=about_kidstvmovies) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/12 "2011-12-28T05:55:02Z")
_Murder on the Orient Express_. Not exactly a kid’s movie, but not particularly explicit, either. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/13 "2011-12-28T06:15:26Z")
Another vote for the _Railway Children_. I’m unsure if it would be suitable for children, but I’ll offer it anyway: _Silver Streak_. Lots of scenes of trains and railyards and stations amidst a plot concerning an art theft. ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/14 "2011-12-28T09:46:05Z")
As a hard core train enthusiast I would recommend these: _ **Out of Scale** _ - This Disney Donald Duck cartoon can be found on YouTube. Was probably inspired by miniature train that Walt Disney had in his back yard. _ **The Brave Engineer** _ - Disney cartoon about Casey Jones, can also be found on YouTube. _ **Casey Jones** _ - Several episodes of this late 1950s T. V. series on appear YouTube. Features Allen Hale who later became the Skipper on _Gilligan’s Island_. Here is a link to one of the episodes - [casey jones nightmail part one - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQDpN_EFozk) _ **Pacific 231** _ - Sort of an early music video. The 1923 orchestral piece “Pacific 231” - a musical interpretation of the sights and sounds of steam locomotives - inspired this short film made in 1949. No story here, but many wonderful shots of a train running across the French country side. Also on YouTube. _ **Ticket to Tomahawk** _ - Western. Watch carefully and you’ll see Marilyn Monroe in one of her early roles (although I doubt your friend’s son would care about this). _ **Titsfield Thunderbolt** _ - Wonderful British comedy about villagers who take over local railroad line to prevent it from being closed. \*\*_Union Pacific_ \*\*- Western directed by Cecil B. DeMille about the building of the Transcontinental railroad. \*\*_Denver and Rio Grande_ \*\*- Western about the building of the Denver and Rio Grande railroad and its battle with the Santa Fe railroad. \*\*_The General_ \*\*- Buster Keaton comedy based on an actual incident from the American Civil War. This is a silent film so it might seem a bit strange to a small kid at first. You may have to read the title cards for him. This classic film often appears in lists of ‘best films ever.’ _ **The Great Locomotive Chase** _ - This Disney film covers the same story as _ **The General** _, but far more accurately. Some other films that might be suitable for older kids: _ **The Chattanooga Choo Choo** _ - 1984 comedy. Has some young women showing a lot of bare skin, but if I recall correctly, no nudity. _ **The Train** _ - An excellent film but a bit violent. Takes place during World War 2 and has several scenes of Nazis brutally shooting people. _ **Emperor of the North** _ - This film always appears on lists of train fans’ favorite films but I would not recommend for children. Has several violent parts and language that you probably wouldn’t a child to hear. A couple other films with good train parts that come to mind are: _ **Go West** _ - This Marx Brothers film contains funny train chase near end of film _ **Sullivan’s Travels** _ - Has several good shots of trains. An excellent film but I doubt your friend’s son would enjoy it (except of course for the train parts). _ **North by Northwest** _ - Part of this Alfred Hitchcock film takes place on the 20th Century Limited as it travels from New York to Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/15 "2011-12-28T10:05:12Z")
You never mentioned how old he is. There’s a lot of train footage in [The Journey of Natty Gann](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089385/) and since it’s a Disney movie it’s fairly kid-friendly if a bit older-skewing. Older still, though not in Runaway Train territory, are train robber movies, like [The Grey Fox](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085622/) and [Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064115/). [Unstoppable](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477080/) is pretty exciting though I don’t know if PG-13 is too much for him now. In several years if he’s still into trains, the original [The Taking of Pelham One Two Three](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072251/) might interest him. Both the original and the [2009 remake](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111422/) are rated R. ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/16 "2011-12-28T10:05:26Z")
Just remembered one more: _ **Railroadin’** _ - 1929 Our Gang comedy short. Kids playing around train yard climb aboard a locomotive, start it and are unable to stop it. Sometimes pops up on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/46a35a/32.png) [@UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UFC_Is_Sux)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/17 "2011-12-28T11:32:13Z")
There’s always the _Harry Potter_ movies. A train features prominently in those. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/18 "2011-12-28T12:05:15Z")
How about [Casey Jomes](http://brokenwheelranch.com/caseyjones.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/19 "2011-12-28T12:14:39Z")
**Around the World in 80 Days** has many train sequences including the cool “sail car”. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-movies/607541/20 "2011-12-28T12:28:35Z")
[Night on the Galactic Railroad](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089206/) – or in Esperanto [Nokto de la Galaksia Fervojo](http://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokto_de_la_Galaksia_Fervojo) – is a wonderful anime movie, though it might not appeal to really young children.