NNG: Chasing Train Robbers in Ventura, 08/94 (pics)

Hi, All -

Please forgive another NNG post, but Roger's excellent photos of the recent robbery at Cresco reminded me of an event that happened right here in my hometown of Ventura, Ca., way back in nineteen-ought-ninety-four . . .

Seems a gang of bad guys robbed the mail train, kidnapped our schoolmarm, the Widow Hoffman and a few of 'her' kids, including my daughter Cindy (Jackelopette here on the NGDF) as hostages, and tried to make their getaway on a handcar . . .    

Both Ventura native Kevin Costmore and Bakersfield-by-the-Sea mayor Clunk Westwood were unable to fill their usual heroic roles, as the former was dedicating a new baseball field, and the latter was in Georgianatown, Colorado, preparing for an upcoming movie role.*  Fortunately for the victims, John Wayne impersonator Ermal Williamson was visiting in nearby Santa Paula, and was able to step up and be sworn in as a sheriff's deputy at the last minute.  Dave Wilkinson, president of the SCRVRRHS at the time and currently owner of the Fillmore & Western RR, got permission from Stan Garner and Jim Clark of Short Line Enterprises to fire up #1, their ten-ton Porter 0-4-0T 'The Sespe'**, in order to pursue the evildoers . . .    

As you can see, all of this was professionally directed and recorded on 70-mm movie film by SCRVRRHS board members Troy Helton (w/ megaphone) and LaVerne Hoffman (w/ hand-cranked Edison camera), respectively - the soon-to-be second-unit team for the filming of Roger Hogan's upcoming movie 'The Curmudgeonly Seven'.*






Actually, all of this took place during the annual parade on the first Saturday of the Ventura County Fair, in a greatly enhanced remake of 1993's SCRVRRHS float. 'The Sespe' was fired up, blowing her whistle and venting steam from the cylinder cocks for the entire two miles of the parade. Needless to say, we won first place in the "Oddball" category both years.

No bagpipers, rub-board players or yodelers were harmed during the filming of this movie, but there is one glaring error:  There's no umlaut over the letter 'O' on the SCRVRR Histœrical Society's banner on the trailer . . .    

- Roosso "El Instigatador" Loco

  * aka "C7" - see [ngdiscussion.net] for a synopsis of the script.

** aka 'Sespe the Saddle Tank', Thomas the Tank Engine's American cousin.

p.s. Oilfied Service and Trucking - who have done a lot of heavy hauling for Short Line and the F&W over the years - donated use of the truck and trailer.   A sign on the rear of the truck proclaimed:  "Locomotives, Big or Small - O-S-T can do it ALL!"



Edited 13 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2019 06:24PM by Russo Loco.