Re: 1988's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Here We Go Sportsfans!!!!

The Indiana Jones And the Last Crusade filming job lasted for about 10 days in the end of August through mid-September. There were actually two different crews we worked with. The first group was the “second unit”. A second unit film crew does all the background shots and shots involving stunt doubles and stand-ins for the big time actors. The second unit probably used more days of filming than the “first unit” which showed up later. The locations that were used on the C&TS were Lobato and just down hill from Lobato, Windy Point and from Antonito to MP 286. They shot second unit stuff near Lobato and on Windy Point the first day. Then for the next few days they did second unit shots out near Antonito. Then the first unit “big guns” showed up, and filmed in Antonito, then we moved back to Windy Point and Lobato to finish the job.

Back then we did not worry about Hours of Service Rules. The film crews worked 12 hours a day. So did we – plus getting the train to the location and tying up. 14+ hour days were the norm. To add to the mix, we didn’t have 487 running that year. So every day we filmed, all three engines were on the road. It was busy chaotic time.

The first day of filming began with a 630am call on August 29. The train was made up by the water tank on track one. At that early hour, my photos were all in the shade and turned out badly. My fireman was Gerald Blea. We got out of town at 745 and spent the morning filming in the upper Narrows around the curve known as Lake Lobato. We did numerous takes of the train and stunt/stand in actors on top of the train until 1030 when train #2 was scheduled out of Chama. The film crew was told we had to clear up for them. They responded with they had all the footage they wanted and were ready to head for our next location on Windy Point. We blasted off and headed for Cumbres, outrunning the regular train. The first good view I could get of our train was rounding Hurley's Curve.




All of our early morning filming had used up considerable water, so we had to stop at Cresco for water. We were making good time ahead of the heavier passenger train, so I stepped out to get a pick of 484 in her movie dress getting water.



From here we charged up the hill. Rounding Windy Point, #2 was still below Garcia’s place at MP 333. We got water and ducked into the siding to clear #2. Here, 488 departs Cumbres, passing 484 on the Movie Extra.



Here we broke for lunch (one of the best perks for movie work is the FOOD!) This break also allowed me a chance to get a shot of all the cars in the train. When the film crew told us of all the modifications they wanted to do to the equipment, they must of saw the horror on our faces. They told us with no uncertain terms, they would be very careful with our "artifacts" (their word) and would do all their modifications in such a way that when removed they would be completely undetectable. Also, they would repaint all the rolling stock back to original. The box cars all had their metal Murphy Roofs removed, carefully marked and stacked for easy replacement. They wanted tarpaper roofing, rigged with balsa wood subflooring so at the appropriate times the actor would fall through or some animal could poke itself through the roof. They also installed a lumber door in the "wrong" end of one box car. They stuck by their word, all the cars were returned to original after the shoot. They did a great job.

First a box car. I didn't get the original car numbers for any of this, sorry...



Second, the Giraffe Car, made from a stock car - shades of Lionel! Notice the stands for the giraffe heads.....




Car 2



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/2017 08:54PM by Earl.