Loco #483 wasn't the only star in “BITE THE BULLET”

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad’s revered K-36 class locomotive #483 appeared in 8 motion pictures between 1968 and 1977, before being set aside. It played a central role in the 1975 motion picture “Bite the Bullet.” Two of #483’s human costars of that film have had long and distinguished careers. Sally Kirkland and Gene Hackman are seen here on an engine house lead in the Chama, New Mexico, railroad yard, violating a major safety rule: step over greasy rails, not on them.

Hackman was already an Academy Award and Golden Globe winning Best Actor for “The French Connection” (1971) and would win both awards again in the Best Supporting Actor category for Clint Eastwood’s 1992 film “Unforgiven” (which also starred Sierra Railroad 4-6-0 #3).

Kirkland costarred in both of Hollywood’s big railroad films of 1975: “Bite the Bullet” and “Breakheart Pass” (with Great Western Railway 2-8-0 #75 and Charles Bronson). She received an Academy Award nomination and won the Golden Globe for her title role in the 1987 motion picture “Anna.”

Read about motion pictures and television shows made on the Denver & Rio Grande Western, Durango & Silverton, and Cumbres & Toltec narrow gauge lines in “Hollywood’s Railroads, Volume Three: Narrow Gauge Country.” It is illustrated with 130 photos of locomotives used films, including T-12 #168, C-18 #315, RGS #20, C-16 #268, and many from the K-27, K-28, K-36, and K-37 classes.

Learn more about the “Hollywoods Railroads” series of books at: [www.CochetopaPress.biz]. They make terrific Christmas presents!

We also have a Facebook page with 60+ essays on various movie train topics and 200+ photos at: [www.facebook.com]. Be sure to “Like” our page. New content is posted on a regular basis.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/2017 05:09PM by larryjensen.