Earl, thanks for the memories. You must have taken really good notes at the time. For the record, Saturday September 10 was a 2nd unit day, the main unit traveled to Green River, Utah, that day and left a small splinter unit behind to shoot inserts and runbys. All stuff that probably didn't make it into the movie but was 'nice to have'. It is a known fact that 2nd units have more fun. They get to blow stuff up or set fire to things without any of that pesky dialogue stuff. At some point, we had to set back and wait for the passenger train to pass. I don't remember where that was.
Frank Marshall (in the middle) was the producer and additional 2nd unit director. Ray Stella on the right was the camera operator and Colin Manning was the key grip (back to camera). The camera was mounted on a trolley behind them and was set up for a shot looking back at the train in motion.
Colin is smiling, despite the fact his camera mount didn't work quite as intended.
Setting up. The usual organized chaos. Dougie Slocombe was the director of photography, a charming man who was rather like Mr Magoo, wandering around the boxcar roof, completely oblivious to the danger of falling off. He passed away just last year, aged 103.
Ian
P.S. I'm guessing that production wouldn't let Harrison Ford ride in the cab for insurance reasons. Word must have got out about that epic ride to Big Horn a couple of days previously.......