Re: URGENT! Researcher for major motion picture needs info!

[David Bromage <dbromage@omni.com.au>]

Ian Buchan wrote:
> I'm a researcher for an upcoming major motion picture that may or may not
> be shooting in Australasia depending on whether we can find trains from the
> 1890 period in use in picturesque, preferably mountainous locations.

There are suitable trains and locations right on my doorstep in the national
capital. The Australian Railway Historical Society in Canberra has locomotive
1210, built in 1878 and still operational and certified for main line
operation. It was still an express passenger locomotive into this
century, so would be authentic for your film.

ARHS also has carriages from the 1890s which are certified for main line operation.

The line between Canberra and Goulburn would be most suitable for your
purposes. It has a wide range of scenery from wide flat plains (the
regular Xplorer service between Sydney  and Canberra runs at up to
90mph) to steep mountain sections. The Molongolo Gorge is particularly
spectacular. The historic Queanbeyan station is also  very photogenic.

You can find photos of all of the above on the web, some of them on RailPage
which I maintain.

Loco 1210:
http://arhs.netsite1.net.au/medium/L1210.JPG

End platform carriage, c1890:
http://arhs.netsite1.net.au/medium/BI1127.JPG

Scenic shots of the route between Goulburn and Canberra:
http://www.railpage.org.au/pix/railcars/Xplorer_Molongolo.jpg
http://www.railpage.org.au/pix/railcars/Xplorer_Mt_Fairy.jpg
http://www.railpage.org.au/pix/diesel/8149-8109_2138_Burbong_18-10-97.jpg

Queanbeyan:
http://www.railpage.org.au/pix/diesel/4306+4490_SL38_Queanbeyan_3-8-96_2.jpg
http://arhs.netsite1.net.au/large/qbn_stn.JPG

A major attraction to filming this sort of movie around Canberra is that
the 
best scenery is within 30 minutes drive of Canberra airport and the
major hotels.
Canberra is also only a 45 minute flight or 3 hour drive from Sydney.
The Australian Capital Territory government is keen to attract business
to Canberra, so tax breaks or other financial incentives may be
available to encourage you to film here.

The only suitable location near Sydney is Thirlmere, about 90 minutes drive.
The preserved line is not very well maintained and you'd be lucky to get the
train up to 15mph. 

There are several other suitable filming locations in New South Wales,
but they are a long way from where the preserved rollingstock is
maintained. It would be prohibitively expensive to hire a train of
century old rollingstock and take it 300 miles north or west of Sydney
for filming.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need any more information about the
train, the line or Canberra. Do you think there might be a part for an
unpaid extra who gets a free steam train ride? :)

Cheers
David