Anyone watching the series Hell on Wheels , supposedly about UP building the RR across the US ... the steam engine featured just does not look real for some reason , can anyone identify it? I caught the episode where this engine races a Native American on horse back and just barely beats him ...
Probably just Hollywood film props. There has been a thread which included views of those "engines" I am thinking about. Perhaps it was within the "Railfanning Utah" topic?
I seem to remember that they were filming in Canada... Alberta maybe. Yeah, most of their props, aren't all that great. But it is a good show!
Yes it is filmed around here. The unit at Hertiage park was used in some scenes (0-6-0). also I have beeen told the unit in stettler alberta was used for some scenes.
http://www.amctv.com/hell-on-wheels/videos/inside-hell-on-wheels-locations-and-sets http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?139221-Hell-On-Wheels-equipment On another note, does anyone know if in real life Durant was that far forward/constant presence on the construction site. Most of what I have read says he was back in DC, Philadelphia, and NYC organizing the financing and establishing the Credit Moblier. Colm Meaney's character in the series seems more like Glenville Dodge to me.
Durant would show up to escort government inspectors and dignitaries but pretty much "ran" things by telegraph until he persuaded Grenville Dodge to leave the army and take over the construction. The Durant character in the show kind of blends a lot of people together. To get a more accurate historical account of the story you could read Nothing Like It In The World by Stephen Ambrose.
