First saw this as the support for The Poseidon Adventure when I was 14 or 15. Became a train driver at 20 and worked with Chris and Harold. Both very nice men.
In 1974 the 3801 was one of the very last steam trains to run on the New South Wales rail network. This film on the one hand hails the good old steam days, but on the other hand was shot at the very end of its existence. I'd say the rather pondering music fits the sad fact of its last run.
Thanks for posting this super film. The cinematography creates a haunting atmosphere as the train literally moves from the present era (1974) into the past as it travels further into the countryside and into the night. In the closing scene, the engine driver is briefly shown to be younger as well - no grey hair as he had at the start. The vintage cars, World War II diggers and 40's era clothing all indicate this time shift. Great way to have brekkie by the way - make it on your coal scoop!
Thanks for the memories I worked at Enfield prepared many many steam locos and worked them on many trains can relate to all the cab scenes a great little video
Stunning. There's some absolutely beautiful shots in this. I wish i could go and see 3801 and other Australian locos. But its half a world away, as i live in the UK.
Remember this like it was yesterday. I was 13 years old and seeing a screening of the latest movie, "The Taking of Pelham 123". They showed "A Steam Train Passes" as the "pre-feature" which was still common practice back then at most movie houses. Little did I know that around ten years later as a new member at the Lithgow Zig Zag Railway I would eventually be given firing instruction by Harold Fowler, shown here at the beginning, breathing life into 3801!
Great video. The first time I watched this I had John Sparkes besides besides me adding his own narration of the 38's life story. Fantatsic, thanks for sharing.
I always wondered how the fella at 12:40 got on the train as it doesn’t seem to slow down and it’s going far too fast to open a door and get on, yet he’s sat on the train at the end of the film. Love this film.
This was not possibly filmed in one trip.We see the loco on the inner West, crossing Parramatta Rd,then crossing the Hawkesbury Bridge, dewcending the Cowan bank north bound...next passing through Big Hill cutting on the Picton to Mitagong loop line Then it's on the curves west of Bathurst and pulls into a tiny Western NSW hamlet for water.Just obssrvation ..not criticism..experts will no doubt identify all the locations better than I have ...
I too was at a screening when John told us the individual scenes, but can't quite remember them all. If anyone knows can they list them here. They were all scattered all around NSW in different places.
New to the hobby, Nikki? Lima in Italy made a model of the non-streamlined C38 since the mid-seventies. Not very accurate, as they reused parts from a German pacific loco. In the early nineties they updated it to the streamlined version, specifically 3801. More recently, Eureka Models has produced much finer HO-scale models of both the streamlined and non-streamlined versions, in various colours and numbers.
A great music score by George Dreyfus. Dean Semler ASC, the cinematographer, went on to shoot "Dances With Wolves", for which he won an Oscar®. A few years back some Pommie 'wanker' took exception to my comments about his inane comments on George's music. Well, he's still a 'wanker' and his national cricket team couldn't win a match if their life depended on it.
jslasher1 -The British Film Institute have produced many fine railway documentaries with appropriate railway music - have you ever bothered to watch any of them such as "Overture One-Two-Five"? A steam loco on a passenger train is an exciting sight which I find this music does not do justice to. And you should take your head out of your arse and realise that people other than yourself are entitled to have their own opinions!
First saw this as the support for The Poseidon Adventure when I was 14 or 15. Became a train driver at 20 and worked with Chris and Harold. Both very nice men.
I used to watch this all the time when I was younger, still have it on video somewhere. Love the way they cooked breakfast on the shovel!
In 1974 the 3801 was one of the very last steam trains to run on the New South Wales rail network. This film on the one hand hails the good old steam days, but on the other hand was shot at the very end of its existence. I'd say the rather pondering music fits the sad fact of its last run.
Very tragic that steam ended its usage in revenue service
The two people who disliked this video have rocks in their heads. This is hands down one of the best Australian steam train videos ever made.
Thanks for posting this super film. The cinematography creates a haunting atmosphere as the train literally moves from the present era (1974) into the past as it travels further into the countryside and into the night. In the closing scene, the engine driver is briefly shown to be younger as well - no grey hair as he had at the start. The vintage cars, World War II diggers and 40's era clothing all indicate this time shift. Great way to have brekkie by the way - make it on your coal scoop!
Thanks for the memories I worked at Enfield prepared many many steam locos and worked them on many trains can relate to all the cab scenes a great little video
Stunning. There's some absolutely beautiful shots in this. I wish i could go and see 3801 and other Australian locos. But its half a world away, as i live in the UK.
Forget 3801. If ever you get to the convict island, you want to see Manchester's finest, 6029.ua-cam.com/video/dQ7bz2nzztE/v-deo.html
Remember this like it was yesterday. I was 13 years old and seeing a screening of the latest movie, "The Taking of Pelham 123". They showed "A Steam Train Passes" as the "pre-feature" which was still common practice back then at most movie houses. Little did I know that around ten years later as a new member at the Lithgow Zig Zag Railway I would eventually be given firing instruction by Harold Fowler, shown here at the beginning, breathing life into 3801!
Brilliant video. It shows alot about the people who worked on the rails back in the day.
Great video. The first time I watched this I had John Sparkes besides besides me adding his own narration of the 38's life story. Fantatsic, thanks for sharing.
Been looking for this for ages... had it on an old VHS which my tape machine decided to eat for its last meal before being binned...
3801 is there as well it looks great
Pretty awesome video love Australian steam locomotives. LJL
I always wondered how the fella at 12:40 got on the train as it doesn’t seem to slow down and it’s going far too fast to open a door and get on, yet he’s sat on the train at the end of the film. Love this film.
Maybe he’s a ghost.
I think the music is perfect and it has a lococmtive beat as well....
Music composed and conducted by George Dreyfus. Dean Semler, the Director of Photography, later won an Oscar for "Dances With Wolves".
Rocky Mountain Express clearly got some inspiration.
It was a common practise to have a cat in a workshop, depot or roundhouse to keep the mice away.
Awesome!
This was not possibly filmed in one trip.We see the loco on the inner West, crossing Parramatta Rd,then crossing the Hawkesbury Bridge, dewcending the Cowan bank north bound...next passing through Big Hill cutting on the Picton to Mitagong loop line Then it's on the curves west of Bathurst and pulls into a tiny Western NSW hamlet for water.Just obssrvation ..not criticism..experts will no doubt identify all the locations better than I have ...
The wedding scene was filmed at Georges Plains. The ending was filmed at Blayney station.
love the Polona bit
Shame about the short distorted section with the two soldiers at the bar.
I too was at a screening when John told us the individual scenes, but can't quite remember them all.
If anyone knows can they list them here.
They were all scattered all around NSW in different places.
Ask Dean Semler, the Director of Photography.
New to the hobby, Nikki? Lima in Italy made a model of the non-streamlined C38 since the mid-seventies. Not very accurate, as they reused parts from a German pacific loco. In the early nineties they updated it to the streamlined version, specifically 3801.
More recently, Eureka Models has produced much finer HO-scale models of both the streamlined and non-streamlined versions, in various colours and numbers.
A great music score by George Dreyfus. Dean Semler ASC, the cinematographer, went on to shoot "Dances With Wolves", for which he won an Oscar®. A few years back some Pommie 'wanker' took exception to my comments about his inane comments on George's music. Well, he's still a 'wanker' and his national cricket team couldn't win a match if their life depended on it.
LOL..So the firebox also makes a good stove!! I never knew they cooked their breakfast that way while on break...
Yep, bacon and eggs cooked on a coal shovel have a special taste!
6:25 so many of those locomotives never survived
lol how did the cat get into the shed?
Does anyone know if they make this into a OO or N gauge model?
A Steam Train Passes (1974) full video
When is the 3801 going to be back on the rails?
Soon, we hope :P
A great film but I always felt the music didn't suit it - not fast paced, just a sad old dirge.
jslasher1 -The British Film Institute have produced many fine railway documentaries with appropriate railway music - have you ever bothered to watch any of them such as "Overture One-Two-Five"? A steam loco on a passenger train is an exciting sight which I find this music does not do justice to. And you should take your head out of your arse and realise that people other than yourself are entitled to have their own opinions!