It Happened to Jane

The picture was filmed in 1958, mostly in Connecticut (Essex, Deep River, Hartford, etc.) along the rails of the New Haven RR. The producers used that railroad's last surviving steam locomotive which had been held for 4 years since the end of regular steam use on the railroad in 1954. It was used in the winter for snow melting service. After the film was completed, the locomotive was offered to anyone/community who wanted it. The town of Essex debated the idea but turned it down as not "fitting in" to the quaintness of the community. So the locomotive was sold for scrap and moved to a dismantling yard in Pennsylvania. A short while later the Danbury Fair Ground called the railroad and asked if they could have the locomotive, but a quick call to Pennsylvania brought the sad news that the locomotive had already been cut up. Too late. No New Haven RR steam locomotive survives today. At least we get to see "old 97" go out in a blaze of glory on the screen (real number was 3016, I believe). She was a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement, known as "Mikado" types... a very common type of freight locomotive of the early 20th century.

The shots of Day and Lemmon yelling back and forth over the top of the coal tender are priceless. They were really there, getting all covered with soot and coal smoke. The actual railroad fireman who did the work with Lemmon said he enjoyed his stint bailing in coal, and the dirt was real, not applied makeup.

A great flick!