HEBER CITY -- The "movie train" will soon become the property of the Heber Valley Historic Railroad.
The same steam train -- engine and 10 cars -- used in such films as "The Professionals," "A River Runs Through It" and "The Devil's Brigade" is being purchased by the railroad."This is no ordinary steam train," Craig Lacey, executive director for the Heber Valley Railroad, said. "It has been the centerpiece in a number of motion pictures."
It has also been used on some TV shows, such as "Touched by an Angel."
The train will not be arriving by rail in Heber City, but rather on a convoy of large heavy-haul trucks. It is coming to Utah from Colorado, where it has sat dormant.
The movie train will become a part of the regular fleet of the Heber Railroad. The goal is to have it available for passenger use during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Heber Valley Railroad officials also hope the purchase will give a rebirth to the movie train with some future film-making prospects. They believe Heber Valley's spectacular scenery will enhance any such movie projects.
The purchase price is not being disclosed, but the train is being bought from the GW 75 Corp., founded by the late Everett Rohrer to preserve vintage railroad equipment for movie-making purposes.
The movie train steam engine was last used in a 1995 British documentary.
Built in 1907, it weighs 80 tons.