Train Crash Stunt: Buster Keaton's "The General" | interesting place, movie / film / TV location

 interesting place, movie / film / TV location

In 1927 the classic Buster Keaton silent film "The General" was filmed in and around Cottage Grove, Oregon. The film was very loosely based on the famed 1862 "Great Locomotive Chase" of the Civil War. This area of Oregon was chosen due to its geographic similarity to north Georgia (where the actual event occurred) and availability of authentic steam locomotives from the Civil War era.

Most of the filming took place on the Oregon & Pacific Eastern RR, which ran from Cottage Grove east to Culp. Highlight of the film was the destruction of the locomotive "Texas" as it steamed onto a burning bridge. As this was well before the days of CG and special effects, the stunt would have to be filmed live and in one take. A suitably rigged "stunt bridge" was built on a spur off the main line. The "Texas" was fired up and sent down the spur to its doom, the engineer leaping off as the loco got underway. Right on cue, the "Texas" steamed out onto the trestle, which then collapsed, sending the locomotive into the river below.

After filming was completed, the remains of the bridge and locomotive remained in place until they were taken up for a WW2 scrap metal drive. The exact site may now be lost, but is generally believed to be within a few hundred yards up/downstream of this point.

Stunt can be seen at the 1:55 mark of the following clip....


www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX3SsaIFrWs

If the precise location can be determined, please feel free to adjust this tag....