I'm only just learning about NBC's 1979 Supertrain series for the first time.
I thought it was a model kit but it was an American TV show.
Supertrain was like Love Boat but on tracks.
The late Seventies show's set reminds me of Derek Meddings and his team years earlier.
If its a model for TV it looks darn real to me. The team made two models for outside filming and a huge indoor one. They cost NBC $10 Million!
Sleek, sharp and low. It recalls Hot Wheels' Hot Tracks trains! Despite its fabulous looks, the show was panned.
But what a fantastic model those model makers made! It was the costliest TV show in America at the time.
Yep, that really looks like a Thunderbirds set now!
Unlike Thunderbirds, Supertrain is ranked as one of the worst TV shows of all time and has been consigned to that big folder marked Flop.
Wiki say more about it. I imagine there's a book out there too. I wonder where the models ended up?
Have you seen Supertrain?
I remember the show. The Hot Wheels toy train was much more entertaining.
ReplyDeleteThe Hot Wheels trains look superb Baron. Never seen them in the flesh.
DeleteAh, Hotline, that was the name. Here: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JmwVNNV-JcU/VLv7VBedJjI/AAAAAAAAAw4/vfv8tvPvHJ0/s1600/hotline2.jpg
DeleteSupertrain was never shown in the UK but I always get this show mixed up with 'Time Express' which was made in the same year by CBS and that was shown here in the UK on the BBC around Christmas 1979. This was another short lived TV show starring Vincent Price (wow did he need the money ?!) where train passengers travel back in time. Only 4 episodes were made and yes it was pretty bad.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Time Express Yorkie. Another one to look up, as I do like Vincent Price!
DeleteI love trains but ten minutes of one of these episodes and I couldn't reach for the remote fast enough.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, that bad eh!
DeleteI vaguely remember the commercials but don't recall ever watching the show.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you didn't miss much Ed!
DeleteAh, Supertrain! Being a model train buff, I had such high hopes for the show. But even I could have told NBC that the idea was stupid, because other than showing a few brief establishing shots of the groovy model train whizzing across the countryside, the rest of the show was a tired reboot of The Love Boat, with people bickering inside claustrophobic cabins! The basic flaw in the series was immediately apparent to me and my fiends, and we wondered, "How could they not have seen this error before spending all that cash?" But the coolest part of the whole debacle was that the original train prop ended up being purchased by AHM (Associated Hobby Manufacturers of Philadelphia), my favorite train import company, and was on sale for awhile, for $25,000! (as shown in one of your photos). But long live Supertrain! I have the DVD of the feature film they made out of it, Express to Terror, and I watch it occasionally just to see the groovy model train shots. SFZ
ReplyDeleteGreat info SF! That's the most I've read about it. Amazing that they sold the model trains!
DeleteAs others have said, it was a great train, but a lousy show.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I usually was able to access this site from work, but unfortunately, they've cut off access to blogspot, so I'll only be able to check the site on Weekends from now on. And my weekends can get pretty busy.
I'll be around, but not very often, so thanks very much to all for the great photos and memories of wonderful toys!
You're welcome Scot. Its been out pleasure having you on board. Please stop by whenever you can.
DeleteI never saw Supertrain ( maybe other than in an article in Starlog magazine)
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of The Big Bus designwise.
Does anyone remember rhat mid 70's Disaster movie comedy?
Barely.
DeleteAh, The Big Bus! 1976, with Joseph Bologna and Stockard Channing. A fun movie, with a terrific super-bus! I saw The Big Bus first run in the theatre, believe it or not. Loved it to pieces. The first disaster spoof! Definitely the prototype for the Airplane! franchise of the 80s. SFZ
DeleteNever seen Big Bus. It may have cropped up here before.
ReplyDelete