The Train Robbers (1973)
The Train Robbers (1973)
Made at the height of John Wayne's career, he stars as Lane, a gunman who comes to the aid of a widow in search of stolen gold.
As the film opens, we see a group of gunmen awaiting Lane in a desolate town. This was filmed on Wayne's ranch in Mexico - Rancho La Joya De John Wayne - outside Durango. It is now a tourist site and some of the original buildings still stand.
The gorgeous steam locomotive was Wayne's own N de M #650, which now resides at the National Museum of Mexican Railways in Puebla.
Later we see a bunch of riders show up on the same train and give chase.
Portions of the pursuit appear to have been filmed at Sierra de Órganos National Park outside Durango.
Toward the end of the film, there is a shootout at the desert wreckage of an old train. I still haven't been able to located where this was filmed.
As the film ends, we return to the same location as the opening scene and see N de M #650 one last time.