Filming MILW 261 in Chicago Union Station for Public Enemies

MILW 261 pulls into track 12 on the south side of Chicago Union Station for a scene in next year's movie, Public Enemies. The scene is the arrival in Chicago of investigators from Texas. Dozens of extras in 1930's garb arrived later to shoot scenes of the people alighting from the train. The 261 pulled in four or five times like this to get all the necessary footage. It was awesome watching this, as it was the first time the 261 had been under the shed since 2004, and never before has it pulled in engine-first underneath the skylights. Not to mention it will be in the movie.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• MILW
• Milwaukee
• Road
• 261
• Public
• Enemies
• Chicago
• Union
• Station

[v12tommy]

Do they have fans in there? I have seen underground bus terminals without fans, but I can't imagine several amtrak diesels smoking up the place unless it has fans.

[MP36er]

@v12tommy Nope, no fans. The south concourse has an open trainshed, as you can see by the light pouring in from above, and both concourses are open to the Chicago River on the east side. The north concourse can get pretty smoky since it has no overhead ventilation.

[bizzer261]

Soooo cool! I was so excited when I saw the engine in the trailer (more excited than seeing johnny depp! and I'm female, hahaha)

How were you able to be on the set? this shot angle is really close to the one they showed in the movie trailer?

[MP36er]

They were inside Union Station - it's not like they can close down a whole train station! People were lined up on the one platform that Metra trains were using. Someone from the film crew came over and just told everyone we couldn't take flash photos.

[MP36er]

They had northerns in the 30's, but the 261 wasn't built until 1944. John Dillinger died in 1934, so the 261 is an anachronism, but most people won't notice.

[Starrywarz]

I was expecting the 261 to be in it alot more....like a holdup on a train .... but it was only for 1 minute i saw it....it stinks

[Chicagojoe28]

I can't wait tille that movie comes out It must be good if It was filmed in Union station!

[radiolarion]

I know the 261 was built in 1944 (I rode it) and being that it is a series 3, I wondered when Northerns did start operating. I would have been a simple matter to change the number boards, but I suspect that the Friends of the 261 wanted to increase it's popularity.

I'd like to see the movie, but not for Johnny Depp or Christen Bale. For sure, they are great actors. But to me, the real star is the 261. Even if it's just a cameo appearance.

[radiolarion]

It's in the trailer (preveiw).

Albeit for a split second.

Didn't even change the number boards.

Did they even have Northerns in the 30's?