The Forgotten Runaway Train Scene at Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Parks News and Rumors

• 💡 IT and Halloween Horror Nights speculation continues, complicated by Warner Bros and Six Flags' IP landscape.
• 🎢 Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas is reportedly experiencing low crowds but high-quality scares, with flexible entry policies.
• 🚧 Epic Universe's Celestial Park has construction walls up, indicating ongoing expansion efforts.
• 🎬 A leaked survey suggests a potential Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment-themed tram-style attraction.
• 🌟 The passing of Adam the Woo, a prolific vlogger known for urban exploring and theme park content, is remembered.

The History of Six Points, Texas

• 🤠 Originally a collection of western sets built in the silent era, Six Points, Texas became underutilized as the western genre faded.
• 🎬 Despite its decline, the area was still used for filming features like "Two Mules for Sister Sarah" and TV shows like "Battlestar Galactica" and "Knight Rider."
• 🚂 Jay Stein envisioned a runaway train show scene for the tram tour to revitalize the underused backlot area.

Engineering the Runaway Train

• ⚙️ The production side of Universal initially resisted giving up studio space for the tram tour, leading to a five-year delay in the train's construction.
• 💥 The runaway train effect featured a 9-ton recreation of a steam train that would appear to collide with the tram before stopping and backing away.
• ⏱️ An innovative double braking system allowed the train to reset within two minutes for continuous tram tours.
• 🎭 In 1983, a dummy of Mr. T was placed in the engine compartment, with recorded audio clips like "I pity the fool" played for guests.
• 🚂 The runaway train scene was discontinued in 1985, but was recreated in 2024 for Universal's 60th-anniversary celebration of the Hollywood Tram Tour.