August 14th, 2014 by WCBC Radio
Meg Ryan movie “Ithaca” comes to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland, MD.
On Wednesday, August 13, 2014, The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad welcomed the film crew for the movie “Ithaca” to western Maryland as they captured images of Western Maryland Scenic Railroad steam locomotive No. 734 (Mountain Thunder). Filming locations included multiple points along the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
The steam locomotive will be featured in the start of the WWII movie “Ithaca”. Fourteen-year-old Homer Macauley is determined to be the best and fastest bicycle telegraph messenger anyone has ever seen. His older brother has gone to war, leaving Homer to look after his widowed mother, his older sister and his 4-year-old brother, Ulysses. And so it is that as spring turns to summer, 1942, Homer Macauley delivers messages of love, hope, pain…and death…to the good people of Ithaca. Homer Macauley will grapple with one message that will change him forever.
Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Saroyan’s 1943 novel, The Human Comedy, ITHACA is a coming-of-age story about the exuberance of youth, the abruptness of change, the sweetness of life, the sting of death, and the sheer goodness that lives in each and every one of us.
Meg Ryan will be making her directorial debut. Both “Sleepless in Seattle” stars will also be reunited on screen where Meg Ryan will play the widowed mother of fourteen year old Homer Macauley and Tom Hanks will play Homer’s father. The film also stars Sam Sheppard and Meg Ryan’s 22 year-old son Jack Quaid. “Ithaca” is scheduled for release in 2015.
According to the producers, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad was chosen as a location due to the historical authenticity and variety of train cars made available for filming, combined with a railroad that passes thru beautiful rural landscapes.
Jody Shaw, Media Coordinator for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad said “We are excited to have our authentic, regular operational steam locomotive No. 734 featured in the movie “Ithaca” where history will be played out on the big screen. We would like to thank everyone involved in making the day a huge success. Our railroad is a premier location for regular steam operations and in a few years will operate the largest regularly scheduled articulated steam locomotive in the USA (Chesapeake & Ohio No. 1309)” For more information on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, go to our website www.wmsr.com or call 301-759-4400 or 1-800 TRAIN50. To Join, Donate or Volunteer at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and the WMSR Foundation go towww.wmsrf.org . Enjoy the history at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
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