This is a great choo choo train movie, and I wouldn't mind having that kind of boss.

A great film about steam locomotions and railway men. A young In this movie Robert Armstrong of Carl Dehman-King Kong fame is great as a hothead fireman, Larry Doyle, who's gone sappy for the bosses girl, sweet little Mary. The boss Dan Thorn played by Louis Wolheim is a tough fighting, broken nose railway guy with a soft spot for down-and-outers (he was born in the famous 5 points of NYC in 1890). Larry (Armstrong) steal the girl away only to get caught on a railroad switch track. Dan catchs up to them with muder in his eyes only to wind up clinging to life. In order to save Dans life they will need a guy with guts and a record breaking speeding train. A wonderful movie. A must view and must have. -MetroBase

I have watched it at least 3 times in the last week. I have loved steam trains for over 30 years. This movie is so great leaving the locomotive as the star of the movie. A must see for anyone who interested in Steam Locomotive.
Film is old but still quite viewable.

There are prints of this movie that are
in very good condition. I saw an excellent
copy of it several years ago on Turner Classics.
Early moving making that is well worth
watching for the incredible steam locomotives,
the still new transit to sound, and the
historical perspective. Please locate one of
the better prints.

Despite its rather poor state of preservation, this film still manages to convey a wonderful sense of the huge hulking locomotives and trains of the past century and the men who worked on them. It reminded me of the trains of my childhood--the sound of a distant whistle late at night, the engineer in the red caboose waving to us as we waited at the crossing on our way to school. The ambience of a vanished way of life makes this film a rare treat, and it would be nice to see a fully restored copy.

A very nice piece of cinema for its day. It has all the traditional script writing atttributes that were supposed to teach the american moral system in an entertaining way: how a down and out fellow can be rejuvinated with love, being "a man" and having a little luck.
The steam engine footage is magnificent alone. And watching how Robert Armstrong (King Kong 1933) carries off the situation as being solvable is fun as well as reassuring. Sappy but glowing just the same.

For railroad enthusiasts. this film give unique footage of trains and railroads, circa 1930.. For others, an exciting fast paced action story.