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All the United States North Carolina Sylva The Fugitive Train Wreck

The Fugitive Train Wreck

The remains of the iconic train crash from the movie 'The Fugitive' can still be found rusting along the Great Smoky Railroad.

Sylva, North Carolina

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
Email
Been Here
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Added to list
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
The Fugitive Train Wreck   Vicky Somma on Flickr
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Roof and remaining scrap from the bus that was obliterated by the train in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot of what is left from the bus that was obliterated by the train in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Rear shot of the remains of the bus that was impacted by the train in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot of the intact bus looking forward from the very back. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Rear shot of the still intact (but heavily decaying) bus that was also used in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Profile shot of the intact bus, “Illinois Dept. of Corrections” is still very visibly painted on the side. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot of the intact bus looking from the front to the back. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
  Moose135 / Atlas Obscura User
View from across the river on Tunnel Mountain Rd   drewxblood / Atlas Obscura User
Both trains used in the filming of the famous scene in The Fugitive. Closer train was pretty much left in its position last shown in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Looking down the tracks facing southeast. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
  Moose135 / Atlas Obscura User
  Moose135 / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot, looking towards the back of the train that derails and nearly kills Harrison Ford in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Looking towards the remains of the buses used in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot of the cabin of the front train that makes impact with the bus in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot of the bus looking at the front of the bus, notice where the steering wheel should be. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot of the cabin of the train that obliterates the bus in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Exposed interior parts of the train that obliterates the bus in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Exposed interior of the train that impacts the bus in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Across from wreck.   figgymagic / Atlas Obscura User
3-20-21   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot, looking forward of the train that derails and nearly kills Harrison Ford in the film. (2019)   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Aside from Harrison Ford jumping off a dam waterfall, the most iconic scene from the 1993 film, The Fugitive, is the escape sequence where a freight train smashes into fugitive Richard Kimble's transport bus, and the carnage left over from that collision can still be found in the Great Smoky Mountains. 

The scene was shot on a stretch of the Smoky Mountain Railroad using the most practical special effects of all, a real train and a real bus. The movie was made far before CGI effects became the standard in filmmaking, and instead of using miniatures the filmmakers simply placed a full-size bus in the path of an oncoming freight train, and let physics do the rest. The bus was nearly torn in half by the impact, and the train was made to derail after the collision leaving nothing but mangled wrecks in its wake.

In the film, fugitive Richard Kimble narrowly survives the destruction, going on to find the man who really killed his wife, but in real life it is the wrecks of the train and the bus that continue to survive. Rusting away on the side of the tracks near where they were destroyed, the train still bears the logo of "Illinois Southern," and the bus is still mocked up to look like a Corrections transport.

Fans of Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, and justice will find no better place to pay pilgrimage than The Fugitive wreckage, which will likely outlive the movie itself. 

Related Tags

Special Effects Film Film Locations Trains Railroads

Know Before You Go

Park on the side of Haywood Road near the Jackson County Green Energy Park and look down the slope across the street to see the wreck. This is on Great Smoky Mountains Railroad private property. Trespassing is not allowed. To see it easily and legally, buy tickets for the Tuckasegee River train ride excursion from Bryson City to Dillsboro. The wrecks were left there to highlight the tourist train ride.

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

Gefaehrte, abandonedexplorerscom, exploringwithesch, Moose135...

  • Gefaehrte
  • abandonedexplorerscom
  • exploringwithesch
  • Moose135
  • Darrell Powers
  • drewxblood
  • figgymagic

Published

March 11, 2015

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Sources
  • http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2648751/posts
  • http://roadtripmemories.com/2015/01/11/the-fugitive-filming-locations/
The Fugitive Train Wreck
973 Haywood Rd
Sylva, North Carolina, 28779
United States
35.370434, -83.26325
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Barkers Creek Swinging Bridge

Whittier, North Carolina

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Unto These Hills Cherokee Theatre

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sylva

Sylva

North Carolina

Places 3
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Barkers Creek Swinging Bridge

Whittier, North Carolina

miles away

American Museum of the House Cat

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miles away

Unto These Hills Cherokee Theatre

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sylva

Sylva

North Carolina

Places 3
Stories 1

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