What a gem of ultratelevisionary television.
The series took place on the "Supertrain", an imagined
nuclear-powered bullet train that was equipped with amenities more
appropriate to a cruise ship than a train, such as swimming pools and
shopping centers. It was so big it had to run on very broad gauge
track (not two sets of tracks as depicted in some advertising). The
train took 36 hours to go from New York City to Los Angeles. Much
like its contemporary The Love Boat, the plots concerned the
passengers' social lives, usually with multiple intertwining
storylines, and most of the cast was composed of guest stars. The
production was elaborate, with huge sets and a high-tech model train
for outside shots.
At the time, Supertrain was the most expensive series ever aired in
the United States. The production was beset by problems, including a
model train that crashed, and while it was heavily advertised during
the 1978-1979 season, it suffered from bad reviews and low
viewership; despite attempts to salvage the show by reworking the
cast, it never took off and left the air after only three months.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supertrain>Link (via
<http://www.hawkdog.net/wordpress/>Hawkdog)
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Omp5-8vZY
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Posted By johannes to
<http://www.monochrom.at/english/2009/01/supertrain-series-about-super-train.htm>monochrom
at 1/20/2009 02:41:00 PM
