"The Iron Horse" (1966) TV series 1966-1968

Director:

Murray Golden

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

12 September 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Ben Calhoun won the half-completed Buffalo Pass, Scalplock and Defiance Line railroad in a poker game and must fight 1880s Indians...

Plot Keywords:

Railroad | Cult Western

Cast

Dale Robertson	...	Ben Calhoun / ... (9 episodes, 1966-1968)
Robert Random	...	Barnabas Rogers / ... (5 episodes, 1966-1967)
Gary Collins	...	Dave Tarrant (1966-1968) / ... (4 episodes, 1966-1968)
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Holmes (4 episodes, 1966-1967)

Runtime:

60 min (47 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Dagonet Productions

Trivia:

Ben's horse was Hannibal and Ben's Raccoon was Ulysses.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Monkees: Too Many Girls (#1.15)" (1966)

A train to nowhere ...........

This average western from the 1960's featured a good cast but unremarkable and routine writing. Dale Robertson excelled in these type of brave underdog roles, but he could not rise above this series' script limitations. Gary Collins and Ellen Burtstyn were fine, but went on to better roles in later years.

The one episode that really stands out in the series featured the great character actor Strother Martin. He always brought a dignified,wry humor to his roles and did so again in this show.

While not the best of western TV shows, it had potential that was never quite realized........ the train never really "left the station".