Supertrain

NBC Publicity
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Supertrain Publicity Releases

     NBC supported "Supertrain" with a number of publicity releases.  Standard for the era, these are generally a glossy black and white sheet with one or more images from a program.  Included with the picture(s) was an NBC cover letter complete with red-and-blue "N" logo issued from 30 Rockfeller Center in New York City.  The cover letter usually gushed about what stars were doing what on various NBC shows and in the case of "Supertrain" also detailed the construction of the series' special effects and models. 
     These NBC publicity materials, as with many other materials presented on this site, are courtesy of Mr. J. Morrissey.  A great debt and much appreciation is owed to Mr. J. Morrissey for donating items from his collection for everyone to enjoy.

Rhonda Foxx is pictured above in the rail yard located beneath Supertrain's tunnel that allows it exit from New York's Grand Central.  The truck Foxx is holding was also seen in a desert crossing action shot in the series.  Railroad Model Craftsman magazine ran this picture with a short article in its May 1979 edition.  The magazine, aimed at prototypical railroad model buffs, scoffed at the combination of the futuristic Supertrain sharing its stage with the old steam engine and wooden caboose shown at Foxx's feet.  A steam engine and wood-constructed caboose would not have been seen on American rails in regular use after the 1950s.  The two railroad names displayed on the rolling stock are also antiquated for 1979.    The Lackawanna, found on the caboose, was merged in the Erie-Lackawanna and later ended up among the Conrail system in 1976.  The Great Northern,seen on the box car, disappeared into the Burlington Northern in 1970.  Remember though that Supertrain is fantasy and does exist in its own reality.
The larger of the two operational examples of Supertrain models is viewed here, while still under construction.  This is the single-level engine that would pull the bi-level passenger cars.  The series was rushed through its production and given the special effects involved was miraclously put together from inspiration to airdate in a very short amount of time during 1978 and early '79.
Standing beside the front end of the Supertrain engine is this publicity still collection's hostess Rhonda Foxx.  The actual size Supertrain engine was not a moving piece, despite the wheels seen here, and was the focal point of the large Grand Central set housed at MGM.
This image gives one a better understanding of the scale of the two operating Supertrain models.  Miss Foxx's hand rests on the smaller of the two engines.  Behind her, we see the engine built for the larger scale Supertrain.  Both scales had complete nine-car train sets.