Railroad Coordinator Services for Motion Pictures

Offering professional railroad technical consultants and movie trains for TV and film productions, FMW is a qualified railroad vendor for the film industry.

Filming with authentic railroad equipment or in railroad environments offers incredible production value and authenticity, but also presents the entertainment industry with unique logistical, safety, and operational challenges, especially when dealing with museums, historic railroad artifacts, or the general railroad system at large. FMW Solutions offers full-service railroad and transportation coordinator services and trains for film productions, including historic and modern railroad equipment, on-set operations, location scouting, project research, and can handle all necessary waivers, permitting, and leasing.

In addition, FMW Solutions maintains expertise unique to both film production and railroad operations and understands the needs and concerns of both productions and railroads equally. From pre-production and conceptualization to production and post-production, FMW Solutions is a one-stop shop for your film production’s movie train requirements. Click here to contact our Railroad Transportation Coordinator.

Film Industry Experience

Our Railroad Transportation Coordinator and technical consultants have over 30 years of combined experience on commercial film and television productions, having previously worked in a variety of capacities with CBS, Paramount, NBC, Universal, Disney, Lucasfilm, Fox, WAG Entertainment, The Discovery Channel, and The History Channel. Productions have included Water for Elephants, Public Enemies, The Polar Express, Matewan, Storm of the Century, Strange Inheritance, Decoding Disaster, as well as projects with numerous advertising agencies, independent productions, and film commissions. 

Movie Trains for Any Time Period

FMW Solutions routinely restores, maintains, and operates historic railroad equipment from the early 1900s through1950s and present day. With both vintage steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, passenger and freight cars – and our partners in the worlds of modern and rail preservation – FMW Solutions can help recreate any era and provide any kind of train for your film, television, or documentary production.  

Safety and Certification

If the film and railroad industries have one thing in common, it’s a culture of safety! Our FRA certified employees have decades of experience providing safe and professional mechanical, consulting and operational services to both the film and railroad industries. In addition, our FRA certified engineers, conductors and staff are qualified in Railroad Operating Rules and Testing, Railroad Operating Practices, Risk Assessment and Job Hazard Analysis, and will partner with the designated Authority Having Jurisdiction, Unit Safety Manager, Stunt Crew, and other members of your production team.

Research and Location Scouting

Whether your project requires modern or period trains, or urban, pastoral, industrial, or historic settings, FMW Solutions can serve as your Technical Consultant, Location Scout, Researcher, Railroad Unit, and Unit Production Manager with careful consideration of your narrative, budgetary, art direction, and safety requirements. In addition, we can provide resources for b-roll, background plates, props, video game production, and 3D and augmented reality environments.

Transportation and Logistics

FMW Solutions regularly interfaces with Class 1, regional railroads, and museums to oversee the safe shipment of historic and modern equipment to and from venues across the United States. When and where shipment by rail is neither practical nor affordable, FMW is qualified to oversee the loading, shipment, and transportation of equipment to shooting locations located away from active railroads.

Connections and Relationships

Railroad operations are rarely prepared to deal with productions of any size and scope. FMW Solutions understands the creative and aesthetic needs of film and television production and the concerns of railroads, historic operations, and museums. In addition, FMW can handle any necessary permitting, waiver, or lease arrangements necessary to get the right equipment or location for your project.