collapse, of the trestle had to be timed to a fraction of a second. Nothing could be left to chance, There could be no trial runs, no rehearsals.
"So the train was dragged across the trestle by a cable you .don't see on the screen. It was hidden between the rails at the top of the trestle. The cable was attached to a winch that was geared to move. the train at a speed of five feet per-second. That way we dovetailed its run with that of the motor that turned the pipe to wreck the structure."
The scene went off exactly as planned, with the train rushing across the trestle which collapsed immediately behind it. The effect cost all of $40,000 to create and lasts about half a minute on the screen: It was worth it. Todd defies any readers to find one flaw in the scene that would reveal it as a miniature.


Car Refrigerator Fits Under Dash

Easier to install than a car radio, a mechanical refrigerator mounts under the center of the dashboard. In it, the motorist can keep beverages and perishables cool as he drives. It is excellent for families traveling with bottle-fed babies. The refrigerator operates on power provided by vacuum from the manifold, according to the manufacturer. Gasoline from the fuel tank is used as the refrigerant and is piped into the carburetor after use. The price of the unit is around $90.

Popular Mechanics August, 1956
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Original material ©1956 Popular Mechanics Company
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