The Fugitive train wreck, located in rural North Carolina, remains one of cinema’s more iconic scenes. Viewed through a modern lens the train wreck scene from the 1993 Harrison Ford classic, The Fugitive, would appear to be a well done bit of CGI. In reality no CGI whatsoever was involved in the filming of The Fugitive train wreck. Even more remarkable, the scene was successfully done albeit using multiple camera angles, in a single take!
On the Reel
The Fugitive (1993)
Starring Harrison Ford, Sela Ward, Tommy Lee Jones. Directed by Andrew Davis.
Based on the popular 1960’s TV show of the same name, The Fugitive tells the story of Dr. Richard Kimble, falsely accused of murdering his own wife, his search for the one-armed man and the manhunt by Agent Samuel Gerard. The infamous train wreck scene was shot in rural North Carolina.
To take it one step further . . . the train wreck, along with the prison bus it slammed into, was simply left on location after the shoot was completed . . . and it remains there today. Knowing where it is and actually seeing it gets a bit more complicated. The train tracks are not technically accessible from the main road and, in truth, might even be on private property. Regardless, there is no well laid out path available so use your own judgment.
If you enter 973 Haywood Rd, Sylva, North Carolina into your GPS you’ll find yourself around the Jackson County Green Energy Park. Park on the side of the road and proceed to the opposite side of the street. As you walk along the chain fence you’ll see The Fugitive train wreck down below through the trees. In the summer you’ll be hard pressed to see much but late fall through early spring your view is much better with no leaves on the trees. To get down to see the site requires some effort . . . if you walk northwest until the fence ends you can slowly scale down the hillside until you reach the tracks.
Once on the tracks simply walk back in the direction you came, with the Tuckasegee River to your right, and you’ll soon arrive at the wreckage. We recommend you watch the movie before visiting to get a real sense of how the carnage came about. Be careful not to touch anything as much of the metal has significant rusting and very sharp edges. Portions of the Illinois Southern train are off the track and one of the Illinois Department of Corrections bus is still relatively intact. The highlight is where the train made contact with what remains of one of the prison buses.
Like so many roadside attractions, The Fugitive train wreck is not for everyone. If you love movies, especially the process of movie-making, or are perhaps just a Harrison Ford fan then this will be of interest to you. If not, it probably isn’t worth the effort since accessibility is not simple nor particularly convenient.
Do you have any favorite American roadside attractions? We’d love to hear all about them!
Why wasn’t the film company responsible for removing and cleaning up that site?
It costs more to remove something than to just leave it there.
The GSMRR requested it be left there so they could use it as part of their Tuckasegee River RR tour.
The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad used to offer some tourist trains that went right by that site. I’m not sure what they offer now, but if you want to see it with no fuss plus a train ride, that’s the way to go.
The Tukaseegee Train Tour still passes by it.
Good to know. Thanks for sharing.
Thought you could see the train from the river. We were rafting in river years ago.
Absolutely, especially in the late fall/early spring when the trees are bare. We (perhaps foolishly), traversed down (and then back up) the hill to get there. Your solution is certainly a more elegant option.