The First Great Train Robbery Project

In 1978, Michael Crichton’s film The First Great Train Robbery brought the drama of the 1855 gold heist to the big screen, starring Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland. To recreate the period setting, the production used preserved Great Southern & Western Railway J15 steam locomotives in Ireland, cosmetically altered to resemble 1850s express engines, and specially built short four-wheeled coaches mounted on wagon underframes. The result was a somehow convincing Victorian train that became a star of the film in its own right.

For the first time, we aim to bring this cinematic icon to life in 00 gauge as a complete train set. This collection will include a detailed model of the modified J15 locomotive as seen on screen, three short four-wheeled coaches faithfully reproducing the film’s distinctive stock, and three figures inspired by the main characters from the movie.

To move forward, we need 1,500 enthusiasts to join our waitlist. Once that milestone is reached, we will contact the film's copyright owners, and if granted, the project will enter the next phase at a target price of £295 for the complete set. At that stage, we will invite advance payments to fund production.

When we reach 1,000 confirmed pre-orders, production will begin. Rest assured, any supporter can request a full refund at any time during the process — your commitment is safe.

Join us in celebrating one of cinema’s most memorable steam trains and help bring the legendary First Great Train Robbery express to life in miniature.