Murder On a Train

ABEBOOKS.COM offers a list of "Murder on the Literary Express: Ten Top Train Thrillers." I've rearranged the list alphabetically by author below.

Agatha Christie, 4:50 From Paddington.
Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express.
Dick Francis, The Edge.
John Godey, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Graham Greene, Stamboul Train.
Patricia Highsmith, Strangers On a Train.
Christopher Isherwood, Mr. Norris Changes Trains.
Andrew Martin, Necropolis Railway.
Ethel Lina White, The Wheel Spins.
Emile Zola, La Bete Humaine.

4:50 from Paddington s also known as What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw. Murder on the Orient Express has been filmed several times, notably in an all-star version 1974 version with Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot and Lauren Bacall, Jacqueline Bisset, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud and other luminaries as the usual suspects, and Richard Widmark as the victim. Alfred Hitchcock turned White's The Wheel Turns into The Lady Vanishes in 1938 with a screenplay by Sidney Gilliat; in 1979 Anthony Page filmed it again; the screenplay was by George Axelrod. Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train is also a favorite with filmmakers. Raymond Chandler and Czenzi Ormonde wrote the screenplay for the 1951 Hitchcock version; word is 2011 may see a remake. Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal starred in the 1987 film Throw Momma From the Train , a comedy (!)version of the 1951 film.

The Director of the South Coast Railroad Museum, located in the colorful little town of Goleta, California, offers his own page of railroad-themed movies here.