Moate Train Movie Brought to Life By ‘Jurassic Park’ Creator

Each time a Hollywood movie which was largely shot in Co. Westmeath at Moate Railway Station in the 1970’s is screened on television, it brings back memories to the town, of the time when they were invaded by an all-star cast and crew, including legendary writer and director, Michael Crichton.

The movie, ‘The First Great Train Robbery’ which boasts an all-star cast such as Sean Connery, Lesley Ann-Down, Donald Sutherland, Wayne Sleep and Michael Elphick, drew large local interest while filming took place in the summer of 1977.

Children in some of the schools in Moate were allowed out to watch some of the scenes being filmed and many local people became extras on the shoot. 

The cast and crew of ‘First Train Robbery’ were accommodated ten miles away at the Royal Hoey Hotel in Athlone during the filming.  The Royal is gone now, and the Athlone town shopping centre, is now on the site.

Also closed is Moate Railway Station, which featured in the movie, as did several parts of the railway line.

The movie told the semi-fictional tale of a train robbery in England in the 1850’s, although the low walls alongside the featured railway is a giveaway of the movie’s Irish origins.

The writer/director of ‘The First Great Train Robbery’ was American, Michael Crichton, who went on to create the dinosaur movie epic ‘Jurassic Park’ and the hit award-winning television series, ‘ER’.

Legend has it that Crichton, then thirtysomething, was frustrated at the pace of filming with an Irish and British crew and he felt they had no respect for such a young director.  To combat their attitude, he ordered an early copy of his latest film ‘Coma’, (which starred Michael Douglas) to be flown to Ireland.  It is said that he had it screened at a location in Moate, for his cast and crew.  It is also said that after watching it, the crew decided he was a good director and they began working harder for him. 

‘The First Great Train Robbery’ went on to win the Edgar Allen Poe movie award for Best Motion Picture.  When it got its first Irish television screening on RTE 1 in February 1982, ratings soared, and a large Irish audience tuned in.  It was screened a few nights later on Britain’s ITV, and also got a huge audience there.