Probably not known to great number of people is that during the making of the movie a Electric-Diesel train which was left on the 17 September 1944 on the dyke at the Rosande Polder at Oosterbeek just after leaving Oosterbeek Station Laag was set on fire.
As result of Diesel shortage the NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) Dutch Railway Company, a Diesel/Electric train combination was used.
Although it was shot up several times after the battle by allied fighters, it was still that far intact that the Dutch Railway Company (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) would be able to repair it after it could have been towed away, only would have cost some 5000 euro.
Many trains were destroyed during the war and this train was a very new type and most welcome by the NS after the war to put back in service, however due damage on the tracks they were not able to tow it away.

However on 13 September 1945 the train was to become part of the filming, from about 500/600 metres a (blank) mortar round was fired at the train and when it "hit" the train it went on fired, and was destroyed, cynical is that this part was never used in the movie itself.

The NS who was not asked or informed on this went to court in Engeland, suing the film company Gaumont Distributors Lts ans C.T. Brocks and Son Fireworks Ltd, for 193.000 euro for the trainwagons and 32.000 euro for damages suffered.

Mr Wesselink who lived in Oosterbeek and had a camera and film, made photographs of this and these photographs were later used in court as evidence. In July 1951 the case who was pending to the Kings Bench Division was send to a special judge, who would look at it in November 1951.

Train magazine