A SUPERFAN has completed his project to build the world's first full-size replica of a steam train used in one of the Back to the Future films.
Mike Hutchinson, 42, has helped build a replica of the Time Travel Train from the third instalment of the popular film franchise starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd.
The steam train was made famous by Lloyd’s character, Doc Brown, in the final film of the Sci-Fi trilogy released in 1990. It also features the character's initials, ELB, on the side of the cabin.
He teamed up with Ian Robinson, who works as a props maker at Harrogate Theatre, on the three-month long train project, who himself has seen his day job curtailed by the pandemic.
Mr Hutchinson, of East Morton, said: "It was tough going.
"Where we were building it was an empty building, apart from me and Ian.
"It took quite a long time to build it, it took a good three or four months.
"When only went out of our homes to build it when we were allowed to do so by the Government Covid restrictions.
"A lot of the train project was taken up in the research into it on the internet.
"We had to look at some pictures of the train over and over again, as it only has about three minutes of screen time in the film.
"We have done the rails for the train as well.
"It can all be broken down. It's like a large prop jigsaw puzzle. It's takes about 90 minutes to two hours to rebuild it once it is broken down.
"It is quite an achievement to build a steam train replica."
Mr Hutchinson says it is frustrating that his plans to exhibit the train at conventions or private events have been delayed by the national lockdown, but he is looking forward to showing it off when he can.
It is Mr Hutchinson's second replica build inspired by the Back to the Future films.
He spent about £20,000 turning his car into a replica of the DeLorean used by Marty McFly in the 1985 cult classic.
The work, completed in 2015, has taken him two years to complete and the conversion work includes castings from the original car which is in Universal Studios in Hollywood.
He added he next plans to complete the building of a replica of the Kitt car from 1980s TV favourite Knightrider.
Meanwhile, the time travel train is also Mr Hutchinson's second big build of the pandemic period after he made a replica of Del Boy's flat from Only Fools and Horses.
He decided to make Del Boy's pukka home for his enterprising schemes earlier this year after always being a fan of the much-loved sitcom.
The full-sized steam train replica is available to hire for any occasion, including future corporate and comic con events, education and train enthusiast when government guidelines allow.
Mr Hutchinson is also looking for sponsorship opportunities for the replica train. Go to thetimetraveltrain.co.uk for more information.
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