 Malcolm X (qv) once worked as a porter on the railroad as shown in  the movie. Researchers for the film needed to find some equipment  that was accurate to the time period when Malcolm worked for the New  Haven Railroad. The Valley Railroad in Essex, CT was contacted for  information on a Pullman car by name (Great Republic). Valley RR had  one of the actual coaches that Malcolm X once worked on. From there  they got involved with the VRR to do shooting in Essex, CT and also  took a number of the coaches down to New York to do filming in the  city setting. The coach Great Republic had been in the process of  being restored, as the Valley RR had just obtained it from a train  collector in Stonington, CT that had it in his back yard for  decades. This coach that Malcolm once worked on, is now proudly  serving as the First Class Parlor car on the Essex Steam Train