I need to preface this by stating at the outset that this independently made film is not about railroads but it does have a railroad theme and background. The story revolves around Fin McBride (played by Peter Dinklage), a 4.5 inch dwarf who works as a customizer/craftsman in a model train shop in New Jersey. He lives next to the shop in a apartment building and is employed by his friend and mentor. He is a railfan when not working and attends meetings of the local railfan club with his friend to watch slide shows and films about railroading, but otherwise seems to have no other social contact, nor wants any.

One day his mentor suddenly drops dead on the sales floor of the train shop. Fin meets with the mentors attorney afterwards and finds that his late friend willed him a abandoned train station in rural NJ, and having no other life except the train store (which is to be closed and inventory liquidated) he sets off on foot to his new home, walking along the main line of NJ Transit.

After setting up housekeeping in the station Fin only wishes to be left alone to live his life in peace, but inexorably and reluctantly becomes involved in the lives of several neighbors, Joe (played by Bobby Cannavale) who runs a mobile hot dog stand which parks in the depot's parking lot daily and Olivia (played by Patricia Clarkson) who is a aspiring artist who is still grieving the untimely death of her young son. Joe is a friendly, somewhat overbearing and gregarious guy who craves human contact and talks incessantly, even if no one is around. He is determined to make friends with Fin, no matter what. Olivia comes into Fin's life by almost accidently running him over twice within a hours time while Fin is walking along the road to the nearby convenience store. Later she brings him a bottle of bourbon as a way of apology and the two meet and talk.

As the film progresses we see how sometimes the most trivial and seemingly insignificant human interaction events can sometimes bring together complete strangers. The story does a masterful job of exploring size-prejudice, aloofness and loneliness and how caring and kindness can overcome.

The railroad scenes in this film, while few and far between, are very well done. The film company had the cooperation of both NJ Transit and the New York Susquehanna and Western. The depot used in the film is the restored historical station at Newfoundland NJ and, as is depicted is located along the still very active NYSW main line. There are good opening shots of NJ Transit's yard (actual location not given) and a pacing shot featuring NYSW's B40-8's.

The film airs occasionally on IFC Channel (550 on DirecTV) and is available (I think) from Netflix and Amazon.com as well as from the movie website (www.thestationagent.com).

The movie is a triumphant debut for director/writer Tom McCarthy and is one of the most entertaining films Ive ever seen. I think anyone with a interest in railroading would enjoy it, but as I say its not primarily about railroads, more about human friendships and relationships.

Matt