Continuity mistake: During the liberation of Cavendish, John Reid sees the shadow of a man on the roof beside the train. But in all the other shots in these scene, the shadows are underneath the people. (00:14:00)
Continuity mistake: When Tonto is burying the Rangers he brushes dirt on top of John Reid, but after "Silver" arrives and they show his body again the dirt is gone. (00:43:25)
Continuity mistake: At the start of the train chase Tonto blows the whistle as he passes the bad guy who says "shoot him you idiot". The soldier opens fire with the machine gun and Tonto is suddenly back in front and passing him again. (02:03:35)
Continuity mistake: At the start of the train chase the woman falls off the side of the steam engine - it cuts to the bad guy standing at the front on the cow catcher and he shouts "get me close." The other bad guy speeds up the train - it cuts to Tonto looking at the train and we see the bad guy climbing down onto the cow catcher, despite already standing on it in the earlier shot.
Continuity mistake: When the woman is dropped off the train and lands on silver the area next to the railway track is all clear, but immediately before and after it's all woodland up to the track.
Continuity mistake: The flatcar on the original silver train disappears just before the collision with Cavendish's boxcar.
Continuity mistake: At the start, the kid drops his popcorn and we see a shot of it right next to his foot. A couple of shots then follow but he's always visible, not moving. We then see a wide shot and he's further from the popcorn.
Continuity mistake: At the start of the film the Mayor is praising the arrival of the railroad. He speaks to two mounted Cherokee Indians. One is wearing a breast plate that is twisted. The Mayor speaks again then we return to the Indians and the breast plate is straight again.
Answer: There are stations in between the ends of the line that allow the train to unload passengers, unload cargo, hitch new cars, and turn to go in the opposite direction.
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