The RGS No.20 "mock-up" was indeed built of wood and fiberglass for this movie. Richard Sale, the director, was a big railfan and when they found that they could not pull the real locomotive around, 20th Century Fox spent $40,000 building this mock-up. Western movies were very popular and Fox saw using this mock-up for future films. In the cab they used real appliances (in most cases) in order to be completely accurate, which is what Sale wanted. I am not sure what other movies this mock-up was used in, however its more famous history was yet to come. Later on in the 1950s Fox sold the mock up to a guy that had a 1890s, gas light, "gay-ninety's" hotel in Portland, OR. called the Hoyt Hotel. The engine sate in the lobby of the hotel as a conversation piece. Later it was moved to out of doors for display. In the early 60's writer/producer Paul Henning sold a show to CBS-Beverly Hillbilly's. This show was so successful and zoomed to number one, hence Paul became the new "golden boy" of TV producing. CBS was so enamored with Henning they asked him to fill two half hour time slots in prime time for the 1963 season. In the midst of producing and writing the Hillbilly's he told CBS he was not sure if he had time to develop a pilot. CBS told Henning no need for a pilot, what ever ya got we'll take it and put it on the air. Not before or since had a TV producer been given cart-blanch like that. Paul's wife Ruth had two sisters and a widowed mother that ran a small hotel, next the railroad track, in the small Ohio town she grew up in, which catered to railroad workers....thus the story idea of Petticoat Junction, (1963-1970). The other half hour show was a TV version of the hit radio show he wrote with Jay Sommers called Grandby's Acres...city slick and wife move to the country, etc. Paul and Jay converted the radio show scripts into the show we all know as Green Acres. So, when creating PJ they needed a locomotive mock-up to use at the studio, someone on his staff remembered the Fox mock-up "Emma Sweeney", it was located in Portland. Henning's production company, Filmways, offered to purchase the mock-up from Mr. Hoyt. No deal, but Hoyt would lend it to them for a screen credit each week....thus the credit at the end of each episode "Train furnish by the Hoyt Hotel, Portland, Oregon." and no mention of the Sierra Railroad. The first two season on PJ were filmed in black & white and thus never were used in syndication. In 2005 MPI Media Group released a 3 disk set featuring 20 restored episodes from the first season with triva-packed introductions by Linda Kaye Henning (Betty Jo Bradley) which happens to be Paul Henning's daughter. Of course the first two season use the train way more than later episodes. Check out www.mpihomevideo.com, I have also seen this set in Best Buy. After PJ the mock-up ended up in a small town in Northern Calif. (can't remember the town...near Angles Camp). It is sitting under a shelter in front of the town museum. Quite an impressive mock-up. I will look for my pictures and post them later. The ultimate PJ trivia question- what did the initials on the side of tender mean- "C&F.W. RAILROAD" I asked Paul what railroad that stood for...he said...."Why... Charlie & Floyds Wacky Railroad". This DVD set is worth getting, the very first episode explains why the train is out there forgotten by the rest of the world. Three hot chicks and a steam train! WOW....what a great combination! Also, don't forget to keep an eye out on ebay for Larry Jensen's book "Movie Railroads" this is the definitive resource for trains used in movies...it is my understanding that Larry is now updating the book and it will be reissued soon.
Well, gotta get goin and catch the Cannonball for Pixley.
