Universal Studios

Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad #5, a 2-6-0 built in 1875 by Baldwin is the star of today’s feature. Currently restored and operating at the NCNG Railroad museum in Nevada City, California, #5 was a movie star at Universal Studios from 1940 to 1984 for countless films and TV shows.

The Alias Smith & Jones (1971-1973) western television series utilized the studio “railroad” (about 2,000 feet of track and a couple depots) at Universal for filming. Producers also dipped into stock footage from other movies for transition and action scenes.

Hats Off to Larry Jensen for all his books about Hollywood’s movie railroads, making it easier to identify what is what. All Aboard!

With a blast of its throaty chime whistle, #5 prepares to leave town. Note the star on the boiler front, elk on the headlight box, #8 on the sand dome and some sort of name plate on the cab side. It’s possible this shot is footage from another production.

There’s a price on their heads! Hannibal Heyes (played by Pete Duel) and Kid Curry (played by Ben Murphy) are two reformed outlaws, trying to stay out of trouble long enough to obtain a Governor’s pardon.

In the opening credits, we see two train scenes: #1 is lifted directly out of The Cimarron Kid 1952; #2 is from (I believe) The Texas Rangers 1951.

Cameos! This episode was chockful of character actors from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Most of whom I recognized:

• 1 is J.D. Cannon (Chief Clifford from McCloud) as Harry Briscoe.
• 2 is William Windom (Commodore Decker from Star Trek) as Jeremiah Daley.
• 3 is Harry Hickox as Strothers.
• 4 is William Mims as Grady.
• 5 is William Christopher (Father Mulcahy on MASH) as Telegrapher.

The boys start their journey at bucolic Bramberg (elevation 2,315 feet above sea level). Nevada County #5 squeezes between two buildings and Smith and Jones get aboard.

I believe these two shots also come from Cimarron Kid 1952 (see link above) which makes this locomotive Sierra Railroad #3 (4-6-0, 1891 Rogers).

Arriving in Brimstone, (the “western” depot at Universal), we see the locomotive (#2 on the cab side) and its two passenger cars are labeled G.B.& D. R.R. Green Bay and Denver Railroad, maybe? ;p

The two passenger cars were hand-built by the studio onto a used Southern Pacific Railroad flat car in sections for easier storage and disassembly.

Jones and Smith walk the platform and visit the telegrapher (I WANT his green, felt eyeshade). The conductor waves a highball and they’re off.

Interiors of the baggage compartment. Smith jimmies open the crate with a file and discovers gold bars inside. GOLD!!!

It looks like we’re on the Sierra Railroad again. These scenes possibly were taken from an episode of “The Men From Shiloh” TV show. The consist and décor on Sierra #3 match. Classic fireman-taking-water sequence.

Here’s a front and back view of a home-built passenger car. The boys steal a couple horses to ride ahead and warn their former confederates of the upcoming ambush. They really liked to blow the whistle in this feature.

Interlude! To keep this from being a total weinerfest, the saucy Beth Brickell (Woof!) as Sara Blaine graced the screen as William Windom’s companion. Rahr-RAHR!

I told you an ambush was coming. The baddies (Smith & Jones’ old gang) are tearing up the track to stop #2. You can really see the narrow gauge in these pictures. 3 feet between the rails, on standard gauge ties at the studio, leaves no doubt.

Onrushing train sequences: #9 was projected backwards, I flipped it over. One of the Sierra locomotives renumbered maybe? #18 is either Virginia & Truckee or Sierra Railroad. My bet is on Sierra.

More old movie footage. I think this is engine 18 or 28. I’m guessing V&T RR. Pretty blurred. That double banner on the tender harkens back to several early films — I just can’t place it.

Engineer and cab closeup! And check that red pilot wheel. It says, “Tacoma”.

A long story short:

• #1 a big shoot out;
• #2 the miscreants are cowed (uhh, guys? You’re in each other’s line of fire…);
• #3 I’ll drink to that! and
• #4 We’re all friends now.

Thus endith my review. It was a lot of fun to guess which equipment and which movies it all came from. See you next month!

Here’s what IMDb has to say about Wrong Train to Brimstone:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0508578/

If you have ANY information about this movie you’d like to share, please contact me at: Lindsay.Korst@gmail.com, or leave a comment.  Thanks and enjoy the blog!

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