One of the all-time great movie train sequences features Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) in 1885 trying to get "back to the future" by pushing the DeLorean time machine up to 88 mph with a steam engine driven by Doc (Christopher Lloyd). "Central Pacific #131" was actually Sierra Railway #3 - the famous Movie Star Locomotive, filmed around the Red Hills Ranch movie set outside Jamestown, CA (which sadly burned to the ground in 1996). A visit to Railtown 1897 State Park today will not disappoint, as they still operate steam on the weekends and in 2025 ol' #3 is back in action! 

What's more, the rest of the consist (coaches #2, 5 & 6, flatcar #325 and caboose #7) are all also in storage at the site and occasionally come out for photo shoots. If you do the excellent roundhouse tour (included with park admission) you'll likely get to see most of it! When I visited in 2025, I was able to ride inside Caboose #7, which provided an amazing view. 

Could it get any better you ask? Well guess what: they also have an exhibit on film production at the site including the prop caboose back used for closeup shots of the actors (that you can pose for photos on!), sheet metal smokestacks and custom engine headlight made for the film. 

As for the Red Hills Ranch site, there isn't much left to see and unfortunately (even though the tracks are still intact) the tourist railroad does not go through here. 

The crossing where Marty returns to the present on the other side of "Eastwood Ravine" is off South Ventura Road just a block away from the beach in Port Hueneme, CA. That evil ALCO S-6 that wipes out the time machine was Ventura County Railway's #9, which for a time was owned by Fillmore & Western Railway (pictured here in fall 2020 shortly before they ceased operations). 

As Doc and family arrive in a Jules Verne-inspired flying steampunk time machine train, this was a full-size mockup built by the film crew (only fully finished on one side). Since filming it has resided on display at Universal Studios Orlando.