This early Disney live-action film was based on Walt's early childhood growing up in the rural midwest. While set in Indiana, most of the filming took place in central California in the San Joaquin Valley. Paramount loaned the production the V&T Inyo and a passenger consist for the brief train scenes in the film. 

The farm where Jeremiah and family live in fictional "Fulton Corners" was a set built on location by the film crew. Walt apparently loved the barn so much that he had it later faithfully recreated on his property in Los Angeles as a central piece of his miniature railway. Today Walt's "Carolwood" barn resides at Griffith Park in Los Angeles and has been turned into a museum about Walt's railroad that is open on certain days of the month. 

Right off the bat we see V&T's Inyo #22 (renumbered #99) pulling a train into town. Today this engine survives as the pride and joy of Nevada State RR Museum's collection and operates occasionally for special events. The depot was dismantled after filming and reconstructed on Disney animator Ward Kimball's private Grizzly Flats Railroad. After his death, Pixar co-founder John Lasseter bought it and moved it to his Napa Valley winery for his Justi Creek Railway. Sadly in 2017, a wildfire destroyed this and several other historic structures on the site. 

Dan Patch's private car is the old V&T Baggage #21, which is now on display at NSRM in Carson City. Ahead of it can be seen Kimball Coach #3 or 4 (also at the museum). 

The Inyo chugs out of the station and later roars through town. 

At the end of the film, Jeremiah returns from the fair aboard the train and his Uncle Hiram (Burl Ives) makes an announcement from the door of V&T Combine #15. This famous car is most well-known for its appearance in The Harvey Girls. Today it survives in an unrestored state on display at NSRM.