Cecille B. DeMille's love letter to railroading, this epic tale of the building of the Transcontinental Railroad (framed around a love triangle) features some decent early steam train footage. 

Early shots of the film's hero work engine, the UPRR #21 "Gen'l McPherson" is Virginia & Truckee's #21 "J.W. Bowker," which was leased for the film from the Pacific Coast Chapter of Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. These scenes were filmed on a branch near Cedar City, UT. Today, the Bowker is owned by the CA State RR Museum in Sacramento, but today is on loan to the Nevada State RR Museum in Carson City. 

Scenes with the actors were done on sets with rear-projected backdrops on stage at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. 

Another great traveling shot of the Bowker. The Cheyenne-bound train consist includes V&T Coach Combine #15, 2 work cars (built on flatcars), 3 V&T coaches and V&T Kimball Caboose #9. Most of these cars are now owned by NSRM in Carson City and are in various states of repair. Caboose #9 has been fully restored. 

We get a nice shot of "UPRR #66" pulling into the station at Cheyenne with another train way off in the distance (probably pulled by V&T #18 "Dayton"). This was the V&T's famous #11 "Reno," also leased to the production (prior to its sale to MGM in 1945). The Cheyenne set was built around an existing depot at Iron Springs, UT (which no longer stands). The distinctive curved roof of one of the V&T's Brill coaches (#11 or 12) can be seen to the left of the depot and behind Mollie (Barbara Stanwyck) and Dick (Robert Preston) during their walk and talk (repainted #29). 

Depot interiors and shots around & inside the mail car were done on stage at Paramount. V&T's Kimball Baggage Express #1 (built in 1872 and bought by Paramount in 1937) was modified for the film as Mollie's post office car. Unfortunately this car was eventually destroyed by the 1995 fire at Old Tucson. 

After Jeff (Joel McRea) and Mollie take off on a handcar, Dick is left behind and we the Paramount-owned "Inyo" (V&T #22) pass behind him. 

Track-laying scenes with the Inyo featured in the background (with the V&T #18 "Dayton" behind it). 

The train robbery sequence was shot with the Dayton as "#119" with V&T Baggage Car #21. The Inyo is seen coming to the rescue with Jeff aboard. 

The Inyo is attacked by Indians on horseback, who topple a prop watertower. The crash was filmed with models at Paramount. 

Never fear! The Bowker is coming to the rescue!

During the ensuing shootout, the baggage car was replaced with a redressed V&T Baggage Express #14, which today is awaiting restoration at NSRM. 

The troops arrive on the Bowker and scare off the Indians. Caboose #9 (here #14) can be seen during the battle. This has since been restored and is on display at NSRM. 

More model shots as the UP blasts their way through the mountains to finish the line. Amazingly, two of the original shooting models from the film (Caboose #9/14 and Boxcar #342) survived and are currently on display at NSRM. 

The final recreation of the Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory Point was recreated faithfully on tracks laid down off of a Southern Pacific branch line in what is now Woodland Hills, CA. The Inyo played the part of Central Pacific's #60 "Jupiter." The Dayton played Union Pacific's #119. Unfortunately both of the real engines present at this event were scrapped but today replicas still recreate this scene at the actual Promontory Point, now a National Park. 

As for the hero locomotives in the film - thankfully, they are all still with us! The Reno (#11), Dayton (#18) and Inyo (#22) are all owned by NSRM. The Reno is still undergoing restoration efforts after suffering massive fire damage at Old Tucson (and is on outdoor display at the depot in Virginia City, NV). The Dayton is currently on display at CA State RR Museum in Sacramento. The Inyo is still fully operational and runs at special events in Carson City. The Bowker (#21) is owned by the CA State RR Museum, but is currently on display at NSRM. NSRM also houses a majority of V&T's old equipment including the rolling stock used in the film. Both museums are highly worth a visit!

Special thanks to Larry Jensen's highly detailed account in "Hollywood's Railroads Volume 1: Virginia & Truckee" for the wealth of knowledge about this film. Pick up a copy for some great behind-the-scenes photos!