Sierra Railway 3: The Return of the Movie Train!

In March of 2026, something big happened in Jamestown, California: the iconic Sierra Railway No. 3 was dressed up in its classic balloon style smokestack, box headlight, and a wood pile on the tender. The world famous "Movie Train" has returned from the past! Thanks to the combined efforts of Dynamo Productions and Railtown 1897, the locomotive was operated for a full day of photography charter trains; we captured all the highlights of this incredible event, and have compiled them in this video for your enjoyment! Sierra Railway #3 is an 1891-built Rogers 4-6-0, made famous by the railroad for its extensive use in movies and TV shows, including The Virginian (1929), Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, Little House on the Prairie, Back to the Future III and so many more productions. As a result, Sierra #3 is arguably the world's most recognizable steam locomotive. We'll look on as the locomotive chugs through the California countryside just as it did for so many film producers over the last century, leading two historic wooden passenger cars behind it: coach #2, an 1869 Wason coach built for the Central Pacific Railroad, and coach #6, a 1902 W.L. Holman car built for the Sierra Railway's Angels Camp branch line. Both cars have starred in many movies with the #3 over the years. In addition to the morning passenger consist, we'll view some of the equipment at the historic Jamestown railroad yard and shop complex in the afternoon, watch Sierra #3 perform some switching, and enjoy a nighttime photography session! Plenty of action awaits... so hit the like and subscribe buttons, and enjoy these scenes from the "Return of the Movie Train" event! Thanks for watching, and God bless. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:47 Overview of Equipment 2:50 Next Stop: Hooterville! 4:55 Aboard the Shuttle Train 5:39 South of Bell Mooney Road 7:29 Roger's Cut Run-Bys 8:52 Sierra #3, #1265 in Reverse 9:55 Rock Siding Run-Bys 11:19 Scenes at Sierra Rock Road 13:11 The Return Trip to Jamestown 14:51 Late Afternoon at Railtown 1897 15:54 Switching with Sierra #3, Water Stop 20:10 Moonlight Run-Bys in Jamestown 22:30 Night Photo Session at the Roundhouse 25:49 Outro Filmed by The Train Tracker, March 29, 2026. Unless otherwise stated, all media is owned by The Train Tracker. Please do not use without my permission.