Amador County – An Amador County movie location manager said Wednesday he has offered to purchase the Emma Sweeney model train engine for $5,000 to keep it in Amador County.

John Queirolo said he was one of the last owners of the train when, through a series of paperwork filings, it was donated to the county, through Ray Finegold. He said the original paperwork stipulated that it was never to leave Amador County. In about 1980 it was moved to where it still sits at the Amador County Museum grounds.

Queirolo said he told Supervisor Chairman John Plasse he would pay the county $5,000 for the train for its historic movie prop value. He said he would “take ownership of it and leave it there” until he finds a place to store it, such as Fiddletown, or Plymouth. He has spoken with Plymouth City Manager Jeff Gardner about placing it in a park along Highway 49.

Durango had a film shot there with Emma Sweeney, and other films, using other engines, but Queirolo said the engine model was the best known movie train in the business because of films shot in Amador County, such as Petticoat Junction, and Wild Wild West. Queirolo said he still owns its electric motors, and its wheels actually roll.

Queirolo’s daughter, Dianne Bennett said she wants to take a $5,000 check to the next Supervisor meeting, Tuesday, but they are also considering a court injunction. Queirolo said the contract with Durango Historic Railroad Society was a “hollow promise. I will get you stuff from Knight Foundry, not just a promise.” The contract states that the Society would make a “good faith” effort to find locally linked mining relics.

Queirolo said he and other people were fighting behind the scenes to keep Emma Sweeney in Amador, including Ron Olivero, who told him that attorney friends in Rotary and the Lion’s Club were willing to help. He said Georgia Fox had lined up some people to paint the train, before the donation contract came.

“I thought things were rolling smoothly,” Queirolo said. He had just finished a busy season building state fair exhibits for four counties, and contacted Supervisor Brian Oneto, who did not know Queirolo had offered $5,000.

Queirolo said: “I don’t even need to be reimbursed. I just want to keep it in Amador County.” He said he would even pay $500 a year rent so the museum makes money until it is moved. “The whole idea is to get that museum up and running too,” he said.

Queirolo said he is just a proud Amador resident. He casts film projects exclusively with Amador citizens, including a recent speaking part for Plymouth Councilman Jon Colburn. As president of Kit Carson Mountain Men, he brought back the first fireworks stand to Plymouth in 35 years.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.