The film used Union Pacific tracks in Arkansas, which were formerly the tracks of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Mary Steenburgen was born in Arkansas and her father was a freight train conductor on the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Then Arkansas governor Bill Clinton receives a "Thanks" credit, as most of this production was shot on location in his home state. Longtime Clinton family friend and fellow Arkansan Mary Steenburgen co-stars.
The engine on the movie poster is completely different to the one used in the film.
Bruce McGill and Kevin Bacon were both in Animal House.
Holly Hunter and Sarah Vowell would later star together in The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018).