On one of the boxcars in the archival footage of the train wreck displays the reporting mark 'MILW' under the name 'Milwaukee Road'. This mark identifies the car as belonging to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), better known as the Milwaukee Road. It operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the U.S. from 1847 through 1986. The wreck was probably an incident that occurred in September 1950 near the city of Milwaukee, given the presence of a street light pole in the footage of the wreck.
This is the eighth of twelve appearances House Peters Jr. makes in the series, always playing the sheriff, but not always by the same name. During season three and four while the Millers are still on the farm, his name is Jim Billings. Later in the series, i.e. seasons 11 and 12, when Lassie had left the farm and was companion to Corey Stuart, played by Robert Bray, House Peters Jr. appears as the sheriff, but under the name Jim Simmons or just Sheriff Tom.
This is the first time in the series where an elephant was part of the cast. The second time occurs in The Elephant (1960) from season 6 long after Jeff and Millers had departed and the Timmy and the Martins took up residence on the farm.
The elephant was trained by the animal training team of husband and wife Frank Inn and Juanita Inn. They collaborated in their training for 13 episodes of the series, this being their fifth such collaboration. Frank was a well-known and respected animal trainer who had even worked with Rudd Weatherwax during the very first Lassie franchise movie Lassie Come Home (1943).