Narrow-gauge steam locomotive No. 12, built in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia for the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad, became the signature attraction of Tweetsie Railroad. From 1918 to 1940, the ET&WNC, nicknamed "Tweetsie" by local residents, ran freight and passenger service between Johnson City, Tennessee, and Boone, North Carolina. After the railroad's demise in 1950, all of its narrow-gauge locomotives were scrapped except No. 12. Gene Autry purchased the locomotive and train cars in 1955 intending to ship them to California, but entrepreneur Grover Robbins Jr. of Blowing Rock acquired the rights from Autry. In 1956, locomotive No. 12 was fully restored and returned to the Blue Ridge Mountains and to Robbins' hometown. Tweetsie Railroad opened in July 1957 as a scenic railroad and soon evolved into North Carolina's first theme park. Locomotive No. 12 is now part of the National Historic Register, and the theme park is still operated by the Robbins family.