"Robbie Knievel Train Jump Head On" will air at 7 p.m. CST on Fox stations in Texas and throughout the nation. The scheduled stunt by the son of celebrity Evel Knievel is generating considerable state and national media interest for not only the event, but also the East Texas state park and the 104-year-old railroad that runs between Palestine and Rusk.

The historic convict-built railroad, which today is operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife, is no stranger to Hollywood productions. Its vintage steam locomotives and passenger cars have been featured in more than a dozen movies over the past 23 years, but this will be the first time the park's vintage steam train has appeared on a live telecast seen by millions of viewers.

"Leasing the railroad equipment to movie production companies is one of those things we do to generate revenue for the park," explained Curtis Pruett, Texas State Railroad manager. "This is one of the more spectacular productions, however, in that it's live."

Pruett said the park's steam train was last used in 1996 in the filming of the Turner Network's made-for-TV movie, "The Rough Riders," featuring Brian Keith, Tom Berenger and Sam Elliot. It also has been seen in such films as "The Gambler IV" and "Streets of Laredo," the television series "Walker, Texas Ranger" and a Muddy Waters music video.

The production company for the Knievel stunt, World Record Stunts in Burbank, Calif., originally approached the Texas Film Commission about finding a diesel train and location for the telecast. But after learning of the existence of the Texas State Railroad and visiting Palestine, the production company was sold on using the steam train.

The train jump represents a sizable financial windfall for the state park, which will charge the California-based production firm for the use of the equipment, train crews, fuel and lubricants and other park costs. That comes as additional good news for the Texas State Railroad, which recently received a $7 million federal transportation grant to replace boilers in two steam engines, replace bridges and upgrade the rails along the 25-mile line.

Plans calls for Knievel, who last May jumped the Grand Canyon, to blast along on a motorcycle at about 80 m.p.h. toward a wooden ramp spanning the railroad tracks, timing his jump to clear the ramp just as the train, steaming along at about 30 m.p.h., plows into the structure. The daredevil intends to sail through the air about 200 feet and land on a ramp on the other side of the tracks. The jump will take place in the park near the Palestine Depot.

Knievel and his crew were scheduled to arrive in Palestine on Feb. 11 to begin ramp construction and other preparations for the stunt.

Pruett expects 3,000 to 5,000 spectators to witness the spectacle. There is no charge to attend the event.

The historic state railroad, originally built in 1893 by inmate labor to support a state penitentiary smelter in Rusk, serves today as the state's only operating tourist steam train. The public can board the train in either Rusk or Palestine for a 50-mile round trip through the East Texas Pineywoods and hardwood bottoms.

The Texas State Railroad operates each year from spring through fall. This season's steam train runs begin March 11 and conclude Nov. 18. For this year's schedule, call (903) 683-2561, or in Texas, (800) 442-8951.