In the last episode of Wagon Train's sixth season young Michael Burns joins the train as Barnaby West. This story features both him and Terry Wilson and the bond they form.
One fine evening John McIntire sends Terry Wilson out to scout out a campfire near the Wagon Train. What Wilson finds his young Burns with a dog who is very protective of him. Burns won't join the Wagon Train but he follows along.
After his grandmother died Burns sets out across country as a prairie vagabond to find the father he never knew he had and who never knew about him. Burns has made up all kinds of tales about him as the greatest frontiersman whoever lived. When he's located it turns out to be Stu Erwin, dry goods store proprietor with a new wife and another son who Erwin has also named Barnaby West.
One of the biggest continuity problems Wagon Train ever had was Bill Hawks's wife who after a couple of episodes in the first season just disappeared. When it comes time for confessions Terry Wilson tells young Burns that he has no wife. It was like the Twilight Zone claimed her. Also in the last couple of seasons there was no special relationship with the Bill Hawks character and Barnaby West, or none that he didn't have with the rest of the Wagon Train regulars.
Despite that the Barnaby West Story remains a fine episode.
One fine evening John McIntire sends Terry Wilson out to scout out a campfire near the Wagon Train. What Wilson finds his young Burns with a dog who is very protective of him. Burns won't join the Wagon Train but he follows along.
After his grandmother died Burns sets out across country as a prairie vagabond to find the father he never knew he had and who never knew about him. Burns has made up all kinds of tales about him as the greatest frontiersman whoever lived. When he's located it turns out to be Stu Erwin, dry goods store proprietor with a new wife and another son who Erwin has also named Barnaby West.
One of the biggest continuity problems Wagon Train ever had was Bill Hawks's wife who after a couple of episodes in the first season just disappeared. When it comes time for confessions Terry Wilson tells young Burns that he has no wife. It was like the Twilight Zone claimed her. Also in the last couple of seasons there was no special relationship with the Bill Hawks character and Barnaby West, or none that he didn't have with the rest of the Wagon Train regulars.
Despite that the Barnaby West Story remains a fine episode.
