What Happened to Fillmore and Western Railway After Mystery Diners?

In the Mystery Diners episode "Train Robbery" (aired 2015-04-22), Fillmore and Western Railway owner Dave Wilkinson told investigator Charles Stiles he suspected missing supplies and unauthorized riders on the railway's dinner-theater train in Fillmore, California. Undercover diners Shelby and J.R. were sent to investigate, according to the Food Network's episode listing. As is the format of the series, Stiles reviewed the footage with Wilkinson afterward and discussed steps to secure supplies and verify paying passengers. Wikipedia's article on Mystery Diners, citing the program's own end-of-episode disclaimer and a critic's review, notes that certain scenes are staged or re-enacted for dramatic effect and that the series has been criticized for implausible scenarios and unconvincing acting.

Railfan & Railroad, reporting on 2021-05-28, said Dave and Tresa Wilkinson would suspend Fillmore & Western's excursion service at the end of June 2021 as they retired after more than three decades running the tourist railroad, with the last scheduled run on June 26, 2021. Wikipedia's article on Fillmore and Western Railway, revised 2025-08-18 and citing its sources, says the company stopped operating on the line in 2021; the Ventura County Transportation Commission later approved a new operator, Sierra Northern, for the corridor in December 2021. A Google Places record for 364 Main St, Fillmore, still lists the business as operating, but no dated source found shows Fillmore and Western Railway itself running trains after its 2021 closure.