The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts who had both previously been involved in the creation of Charlie's Angels and Mannix.

The featured characters would receive an invitation from "The Head of The Line" to travel to some time and place in the past where a crucial point in their lives had occurred.

They would arrive at Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal and go to the "Special Services" desk, where the ticket clerk (Woodrow Parfrey) would direct them to "Gate Y, Track 13" (which was listed as "closed" on the public departure board).

[1] On board the train (operated by Engineer Callahan (William Phipps) and conductor R. J. Walker (James Reynolds), who, in the initial episode were revealed to have been killed in a derailment on the "Allegheny Flyer" in 1886), they would be welcomed by hosts Jason and Margaret Winters (the husband and wife team of Vincent Price and Coral Browne) who would warn them of the risks of travelling to the past.

[1] The first man revisits the fatal plane crash of his girlfriend and the second travels back to a rigged championship boxing match.