New York Central Odyssey Volume 1
Green Frog Productions
Format: 2 DVD Length: 2 hours 30 minutes
Time Period: 1952 – 1963
Locations:Dearborn, Eloise, Kalamazoo, Toledo, Ypsilanti, Wayne Jct., Huron River,
Source: Emery Gulash
New York Central was Emery Gulash’s favorite. Most of the early action is centered around his hometown of Detriot. It is the 1950’s and steam trains. The Lightning stripe diesels make for colorful trainwatching.
This transition era mixes the steam engines mixing work with the new diesels from various builders. 1952 is the first year of this show. Rare Fairbanks Morse C-Liners and steam are pulling Central’s Mercury to Chicago. The film is ic color. In 1953, Hudson steamer roars by, smoke plume billowing. FYI- 16 passenger trains between Chicago and Detroit everyday in 1953. F7 and F3 units, plus some GP7’s pull freight. It’s nice to see some of the old freight cars, and the chance to view them up close..
B&O The Cincinnatian pulled by steam in 1954. Kalamazoo has alot of trains, many are steam..In 1955 he’s at a Ford plant watching the Ford’s centercabs. The Great Lakes Aerotrain gets featured. November 1959 at Windsor ON. A Canadian Pacific steam special loads railfans. Later, The Twilight Limited closes a day with a sunset scene. The B&O, C&O and NKP all make cameos.
I’m not a big fan of chasing the special excursions all over the countryside. A steam special takes up some valuable time. Back to the action, the fast pace returns. I like the FA led meat train. Some fine photography in fog and snow. Winter of 1961 ends part one.
Part two continues the timeline, in 1961. CP and B&O passengers. I like the jade green NYC E8. Five Alco FA/B locos lead a stock car and reefer train. Baldwin Sharks with a freight! The mix of passenger and freight traffic goes on.
Michigan City has a Pullman Standard switcher with some brand new Santa Fe PS-1 boxcars! GP20 and GP30 diesels move into the timeline. The new Big Four hump yard at Avon, IN. A cool tower visit with the operation filmed and explained. A little too much of the General. There is much more action to the end.
You get to see Emery’s skills evolve, rather quickly, from those early shots in part one. It drags slightly in places and gets a bit repetitive at times. The program does have quality picture, sound and narration. Another fine Odyssey Series release.
Rating 4 1/2 stars
American Train Video Reviews 