Steam in the 40’s, 50’s, & 60’s: 7 PAK Boxset
Green Frog Productions
Format: DVD- R (7 disc boxset)
Length: 5 Hours 52 minutes
Time Period: 1940’s- 1960’s. Bonus 1990’s.
Locations: USA and Canada
Sources: Gene Miller,T. Strid, M.Laing, J.Carson
The set is housed in a sturdy, hard plastic case. Each disc is mounted on a hard plastic page. Seems very durable.
Green Frog has a tantalizing boxset. This contains 7 discs and 7 complete shows. All of the programs have individual, full reviews on ATVR. A brief overview of each will follow.
All of the shows are digitally edited on state of the art equipment. Each disc has artwork.
Maximum fun calls for many different screenshots from the full reviews. Bonus for you!
The Golden Twilight of Postwar Steam Part 1: The Pennsy’s West End and it’s neighbors.
1947- 1950. Gene Miller 16mm.
Mountain type. M1
Pennsylvania Broadway Limited.
Early diesels. A quartet of ‘chicken wire’, Electromotive F3 locomotives.
The Golden Twilight of Postwar Steam Part 2: Rails in the Heartland: The L&N, C&EI and IT
Gene Miller. 16mm.
L&N Mountain class at Howell Yard. Evansville, Indiana.
Steam and diesel are both here. A K-5 Pacific with an EMD E7 unit.
Chicago & Eastern Illinois departs the massive St. Louis Union Station.
C&EI has these pretty F3 engines. Nice variety on this railroad.
Illinois Terminal once had a sizeable trolley operation. Strange entry for a steam series.
The Golden Twilight of Postwar Steam Part 3: Cajon to Horseshoe- Trains Across Mid-America and the West.
Gene Miller. 16mm. 1940’s- 1950’s. Many railroads are seen. Color, plus black and white film.
Santa Fe steam shown from California, to Dearborn Station, in Chicago.
Union Pacific has an awesome collection. Cheyenne and Denver. Big Boys, Challengers, Northerns, switchers and those big 9000 class locomotives. Plus more!
St. Louis Kaliedescope has various lines. MoPac Heavy Mike 1417 shown. Some fine black and white, plus color in this show. Missouri Pacific has color also. Nice chapter.
Horseshoe Curve finishes up the Gene Miller films.
Steam in the ’50’s: Volume 1
Jerry Carson. 16mm. Covers 14 different railroads.
B&O with a pair of big T-1 class locomotives at Chicago. Plenty of classic B&O within.
Some great action on the Norfolk & Western.
Chicago & North Western departs Green Bay.
Chesapeake & Ohio is a tough road to find, in the steam era. Like some others in this show, there are only a couple of trains.
Illinois Central Railroad. This one gets extended coverage. Assorted locations and trains.
Pennsylvania receives plenty of coverage. Doubleheaders too!
Steam in the ’50’s: Volume 2
Tom Strid. 16mm, mostly color. Shortest length show in the set. All classic.
Union Pacific Big Boy is eased across the wooden trestle.
See this locomotive being returned to America, at the dock. The General Pershing.
Circus World Baraboo train move to Milwaukee. Some unloading is shown at Milwaukee.
Steam in the ’50’s: Volume 3
Ted Carlson and Maynard Laing. 16mm. USA and Canada.
Northern Pacific excursion chase.
Hillcrest Lumber with Climax locomotives.
UP Big Boy pace sequence. More Big Boy action is seen.
Canadian Pacific.
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Yellowstone steam.
The Bonus Show isn’t listed on the rear cover…
Steam Giants Across America
Compilation steam program. Some repeat footage from these other shows, in this set. Still, it is a fun standalone program, and not everything is from this collection.
Some circa 1991 bonus footage includes: UP 844 and UP 3985.
Norfolk & Western with vintage and contemporary era footage.
Green Frog has a big winner. This 7 DVD set is an awesome value. This ‘package deal’, is a fast way to build an instant steam collection. A big bargain, that outweighs any issues.
Highly Recommended for anyone with an interest in steam. The early diesels are equally fine. This Steam Special 7 PAK would make a memorable gift.
Rating: 5 Stars