Before the Wires Came Down
(The Springfield Terminal Railway)
A&R Productions
Length: 45 minutes
Time Period: 1950’s
Sources: Karl Hartman, Bill Orne
Vintage film collection of diminutive Springfield Terminal Railway. This shortline was 8 miles long. It interchanged with Boston & Maine at Charleston, New Hampshire.
Beginning with some black and white film of the ST. Proceeds with Karl Hartman’s color films. Amateur shot on 8mm film. Camera shake is ever present. A variety of viewpoints do show a healthy inclusion of cab rides. Pacing, runbys, and street views. Period towns and traffic are interesting.
Audio has dubbed sounds. These are adequate at best. Levels are uneven. Ted Dalaku clearly narrates. Some history and equipment, includes final dispositions of featured units. Heavy on locations.
Baldwin-Westinghouse number 20 is the feautured motor in the first half of the show.
Motorcar 16 is the featured on two fantrips on the second half. Arranged by Karl Hartman in 1956. Karl is the only fan on these trips!
Too much time is spent on, loading and transporting the retired equipment. This is filler.
A so-so trolley video. There are higher quality programs about trolley lines.
The amateur camera relegates this to hardcore fans.
Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 