Producer: A&R
Timeframe: 1940/50s
Locations: CT
Length: 90 min.
Sources: Paul Wales, Gary Gurske
An grab- bag assortment of: train rides, cab rides, caboose ride and trainwatching. Also, a radio slideshow interview, with a radio chatter insert, that doesn’t belong. Limited, good bonus section of a little; B&A, CN,CV, plus NYC. Late 1940s into 1950s.
The vintage mixture of films. Mostly color. Overall good, but variable condition. An early black and white train ride, has so much camera bounce, as to be unwatchable. Other various rides are better quality. Locomotive cab rides are even, much smoother.
Unrestored films, as we generally see from A&R. The slides are excellent quality. Yet, this should be a video.
Audio is ranging from silent, to ambient sound. Sound levels get loud at times. Somewhat unbalanced, to be critical. Although, those steam engines do get attention. The radio interview audio plays at a lower volume. That is harder to understand.
The show is narrated by Aaron Gonthier. Information also varies. Maps are used earlier in the show. No Chapter Menu.
Steam to diesel transition era. Keeps this main portion unpredictable. Really interesting. Never know what is next.
Crossing guard shanty.
This man liked to film wrecks. Steam cranes at work, on multiple sites. Watch this Alco FA get pulled up from it’s side. An extensive look at this wreck in particular.
A cornucopia of action. Fan trips dating back to the 1950s.
Classic Alco RS led local freight.
Cab rides galore! RDC cars are present too.
Super rare New York Ontario & Western FT. Parked at an engine facility.
Plenty of steam engines. New Haven fans will be satisfied.
Let’s look at this odd inclusion. The old timer taped on the radio! Mr. Healey retired from the New Haven. A radio interview, is included with him. This is accompanied by a slideshow. No slides shown in this review.
Healey held multiple craft positions in the steam era. Dispatcher to fireman. More info, with his father serving 54 years, as well. Interesting background and insight to railroad service life.
Although, I do not know believe there is much replay value on this interview. Plus the lower sound quality.
Another strange inclusion. Random train radio chatter. The way this is inserted is a distraction! Maybe little children would enjoy this. Not good. Drags it down!
The interview declines into a never neverland of who knows what. This radio chatter randomness, is a genuine turn-off. I had to suffer through this crap for a complete review! For kids. Who cares… Edit..edit..edit.. Back to the interview?
Plays like nonsense…
A Penn Central era scene appears.
Bonus footage. Central Vermont steam. Silent with narration. Willamatic. Candian National FM C liners. Notice how the silent passages win any argument for having sound. Looks great, boring!
All of a sudden. Sound returns. Vintage New York Central. Last run of a Niagara. Some Boston and Albany shots. Plus…wait for it….
Boston and Maine! Steam and diesel. Now we are cooking. If for just a few minutes.
New York, New Haven & Hartford Volume 2.
This show has some bright spots. Rarities. It has some other odd sections, which drag it down. Lame production decisions, are the main problem. Dump the radio interview. Delete the radio chatter. Insert sound, versus the dumb silent reel sequences. Voila!
Oh wait. That is not what we have. It is this flawed release. Listen kid. You could have been a contender! Hardcore fans only.
Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 