Conrail’s Beginning

Producer: Clear Block

Timeframe: 1976

Locations: East

Length: 100 minutes

Source: Paul Geiger

In May, 1976 Paul Geiger took his 8mm movie camera to film Conrail. This is early in the merger. He visited many locations.

Another unrestored vintage, 8mm color film collection. The films are clean. Dark scenes too often. Nothing weird color wise. Good to very good, except for brightness issues. No maps or extras are included. The show does have natural sounding train audio. The sound is fine.

Narrative is somewhat stiff in nature. Although, very busy and thorough. I see Paul Geiger narrates it himself.

Too much to get everything here. Look at some highlights. Generally, everyday proceedings. In retrospect, this was a snapshot of 1976. See what is happening…

Paul travels around Eastern points of Conrail. He will sometimes pan a scene. Mainly, this show is wall to wall action!

A grand Buffalo area tour. Bison Yard and Frontier Yard in Buffalo, NY. Tower visits. Buffalo Terminal. Historical aspects too. Amtrak E units are trading places here.

A cornucopia of trains! All kinds. Sans active steam. E-44 electric locomotives here.

Coxton Yard. Lehigh Valley RS11 is working.

Amtrak. Metro North, and New Haven. All crammed into the dense city areas.

New Jersey Transit. Many GG-1 led trains are seen. Even in black Amtrak paint.

Elizabethport, NJ. Central of New Jersey

Reading, PA receives an extended look. g

Pennsylvania Rockville bridge is very busy. Paul does a fine job of showing us this hot spot.

Altoona in the summer of 1976, is very busy.

Horseshoe Curve. These three GP35 units, contain key components of the new Conrail.

Fresh Conrail paint appears more frequently, as the summer of 1976 continues.

May of 1992. Video update with Penn. area.

Conrail’s Beginning

A solid composite of the birth of Conrail. Consistent camera work. Good soundtrack. Well organized. Coverage includes quite a lot of territory.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars