Pentrex
Timeframe: 1990
Locations: 9 states
Length: 90 minutes
Comprehensive coverage, of three of the largest steam locomotives. They travelled to the NRHS 1990 Convention, in St. Louis. Over 9 states and thousands of rail miles.
A single DVD. Live environmental audio. There is no Chapter Menu. Location graphics included. No maps. Narrated.
To the Trains… 👉
Union Pacific 844. Norfolk and Western 1218. Cotton Belt 819. These are the Stars of this show.
Cotton Belt 819 starts off at home. Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The Cotton Belt Historical Society is shown doing preparations on the 819 and passenger cars.
Built in 1942. This was a recent restoration.
A slim looking steam engine, compared to the other two in this show. The Cotton Belt locomotive has the least amount of screentime.
Union Pacific 844 is seen at the Cheyenne Shops. It will pull a 37 car freight. A three day trip, to reach Saint Louis.
The big Northern makes good time across Farmville. Unfortunately, slower traffic ahead will cause lengthy delays.
At North Platte Yard.
The excursion runs out from St Louis. Back to Cheyenne, with the passenger consist.
N&W 1218 at Columbus, Ohio. This is the biggest steamer in the show. Soft whistle, that is pleasing to the ear.
Pulling a passenger special right at the start.
A stop at Portsmouth. The narrative on this 1218 chapter is insufficient. Maps are needed to track the trains progress.
Some more discussion of this locomotive would have been good. Also, some information about the territory.
Steam to St. Louis
This show was not what I expected. It centers on the three steam engines journey. To the St. Louis 1990 Convention.
The actual event is a totally separate release. Interesting, is this approach. St. Louis Steam Celebration, is that show.
The program certainly needs maps. A three part Chapter Menu would have been good. Yes, the natural audio sounds great. However, a balanced presentation works the best. Additional narration on the Norfolk & Western locomotive, would have been good.
Sum total. A solid show, it has three great steam locomotives. Enjoyable to watch. Good for family viewing.
Rating: 4 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 
One reply on “Steam to St Louis”
I love that convention, not that I wasn’t there before I was born in ’92, but I used to have a Greg Scholl VHS about the event, now a DVD two years ago.
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