Producer: A&R
Timeframe: 1950s
Locations: Ohio
Length: 1 hour 40 minutes
Source: Ed Birch, Sr.
A fabulous collection of classic steam. Filmed during the 1950s. Ed Birch shot all of this, in full color. He was on a high level. This covers several railroads.
Baltimore and Ohio, Nickel Plate, New York Central plus Pennsylvania Railroad. Special guest stars, are big Santa Fe 5000 class power!
There is even a little Grand Trunk Western. Cameos of Detroit interurbans.
A sprinkling of early diesels appear.
There is no Chapter Menu. No maps either. Dubbed sound for the trains. Good sound levels. Some scenes work better than others.
Carrothers Tower, with Pennsylvania Railroad signage
Narration by Aaron Gonthier. Basic script. Locomotives and locations. Additional information.
Excellent looking films! Some occasional flaring. Very clean. Fine Cinematography.
Too much to get it all here. Hit some highlights. Not in running order.
Baltimore and Ohio had moved steam into this area. Their behemoth, EM-1 can be found operating with a Pacific. Going to Wheeling.
EM-1, in a flurry of scenes around the yard.
Ride into Deschler. On a B&O passenger train. Quick trip. Much happens at busy Deschler station. The inclusion of railroad structures are valuable.
4618 leaves Deschler, with a friendly wave from the Engineer.
5301 Cincinnatian. Streamlined Pacific stops at Deschler. Ride this train to Toledo.
New York Central. Niagara 6014 departs with a passenger train. Toledo.
Central Union Terminal. A modern passenger station. Built in 1950.
Grafton, West Virginia. An important B&O facility. A good visit there.
B&O 4453 getting water. Fascinating scene, 50 ton hoppers elevated.
Cincinnatian to Detroit. PCC cars on Woodward Ave.
Grand Trunk Western Station. Milwaukee Junction. See the locomotive service area. A bit dark. Time of day perhaps. Notice, how they do not promote this segment.
Sandusky in 1956. ATSF 2-10-4 engines on lease. Model Railroaders will find plenty of freight cars in the trains.
Berkshire 776 has picked up orders at Bellvue. Nice sequence.
A Santa Fe 5000 class, on the: Mansfield to Carrothers, Pennsylvania Railroad line.
Attica Jct. This tower gives a sense of size to the large 2-10-4 Santa Fe steam engines. Note the man at the bottom of the stairs.
Tiffen, on the Pennsylvania. A PRR J1
B&O Q4 Mikado paced sequence.
A Nickel Plate Road Berkshire, meets newer diesels. This was the near the end for steam on NKP.
Baltimore and Ohio caboose,with an older paint scheme. Look at those colors!
Nickel Plate Road, with High Speed Service.
Excellent program that exceeded expectations. Non- stop action of classic transition era trains. Variety of locomotives and the railroads are intriguing.
Ed Birch’s work, will stand with any of the well known Cinematographers. Outstanding composition. This man knew how to film a train!
This show is a must see for any steam fan.
Great for family viewing. You might find yourself wishing for more…
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 