Producer: Clear Block
Locations: Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, Rockville Bridge, South Fork, Enola, more…
Timeframe: 1952- 1967
Length: 53 minutes
Sources: Charles Bealer, Charles W. Houser, Sr., Bruce Kantner and Steve Bonscher
.
Here is a cornucopia, of mainline and branchlines. Filmed in Pennsylvania. This vintage collection has steam and diesel. Transition period into second generation of diesel power.
Multiple Cinematographers filmed in color, plus black and white. Largely color footage.
Narration has a choice. On or off. No Chapter menu. Todd Miller narrates. Sparse narrative. Could have used more info.
Maps are referenced to outline some of the footage. On screen graphics with additional information. These are the Mainlines, which are featured.
The scenes are divided up geographically. As a line is traversed, steam and diesel are mixed. Always, forward progress is maintained, in a direction of travel.
The narration is thin to begin with. Eventually, it drops off to none.
Audio is mainly train sounds. This becomes a strong suit of the program. Todd Miller had taken a focus on matching locomotive sounds to the on screen action. The results are certainly interesting!
To the Trains… 👉
Baldwin Centipedes at Horseshoe Curve.
Quality of the films varies by source and years. Most everything is at least good. All of the footage is shot competently. Some random flaws appear. This is all unrestored. The collection is watchable. Appears to be predominantly 8mm. Do not expect modern viewing standards.
There is way too much, to get it all here. You can look up all the various locomotive types on the company advertised. I shall present some samples of this show.
Although there are beaucoup steam engines. Viewers are on their own, to determine exact locomotive class types.
At Horseshoe Curve, some rare Alco RSD-12 power is being employed in helper service.
Some black and white film was used at Horseshoe Curve, as well.
Additional Horseshoe Curve footage. Baldwin Shark set.
In the early 1960s. Railroads thought to operate diesels in matched sets. These GP30 engines look mighty mean!
New York Central F units appear with a surprising number of lightning stripes.
Renevo, Pennsylvania. Model Railroaders take note. Town buildings facing the tracks. A paved road. Railroad signal. Check the iron, pedestrian walkover bridge!
What no GP7? Of course!
Let‘s see some box cars!
This show features freight trains. There are a smattering of unidentified passenger trains. Although this move looks heavy on mail.
Vignettes of The Pennsylvania Railroad Volume 2
This is a good Clear Block show. What you see is what you get. A small sample, is what that is seen here. If you are a Pennsylvania Railroad fan or Model Railroader, this program should be satisfactory. It is wall to wall vintage action!
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 