Producer: Jim Herron
Locations: Harmon, Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis…
Timeframe: 1928-1962
Length: 54 minutes
Sources: John Prophet, Dick Baldwin, H.R.Blackburn, MD., Ben T. Young Jr., more.
Herron has a great collection of films spanning four decades of New York Central. Consisting of both: color, with black and white film. Shot with; 8 and 16mm movie cameras. Post production, with actual recorded sounds. Disney Studios processed the film to tape transfer. Digital restoration was also done to the film.
This show is fully narrated. Ralph E. Morse performs the narrative. Organized in a chronological fashion. Focus is strong on mainline steam. Additional coverage of branch line steam. Early diesels as they came into the railroad. Exciting cab ride moments!
There are no extras, like newer shows. A single DVD-R. It plays straight, from beginning to end. No Chapter Menu, maps or on-screen graphics. Except for decades markers, at those breaks.
The locations are closely marked. Either vocally, or the classic signage shot. The black and white films look fine. Earliest is 1928. Others, from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Concentration is on a high quality film. The excellent visual, and audio components do succeed!
A Hudson pulls mixed passenger cars.
Road chase a Niagara in color! The Empire State Express.
Check that big tender on that Hudson! This will cruise at 80 mph . Don’t believe me? Hop in the cab. In 16mm- crazy good!
Ride along with the crew, in this 5413. A Hudson locomotive. Speedometer reads 70 to 80 mph!
Those Niagara class, looked awesome. Witness the race, between The Twentieth Century Limited and The Broadway Limited.
Rural branchline operations are seen in color. A steam powered local is shadowed. Notice the water stop. Here, the engine is turned around on a classic ‘Armstrong’ turntable. Almost have it, men!
Englewood in Chicago was New York Central facility. To the right, a Pittsburgh and Lake Erie locomotive.
Alco FA. These were the venerable steam locomotive builders answer to the EMD F units. They didn’t matchup.
EMD E series diesels. They eventually, hauled all New York Central passenger trains. These were inserted as fast as they came online. Above, The Twentieth Century Limited, and Pennsylvania Broadway Limited.
Reflections of the New York Central.
This is a fine overview, of a large Eastern railroad, with so much history. Impossible to get everything in this amount of time. This show concentrates on the material it presents. Viewers will come away with a good feel for the scope, and some innovative qualities, that were New York Central.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 