Producer: Green Frog
Timeframe: 1999- 2001
Locations: Hudson River, Selkirk area, Mohawk Valley, Palmer, Framingham
Length: 57 minutes
Source: Richard A. Kugel.
Albany- Capital District, is the central theme. The lines to Selkirk Yard, are the point in Volume 14.
Three mainlines are chiefly visited. The River Line, Hudson Line and Boston Line. Selkirk Yard is shown, for a minute. A Selkirk branchline receives a long look.
The pretty common, Green Frog DVD-R setup. A Chapter Search, sans a menu. No on-screen graphics, or location maps. Do not see access to the switchable narration, in the multi- set.
Color balance is fine. Image quality, is not modern viewing standards. Slight grain overall, and watery at times. Watchable, on a hi-def 55′ screen, although soft.
A horizontal distortion bar is constant, along the bottom of the screen. Another, vertical distortion along the left hand side.
Audio is rated as Dolby 5.5 surround. Sounds fine in stereo. Good narrative, by Peter Youngblood. Enviornmental soundtrack. Levels are well balanced.
Show tours the areas, in a geographic fashion. The obvious lines. A little uncertain on where certain scenes are, in relation to Albany. Really could have used some maps.
Train action abounds. Always, a Green Frog strong point. Bagoda, New Jersey is on the River Line. A Norfolk Southern unit is rare, since the changeover to CSX.
Unexpected, are some Wisconsin Central SD45s. Seems, that CSX was leasing various locomotives. Burlington Northern, BNSF, and more appear.
At Manitou, New York. New Haven painted FL-9 units are the Metro North power.
Amtrak, also runs trains, along the Hudson Line.
This is one of the scenes that highlight the vastness of this vicinity. Videography is well done. Solid camerawork.
Fort Montgomery, New York.
A somewhat abrupt, transition to Framingham, Massachusetts. This passenger station serves the Boston Line. MBTA locomotive with a rock screen, over the windshield.
Palmer, Mass. is shown below Here, a Conrail diamond crossing, with New England Central. A well known spot for Railfans.
New England Central arrives at Palmer.
CSX 664 (AC60CW). This CSX lash-up at Selkirk Yard. Time spent, is about a minute, at this huge facility.
Expected more, given that Selkirk, is listed in the show title. Not a deal breaker.
Busy Selkirk trackage, has two trains, moving simultaneously.
The mammoth Poughkeepsie Bridge in the background. A CSX steel move, roars past at Highland.
Speaking of bridges. This ballast train passes through at Guilderland, NY. Believe he is mispronouncing it. I looked on an online map, this seemed to match.
Back to New York. East of Amsterdam. The Mohawk River, is in front of this CSX train. Doesn’t this look like a model railroad scene?
Fullers, New York is on the Selkirk Branch. A CSX line here now. Good trainwatching along this line.
No caboose. Let’s end with the freight of the time. Yes, double stacks. Ugh! What can one do? The show must go on…
CSX 14 Albany (Selkirk). The Capital District and the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys. Also available on the: Trains Around New York and New Jersey – Collection set.
Green Frog has targeted coverage of the advertised areas. Would have expected more of Selkirk Yard. Could have used, less Framingham. Maps were really needed, to clarify some of the locations.
The main of the show is enjoyable. Wall to wall action! A good assortment, of trains and locations. The choice of filming in all four seasons, adds zest.
Rating: 4 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 