Producer: Mary McPherson
Timeframe: 1986 – 88
Locations: Salem, Mt. Vernon, Kirkwood,…
Length: 1 hour 49 minutes
Source: George Redmond
This Heritage Series show is focused on the final years of Missouri Pacific. The videos are centered around the St. Louis area.
Locations include: Salem, Dupo and Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Kirkwood, Missouri. The Missouri and Illinois, out of Centralia, Illinois.
A single DVD-R. A main menu, with options. Play, Scene Selection and Previews. No maps. There are on-screen graphics.
Above, Missouri Pacific 1634 GP15. This EMD was built in 1979. These were replacements, for aging first generation Geep locomotives.
Videography by George Redmond. He is very competent. The scenes are on point. Only limited by the tech of the era. Still, these are images that are hard to find.
Color balance is very good. Audio is lively! Mary let’s these trains be heard. An enjoyable show.
A broadside view of the final Missouri Pacific scheme. Those C36-7 units, were assigned to hot priority moves.
The opening scene was shot in March, 1985. These Missouri Pacific GP50 units, are painted in the UP style. Nicknamed the Canary paint scheme.
Blue GP15s switch at Salem Yard.
A Western Pacific GP40, also at Salem.
A GE C36-7 at Tuscola, Illinois. The tower is Illinois Central. Doesn’t this locomotive, recall late Alco design?
A blue GE is heading this local.
Some GP18s are turned in at Mt. Vernon, to be scrapped. Note, the low and high hood options.
This Houston to Indianapolis, displays the three principal paint schemes, in use. Salem.
At Dupo, Illinois. A trio of SD50 canaries lead a unit coal train. These late model orders were delivered in this revised paint.
Rarely seen, Union Pacific RoadRailer trains. Good for some appearances,l in this show.
Those C30-7 were MoPacs last new order.
George has good pacing sequences. A malfunctioning GE unit, is the most entertaining.
By 1987, a solid set of MoPac blue is almost impossible to find, on a road train!
After watching the operator print it. A funny moment! The engineer on this Conrail engine, whiffs on the grab. Mary comments the train continues onward, because it is CTC territory.
Former MP 4248 and it’s mate 4232, are now in full Union Pacific paint. Mount Vernon.
Engine #1713 leads at Kirkwood,MO.
Naturally, by 1988 the older blue units are faded and in smaller numbers. A veteran SD40 shows up at Mt. Vernon.
This scene tells the story, of the later Missouri Pacific years. Union Pacific, with an ever growing prescence. This power clears the mainline at Mount Vernon, after dropping it’s cars.
In the end, the railroad is absorbed into the super system. Some say it’s progress. While many Railfan’s, are saddened at another fallen flag.
There are a number of cabooses in this show. The transfer model could show, in road service.
A well paced show. The train sounds make it just as interesting to hear, as it is to view. Sure, it is not modern standards. There is historical value in these older tapes.
This collection has aged well. Narrative highlights the need to know information. A variety of locations. One of the better Heritage Series releases.
Rating: 4 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 