Producer: Mary McPherson
Timeframe: 1985- 2000
Locations: Salem, Mt. Vernon,Odin, E. Louis,
Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Source: George Redmond
Another entry in The Heritage Series by Diverging Clear. Somewhat, rarer material that has predecessor CSX paint in good quantity.
Although in the later years, more normal CSX is present. Historical value is obvious. Non existent scenes are here.
George Redmond video is the show source. A single DVD-R. A numbered Chapter Menu. Plenty of location graphics. No maps. Natural, enviornmental audio.
Mary McPherson with a relaxed narrative. Colors are weaker than similar, Heritage recent releases.
Picture quality is ranging from good to very good. Realize, these are earlier years. Equipment limitations on original lighting and videotape aging, effect the results.
Still, everything is watchable. Nothing too weird. A bit green or yellow sometimes.
Story begins at a now, disappeared yard in East St. Louis. Check that blue B&O switcher.
A GE U-30-B departs E. St. Louis yard in 1985.
Still wearing Seaboard Coast Line paint. GP38 #2541, is paced to Delafield, Illinois. Videography apprears better, in later years.
At Mount Vernon. Action in 1988 and 1990.
Ashley scenes shot in September, 2000. This train goes to Nashville. Switch the grain elevator. Long segment. A GP40 and modified GP30..
Let’s eyeball that B&O 6593.. Nice!
Salem crossing has numerous trains.
Odin has newer CSX locomotives. Salem shows even more. Too much repetition on these C40 units, for me.
Back at Salem crossing. Relief with different power. Foreign locomotives seen: Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Conrail.
Operation Redblock livery on this GP38. At Vincennes, IN. with a local.
Seaboard System and Family Lines, are found in the earlier years. In 1985, some cabooses. Note the rare, GP16 on the lead.
Pretty typical, for a Diverging Clear, Heritage Series. It does contain some harder to find, circa 1985 and 1991 action.
Those scenes are the highlights of this show. Remainder is dominant CSX gray. This is where I would have cut film, in a major fashion.
A Family Lines caboose, wears SBD reporting marks. Bet you thought it would be a Chessie System!
I am not much for repetition. She is the opposite. So, depending on your point of view. Too long or never enough, timewise.
Being the reviewer. I will perform my role. Runs too long. There are good nuggets. So, worthy for those. If you like early CSX, it’s in there.
Rating: 3 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 