Producer: Pentrex
Timeframe: 1993
Locations: Chicago, East Union..
Length: 2 hours
A varied program. This is more than a steam show at Chicago. A trip to the Illinois Railway Museum is included. Ride the Chicago Transit Authority. See some steam, operate in poor weather. Hey, it’s Chicago. Tourists may find it fascinating. Locals may give a few yawns, in places.
A single DVD-R. Detailed Chapter Menu. Preview section. Maps and on-screen graphics. High quality throughout.
This was officially, the 1993 NRHS Convention. You will be reminded of that, by numerous shots of the attendees in this show.
As in other releases of this type. Pentrex has some of the trips to the event. Former Southern green is seen at Morristown, Tennessee. This does not travel to Chicago.
NW 611 runs another leg. Doesn’t show in Chicago. This feels disjointed..
Union Pacific 3985 ran a Central Stated Challenger Special. Heavy rains. Weather clears on day 2. Illinois on third day under cloudy skies.
Fort Wayne had a double header Nickel Plate train. This train all the way on ex: NKP rails.
Day One. Metra F units, wearing the ugliest paint this side of Metro North. Everyday commuter cars to Elgin. The F pair is pulled before the return to Chicago. Yawn..
A show highlight follows…
Illinois Railway Museum.
Burlington Route Nebraska Zephyr. All stainless steel. See it run. Car ride too. Rare E5 diesel.
North Shore Electroliner. Wearing fresh paint!
Milwaukee Road 118C. A vintage freight train too.
Baldwin built in 1918. Frisco 1630. IRMs main steamer.
A general tour of the museum. Ride the mainline. Ride the trollies on the backlot. See big power. Plenty of information. Highly interesting chapter!
Day Two. Ride the CTA elevated. Yawn. For tourists, I suppose.
Meanwhile, the 3985 is at the yard in Lansing. This train goes to Findlay Jct. Happy riders get interviewed. Cab action with Steve Lee the engineer. This trip is another highlight.
Crossing at Tuscola, Illinois. Note the tower. Spare me the lunches…
Day Three. Indoors at the Palmer House Hotel. Union Station has been restored! Wow, it is actually clean. Dedication ceremony, for a couple of plaques.
Next section made me chuckle. Tour of ugly Metra locomotives. Everyone is more interested in the two BN E9 units. You betcha!
Day Four. Calumet Yard. This is Norfolk Southern now. The 587 leads the bigger 765. Venerable State Line Tower. Much of this trip is under clouds or in the rain.
Dumbest part of the show at Argos, Indiana. The big crowd is served lunch. Not enough seating has some people sitting on the wet ground! Nothing like a wet butt, for the trip back. Good job. More rain. Not a pretty trip. Could have edited much of this out.
Day 5. Ride the South Shore. More for the out of towners. Non steam. It’s raining again. Between the snow, cold and rain, why people move! Excessive. Most of this could have been deleted.
Chicago Steam
A mixed bag. The couple of highlights are well done. CNW 1385 was marooned, due to flooding. A loss, that resulted in filler here. The NW 611 disappears, as well. Union Pacific trip is a good one. If a bit crowd heavy.
The Illinois Railway Museum is the best part of this grab bag. IRM is an absolutely wonderful train museum! This chapter alone is worth the price of admission. Frankly, saves this show from a lower rating.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 