The Kosin Collection Volume 1

Producer: John Pechulis Media

Locations: Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre, Ashley, White Haven, Sayre, Pennsylvania

Time Period: 1970s

Sources: George Nagel, Kosin Collection

First of a Four volume set. The Kosin Collection, covers similar material to Bednars films. Locations are a bit different.

Kosin has, entire or lengthy views of freight trains included. A variety of Northeast Railroads, within this series. These are what ran through the territories. Diesel powered freight moves here. Lehigh Valley is featured in Volume One.

Veteran railroader Mike Bednar provides the narrative. He is knowledgeable. Colorful and unique, with his insider viewpoints.

Little, in the way of extras. A Chapter Menu. No maps. We bounce around to several areas. I am fairly familiar, from other related shows. Single DVD-R.

Alco C-628 repainted into Cornell Red scheme.

Beautiful, restored color Super 8mm film! Clear footage, for the most part. Some blurred sequences. Included for historical value. Actually, the first twenty minutes contain too much blurring. I was beginning to get a headache. Enough already.

Soundtrack has nicely done sounds. No complaints. The program is 65 minutes long.

To the show…

March, 1974 shows a derailment at Brady’s Bar. A Lehigh Valley big Hook was called in from Sayre, to clean up the mess.

Alco Century C-628 units. Snowbird scheme. A three unit lashup, leads a freight.

We spend time outside of the Wilkes-Barre city proper. Evidently, a back way set of tracks are available.

One nice panoramic view of a train, is ruined by out of focus camera at Wilkes-Barre. They decided to include it, for historical value.

A view from Sayre pedestrian bridge.

Greatly improved, are our fortunes at Sayre Yard. October, 1974. The pedestrian walk over bridge, provides stunning views of the busy yard.

LV 222 goes about it’s tasks, at Sayre Yard.

An EMD SW7, switcher in a fresh repaint, is busy with it’s chores.

LV 305 leads a pair of GP18 locomotives. Local crew returns to Sayre Yard.

The pair of GP18 locomotives are viewed from the overhead bridge at Sayre Yard.

We continue to Railfan, from place to place. In this era, it is always interesting.

Although a Snowbird leads, the Red repaints appear in greater numbers.

Our tour continues around the Lehigh Valley. Solomon’s Gap offers overhead, that is perfect for Model Railroaders. Checkout the loads in gondolas.

Bergers is a familiar haunt. It has some good Railfan rewards. Apollo named freights are seen here. Intermodal traffic is highlighted. Early Sea Land container moves.

Alco Century C-628 Lashups, still have the muscle for hauling on the grades! Repaints are now the common find. Mike calls out the train symbols. An entire Manifest consist is shown!

GP38-2 #321 exits White Haven Tunnel here.

Move to just beyond White Haven Tunnel. Even more freight cars pass by, behind GP38-2 321 on the lead.

Three General Electric U- boats lead a caboose hop. This is a from a segment at Hudson Yard.

Variety, in the form of Delaware & Hudson move seen, in the yard.

Shake and bake! Rough trackage has the cars waving!

Plenty additional ground level, freight cars are seen on passing freights. According to Mike, the later film is in 1975.

Count them if you like. The entire train is shown.

This latter portion seriously elevates this show. One does not fine a plentiful supply, of in service film of freight cars in the 1970s. Graffiti free and pre- Conrail.

Although green paint is rare, they show up in this film.

In summary. The first third of the program is good, yet annoying with constant blurs. Remainder cleans up very well. JPM restoration shines!

Sound quality is excellent. Narration is detailed and interesting. All freight trains.

Now, to the rating. I was considering a return, on the first third of the show. The other 2/3 were excellent. Again, the rare factor is a bump upwards. Could be a good plus… Let’s remember all of those freight cars. Give it a bit more…

Rating: 4 Stars