Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 8

Producer: John Pechulis

Locations: Hokendaqua, Allentown, North Platte, more.

Timeframe: 1978- 1980

Length: 72 minutes

Source: Joe Bednar , Jon Reck

Volume 8 has the timeline continue with Conrail changes, on Lehigh Valley lines. Delaware and Hudson. Some foreign power via run throughs.

The standard package for this series. Main Menu. Chapters. Excellent film restoration. Enviornmental audio to match. Narration by Mike Bednar. No maps. Usual areas, mostly. Single DVD-R.

Conrail Hopper Jets run Anthracite at Hokendaqua.

Operational shifts results in heavy freight action at Hokendaqua. This happens directly behind the Bednar residence!

Delaware and Hudson also ran behind Bednar’s property.

Delaware and Hudson. This Railroad is busy, as well. Plenty of traffic revolves around Allentown.

Delaware and Hudson 7413 leads a freight in town.

Above image for Model Railroaders. Note the proximity of the tracks to structures here. That would knock the pictures on the wall…crooked!

Mike’s Dad rides up to Hazelton. The landscape becomes a moonscape. This is mine country. Cab ride on this branch line. The SW8 pair pull hard and slip upgrade! Poor condition track. About 65 empty hoppers. Lehigh Valley Coal is fascinating.

Bummer! Lead SW8 has derailed.

Oh- no! Derailment on the neglected trackage. Watch the crew get it rerailed.

Union Pacific Centennial DD40AX blasts out of town. North Platte.

Jonathan Reck visit to Union Pacific. North Platte in 1980. Quite a contrast to Allentown. Bailey Yard is behemoth. He films various freights in Run 8. See DD40AX Centennial units still in service.

Engineer Eddie signals to Bednar crew, from passing freight train. Get your pierogies!

Engineer on 8254, signals to the film crew. Let’s Go Eat! (Get your perogies). There was a Pierogi festival.

Mike Bednar helps out. Sits in, for a tired Engineer.

July, 1980. Mike Bednar is Re-Qualifying, on a GP9. Conrail Coal Train. Where?…Behind the house!

Joe Bednar films from a D&H Cab Ride.

DH at Watertown. 7407 on the point. A 5 unit Lashup .This one has 2 helpers. Mike’s Trailduster gives chase!

Mike’s Dad and a few boys, hopped on this train. Opportunity came, when helpers were cutoff at Penobscot.

Conrail ALRU throttles up and roars out.

ALRU, is Allentown to Rutherford. Seen at Alburtis. 6604 on slow approach to avoid blocking street crossings.

Conrail 3385 leads a mixed bag past the Pumpkin Farm in 1980.

A GP40 with mixed EMDs books past the Pumpkin Farm in 1980.

Allentown Yard visits are interspersed throughout.

Pops bench. He films the Allentown Classification Hump Yard. Many freight cars are included on the trains! Plenty of cabooses.

Unit Grain Train hurries on good roadbed. Middle Division.

Pennsylvania Railroad former Middle Division. Now Conrail, of course. Well maintained roadbed. A 3 track mainline now. Additional scenes in Pennsylvania.

Pair of ex: Penn Central units are on the Middle Division.

Sharp eyed viewers shall notice, that all black Lashups are scarce by 1980. Conrail has been busy: repainting, scrapping or replacing the fleet. So, this Cockroached dual was now, uncommon.

Cambria and Indiana. SW1200 powered Shortline. Brief sequence.

Former Pennsylvania Railroad caboose at speed. Penobscot.

That’s a wrap for 1980. The time passed quickly. A variety of trains. Places moved around a fair amount. Familiar, to those who have followed this series.

Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 8

A satisfying release. Conrail’s positive side and some of the opposite, are shown. Cinematography is excellent. Mike’s commentary is lively and informative. Outstanding film restoration. Excellent soundtrack. A must have for Conrail fans.

Rating: 5 Stars