Producer: Catenary Video
Locations: California, Arizona, Mexico
Timeframe: 1920 – 1968
Length: 62 minutes
Sources: Kirkland, Kistler, Stein, Alter, Rose, Balderston, Aitken
The Trains We Missed Volume 2. A continuation of the Catenary Video series. Lucius Beebe theme, from his 1966 book. The Trains We Rode. Focusing on obscure, Railroad operations. Here, we have Logging Lines and Mining Shortlines.
Warren Haack is the Director. Have seen some great shows from him. He is in the Top Tier of Train Video Producers. A PBS style program here. Many elements woven together, to produce a fascinating journey into the past.
John Kirkland was a Sales Manager, for Baldwin Locomotives. He travelled in the Western States. Filmed in color. High quality, 16mm film. Catenary Video has partnered with, additional resources to bring out these films.
A Chapter Menu is included. Maps. On – screen graphics. Guest narrators. You are there, Enviornmental Sound. Extremely detailed, on certain segments. Top quality soundtrack. A must hear!
The main menu alone, reveals a greater diversity, compared to Volume One. There is much material to view. So, we shall hit some highlights.
Logging Shortlines
Michigan – California RR & Cableway 1938. Black and White, plus Color films. Lumber and Rail. Unique Cable Tramway. Single freight car operation across the American River.
Pickering Sugarpine RR 72 miles long. Color. Shays used. Very steep grades. Stan Kistler tells of 1950s, on – location recordings, he made there. Fantastic 16mm film and amazing audio!
Ride the train through the woods. Stan talks about it. This footage is stunning!
Apache Railway 72 mile railroad. A Lumber and Railroad. McNary Mill 1952.White Mountain Apache Reservation. Complete story.
John Kirkland filmed a new Baldwin, delivered to Apache Railway and a return visit in 1952. Color film. Nice caboose.
As with many facilities, or even the Railroads themselves. Most of the subjects are long gone. Fortunately, we can visit these places, via shows like these. The Arizona Logging operation and a later Tourist line, are no longer in existence.
Oregon & Northwestern RR 51 miles. Burns to Seneca. Extension added later. Steam until 1953.. Color. McCloud River S-12, for a demo filmed by Kirkland, on the O & N. This in 1953.
John Kirkland had even more great footage here.
Baldwin delivered an AS 616 Oregon & Northwestern #1.
Mining Shortlines
Minera Mexicana at Avalos Streetcars/ Trolleys. FCM 86 steamer. Dual gauge yards at Mexico City. Louis Stein and Art Alter, filmed this in color. Check the audio!
Some brief Streetcars are operating in Mexico City 1963. That is Mega Rare! Excellent film quality. The creative Catenary, you are there, soundtrack. Amazing sequence!
Various Steam trains are seen operating, passenger service. Ride and follow one. Look at that Baby Gauge Steam Engine, above image! That is at Avalos, Mexico.
Magma Arizona RR 28 mile line. Built East of Phoenix. Location was Superior, Arizona. It served the Superior Copper mine. Excellent collection of film.
Magma Arizona Railroad. The #5 is a 2-8-0 Consolidation. Magma Arizona ran one of the last revenue Steam Locomotive operations in the United States.
A Baldwin S8 was sold to them used by John Kirkland More Baldwin power. RS3 at Magma Mine. Great footage.
Trona Railway Mohave Desert. Lake Searles, CA. 1949 Baldwin Center Cabs delivered.
Kaiser Steel: Eagle Mountain Railroad Ore line to an SP connection, near the Salton Sea. Power was by Baldwin DRS 6- 6-1500 units. Also AS- 616. The year 1968, saw SP leased power for heavily loaded trains. John Kirkland film.
Tooele Valley Railway Tooele, Utah AS 616 demo. Smelter connection for Western Pacific and Union Pacific.
Carbon County & Geneva Smelter (US Steel) Columbia, Utah. Built in 1941. Baldwin VO 1000. Wartime assigned to the mill in 1943. In 1952 the AS 616 demo worked there. ( A sister mine operation operates for US Steel. Still photos and train sounds. USS F7 fleet there)
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Thorough Chapter, yet moves quickly. Plant and parallel Diesel history.
Intriguing feature, with steel making process. Interpolation of early diesels. John Kirkland was their locomotive Salesman. Nicely done!
The Trains We Missed Volume Two
Coverage of Loggers and Mine Shortlines is extensive. Rare films in a relatively compact package. The creative presentation keeps this release interesting for all.
Film restoration is excellent. Once again, the unusual soundtrack puts this over the top! Extremely detailed on certain scenes. Listen closely to the chatter in Mexico. See and hear those rocks roll at trackside. Guest narrators. High quality overall. Even more…
This series is great for most any train enthusiast. In fact, history buffs should enjoy these, as well. The PBS show style, offers that crossover appeal. They display highlights of a Volume 3. Bring it on Catenary Video!
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 