Remembering Guilford (1986 – 1988)

Producer: Broken Knuckle Video

Locations: Massachusetts

Timeframe: 1986- 1988

Length: 1 hour 40 minutes

Broken Knuckle has this show, of Guilford operations. The years 1986- 88 are featured. Viewers get these Railroads, as seen trackside, at the time. Boston and Maine, Maine Central, Delaware and Hudson, Springfield Terminal. Wide variety of locomotives.

Narrated show. A Chapter Menu. On- screen graphics. No maps. Beautiful, 35mm still portrait shots are, also shown. Single DVD-R.

Recognized locations throughout. Deerfield Yard, Ayer, Hoosac Tunnel, Millers Falls and more.

Quality begins in the Fair realm. Low end of watchable, on an HD screen. In 1987, a new Camcorder provides relief. Raise to Good.

Maine Central GE power, still in gold paint.

This material is in the hard to find Category. There are a wide array of locomotives. Three major builders. Electromotive, Alco and General Electric. Various paint schemes are interesting. Explanations on some are informative. Only one was wrong.

The Videographer includes many freight cars. While viewers won’t get the numbers. A good source of period consists.

Repainted EMD GP18 leads a trio at Deerfield Yard.

This Bluebird scheme, on GP9s is not original, factory paint. A narrator error. Same with the GP18 locomotives. These are all repaints. Factory was McGinnis BM.

Pair of helpers from Belden Hill, New York.

Quick visit to New York. The General Electric helper set is there. They came from Belden Hill.

A Maine Central SW7 at Deerfield Yard.

MC SW7 at Deerfield Yard.

A GP40 has a minor derailment in the yard!

The first portion is the roughest to view. It takes up a bit, over half the runtime. Gets tedious. Should be, maybe ten minutes shorter. Just in time! Hard on the eyes.

He mentions a new Camcorder in December, 1986. An improvement here. So, now we enter 1987.

1987 New Camcorder

Picture is still grainy. Colors are better. Image is sharper than previous. Still, an obvious VHS source. Improvement. Good range now.

In 1987 with a new Videocamera, #190 is seen.

190 pulls out with mixed power. At Montague.

Springfield Terminal SD26, 636 exits Hoosac Tunnel.

Springfield Terminal SD26 exits Hoosac Tunnel.

This train has exited Hoosac Tunnel.

Pure GE Lashup exits the tunnel. Maine Central in Guilford paint.

Guilford B&M 368 leads an all EMD lashup.

Here, B&M GP39-2, 368 leads an all EMD lineup.

Venerable GP9 units can be seen leading. Check the ex: Santa Fe SD26 trailing.

This is an interesting period to see. Mixed Lashups from three different builders may appear. Assortment of paint schemes. The main Railroads. Also, used equipment.

A former Santa Fe Warbonnet SD26.

Lacking a good caboose shot. Let’s have some fun. Guilford was buying used locomotives. The single most identifiable model. Santa Fe SD26! Singular in appearance. Even after a repaint. Here, it has the ATSF cab numbers blanked. In service for Guilford.

Remembering Guilford (1986-1988)

This release does stay on target. Split this into the two halves, as originally recorded. That first Videocamera comes up short, by modern viewing standards. Not the guys fault. Just the times. Give it a fair rating.

Fortunately, an improvement with new Videocamera in 1987. Better results. Easier on the eyesight. Call this part, good.

Now, combine the two ratings. Arrive at a split, for the difference. Bump it up. Good narrative. Historical value. The second half lifts the show.

Rating: 3 Stars