Producer: Bradley A. Plets
Locations: Detroit, Durand, Pontiac, Port Huron, Battle Creek…
Timeframe: 1989- 1999
Length: 115 minutes
Source: Hal Pantti, Bradley Plets
This GTW Volume 1 is subtitled, Grand Trunk Action Across Michigan. There is much to see in this show.
A single DVD-R. Hidden chapter access. On-screen subtitles with locations. Printed map, with locomotive roster. On/ off narration.
This displays in the 4×3 aspect. Automatic default to this ratio. Very good to excellent picture quality. Not modern standard. It’s really nice, though. Some still photographs of locomotives.
Bradley Plets handles an informative narrative.
Audio is live. Trains are mixed well. The narrative is well balanced to the trains. Excellent on a soundbar.
Plenty of automobile manufacturer traffic. Naturally, there is the FAK. Freight of All Kinds, as well.
Grand Trunk blue also includes: Central Vermont, plus Duluth,Winnipeg, and Pacific. Detroit Edison and Central Michigan are a couple local roads.
Listed subs covered are: Holly, Mount Clemens, Flint, and South Bend.
Let’s see some highlights…
Begins at a Detroit location, Milwaukee Junction. There is a Tower. An inner city spot. Abandoned buildings. Once a busy manufacturing area.
GP38-2 4921 local on the Holly sub. This subdivision is Detroit to Pontiac.
GTW GP38-2 4932 with a 7 lash-up on a manifest freight. This train is at Bloomfield Hills.
CN 5917 Sublettered gtw. SD40-2 leads with gtw subletters. A nb auto rack at Pontiac. 1992 CN North America repaint.
GP40-2 6425 is former DT&I 425. At Holly.
CSX coal at Holly crossing on old C&O Rails. Note Holly Interlocking Tower.
Durand A grand old station is here. Also, the Durand yard. A railroad park. Canadian National SD75i led train approaches…
Live steam 6325 pulls Ohio Central cars. Dennison, Ohio. The big Northern type is briefly shown. See the cover picture.
Back to Durand. Many trains travel through here. Subs go in all directions. Holly to Detroit, Saginaw to Bay City, Grand Rapids Muskegon, Flint goes East to Port Huron, and West to Battle Creek.
Central Michigan appears at Durand. U23B 8905 leads to Interchange, at the nearby yard.
Amtrak has various trains. Some are push-pull. This one is shown on the Holly sub.
Duluth, Winnipeg, and Pacific SD40 5903 at Pontiac. Empty hoppers.
GTW 6203 turns onto Mt Clemons sub at Milwaukee Jct. Goes to Flat Rock
GTW GP9r Operation Lifesaver is at Detroit yard.
Canadian National 4915 on the St. Clair riverside, at Port Huron.
Griffith, Indiana. A busy crossing leads to the Chicago area.
GT at Lapeer Depot. Display caboose is 1 of 3 different railroads there.
Grand Trunk Western Volume One
Comprehensive coverage of Grand Trunk Western in Michigan. Excellent Videography. Lively soundtrack. Fine narrative.
Grand Trunk and Canadian National fans should find this a fine release.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 