Producer: Charles Smiley
Locations: California and more
Timeframe: 1970s – 1980s
Length: 2 hours 46 minutes
Sources: Tom Butterworth, J. Davis, R. Jansen, J. Kuiphoff, T. Luckey, P. Luckens, R. Nock, T. Wegman
The focus is on Freight Cars. Western locations by Chapter. It is a hard to find subject on all movie films. Three main railroads are highlights: Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Western Pacific.
Some Union Pacific as well. Other bits of run-through power.
Single silver DVD. Factory pressed. Detailed Chapter Menu. CSP custom-made maps. On-screen graphics with a variety of information. Preview section.
Charles Smiley with a Masterclass type narrative. Many types of freight cars are explained. Excellent historical information on various railroad subjects.
The movie films receive a frame by frame restoration. Very good to excellent visuals. Multiple film sources and different years.
Soundtrack is a combination of train sounds and music. Good levels.
A variety of locomotives and cabooses are included! Unlike your average video, the camera keeps rolling past the locomotives.
A long program. Let’s see some highlights.
This show begins ‘back East’. After a few moments, we are out West.
Donner Pass. Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt. There is plenty of beautiful scenery.
Truckee Station with both Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt units.Truckee was a crew change point.
Shasta Line. Southern Pacific. Northern California and Oregon are shown. Mount Shasta is a scenic highlight. Lumber region.
Southern Pacific SD45 on the point of 4 units. Train is crossing at Whitney Creek Bridge.
Burlington Northern, Burlington Route, and Great Northern boxcars on a Southern Pacific move by Clackamas, Oregon.
Stockton Tower. Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Western Pacific
Santa Fe GP30 crossing at Stockton Tower.
Western Pacific has the dark green paint scheme. Union Pacific also runs on this WP trackage.
WP becomes the UP. 1982.
3056 with 2 F7A and additional power around Altamont Pass.
Keddie Wye with all Western Pacific power.
Cajon Pass 1973- 1983. Santa Fe and Union Pacific. Cajon Summit to Cajon Jct.
Couple DD40AX on a Union Pacific train at Sullivan’s Curve.
A rare find! Two Santa Fe SD26 locomotives lead a lash-up on Cajon Pass.
Tehachapi SP and Santa Fe. Over an hour! An extensive tour with trainwatching the main focus.
Southern Pacific with a long train at Tunnel 2. Many freight cars to see here.
Santa Fe helper set at Tehachapi
Santa Fe trio of helpers and a caboose at Tehachapi.
Santa Fe boxcars with the large Holy Cross logo. NO GRAFFITI! Enjoy these officially painted trains throughout.
A traditional Santa Fe caboose at Tehachapi.
Freight West
A fantastic opportunity for viewers who were not around to witness the evolution of freight cars.
Model Railroaders shall find this a goldmine of images and information.
Railfans get to see entire or large chunks of freight trains. RARE!
The extended chapter on Tehachapi makes this Charles Smiley Presents show a special, high value release. It plays like a double feature film.
Freight West is an outstanding show. A top tier Charles Smiley Presents.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 