5 Years of 21st Century Steam

Producer: Mary McPherson

Locations: Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia

Timeframe: 1987- 1994, 2011 – 2015

Length: 1 hour 34 minutes

Sources: McPherson, Dunn, Jensen, Redmond

Four Steam locomotives are featured. All of the engines that were in the Norfolk Southern 21st Century Steam program are within this show!

Actually, it plays like a Then & Now type show! Earlier footage and a contemporary set that follows.

A single DVD-R. Main Chapter Menu, Play and Locomotives. Hidden chapter advance. Subtitles with many locations on 21st Century. Narration by Kurt Jensen.

A brief history with Vintage film clips and photographs. As with most film collections, quality improvements upward until the newest souces.

The 21st Century is your modern style video. Soundtrack of live audio on the main section is excellent. All good balanced levels.

Let’s see some highlights…

Original Steam Program…

Graham Claytor had green Southern 4501 as an original headliner. The venerable 2-8-2 was performing excursions from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

N&W 611 a J class locomotive.

The year 1987 had N&W 1218 a 2-6-6-4. It was added by Robert Claytor. This restoration is out on the rails.

Frisco 1522 a 4-8-2 type, was out guest appearing in 1988-1994.

Doubleheader pair of the 611 and 1522. December of 1994 was the end of this program.

21st Century Steam…

It took a new NS President to restore a new, 21st century steam program. Now, using museum maintained power. Four locomotives were used.

Southern 630 is the 1st up here. Tennessee Valley Museum engine.

2012 Annual Railfest. The 630 towards Cleveland at Chattanooga without any diesel helper. Many scenes with 630.

Southern 4501 is next. A 2-8-2. Enters the 2014 Railfest. Fresh from restoration. Now in black paint. Also, from the Tennessee Valley.

NKP 765 2-8-4 Berkshire type. Rolls from Ft. Wayne club on ex: Wabash in 2012. Long Chapter.

Nickel Plate 765 is tracked across Indiana. Here, at Decatur, Illinois.

Nickel Plate 765 on a trip into Pennsylvania. Horseshoe Curve. Diesel assistance from a Pennsylvania Heritage and Conrail unit.

July 2015 and 765 is back in business. Tours Indiana.

Nice extended pacing of 765 through a part of Indiana.

2014 saw 611 a 4-8-4 in the shop. By June, 2015 there were Lynchburg to Petersburg, VA. excursions. Long Chapter. The Norfolk Southern Steam Program ended in 2015.

Cotton Mill Trestle at Lynchburg, Virginia.

The 611 roars by near Concord, Virginia.

There you go.

A Special Mention…

Producer Mary McPherson sent this picture of: Tom, Kurt, George, and herself. Horseshoe Curve in 2013. It is not included in the show.

George Redmond is now in his seventies. Takes care of his wife.

She mentioned that Tom Dunn has passed away. Tom shot the 4501 in green paint. He also was a Videographer and Driver on some NKP 765 outings, as in Pennsylvania and St. Louis. Rest in Peace, Tom Dunn.

Kurt Jensen and Mary McPherson are the two active Diverging Clear Productions crew.

5 Years of 21st Century Steam

One has to applaud Diverging Clear for providing all of the 21st Century Steam Program in a single show.

Top it off with historical footage and background. Crisp filming and sharp edits.

The soundtrack focuses on the trains. It is a lively one to hear. Narration is limited and effective.

Anyone with an interest in Steam power should find this a fine show. Diverging Clear offers full programs on many Steam engines. This is one of their top releases.

Rating: 5 Stars