Producer: C. Vision
Locations: Northfield, Albert Lea, Council Bluffs
Timeframe: 1960s- 1970s
Length: 55 minutes
Source: Louis Schaefer
Filmed in the 1960s and 1970s. Rock Island is the star of the show. Additional railroads shown: Burlington Route Zephyrs, Chicago and Northwestern, Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern.
A single DVD-R. Numbered Chapter menu. On-screen graphics. Map. Preview section is a generous one. Chapter advance. An on/ off music option. Narrated by Don Grant.
The movie film is unrestored 8mm color. Quality range is fair to good. No train audio. Musical soundtrack. Similar to the Fred Crissey shows. In fact, Fred Crissey has a film credit!
The route is St.Paul, Minnesota. South to Mason City, Iowa.
To the Trains…
A large percentage of action at Northfield. Alco FA on the point. The presence of 40′ boxcars are great to see.
An F7 on an interesting lash-up at Northfield.
A U25B leads GP40 and EL c424 from Northfield on a winter day. Passenger trains ran on this trackage until 1969.
Cloaeup of a freight at Northfield station. Checkout those 40′ boxcars. Great Northern has a good amount in the 1960s to see.
Going to Northwood, Iowa. CNW has five F7 units on a mixed freight. 4091A leads this lash-up.
F2A #49 leads this F unit trio. A rare transitional EMD F unit series. Vintage 65 or 1966 Mustangs are seen on an auto rack!
A U28B, U25B, F7B and C&O GP9. Northwood, Iowa. The Illinois Central Gulf boxcar dates this train in the 1970s.
ICG Paducah locos on trackage rights. 8066 in ic paint.
An Electromotive GP leads a General Electric U-boat.
New image The Rock units show some weathering. Maybe 1975-76.
Fred Crissey scene at Owatonna. GE 252 smokes it up and leads another GE 474.
Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern. Appears as the last section as a bonus.
Outside braced cabooses are common on the 60s era trains. Northfield Station.
Rock Island Mid-Continent Route in the 1960’s
Understand that Rock Island on film is scarce. Not many shows feature this railroad.
Between some hard to find locomotives and those cool old 40′ boxcars. Major appeal for Model Railroaders. More accuracy on freight consists can be achieved. Who doesn’t like vintage boxcars?
Typically, the film from later years look the best.
Yes, the imagery is far from modern standards. Historical value is the deal.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars:
American Train Video Reviews 