Producer: John Pechulis
Locations: Horseshoe Curve, Rochester, Hornell…
Timeframe: 1976
Length: 61 minutes
Sources: Doug Parmele, Paul Cooledge, Jonathan Reck
A second entry into the Conrail Kalideoscope series by JPM. These are covering the early Conrail era. Colorful lash-ups of predecessor railroads. First and second generation power.
Coverage of: Upstate New York, Horseshoe Curve and Lehigh Valley. April- October 1976.
Territories from: Lehigh Valley, Penn Central,
A single DVD-R. Chapter Menu. No other extras. Narrated by Mike Bednar.
Original films that are meticulously restored.
To the Trains…
Doug Parmele films kickoff this show. A variety of roadnames and engine types in quick views. Plenty of Alco engines are still in service. Many locations in New York and some Pennsylvania. Live environmental audio. A look at the assorted power which is all parked at the engine facility in Hornell, New York.
Doug’s cinematography is inconsistent. Handheld camera with mediocre framing overall. Still, the early Conrail is great to see. He had great access. A wide variety of viewpoints. Enjoyable footage, even if rough around the edges.
Penn Central GP38-2 8006 with a mixed bag of locomotives on the point at Rochester. The 8006 was an Electromotive of LaGrange unit built in 1972.
Lehigh Valley Alco 640 trails on former New York Central tracks.
Back in a lash-up is a Reading Alco C-630 5311 decorated in Bee Line livery.
On ex: Lehigh Valley. A former Penn Central GP40 has derailed. The Packerton crane to the rescue.
I believe some of these Conrail painted locomotives are filmed a little later than 1976. Weathering is rather heavy on some trains. Look for yourself.
Horseshoe Curve in October 76. Note that it is still a 4 track Perhaps a different source here. Shot with longer views. A nice supply of trains here. This looks like Jonathan Reck.
Reading GP35 3643 leads a freight. Check that Penn Central N5-C caboose!
MG Tower. These trains still appear as mostly Penn Central. Impressive lash-ups on Westbound moves with helpers galore. It appears to be much if not all Jonathan Reck filmed at Horseshoe Curve, Scotch Run vicinity.
Scotch Run is familiar from Bednar visits in their shows. Amtrak passes the slower freight.
Conrail’s Kaleidoscope Years Volume 2
This Volume 2 delivers on the early Conrail theme. Predecessor paint schemes in wild assortments! Cool 40′ boxcars still ride the Rails. The caboose fleet in a variety of liveries.
Mike Bednar’s commentary isn’t as sharp as many previous shows. Resembles a cranky viewpoint…. Those EL E8s sucked in freight service! Being originally built by Electromotive for high speed passenger service. No surprise there. There are more… Compare this to highly knowledgeable Lehigh Valley commentaries. World of difference.
He only mentions one of the three film sources. Although, I am fairly certain of some Jonathan Reck footage. Altoona vicinity.
Things greatly improve at Horseshoe Curve. Cinematography is fine. Distant and close shots that include some of the consists. Smoother presentation overall until conclusion.
Sum total is a satisfying release. Not a top tier JPM. There are plenty of those. Very good overall.
Rating: 4 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 