Producer: Green Frog
Locations: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Canada
Timeframe: 1967- 1969
Length: 163 minutes
Source: Emery Gulash
An updated classic older Green Frog release. Mixture of freight and passenger trains. This series proceeds in chronological order. Here is a modern remaster on state of the art equipment. Filmed by Emery Gulash on all color 16mm film.
Available as a single or multi DVD-R set. The reviews are from the set.
Two parts on a single DVD-R. Master show select. Chapter menus. On-screen subtitles. No maps. Narrated by Bob Carrera.
Full screen aspect ratio. High-quality production. Remastered 16mm film is stunning. Clear images with vibrant colors. Soundtrack has fine train sounds. Informative narrative.
To the Trains… 👉
Part One. 82 minutes
Beginning in 1967. This shows the pre-merger railroads. Pennsylvania Railroad. The Manhattan Limited slows at Valparaiso led by E7A 4227.
An intriguing chapter. Wayne Jct. Tower is located in Wayne, Michigan. Crossed and operated by Grand Trunk. A ubiquitous Electromotive F unit leads this General Merchandise move in 1967. Some GT, plus Norfolk and Western traffic, is seen here. Erie Lackawanna at Kouts Tower, Indiana follows.
July, 1968. This Eastbound Penn Central TrailVan has a mixture of New York Central and Pennsylvania power. A red P #2381 trails last in the lash-up. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Piggyback and Flexi-Vans are an interesting consist. Grand Trunk plus Norfolk & Western freights are seen here.
New York Central General Electric 2872 on the point of a solid NYC line-up at Wayne Jct. Tower, in Wayne, Michigan. July, 1968.
Emery’s first Penn Central scheme in Michigan. A rare red P. The 1709 leads a PRR GP30 2212 and a NYC F7A.
Pool power as it was called. New York Central and Burlington Route ran together on some freights. This one from Buffalo to Chicago.
Full on Penn Central paint is hard to find in 1968. Buried in the lash-up, a big Alco Century provides extra horsepower at Millbury Curve, Ohio.
Meat trains were a priority. NY-4 Meat Train at Dearborn, Michigan. Penn Central EMD 3126 with livestock and refrigerator cars speeds past. The PC herald appears only 25 times in this 1968 footage. Fans of original New York Central and Pennsylvania have a plentiful supply in predecessor liveries.
Part Two. 81 minutes
Penn Central livery on all 4 locomotives which are on Ann Arbor/DT&I rails at Ypsalanti, Michigan in 1969. SD 6073 heads this Peabody Coal move.
The Orange C units were very scarce. Here is GP40 3178.
Local switch move provides a couple of cabooses in Detriot.
Penn Central Volume One
Excellent coverage of early Penn Central. While the review favors freight. Passenger trains are plentiful. Locations bounce around somewhat. Emery had the freedom to travel. A cornucopia of New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad equipment. As the timeline progresses, more PC paint is seen. A brisk pace contains plenty of action.
The premium quality cinematography does the job. The program is in chronological order. As it should be. This way, the evolution of the railroad is best served.
Left some surprises for you to find. There are some connecting roads with classic 1960s era trains. Passenger and freights. C&O is probably the most.
A fascinating mix of older freight cars. Model Railroaders should marvel at the clear images of colorful 40′ boxcars and a caboose on nearly every freight move. Look closely at the meat/ livestock trains. New York Central and Pennsylvania being common in the early years. Penn Central caboose fleet in fresh paint and some uncommon schemes.
Over 2 1/2 hours of vintage Emery Gulash films. Is this show worth the upgrade? You bet!
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 