Producer: Pentrex
Locations: Chicago, Knoxville, Fort Wayne,
Timeframe: 1993
Length: 1 hour 16 minutes
Five various Steam engines from four different railroads. These vintage locomotives participate in getting special passenger trains to Chicago for the 1993 NRHS Convention. That separate event is covered in a companion show. Chicago Steam Celebration is that other Pentrex title.
A single DVD. Fullscreen 4×3 aspect ratio. Live audio.
No chapter menu. On-screen graphics. Maps are included. Preview section. Narrated by David Drui.
To the Trains…
The Independence Limited is out of Knoxville, Tennessee. There are 4 different locomotives involved in this move. Former Southern 4501 is the power on Day One. The route is on ex: Southern and former Clinchfield.
Copper Creek Viaduct in Virginia. This is on former Clinchfield. Today, it is part of CSX.
Sunday, July 18, 1993. Norfolk & Western 611 is the famous J-class engine is up next. Travels on ex: Norfolk and Western trackage. It hauls the Independence Limited to Fort Wayne, Indiana, via Portsmouth, Ohio. This journey is on days 2 and 3. A passenger stop in West Virginia. This Dry Fork Branch leads into the Pocahontas mainline. This was an important route in the coal era.
Arrival at Portsmouth, Ohio concludes the day. The 611 overnights here.
On Monday, many miles are traveled to destination. The special stops at the Conrail crossing in Marion, Ohio. Continues onward to Fort Wayne.
Saturday, July 17. A pair of SD40-2 diesels are called for the flooding detour to Gibbon Jct. and Marysville sub. Union Pacific Challenger 3985. Central States Challenger Special. The Steam engine takes over in the rain, at Marysville. Kansas. Hard rain continues on this day.
On Sunday, the 3985 is at Independence, Missouri. The rain still falls near Kansas City.
The flooding is close to the railroad at Bonnets Mill.
The weather is good on Monday, although flooding persists. The special is at St. Louis. This is on the approach to the MacArthur Bridge, which crosses into Illinois. Today’s trip to UP Yard in Lansing, Illinois.
The Independence Limited returns to the story. Tuesday, July 20th. Nickel Plate Road double-header with the 587 and 765. They run on former NKP rails from Fort Wayne to Calumet Yard in Chicago.
The Nickel Plate Road steam hauls the 25 car consist across rural Indiana.
The 765 still trails and arrives in the Chicago vicinity.
Steam to Chicago
Here is an engaging show of restored Steam operating in 1993. The different locomotives in a variety of locations never gets boring.
Pentrex high quality throughout the program. Too bad about the inclement weather for the UP 3985. That’s the brakes sometimes.
Steam fans should enjoy this release. The quick pace has it over before you know it. This show beats the actual convention with greater interest.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 