Producer: Bill Lambert
Locations: LA, San Bernadino, Pasadena, Cajon Pass, Summit, Barstow
Timeframe: 1955
Length: 54 minutes
Sources: J. Allen Hawkins, Don Downie, Don Hodgdon, Jim Jarbee, Chad O’Connor, John Ridge, Ted Tusler
This is a Pentrex from Video Rails show. Featured is Santa Fe Northern 3759 on a vintage era fantrip. A Baldwin built locomotive. Sister to the 3851, which was restored to operating condition.
The date is February 2, 1955. Santa Fe #3759 came out of storage for special excursion service, for the one day! Farewell to Steam was the title of the fantrip. This passenger train runs with regular Santa Fe traffic, on the busy mainline. A nice extra, is to see the blue and yellow freight scheme F units, on mainline freight trains. Of course, the famous warbonnet passenger trains make some appearances.
There is a main menu, chapter menu, chapter advance, and a bonus preview section. Maps include location and elevation. Narrated by Jim Knight.
A single DVD. Full screen aspect. The program is in full color. It appears to be from 8 and 16 mm films. High-quality production. Multiple cameras supply an array of viewpoints to witness the event. This is sharply executed. Much planning must have went into the recording of the train’s round trip from Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal.
Al Hawkins was a bold cameraman. He will perch on top of the big tender and shoot movie film. His team has additional cameras to get a goldmine of exteriors. Inside the cab and strategically placed cameras along the route will give us a great experience. Obviously, the importance of the event required the best from all involved in the last steam train on Santa Fe at the time. Hawkins coordinated the film crew. The results are memorable.
To the Trains… 👉
Santa Fe 3759 was a big Northern type. This steam engine looks like a classic ATSF engine. A powerful locomotive that could run at 100 mph, the engine was pulled from retirement to power the LA to Barstow roundtrip. It was the last run for 3759 and Santa Fe steam. Onboard cameras provide views along the route.
The train passes through the towns, on it’s way to San Bernadino. A cornucopia of views are very nicely done. San Bernadino has a brief layover for engine servicing and additional passengers. The 3759 was a spectacle everywhere. Santa Fe had embraced dieselization early on. People knew this was a historic occasion.
Paced after Pasadena. 11ms
F7 led by #200 freight meet at Cajon. There is much footage from the tender.
Sullivan’s Curve.
The train works upgrade at Alray, CA.
Summit runby with ground and Hawkins viewpoints.
Al Hawkins view from atop the 3759 tender. Next 56 miles are downhill to Barstow. Hawkins stays atop the tender at up to 100mph! Crossing the Mohave Desert.
Slows into turnaround destination at Barstow. 37ms Locomotive gets serviced for return trip.
The 3759 is serviced at Barstow. Here is seen next to a passenger warbonnet F7 305 as it departs on the return trip.
The Engineer pulls the whistle on the return.
Slows for a meet on the busy mainline. A Priority Mail Train powered by F7 diesels overtake our stopped Excursion.
Al Hawkins waves good-day. The memorable event is soon to end. The 3759 is seen on display at Kingman, Arizona. This is in a Pentrex preview of operating survivor 3751 titled Steam to the Grand Canyon.
Santa Fe 3759 Over Cajon Pass
This is a fast paced program, with a ton of steam action! Natural sounds are accurate. Station stops reveal much public interest with size- able crowds.
Narration is spot on. Just the right amount of information. Historical aspects are interesting and give background to the locations. No shortage of the engines sounds. Well balanced overall. This is a fun show to view.
Everyone should enjoy this time travel to Feb.6, 1955. A single day with a show for the ages.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 