Producer: Greg Scholl
Locations: Batavia, Portsmouth
Timeframe: 1952-1960
Length: 67 minutes
Source: Don Jamieson
Here is a Norfolk & Western collection of 8mm movie film from the 1950s. Advertised as 90% color.
A single DVD-R. Full 4×3 aspect ratio. Soundtrack is music and narration. Scholl did not like to add dubbed train sounds on vintage movies.
A Chapter Menu organized by topics. On-screen graphics. Maps included are well done and handy. Preview section. Narrated by John Hingsbergen.
To the Trains… 👉
Opens with assorted trains around Batavia, Ohio. A local switches the tool company operated by Jamieson. Notice that old semi truck. No DOT numbers or even a name on it.
Sardinia Wreck. A collision on the Peavine Line in 1958. Trains 99 (ran the signal) and 94 are wrecked. Five GP9 engines were destroyed. NW 611 creeps through the area with the Powhatan Arrow a couple days later. Note the two GP9 engines on their sides.
Two dead engines are going to scrap seen at Batavia. A 2-8-8-2 and an 0-8-0 switcher. The local drops them on a siding to perform switching there.
NW GP9 828 is switching work cars at Batavia.
Warren and sons at West Batavia in 1958.
Portsmouth visits 1958 – 1959. A visit to the yard and roundhouse yielded some still active steamers.
Y3 2-8-8-2 #2051 in yard.
Three large compound articulateds on their way to Clare Yard in 1959 at Batavia.
N&W 2174 is a Y6B and running at Bluefield.
A fantrip with Jamieson and Scholls on July 11, 1959. Roanoke/ Bluefield/ Cedar Bluff. Locomotive is Class A #1240. Late production was built in 1950.
Williamson 1960. NW 290 an 0-8-0 is switching with the maroon GP9.
I often like to conclude with a caboose. What do we have here? Is that a hobo or a brakeman?
Norfolk and Western in Transition
See some of the last operating steam locomotives on Norfolk and Western. Early Diesels, which are mainly GP9 models. More dead steam engines than anyone really needs.
Dead Steam Walking… This could’ve been a viable alternate title. There are many assorted examples that are dead in tow.
Amateur cinematography by Jamieson. He often had less than ideal composition. That being said, the subjects are classics. Steady picture for the most part. Still worth a view, even though one may wish the camera was in a different place or closer.
Overall, the films look good. The narrative is fine. The soundtrack is balanced.
This release is worthwhile to pick up some odds and ends from the late N&W transition years.
Rating: 4 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 