Producer: Revelation Video
Locations: systemwide
Timeframe: 1968-1976
Length: 1 hour 44 minutes
Sources: Beeman, McElrath, and more.
The old Revelation VHS show reissued by Pentrex on DVD-R.
A single DVD-R. Full screen 4×3 aspect ratio. Soundtrack is a grab bag of, music and live environmental audio.
Main Chapter Menu. On-screen graphics. Map. Narrated by Rod MeElrath.
Original color films range from fair to very good. The integrity varies, but it appears aged for the most part. Contains some previously released material.
This includes assorted PC artifacts pictured, such as timetables and period advertisements. A stunning variety of locomotives which reflect the humongous PC roster.
To the Trains… 👉
Some brief film cuts on Horseshoe Curve.
Two of the repainted metro service FL-9 diesels meet an ex: New York Central P motor electric.
Straits Circus behind a couple of General Electric U-boats.
Check out the EMD leading a large ex: Pennsylvania Alco Century at Marion. There is some early action at Marion, Ohio, in 1968 with unrepainted power. A hotspot in the show.
A view from AC Tower at Marion. Note the rare, red P Electromotive GP trailing the F units.
Two PC GG-1 electrics with containers at Sunnyside Yard. Jamaica, New York.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. At Juniata, a short passenger move passes a stopped freight train.
Amtrak at Chicago Union Station. Penn Central GP7 5953 hauls out the Broadway Limited. Notice the roof mounted air tanks, aka torpedo tubes. The steam generator models could handle passenger cars.
Although there are numerous cabooses, including pre-merger paint. It is difficult to pull a solid shot. Here is a former Pennsylvania Railroad porthole window model. Some of these made it into Conrail blue in later years.
Jumps into some brief Conrail at 75 minutes. A tribute engine as PC 1073 was painted in 2012. Several older odds and ends for Penn Central. Uncharacteristically, there are some ultra-clean 16 mm film scenes tacked onto the end of the show. These are not representative of the main program. The late sequence does appear excellent.
The 1974 official Penn Central film ends the show. They showcase many facets of the struggling operation.See bad track and some derailment scenes. Hollidaysburg car repair facility storing about 5,000 bad order cars awaiting a fix. Old locomotives in need of replacement. A few positives. The bottom line message is PC needs funding!
Penn Central
One has to credit Revelation for the sheer amount of variety. They have a bit of nearly everything. A large train assortment. There are plenty of freight and passenger cars. Amtrak and Penn Central service. A wide array of camera viewpoints.
This is a quickly paced program. The main drawback is visual quality. Historical value for interested fans. Many locations could have used more information via the narrative. Locations being a main concern. Although Pittsburgh seems to be a key city.
Compared to the original VHS tape. This has an improved appearance. Decent color balance overall. I don’t recall the added modern Penn Central decorated loco in the videotape. Those old Revelation video tapes were pretty rough.
While far from refined viewing. Nevertheless, an interesting look at vintage Penn Central. Best suited for hardcore fans.
Rating: 3 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 