Rubber City Rails Volume 2

Producer: Revelation Video

Timeframe: 1988 – 1990

Locations: Akron, Ravenna, Cuyahoga Falls

Length: 1 hour 53 minutes

Sources: Ronald McElrath, Pat and Sue Kaforney

Akron, Ohio area is again featured in this second volume of Rubber City Rails. The former Baltimore and Ohio is served city by early CSX in this show. Many different liveries power these freights. Predecessor roads galore. A corner of colorful and interesting locomotive lash-ups. Additional locations include, Canton, Hudson and Brewster.

CSX, Chessie System, Baltimore and Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, Seaboard System, Seaboard Coast Line, Family Lines, and more. There is plenty of original paint, although many CSX cab desiginations.

Foreign rail power such as: Conrail, Chicago NorthWestern, and Susquehanna.

A wide array of locomotives. SD40, SD45, GP40-2, GP30, rebuilt older Geeps, General Electric, and even F7 units.

A single DVD-R. Full-screen image. Appears to be recorded by a videocamera with sound. Not modern image standards. Other sections can have background music. Still photos are mixed in, as well. Show was revised in 2016.

Main Chapter Menu. On-screen graphics with subtitles for additional information. Chapter advace function. There is a map on rear of DVD case. Narrated by Ron McElrath.

To the Trains… 👉

Openers are contrasts of vintage scenes to modern. The 1950s to 1990. Locations are not a narration priority. Mostly Akron. Some nearby towns. There is much to see. Some highlights in this review.

CSX – 1. Contains AY (Akron Yard) and Vicinity. Chessie System, Seaboard System with B&O trailing units. Early CSX had a ton of variety in the lash-ups.

CSX F7 units are used in Passenger and Freight service. No specific commentary. Obviously, a special at Akron in this scene.

A  C&O leader.

Family Lines is another component of CSX.

Four units still wearing Chessie System paint on a Coal Train. Minimal CSX relettering.

CSX – 2. Cabooses are shown in assorted paint schemes.

Louisville and Nashville 2626 leading is rare.

Western Maryland is another rare bird. Seems to Cuyahoga Falls mainline.

Seaboard System SD40-2 pair.

Ravenna is the busiest spot. CSX tracks are ground level. Conrail on the high line. A bunch of trains are seen at this hotspot.

Norfolk Southern on old AC&Y trackage.

Steam operating on Cuyahoga Valley Line with 4070. See it run and ride the passenger train. Also, a close look at Ringling Brothers animal unloading. A 2 mile street walk for the circus to the Coliseum was filmed. Bonus footage of 2 complete freights. Angle is too close to trackside. Not bad, but viewers won’t be pulling many car numbers.

Rubber City Rails Volume 2

A focused look at Akron, Ohio, and several more towns. Video from 1988 to 1990. Early CSX is the star of the show. It is a constant parade of variety.

Videotape is historical value. Picture range is fair to good. A horizontal distortion bar runs along the bottom of the screen. Live audio sound is very good. Generally, it’s an interesting show. Narrative is a little sparse. There are some long sequences of no narration. Resorts to subtitles in those sections. These are too lengthy and too often in the 2nd half. That is the downside.

The upside is an overall good level of videography. Steady camera for the majority. Soundtrack of live trains is balanced to the narration. Colors are good, nothing weird.

Railfans and Model Railroaders of the early era CSX should be satisfied. The variety is nearly endless. At the end of the day, a worthwhile show.

Rating: 3 Stars