EMD at 100

Producer: Kalmbach

Locations: USA

Timeframe: 100 years

Length: 75 minutes

Sources: many

This credits Luckin Productions 2021 in the final credits. However, it is marketed under the Trains/ Kalmbach Media banner. If you expecting a show packed with live action video. Stop here and skip to the summary. Very different than a standard train video.

A single DVD-R. Predominantly a rolling slideshow. Musical background. Constant stream of talking heads. Very little train sounds. Also, not everything requires music playing, give the ears a break!

Main Chapter Menu. Hidden advance function. Narrated by a host and multiple guest speakers.

Program begins with a comprehensive history. Still photographs and illustrations. EMC being the first version of the manufacturer. Predates LaGrange and General Motors. It continues forward in time.

To the Trains… 👉

SW-1 and NW2 were among the early regular production modern models by EMD in 1939. Assorted box cabs from earlier years are shown. CB&Q Zephyr power cars were 1936. All still photographs.

EMC TA and EA units were the first covered wagons. This CB&Q E5 ‘Silver Pilot’ still survives at the Illinois Railway Museum.

LaGrange Plant expanded over the War years. Original builds combined Cleveland and LaGrange factories.

LaGrange Plant photographs are interspersed throughout the remainder of the program. Historical highlights include Pennsylvania versus New York Central. Diesels offered labor cost advantages and multiple units to attain high horsepower lash-ups. Wartime road locomotives, steam, and other diesel builders. Alco being the main competitor of the transition era. Nicely done chapter.

A watershed year was 1939. The FT locomotives were introduced to the Diesel market. A demonstration set barnstormed across the country. Orders poured in for 1940. Limited movie film with mostly still photographs and illustrations. Interesting views of steam locomotive factory scenes. Preston Cook, John Hankey, Kevin Keefe and Scott Swenson are some speakers, who discuss this important model. The Diesel revolution was at hand. The Diesel that did it.

Electro-motive Division was the 1941 designation.by General Motors. The EMD F3 was the next step of the ground breaking series.

The 1950s had the GP7 and subsequent models. The redesigned body gave better visibility and easier maintenance access. A detailed comparison to the competition is reviewed.

The year 1969 includes other forms of transportation. Even mentions Woodstock. As far as EMD. The race for ever increasing horsepower saw the Union Pacific Centennial engines. This combined two GP40-2 locomotives. Updated technology.

Next up in 1972. Dash 2 series of upgrades and module construction. The SD40-2 was highly successful. New F40 for Amtrak and newer power passenger service, as well.

Caterpillar with a new Indiana plant in 2011. This facility gets a brief look. Progress Rail video here. A general voiceover. Not a detailed plant tour. The EMD SD70ACe flagship units are the shown at this time. Also the Tier 4 Passenger engines.

EMD at 100

Presentation in a slideshow style. Assorted documentation. Main narrator and a supporting cast of guest speakers. Nothing against the people lecturing. Dislike the presentation style of this program.

Expected movie film and video. Instead, it is a fancy slideshow with a constant parade of talking heads over a musical background. Almost zero film with train sounds and action. Not my cup of tea as far as format.

If one randomly saw this on TV. The pacing, style and delivery are similar to late night infomercials. Those do get annoying as they drone on and so does this production.

Criticisms set aside on the style of presentation. A wealth of good historical information is here. Veteran Railfans should know most of the info. However, it gets a bump upward when considering new people.

Overall, a pretty good show that lacks the enjoyable elements of video with train sounds. The constant music background is a negative. It recalls the expression from old Wendy’s commercials… Where’s the Beef?

Rating: 3 Stars