Producer: Mary McPherson
Locations: Missouri, Illinois
Timeframe: 1996 – 2002
Length: 3 hours 56 minutes
Sources: Don Morice, Don Wirth, George Redmond, Kurt Jensen, more
Diverging Clear Productions with a new 2025 release. This is a really big show. Frisco 1522 on a nearly 4 hour program. States this covers restoration to retirement. The Heritage Series covers older material. DCP has a diverse catalog. Yes, they have various 1522 shows previously issued.
Mary stated, Made with the aid of some of the former members of the St. Louis Steam Train Association. The 1522 really gets around as it runs assorted Excursions.
A double DVD-R set. Fullscreen 4×3 aspect ratio. Live environmental audio. Picture quality is excellent overall. Weather affects lighting sometimes. Naturally, the imagery improves over time.
No Main menu. Has a chapter advance function. On screen graphics with locations. Narrated by Mary McPherson. She leaves plenty of space for train sounds.
Begins what appears to stores Frisco steam. Dispositions of various engines. A Mountain 1522 was donated in 1959 to St. Louis Museum of Transport. Restoration began in 1985. Video shows some of the rebuilding that takes until April, 1988.
To the Trains… 👉
Disc One
In 1988 the 1522 departs St. Louis. It trails a CNW to Chicago area. A move with the 1522 single hands some freight to WC at Fond du Lac. Many runbys and some pacing scenes.
Another excursion in 1988. Runs over former Wabash. St. Louis to Decatur, Illinois. Additional outings in 1989 and 1990. It double heads behind UP 844 on return to the museum.
Better daylight on this 1992 scene. Return from a Railroad Days appearance and hauling a freight train. 104ms
June, 1994. Peach Blossom Special. St. Louis to Atlanta. 107ms This one gets a fairly long look. DCP does have a Peach Blossom Special featured in a previous release.
Leaving the museum in 1995.
Topeka, Kansas in 1996.
Additional touring continues until the end of Disc One. Cab Rides, pacing, onboard the trains, in addition to endless runbys. Have my fill in 2 hours. Still, another disc awaits…
Disc Two
Starts out in 1996. Now, sporting an Illinois Central whistle provided by Don Morenci. Many runbys from a St. Louis roundtrip in Missouri. Engineer Don Wirth. Some cab ride footage on the return. Nice pacing scenes. Mary credits both gentlemen for their assistance with this show.
Here leading BNSF business cars with freight. Creates a modern mixed train. The show definitely gets hung up here. Runs long. The length is enough to be an individual show. 45ms
The show advances to 2002. This is the final year for the 1522 in excursion service. Better running gear scene.
The final run pulls extra cars. Better lit front end scene. Obviously, high interest for that last ride. Melancholy, are the closing scenes for this active era drawing to the conclusion.
A Frisco 1522 Retrospective
This release is a compendium of Frisco 1522. Comprehensive coverage in about 4 hours. Looks good and sounds fine.
Diverging Clear has some earlier titles with Frisco 1522. These are listed at the end of Disc One. Best to check with them for stock and availability.
Personally, too much repetition is not my cup of tea. On the other hand, Mary is a generous producer who often has extended lengths. Being the quality of video and soundtrack is at a high level. The chapter advance can save the day or view it in chunks. Call the length preferences even.
A fine Frisco 1522 steam show by Diverging Clear Productions. Any steam fan should enjoy this long and well paced double set.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 