Producer: Green Frog
Locations: Detroit, Horseshoe Curve, Ypsilanti, Wayne Jct., Town Line, Dearborn
Timeframe: 1970s
Length: 43 minutes
Source: Emery Gulash
The final entry in this Penn Central series of Emery Gulash films. Volume 6 is more Penn Central. Top tier 16mm film for the era. The usual favorite locations in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Diesel power with first and second generation locomotives. Some early Conrail and Amtrak.
Checkout the Penn Central series, also available in the boxset. These reviews are from the boxset. DVD-R as expected from Green Frog.
The Emery shot 16mm film is excellent for 1970s era. Green Frog post production yields the best possible picture quality. This show has been converted from high definition video masters. The audio of train sounds is fine in brief scenes. Unfortunate choice to have Grandpa’s old movie projector for the main audio background. Not a fan.
Main Chapter Menu. Hidden chapter advance. No graphics or maps. Selectable on/ off narration function. Narrated by Peter Youngblood.
To the Trains… 👉
Conrail 3091 fronts to ex: Penn Central GP35 units in Detroit.
Autumn of 1976. Display steam engine Pennsylvania Railroad K-4 #1361 looks on as a freight passes by at Horseshoe Curve.
Conrail blue leads the lash-up hauling coal at Horseshoe.
Brakeshoe smoke on the descending freight cars. Fallen flags and zero graffiti for great railfanning.
Amtrak Turboliner is parked at the former Michigan Central headquarters at Detroit.
Penn Central GP40 assists this Amtrak crossing the Huron River at Ypsilanti, Michigan.
An Electro-motive E unit still remains Penn Central paint. The paper company at Ypsilanti was an Emery favorite locations.
A grimy pointless arrow Amtrak E unit at Wayne Jct. Tower.
This E unit in Penn Central paint, had stopped at Town Line with a minor problem. Amtrak Chicago Detroit service.
Amtrak pulling 5 cars. It departs Detroit and is going to Chicago in late wintertime.
A former Pennsylvania Railroad N5C caboose with the unrepainted Penn Central boxcar doesn’t display Conrail ownership.
Penn Central Volume 6
Good early Conrail through Horseshoe Curve. The show turns into early Amtrak. Many passenger trains are shown. A shorter running time vs. previous volumes.
Film restoration has an excellent appearance. Many Amtrak are on the darker side. Soundtrack is a downgrade compared to the previous shows. The whirring movie film camera sound is the weak point. Narrative is fine with a good script.
Sum total is generally a fine looking program. Heavy on passenger service. Could have used more early Conrail freight traffic.
Rating: 4 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 