Producer: Herron Rail
Locations: Ohio, Indiana
Timeframe: 1957- 1960
Length: 64 minutes
Source: Donald Krofta
Volume One features the Chicago and Fort Wayne Divisions. Nickel Plate Road was officially New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad. Berkshires are the star of this show. There were a total of 80 built for NKP by Alco and Lima.
Berkshire 700 class are seen. Examples 750, 762, 756, and 767. Early diesels are included. Cameos by New York Central, Pennsylvania, B&O, C&O diesels, plus DT&I. Crisp 16mm footage. Mostly color films.
A single DVD-R. Largely color 16mm movie film. Fullscreen 4×3 aspect ratio. Authentic live environmental audio by Jim Hawk on many scenes.
Push play. Hidden chapter advance function. Several maps. Narrated by Ralph Morse.
To the Trains… 👉
The Chicago Division covers Chicago to Fort Wayne, Indiana. A distance of 151 miles. The connecting Ft. Wayne Division is from Ft. Wayne to Bellevue Yard, Ohio. This at 125 miles. Maps are explained with details.
Begins in March, 1957 at Continental, Ohio. Berkshire 767 handles the Cloverleaf Local. 505 Check that amazing sound!
The 739 slows for water at East Blair Yard. Fostoria, Ohio. Bright sunshine really pops the locomotive details. There is substantial action with different Berkshires at Fostoria.
Engine 739 steams out of East Blair Yard in Fostoria. Stops for water and onward to Arcadia. Good action here by multiple freights from different trains.
A Coal Train powered by Electro-motive GP units.
Engine 753 in bright sunlight as it performs local switching at Fostoria. Year is 1958.
Engine 769 at Fostoria Ohio.
A Pennsylvania RS-3 is Northbound as it picks up train orders at Wheeling Tower. Bellevue, Ohio.
Argos, Indiana. April, 1958. This hot spot is a good one. Local trains are 27 and 28 here. Engine 742 speeds across with a fast Eastbound at the diamonds at Argos. Plenty of line side structures are included throughout the show.
The local is hauled by 767. It begins to move towards Argos, after being serviced at the Water Tank at Tippecanoe.
Alco PA-1 pair of Bluebirds haul a Passenger Train. Number 180 leads as it slows for a stop at South Whitely, IN. circa 1959. A flurry of assorted diesel action in 1959 is intriguing.
Armour meat reefers with a classic Nickel Plate High Speed Service caboose.
Steam and Diesel on the Nickel Plate Road Volume 1
Here is a long look at Nickel Plate Road Berkshires in regular freight service. The scenes are well composed. Many slow speed switching moves provide detailed looks at the Berkshires. Fast freights are mixed into this brisk paced program.
Early diesel fans can find just enough Nickel Plate Road plus several other roadnames. Especially in 1959.
Donald j Krofta was an excellent Cinematographer. Very consistent and high quality. His friend Jim Hawk often had recorded the audio separately. The combination of the two authentic recordings result in engaging trainwatching.
Herron Rail is a high quality producer. Everything is in it’s place. While the black and white is excellent. It is the color film which is top shelf for the era. The authentic sound recordings take it to a higher level experience.
Of interest, are many scenes of the big Berkshires performing local switching. One usually thinks of the Berks at high speeds. A wealth of freight cars and ice bunker reefers are a bonus for Model Railroaders. Not to mention the chunks of actual freight train consists.
Any steam fan should enjoy this show. The diesels are in much smaller numbers here. Yet, they add enough spice to give a flavor of ‘Transition Era’ railroading. Some fine inclusions of a trains consist. It is nice to see the newer 40′ boxcars in clean condition.
Nickel Plate Road fans and those who love Berkshires may find this release a must have.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 