B&O / C&O Steam Power With Live Sound!

Producer: Herron Rail

Locations: Sand Patch line, West Virginia

Timeframe: 1950s

Length: 20 minutes

Source: Fred McLeod

Cinematographer Fred McLeod had a special rig to film and record live audio. High quality for the era.

Filmed in predominantly black and white. McLeod filmed in 16mm. His set-up captured live environmental audio. Automobile batteries were used for mobile power. NO NARRATION.

The producer indicates a decision to feature the live sound. I would have preferred some narrative. It could have been presented ahead of rolling the reels. At a short 20 minutes. Some additional time would have easily fit.

To the Trains… 👉

The majority of B&O moves are on Passenger Trains. Here is B&O 5317, a Pacific class on a Passenger move. This train gets underway.  Freights are powered with 2-10-2’s, 4-8-2’s and B&O’s large 2-8-8-4 EM-1 class articulateds.

Several B&O color scenes. What you see- is what you get.

A Baltimore and Ohio EM-1 hauls this Railfan Excursion. The 2-8-8-4 (Yellowstone class) is on a 1956 fan trip. Note the passengers in a standing room only B&O gondola, behind the huge locomotive.

The huge 2-6-6-6 Allegheny steam engines are seen hauling Coal Trains and mixed freights.

C&O 1656 is a 2-6-6-6 Allegheny. It works hard pulling a Freight Train. The C&O is mostly Allegheny power. All the C&O footage is black and white. C&O steam is super rare film .

C&O streamlined 4-6-4 locomotive starts out with The Sportsman passenger train. This is at Williamsburg, Virginia.

B&O / C&O Steam Power With Live Sound!

This is a unique show. The positives. are: filmed in 16mm and live audio. C&O Steam is extremely rare. The roads back then, to film there were poor and made travel difficult. Cinematographers found Pennsylvania or Norfolk and Western steam was great and easier to access.

The concerns are a complete lack of a narrative. Very short main feature contains only 20 minutes. There is a preview of a B&O show for an additional 6 minutes. The preview is narrated.

Although packed with lively action and sound. The value isn’t great, for the high retail price. Herron also has shows with authentic steam recordings featuring John Prophet. Those are much longer and they are narrated. 

Overall, considering the total package. Call it a good rating. The rarity of C&O steam contained is the show’s highlight. A short runtime vs cost, is why this doesn’t rate higher.

Rating: 3 Stars