Icon Video Productions
Locations: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California
Time Period: Late 1960s- Early 1970s
Length: 40 minutes
Source: Virgil Staff
Virgil Staff and wife LaVeda, were documenting Santa Fe action in the late 1960s to early 1970s. A variety of period locomotives. Plenty of F units near the end of their careers.
This was an Icon Video release on VHS. Virgil filmed this collection in 16mm all-color movie film. Soundtrack is predominantly 1960s style instrumental music. Some live train recordings by the Staff couple are interspersed. Map references. Narrated by Todd Clark.
To the Trains…
This program begins in Texas. Last stand for freight. F units in regular service. Here are a quarter of F units traveling from Houston to New Mexico.
The views of depots and various Santa Fe structures help set the tone for the time period. Lawn, Texas.
Virgil is seen in the foreground at Grants, New Mexico. The combined Super Chief- El Capitan roll by in July, 1970.
A General Electric U-boat leads a freight, which hustles past the train station in Flagstaff, Arizona.
A newer EMD F45 brings its freight through curves on the Tehachapi line. Scene is near Rowin.
Alco 2375 leaves the turntable at the Richmond, California roundhouse. An Alco PA witnesses the move.
Virgil filmed some of the last action at Berkeley, California. This was shortly before abandonment. Note the BART line up in the background. The GP35 handles the local
Alco PA pair of engines 67L and 58L. Santa Fe Special pulled by a pair of Alco PA locomotives. The date was March 3, 1968. Titled as Last Run of a PA. Ran Richmond to Stockton. Apparently, the video narrator misidentifies the scenes as Riverbank Rambler which used F units and was 1969. Many train videos contain one or more errors. This one is significant.
San Francisco Chief from Chicago. Arrival at Richmond, California. Electro-motive 46C leads the four F7 diesels.
The classic Santa Fe cupola caboose is shown in this reverse move. Carlsbad, California. June, 1972.
Yesterday’s Santa Fe
This show is a fascinating look at Santa Fe Railway across four states. The original 16mm film provides excellent visual quality. An interesting narrative by Todd Clark. Long musical interludes capture the feel of 1960s era rock.
An amazing bounty of late period F units operating in the program. The Texas footage is worth reruns! Views of railroad structures can be a fine resource for Model Railroaders.
Only thing lacking is a DVD release. An amazing classic for Santa Fe fans!
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 