Category: Herron Rail

ATVR Reviews Herron Rail

Reflections of the C&O Volume 1

Post author By William J. Hudson
Post date May 1, 2024
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Producer: James Herron

Locations: Kentucky, West Virginia

Timeframe: 1940- 1971

Length: 76 minutes

Sources: multiple

Old and rare Chesapeake and Ohio films from various sources. Contains black and white, to color films.

Lexington subdivision covers Louisville to Ashland line. The Logan sub and more.

A regular DVD on this one. Main Chapter Menu. Maps and diagrams are included. Narration by Danny Harmon. On/ Off narration choice.

Film quality varies by years. The early black and white footage is fair to good. Color is better. Audio is dubbed with train sounds and music. Script is excellent with many details and history. Still photographs and plentiful maps augment the program.

To the Trains…

Louisville in 1951

C&O 2737 arrives at Central Station in Louisville. Kanawha 2734 2-8-4 is the power. The year is 1951 for this rare scene. IC plus B&O are also shown, along with more C&O locomotives.

C&O Mikado 1166 was one of the 2-8-2 class usually assigned to freight duty. Arrival of Train 295 from Louisville passing MN Tower. Nice mix of freight and passenger moves.

Color is a major step up. The steam in color is hard to find.

In 1959 a rare BL2. This #1841 is a substitution for the regular C&O E8 power. The George Washington train.It arrives at Frankfort, Kentucky.

Electromotive only sold 59 units. This model was a modified F3 design. Several of these Chesapeake and Ohio units were equipped for passenger service. The BL2 was a predecessor to the highly successful GP7 and similar road switchers that followed.

They were traded into EMD for GP30 locomotives in 1962. Probably cut up at neighbor Pielet Brothers.

Lexington Yard

Over to Lexington. Train 23 at Lexington yard office. The area is visited with many trains.

Lexington Station

The last L&N led by 607 pulls into Lexington Station in June, 1956.

1971

Train 21 departing Lexington en route to Louisville in this pre-Amtrak scene from 1971.

C&O EMD GP7 5815 brings freight to the L&N yard. Note the modern livery.

B&O E8 at Louisville

B&O 1465 backs it’s consist into Louisville Station in 1969 on a cold day.

MN Tower

L&N GP7 404 at MN Tower in South Louisville.

The 610 en route to Hinton, WV.

Eastbound #93 freight is behind engine 610 as it leaves the Ashland Yard. Additional 1950s steam engines are in color at Russell, Kentucky and beyond.

2716 moves to a museum

The 2716 is donated to a museum in Louisville May, 1959.

Caboose 3545

Reflections of the C&O Volume 1

First. Vintage C&O film is rare. Not much in the marketplace. Generally, there were few filming trains South of Ohio in the East.

This collection is fairly extensive with ten film sources. Several of the mainline stations have highly detailed visits.

Film quality is source dependent. Much is grainy or soft focus 8mm. Especially the black and white footage. Some brief scenes in color are very good.

Danny Harmon is the smooth announcer on Herron Video. He is their best man.

Vintage Chesapeake and Ohio was seldom filmed. Especially steam era. This railroad was difficult to access in most places. Bad automobile roads in those days. Easier to cover railroads like Baltimore and Ohio or Pennsylvania Railroad were the popular choices.

This show provides an interesting look at assorted C&O as advertised. Well paced and constructed. It moves along quickly. The main caveat is the overall film quality. Historical value is paramount here. Vintage Chesapeake and Ohio is one of those hard to find railroads. Herron has done a good job, considering the old film sources.

Bump this up for the scarcity factor.

Rating: 5 Stars

Tags American Train Video Reviews, C&O, Coal, non-fiction, Railroad, Steam, Steam engine, steam train

ATVR Reviews Herron Rail

Mid-American Glory Illinois Central Railroad

Post author By William J. Hudson
Post date January 24, 2024
No Comments on Mid-American Glory Illinois Central Railroad

Producer: Herron Rail

Locations: Chicago, Gilman, Paducah, Memphis…

Timeframe: 1940s-1960s

Length: 71 minutes

Sources: 12 Cameramen

Wide ranging coverage of original Illinois Central Railroad. The 1940s up to the 1960s. Steam, Diesel and Electric. Mostly a color show.

A single DVD-R. Narrated by Ralph Morse. The show plays longer at 71 minutes. Nice!

Wide variety of power. Steam years with excellent coverage. Diesel era is narrow. Predominately passenger trains. Limited space for some highlights.

To the Trains…

City of New Orleans

Extra yellow stripes on these E7 locomotives. City of New Orleans.

Memphis, Tennessee

Turntable shots at Memphis in 1940s. The 2510 is a Mountain type.

Tuscola

2550 is a Mountain at Tuscola in 1950s.

Green diamond logo

1956 at Centralia with early geeps.

Mikado at Macomb, MS.

1270 Mikado at Macomb, Mississippi in 16mm color film. Illinois Central fostered over 350 in 1954.

Rock train

A Rock train in Louisiana. Going to New Orleans. A classic steam image.

2613

Action in the 1960s. The 2613 on final special excursions. The show features a long segment of IC named passenger trains.

Gilman, Illinois

1970s with continously passenger coverage. At Gilman. The Governor’s Special.

GP40 leads at Chicago

Chicago at 21st Street. Three Electromotive units haul a Piggyback move.

A modern herald on the nose at Chicago.

Centralia

Caboose 9704 at Centralia, Illinois. These were unique ICRR side door cabooses. FYI- some lasted into ICG orange paint!

Mid-American Glory Illinois Central Railroad

Calling to Transition era Illinois Central fans. This is a varied show that is centered in the 1950s. The long distance passenger trains have a key focus in the diesel years.

The films range from very good to excellent. Audio that has been dubbed works fine. Interesting script with good narration.

On the higher priced side. Maybe it’s worth a plunk if this catches your interest. A bump up for the supply of Illinois Central steam. Most of it is in color.

Rating: 5 Stars

Tags American Train Video Reviews, Chicago railroad, Illinois Central, non-fiction, Railroad, Steam, steam train, transportation

ATVR Reviews Herron Rail

Niagara’s Last Stand

Producer: Herron Rail

Locations: Toledo, Airline Jct., Norwalk, Oakdale, Berea

Timeframe: 1953- 1960

Length: 1 hour

Source: Donald Krofta

New York Central in Ohio. Filmed both in black and white, plus color. All in 16mm!

A single DVD-R. Main Chapter Menu by locations. A map. Narrated by Danny Harmon. Preview section.

Full screen in 4×3. Very clean 16mm films. Audio of original New York Central trains. A little music.

Cinematography is excellent! Films are clean. Original New York Central sounds.

Territory is within Ohio. Toledo Division and Norwalk branch. Cincinatti Union Terminal. Mainline freights and passengers. Local and Yard switching.

Train 14 is a hot mail and express

A ton of fast action with many Niagaras. Various additional power. Some B&O, as well. Some scenes with a few other railroads.

A great scene with Steam and Diesel.

The Transition Era.

Hudson 5392 backs on the turntable

A classic Hudson, 5392, moves onto the turntable.

NYC #5452

NYC employee hands up train orders to the Hudson at ME.

A Mikado at Fremont Yard

Onto a color scene. An H5 class Mikado arrives at Fremont Yard. Norwalk Branch.

Mohawk departing Toledo

Mohawk 3149 departs Toledo Station on a Chicago trip. Emerald Road.

New York Central yard switcher

At one time, the New York Central had over 700 switch engines.

Alco FA units

Alco trio on FA units cross Maumee River.

Fairbanks-Morse leads Electromotive F units

A FM 5007 waits at Elyria for a Jet Flexivan move. Summer of 1960.

NYC F units in 1960

Lightning Stripe Electromotive F units with a freight train.

Baldwin Sharks towards Rockport at BE.

Having fun for the camera

A Three Stooges type chase one out!

Niagara’s Last Stand

Outstanding film collection of Donald J. Krofta is a solid foundation here. Authentic NYC sounds add a realistic soundtrack.

Well organized and a good script. Danny Harmon provides a smooth narrative.

Excellent coverage of the included lines.

A fine collection of period Central steam. Includes: Niagaras, Hudson, Mohawk, Mikado, and yard goats. Early Diesels from: Electromotive, Alco, Baldwin, and Fairbanks Morse.

An all in one variety pack of transition New York Central power!

Rating; 5 Stars

Tags American Train Video Reviews, New York Central, Steam

ATVR Reviews Herron Rail

Reflections of the New York Central

Post author By William J. Hudson
Post date October 18, 2019
No Comments on Reflections of the New York Central

Producer: Jim Herron

Timeframe: 1928- 1962

Locations: Harmon, Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, more

Length: 54 minutes

Sources: John Prophet, Dick Baldwin, H.R.Blackburn, MD., Ben T. Young Jr., more.

Herron has a great collection of films spanning four decades of New York Central. Consisting of both: color, with black and white film. Shot with; 8 and 16mm movie cameras. Post production, with actual recorded sounds. Disney Studios processed the film to tape transfer. Digital restoration was also done to the film.

This show is fully narrated. Ralph E. Morse performs the narrative. Organized in a chronological fashion. Focus is strong on mainline steam. Additional coverage of branch line steam. Early diesels as they came into the railroad. Exciting cab ride moments!

There are no extras, like newer shows. A single DVD-R. It plays straight, from beginning to end. No Chapter Menu, maps or on-screen graphics. Except for decades markers, at those breaks.

The locations are closely marked. Either vocally, or the classic signage shot. The black and white films look fine. Earliest is 1928. Others, from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Concentration is on a high quality film. The excellent visual, and audio components do succeed!

A Hudson pulls mixed passenger cars.

Road chase a Niagara in color! The Empire State Express.

Check that big tender on that Hudson! This will cruise at 80 mph . Don’t believe me? Hop in the cab. In 16mm- crazy good!

Ride along with the crew, in this 5413. A Hudson locomotive. Speedometer reads 70 to 80 mph!

Scooping water on the fly. What was once everyday- no longer exists.

Those Niagara class, looked awesome. Witness the race, between The Twentieth Century Limited and The Broadway Limited.

Harmon, New York was a sprawling facility, along the Hudson River. The Steam facilities are shown.

Rural branchline operations are seen in color. A steam powered local is shadowed. Notice the water stop. Here, the engine is turned around on a classic ‘Armstrong’ turntable. Almost have it, men!

Englewood in Chicago was New York Central facility. To the right, a Pittsburgh and Lake Erie locomotive.

Mohawks were another key class of steam for the Central. Served their final days hauling coal.

A steam powered, branchline freight train is followed. Nice contrast, to the rush of the busy mains.

Alco FA. These were the venerable steam locomotive builders answer to the EMD F units. They didn’t matchup.

EMD E series diesels. They eventually, hauled all New York Central passenger trains. These were inserted as fast as they came online. Above, The Twentieth Century Limited, and Pennsylvania Broadway Limited.

Alco RS32 were the latest in second generation diesel road power.

Reflections of the New York Central. This is a fine overview, of a large Eastern railroad, with so much history. Impossible to get everything in this amount of time. This show concentrates on the material it presents. Viewers will come away with a good feel for the scope, and some innovative qualities, that were New York Central.

Rating: 5 Stars