Category: John Pechulis Media

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ATVR Reviews John Pechulis Media

Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 13

Producer: John Pechulis

Locations: Allentown, Rockville Bridge..

Timeframe: 1978

Length: 49 minutes

Source: Bednar collection

The Bednar series with Volume 13. Here is more lost footage from Joe Bednar films. This is the reason some releases are not in chronological order.

Now, a couple of years into the Conrail era. Delaware and Hudson is running some ex: Reading locomotives.

A single DVD-R. Chapter menu. Zero extras. Narrated by Mike Bednar.

Original films have been meticulously restored. Dubbed audio sounds fine.

This is the last of the film collection. Following shows in the series shall be the less desirable videotape sources. At 49 minutes, this is a shorter than average Bednar issue. A Circus Train is included.

Allentown Yard

Allentown Yard is the focal point for much of the first half. Pops bench with a typical view. A Big Hook is moved towards some derailed cars.

Alco RS-3 diesels going to Enola

Some Alco RS-3 locomotives are routed to Enola for rebuilding.

D&H Train 84

Delaware and Hudson Train 84 with ex: Reading locos in the lash-up.

Dan Bednar works at Allentown Yard

Dan Bednar is seen riding freight cars in Allentown Yard. Check those vintage boxcars!

Former Penn Centrals on Rockville Bridge

Two ex: Penn Central engines with a Piggyback on Rockville Bridge.

Former Reading GP30 and a GP9B

Former Reading GP30 with a GP9B on an Eastbound.

Conrail 4022

Conrail E8 4022 on Train OI-AL. This designation should be Oak Island to Allentown.

D&H Train 84

D&H paint on this pair of EMD units with Train 84 at Allentown Yard.

Hazelton man

The Hazelton job with 6 Electromotive switchers.

Allentown Yard

Conrail 7240 with a caboose in Allentown Yard.

Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 13

A huge percentage of this footage is at Allentown Yard. A Budd car passenger service begins in Allentown. Quick visit to Rockville Bridge.

This is a lesser entry into the Bednar series. Mike mostly calls out equipment. It feels like the bottom of the barrel. There are still 70’s train to see. It lacks the usual location variety.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

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ATVR Reviews John Pechulis Media

Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 12

Producer: JPM

Locations: Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania areas

Timeframe: 1976-1978

Length: 63 minutes

Source: Joe Bednar

So, Volume 12 is a ‘lost episode’. Chronologically out of order within this series. Technically it would be Volume 6 1/2, if the timeliness was strictly followed. Conrail plus Delaware and Hudson are featured.

Consistently filmed around Lehigh Valley. Includes a trip to Western Pennsylvania. This show fits that format.

Conrail was still in a transitional phase. Along with the new blue paint. CR aka Cockroach interim hasty relettered equipment is common.

Delaware and Hudson was operating a decent percentage of trains on these lines.

Variety is a keyword in this show. One never knows what locomotives may show up next!

A single DVD-R. Nothing in the way of extras.

Mike Bednar narrates this release with his familiar style.

A hallmark of these JPM releases is the high-quality film restoration. Original Super 8mm here. Live audio type soundtrack.

To the trains…

Conrail paint throughout

Allentown Yard begins the action. December 1976. Busy place!

Penn Central 3183 still sports a rare orange C.

PC 3183 with a rare orange C, leads an ex Reading gp30

Lehigh and Hudson River Alco C-420 set with coal at Bethlehem. Freemanburg Curve.

Former Lehigh Valley leads this DH move at Allentown. Excellent views from this tower.

Mike Bednar at work.

Mike Bednar giving train orders.

Delaware and Hudson move at R Tower. Note the assorted paint in this lash-up.

The Star at R Tower

Black and blue at R Tower. Renumbered CR 6115 leads The Star train.

Ex: Reading units are D&H now

Now Delaware and Hudson. These ex: Reading units wear masking tape renumbers, like 7416, entering Allentown yard with a 4 unit lash-up.

Alco RS11 at Allentown

Conrail 7644 Alco RS-11 takes a spin on the Allentown turntable.

Bednar trip to Pennsylvania

Action at Jacks Tower.

Allentown yard

Model Railroaders scene to enjoy and reference. Checkout the fallen flags.

Blue repaints on the former Lehigh Valley cabooses.

Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 12

A tightly focused release. Mainly centered at Allentown, Pennsylvania. Great close-ups from Mike’s R Tower. Satisfied with the Pennsylvania trip.

An excellent opportunity to view early Conrail. Fine variety of original and renumbered locomotives. Pops Joe Bednar captured this hard to find era in this amazing assortment.

Mike Bednar performs a great narrative.

If early Conrail has your interest. This Volume 12 is a must see!

Rating: 5 Stars

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ATVR Reviews John Pechulis Media

Conrail Kaleidoscope Years Volume 1

Producer: John Pechulis

Locations: Allentown, Pittston, Reading, Princeton, Horseshoe Curve,

Timeframe: June 1976- April 1977

Length: 61 minutes

Sources: Dave Latshaw, Jon Reck

The 1st in a new Conrail series by JPM. Volume 1 is in the early era.

The main areas. Allentown to Pittston. Easton and Reading areas. Princeton to Horseshoe Curve.

A single DVD-R. Numbered Chapter Menu. No extras. Narrated by Mike Bednar.

This show contains excellent restored films. Soundtrack is train sounds.

Much to see. Some highlights…

Alco Jersey Central RS-3 units trail the PC.

JH1 with Red Baron CNJ RS-3 units behind a Penn Central GP40.

D&H 7612 leads a Piggyback move

Delaware and Hudson 7612 leads a trio on a Piggyback move at Alburtis.

Alco RS-11 in Lehigh Valley paint

Here is an ex: LV RS-11 unit 7648. The East Penn local with empty tabletops.

American Freedom Train

American Freedom Train at old Bethlehem St

Erie Lackawanna GP35 units

EL 2579 with more GP35s and a PC GP30. This on AH9 at Emmaus Water Works.

Amtrak with GG-1 power

GG1 with PC and Amtrak paint at Princeton.

Penn Central

Penn Central GP30 and a GP9. Mike dislikes these. I like this pair in HO scale!

Reading 3671 on a local freight

Reading 3671 at Cole Run.

A long lash-up to run on Horseshoe Curve line.

An extended lashup on a Coal train. Rates some rear end helpers, as well.

Early Conrail lash-up

West of Rockport. A lash-up that is representative of early Conrail. Penn Central, Reading, Erie Lackawanna and a Lehigh Valley.

Alco Centuries as Helpers

There are not many caboose shots. This Penn Central Bay window on the Horseshoe Curve line will suffice. Those big, Alco Centuries are shoving a Coal Train.

Conrail Kaleidoscope Years Volume 1

This Kaleidoscope is an interesting show. A myriad of yet to be repainted power is the focal point. Some CR, cockroach renumbered units appear, as the timeliness progresses.

A fine visit to the early Conrail era. This was a relatively brief period. Uncommon in this quality. Bump it up!

Rating: 5 Stars

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ATVR Reviews John Pechulis Media

Erie Lackawanna Volume 4: The 1970’s Part 2

Producer: John Pechulis

Locations: Hoboken, Strasburg, Hornell

Timeframe: 1970s

Length: 1 hour 10 minutes

The 2nd Volume in this 1970s look at Erie Lackawanna Railroad. Multiple cab rides are a noted feature. Of course, trackside action.

A single DVD-R. Numbered main Chapter Menu. No maps and that is a drag here.

Full screen 4×3 image. Train sounds. Excellent restored films. Audio is balanced.

Narrated by Mike Bednar. Still complains about dislike of General Electric locomotives. We know dude!

Start with last of long distance passenger trains in the late 1960s.

Phoebe Snow in 1966

Eastbound from Scranton in 1966. Phoebe Snow arrives/ departs at Strasburg.

Brief commuter ride into Hoboken. See plenty of MU cars after that.

At Summit. Rahway Valley. Couple of brief scenes.

1231 still in Erie Paint

1231 at Summit in black Erie paint.

Alcos power some passengers at Denville

RS-3 with a commuter train at Denville.

Alco Century leads a Piggyback

Century downhill to Scranton.

EL off the curve from Clark Summit. 3631 leads.

EL 3313 leads train TC-3.

Train TC-3 out of Strasburg. GE 3313, 3627 trails. Chased for a while to Mt Pocono area.

Central of New Jersey at Bridge One

Red Baron CNJ 3067 at Scranton

EL helpers added to CNJ move

EL F7 and a U25B are front end helpers. Action is in 1975. Another extended chase. Additional Cab Rides.

A meet on a Cab Ride

Action on TC-4 from Suffern. Eastbound is encountered. There are multiple Cab Rides on various EL freight moves.

Freight at Pond Eddy.

Binghamton freights.

BN 2006 and an EL F7.

Ride from Hornell to Croxton. 3rd unit back. Checkout the BN 2006. An ex Great Northern at Binghamton.

Approaching Otisville Tunnel

Train approaches Otisville Tunnel. We close this Volume with a cab ride on NY-99 from Binghamton to Hornell and return on train TC-4.

Erie Lackawanna Volume 4

This provides a decent, if somewhat jumbled EL visit in the 1970s. Everything looks good, except for some fog scenes.

Where are these rural places? Some visual references would have been a BIG help.

Most of the multiple cab rides. It is rather aimless. Unfamiliar territory and meaningless towns. Good callouts are useless without a solid map.

A good amount of freight trains. Railfans shall find clean films.

Rating: 4 Stars

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ATVR Reviews John Pechulis Media

The Kosin Collection Volume 4

Producer: John Pechulis

Locations: Binghamton, Scranton, Bergers…

Timeframe: 1972 – 1976

Length: 54 minutes

Source: George Naugle

This is the final volume in this Anthracite Roads series. Territory covered from; Jim Thorpe, PA. to Binghamton, NY. Also, the 1972 Ashley and Wilkes-Barre flood. The show runs into some early Conrail.

Mainly has Erie Lackawanna. The EL has many assorted diesels. Additional railroads: Delaware and Hudson, Jersey Central, Lehigh Valley, and early Conrail.

A single DVD-R. Numbered main Chapter Menu. No other extras. Narration by Mike Bednar.

Aspect ratio is 4×3. Imagery is restored film. George is inconsistent on the camera. Many scenes with lighting issues.

Former LV 7319 with masking tape renumbered at Glen Summit Waterworks. Couple days into Conrail. This is a D&H train.

D&H was using Norfolk and Western power

Delaware and Hudson using NW power at Binghamton, New York.

Alco, GE and EMD at Scranton

Erie Lackawanna diesels standing around at Scranton.

Erie Lackawanna SD45 3614 arrives at Binghamton.

Jersey Central on Trsin SE-98

Train SE-98 is exiting a tunnel. Jersey Central 3064 leads. Notice, it still wears B&O paint.

Delaware and Hudson at Wilkes-Barre.

DH 2314 leads a freight at Wilkes-Barre. The boxcars sway on the rough trackage.

EL freight on Tunkhannock Viaduct

EL freight on the massive Tunkhannock Viaduct at Nicholson.

Jersey Central at Bridge One

Jersey Central ‘Red Baron’ SD40 3067 at Bridge One. An ex: B&O with a minimal Jersey Central reletter is trailing.

EL GP7 1272 at Dunmore, Pennsylvania

Erie Lackawanna creeps to a stop at Dunmore, Pennsylvania. GP7 units 1272 and 1262, bookend the middle diesel.

One of too many dark sequences

This show has many scenes with lighting issues.

Alco power is still in service

Erie Lackawanna Alco Century trio with an EMD switcher.

Erie Lackawanna bay window

EL bay window caboose is leaving town.

The Kosin Collection Volume 4

This show is another 1970s Anthracite Roads from JPM. It is a lower tier, as far as cinematography. Many scenes are on the darkside. Others have too much sunlight bouncing around.

Still, has plenty of Erie Lackawanna. There is a fine assortment of EL units.

More for the hardcore fans. Face it, most of the other JPM releases are of higher overall quality.

Rating: 3 Stars