The Reference Standard, for High Quality Train Video/ DVD Reviews. Classic and Vintage Railroads are a speciality. Diesel, Steam, Electric, Trolley and Logging Lines across North America.
There are 15 hotspots visited in this show. CSX and NS. It was advertised as a narrated one. It is NOT NARRATED. I would not have purchased this on that basis. Dislike a non-narrated in general. Few exceptions, if really rare material.
Below. Quoted from their website.
All videos include narration and beautiful scenery. T & W Productions strives to give you “The Best in Railroad Videos
Hence, this was incorrectly advertised. A basic non-starter for myself.
A single DVD-R. No Chapter Menu. No maps. Subtitles with the location at the start of the hotspot.
Hotspots are…
Pennsylvania: Horseshoe Curve. North Carolina: Clinchcross, Barber Salisbury, Hickory, CSX Loops, and the old Southern Loops.
South Carolina: Clinton and Spartanburg. West Virginia: the Pocahontas District and Thurmond. Kentucky: La Grange and Louisville. Georgia: Cartersville and Folkston.
Trainwatching Extras
Little to say. Fine camerawork and live audio. Loops were well filmed.
One and done here. No narration! Ugh.
Major deduction for false advertising! 2nd occurrence with this label. Wasted my money!! I have had it with this label.
A Roster overview for Norfolk Southern. Filmed over a number of years. Era during the 1990s. Really looked forward to reviewing this show.
T&W clearly advertises, ALL their DVD shows as ‘NARRATED’. This one is NOT. A major FAILURE.
I dislike and avoid, non-narrated shows. A few, exceptions. Rare vintage material is the main qualifier.
Accurate, advance notice on the advertisement. That is a secondary consideration. I then decide, if it is something to acquire.
Had this release been reasonably described. I never would have ordered this show. It is not rare film. No narrative, is a deal breaker!!
Many Producers choose to issue non-narrated train videos. That’s fine. As long as they advertise that fact. I can dismiss most of those releases. My option.
Yet, here we are. Show in the player. Let’s have a look…
A single DVD-R, in a standard case. No extras. No Chapter menu. No subtitles. No maps. No locations.
Horn blasting… Blat, blat
Live environmental audio. Way too many diesel horns blowing! If not Horns, then bells. Give it a rest.
Blat, blat…
It does cover a plethora of Norfolk Southern locomotives. In a series of mindless runbys.
Nearly every train is blowing horns.
Blat, blat…Horns.
One’s ears need a rest. This is called balance. You get very little ear rest.
Blat, blat…
Videography is excellent. Too bad about the rest of this show.
Thoroughbreds
Obviously, not my cup of tea. Especially being advertised as a Narrated show.
I wouldn’t have purchased this, as a non-narrated show. Does the rest count after all of that?
Let’s see the Southern Railway in the 1970s. Definitely on the hard to find list. T&W Productions offers this show.
A DVD-R in a standard case. Old time menu access to the show. Hidden Chapter advance. No graphic extras.
The film is all color, original 8mm. Overall, in the range of fair to good. Aged films. Not modern viewing standards on HDTV. Competent Cinematographer.
Narrated program. Contains plenty of information about: location, locomotives and sometimes train details. Also, music background throughout.
The music sounds like the equipment belongs on old AM band radio. High midrange. Does not sound good on a modern soundbar system. The levels are too high. Better played on small speakers. This is a production issue. It sounds harsh.
The soundscape gets overwhelmed. Narrator’s voice, occupies those similar frequencies. Resulting in a crowded result.
They should’ve lowered the music for starters. Notice, when the band quiets, he is easier to hear and clearer.
Bulk of the action seems to be around Salisbury Station. Also, Yard lead trackage. Slow speeds. Stopped locomotives. Cameramen was trackside. Results are screens filled with Southern Railway engines.
A GP30 leads a freight.
At Salisbury, a GP30 leads a freight train.
An SD24 fronts a 3 unit lash-up.
This SD24 rolls past the camera. The 3 units are going to reverse, back to Spencer Yard.
A set of black F units with the Piedmont.
The Southern Piedmont arrives at Salisbury. Three F units in charge.
Fout GP38 locomotives with a heavy freight.
A four unit lash-up of GP38 locomotives pass the Salisbury Station. This heavy freight is going to Spencer Yard.
SD45 waits to enter Spencer Yard.
The SD45 waits to enter Spencer Yard.
An E8 pair shall take the final run to Asheville.
Extended time on this E8 pair. They shall haul the final passenger run to Asheville.
White numberboards indicate a Locotrol Engine.
The White Numberboards indicate a Locotrol locomotive. Radio control unit for helpers on Southern Railway.
The Radio equipment is in the boxcar, for this mid-train helper.
Check the Special Boxcar. It houses the Radio equipment for the Southern diesel. The mid-train helper is run from the lead locomotive.
A newer SD40-2 gets a close-up.
On a stopped train. This newer SD40-2 gets a close-up.
Note the short hood forward.
This Southern freight has the short hood forward.
Southern caboose.
A classic Southern Bay window caboose.
Southern in the 70s
Ear Fatigue. That’s the first thought of this show. Soundtrack needs improvement.
This release concentrates on Southern Railway locomotives. The Cameraman was in the right place, to get the job done. This being the strength of the show.
Film quality not being the greatest. Soundtrack has issues. Narration is decent, even though not well mixed. Rates on the lower end.
American Train Video Reviews 
You must be logged in to post a comment.