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ATVR Reviews Pentrex

B&O Odyssey Volume 2

B&O Odyssey Volume 2                                        

Pentrex

Format: DVD 

Length: 60 minutes

Locations: Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia.

Time period: 1960’s

Source: Emery Gulash 16mm film.

The first half is nearly all passenger trains. I strongly prefer a more balanced presentation. This gets repetitive and I wonder… Where’s the freight? There is one interesting moment of an empty Central Union Station with a single RDC. Still even more passenger trains.. Finally,  we get to Connellsville PA with a freight. Nice mix of freights and locations now. Too quickly, it’s back to Michigan and even more passenger trains.

The freight section in the middle is the highlight. It’s much too short. There are some great shots of F units and GP30 led trains. As seen in the promo trailer.

Quality is high, as you’d expect from Pentrex. Emery Gulash has his 16mm film and it looks really nice! Narration is fine. I was just disappointed on the lack of freight trains.

This show is still worth owning, just rates a little lower on content, for the review. If you just love all these passenger trains, just bump the rating higher. The quality is there.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars.

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ATVR Reviews

Welcome to American Train Video Reviews!

There are many choices when ot comes to purchasing train videos. A review can be helpful before placing an order. Not to nitpick every dust speck on old film, an overview of the program. This information can provide the buyer with helpful descriptions.

American Train Video Reviews is here to help you with fair reviews.

I will include basic info, content and quality. Some highlights, or lowlights.

Rated 1 to 5 stars. These are criteria based ratings.

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ATVR Reviews Green Frog Prod.

This Was The Rock Island! Volume 3

This Was The Rock Island! Volume 3

Producer: Green Frog Productions

Length: 72 minutes

Time Period: 1975-1980

Locations: Chicago area, Seneca, Ottawa, Henry, Bureau Jct.

Source: Roger Koenig

Rock Island was an interesting railroad to see in the late 1970’s. A mixture of fresh, new Rock image equipment and older, worn out locomotives gave us a contrasting Rock Island. The Rock Island was in the final years of existence. Fortunately, Roger Koenig was trackside and filmed plenty of action, as seen in this show.

This program features, many freight and passenger trains around the Chicago area. He also ventures off on a passenger excursion behind a rare E6. At Chillicothe the staging of a runby is examined. More passenger specials will be featured in this show.

A very detailed chapter menu provides easy navigation. Some chapters: Fall 1974, Burr Oak Yard, Blue Island, New Years 1975, LaSalle St. Station, Bi-centennial, June 22, 1976, 1977, and Cab Ride. There are quite a few more chapters.

There are numerous quick shots of Rock action. A wide variety of equipment. Many different Rock Island paint schemes. Old maroon units, red/ yellow and new image blue/ white.

There are a wide variety of EMD and GE power. EMD includes GP7, GP9, GP35, GP38 and GP40 locomotives. Cab units in the forms of F7, E7 and E8 units also are in service. GE has an assortment of the U-boats. A rare diesel, like the E6A , was a museum piece, even back in the day!.

Roger paces more than one, E8 led Quad Cities Rocket. An E7A, E8A pair pull a set of ancient green commuter cars. Numerous commuters are viewed. The variety of 1920’s coaches and new double decker cars are seen behind various E and F units in assorted paint. Talk about classic operating pieces. Some of the old green coaches ended up at the train museum at Union, Ill.

Even more pacing shots of both passenger and freight trains. Sometimes a certain locomotive would motivate him to chase one. The bicentennial E8 was one such engine. A GP38 in the ‘new image’ paint was on a chased freight. Some others are the normal ragtag Rock Island locos.

A bit of cab ride action on a couple of trains with an engineer friend of Roger. The Oak Forest depot is seen many times in this show. Tinley Park is a neighboring town that is passed. Meets with additional trains keep things interesting.

There is one long ride on Train 01, that is a main highlight of this program. Roger gets some time in the engineers seat. His buddy Charlie O’Connor, was near retirement, due to all trains becoming extras. The bouncing train on the rough track, and an entertaining narrative are some good fun.

LaSalle Street Station gets some visits , as trains arrive there. It becomes noticeably more dilapidated as time moves forward.

The film sources are from 8mm and super 8mm. The films do look very good and are clean in appearance. The original sound is excellent. The film moves in a fast paced manner.

Narration is excellent. The narrative can be toggled with an on/off control choice.

This is a great era to have Rock Island footage. It is hard to find this film from these years.

Railfans and model railroaders, will find a wide selection of Rock Island views

Green Frog has released a needed era of classic Rock Island. The quality production enhances an enjoyable program.

Rating: 4 stars.

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ATVR Reviews Miscellaneous

Yesterday’s Santa Fe

Icon Video Productions
Format: VHS
Length: 40 minutes
Locations: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California
Time Period: Late 1960’s- early 1970’s.
Source: Virgil Staff (16mm film)
Virgil Staff was another classic cinematographer. His films were shot on 16mm. They are all color on this show. The program states that it has ‘authentic’ Santa Fe sound.
Travel westbound from Texas to California on the Santa Fe.
Virgil begins in Texas and has many fine viewpoints to share. His direction westward, then enters New Mexico. Arizona and into California.
Action at Cameron, Texas.
He does include some scenes that contain ATSF stations. Cameron here. This is all vintage first and second generation EMD and Alco power.
Long lash-ups of weathered F units, in the blue/ yellow freight scheme, are seen in Texas. Seven F units on the Carlsbad sub.
Last F units in service, Super Chief’s last year and end of San Francisco Chief. Richmond roundhouse in San Francisco.
Nicely shot and informative narration. Some guitar music in places. The presentation is on the short side at 45 minutes. It is well worth having in your collection.
Rating: 4 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews Green Frog Prod.

The Pennsylvania Railroad

Producer: Green Frog

Format: DVD.

Length: 62 minutes

Time Period: 1952- 1969.

Locations: Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, Chicago, Fort Wayne, Gary, Marion, Toledo, Enola.,Conway yard, Northeast Corridor

Source: Emery Gulash (16mm, all color film)

Emery Gulash had many encounters with the Pennsylvania Railroad between 1952 to Penn Central 1969. The Penn Central years are also on Green Frog.

This interesting film begins in the 1950’s, steam to diesel transition era. Locations and years bounce around. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. Action packed program.

The cinematography of Emery Gulash is first class. The 16mm films are very clean. His expert framing, and lighting awareness, create pleasurable viewing. A master at work!

There was a vast array of power on ‘ the standard railroad of the world. Steam engines and early diesels from; Alco, Baldwin and EMD. Many different locomotives.

Note the unique to Pennsy, trainphone antennae on the diesels.The old freight cars and cabooses are a treat. Plenty of freight trains too!

Decapods are at the end of their careers in yard service. Newer Brunswick Green F7’s pull a freight through the Hollidaysburg yard.

Carleton sees a pair of F7A units switch the local at the DT&I interchange. C&O GP9’s rollby with a freight.

Marion has coal trains led by EMD F7’s and Alco FA2’s. More coal trains around the system. These are a long ways from today’s unit coal moves.

GP9’s are commonly found on freight trains. Baldwin Sharks are seen in Michigan.

Electrics are to be found in this show. Much of this was filmed with colorful autumn foliage. The famous GG-1’s are operating on the Northeast Corridor. GG1 locos are viewed hauling all kinds of trains. The GG1 wears various paint schemes.

MP 54 motors with commuters,. P5A boxcab motors pass in Enola Yard, at Harrisburg. Big, boxy E44 engines and Budd Silverliners are present within this chapter..

Passenger trains such as Broadway Limited and Spirit of St. Louis make appearances. You’ll see the back in the day, mail and express too.

Little Strasburg Railroad with it’s diminutive GE 44 ton switcher, works the PRR interchange track..

There is a great sequence at Conway Yard. Assorted diesels parade past Emery. This is all pure Pennsylvania power.

Bob Carrera’s narration is accurate, and detailed. As with the older Green Frog shows, there are no maps. No chapter menu on this DVD. The chapters are accessible with the next button on the player. On screen graphics denote month and year of filming. Dubbed audio has variable sync results, it’s good enough overall.

Fine shots of solid GP9 , F7 and RS3 led trains. Also, there are some extra freight cars left on film.

An excellent 1969 closing chapter. Pennsylvania was prominent in a sampling of Penn Central era trains.

A wide variety of caboose types are in use on PRR. Check the yellow cupolas for ‘pool service’. Some old, Mae West types with large cupolas. Simplified Focal Orange paint shows up in later years. Trainphone antennae are mounted on some of the cabin cars.

This is a classic show, of a world famous fallen flag railroad. Very enjoyable program.

Rating 5 stars.