Producer: John Pechulis
Locations: Allentown
Timeframe: 1988- 89
Length: 59 minutes
Source: Joe Bednar (videotape)
Been slow to pickup an early videotape from the Bednar series. Perceived a significant drop in picture quality versus the film sourced shows. Yes, noticeable difference.
The positive is that good Conrail, plus D&H trains are out in force. On the other hand, Mike Bednar’s narration continues on a rather negative/ downward trend. Long past the time to stop grinding on Ardmore. Hates CSX paint, too! Relax, dude…
October, 1988 to June, 1989 for this release. Delaware and Hudson is seen in Allentown. Some Guilford painted power. Plenty of Norfolk Southern locomotives. CSX on Delaware and Hudson moves. A little bit of Susquehanna.
A single DVD-R. Main Chapter Menu. No maps or any extras. Mike Bednar narrative. Audio levels favor the voiceover. Narration is loud. Trains are lower and sound muted – even on the big stereo.
To the Trains…
Train ALSR approaches Burn in October, 1988. AL designation for Allentown. SR is not disclosed. Conrail 3219 leads.
Conrail train Mail 9. Led by a General Electric locomotive number 5035. These 5000 series were targeted for Mail Train service.
At the familiar curve called Allen. CSX 7051 still wearing Family Lines livery.
Access seems focused to Burn, Allen, and the yard leads at the Western end. Note the fuzzy picture. The vertical lines on both sides appear intermittently but frequently throughout this show.
Videography is a step down from the earlier sharp film based shows. Many grab shots appear handheld. Continuing focus problems. While the assorted power lash-ups are interesting. The lower video quality is a drag.
D&H PYRP goes through Allentown Yard with CSX locomotives. 6521 GP40 leads. November, 1988.
The Allentown Conrail tracks are very busy! Plenty of foreign power in the lash-ups. CSX and Norfolk Southern are commen. There are still some cabooses in service.
Former Reading 7412 is a D&H patch job. Note the Susquehanna F45 in the lashup at Burn. In this show, CP Burn is a regular hangout for Joe Bednar.
He shoots at the West End of Allenton Yard. These SD40-2 engines head both moves in 1989. Action is viewed on the ground. The panoramic yard views are very limited in Volume 18.
ALCA adds to the street blockage. Even Pops complains about more SD40s. Those were the standard and seemingly everywhere. The progression of railroad standardization. Good for railroads. Less interesting for those who went trackside.
Guilford painted Delaware & Hudson on the West End.
Conrail caboose at Allentown in 1989.
Railfanning with the Bednars Volume 18.
I passed on some earlier Bednar videotape based shows. Pretty much what I expected here. The timeframes are close. Not a whole bunch changes for Conrail in a short window. Yes, the D&H plus Susquehanna offer the most noticeable changes in this latter part of the long running series. A fine variety on the D&H trains.
There are videotape flaws throughout the show. Good colors. Focus is a problem throughout. It is annoying. Closeups fare somewhat better. Live audio at a lower level to the narrative. Earlier shows are better balanced.
All in all. It is one of the weakest volumes in the series. To value rate this show. It is not a good value for the price. Conrail is a common railroad. Easy to obtain in much higher quality. There is no need to be forking out good money for the other videotape volumes with the significant decline in quality.
Bump it up for the Delaware and Hudson locomotive variety. Barely rates a good show.
Rating: 3 Stars
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American Train Video Reviews 
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