Categories
ATVR Reviews Pentrex

U-Boat Survivors

Producer: Pentrex

Locations: USA, Mexico

Timeframe: 1993-1994

Length: 2 Hours

This show is exactly what is advertised. Pentrex recorded surviving General Electric Universal series locomotives. They are still serving (mostly) on secondary lines in the United States. Mainline power in Mexico.

Each individual U-Boat type is featured. Statistics include years built and amount purchased by railroads. Naturally,  horsepower ratings and spotting features, as well. Contains some footage from previous Pentrex releases.

A single DVD-R. Main Chapter Menu by model class. Narrated by Dave Drui.

Models with various statistics

The program is chronologically organized. Vintage photos accompany the video. Informative narrative and screens. Some highlights in this review. There is much more in the program.

To the Trains…

U25B. Southern Pacific 3100. Museum owned for this ex: SP diesel.

LS&I in Michigan

U25C. Lake Superior & Ishpeming 2501. Longer chapter with some smoky action.

U28B. TTI. Transkentucky Transportation Inc. fostered 18 units. Ohio River Barge Loader to Paris, Kentucky for reload. A load of empties is chased. A loaded coal move from Paris with 6 units is also highlighted.

Georgia Central

U30B. Georgia Central. A U33B fronts a trio of U30B engines near Lyons, Georgia. Passing over Highway 29 to Dublin.

U30C. Guilford. Boston and Maine 663 in 1992 at Portland, Maine.

South Hamburg

U33B. Blue Mountain & Reading 3303 is an ex: Conrail. South Hamburg, Pennsylvania to suburban Reading territory. Excursion Train.

U23C. LS&I 2304 in 1994. Conrail 6902 is working at Selkirk Yard in New York.

P&W at New Haven, Connecticut

U23B. Late production to 1977. Second best seller. P&W 2208 (Conrail 2798) leads at New Haven, CT  They haul a Stone Train in 1994. MoPac paint on 4502 on Central Michigan. Norfolk Southern with 2 at Kings Mountain,  KY. Ex: L&N 3281 on CSX in Kentucky.

U34CH.New Jersey Transit. Double ended Excursion in 1994.

Train 27

U36C. The U36CG for Mexico. Seen in Mexico. The 415 on a Mixed Train #27. This footage is from Mexico’s Pacifico Railroad show.

U18B aka Baby Boat

U18B. Baby Boat as Seaboard System 1907 runs through Beaver Creek, Kentucky. U18B travels through Beaver Creek, Kentucky. This CSX engine is still wearing Seaboard System paint as 1907.
The U18B, also known as Baby Boats. This was the GE answer in their U-Boat line to manufacture a smaller model for railroads.

U-Boat Survivors

A well organized catalog of the General Electric Universal series from the 1960s to 1970s. This show does not focus on vintage films. The  is is a masterclass using contemporary examples. All models do not include movie footage. Some no longer survive.

GE Super 7 began with parts from the earlier incarnations. These get a look to close the show.

An obvious must-have for fans of older General Electric locomotives.

Rating: 5 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews Green Frog Prod.

CN North America Volume 3

Producer: Green Frog

Locations: Pontiac, Detroit, Royal Oak…

Timeframe: 2001

Length: 1 hour 35 minutes

Source: Rich Schied

Travel on former Grand Trunk Western in Michigan. New is the CN North American livery. Start in downtown Pontiac on Holly subdivision. Goes to Detroit. South to Lang Yard in Ohio. End of CN North America division is there.

This is available as part of a Green Frog CN North America set in 4 Volumes.

DVD-R. Hidden Chapter advance. No map. Live audio. Narrated by Peter Youngblood.

High-quality Green Frog production. Image and audio are fine.

To the Trains…

Four Grand Trunk locomotives with 4921 on the point. Leads a freight, on the Holly subdivision.

CN 6401

Notice the Operation Lifesaver on this single GP40. The location is Toll Bridge Road.

Royal Oak is next. Grand Trunk  GP38 trio in snow with auto racks.

Detroit. Milwaukee Jct. Tower. Grand Trunk 4919, 6410, 4918 on a freight.

Amtrak Genesis locomotive is on the rear end. General Motors and a White Castle in the background.

CP out of Detroit River Tunnel with a pair of SD40 motors. Steep uphill grade.

Soo Line passes the old Michigan Central building. Canadian Pacific trains pass this same location.

Del Ray Tower is a hotspot. DWP 5911 is second.

CN at Del Ray. Note the North American logo paint.

Cab ride in a BNSF SD70MAC into Detroit Edison power plant.

CN 5931 is sublettered GTW on a Northbound coal train.

Train departs Lange Yard in Ohio. 5266 leads outbound.

CN North America Volume 3

The large percentage of GT blue shall please Grand Trunk fans. At Detroit the CN paint is in greater numbers. Amtrak shows up throughout the show.

An interesting narrative contains history as well as descriptive on the action. Videography is professional. Soundtrack is the train audio.

Another fine Volume in this CN North America series.

Rating: 5 Stars