Steam in the 50′s: Volume 3

Steam in the 50′s: Volume 3

Green Frog Productions

Format: DVD

Length: 55 minutes

Time Period: 1950′s

Locations. Northwestern USA, Western Canada, and more…

Sources: Ted Carlson, Maynard Lang (16mm)

The Golden Twilight of Postwar Steam, Steam in the 50′s Special: 7 pak .

This review is from the 7 pak set.

Each show reviewed individually. A review of the complete package, will appear upon completion of the shows.

Steam in the 50′s Volume 3 is the final show in this series. As part of the Steam Special 7 pak from Green Frog. This is one of the 7 DVD’s in the set. They are housed in a sturdy plastic case. The discs are all labeled, unlike the factory picture.

Ted Carlson was a Seattle native. Maynard Laing is the other photographer. Both men used 16mm color film. It is a clean looking collection of vintage steam footage. Green Frog is known for high production standards. Original sound recordings are the sources for the soundtrack. Emery Gulash is one of the audio contributors. Picture and sound are great.

This is a varied compilation from the 2 cameramen. There is quite an assortment of classic railroading, both large and small.

          Northern Pacific is paced and pulls a Seattle- Snoqualamie Washington excursion.

                    Union Pacific #8444. Never retired from active service. Impressive in any era!

              Big Boys and Challengers get some attention. The Big Boys are fantastic!

                              Big Boys are paced from Ted Carlson’s 1955 Chevy!

                                  Cheyenne Tower and double headed Big Boys!

Ted Carlson had filmed some ‘must see’ pacing sequences on the UP main. Really, Ted has numerous pace sequences throughout the program.

Narration by Don Chandler is smooth and professional. Stan Kyper has the script credit. A well-wriitten program. Plenty of space is left, to listen to the steam engines. This is an older show. No chapter menu or maps. The ‘next button’ on a remote can skip chapters.

  Logging lines are prominently featured. The various lines visited offer a nice mini-overview of logging operations. Different types of steam logging locomotives, work those forests. Shays, Articulateds, and Climaxes are shown. You may get hooked.

Rayonier 120 is a 2-6-6-2 articulated. Note the train crossing a wooden trestle. Logging!

Canadian railroads are another fine chapter. Smaller lines are shown, along with some logging lines.  Vancouver Island and Edmundton. Northern Alberta Railway is not often seen, and  a welcome sight. Of course, Canadian national and Canadian Pacific are here, with good scenes.

Double headed CP freight, is chased from the Trans Canada highway, in Alberta.

Duluth Missabe and Iron Range. Massive Yellowstone class locomotives with a singular mission. To haul ore cars to be shipped on Lake Superior. Good pacing shots.

Norfolk and Western is the eastern railroad visited. Super steam power, in their twilight. The Y and J class are both included. The shot of the articulated, is paced from the car.

Steam in the 50′s Volume 3. A very satisfying program. Action packed and enough variety to keep viewers coming back for more.

Rating: 5 Stars

Mallet In The Mountains: Black Hills Central 2-6-6-2T #110

Mallet In The Mountains: Black Hills Central 2-6-6-2T #110

Diverging Clear Productions

Format: DVD

Length: 1 hour 10 minutes

Time Period: 2010 release

Location: Hill City to Keystone, South Dakota

Source: Mary R. McPherson

Producer: Mary R. McPherson

MSRP: 20.00

Black Hills Central has been hauling passengers on it’s scenic line, since 1957. The featured locomotive, #110, is the only operable compound mallet in the USA. This is one of the oldest tourist lines in the United States. Mary gives a good history in the narrative.

Baldwin built in 1928. Weyerhauser Lumber was the original owner. Rayonier was the second owner, another logging line. This logging lines engine had always worked in Washington state. Weighs 111 tons. Most of those pounds are over the drivers. Steam is used twice with 2 boilers. The secondary boiler reuses the steam at lower pressure.

By the way, 2-6-6-2T… the ‘T’ stands for tanker. No water in a separate tender. This is a one piece locomotive. The water is in the tank, mounted on top of the boiler.

Purchased in 1999 from State of Nevada, and returned to service for the 2001 season. The look at the 110 starts with the engine being warmed up and serviced before the days work. The weather is clear and there is plenty of sunshine. Bright sunlight is great to illuminate the dark locomotive and it’s complex running gear.

Mary gives viewers a nice, balanced narrative. Natural environmental audio contains the 110 as it is working the route. The soundtrack is excellent! No map or chapter menu. Use the next button to access the chapters. The DVD is packaged in a slimline case.

The train gets the highball and departs Hill City….

   Tin Mill Hill,and the train encounters some local wildlife along the track, on the 4% grade.

There are some views within the cab of engine 110. Too tight to see much. An occasional glimpse is all that is needed here. We can watch the engineer control the throttle and steam whistle cord. This is the cab scene, and not too much timer is spent on this.

Onboard a coach, the train and scenery are combined in a pleasing manner.

Ground level shots are sweet. Smart camerawork with high and low angle shots added. Editing is the key. Multiple viewpoints are well-balanced, and the pacing is just right.

                      Beautiful scenery as the train navigates through the hilly forest.

The twisting line is reminiscent of those old logger railroads. A detailed map of the trackage would have been a big asset. Granted, it is an out and back roundtrip. Just would have liked to see the twisting line, from a map overview.

Arrival at Keystone seems to come quickly. Time flies when you are having fun!

The Black Hills Central public address announcement is made, and the return ensues.

                  Running with the engine in reverse, this is mostly an uphill run.

This show is value priced, as are the other DCP releases. Buyer’s receive a fine, basic train program on DVD-R. Housed in a slimline plastic case. DCP has upgraded the labeling, with directly labeled discs.

Mallet In The Mountains is a fine program. The Black Hills Central is located in a highly scenic region. The ultra rare compound Mallet is worth the price of admission. If you find this type of steam engine compelling, check out some logging lines shows too. This one is tops for the cinematography. DCP really has a winner here. This is a nice entry point,  to watch one of their best productions.

Diverging Clear has a wonderful program. The whole family would enjoy this tourist line.

Rating: 4 Stars

California’s North Coast Logging Railroads

California’s North Coast Logging Railroads

Catenary Video / Tuolumne Films

Format: DVD

Length: 70 minutes

Time Period: 1904- 1954

Locations: Many in Northern California

Sources: Jim Bucholzer, Louis Stein Jr., James Holmes, Victor Shattock, Don Olsen collection, and more…

Producer: Warren Haack

Have you ever watched a logging railroad show? Steam locomotives, wooden trestles, twisting trackage and steep grades, combine for fascinating railroading. Many lines were narrow gauge. Incline and decline cable operations. Sawmill visits and loggers at work, in the vast forest. Toppled steam engines, derailments and washed out trestles, were all part of the area history. Ocean loading of old schooners are in this one. Caternary/ Tuolumne have a fine series of logging line feature films. 

This program has comprehensive coverage of 50 years of Northern California logging. The coastal redwoods are an awesome tree, as seen in these films. They can grow to unbelievable huge sizes. Early films offer views of loggers at work, using handtools. Some films date back to 1904! Later on, a 1936 sequence shows the new Caterpillars and heavy trucks being utilized. Circa 1906 shows the interior of a busy sawmill. Without enough lighting, to illuminate the scenes, a creative solution was found. All they had to do, was to remove the roof.

There are a wide variety of logging operations: Caspar, Union, Holmes-Eureka, Northern Redwood and Simpson Redwood. Also, Hammond, Dolbeer and Carson. Additionally, Pacific Lumber Companies and their respective railroads. More action on the Arcata and Mad River. Last but not least, Northwestern Pacific Railroads.

The early 1900′s are in clean black & white film. Still photos are referenced to illustrate the story. After the early era, it is nearly an all color, 16mm film show. By 1938, crisp color footage is the dominant source of film. The films are digitally enhanced. Overall, they look splendid!

This collection of vintage films are beyond rare. There is way too much within this show to list everything in a review.

The program is very well organized. The main menu plays the show from the beginning. A sharp script, effectively tells the tale of logging history. Assorted maps illustrate the multitude of routes by the logging lines. A narrative  has the bulk of the information. Onscreen graphics offer even more info. A mixture of period piano and bluegrass styles are interspersed throughout. Dubbed sounds for the trains and various audio elements are excellent.

A handful of old-timers have commentaries at relevant points in the program. Ted Wurm and Henry Sorenson are notable author/ historians with detailed back-story.

We have the PBS style of presentation in this show. It is very effective, and the wide ranging subjects are expertly arranged, into an understandable history lesson.

2-6-6-2 Mallets, 2-6-2 types, are a couple of steam classes viewed. Some diminutive steamers as well. California Western plus Arcada & Mad River operate some saddle tankers. Shays on The Mad River! Heislers are seen. Intriguing shots and in full color.

Contemporary update of Henry Sorenson’s 0-4-0T engine. His restoration and loco background are told.

California’s North Coast Logging Railroads, is a definitive, and very enjoyable program. At times, it veers far off from the railroads themselves. Then it returns to the logging trains.

A near complete examination, on a plethora of related logging operations. If you seek greater ‘in depth’ coverage of more train oriented logging lines, the Catenary videos, have several excellent releases. However, if you just want to see a 50 year general overview of California logging, and the railroads, this one aims to please.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Narrow Gauge Logging Railroads of El Dorado County

Narrow Gauge Logging Railroads of El Dorado County

Catenary Video/ Toulumne Films Productions

Format: DVD

Length: 44 minutes + previews

Time period: 1935- 1950

Locations: El Dorado County, California

Sources: Louie Stein, Dick Thomas,              Wallace Ripley Sr., Harry Balderson

Director: Warren Haack

Logging lines are a fascinating railroad subject. Built in areas of large timber and few  roads. The twisting trackage and rickety trestles, look unbelievable in the modern age. Often, safety standards in a pre-1950 era appear very minimal. There were many narrow gauge loggers. A pair of ancient classics are found here. A standard gauge logging line too.

Steam engines are the exclusive power in this program. Mainly skeleton flatcars for logs. Some caboose presence. The standard gauge line also has some classic 40′ boxcars interchanged with Southern Pacific. More on this later..

Catenary Video logging shows are presented in a PBS style format. The film is mostly color. Dubbed sound will be in many scenes. Maps are nicely drawn and orient the viewer to the areas and snaking trackage in remote locations.No chapter menu. You can see the previews separately.  Adequate narration and some appropriate music, ties it together.

Former railroad employees and some others, have some great stories from the old days. Not only the train operations, daily life in a logging camp. Film from 1935 (black &white) is amazing. It shows actual timber cutting, with handsaws and axes! Still photos add to the storytelling. A number of wrecks are seen in the photographs.

El Dorado County was loaded with Sugar Pine trees. The vastness of the forest and lack of roads, led to railroad construction. Located north of Sacramento and west of Lake Tahoe. Rugged country required many trestles and even a unique, cable car operation to conquer the woods.

Diamond & Caldor has former employees present to reminisce. They have a scrapbook and some stories . This trio adds some real personality, in contrast to the rather dry narrator. D&C appears to be in a very rundown state. Naturally, the dilapidation is attractive to railfans. Those rusty Shays are in, unusually sad looking shape. In fact, Southern Pacific refused to run their locomotives on the bad tracks at Diamond Springs.

The D&C sure looks appealing in the color footage. Big pines tower over the narrow gauge train, on the sharply curving trackage. Geared steam engines also had to contend with steep grades. Link and pin couplers were still in use in 1952. This was 50 years after that system was banned. D&C was put on notice to replace the couplers. Hence, the railroads demise. Additional action is shown at the mill. Locomotive mishaps as remembered by those who were there, have surprising revelations.

Camino Placerville & Lake Tahoe Railroad is the standard gauge line. This line was 8 miles long! Shays haul the 40′ boxcars. They have a little caboose. Short chapter overall.

Michigan- California Lumber is the rare highlight chapter. This has the 1935 loggers filmed at work. A great feature segment, in black & white. The Shays and Heislers are wood burners. Ride on top of a Shay with a string of empty flats. Another engine ride on a loaded train. Pino Grande Mill is visited. Loaded with milled lumber, the train travels to the American River. There are no tracks for the train to cross the river. Cables will be used.

The river gorge spans 2,700 feet. The cables are 1,200 feet above the river. The downward views are dizzying and impressive. The cable tramway is a spectacular operation. Well captured on film in black & white, in 1938. This operation is thoroughly explained. The small flatcars are transported, one at a time on the tramway. Never have seen anything like this! Some color footage is also here. Absolutely amazing to see.

The American River cable feature is worth the price of admission.

A contemporary segment has restoration of D&C Shay shown, as a work in progress.

Digitally remastered films give clear viewing during this show. The audio sounds fine. Many of the short snippets are limitations of the movie cameras from the era. It all plays well and the show is a fun one to watch. Plenty of good history is shared, in a well written script by Don Olsen. The various people interviewed add much to this release. Gives viewers a feel for the region, by the folks that live there.

Catenary Video has additional fine logging programs, and some Southern Pacific shows. Many of these will be reviewed here, on ATVR.

At 44 minutes, not a long show. It is a memorable logging program.                           Narrow Gauge Logging Railroads of El Dorado County, is enjoyable!

Rating: 4  Stars

Sierra Shortlines Volume 2

Sierra Shortlines Volume 2

Catenary Video

Format: DVD

Length: 62 minutes

Time Period: 1920′s- 1960′s

Locations:Merced, Bagby, Merced Falls, Ione, Martel, Colfax, Nevada City, Hetch Hetchy Valley,

Source: Don Olsen (collection), Al Rose, Al Phelps, San Francisco Public Utilities (1923), Louis Stein, Charles Anderson.

Producer: Warren Haack

An introduction by Warren Haack begins this program. The film collection of Don Olsen, supplies the images of this show. There are 4 vintage, shortlines in Volume 2. .

A collection of films, in widely varying years illustrate these lines. Color, black & white films, plus b&w still photos. Film quality ranges from fair (1923), to excellent. Many handheld shots. The later years offer the best quality of film, naturally.

Audio has dubbed, train sounds and there are musical segments. Optional on/off narration.

There are nice maps in the show. They help with the far flung shortlines. They even illustrate, direction of travel and other line locations.On screen graphics further location awareness. Well done!

Warren Haack gives a fine narrative to the program. He keeps the show interesting. Mixing history with film and some photos, provides a good foundation for understanding these railroads. His clear explanations will have any viewer able to follow and enjoy the trains.

Yosemite Valley is the first chapter. Color film, with some b&w. Photos show older power and some stations. The 1944 and 1945 fantrips give a scenic tour of the 78 mile line.Warren gives us plenty of history. Some scenes are natural sounding steam train action. A scene with lumberjacks using hand held saws to fell a big sugar pine is a nice touch.

The YV operation is described in detail. A bunch of color footage that even includes the steep, cable operated ‘incline’. The incline with a 1400′ drop, is very unusual. A fine sequence, shows the incline operation. At Merced Falls, a visit inside a mill and a log drop into the water is informative.That wood mill machinery is noisy. Excellent coverage!

The Amador Central has a black & white segment with interviews. The trains are shown as the people supply various commentary. Sound quality is a little rough, as we cut to a  portion of a circa 1960′s show. There is a lot of film, some handheld camera , looks shot from the front of the locomotive. A Baldwin S12 is the main power. Warren gives history and updates on the line. The sound returns to normal. There is more to see, and we continue the chapter.

Nevada County Narrow gauge.  is the next shortline on the show. One older mans interview add some personality Black & white films. A 1938 film. The excursion train travels the line. The senior citizen, was a boy on that 1938 train. You’ll see a partial of that boy, with his box camera. Switching is also viewed. Number 9 then gets paced with it’s reassembled mixed train. Pretty awesome for 1938, on a shortline! The high vantage point gives a good view of the little 3 footer, as the train traverses the line.Switch to color brightens things up. Looks like camera is on top of a boxcar.  The tale ends with 1943 views of the abandoned line being removed via work train gang.

Hetch Hetchy Railroad was a 68 mile standard gauge line. It was built for construction of the O’Shaughnessy Dam. Besides the 1920′s film, there is color film. A 1947 single coach fan trip was filmed in color by Louis Stein. Here is some 16mm color film. How rare is that? The last run in 1949. A strange looking railbus, carries a few fans. The demise of HH is also shown, as the trackage is torn up.

This is another fine release from Catenary Video. A fine presentation by Warren Haack. Suitable for the entire family. A very worthwhile program.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars