Great American Train Ride

Great American Train Ride (Deluxe Boxset)

Topics Entertainment/ Railway Productions

Format: Four DVD boxset

Length: 5+ hours

Time Period: Contemporary

Locations: USA

Producer: Les Jarrett

A collection of four train videos, in a DVD boxset by Topics Entertainment  These were originally released by Railway Productions.          The four shows are as follows. Santa Fe Mainline Memories, Winter Steam Spectacular, The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon.

With over 5 hours of train videos, there is much to see. The highest rated shows were: Santa Fe Mainline Memories and Atlanta’s White Pass & Yukon.

Mainline Memories is the best one in this set. An unusual style of presentation makes this show jump out. The premise is to travle the Chicago to Los Angeles mainline in under two hours. By using the Santa Fe’s subdivisions as a basis. The distance is served in manageable portions. Extremely well done program. See the ATVR main review of the individual title for more information.

White Pass & Yukon is another highly rated show. There is a fine visit to Skagway, Alaska. Climb over White Pass an on to Fraser, British Columbia. A seat in the locomotive cab, with travel in both directions, double the fun. Great exteriors and the wild, Alaskan scenery. See the full review on ATVR for more.

Cumbres and Toltec is well covered, from both directions. The Chama origin seems the better of the two. Pretty complete coverage. Not as exciting as some presentations. Still, it is a good program. ATVR has a full review.

Winter Steam Spectacular. The snow must be in Phoenix, because there isn’t much here. There are some decent highlights. Durango & Silverton has the most snow, just don’t expect tons of snow. Nevada Northern does have authentic equipment going for it. ATVR has a complete review.

All of the shows are well produced. First rate videograpghy. Good narratives. Natural sounds and music mixed in the programs.They are packaged in a single plastic case, with one big spindle to hold the four DVD’s. Not as deluxe, as advertised- is it?

The first 2 shows listed are the best of the lot. Santa Fe Mainline Memories , is the true highlight show. This one alone can be worth the price of admission. If you get a good price, there is plenty of good material on every show. If the money is tight, maybe the Santa Fe will do by itself. Either way, this is a nice set, and a fine value.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Otto Perry’s Rio Grande Southern

Otto Perry’s Rio Grande Southern

Sunday River Productions

Format: DVD

Length: One hour 24 minutes

Time Period: 1940′s – 1951

Locations: Telluride, Ridgway, Lizard Head, Rico,     Dallas Divide,Ouray, Hesperus,Mancos, Mesa…

Source: Otto Perry (16mm film)

Producer: Alva Morrison

MSRP: 49.95

Steam in the West Series

A comprehensive look at Rio Grande Southern. Famed cinematographer Otto Perry is the film source. He filmed the RGS over a ten year period. Both; black & white, plus color footage of the operations.

Alva Morrison was a great producer. One of the original masters in his own right. He was an early producer of train videos. Concepts, edits, interviews, scenery, trains, tracks, livestock, history, people, script and more. All sharply done, in this nicely paced feature.

A chapter menu divides the show by subjects. Commodities and passengers. Timber, livestock and more.

He has many interviews of former RGS employees and family members. The GM of Durango & Silverton , also has some commentary. His Dad worked the RGS.These stories sure add personality. They help us to understand what life was like around the railroad. An engineer speaks of an average, 14 hour workday.

This line had 3 of the highest passes to cross in the United States. RGS had 4% grades and a multitude of trestles, cuts, fills and mountain hugging trackage. Challenging!

Otto Perry’s films are fascinating! A wide array of viewpoints are effectively deployed. There are trackside and closeups. Spectacle shots of the diminutive trains climbing steep mountain grades. They look like ‘n gauge’ models against the towering backdrops. Wooden buildings are the normal shelters. Looking as if a page out of the old west, they really are!

Nice segments of natural sounding trains, working in this remote wilderness. Color film reveals a colorful landscape. Let’s get a sampling of some of this presentation.

Timber is the first chapter. Rio Grande 319 and 461 on one double-headed lumber move. A wreck on Dallas Divide is seen, 8 months later. Short and sweet chapter.

Ore has b&w film. Good clear film. Placerville is one of the locations. Old timers talk about the challenges of hauling ore trains. Engine #20 is lettered Rio Grande Southern. Color film is an eye opener. Fascinating combination of trains, and mountain scenery. Check the double headers. Memorable!

A complete run of a sheep train is featured. At Rico, the livestock are loaded into stock cars. We follow the train for a short time. A narrow gauge stock train is a sight! A woman discusses her railroad father, giving hungry hobos some food at his house regularly. The same hobos would be seen by Dad riding a freight, the next day. Back with the stock train, it sure is puffing away. The golden Aspens are gorgeous. A cornucopia of views of this train. The sheep are fed and watered at Ouray. Loaded the following day to continue the trip. The empties are hauled back to Rico for another trainload of sheep.A major highlight chapter of the program. Film within the film.

Alva conveys much history of the line. Introduction of the Galloping Goose. A Ridgway to Durango round trip, for the Rocky Mountain Railway Club in 1946, required 3 Geese to complete the trip. Views from trackside and through the front windshield in color.There is some camera shake, as the goose bounces down the track. That adds character, and a feeling of being in that goose! Old timers reminisce about Goose travels on bumpy trackage. Awesome scenery shots from onboard a Galloping Goose!

May 30, 1947 the club tries another trip. This time with steam power, engine #20. Excellent views of the excursion train. May, 1949 is another outing with #74, a few shots.

Sept.1, 1951 was the final trip with #74 and Otto Perry. He captures this one in great detail. Otto hauled his friends in a 1936 Ford and one friend describes a journey to Alamosa. Another discusses the cameras they liked to use. Back to 1951. Stunning scenes that are nearly ‘beyond classic’. At Telluride, the engine begins the return journey. Trout Lake is a water tank stop. The train backed down Lizard Head Peak for the photographer’s final chance on the line. Even more than I relate here. Outstanding chapter!

This Sunday River show contains elements of a PBS style program. As I have come to expect from Sunday River, a very well produced train video. An instant favorite!

Steam train and narrow gauge fans will just adore this one. Otto Perry gives a lesson on cinematography by his choice of viewpoints, lighting and a great eye. This is one of the best narrow gauge programs on the market. It will be in regular rotation for many owners.

The whole family can enjoy this combination of: narrow gauge steam, beautiful scenery, friendly folks and a bygone view, in some of the old West.

Rating: 5 Stars

Colorado Covered 3: Railroads South

Colorado Covered 3: Railroads South

Tell-Tale Productions

Format: DVD

Length: 2 hours 32 minutes

Time Period: 1987-2000

Locations: Pueblo, Tennesee Pass, Leadville, Alamosa, Cumbres, Durango, Antonito , Malta, Cimarron Valley, Raton, Creede Branch,more

Source: James R. Jones

MSRP: 25.00

This is the third entry in a series, on Colorado railroads. The focus on this volume is Southern Colorado. A best seller on Tell-Tale. Narrow gauge railroading is found here!

Standard gauge trains just run wild across the expansive territory. This is a mecca for Colorado railroading. All the railroads that you would expect are present. Surprises are some lesser known roads, and some remote branches.

James Jones has given us a very long, running time on this entry. There is much to digest. This is a Tell-Tale Productions ‘traditional train video’. They also produce some PBS style documentary programs like, Rutland Remnants 5. That is a very worthy show too.

James has a background as a syndicated radio announcer. His love of trains is obvious. A high level of dedication has gone into all of the traveling to record all of the scenes and many locations shown. A Colorado resident at the time, the advantage is all of the variations that a local can get, versus a weekend or even a week long shoot.

This program has a high level of production. Very well photographed, and crisp audio sound. You can tell, this man loves trains. It shows, definitely.

His smooth delivery makes this a comfortable couple of hours of viewing. One might expect endless babble from a radio announcer. That is just a stereotype. Jim sits back ‘in the pocket’. He lets the trains, and their sounds, often dominate. This gives viewers the feeling of ‘being there’.

James will sometimes give us some history on lines, locations and operations. I would say that his narrative style is; smooth and understated.

There is too much to list in detail. Major railroads: Rio Grande, Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, Burlington Northern, Union Pacific, BNSF and run-thru CSX. Many in pre-merger paint schemes. Some trains have cabooses.

Smaller roads: Cumbres & Toltec, Durango & Silverton, Cimarron Valley, Canon City & Royal Gorge, Rock & Rail, San Luis Central.

Locations are numerous. The settings range from prairie to mountainous. Some spectacular footage in beautiful gorges with colorful aspens and waterways. An extensive chapter menu will help sort it all out. Some computer maps help with locations and showing the direction we are headed.

Motive power varies as much as the scenery does. Late 20th century mainline locomotives had the newer 3rd generation and older 1970′s era engines. There is plenty of 2nd generation EMD to see. Cimarron Valley runs 2 GP30 locos in sky blue paint. Big surprise, are original 1950′s built ex: Southern Pacific GP9′s. They operate in decrepit condition, on a small line, still wearing SP paint! Looks like they were pulled off the deadline and put directly into service. Southern Pacific had some weathered Kodachrome diesels. Steam runs on D&S, C&T tourist lines.

Speaking of Cumbres & Toltec. Fantastic views from onboard the traversing train. An unusual view as the train enters the Chama area. An outstanding feature segment in this show. Durango & Silverton looks great, as well.

You will get a cornucopia of viewpoints on a mega assortment of trains and railroads. A mixture of common and obscure locations. Trackside, Cab Rides and scenic overlooking scenes provide a treasure trove of Colorado railroading. At times some still photos fill in the story. James artistry shines thru, as on the trip in Royal Gorge.

In summary, this is a fine program. Colorado Covered 3 is very comprehensive. The scope and style of this show make for great trainwatching. This is a railfan’s delight! I’ll bet the women will enjoy the more scenic parts of the show, use the menu to get her there. Kids will enjoy the multitude of trains shown, in action, at work. The wide array of trains promise a something for everyone program.

The generous 2 1/2 hour length, sets this one apart from the many single disc Colorado shows, on the market. Enough here for a double DVD set, on a single DVD. Combining the mega supply of fine Colorado trains, and the double-feature length, make this an  excellent value. This one is a ‘must see’ program.

Rating: 4 Stars

Across The Top : Steam In The High Rockies

Across The Top : Steam In The High Rockies

Sunday River Productions

Format: DVD

Length: 47 minutes

Time Period: 1930′s- 1980′s

Locations: Colorado- Rocky Mountains 

Sources: Mac Owen, Rex Brittenham, Charles Ryland and more.

Producer: Alva Morrison

MSRP: 39.95

Steam in the West Series.

A focused program of high altitude steam railroading. Surprisingly, is the variation within the scope of that format. Alva has assembled a collection of: ultra rare, short films on Colorado railroads. They are from different years. The sources are; black & white and color film. The under one hour running time packs in ,so much railroading, it takes more than one viewing to take it all in. Loaded with mountainous steam trains, this one satisfies the thirst, for vintage Colorado steam railroading. Both, narrow and standard gauge lines are visited.

As I discussed in Steam On Horseshoe Curve, Alva is an original master of the train video.

A couple of his movie shorts in this show, were originally on reel film. South Park is one. The invention of the vhs tape and home vcr players changed the marketplace. Alva issued feature-length video tapes.

Easily spotted, the shorts have their own titles, credits and lettering variations. As they shows have aged, they too become a part of the lore of railroading.

In the age of the DVD, we now enjoy enhanced films. This program was recently digitally remastered. While it isn’t fair to compare 1930 footage to 1980, everything appears clean.

Audio sounds are outstanding on the DVD. The natural train sounds will jump right out. Crystal clear when they are present. Some rather whimsical music theme ties everything together. Not my cup of tea, but much better than some other producers have used. We are here for the trains anyway. This show has great trains!

There is a chapter menu. It lists 8 chapters. Alva provides historical background that enhances the show. He also deftly ties the multiple eras together with his narrative

A  few highlights, from a program of mostly all highlights.

The 1930′s begins with a look at The Panoramic. An ancestor of the California Zephyr, it featured Pullman service. Early 3400 class Mallets are present. A brief segment.

Colorado Central and South Park follows. A quality map depicts the area we are to visit. South Park will continue to have a key role in this program. Alva’s continued historical information, adds to the pleasure of these films.

The South Park Line is fascinating. Some spectacular views of a narrow gauge train, in snow, chugging up a mountainside! South Platte Canyon has rare film of double-headed and quadruple-headed,steam in cold weather! Pusher/ helper steam locomotives are the icing on this cake! Amazing sequence in the narrow canyon.

The 1940′s turns into full color. Behemoth, 3700 class, 4-8-8-4, articulated Mallets are an awesome sight! Updated equipment is compared to earlier 1930′s versions of named passenger trains.Even some of the names were changed at the time.The upgraded Mallets are the centerpiece here. Nicely done!

Ride The San Juan is a color chapter. Travel through Cumbres at over 10,000 Feet! The arrival at Chama shows a working Rio Grande yard, that one still exists albeit a tourist line now. The train arrives at Durango and a busy yard there. Switching moves assemble a mixed train for Silverton. The freight/ passenger train is filmed as it departs the yard.

Marshall Pass and The Gunnison by Charles Ryland in color. Begins at Salida yard. Unique, is the ‘gimmick’ of having a conductor punch our ticket at each station, as we traverse this high line. Featured, is a narrow gauge excursion by The Rocky Mountain Railroad Club. Very scenic and high viewpoints from a passenger car. Marshall Pass station at an elevation of 10,856 feet is seen! Arrival at Gunnison, and time travel to black & white film 1930′s comparison.

The conductor punches our ticket, to further the journey. More spectacular scenery! This Gunnison Line is now completely submerged, along with the gorge. This was due to a dam being constructed, and a resulting lake. Currecanti Needle is displayed. Alva explains how this was used for the mountain peak in the Rio Grande logo. Amazing scenery!

Climbing to Climax, as filmed by Mac Owen. Burlington Route steam on the Colorado & Southern, with standard gauge railroading. Leadville to Climax line, was widened from narrow gauge trackage. We follow C&S #641 steam engine as it climbs uphill with a short freight train. At Climax, the 641 switches some boxcars, and reassembles the train.

A highly enjoyable and informative program. Alva Morrison had excellent production skills.

Across The Top: Steam in the High Rockies, is exceptionally fine. There are numerous train videos about Colorado narrow gauge steam. This rare, vintage film based program, featuring the high lines, is the best one that I have seen.

Rating: 5 Stars

Diesel Previews (Greg Scholl)

Diesel Previews                                          

Greg Scholl Video Productions

Format: DVD

Length: 35 minutes

Preview Sampler DVD

MSRP: 14.95

A 2010 release showcasing 33 titles from Greg Scholl. There is a main menu, listing five chapters. Play All is another option. Some military video titles are included. There is also another release, a Steam Preview DVD. That will be another review.

US Contemporary, Canadian, Vintage Film Era, America by Rail and World War Two are the chapter selections. The previews themselves are pretty short. Average time is about one minute, give or take 30 seconds. They play too briefly. You get a glimpse of a show.

The quality of the images look fine. Natural sounds are crisp and clear.

The style of this preview disc differs from some of the others in the marketplace. Some producers just lift out segments direct to a preview show. This has the advantage of letting prospective customers get a uniterrupted look at a given program. The overall feel of the show can also be judged.

Greg Scholl has much custom preview narration. He explains an overall description of what is contained within each show. In this way, I can’t tell what actual narratives and the majority of music backgrounds are like. The camerawork appears sharp on the railroad shows. The descriptions are concise, right to the point. There are some great shots to be viewed.

Here are some titles that caught my interest: Early Diesels, New Haven Railroad in the 1950′s, Canada’s Canyon Route, Southern Pacific Pictorial, Snowplow with CN F-7s, Plow Extras,

Other titles include: Norfolk Southern’s Peavine, A Day On Soldier Summit, Early Diesels 3, VIA F’s in the Rockies, Reflections, Illinois Junctions, Santa Fe Pictorial, Ohio Rail Diamonds, Cab Ride Over Kicking Horse Pass, Union Pacific’s Caliente Subdivision, Rochelle, and more!

There are plenty of worthwhile titles on this preview program. They appear to be quality shows. The Canadian series offers some outstanding scenery. The US Contemporary has the promise of excellent film sequences. Vintage film is always worth  viewing.

The six military previews are outside of our intended subject matter. They look good.

This is a quickly paced presentation. The previews are a little too short. I would have preferred an emphasis on: direct scenes, as they are presented, with that shows narration and soundtrack.

There is enough here to communicate the focus and look of the programs. They do look good. The audio sounds great. Gets my interest to try out a few Greg Scholl titles.  It does preview a large number of shows. After viewing this sampler, I am adding some of his feature shows to this site

Recommended!

Rating: 3 Stars