New Haven in Film fmnut 2024-04-12 | A collection of New Haven clips from the 1930s through the 1960s. Thanks to Walt Berko of Railroad Video, Charles Houser, Glory Machines 1/Herron Video and the Prelinger Archive for the material. Of note are the three lightweight experimentals the NH toyed with in the 50s, The FM Speed Merchants, Baldwin hydraulics, and the "Hot Rod" RDC set. I've had this put together for a while waiting to add sound, but other commitments have taken a lot of my spare time so I've chosen to publish it anyway.
Boston & Maine in Film fmnut 2024-04-12 | A collection of Boston & Maine clips from the 1950s through the 1970s. Many of the scenes are on the Connecticut River Line with CP run-through power. Thanks to Walt Berko of Railroad Video for the bulk of the material. I've had this put together for a while waiting to add sound, but other commitments have taken a lot of my spare time so I've chosen to publish it anyway.
Iarnrod Eirann: A Day Out At Limerick Jct fmnut 2024-01-06 | I'm looking back through my archives for unposted content. This footage is from a 2005 visit to Ireland. I spent the better part of a day at Limerick Jct. which involved many hours of waiting and brief spurts of activity. This was really the beginning of the end of the "orange era" of Irish Rail, with the new CAF push pull sets and DMUs arriving in a green scheme while the Mark II and many of the Mark III coaches were replaced. Diminishing freight traffic would lead to the disappearance of the small GM classes leaving only the 071s to soldier on in freight work repainted into a dull gray scheme. A surprise appearance of a steam working along with liner, cement and Guinness keg workings added a bit of variety. Enjoy!
Mack Locomotives fmnut 2023-11-13 | In addition to their well known line of trucks, Mack also ventured into the railway market in the 1920s and 1930s. They provided power packages for railcars ("doodlebugs"), rail buses, and small switching locomotives. The two boxcab locomotives at the start of the video are former trolley locos from a lead mine in Missouri, repowered with Mack engine/generator sets. They served as the plant switchers at Allentown for many years and later went to the WK&S at Kempton, PA. Jeff Seidel was instrumental in restoring one to operation and is shown at the throttle in the WK&S footage. The small unit shown in the latter video works at the Lake Superior Museum in Duluth, and is used for switching around the museum tracks. LSRM has an excellent video with the history of this loco on YouTube. Thanks to Walt Berko of Railroad Video for the WK&S footage originally shot by Ken Thomas on VHS.
Marschbahn 2019 fmnut 2023-09-12 | I came across the raw video from my 2019 Marschbahn visit while researching, and realized I had not yet edited it together. For those who have not seen my Marschbahn 2013 video, I recommend it to show how things have changed in the intervening six years. The Marschbahn runs northward from Hamburg Germany to the Isle of Sylt in the North Sea, the latter being accessed by a causeway over the tidal flats known as the Hindenburgdamm. The line is notable for its semaphore signaled single track line north of Niebüll with dense rail traffic, hosting DB intercity services, Shleswig-Holstein regional trains and the vehicle shuttles bound for Sylt, which can only be accessed by rail. Enjoy!
Erie Mining Slideshow fmnut 2023-08-11 | I put this together about 20 years ago as an intro to a video program presented shortly after the mine closed for good. Photos used with permission, credits at the end of the video.
Conrail OCS in Film fmnut 2023-06-22 | A recent find from the lens of Red Moser. A chronological compendium of Conrail OCS scenes around the Reading PA area from 1982 to 1988. This collection nicely compliments my OCS videos which begin in 1988. In these earlier scenes you can trace the timeline from the blue era, to the freshly painted 4022 sans nose logo, to the changes in placement of its Hancock Air Whistle and replacement with a Conrail standard Leslie. Also note that the heavyweight cars are still equipped with their 6 wheel trucks. You can plot the increase in size of the OCS trains as more equipment was added culminating with the dome car, as well as the arrival of the 4020 and later 4021 to handle the larger trains. Also shown is the joint Blue Mountain & Reading/CR trip with PRR E8s and CR Research cars that ran as an OCS to Harrisburg station for the GG1 dedication. Sounds are from my extensive videos of the OCS. Enjoy!
Portugal: Narrow Gauge Steam fmnut 2023-05-14 | A recent dip into the ebay vault yielded these scenes of the now-closed narrow gauge lines through the Tua and Cargo river valleys in Portugal. No dates on the film, but I believe it's the late 70s or early 80s. Super 8 silent film with sound added from my video library. Enjoy!
Octoraro Railway Motive Power Review fmnut 2023-03-29 | A reasonably comprehensive look at the locomotives of the Octoraro Railway starting in the late 70s up until the change to Delaware Valley RR. Videos of this line, especially in the early Alco years, are quite rare. The bulk of the video and all stills are courtesy of Jack Barnett, while the initial scenes of #3 in freight service are from YouTuber Delaware Train Videos. These tapes were quite old and required some TLC and several VCRs to get the best results. Enjoy!
Reading Companys ARCO: Moving autos by piggyback fmnut 2023-03-27 | Details are in the description panels in the video. While short lived, this was an interesting and unique operation. Film credits to Charles Houser and Homer Grim, the latter film courtesy of the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society. Addendum: The ARCO facility opened in September, 1962, not 1964 as stated in the text panel. Thanks for watching.
LV Lehigh Valley Cornell Red Years fmnut 2023-01-30 | This short video consists of outtakes of the Lehigh Valley RR from a recent film acquisition. The first several scenes are at Bethlehem, then follow progressively from Treichlers to Lehigh Gap. The PA on freight at Richards is out of sequence, but then we catch it again at Lehighton. The final scene is at Jim Thorpe with an Air Products load on a high-and-wide special. Sounds added from my video library and Arkay recordings. Enjoy!
GE Centercabs in the Northeast fmnut 2023-01-27 | General Electric's 44 ton model was targeted at Class 1 railroads with a view to reducing crew size on branchlines and small switching operations. According to then-current labor agreements, 44 tons was the maximum weight for a locomotive to operate without a fireman. Many were either purchased new or found their way onto various shortline railroads and tourist operations. Herewith, a compendium of "Tonners" operating in both freight and passenger service, rounded out by the inclusion of a much larger 132 ton GE Cooper-Bessemer powered streamlined unit on the Wellsville, Addison & Galeton, originally built for Ford Motor Co.
Electroliners to Liberty Liners fmnut 2023-01-23 | The Electroliners/Liberty Liners are some of my favorite pieces of electric traction, with only the PRR GG1 and Little Joes being higher on the list. I recently acquired an extensive traction collection, and decided to do this video of that material combined with some other scenes from my archives and added clips from YouTube contributors @rekelly2, @Trenton Line Railfan, @charleyw1946 and @SantaFe669. Audio added to the film segments is from my personal videos. Historic details are in the description in the video. Thanks for watching!
NYC NKP Cuyahoga River Tour 1956 NRHS Convention fmnut 2023-01-08 | For the fan of the Industrial 1950s this film has just about everything. This river tour was part of the 1956 NRHS Convention, at arguably the height of Cleveland's industrial might. It depicts a maze of high viaducts, lift bridges, railroads, steel mills and other facilities, traversed by steam powered ore boats and self unloaders. Also note the unusual Hulett unloaders with the open frame booms rather than the more conventional riveted beams. Enjoy the video!
RDG Reading Shops Remastered fmnut 2022-12-23 | This is an expansion of the original Reading Shops video, with 12 minutes of additional material along with information text panels and location labeling. Additionally, all of the light box film transfers have been replaced with digital scans direct from the original films. The three family members at the end of the video are, in order, my uncle Charlie Deisher, my mother Dorothy and my father Bill Frey. I think I can finally put this project to bed for good and all. Thanks for watching.
WK&S Early Years 1963-65 fmnut 2022-12-15 | The Wanamaker Kempton & Southern has a special place in my railroading world. I worked there as a volunteer from 1966 to 1969, cutting my teeth on the basics of railroading at the tender age of 12. Herewith a compendium of shots on 8mm film from the Houser Collection, covering some of the earliest trains when the equipment was still lettered for the parent roads, up to the acquisition of Baldwin 2-6-2 250 from the Bonhomie, Hattiesburg & Southern. In some of the shots only the roadname is painted out in primer, with the white striping and driver highlights still from the original owner. Two train operation is shown, with #2 handling a short consist while 250 takes the big train. Note that the trains appear to be operating fairly full. The final shots have 250 and the consist with full WK&S lettering. Sounds added from the Semaphore recordings and my video library. Enjoy!
CSS&SB: Street Running on the South Shore fmnut 2022-12-08 | 2022 was an eventful year for railfans, and in retrospect at year's end, one of the2022's key events was the cessation of street running on the South Shore in Michigan City IN. Unusually, the track is being retained and upgraded to double track, rather than the line being rerouted or abandoned as was the case in many other long gone stretches of street running. Instead, the road surface will be reduced to one lane one-way only, and the balance of the width given to dedicated double track right of way. 21 grade crossings will also be eliminated. This will remove a single track bottleneck and enable higher speeds, thus improving operations overall. With all this in mind, I decided to take a look back in film and video at the South Shore's street operations, both in South Bend (long abandoned) and Michigan City. The wonky shot with the Geeps was at the end of a reel and damaged. I stitched together the usable frames the best I could, as it was the only available footage of Geeps running the street in the daytime.Sounds were added to silent film from my video library, and the video was from an evening visit on the way to Missabe country. If I have made any errors in sorting footage to either city, my apologies, as I took my best guess based on Street View and the age of the film.
USATC Ft Eustis Tripleheader fmnut 2022-12-05 | As part of the 1966 NRHS convention at Richmond, VA, a fantrip was run to Fort Eustis where a tripleheader of S160 steam locomotives was the star attraction. I had previously done a video on this facility with some rather poor quality footage (very dark) from Prelinger Archives. A recent film acquisition contained some much better footage, so instead of editing it into the previous program, I created a new video. Sounds are from similar locos operated as tripleheaders in the UK, and diesel and environmental sounds are from my video collection and Arkay Records "First Generation Diesels Vol. 1".
Reading Co Hotbox at Hamburg fmnut 2022-12-05 | This is a short one, details in the intro panel. Hotbox was likely spotted from the caboose in the long curve east of Port Clinton along the river. Hamburg was the next siding available to set out the car.
Stewartstown RR NRHS Fan Trip fmnut 2022-12-04 | A trip over the Stewartstown RR on October 22, 1960. Power for the trip is #9, while #6 is also seen backing into the enginehouse after being on display. Some of the tour group boards the PRR train to Baltimore at the end of the film. Note the conductor waving a frantic washout as the train approaches. I think the engineer wasn't expecting passengers and overshot the station stop, as they reversed to pick them up. Sounds added from my video collection.
C&NW 400 Trains Promo 1939 fmnut 2022-11-25 | In 1939, the Chicago & Northwestern introduced sets of new streamlined equipment and E3 diesels to their "400" trains running between the Twin Cities and Chicago. Introduced in 1935, the trains were so named because it was nominally 400 miles between the end points. While searching through the archives, I came across this gem of a promotional film for the new trains, professionally shot on 16mm film. I decided to forego the usual soundtrack construction, opting instead for some period music from the Seeburg background music collection.
RDG CNJ Wreck at Allentown 1964 fmnut 2022-11-24 | A look at the way derailments were cleaned up in the days before Hulcher. The circumstances are detailed at the beginning of the video. Scanned from original 8mm film by Charles Houser. Thanks to "Big Mike" Bednar for the story on this incident.
Warner Sand & Gravel Baldwins fmnut 2022-11-03 | In a recent film purchase I came across about 2 minutes of footage taken at an open house at the Warner Van Sciver gravel plant in Tullytown, PA in 1960. It was a bit thin, so I added some stills and commentary to fill out the coverage into a mini-documentary. Enjoy!
Yankeetown Dock/Squaw Creek Coal: Remastered fmnut 2022-09-22 | By request, I have remastered one of my original posts from DSL days in higher def with enhanced color and some stabilization. I also added in all of my original footage from the area. Thanks for watching.
Southern Pacific Safety Film Dangerous Playground fmnut 2022-09-15 | By request, I have uploaded this film as I am told it is a superior version to those already on YouTube. I used some scenes from this video in my "Shasta Daylight" production.
Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge fmnut 2022-09-13 | In September 2002 I joined my friend Mike Harting for a trip to Minnesota to ride the "Farewell to Erie Mining" special trains. Friday afternoon in Duluth we hooked up with our local friend Keith Benoit who kindly arranged for us to ride the Aerial Lift Bridge while photographing boat traffic. We found the John G Munson (USS Great Lakes Fleet) preparing to depart DMIR dock 6 after unloading limestone. She was headed for Two Harbors to take on a load of iron ore. After getting a DMIR ore empty heading up Proctor Hill with six! units, we headed for the bridge. The Munson finally came through exhanging salutes with her distinctive steam horn and the bridge's unique air horn. After a few hours of friendly chatting with the bridge operators, the John J Boland, (American Steamship) came out of the moonrise over Lake Superior. Sadly, Mike and Keith are no longer with us, and this video is dedicated to their memory. R.I.P. gentlemen!
Chief Wawatam fmnut 2022-03-21 | A look at the Great Lakes carferry Chief Wawatam and the railroads that served it from the 1911 until its demise in 1984. I uploaded this a few years ago but there were some issues and it was taken down. Those issues have since been resolved, so here it is again.
Reading and Conrail Rutherford Yard fmnut 2022-03-15 | A rather lengthy video documenting the history of the Reading Company's Rutherford Yard from its inception through the RDG and Conrail years to its current role as an intermodal terminal for Norfolk Southern.
RDG Marine & Facilities Remastered fmnut 2022-01-09 | This is an update of a video I posted a few years back. It includes many new photos, added labeling of the piers, some film clips of switching at Port Richmond, and extended coverage of the facilities at Port Reading, including the original gravity coal dock and the rebuilt McMyler dumper. I did my best to enhance the quality of the added video, as it came from older VHS tape. Enjoy!
CN around Jasper 1970s fmnut 2021-12-19 | I recently purchased more Super 8mm CN footage from the mid-70's. It begins with a ride on the "Rupert Rocket" in BC approaching the Alberta border. Then there are some runbys of the Rocket and Super Continental. After some scenes around Jasper station and a brief freight scene, it concludes with another Super Continental runby. Sounds were added from my library to the original silent film. Enjoy!
Little Railways of Wales fmnut 2021-11-21 | Most of these clips are from my 2003 trip to the UK with a few supplemental scenes from my friend Garnedd Jones of Holyhead. Enjoy!
Hedjaz Railway Syria Part 2 fmnut 2021-11-20 | The third installment of a 3 part series covering the Hedjaz Railway, transferred from Super 8 silent film. The film was not dated but I'm estimating it's from the mid 80's. All sounds are from actual recordings of Hedjaz locomotives, if not from the actual locomotive shown. Sorry for the delay in getting this one out, I was dealing with a hard drive crash. Enjoy!
Hedjaz Railway Syria Part 1 fmnut 2021-10-31 | The second installment of a 3 part series covering the Hedjaz Railway, transferred from Super 8 silent film. The film was not dated but I'm estimating it's from the mid 80's. All sounds are from actual recordings of Hedjaz locomotives, if not from the actual locomotive shown. The last part will cover the balance of the Syria footage. Enjoy!
Hedjaz Railway - Jordan fmnut 2021-10-24 | The first installment of a 3 part series covering the Hedjaz Railway, transferred from Super 8 silent film. The film was not dated but I'm estimating it's from the mid 80's. All sounds are from actual recordings of Hedjaz locomotives, if not from the actual locomotive shown. The next two parts will cover Syria. Enjoy!
Fichtelbergbahn 1981 2011 fmnut 2021-10-08 | I recently came across a few minutes of film of the Fichtelbergbahn from the old East German days before reunification. I added sound plus my 2011 footage to show the contrast from the dark days of Communism to today's tourist attraction. Enjoy!
Kennecott Copper Electrics fmnut 2021-10-05 | I recently acquired some film of Kennecott's electric road haul trains from the Bingham Canyon mine to the smelter at Magna. I believe these were taken shortly before the end of electric haulage which ceased in 1978 after a substation fire doomed the electrification. After a short period of leased power, trains were operated with new SD40-2's from 1978. For film of the electrified pit operations, see my video "Freight Motors in the West". The entire rail operation has since been replaced with truck haulage in the pit, a conveyor to a new concentrator at Copperton, and a slurry pipe to the smelter at Magna.
Pressnitztalbahn 1981 and 2011 fmnut 2021-10-01 | I recently came across a few minutes of film of the Pressnitztalbahn from the old East German days before reunification. I added sound plus my 2011 footage to show the contrast from the dark days of Communism to today's tourist attraction. Enjoy!
SP On Donner Pass in Film Part 5 fmnut 2021-09-19 | Part 5 of the series from the lens of Jeffrey M. Lyons. Sounds added from my video library. Enjoy!
SP On Donner Pass in Film Part 4 fmnut 2021-09-12 | Part 4 of the series from the lens of Jeffrey M. Lyons taken in 1979. Sounds added to the original 8mm film account technical issues capturing the original sound. Thanks for watching!
SP On Donner Pass in Film Part 3 fmnut 2021-09-09 | Part 3 of the series, I didn't cut out anything on this one, everything you see is what the filmer shot. From the lens of Jeffrey M. Lyons, sounds added from my video library. Enjoy!
SP On Donner Pass in Film Part 2 fmnut 2021-09-08 | Part 2 of the Donner Pass series from the lens of Jeffrey M. Lyons. I put all of the winter shots together in this part. Per viewer requests in the comments on Part 1, I have included virtually all of the footage shot this time. Any cuts in the action were cuts on the original film.Note the appearances of several of the SD45X models in the film. Enjoy!
SP On Donner Pass in Film Part 1 fmnut 2021-09-04 | More gold from the lens of Jeffrey M. Lyons. This time we switch to the SP over Donner Pass. Locations are Cape Horn, Troy and the final Amtrak scene is approaching Roseville if I'm not mistaken. This series will have multiple parts as I purchased over 2000 feet of film. I have included a bit more of the trains passing than I normally do, as Mr. Lyons was unusual in that he filmed most or all of the train passing. I have tried to strike a compromise between those who want to see the whole train passing, and those who get bored while watching the entire train pass. Let me know in the comments what you think. Also, again, I have added sounds because I was unable to transfer the original audio. Thanks for watching!
WP Feather River Canyon in Film fmnut 2021-08-30 | Another one from the Ebay vault, this time a purchase from Jeffrey M. Lyons of a sizeable collection of WP and SP footage in the Sierras. This first installment is the WP footage, taken in the summer of 1979, just before the UP merger. The film did have original sound, but I was unable to effect the audio transfer so sounds are, once again, added from my video library. Enjoy! Credit to Mr. Lyons for the original film.
Weyerhaeuser F-Ms fmnut 2021-08-20 | More Northwest action from the Ebay vault, this time a look at the Fairbanks-Morse locomotives of the Weyerhaeuser corporation, specifically on the Chehalis Western and Vail Lines. The Chehalis-Western Junction portion of the route was on trackage rights over the Milwaukee Road. There were three F-M's in use there in the 1960's and early 70's as shown in the film, supplemented in 1968 with an Alco C415. The original film was silent. Sounds are from Arkay Records and my video library. Enjoy!
Oregon 70 Tonners fmnut 2021-08-17 | General Electric's 70 Ton model was popular with shortlines and logging roads in Oregon. This collection came from unknown sources via Ebay purchases. It covers the SP, Valley & Siletz, and Weyerhaeuser's Springfield Mill operation. Other 70 Ton operators included Peninsula Terminal, Oregon Pacific & Eastern, and Klamath Northern. Unfortunately I don't have film of the latter. Sounds are added to the original silent film.
Freight Motors in Chicagoland fmnut 2021-08-05 | Part 4 of the Freight Motors series. Sorry for the long delay in posting, but family issues come first. This segment includes all of the Insull traction triad, plus CTA and the Milwaukee Electric/East Troy railroad. Thanks to Tressteleg for the East Troy footage, which filled in a gap in my coverage of the last of the trolley freight operations in the US.
NS Heritage CR 8098 fmnut 2021-06-26 | Thanks to a heads up from a friend in Wales (of all places!) I dragged my butt out of the house today to catch the NS Conrail Heritage Unit. Temps were in the low 90's so lots of heat shimmer on the tele shots. Also check out the local wildlife occupying the main track without authority. Enjoy!
Freight Motors in the West fmnut 2021-06-05 | Part 3 of a 4 part series. A compendium of shortline, industrial and interurban freight traction in the western US from the 1930's to 2000. Sounds added when required from my video library.
Freight Motors in the Midwest fmnut 2021-05-29 | Part 2 of a 4 part series. A compendium of shortline, industrial and interurban freight traction in the midwestern US from the 1940's to 2001. Sounds added when required from my video library.
