Speed Graphic Film and Video | Valley RR 1647 Cab Ride, December 1991 @SpeedGraphicFilmVideo | Uploaded January 2015 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
The Valley Railroad has operated for many years out of Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The Valley's 2-8-2 No. 1647 was built in 1989 in the People's Republic of China. In 1991, I and my video camera had the privilege of a cab ride on one of their Christmas trains.
The Valley Railroad has operated for many years out of Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The Valley's 2-8-2 No. 1647 was built in 1989 in the People's Republic of China. In 1991, I and my video camera had the privilege of a cab ride on one of their Christmas trains.
![Old Home Movies, Vol. VI: Through the Canadian Rockies by Train [Silent]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAIkBwg8AMw/hqdefault.jpg "Old Home Movies, Vol. VI: Through the Canadian Rockies by Train [Silent]
This video brings together three photographers movies of the Canadian Rockies and the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The oldest scenes were probably taken in the mid-1930s; the newest in the late 50s or early 60s.
The first sequence is from the Medicus collection, taken by a family that could afford to travel and vacation in style, even in the midst of the Great Depression. On this trip, they take the train to Lake Louise, then motor to Banff where they catch the train back.
0:19 A view of the doubleheaded motive power from the observation car.
0:57 Across one of the more spectacular bridges on the Canadian Pacifics route.
1:32 A series of shots as the train passes through the famous spiral tunnels.
1:53 Lake Louise as seen from the CPs Chateau Lake Louise.
2:07 The Hotel itself. One wing was destroyed by fire in the 1920s; its replacement looks very different from the rest of the building.
2:22 A cold trip by car from Lake Louise to Banff.
2:30 The Canadian Pacifics Banff Springs Hotel.
2:54 Banff itself.
3:15 The train back home.
The next sequence was probably taken in the 1950s. The photographer is unknown, but seems to be traveling with a couple of women relatives.
3:26 View of Lake Louise from the Chateau Lake Louise.
3:34 Various views of the hotel and staff.
4:45 A stop at the Kicking Horse Tea Room, which offered views of the spiral tunnels. The photographer is, unfortunately, only able to capture a couple of quick shots of a pair of steam locomotives running light.
5:05 Time to board the train. At the head is one of the CPs mighty T2a 2-10-4 Selkirks, the 5921.
5:22 Taking the siding to let another train by, this one in charge of another Selkirk, the 5923.
5:35 On the way to Vancouver, with some doubleheading at one point.
The final short sequence of shots were probably taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The photographer has stopped to see the spiral tunnels, and is rewarded with (distant) views of a couple of diesel-powered passenger trains.
5:47 Consist looks to be a mix of older heavyweight cars and newer stainless-steel equipment, including a dome-observation car on the end.
6:30 The train is almost entirely hidden by the overgrowth.
6:40 Another train. It appears to be all the latest passenger equipment.
A final note: I cut many minutes of footage showing mountains, lakes, glaciers and snowfields. Even though everybody tries, its impossible to capture the beauty and the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies on film.")
