Freight Service Only: Stan Kistler (1959) Diverging Clear Productions 2026-09-30 | Freight Service Only: Stan Kistler (1959)
Railroad Adventures #8: Three Railroads, Three Junctions Diverging Clear Productions 2025-10-05 | Friday, September 19th, 2025, was the last day filming along the mainlines in central Illinois near Champaign.This day would see action at three junctions: Leverett Junction at the north end of the Champaign yard where the Chicago and Champaign Subdivisions of the Canadian National's former Illinois Central met; Tuscola where the Champaign Sub. crosses Union Pacific's Chicago Sub. and Tolono where the Champaign Sub crosses Norfolk Southern's former Wabash mainline to St. Louis.This day would find black Illinois Central SD70s, three Amtrak trains including the City of New Orleans, Union Pacific traffic at Tuscola and Norfolk Southern at Tolono.It would be a good way to wrap up five days of shooting!
Railfan Adventures #7: Death Stars, Oil Cans and Amtraks Diverging Clear Productions 2025-10-05 | Thursday, September 18th, 2025, began on the former Champaign District of the Illinois Central Railroad.Half a century ago, this was a double-track railroad with Automatic Train Stop, cab signals and a 100mph speed limit. Today, it's a single-track CTC railroad with Positive Train Control and a 79mph speed limit.Shooting at Pesotum and Tolono, Illinois, Amtrak's Saluki was seen in both directions, along with oil trains and former I.C. SD70s in black "Death Star" paint. A westbound Norfolk Southern freight was also caught crossing the line at Tolono.
Four Days on the Cumbres & Toltec: September 21 - 24, 2023 Diverging Clear Productions 2025-10-04 | We spent four days filming on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in September of 2023.We had multiple cameras and secondary audio recording to capture the action as locomotives 488, 484 and 463 handled the daily trains between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado. We concentrated mostly on the grades from Los Pinos and Chama to the summit of Cumbres Pass, and also spent time on the faster portion of the line on the Antonito side.We would have also liked to capture action on the more remote portion of the line south of Antonito, however those roads are not conducive to the Grand Caravan we were traveling in.This video presents the majority of our footage from those four days.Enjoy!
Railfan Adventures #6: Chasing Old St Louis Lines Diverging Clear Productions 2025-10-03 | Heading south along the former Illinois Central Chicago District on the morning of September 17th, 2025, the City of New Orleans and a southbound freight were caught before heading onto a pair of fallen flags' routes to St. Louis.The Gilman District was the route the I.C.'s famous Green Diamond once used to reach St. Louis, and the road local that travels this route was followed from Clinton to Mt. Pulaski, Illinois. This route sees only light traffic, and is not often filmed.From there it was on to the former Wabash mainline east of Decatur, where stack trains 252 and 251 were found. This pair of trains replaced the Triple Crown Roadrailers in 2024, and the containers carry Triple Crown decals.It was a good day of filming in locations that don't see that much coverage by railfans.
Railfan Adventures #5: A Day on the Mainline of Mid America Diverging Clear Productions 2025-10-02 | September 16th, 2025, was another day of filming on the former Illinois Central Railroad's Chicago District.The day began at the Gilman coal towers to catch the northbound City of New Orleans. From there, filming locations included Onarga and Danforth to the north and south of Gilman. The Toledo, Peoria & Western made an appearance, and the day ended with private cars bringing up the rear of the southbound City of New Orleans.It was a good day of filming!
Railfan Adventures #4: On the Old I.C. - Theaters, Death Stars and Old Structures Diverging Clear Productions 2025-10-01 | On September 15th, 2025, our camera was headed north to film on the former Illinois Central Railroad's Chicago District.After a quick stop at Neoga to catch southbound Amtrak 391, it was on to the area around Gilman, Illinois. The goal was to shoot remnants of the I.C., including SD70s in black paint and trains passing existing I.C. structures.It was a good start to a week of filming!
Missabe Giants - Starlake Films (1976) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-09-27 | Starlake Films released this look at the massive 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones of the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range in 1976. This is a rare example of vintage film that was not only in color, but also captured the sounds!
Rolling the Freight - Chicago and North Western Diverging Clear Productions 2025-09-20 | The Chicago & North Western produced this film about the railroad's freight service in 1947. Both steam locomotives and early diesels were featured, including rare scenes of the C&NW 4-8-4 Northerns.
Full Program - Steamin In 2024 Diverging Clear Productions 2025-09-13 | 2024 found us traveling through six states and filming six steam locomotives in action:Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4014Southern Railway 2-8-0 #401East Broad Top 2-8-2 Mikado #16Canadian National 2-6-0 Mogul#89 Everett Railroad 2-6-0 Mogul #11andCanadian Pacific 4-6-4 Hudson #2816We start with Big Boy 4014, which was running between Chicago and St. Louis on the second of two tours for the year. This two day shoot has to be the most insane chase we have ever been a part of!Next is the Monticello Railway Museum, which has erected a new water tower and placed a standpipe in service to fill the tender of restored Southern Railway #401. Our visit included Railroad Days, where Wabash F9A #1189 and a Canadian National FP4 A-B set were handling trains alongside the steam locomotive.Then it was off to Pennsylvania, where we caught test runs of East Broad Top 2-8-2 #16 following lengthy repair work that kept the locomotive sidelined most of the year. While #16 was tested, 55-ton diesel M-7 was busy handling passenger trains. We also toured the railroad, documenting the progress of the restoration work south of Rockhill.Since we were in the area, we stopped by the Strasburg Rail Road and caught Canadian National #89 sporting a Pennsylvania Railroad “banshee” whistle. The smallest of three locomotives on the roster, #89 puts on a good show with the Strasburg’s regular eight-car trains.Then is was back to the Altoona area, where the Everett Railroad was operating pull-pull trains between Hollidaysburg and Kladder for the Fall Y’all festival. Leading the train to Kladder was the railroad’s 1920-built Alco 2-6-0 #11, and we found a scenic area where the engine put on a good show climbing upgrade. Historic ex-Lehigh Valley switcher #126 led the return leg back to Hollidaysburg.We wrap the program with the historic run of Canadian Pacific Hudson #2816, which toured three countries as a celebration of the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern into the new CPKC system. We filmed the train in Illinois and Iowa on the southbound leg, and again over a month later returning through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. The beautiful passenger locomotive rans flawlessly, and put on quite a show.It’s a look at six locomotives in action across six states!
Steamin in 93 - Trackside Video (1993) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-09-06 | Trackside Video released this video featuring multiple steam locomotives in 1993. Locomotives featured include:Hocking Valley 33Great Smoky Mountains 1702Louisville & Nashville 152Chesapeake & Ohio 2765 (Nickel Plate Road 765)Blue Mountain & Reading 425Strasburg Rail Road 90 and 89Gettysburg Railroad 1278andVirginia Central 1238 and 1286The segment on the 1278 was filmed less than two years before the crown sheet failure that would result in a rewriting of steam regulations in the U.S. Several other segments feature locomotives that are no longer in operation today.
Steamin In 92 - Trackside Video (1992) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-08-30 | Trackside Video released this look at steam in action in 1992. A number of steam operations were visited:Cass Scenic RailroadGreat Smoky Mountains Scenic RailroadNorth Carolina Transportation MuseumNew Georgia RailroadN&W 611 on Saluda MountainHocking Valley RailroadClinchfield Santa Train with Union Pacific 3985 as Clinchfield 676Of these operations the Cass Scenic and the Great Smoky Mountains still run much as seen here, and N&W 611 is still operable. The rest are no longer in operation today.The end of the program got cut off during the digital conversion.
Chasing Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 Across Illinois Diverging Clear Productions 2025-08-23 | On September 9th and 10th, 2024, we were on hand as Union Pacific Big Boy #4014 ran across former Chicago & Eastern Illinois rails from Chicago to St. Louis, with an overnight stop at Villa Grove, Illinois. Three cameras captured the action.
Last of the Giants - Union Pacifics Film About the Big Boys Diverging Clear Productions 2025-08-16 | As the steam era was coming to an end, the Union Pacific Railroad produced this classic film about the 4-8-8-4 Big Boys.
Union Pacific 844 Headed to Memphis in 2016 Diverging Clear Productions 2025-08-09 | On October 18th and 19th, 2016, Union Pacific 4-8-4 #844 was headed to Memphis, Tennessee, as she passed through Missouri and Illinois on former Missouri Pacific rails. We had four photographers covering the move as she passed through our region during the two days.
Eighty Four Forty Four (Union Pacific ) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-08-04 | The Union Pacific Railroad released this film profiling never-retired 4-8-4 #844, which at the time was numbered 8444 to make way for a GP30 diesel, in 1981.
Southern Railway 4501 in 2015: Cleveland and Summerville Trips Diverging Clear Productions 2025-08-02 | Southern Railway 2-8-2 #4501 has been back in service for over a full decade in 2025. These scenes take us back to 2015, when the famous Mikado was the star of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Railfest in September, and made round trips to Summerville on the old Central of Georgia the following month.We begin with a look at the work that goes into prepping the locomotive for a day of operations and then go trackside to view the action.
4501: A Farewell Odyssey - Trackside Video (1998) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-07-26 | John Nelson's Trackside Video was there in 1998 when Southern Railway #4501's 20th Century excursion career came to an end.The 4501 was at the heart of the original Southern steam program going back to 1966. Over the years she would be supplanted by larger locomotives, but she would always have at least some presence until the steam program was ended by Norfolk Southern in 1994.After the end of mainline excursions, the 4501 was returned to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum where she would continue to run until she came due for a major overhaul that the museum couldn't justify undertaking.This program presents her swan song as she operated on the former Central of Georgia line south of Chattanooga into Georgia.This would be her last time under steam until her return in 2014.
In Memory of Ross Rowland Diverging Clear Productions 2025-07-23 | The world lost one of the pioneers of steam locomotive operations in the post-steam era when Ross E. Rowland Jr. passed away on July 19th, 2025.Born in 1940, he was in his twenties when he formed the High Iron Company and organized his first excursion in conjunction with F. Nelson Blount and Steamtown U.S.A. This was followed by the restoration of retired Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #759, which was leased from Steamtown.In 1969 Rowland organized the Golden Spike Centennial Limited with the Association of American Railroads to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the completion of America's first transcontinental railroad. The train ran from New York City to Salt Lake City and return, with the 759 pulling the train for much of the distance.For the Bicentennial celebration of the U.S.A., Rowland organized a traveling exhibition train to tour the nation with a display of historic artifacts. The American Freedom Train toured the country from April 1st, 1975, through December 31st, 1976. Three steam locomotives pulled the train, including Southern Pacific Daylight 4-8-4 #4449 wearing a red, white and blue color scheme based on the patten of her original Daylight colors.Rowland would later go on to operate the Chessie Steam Special with former Reading 2101, the Chessie Safety Express with former Chesapeake & Ohio #614, run test trains in 1985 with the 614 for a proposed next-generation steam locomotive, and New Jersey excursions with the 614 in the late 1990s. This video shows clips of both the Golden Spike Centennial Limited and the American Freedom Train when they came through the St. Louis area in 1969 and 1976 respectively.These scenes were filmed by St. Louis area railfan and photographer Don Morice, who would later be part of the St. Louis Steam Train Association and would be a regular fireman on Frisco 1522.Every group that has restored a retired steam locomotive to operation and run it on the mainline owes a debt of gratitude to Ross Rowland, who paved the way for such endeavors when he first brought Nickel Plate 759 back to life in 1967.
Nickel Plate Road 765 on the Mainline to Lafayette, Indiana Diverging Clear Productions 2025-07-19 | On July 18th, 2015, Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765 was pulling a Fort Wayne to Lafayette, Indiana, round trip as part of Norfolk Southern's 21st Century Steam Program.We just happened to have the day open, and a couple of days before decided to hit the road to take in the action. We left southern Illinois at 1am and drove to Peru, Indiana, where the interstate crosses the route 765 would use. We didn't have all that long to wait, catching the train on the east side of town. While it stopped for a crew change, we drove to the west side of town... and the chase was on!It was a hot day and by the time we broke off the chase at Peru that afternoon, we were ready to retreat into an air-conditioned fast-food joint for an ice cream cone before beginning the long drive home!Enjoy the video we captured that day!
Steams Greatest Hits, Volume 1: Chessie Steam - Heavy Metal Thunder (2005) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-07-12 | Joe Moltz (1942-2015) produced this program under the name Heavy Metal Thunder Productions. Steam's Greatest Hits, Volume 1, looked at steam on the Chessie System and the American Freedom Train that preceded it.The video features former Reading T-1 4-8-4 #2101 in operation as American Freedom Train #1 and then on the Chessie Steam Special. Following the 2101, restored Chesapeake & Ohio 4-8-4 #614 is captured pulling the Chessie Safety Express.Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 also makes a cameo appearance in red, white and blue colors on the American Freedom Train.
DVD Preview - A Frisco 1522 Retrospective Diverging Clear Productions 2025-07-10 | Come along for a look at the excursion career of St. Louis & San Francisco 4-8-2 #1522. This program runs four hours over two discs and covers her career from her restoration to service to the final day she had steam pressure in her boiler. This program was made with the generous assistance of St. Louis Steam Train Association Chief Mechanical Officer and engineer Don Wirth and 1522 fireman Don Morice, who both provided video and film from their cameras and collections.We see the highs and lows over the years including appearances at three National Railway Historical Society conventions, deadhead runs on freight trains, excursions and days where mechanical problems wreaked havoc. Through it all the volunteers of the St. Louis Steam Train Association worked to keep Frisco 1522 in top shape for the mainline, until rising costs and declining opportunities to run resulted in her retirement in 2002.We ride the cab, chase the train, ride with the crew and see the action trackside as America's only operational 4-8-2 put on a show for fourteen years.
American Freedom Train: 4449 Dons Red, White and Blue - Interurban Films (1976) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-07-04 | Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 was restored in 1975 not to wear her famous Daylight colors, but to sport red, white and blue in honor of the Bicentennial of the United States of America.Interurban Films released this film of #4449 pulling the American Freedom Train in 1976.
Union Pacific Heritage: Return Of The Streamliners, The E-9s - Gandy Dancer (1995) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-06-28 | Gandy Dancer and the Union Pacific steam crew released this program looking at the newly rebuilt A-B-A set of E-Units in 1995.The trio had been completely rebuilt at VMV in Paducah, Kentucky, and their original twin V-12 567 engines had been replaced with single V-16 645s. This rebuild essentially turned them into "E38-2's," but they remained mostly unchanged externally.
Photo Freight Charter with Southern Railway 401 in May, 2018 Diverging Clear Productions 2025-06-21 | Come along with us for a look at a photo freight charter with Southern Railway 2-8-0 #401 at the Monticello Railway Museum in May, 2018.We see some of the switching moves the day before the Saturday charter, including turning the locomotive on the wye downtown. Multiple cameras captured the action during the charter with cameras on the ground, on the equipment and in the cab.As of 2025, this has been the only photo charter to date with #401. It was a memorable day for everyone that was there!
Full Program: Carbondale, The Railroad, and the Old Depot Diverging Clear Productions 2025-06-14 | This program was produced for the Station Carbondale museum in the former Illinois Central passenger station at Carbondale, Illinois.This program looks at the history of a small midwestern city that was founded because of its location along the route of a railroad that was under construction. Carbondale became a junction town as other railroads were built to connect with the Illinois Central. The I.C. would go on to purchase those other railroads, and Carbondale became the heart of the St. Louis Division.This program tells the story as the town grew up with the railroad, and transformed into a college town as the railroad's influence waned.
The Railroad Signal - New York Central Diverging Clear Productions 2025-06-10 | Ever wondered how railroad signals worked in the 1940's? The New York Central produced this film to give an overview of the system.
Flight of the Century - New York Central Diverging Clear Productions 2025-06-03 | The New York Central produced this film promoting its top passenger train, the Twentieth Century Limited, in the days when the Hudson type steam locomotives were the state-of-the-art in passenger locomotives.
Union Pacific vs Cotton Belt: River War - Andover Junction (1994) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-31 | Paul D. Schneider and Andover Junction released this VHS program in 1994 looking at the joint trackage in southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois used by Union Pacific and Southern Pacific subsidiary St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt).This was (and remains) the busiest rail route in the region and it was an exciting time to be trackside to catch the variety in those days.We also get a chance to see up close the only railroad operated beanery in operation. Contracted by Union Pacific as a concession for extending the crew district on the line, this unique operation provided meals to U.P. crews on the fly at Scott City, Missouri. Fast food on the railroad, and a one-of-a-kind sight that ended a few years later.
Full Program - The Monticello Railway Museum: Five Decades of Preserving History Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-24 | The Monticello Railway Museum has been preserving railroad history in central Illinois for over fifty years.This program looks at the museum's history, from its beginnings as fans of Burlington steam excursions running their own trains when the excursions ended, to the operating museum it became.Seen in action are the earliest locomotives to run: 0-4-0 #1, 0-6-0 #191 and Lincoln Sand & Gravel diesel #44. Next comes Alco RS2 diesel #301, which was the main locomotive for a number of years.After nearly a decade with no operating steam locomotives, Nickel Plate Road Mikado #587 made a special appearance in 1997. Museum volunteers had performed work on the locomotive, and the 2-8-2 operated for several weekends to help raise money for restoration projects. Another visiting steam locomotive made an appearance several years later when 4-4-0 "Leviathan" appeared during Railroad Days.Then in 2010, Southern Railway 2-8-0 #401 entered service. Scenes from numerous years of operations of the 401 are seen, along with the expansion of the museum's facilities.We see the museum's growing roster of locomotives, including GP11 #8733, F9A #1189, FPA4 #6789 and NW2 #1649, and conclude with a photo freight charter with Southern 401.It's an hour-an-a-half history of one of the premier operating railroad museums in the U.S.
The Freight Yard - New York Central Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-20 | The New York Central produced this program giving a look behind the scenes at the operation of a busy freight yard in the 1940's.
Reading & Northern 2102 Puts on a SHOW to Jim Thorpe and Back Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-17 | We visited the Reading & Northern in September of 2022 to film recently restored T-1 Class 4-8-4 #2102 in action. The big "T-Hog" did NOT disappoint.Two camera crews captured the action, and we spaced out our shots to double our coverage (special thanks to Brady Sanker for letting Kurt team up with you!).We stopped by the shop at Port Clinton on Friday to check out the locomotive up close. The next morning, diesel switchers positioned the train in the rain before #2102 arrived and coupled up.Then it was off on the mainline as the locomotive took her heavy passenger consist on a round trip from Reading to Jim Thorpe and back. This is some of the best footage of steam working hard we have ever captured, and #2102 is without a doubt the loudest locomotive we have ever heard......and we've heard a lot of them!
Reading 2102: Railfan Weekend II - Video Classics (1988) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-10 | P.J. Barnes released this look at Railfan Weekend on the Blue Mountain & Reading under the Video Classics label in 1988.This program looks at diverse operations, including Reading 4-8-4 #2102, BK&R 4-6-2 #425, Budd RDC's equipped with rare Hancock model 4700 air whistles, and a pair of Pennsylvania Railroad E8A's.After the 50 minute main program, a series of previews showcase scenes of Norfolk & Western #1218, Nickel Plate Road #765, Canadian Pacific #2317, Frisco #1522, Frisco #1630, Norfolk & Western #611, Canadian Pacific #1201, Canadian Pacific #2860, Canadian Nation #6060, Grand Trunk Western #4070 and more. The preview clips are a show in and of themselves!
The B&Os 8000 Mile Birthday Party - Chessie System (1977) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-07 | By the mid 1970's, the Baltimore & Ohio had become a key component of the Chessie System. To celebrate 150 years of the B&O, the railroad leased Ross Rowland's former Reading T-1 4-8-4 #2101. The locomotive had just finished its service as American Freedom Train #1, and was ready to go.The Chessie System released this film to commemorate the Chessie Steam Special, which toured the railroad in 1977 and 1978.
The Steam Locomotive - Santa Fe Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-06 | The Santa Fe released this P.R. film to give audiences a look at the railroad's steam power.
The Steam Locomotive - New York Central Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-06 | The New York Central released this P.R. film in the 1940's, singing the praises in particular of the railroad's legendary Hudson type 4-6-4 passenger locomotives.
Steam From the Cameras of Tom Dunn Diverging Clear Productions 2025-05-04 | Our good friend and collaborator Tom Dunn (1950-2023) filmed steam locomotives around the Midwest, South and West. These are some of the best scenes from his many journeys.Locomotives include:Frisco 1522Southern 4501Milwaukee Road 261Soo Line 1003Union Pacific 844Union Pacific 3985Tennessee Valley 610and MORE!
First Generation Diesels: A Search for the Survivors - Kalmbach (1985) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-04-27 | This 1985 program was hosted by then Trains Magazine editor J. David Ingles, and looked at operable first-generation diesels in the U.S. The show combined vintage film clips of these locomotives in their prime with examples of survivors still in service.Examples of locomotives by EMD, Alco, Fairbanks-Morse, Baldwin and Lima-Hamilton were featured.
The Union Pacifics 3985 - Gandy Dancer (2002) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-04-26 | This program was released by Gandy Dancer Productions and the Union Pacific steam crew in 2002, and covers operations of Challenger #3985.Challenger 3985 last ran in 2010 and has since been donated to the Midwest Steam Preservation Association, which is rebuilding the locomotive for a return to service at Silvis, Illinois.
The Cotton Belt 819 - Trackside Video (1988) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-04-22 | John Nelson's Trackside Video released this look at newly restored Cotton Belt 4-8-4 #819 in 1988.St. Louis Southwestern, better known as The Cotton Belt Route, built the 819 at the railroad's own shops in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where she would later be restored. Unfortunately #819's excursion career would be fairly brief, and the merging of Southern Pacific and Union Pacific would leave her with nowhere to go.Also, please excuse the whistle on the 819 in this video. It was a Cotton Belt whistle... but it was a sick puppy. It would later be replaced by a flat-topped Hancock long-bell for future trips.
Full Program - QJs On The Iowa Interstate Diverging Clear Productions 2025-03-22 | This 45 minute program was produced with the Central States Steam Preservation Association to look at their pair of QJ-class 2-10-2 steam locomotives numbered 6988 and 7081.QJ-class locomotives are seen in operation in their last days on the Ji Tong Railway, and Henry Posner tells of how the pair were brought to the U.S.A. One of the pair, number 7081, is seen pulling one of the last regular steam powered passenger trains in her native land.Then it's across an ocean to the U.S. The pair of locomotives are seen operating singly and doubleheaded, and also in a tripleheader with Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261.The pair are seen on both freight and passenger trains in action on the rails of regional carrier Iowa Interstate.
Danger Lights (1930) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-03-20 | This 1930 drama starring Louis Wolheim, Robert Armstrong and Jean Arthur was shot on the Milwaukee Road around Miles City, Montana, and Chicago, Illinois.This film is famous for a tug-of-war between two steam locomotives, and showcases some great footage of steam railroading in the era when steam railroading was an everyday thing.
Frisco 1522: Freight Runs And First Excursions - Greg Scholl (1988) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-03-08 | Most of the older VHS video productions released by Greg Scholl (1950-2023) were remastered and released on DVD. These titles are currently available. This 1988 production covering the first runs of Frisco 1522 never got this treatment due to problems with the original master tape.This program looks at the beginning of 1522's excursion career including early test runs at the Museum of Transportation in suburban St. Louis, break-in runs on Wisconsin Central freight trains, and excursions on Wisconsin Central and Norfolk Southern to Decatur, Illinois.Enjoy this look back to when #1522 was the newest addition to the ranks of restored locomotives in the U.S.!
Vintage Rails Volume 6, The Norfolk & Western - JMJ Productions (1996) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-03-01 | This video of vintage Norfolk & Western films was released by Morry Farcus and JMJ Productions in 1996. One of the rarities shown is the Jawn Henry, the N&W's attempt at a steam turbine locomotive that was an attempt to keep the internal combustion engine at bay on a railroad heavily dependent on coal.The Big Three of N&W steam are here: the Class J 4-8-4s, the Class A 2-6-6-4s and the Class Y 2-8-8-2s. Also seen are other classes of steam and some early diesels.
Railfan Adventures #3: One Last Nickel Plate Berkshire Diverging Clear Productions 2025-02-22 | Teenaged railfans Don Morice and Mike Haper went to Valparaiso, Indiana, in June of 1958 to watch and film Nickel Plate Road Berkshires in action. They expected to find a parade of steam powered freights, as their sources said this was the case. Instead, they were on hand to catch the very last steam powered Nickel Plate Road train to leave Chicago.This episode of Railfan Adventures tells their story.
The 1522 Story - Gandy Dancer (1992) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-02-15 | Gandy Dancer Productions teamed up with the St. Louis Steam Train Association to produce this official souvenir video, which was released in 1992.This program features footage of two main runs with the Frisco 1522: the 1990 National Railway Historical Society convention special from St. Louis to Newburg, Missouri, and return; and a freight run over the same route to test recently completed running gear repairs in October, 1991.This was the official video that was sold to help raise funds for the upkeep of Frisco 1522 during her excursion career, which lasted from 1988 to 2002.Enjoy this look back to when the 1522 was America's only operational 4-8-2 Mountain type locomotive.
Chesapeake and Ohio Steam Locomotives: JMJ Productions (1988) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-02-08 | JMJ Productions released this program featuring the Chesapeake & Ohio films of August Thieme in 1988. A number of programs of vintage films were released, and they are very hard to find today.
The East Broad Top Railroad: JMJ Productions (1983) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-02-01 | With the resurrection of the East Broad Top, we look back to the railroad as it was over forty years ago through this production from JMJ Productions. This program presents the East Broad Top as it was during the height of the railroad's days as a tourist railroad.
Railfan Adventures #2: East Broad Top M-7 Diverging Clear Productions 2025-01-28 | In this edition of Railfan Adventures we visit the East Broad Top Railroad in Pennsylvania, where we watch and ride behind General Electric 45-Tonner M-7.In addition to riding the portion of the line tour trains have used since the sixties, we also make one of the first runs down recently restored track to the highway 475 crossing south of Rockhill.All aboard!
Full Program - A Quarter Century of Steam, Part 2 (1999-2010) Diverging Clear Productions 2025-01-25 | For a copy of this two-disc DVD program, check it out at our eBay store:ebay.com/itm/131239661971By 2010, we had been filming steam locomotives for twenty-five years. This program was the result: a four-hour reel of highlights covering the years 1985 to 2010. Taking over from where Part 1 left off, Part 2 covers 1999 through 2010.The sequences are presented in chronological order, and present many scenes that will never be repeated. Examples include the later years of Frisco 1522's excursion career, Union Pacific 3985 at speed on the mainline, Soo Line 1003 on a multi-state trip, Ohio Central 6325, a triple-header in Iowa and MUCH more.This part includes the following locomotives:St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern 2-4-2 #5St. Louis & San Francisco 4-8-2 #1522Strasburg Rail Road 4-8-0 #475Soo Line 2-8-2 #1003Cass Scenic Shay #2Western Maryland Shay # 6Western Maryland Scenic 2-8-0 #734Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 #3985West Side Lumber Shay #9Surrey, Sussex & Southampton 2-6-0 #6Ohio Central 4-6-0 #1551Ohio Central 4-8-4 #6325Tennessee Valley Railroad 2-8-0 #610Strasburg Rail Road 2-6-0 #89Strasburg Rail Road 2-10-0 #90St. Louis & San Francisco 2-10-0 #1630Union Pacific 4-8-4 #844Pere Marquette 2-8-4 #1225Louisville & Nashville 4-6-2 #152Southern Pacific 2-8-2 #745 (With a diesel in the lead)Iowa Interstate 2-10-2 #6988Iowa Interstate 2-10-2 #7081Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765Rio Grande 2-8-2 #464Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449Central Pacific 4-4-0 "Leviathan"Santa Fe 4-6-2 #3415Black Hills Central 2-6-6-2T #110Southern Railway 2-8-0 #401That's 30 engines in two hours!
Railfan Adventures #1: The Station Inn and the Pittsburgh Line Diverging Clear Productions 2025-01-21 | This is the first of a new video series called Railfan Adventures. These shows will run a maximum of twenty minutes.In this video, come along with us on the west side of Norfolk Southern's climb to the summit of the Alleghenies. We planned a stay at the Station Inn in Cresson, and the rainy fall weather made the Inn a perfect base of operations.We saw plenty of action, and N.S. Heritage Units included the Conrail (sort of, you'll see why), Monongahela and Lackawanna engines. In addition to Cresson, we visited Gallitzin, Carney's Crossing, Lilly and Cassandra.Come along for a Railfan Adventure!Also, check out their website to find out more about the Station Inn: http://www.stationinnpa.com
