Southern Pacific When the Empire was Intact

SKU: DVD-CSP-114
(1 customer review)

$24.95

Vintage SP diesel action in the Siskiyous, Donner, Shasta, Bay Area, Stockton, Sacramento, Roseville, Fresno Line, S.F. Bay, NWP and San Jose.

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Producer

Charles Smiley Presents

Run Time

1 hour 43 minutes

Narration

Yes

Shrink Wrap

Yes, Brand New

Technical Details

No Region Code

Vintage SP diesel action in the Siskiyous, Donner, Shasta, Bay Area, Stockton, Sacramento, Roseville, Fresno Line, S.F. Bay, NWP and San Jose. One of the featured themes is lumber on the NWP branch line and the huge ‘lash-ups’ of SD9s hauling heavy trains of finished lumber and other wood products. The SP’s North Western Pacific branch line was one of the longest, and most productive of traffic, for the SP. These NWP scenes were shot by SP conductor, “Bo” Golsen in his free time as he went with the crews of these trains. The Golsen scenes really have no comparison. He also shot many of the Siskiyou Line scenes from trackside and from on board the locomotives as a crew member. Don’t miss the 1900-era semaphore signals, long trains up more steep grades with many twisting curves and tunnels. These items made the line so tough on crews and locomotives the SP finally shut the line down. But these very same challenges made it a fantastic place only for “masterful” engineers… and their trackside admirers – such as you!

You’ll also see, FM trainmasters on the “commutes” of San Francisco! Lots of early EMD, Baldwin, GE and ALCO power. This SP video will wear you out with great action and fun! Railfan & Railroad Magazine’s review reported, like all Charles Smiley Presents videos, “…the historical research and narration are very good and worth the entry fee… the film transfers are very good, seemingly as sharp as the originals and very clean.”

1 review for Southern Pacific When the Empire was Intact

  1. rrvideoman, Delisle Saskatchewan

    Another excellent production by Charles Smiley. I knew very little about the Southern Pacific before purchasing this movie. True to format, Charles Smiley does a fine job with explaining everything from the engine types – EMD, GE, Baldwin Alco’s etc, including the trials of German built power; numbers owned, paint schemes, etc… There are other Railroads as well — California & Western, North Western Pacific, Pacific Lumber Comp, UP and more. Locations are primarily in California, and Oregon. There is a visit to a lumber mill where the logs are actually being sawed, and lumber sorted. See lumber trains, intermodal and piggy back, general manifests as they conquer grades reaching well over 3%. In Sacarmento, there is a visit to the railway shops where engines are being re-built. Donner Pass makes an appearance, and what would Donner Pass be with out snow? It’s included. There is some music accompliment, but not to much. It does not over shadow the narration. Charles Smiley and all the photographers who put this movie together needs to be highly praised for a fine job of presenting the History and Education of one of the great Fallen Flags.

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