Vintage Narrow Gauge
SKU: DVD-GSVP-297Original price was: $29.95.$24.95Current price is: $24.95.
Great variety of narrow gauge, from ET&WNC to SP.
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| Producer | Greg Scholl Video Productions |
|---|---|
| Run Time | 1 hour 11 minutes |
| Narration | Yes |
| Shrink Wrap | Yes, Brand New |
| Technical Details | No Region Code |
First up is a 1947 visit to the ET&WNC Narrow Gauge. The day begins with a few chase scenes of #12 heading from Elizabethton to Cranberry. Then we see that they have boarded the cab for the remainder of the run to Cranberry. Here the engine takes water, and switching is done, before they head back west tender-first. There are some nice scenes in the Doe River Gorge. After the gorge the visitors get off and follow the train into Elizabethton, where the trip ended. A final shot of the same crew taking engine 204 back to Johnson City on the standard gauge ends this rare segment. There is very, very little coverage of this line since it went out of business in 1950 (The Narrow Gauge portion that is).
Next we head south of the border with California enthusiast Jim Vail. He hired a local guide and spent the better part of a day at the San Lazaro yard in Mexico City. This was nearly 100% steam in 1966 when he was there. We see all sorts of neat stuff with a variety of F.C.I. and N de M 2-8-0s working the yard or being serviced. There were generally 1 or 2 engines constantly switching, and moving narrow gauge as well as standard gauge cars in the dual service portions of the yard. We see engines on the turntable (armstrong which took several men to move it-a rare sight indeed), and shop work being performed next to the roundhouse. Engines were constantly being serviced, taking oil, or water. We would see a train now and then as well. There is also a cab ride in 2-8-0 number 273 while switching in the yard. This is the longest segment in the show, but it typifies the daily routine of a steam railroad in it’s prime, which is enjoyable to say the least.
The third segment features Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge 4-6-0 number 9 on the Keeler Branch. This was supposedly the last excursion the engine made in 1954, but it ran in freight service after this. We see some trackside views, learn some history and enjoy a rare piece of SP steam power.
Lastly we enjoy some Rio Grande (Denver & Rio Grande Western) narrow gauge, starting with some freight action with engine 480 from Durango to Farmington, and the Durango to Chama line with some nice footage of this now extinct section to Chama. There are scenes in Gato, as well as others with good action scenes along the way. Then we see two “Hill turns” with engines 498 and 488 as they battle the 4% grade from Chama to Cumbres, Colorado at an elevation of 10.015 feet. This section is always good material.
rickyfreni –
In this recent Vintage steam show, there is a nearly 20 Year Span from the late 40s to the 60s with the engines in action.
The East Tennessee & Western North Carolina 12 which is thankfully preserved at the Tweetsie railroad was filmed by Ted Collins. The theme song to last year’s GSVP title: Riding the Rio Grande Southern was used for this segment. To close the Segment, a one shot look at number 204 was used as well as Southern 630 & 722 doubleheading in 1970 from one of Greg’s new titles: Southern Steam in the 70s.
In 1966, Jim Vail Traveled to Mexico as he captured 2-8-0 number 60, Consolidations 273, 272, 262, 270, 254, Class GA8 diesel 5404 on the turntable, & others while visiting the yards, roundhouse, service area, & even riding the cab of 273.
Back in America, the Southern Pacific used to have its own narrow gauge system. Primarily on the Keeler branch as number 9 does the honors in October of 1954. It was photographed by an unknown cameraman. Thankfully, both this & its sister engines 8 & 18 have been preserved. Some present era stills of 18 on the Durango & Silverton in winter was used.
Speaking of Durango, you can’t have a GSVP narrow gauge show without the Rio Grande in Colorado & New Mexico. Especially on the Since been abandoned Durango to Chama line & on the abandoned Farmington Branch. Plus the since been preserved Chama to Cumbres line which is part of today’s C&TS. Like the SP narrow gauge, this segment was filmed by the same unidentified cameraman. On another trip, 484 is helping 493 which a mention of the 2005 title: Rio Grande Steam in the 1960s was heard.
Overall, Chris Kovacs did a marvelous job narrating this program.