6325 Return to Steam - Greg Scholl Video Productions
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Click to enlargeNote: Cover image may differ from actual product

Former Grand Trunk Western 4-8-4 is restored to operating condition for owner Ohio Central in the fall of 2001. This video features two of the test runs in September, and 3 fall excursions including the first and last ones of the season.

We begin with a bit of history of the 6325 and the 4-8-4 class of engines, as we watch the 6325 at the Ohio Central's Morgan Run shops heading to the mainline for the test run. Also included are a few vintage scenes of Grand Trunk steam including a couple of 4-8-4's shot by the late Warren W. Scholl.

The first test run is to Dennison and return, with 6325 operating flawlessly with the short consist on September 5, 2001. On September 11, a tragic day in American history, we find ourselves along the Ohio Central with Chief Mechanical Officer Tim Sposato operating an Ohio Central Coal train, as we learn a little about Ohio Central freight operations and see the coal train.

On September 12th we watch 6325 on its last break-in run, this time with a 13 coach train. This operation had 6325 pulling the train from Dennison beyond Morgan run to Frazysburg, and things went great.

On September 22nd, the first public excursion was operated. The trip operated with the Ohio Central F-Units from Columbus to Dennison, where 6325 was positioned for the return leg to Columbus. This trip went well and there is coverage from multiple cameras on this and the final weekend in October 2001.

The final weekend in October featured another trip from Columbus, this time to Coshocton, with the 6325 handling the westbound portion once again. The engine performed flawlessly, including the dual runbys at Trinway which was a hit with all who witnessed them. These trips were sponsored by the Ohio Railway Museum.

The next day, a Sunday, the Mahoning Valley Railway Group sponsored a trip from Dennison to Coshocton, Ohio. This was the first trip where 6325 would depart in the early morning. With cool weather and sunshine the morning portion was spectacular. This was the day we got our cover reflection shot as the 6325 accelerated out of town. That shot was worth all the trips to the Ohio Central to see 6325.

The video ends with the arrival in Coshocton passing the depot and freight house. The 6325 is the largest operation engine in the eastern United States, and this is our first Mainline Steam video release since 1994-5. We have priced this video so it is affordable for trip riders and railfans alike.

We had originally thought of making this a 60 minute video, but decided to include the two break-in runs, as part of the chronological development of the 6325's return. Therefore the 30 minutes or so of the intro and test runs should be considered FREE bonus time, as the price doesn't change. We mention this only because these test runs may not be as fast-paced as the actual excursion runs, which occur later in the program.