765 & The Nickel Plate Story DVD

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Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 765 was restored by the Ft. Wayne Railroad Historical Society in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and first operated in December of 1979. It ran a lot of excursions in the mid-1980's to 1993. Our show features a brief period in 1982 where the engine was leased to the NS Steam program,since they were short of steam power, and newly restored N&W 611 was operating trips further east on the system. We begin with some background info on the engine, followed by some scenes of a one way trip from Cincinnati toward Lexington in 1982. This features a couple of really nice shots on the steep Erlanger Hill climbing out of the Ohio River Valley. Next is footage of the two day Lexington to Chattanooga trips on October 2nd and 3rd, 1980. This takes us through the famous Southern Railway's Rat Hole both directions. As an added bonus 765 is sporting a lovely 3-chime Pennsylvania Railroad whistle for this weekend. We end with a couple extra scenes of 765 heading home from Cincinnati in November 1982. This footage is from the collection of Greg Scholl and shot by him, with sound throughout.

Our next segment features 765 on 3 trips out of Buffalo, NY to Corning, NY, shot by Paul Cooledge. These are are on the former Erie Lackawanna, and features some nice action shots. These are also nice clean sound video scenes, transferred from Super 8 sound films. These were from 1985 and go well with the Greg Scholl 1982 clips.

Finally we included the Nickel Plate Company film “The Nickel Plate Story.” We bought this film years ago, and had it transferred to video, but didn't know where to put it. So its included with this show. In there you will learn about the system, and train handling in yards, and see lots of engines just like 765, those great looking Nickel Plate Berkshires (2-8-4's). There is also some footage from unique angles like from the cab and low ground level scenes. Watch coal being unloaded at the docks, and cars being switched at the yard as time freights stick to the schedule.

Maps guide you with the narrator in this color presentation. A nice addition for every Nickel Plate fan as well as 765 fan. The film is 18 minutes.

58 Minutes plus previews of other related shows.