Before pentrex, Before Greg Scholl, Before Goodheart productions, railway productions, TSG Multimedia, TMBV, etc., this was the very first railroad themed videotape with on location footages 40 years ago. The 40 year old video begins with NKP 765 engineer Rich Melvin narrating about what Labor Day is, as a Man�s pair of hands are writing something on the calendar. Then comes the 1979 NRHS logo. The first engine shown is Southern 722 on August 31, as the engine is pulling the Skyline limited from Alexandria to Front Royal Via Strasburg (Yes there are 2 of them: one in Virginia, the other with a popular steam powered tourist line in Lancaster county Pennsylvania). In the early morning light, 722 is whistling around the bend. Next the engine makes a service stop at Manassas. Later on, 722 is whistling alongside the river and the cliffs at Broad run. On this trip, a pair of FP7s power the assistance. Afterwards, the special makes a photo runby at Bellvoir. Today, even after 40 years when this program was made, 722 is still in pieces. In Delaplane Virginia, a look at the little village is shown, with a telephone booth included, as 722 must makes some temporary slow orders. At Linden, 722 is chugging hard with a whistle show as it goes under the pedestrian bridge. In Strasburg, VA, a look at the vintage fire truck is shown, followed by the mayor of the town wearing the excursion shirt, and some children wearing special clothes. The brass band is also heard playing the star spangled banner. While everyone is enjoying the fun, the crew is still working on the locomotive. The 2 F units numbers 6141 and 6133, turned the entire train on the wye, as it goes over the bridge and cross the diamond. Pay attention to the person on the left side of the screen. Today 6133 is still on display at the North Carolina transportation museum in Spencer. After turning on the wye, the special heads for Front Royal. A look at the station is shown as well as 722 idling, and on the return trip, there is a ton of pacing going on, as 722 and the F units roll through the late afternoon sun. Back at Linden, the special climbs the grade as it whistles under the pedestrian bridge. Next, 722 whistles at a bend near Delaplane, while taking slow orders. The final scene of 722 and the F units are at Broad run alongside the river and the cliffs. The Deep Steamboat whistle on 722 was amazing.

As August Transforms into The first day of September 1979, a pair of Western Maryland F7s operates the special on Chessie System tracks, for diesel day. The name of the special is the West Virginia limited, as it travels from Alexandria Virginia, then turned west To Harper�s Ferry and Martinsburg WV. The first scene of these Early diesels, are at Thomas Viaduct (where Rich mispronounced the bridge as Vee-A-Duct) in Relay Maryland. Due to so many people filming the diesels on the bridge, the Hopewell camera crew posted the special form the top of the whistle post. Next the lead unit number 7173 painted in the red and white scheme with Black lettering, blows its own different horns at the same time in Mt. Ary tunnel. Afterwards, a look at Point of Rocks Maryland is shown as 7173 blares both of its own horns at the same time. This Maryland hot spot has 2 lines: the Baltimore line to the east, the Harpers ferry/Cumberland Maryland line to the west, and the Washington DC line to the south. Speaking of Harpers ferry, the special, goes over the bridge crossing the Shennandoah and Potomac rivers, and goes into the 1931 tunnel which is still standing today. Leaving the station which serves Marc commuter trains to Brunswick and Amtrak�s Capitol limited, the special must make some slow orders while going over the 2 rivers. The second F unit behind 7173 and the coaches are painted in black with orange lettering. Next, the special departs Brunswick heading for our Nation�s capital, Via Point Of Rocks. Pay attention to the kid on the southeast corner of the screen.

The following day September 2, the Susquehanna valley limited, is being pulled by one of the most popular (despite gone but not forgotten) electric locomotives: the mighty Pennsylvania railroad GG1 number 4935 is chosen to Power the special from our nation�s capital to Philadelphia, Via Harrisburg. A look at the Amtrak logo is shown. Then the camera cuts to the special at Safe Harbor which contains mostly Amtrak cars. Listen to the original horn. The GG1s were one of the most power engines on the northeast corridor form Washington DC to New York City, which was years before the electrified extension to Boston�s south station. In Lancaster not far from the All steam powered Strasburg railroad, a look at the platforms, the electric poles, and a local electric powered commuter train makes a stop, then leaves the station as The GG1 approaches with a meet. Despite some slow orders to switch tracks, there is a back and forth segment between the onlookers waiting and the special approaching. As 4935 arrives, a nearly hour long visit to The nearby Strasburg railroad is included starting with a look at the Groffs grove picnic area in cherry hill as Former Canadian National 0-6-0 number 31 which was originally built as 7312 arrives for a stop to wait for Great Western Decapod number 90 arrive. While the 7312(31) is the very first steam engine to operate during the very beginning of tourist season in 1958 or 1959, it is sadly in pieces, and from 1967 onwards, the GW decapod still operates on this popular tourist line in Amish country along with CN 2-6-0 number 89 from bellows falls Vermont, and N&W 4-8-0 475 from the Boone and scenic valley in Iowa. As the decapod leaves the siding for Carpenters crossing (the ghost whistle or an echo), 7312(31) whistles for the crossing, these footages were recorded way before the corn maze activities came out. It was also during the time when most of the coaches are yellow. Later on, the Number 90 must wait for 7312(31) to pass by. Of course the Once Sugar beet hauling locomotive was built by Baldwin in 1924. As the CN engine arrives tender first, the 2 engines make a whistle meet. Even the paint scheme on these engines were very different back in those days, but as more and more people come with over a million visitors per year, you�ll soon understand why many Railfans call it paradise. Back on the northeast corridor, the GG1 crosses over the huge bridge over the Susquehanna River. The GG1s made their final operations in October of 1983, as they�re once replaced by the AEM7 toaster units, and after the toasters are retired from Amtrak as well as the Big E60s, they are all replaced by the fully digitalized ACS-64 types.

The following day September 3, one of the few surviving Canadian Pacific Royal Hudsons are operating a special from Alexandria to Charlottesville Via Gordonsville. What is the locomotive you may ask? Well it once operated in excursion service for only 3 years (1979-1981) and it was one of Greg Scholl�s favorite steam stars: 2839. It was built in Montreal in September of 1937. First the locomotive gets some service in the early morning light. While 2839 is getting prepared, Rich Melvin mentions about the photographers, as well as sister engine 2850 pulling a Royal Train with 12 cars carrying King George the 6 and Queen Elizabeth. Crowns were added from engines 2820-2864. With servicing completed, 2839 is getting ready to leave the yard. Afterwards the Hudson highballs for Brandy station. In the going away shot, one young adult girl couldn�t resist the look of the passing steam powered engine. Next 2839 must have a C&O crew pickup for the line to Charlottesville. A mention of Reading 2101 is included. With the C&O crew onboard, the Hudson must take some slow orders. Later it picks up some speed at the bridge over the water. After leaving the coaches behind at Charlottesville, 2839 must be turned on the original C&O turntable, for The northbound run home. Before the return home, there was a problem inside the turntable as the second and third set of drivers derailed on the planks of the table. There goes the lunch break just like Melvin said. Chessie System U-Boat 8231 couples the tender to 2839 to pull the engine backwards. During the process, there are radio communications from the crew. With the big wheels back on iron rails, it was revealed that the turntable hasn�t been aligned right. There are still more problems to face at the turntable area. With the table and the track realigned together, it�ll have to take some mere inches, and in no time at all, 2839 had been back on good rails. To avoid making these problems again, the turntable itself is turned so that it could face the other end. At last, the diesel moves 2839 back onto the turntable, and the Hudson is back on the turntable. With the table stopped halfway, everyone took photographs and movie film no matter if its 8mm, 16mm, silent or sound, for 2839 on the turntable. With time getting short, and today�s lunch for the crew canceled, 2839 slowly backs out of the turntable to avoid any more problems. On the return trip, the Hudson passes through the town of Montpellier (not Vermont), as it blows its own whistle under the pedestrian bridge, and passes by the cameraman. Next 2839 highballs through Culpepper with incredible 70mph pacing. Finally 2839 arrives at Manassas. The show comes to a close with clips from this recently turned 40 year old videotape.

Overall, this very first on location Railroad themed videotape was a historic look at what railroading in the 70s were like way before the internet, social media, the transition of the century and online streaming.

Additional remarks by Steamboy:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? Definitely.