Eastern Steam Trips 1950-1960s Variety DVD
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Eastern Steam Trips is a collection of special trains operated during the 1950's and 1960's with engines running for their original railroads. There is both trackside, and riding footage here and a variety of subjects. On the Baltimore and Ohio there are two excursions, with the first being 4-8-2 #701 on a trip from Dayton to Willard, Ohio in October 1957, and 2-8-2 #421 with the very last steam run on the B&O. In 1964 we see footage of CB&Q (Burlington) 2-8-2 number 4960 out of Chicago, and 1961 footage of Grand Trunk Western 4-8-4 number 6323 in Michigan.

Norfolk and Western is well represented with 3 different excursions feturing 5 different engines. In 1957 there was a trip with doubleheaded Pacifics number 563 and 578 from Bluefield to Norton with added cars to regular train number 5 and 6. In 1959 we ride from Roanoke to Bluefield behind 2-6-6-4 number 1240, then switch to engine 2174 (2-8-8-2) for a circle trip out of Bluefield, WV. In October 1959 we see footage of what turned out to be the last run of Class J 4-8-4 number 611. This is the famous engine that was restored in 1981-2, and again in 2015 and is now operating once again on periodic excursions.

Reading T-1 class 4-8-4's are next with different runs, and mostly the scenes are riding in Pennsylvania. There are some close-ups of the engines at service stops and runbys. 2100 is seen the most in this segment, with most trips riding and runbys along the way.

We also included a few minutes of Grand Trunk 6325 on the Ohio Central in 2002, the sister engine to 6323 which is seen in 1961. This shows a photo freight and gives you a great feel for these nice 4-8-4's with live audio in 2002.

Many of these engines were scrapped, so these historic accounts, filmed by various people will remain a testament to the final years of steam operations.

All color with music and narration, and scene titles. 65 Minutes