Photo Freights on the Western Maryland DVD 4.5 of 5 (2)
Click to enlargeNote: Cover image may differ from actual product
We've recently completed "Photo Freights on the Western Maryland," a 90 minute video covering 6 special freight train runs on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. The Western Maryland folks set the consists with vintage freight and hopper cars to simulate working freight trains of the 1950's. The trains looked sensational on their runs up the face of the Allegheny Mountains between Cumberland and Frostburg Maryland.
The sleet and snows of January 1999 gave us some unusual footage complete with the excitement and unpredictability that comes with winter railroading. We included many scenes with Engine 734, a Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation with her drivers slipping in the sleet and snow. We also found ourselves in snow with bright sunny skies for many of the scenes. The winter footage gave us spectacular stack plumes from the engine. There is also a sequence after the pilot truck derailed which stopped us in our tracks near the end of a shooting day.
We've intercut the footage to show you each location with a coal train shot in 1997, then the train set up as mixed freight in the sleet and snow of 1998 and finally the mixed freight in the summer of 1998. Each scene begins with U.S. Geological Survey maps giving you the location and approximate camera positions. The train backed down from Frostburg so all run-bys occurred with 734 chugging uphill for the best action. We attempted to shoot when scenes had their best lighing. That meant we shot out of climbing sequence. We've cut the show in the climbing sequence so you might get a good idea of the run up the mountain.
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DVD Item#:
BR785
Runtime:
1 Hour, 30 Mins ($0.30/min)
Producer:
Blue Ridge Productions
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen
DVD UPC:
822170010791
Shrink Wrapped?:
No, but security sealed
Disc Type:
DVD
Region Code:
0 Worldwide NTSC
ITEM NOTES REGARDING THIS PRODUCER
Most of the DVDs from this producer are not shrink-wrapped, but they do include a security seal either on the top or all three sides of the case.
Photo Freights on the Western Maryland DVD
armchairrailfan on 2009-08-25 23:21:56.
People who found this review helpful: 8
4 of 5
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is a tourist line that runs from Cumberland to Frostburg MD on the former Western Maryland and a short segment of Cumberland and Pennsylvania track. The WMSR #734 steam engine is one of several former Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad 2-8-0 Consolidations that have been preserved, four of which are in running condition (others are Grand Canyon Railway #29, Rio Grande Scenic #18 and Ohio Central #33 and four more are currently undergoing restoration). 734 has recently been modified to have the appearance of a Western Maryland steam engine.
<p>This DVD shows scenes from 6 different photo charters run during 1997, 1998 and 1999. The scenes are mixed throughout the DVD so that the railroad is seen in sequence from Cumberland to Frostburg. Some charters ran with a Western Maryland Wide-Vision caboose and some ran with a WMSR caboose. The winter scenes provide some really spectacular shots of steam exhaust. One very unusual shot in one of the last scenes at Brush Tunnel is featured. One scene on the C&P line is shot near a location of great historical significance of early American railroading.
<p>Narration is adequate. The photography is very good and does not show other photographers on the photo lines, and most of the winter scenes do not show the footprints of other photographers in the snow. A couple winter scenes at Helmstetter's Curve and Brush Tunnel make excellent use of low angle sun back lighting. The volume is a bit lower than normal for most railroad videos...crank it up and give the subwoofer a workout. The kids will enjoy the stack talk and whistle.
Additional remarks by armchairrailfan: Narration:Just enough. Would kids enjoy this?Yes. Image quality:Excellent! DVD Value:Good Value Recommend to others?Definitely.
Photo Freights on the Western Maryland DVD
Steamboy (Revere MA US) on 2017-02-03 05:40:59.
People who found this review helpful: 5
5 of 5
Like the mountain thunder and coal rides again combo DVD, another highly recommended item for 734 fans everywhere! Which contains scenes from July 1997, August 1998, and January 1999. Not to mention the 10th anniversary edition with November 2009 at the rebuilding of the Helmstetter's curve barn.
Additional remarks by Steamboy: Narration:Just enough. Would kids enjoy this?Yes. Image quality:Good. DVD Value::Fair. Recommend to others?A "Must Have"!
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