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Western Steam Loggers DVD
 3.5 of 5 (2)

Western Steam Loggers DVD Greg Scholl Video Productions GSVP-082 604435008299
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Some of the most interesting railroad was the back-woods logging operations, and related short-lines that fed off wood products. This mostly 8mm and super 8mm footage is from mainly two different sources. There are several different operations shown as follows:

Rayonier, Inc features 3 articulated engines including 2-6-2's #14, 38, 120, plus 2-8-0 #70 Klickitat Log and Lumber Shay #7 switching and hauling logs to the dump pond West Side Lumber, with narrow gauge Shay #10, hauling logs, and Standard Gauge Hiesler #3 Robert Dollar Company 2-6-2T(Tank Engine) switching cars at Glendale, Oregon Pickering Lumber Shays, Number 6,8, & 33, on log trains, plus more Special Excursion with Sierra 28, engine 3, and Pickering Shay #8 all in one day Feather River Railway switching with Shay #2, and then #3 on an early excursion

There is lots of variety in this fast-paced show with narration and music. Enjoy some of the last steam loggers in the United States in this historic video presentation.

64 Minutes


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List Price:$ 29.95
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DVD Item#:GSVP-082
Runtime:1 Hour, 04 Mins ($0.42/min)
Producer:Greg Scholl Video Productions
Aspect Ratio:Full Screen
DVD UPC:604435008299
Shrink Wrapped?:Yes
Disc Type:DVD
Region Code:0 Worldwide NTSC
Western Steam Loggers DVD
STEAMBOY (Revere MA US) on 2019-01-05 10:18:16.

  •  5 of 5


In this 2015 program, there are some engines in this program that are still with us today, as well as some that are also shown in the Maynard Laing sound videos from 1998. First up is the rayonier which includes former Sierra railway 2-6-6-2 number 38 leaving camp 14 southbound through the forest. This engine�s own sounds was shown in the 1998 Maynard Laing Video, while this program is 100% silent. Next up is 2-8-2 number 70 at the railroad camp with a load of logs going backwards, and it contains a side by side shot with another locomotive. Thankfully, photographer Maynard Laing purchased the engine, and today it is still operational at the Mt. Rainier scenic in Elbe. At the humptulips trestle, there is some maintenance work passing by, and then another 2-6-6-2 engine crosses the bridge, this time its engine 120. Sadly the engine was scrapped in 1967. A third 2-6-6-2 crosses the trestle. This time its engine 14 which was shown in the 1998 video. The engine was scrapped a year after 120 was gone. Number 70 is on the work train in a siding to let number 14 pass by. Maintenance work is performed, and number 14 takes on water at the railroad camp. Finally it backs up to the engine house. This concludes the rayonier segment.

Moving on to the klickitat log and lumber company, shay number 7 is doing some chores tender first, which includes allot dumping. Thankfully, the engine is at Willits California. Quite interesting music in this segment though. Next the engine runs around the train, and leaves the mill pond in the early morning. The shay looks splendid as it climbs the steep grade as it heads back to the woods, for a reload of fresh logs. Some strangers are riding on top of number 7�s tender. Next the logs are being dumped at the pond, followed by a brief cab ride and also on top of the tender. Along the ride, the number 7 passes by the SP&S Goldendale branch. Finally the segment comes to a close as a long tail of empty flatbeds passes by.

Moving on to the west side lumber company, the segment begins with the now preserved narrow Gauge shay number 10 in July of 1958 as it heads from camp 8 to the river bridge. Thankfully the shay now operates at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad along with sister engine 15. Interest harmonica in this segment though. After some beautiful shots climbing the grade, the engine arrives at Tuolumme. Here it uncouples the consists, as the shay heads to be turned on the wye. Afterwards it couples to the log cars as it does some moves tender first. Finally it arrives back at the sheds to end the day. At the log pond, the logs are being dumped into the water, and you can barely see heisler number 2 in the background. Thankfully it is on display in tuolumme today. Next number 10 is on a log train but it�s on a different day. Heisler number 3 is doing some work on the Sierra railway in 1963. Today the engine is still operational at the Roaring Camp & Big trees railroad. During the 1963 segment, it was the only narrow Gauge engine to be converted to standard Gauge, but since the west side lumber company was gone, it was switched back to what it was. But it was renumberd to number 2. Next the Heisler leaves the Sierra heading back to the mill area. Next the engine pushes some empty flatbeds. After coupling up with the link and pin hooks, the engine heads backwards. Next the Heisler runs light as it heads back to the Sierra connection. Afterwards 4 wheel Plymouth switcher number 1 is doing some chores at tuolumme. caboose number 7 however is still at the orange empire railway museum. Shays 14 and 8 are on display. Also shown during the switching chores is F. Norman Clark, the creator of the roaring camp railroads. Back on the west side field trip, number 3 performed some shots with a freight. This music piece was shown in SP steam variety from 2013. Next the engine uncouples and it runs light. After recoupled to the New York Central boxcars, the engine continues to do its requested shots. Next it runs tender first with the flatbeds which contains one loaded car and some empties. Afterwards it runs light, and the west side lumber company segment concludes with some shays on display. Shay 7 is at roaring camp, number 8 is at the royal gorge in Canon city, number 9 is at the Georgetown loop, and engines 12 and 14 are at the Colorado railroad museum. Number 12 used to operate at Georgetown, but not anymore.

Another surviving engine in this program is Robert Dollar 2-6-2 Tank Engine number 3 at Glendale Oregon in 1958. First it runs bunker first, then the brakeman climbs on one of the Southern Pacific cars to connect with the SP. Afterwards the engine runs light and connects with the loaded boxcar. Thankfully the engine still operates at the Niles canyon railway. Next it couples up to 2 more boxers and after leaving the seaboard silver comet in the siding, number 3 heads with only what it could carry, except for the seaboard silver comet to the southern pacific connection and it heads back to the mills.

Moving on to the Pickering lumber company, the segment starts with shay number 8 hauling a load of logs at it arrives at Beardsley Dam. At the dam you can barely see shay number 6 doing some helper service in the background. The going away shot is shown at the peeled onion. Next number 33 was used as the woods switcher but it is shown on a caboose hop. Above Beardsley, number 33 finally collects the empty flatbeds. Note the speeder rail car in the background. Next a brief trip on the speeder is included. SW900 diesels number 101 and 104 are on a chore sometime after 1959. 101 is leading and 104 is in the middle.

On May 17, 1959, the Sierra railway operates a special journey with 2-8-0 number 28, 4-6-0 number 3, and Pickering shay 8. The error is spotted as the narrator said that number 3 was built in 1991, when he should�ve meant 1891. At the Jamestown water tower, number 28 heads backwards. Then number 3 would head back to the roundhouse also going backwards. Once number 3 is gone, engine 28 finally got the right of way, as it heads to the platform. Next Pickering shay 8 is waiting at Fassler, then it leaves the siding with number 28�s coaches. A photo runby is performed at Ralph California. After the runby, the number 28 arrives as some engine swapping is included. Followed by the shay heading light through the crossing, and back at fassler to drop the riders off. Next number 28 is at Sonora for the return trip back to Jamestown. This part in that segment has mountain wildlife music from 1998. Back at Jamestown, the engine passes by the roundhouse. After the passengers disembark, number 28 uncouples the train, and heads for a well earned rest. Of course Greg recorded number 28 in 1989, but it is never released/converted to DVD due to the Ampex brand tapes that Greg uses most of the time from 1986-1991.

The final segment in this program is the feather river railway in feather falls California. The date is May 21, 1966. And shay number 2 is shown performing some shots for the camera crew. Which includes some shots near the yard, in the forest, and also through the wilderness to connect with the western pacific. At feather falls, shay number 3 makes some dark black smoke coming out of the funnel. More scenes with shay 2 at feather falls is included. Thankfully the number 2 is still on display at the Sierra railway. At the western pacific Oroville depot, the California Zephyr arrives at the platform, and on a fan trip, Georgia Pacific SW900 number 102 helps the doubleheaded shay up the grade. Next number 3 operates on a special excursion. Some onboard footage is included. Next the shay runs around the train at Land. Thankfully the engine is still operational at the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia, but it was renumbered to 11. A speeder railcar passes by, as the return trip is on the way again. A photo runby is performed at the tunnel near land. Finally the passengers disembark the train, as this program came to a close.

Sadly this was one of the final GSVP programs in the vintage steam category to have John Edward Hingsbergen�s narration before his November 2017 death. But on the bright side though, this was a great program to see some future famous survivors in regular service.

Additional remarks by STEAMBOY:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

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Western Steam Loggers DVD
Rail Buff (Southern California) on 2016-02-26 20:44:31.

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  •  2 of 5


A bit disappointing. The previews on this web site looked better than the actual DVD, IMO. All photos were taken with 8mm or Super 8mm films, hence no original sound. OK. But, as explained in the show, rather than dub in fake sound, music was played instead. It became very annoying. No sound at all, other than the narration, would have been better, again, IMO. Narration was good and the music did stop for it.. Lots of Shays, some Heislers and a little bit of Climax, tank and articulated locos. One thing I liked, if a loco hadn't been scrapped they told you it were now. Some shots of the locos in actual lumber operations but mostly rail fan events.

Additional remarks by Rail Buff:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Not unless they REALLY were interested in the subject matter.

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