Have you wondered what ever happened to some of the railroads you grew up with? This presentation could shed some light on those thoughts and at the same time, bring back visions of many things that have vanished from the railroad scene.
The mergers and their strategies are explained with some of the hidden history behind all the big changes in eastern railroading. This feature uses numerous maps and graphics created for this feature to put everything into historic and geographic focus.
This presentation is really two shows brought together into a two hour double-feature.
See the B&O, C&O and Western Maryland in both freight and passenger trains in a time-period that had far more variety in road names, equipment and methods of operation. Don't miss those beautiful B&O passenger trains that proudly carried the nation's capitol dome on their nose.
See a colorful mix of first and second generation diesels through many of their paint scheme phases.
This two hour feature explains how the C&O and the B&O were first merged together -- and how the Western Maryland came into the picture to form the Chessie System.
If you miss those colorful Chessie System diesels, this feature has near-new looking examples of them in this presentation.
The Seaboard Coast Line merger of the combined Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line began in the 1960s.
This presentation explains how the L&N came into the picture and how the Seaboard Coastline, the L&N, the Clinchfield, and several other smaller roads, were marketed as the Family Lines in the 1970s.
The SCL had famous passenger trains that maintained their popularity until 1971.
The Family Lines era of the 1970s became the Seaboard System by 1982 and those colors come back to life as well.
The Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac, or RF&P, was a 113-mile long double-tracked bridge line that neatly linked northern and southern roads together. This presentation brings the last 20-years of that roads independence to your screen.
The 1970s became an especially difficult time for many railroads. The bankruptcies, and little-known "could-have-been" mergers, of that era are explained. This was the virtual "minefield" that Chessie and the Seaboard had to operate in. They both emerged in good shape for their eventual merger into the CSX.
The mergers and their strategies are explained with some of the hidden history behind all the big changes in eastern railroading. This feature uses numerous maps and graphics created for this feature to put everything into historic and geographic focus.
This presentation is really two shows brought together into a two hour double-feature.
See the B&O, C&O and Western Maryland in both freight and passenger trains in a time-period that had far more variety in road names, equipment and methods of operation. Don't miss those beautiful B&O passenger trains that proudly carried the nation's capitol dome on their nose.
See a colorful mix of first and second generation diesels through many of their paint scheme phases.
This two hour feature explains how the C&O and the B&O were first merged together -- and how the Western Maryland came into the picture to form the Chessie System.
If you miss those colorful Chessie System diesels, this feature has near-new looking examples of them in this presentation.
The Seaboard Coast Line merger of the combined Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line began in the 1960s.
This presentation explains how the L&N came into the picture and how the Seaboard Coastline, the L&N, the Clinchfield, and several other smaller roads, were marketed as the Family Lines in the 1970s.
The SCL had famous passenger trains that maintained their popularity until 1971.
The Family Lines era of the 1970s became the Seaboard System by 1982 and those colors come back to life as well.
The Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac, or RF&P, was a 113-mile long double-tracked bridge line that neatly linked northern and southern roads together. This presentation brings the last 20-years of that roads independence to your screen.
The 1970s became an especially difficult time for many railroads. The bankruptcies, and little-known "could-have-been" mergers, of that era are explained. This was the virtual "minefield" that Chessie and the Seaboard had to operate in. They both emerged in good shape for their eventual merger into the CSX.
Customer Reviews
👍 8 found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase
- 5 of 5
Another excellent video from Charles Smiley. His videos are comprehensive stories of the subject matter, not just pictures of trains. Most entertaining!
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? "Must Have"!
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👍 4 found this helpful
- 5 of 5
I really liked this from the first viewing. It's an unequivocally thorough history of the pre-CSX/Post B&O, C&O, WM railroading scene ever committed to video, and it looks and sounds great to boot.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? "Must Have"!
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👍 4 found this helpful
- 5 of 5
Coverage of all the railroads that made up CSX Transportation was excellent, including the Family Lines System and R,F & P which you don't see much of on video. Can't go wrong with this one.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Good value.
Recommend? "Must Have"!
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👍 3 found this helpful
- 5 of 5
Recommend is all I can say about this DVD, if you are a fan of the roads that went into making CSX this is a "Must Have". Its nice to see more and more footage coming out from the years gone by and this DVD is no disappointment. I loved the footage on the Chessie, Seaboard System, ACL and of course the Family Lines. The DVD's format is nicely done in Smiley's familiar blend of narration music maps and graphics along with the trains sounds. The DVD is made up of super 8 film and some early DVD cassettes, all the photography is good and comes together as a real nice show, i could go on about all the great roads you'll see and how nicely everything is photographed but just one look at the pictures on the dust jacket and you'll get the whole picture, all are taken from footage in the DVD, well worth the price.
John Schmeling
SP/UP Railroad (Ret)
John Schmeling
SP/UP Railroad (Ret)
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? "Must Have"!
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👍 2 found this helpful
- 5 of 5
love the L&N and the seaboard system...and chessie to..great video
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? "Must Have"!
Was this review helpful?
👍 2 found this helpful
- 5 of 5
Very informative; vintage equipment; great maps; brought back a lot of memories
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? "Must Have"!
Was this review helpful?