I liked this, wish we had some good cab views of it though. the footage is really old so its hard to judge it on that. some really interesting stuff.

Additional remarks by dmacleo:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Great DVD, as I'm only in my early 20's I never got to hear or see a running turbine locomotive, this video does a good job presenting them as they were when active and not on static display. I think the DVD could have used more of the engineering info on these units, but otherwise a great film to watch, if you enjoy horsepower you'll enjoy this DVD.

Additional remarks by Adam O:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Now this is the great one on UP TURBINES, great quality, great story from the early ones to the later ones, great behind the scenes footage, a lot of DVDs you only watch once and then store away, but this I can watch over and over! On the turbines it does not get any better and never will! If this is your interest, this is a MUST HAVE!


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

Really liked the video and the sound of the turbines was the best part. From start to finish the video didn't have one boring part.

Additional remarks by Uncle-Curly:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Yes.

Produced in the documentary style, this dvd chronicles the development of UP's gas turbines from the 1930's through the 1960's. The show begins with a film from GE on the very first turbine experiment in 1938. We see the locomotive under construction, and then in testing and some short scenes in revenue service. The GE film is in B&W. We then take a look at all three turbines that went into production, including a couple of experimental turbines - a double ended unit and a coal-burning unit that was rebuilt from an Alco diesel. There's nice footage of the Veranda turbines - something which is somewhat hard to come by. Many of the images we see are of the locomotives in pristine condition, allowing the viewer to enjoy the details of these monster power-houses.
The main show is a combination of color and B&W, but this does not detract from the show. Pentrex did a good job in cleaning up the films and the digital restoration is impressive. The only real downside? It's 45 minutes, less than the usual Pentrex video.

Additional remarks by Jeffrey Ornstein:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Definitely.

In this 1998 Video, it starts with a head on shot of engine 56 approaching the camera, followed by some steam action like challengers & big boys. Then it starts with a black & white Film from General Motors in 1938: The steam electric arrives. After the film, David Drui resumes the narration duties with 2 steam turbined power units 1 & 2. They were built in time for christmas 1938. They each ran for 2500 horsepower & have 6 powered axles & 4 non-powered axles. After that, the still image for the front cover of this program was used. Number 50 was originally GE 101. It was built in November 1948 by both alco & GE, and has 4500 horsepower with 8 axles (4 2 axle trucks). A still image of number 50 at San Bernadino, CA is shown. A repeat of number 56 approaching the camera was used for the history of the Standard Gas Turbine Electric Engines which were built from January 1952-August 1953. 10 were built: 51-60. Like number 50, they have 4500 horsepower with 8 axles (4 2 axle trucks). A sill image of number 52 was used for the advertising brochure. Afterwards, a map from Ogden to Green River is used. An unknown turbine is on a freight in Utah, followed by another one at night. On this scene, smoke from the steam locomotive is coming from the right. Next, a turbine is on a freight carrying a tender from a scrapped steam locomotive in 1955. A map from Green River to Council Bluffs is included. Popping through the trees, Turbine 54 is being paced with a steam tender. At the shops, Turbine 71 is being serviced. Meanwhile the history of the Veranda turbines are shown. They were built between March-October of 1954. They were numbered 61-75. Again they have 4500 horsepower. Turbine 62 is on a freight, while number 71 is seen again with a steam helper on the rear over the devil's gate bridge. Next, another turbine is carrying mostly livestock cars in echo canyon. Back at the Cheyenne shops, turbine 71 is being serviced. A set of F-units arrive on the next track. the lead unit is number 1404. Some steam is shown on the right side of the screen. Later, turbine 71 fills up for water. Next it backs up to the Sand pipe. At echo canyon, Veranda unit 74 leads a really long and really heavy freight. Look how dirty the second Turbine is. Another Veranda & 2 cabless GP9 booster units are on a freight at echo canyon. In Los Angeles, Turbine 70 is starting up its own generators. An animated Demonstration of the Turbine activation is shown. Back outside, turbine 70 is making a forward and backward runby for the camera man as it runs light. The veranda units were retired from August 1963-April 1964. A black & White film of the announcement of the new turbine delivered for 1955 is shown. Turbine 30 is on a freight. All 30 were built by GE in August 1958-June 1961. They have 8500 horsepower, and have 12 axles. Another Gas turbine is hauling livestock. Next, Turbine 13 is hauling livestock as well, followed by a black & white shot of Turbine 2 at Cheyenne. Next, Turbine 12 is hauling boxcars, followed by Turbine 22 carrying hoppers. At Green River, Turbine 14 goes through the switches. Turbine 2 pulls into the yard from a bridge. Winter came to Wyoming as turbine 11 arrives for service. Afterwards, an NW2 is switching cars, then turbine 11 is back on the rails. Following Behind is sister engine 9 with another train. From the pedestrian bridge, a Turbine is on a mixed freight with interstate highway 80 appearing in the background. Back in Utah's echo canyon, turbine 8 is on a freight. Next, Turbine 26 heads for the twin bridges & twin tunnels at Weber canyon. Afterwards, some pacing footage of turbine 3 in Black & white is shown. Moments later, Turbine 23 makes a going away shot in echo canyon. Here it carries REA cars, and a flatbed with automobiles. Leaving the Twin Bridges & tunnels is turbine 15, followed by an unknown turbine in a going away shot. Next, Turbine 18 makes a head on shot for the cameraman at it heads for a bend. Afterwards, another turbine is hauling freight, followed by a meet with turbine 16, and turbine 4 arriving at the yards with a dirty tender. Several eastern road named boxcars are behind turbine 16. Next, Turbine 20 is carrying boxcars, followed by turbine 21 approaching the twin bridges and tunnels. Afterwards, 2 more unknown turbines are on a freight. Back at cheyenne, turbine 3 arrives as it goes under the colorado & southern bridge in black and white. Meanwhile, there is a crew change on turbine 3, as well as some service. Afterwards, it passes by 4-8-4 number 839, then it needs to be refilled. With service completed, Turbine 3 heads east. Turbine 1 is on track 3 at Dale Junction in Sherman Hill. Back to the color however, Turbine 19 is heading west. Another turbine leaves The twin tunnels at Hermosa. Turbine 28 is carrying empty auto carriers. A turbine with 4 diesels pass by the junction. Note the early auto carriers. Turbine 23 is passing by a mountain with 2 diesels. Back in Los Angeles, Turbine 30 is at the city's east yard. Behind the turbine, are 2 diesels. The builder's plate on turbine 30 is shown. Turbine 30 leaves the LA basin heading east. A repeat from the Opposite side of the tracks are shown. At Ogden yard, Challenger 3703 is taking a spin at the turntable, while Turbine 1 gets its own generators started with an explosive bomb, then it transforms to hissing steam. A still image of Turbine 80 is shown. Number 80 was the only Coal burning turbine locomotive. it was built at Omaha in October 1962, and has 7000 horsepower, with 18 axles (14 powered, and 4 non-powered). The B unit for Turbine 80 was originally Great Northern 5018 that was built by GE in 1947. Some action shots of the electric on steven's pass is shown. Construction footage of turbine 80 is shown. The tender came from scrapped challenger 3990. The turbine was sadly scrapped in 1968. The program comes to a close as turbine 7 with a diesel helper negotiates an S curve. The turbines were retired between August 1968-February 1970. The closing credits shows a sunset.

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

The video was interesting if you are keen to the turbine era. I have purchased other video from Pentrex which I find more interesting. I model the late forties to the late sixties, so therefore I find motive power and passenger service of more intrest.

Additional remarks by Jim:
Narration: A little bit too much.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Seemed a little high, but not too bad.
Recommend to others? Not unless they REALLY were interested in the subject matter.

The history and progression was done OK but the content was light and short to say the least.

I especially didn't like that the videos cut off after the engines past and didn't show the ends of the trains like the caboose. If someone is modeling these trains, they would want to get the caboose correct as well as the engines. I also would have liked to see more about the servicing of these turbines along with more detail on the routes they were used on.

I have bought Pentrex videos before and I would say that this one has been the most disappointing to date.

Additional remarks by A Ryniec:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Seemed a little high, but not too bad.
Recommend to others? Not unless they REALLY were interested in the subject matter.