RAILS CHICAGO IN THE 80’S
Rails Chicago was originally released in 1987. Since that time, quite a bit of additional material has come to light, including video captured by Steve Neff of Neff Video Productions. So with this re-release, we present much of what was part of Rails Chicago first released in 1987, and additional material from Green Frog and Neff Video. There are more detail on locations, locomotives and especially the railroads themselves.
The following railroads, as they operated in 1987, are displayed:
Indiana Harbor Belt, Santa Fe, Conrail, Grand Trunk, Illinois Central, Chicago & North Western, Norfolk Southern, Burlington Northern, Chessie System, Amtrak, South Shore, Union Pacific, Milwaukee Road, Metra, Soo Line.
This video provides tremendous highlights into the hub of rail action in the United States.
Approx: 55 Minutes Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
ILLINOIS HOT SPOTS (1989-1990)
Fast paced, exciting action at many Illinois locations. From the camera of Steve Neff comes more action packed video of one of America’s favorite train watching areas: Illinois.
Contemporary action (1989-1990) at Galesburg, Tuscola, Effingham, Benton, East Dubuque, Centralia, and East Clinton. You’ll see operations on the Union Pacific, Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Conrail, Norfolk Southern and Chicago and North Western.
Approx: 60 Minutes Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
RAILS CHICAGO IN THE LATE 90’S VOL. 1
Follow photographer Rich Kugel as he takes us on a whirlwind tour of railroading in the Chicago area in the latter part of the millennium. This video covers the city of Chicago, as well as the North and West suburbs of Chicago.
In Volume 1 we visit Roundout, Des Plaines, Rochelle, Bensenville, Franklin Park, Elmwood Park, Elmhurst, LaGrange, Highlands, and Hinsdale. Also included are some spectacular aerial shots from a helicopter of yards, and interchanges!
You’ll certainly enjoy our “story within a story” of action at Elmwood Park. We call it 60 minutes at Elmwood Park! Although we’ve compressed the action to only about 8 minutes, you’ll be amazed at the traffic this 3 track mainline can develop in a short time.
Also included on this video is exciting coverage of #261, the Milwaukee Road Northern 4-8-4. If its comprehensive coverage of the Chicago area, this video has it all!
Approx: 67 Minutes Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
RAILS CHICAGO IN THE LATE 90’S VOL. 2
Green Frog photographer Rich Kugel takes us on whirlwind tour of more Chicago “hotspots”. This video covers the area’s southern and eastern regions in this spectacular sequel to Volume 1.
Locations visited include: Lemont, Joliet, Hayford Jct., Homewood, Dolton, Thornton Jct., Elkhart, and many more! Also included is more footage of #261, the Milwaukee Road Northern 4-8-4!
And if that weren’t enough, we’ve also included more breathtaking aerial footage of yards and junctions taken from a helicopter! Don’t miss this exciting follow-up to Volume 1 as we conclude our visit to the nation’s Railroad Capital!
Approx: 62 Minutes Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
CHICAGO ODYSSEY VOLUME 1
World respected rail photographer Emery Gulash began capturing prolific amounts of action in and near the Chicago area from the early 50's. There are 15 railroads portrayed in Volume 1 such as: Santa Fe, CB&Q, Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Chicago & Northwestern Indiana, Milwaukee Road, Rock Island, North Shore, Grand Trunk, GM&O, Illinois Central, Monon, Norfolk & Western, C&EI, and C&O.
In the mid-fifties, to be a railfan in Chicago, there was no limit to the majestic views of railroads, Exotic first generation diesels, sparkling consists of the new streamlined passenger trains, well maintained track work...these were all the things that truly excited the railfan of that time...and Emery Gulash was no exception.
Filmed in crisp 16mm color, witness the end of steam on a few roads and the birth of the diesel as the mainstay of power for freight and passenger. If there ever was a documentary of rail action in and around Chicago, this has to be it!
Typical incredible Gulash photography, coupled with the Frog's fast paced editing make this Volume 1 a collectors item you've just got to have!
Approx: 120 Minutes--Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
CHICAGO ODYSSEY VOLUME 2
In this fantastic two disc set, we will see the end of individualized passenger service, and the beginnings of Amtrak. The 'Amtrak in Transition' portion of this DVD is worth the price of this set alone! Before Amtrak, we will see passenger trains from: Milwaukee Road, CB&Q, Santa Fe, Penn Central, Gulf Mobile and Ohio, Grand Trunk, Great Northern, Northern Pacific (and eventually the Burlington Northern), and Illinois Central.
Of course we haven't forgotten you freight fans either. You'll see freight on most of the railroads mentioned above on: Chicago & North Western, Soo Line, Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, Indiana Harbor Belt, Rock Island, Chicago & Eastern Illinois. There are cameo appearances on the Chesapeake & Ohio as well as the Baltimore & Ohio.
And in between all this, we'll catch commuter action on many of these roads as well: the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend, Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee, and the Chicago Transit Authority. You'll witness the changes in motive power and equipment on many of these commuter lines.
Finally, we end our tour of Chicago in 1973. We'll continue to watch the ever changing scene in both motive power, passenger and freight, as well as the Chicago skyline.
Approx: 2.5 Hours--Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
ILLINOIS CENTRAL
37 years of The Illinois Central; from steam to diesel. More than TWO AWESOME HOURS of incredible train watching on this TWO DISC set!
Part one chronicles 45 minutes of the last of steam on the IC, and finishes up with first generation diesels as photographed in 16mm color by noted photographer Jerry Carson. Part two covers the contemporary IC as marvelously captured by rail videographer Steve Neff with top of the line professional video equipment.
This video was edited by Green Frog with our usual Fast Pace story lines, incredible sound, and crisp sharp picture. Don't miss out on one of the country's best known and loved railroads.
NEVER has there been such coverage of this road!
Plus NEVER BEFORE SHOWN PICTURES of the IC Included in a slide show!
Approx: 2 Hours 20 Minutes--Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
(SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION)
5 DVD Set--Almost 11 Hours
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo & 5.1 Surround
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