The Wabash Railroad

"This tape from Green Frog is, like the Pennsylvania Railroad tape described above, based on the work of Emery Gulash. From 1952 on, Mr. Gulash started to capture the wonders of this railroad on film. Filmed in 16mm and with high quality sound, Green Frog has added this tape to their heritage series. The magical Wabash, well remembered for its "Wabash Cannonball", ran what was, in effect, two main lines. One route ran from Chicago to St. Louis, and the other ran from Detroit to Toledo and Kansas City. Mr. Gulash filmed both routes, recording on film first generation diesels, the Wabash Cannonball and other passenger trains, plus lots of freight action. Places displayed in the Gulash style include Detroit; Ft. Wayne; Mexico, Missouri; Windsor; and Toledo. Of special interest are the Fort Street Union Depot in Detroit, the Oakwood Yard plus a lot more. And later Mr. Gulash illustrates the merger with the Norfolk and Western. The entire great transitory period from 1952 through 1966 is here. If you have any interest in this road or in the Norfolk and Western or the Norfolk and Southern, or in Western roads in general, the film is for you. I have seen it three times already and I love it." Dr. Robert B. Marvin - The Model Train Trader

"The 60 minute video begins in 1952 in the Detroit area with Alco PA's arriving with the Cannonball. Expanding to nearby Delray and Romulus Junction, early action behind F7's is featured. However, the strongest point of the program consists of footage taken at Oakwood yard in Melvindale. Included is Ann Arbor action at Milan, MI, with the Wabash inspired Alco FA's and later DT&I style GP35's working the interchange. The tape covers the era as locomotive paint changes to the solid blue.

"N&W operations cover the final 12 minutes of the tape, and honestly this is the footage I purchased the tape to see. Shown are transfer runs with leased C&EI Alcos at Delray Junction, mixed consists departing Oakwood and some excellent footage of N&W GP-30's in original paint heading auto parts traffic through Romulus Junction.

"Narration is informative and does not resort to "the-railroad-had-gone-to-pieces" style which sometimes crops up in these programs. I find Emery's cinematic style, a mix of telephoto and normal views, pleasing. The modern, "zoom-and-pan-as-the-train-approaches" style in contemporary tape, I find annoying after the first few runbys. The tape is well thought out, features stereo sound, and is recommended." Mason Y. Cooper - The Arrow (Norfolk & Western Historical Society)