Train Tuesdays
For my birthday, I picked up the Steam Train! DVD set from Railhead Video Productions. What I like most about the DVD is that it mostly filmed in the mid-Atlantic region I am familiar with. I enjoyed seeing scenes of steam engines in Alexandria, Burke, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Manassas, Marshall, Markham, Linden, Front Royal, and other Virginia locations. There is outstanding footage of the Norfolk Southern steam program including Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 Class J #611 and Norfolk and Western Class A 2-6-6-4 #1218. The video also documents some older Southern Railway steam excursions in the same areas, including ex-CP #2839, ex-C&O #2716 and Savannah and Atlanta #750.
Additionally, there are some great scenes of C&O #614 leading the Chessie Safety Express excursions on the B&O mainline in Maryland. Western Maryland Scenic Railroad #734 is also featured along with a few other surviving locomotives in the U.S.
There is no narration on the DVDs; this video lets the locomotives do their own talking. My only constructive criticism is that I wish there was some more panning before/after the trains passed to see more of the surrounding areas. At any rate, this two-disc set will be enjoyed by any Mid-Atlantic railfan or fan of the historic Norfolk Southern steam operations program.