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At one time I would have said this series of tapes covers today's railroads and includes a mix of steam, diesel, and
traction, both in the U.S. and overseas. My video shooting began in the mid 80's and with all the changes that have taken
place, some of this early footage now has become vintage video of railroading that cannot be duplicated today.
Some of these tapes duplicate material on the more professional ones produced and marketed all over, that tell a
story and explain all to the viewer. However the difference is that rather than waste valuable tape time on interviews,
background material, and short sequences of the same bit of action, my tapes go right to the heart of what is interesting
- trains in motion, trains doing their thing. If an explanation is required it is provided before, not over the train video
and sounds.
I feel Train Watcher's like to watch trains and the more the better. Tape eliminates the time voids between trains
and so the action is almost continuous. Each tape is filled with a lot of great action with quality sound. The story line
is easily followed, thus eliminating the need for a great amount of narration. Most tapes can be seen complete or in parts
at any time. My intent is to provide you with the pleasure and satisfaction of watching trains, steam, diesel or electric
any time you so desire. To help in selection tapes of interest, I have separated the tapes into categories, steam, Diesel,
Traction, General, a mix of steam diesel and traction and/or a combination of any, Overseas Diesel and Traction and Overseas
Steam. We begin with the Steam Tapes.
The TRAIN WATCHER'S TAPES - STEAM
{*}TW1 - EXTRA 1218 EAST TO ROANOKE by John Szwajkart (appx. 1 hr. 45 min.) follows N&W 1218 on its initial
break-in trip from Birmingham to Roanoke, a three day run. A few days later the 1218 makes three fantrips out of Roanoke,
a rain soaked trip to Bluefield, and two short sunny day trips to Lynchburg and Walton. This concludes with a day before
regular operations at Cass Scenic, as the shays were being preped for the season. TW1 $31.00 ea.
TW2 - N&W 611 IN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA by John Szwajkart (appx. 85 min.) For a while N&W 611 appeared regularly
in the Chicago area in fantrip service. This tape looks at one such trip following the train from Chicago to Fort Wayne,
over the former NKP, and back. Next is a trip on the St. Louis to Detroit Line (former Wabash Line) out of Montpelier to
Ft. Wayne and back. Lastly there is more 611 out of Chicago and back, along with a look at it departing east the next day
with the deadhead consist. TW2 $25.25 ea.
TW6 - MODERN STEAM by Rosemarie and John Szwajkart (appx. 79 min.) Four recently restored, at the time late 80's,
steam locomotives are featured. SSW 4-8-4 819, N&W 4-8-4 611, C&NW 4-6-0 1385, and NKP 2-8-4 765 are all shown on
mainline fantrip or special trains. Currently none of these locomotives are in service, which makes this an unusual tape.
TW6 $27.25 ea.
TW7 - TWO DIFFERENT BERKS by John Szwajkart (appx. 83 min.) If you like the 2-8-4 (Berkshire) wheel arrangement,
this tape should fill some of your needs and at the same item allow you to make comparisons between the two. PM 1225 is shown
in early fantrip service out of Owosso, MI on a NYC branch that limits speeds. NKP 765, on the other hand, demonstrates its'
capabilities by successfully pulling a fantrip on the busy C&NW mainline between Chicago and Sterling, IL. TW7 $25.25
ea.
TW8 - STEAM IN INDIANA by John Szwajkart (appx. 40 min.) This two part tape examines fantrip runs by N&W 611
and NKP 587. It begins with N&W 611 on the former Wabash mainline from Detroit. The rest of the tape covers one of
the early NKP 587 fantrips on the former PRR line out of Indianapolis to Logansport. TW8 $22.25 ea.
{*}TW10 - EXTRA 1218 NORTH TO CHICAGO by John Szwajkart (appx. 88 min.) During its career N&W 2-6-6-4 1218
made a number of trips to Chicago and this is one them. Beginning at Portsmouth, the locomotive and its train are followed
north to Bellevue and then west on the NKP to Chicago. The trip has its surprises and one noteworthy event does take place
on the way. Since it is a surprise, I cannot tell you what and where, but it is there. A Chicago to Ft. Wayne fantrip is
chased and the tape concludes with the departure of the train from the area after the trip is over. TW10 $25.25 ea.
TW11 - PENNSYLVANIA STEAM by Rosemarie and John Szwajkart (appx. 65 min.) This two part tape examines operations
steam on two Museums in PA, the Strasburg Railroad and the BM&R. Starting with the Strasburg Railroad 2-10-0 90 and 4-4-2
7002, now out of service, are followed through a normal day of operations. Next on the BM&R, it is 4-6-2 425, a former
GM&O locomotive, that is followed through a typical day of operation. Now this locomotive too is out of service. TW11
$25.25 ea.
TW12 - NARROW GAUGE STEAM by Rosemarie and John Szwajkart (appx. 83 min.) This collection consists of narrow gauge
steam in the west and in the east. Featured roads include the C&TS and the EBT. Also included are shots of the Georgetown
Loop in Colorado, Edaville the two-foot line in Massachusetts, and the Huckleberry Railroad in Flint , Michigan. TW12 $25.25
ea.
TW13 - MID-CONTINENT STEAM by John Szwajkart (appx. 83 min.) A trip into the past when steam was king was a lot
of work. This in-depth look at steam operations at the North Freedom Museum, begins with the early morning start-up of WC&C
4-6-0 1, following all preparations before the first run. A typical run is followed and ends with what happens after all
the passengers leave the museum. C&NW 1385 closes with a cameo appearance running over the line in regular service.
TW13 $27.25 ea.
{*}TW14 - EXTRA SLSF 1522 NORTH by John Szwajkart (appx. 80 min.) One of the earliest runs by SLSF 4-8-2 1522 was
a series of fantrips on the WC between Fond du Lac and Chicago. To get there the 1522 had to run over the C&NW and the
WC. Each ferry run included a bunch of freight cars. To provide a different perspective, only the freight runs are included
on this tape. This includes the run over the C&NW from South Pekin to Chicago and the freight runs over the WC to and
from Fond du Lac. TW14 $25.25 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW17 - 587 AND 611 DOUBLEHEAD by John Szwajkart (appx. 1 hr. 51 min.) Follows four days of chasing the two as
they power the NRHS Independence Limited of 1989. It is doubleheaded steam at its finest as the chase goes from Fostoria,
Oh south to Cincinnati and east through the mountains to Salem, VA. TW17 $27.25 ea.
{*}TW19 - ON THE ROAD WITH 1385 by John Szwajkart (appx. 1 hr. 53 min.) Covers a number of the off-museum trips
made by Mid-Continent's C&NW 4-6-0. This begins with a trip on the C&NW mainline to Clinton with a special train.
Next it is to WI for some slow near zero running west out of Mazomanie, later some faster running north to Saulk City and
finally more winter running between Broadhead and Monroe, which includes plenty of great action plus a cab ride. TW19 $27.25
ea.
TW21 - STEAM IN ST. LOUIS by John Szwajkart (appx. 65 min.) Looks at the steam operations before and during the
NRHS St. Louis Convention in 1990. Begins with a run by SSW 819; its only time in IL and away from its home terminal. Next
there is a look at UP 844 in gray and black passenger colors running on the former C&EI out of St Louis. Finally there
is SLSF 1522 making an exceptional run over the SLSF line from St Louis to Newburg and back. TW21 $25.00 ea.
{*}TW26 - SANTA FE 3751 IN ILLINOIS by John Steenwyk and John Szwajkart (appx. 51 min.) Follows the only run of
this locomotive through IL from Fort Madison to Chicago and back. It is a two day event, one day overcast and the second
clear and sunny, that proves to be an exciting and merry chase. TW26 $22.25 ea.
{*}TW27 - CLINCHFIELD 676 AND THE SANTA CLAUS TRAIN by John Szwajkart and others (appx. 1 hr. 55 min.) In this one
time event, UP 4-6-6-4 3985 is cosmetically disguised as Clinchfield 676 for operation on the 50th anniversary Santa Claus
train over the CRR. Followed are the runs over the C&O down to and over the CRR, plus all the extra runs over the CRR
before the Santa Claus run. The Santa Claus train is covered extensively along with the return north back to the C&O the
next day. Additional material is included shows the restored 3985 returning west across KY, IN and IL to home rails. TW27
$31.00 ea.
{*}TW31 - THE 1993 INDEPENDENCE LIMITED by John Szwajkart (appx. 83 min.) Chased for four different days and powered
by four different steam locomotives, the NRHS Independence Limited proved again to be a once in a lifetime experience. The
first day train left Knoxville behind SOU 4501. The next two days it ran over the N&W with 611 to Fort Wayne, IN. There
on the last day the train ran over the former NKP to Chicago behind NKP 587 and 765. TW31 $27.25 ea.
{*}TW32 - MILWAUKEE ROAD 261 by John Steenwyk and John Szwajkart (appx. 63 min.) This restored locomotive's first
main line fan-trip was over the WC between Fond du Lac and Stevens Point in 1993. The train is followed from Fond du Lac
through the street running in Oshkosh, into Neenah and on to Stevens Point. Included is a side trip to turn the locomotive
and train at Junction City. This tape provides an opportunity to cover the line and see steam and operations on the WC during
it's' early years. TW32 $25.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW33 - SLSF 1522 by Jack Wheelihan and John Szwajkart (appx. 73 min.) It is a two day chase as SLSF 1522 is
followed over the SLSF (BN) line from St. Louis to Springfield, day 1, and from Springfield to Memphis, day 2. TW33 $25.25
ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW34 - Discontinued and replaced by TW41 tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
TW35 - L&N 152 by John Szwajkart (appx. 45 min.) A look at operations on the Kentucky Railroad Museum's railroad
with restored L&N 4-6-2 152. The entire line between Boston and New Haven, KY is covered by combining several trips together.
Even includes a cab ride on the locomotive. Diesels are on the back of the train to bring the train back to the Museum and
these too are quite interesting. One trip uses a former AT&SF GP while the other a BL2 painted in Monon colors. TW35
$22.25 ea.
TW41 - MILWAUKEE ROAD 261 - FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT GET ENOUGH by John Steenwyk and John Szwajkart and others (appx.
110 min.) This starts with Milw 261, on a ferry run, which is followed, on the WC, from Fond du Lac to Chicago. Then on
two round trip fantrips from Chicago north are followed. Next the locomotive travels east disguised as a Lackawanna locomotive,
followed by shots of the 261 in service on the C&O New River Train. TW41 $31.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
TW42 - UP 844 by John Steenwyk and John Szwajkart (appx. 60 min.) UP 844 came to Chicago in 1996 to handle a number
of special moves along with the UP E-unit fleet. This tape begins following the 844 from Iowa into Chicago on the C&NW.
The locomotive then is seen on a private special for the DNC delegates and handling a fantrip to Milwaukee. The E's are caught
powering another special to Union, IL, and all this concludes with 844 heading west on the C&NW through Illinois. TW42
$28.00 ea.
{*}TW43 - C&O 2816 by John Steenwyk, John Szwajkart and Jack Wheelihan (appx. 60 min.) Covers the only mainline
runs made by this locomotive. These were over the TP&W and after languishing for a time the locomotive returned to static
display at KRM. This three part tape begins with the locomotive in freight service on the TP&W. Then it is two days
of fantrips on the TP&W out of Logansport with a TP&W F unit providing power for the backup moves. The contrast in
weather for the two days adds to the interest of this tape. Saturday was a day of clear sky and bright sun, Sunday was just
the opposite. TW43 $28.00 ea.
{*}TW50 - SOO 2719 - The Second time Around by John Szwajkart (appx. 83 min.) After powering the last steam fantrip
on the Soo in 1959, this locomotive was put on display. Restored in the 90's it ran primarily in northern WI and for a short
time regularly between Chippewa Falls and Wheeler on the WC. This is a record of two days of trips, plus shots of WC freights
and a cameo appearance of Soo 1003. TW50 $25.25 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW51 - GTW 4070 On The Cuyahoga Valley Line by John Szwajkart (appx. 56 min.) Begins with a look at the early
diesel operations on this former B&O branch line, now part of a National Park. Then concentrates on GTW 2-8-2 4070, now
out of service, when it originally powered the train. It all begins with departure of the empty train from the "flats"
and after it is loaded all the way to Akron. On the return trip an extra stop is made for a movie run-by, and ends with the
empty train returning to the "flats". TW51 $28.00 ea.
TW53 - LITTLE RIVER 110 by John Szwajkart (appx. 82 min.) A close look at the worlds smallest standard gauge 4-6-2
beginning with early operations in Indiana and a look at current runs in Michigan TW53 $25.25 ea.
TW59 - PERE MARQUETTE 1225 by John Szwajkart (appx. 77 min.) Normally confined to the T&SB yard in Owosso, this
big Berk does occasionally get out and pull fantrips. Originally it was confined to slow running over a former NYC branch.
One such trip is included in this tape. Currently, for the last couple of years, it has made annual trips over the T&SB
mainline, former AA, north of Owosso. Running at faster speeds, two of these trips are covered in the second portion of
this tape. TW59 $27.25 ea.
{*}TW60 - SOO 1003 by John Szwajkart (appx. 66 min.) This is a look at this second Soo steam locomotive to be revived
as it pulls a fantrip special between Waukesha and Stoughton over a twisty and scenic former Milw branchline now part of the
W&S. This former freight locomotive proves it too can handle passenger trains. Unfortunately this locomotive is now
out of service and out of the area. TW60 $25.25 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW69 - MILWAUKEE 261 AND CP 2816 by John Szwajkart (appx. 62 min.) Covers chases of the CP 4-6-4 2816 north
of Chicago and Milw 261 into the Chicago area. Then covers some of the Great Excursion events in which 261 and 2816 participated,
including a double headed run along the Mississippi River. TW69 $25.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
S4 - SNOW TRAIN - (appx. 30 min.) Covers winter steam operations on the Mid-Continent Museum in Wisconsin. Steam
passenger and freight trains are followed through a snowy winter day of operations. S4 $16.75 ea.
S5 - A TRIP INTO THE PAST - (appx. 30 min.) A look at summer steam operations at Mid-Continent Museum including
a tour of the entire line. S5 $16.75 ea.
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