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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. In this list we begin with the Diesel Tapes, follow with Traction, and end with the General Listing.
The TRAIN WATCHER'S TAPES - DIESEL
{*}TW3 - ALCOS IN WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN by John Szwajkart (appx. 1hr. 52 min.) It's Alcos and more Alcos with BLW
and GE locomotives mixed in. Covers a three day trip into the Upper Peninsula to see the C&NW Alco powered ore line and
to Marquette to visit the LS&I. On the way stops are made at Green Bay to chase a GB&W Boat train and an E&LS
BLW powered train, which is followed north. TW3 $31.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW9 - CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND AS IT WAS by John Szwajkart (appx. 70 min.) Covers the entire railroad from Taylorville
to Peoria. Follows a local from Taylorville to Springfield with RS1325 30. Then traces the path of Extra #75 north to Havana
continuing on to Pekin with a cab ride. The train is followed north to Peoria. Concludes with an Oakway powered empty running
over the BN to Galesburg. TW9 $25.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW16 - THE BRC ALCO CENTURY'S by John Szwajkart (appx. 120 min.) Examines the routes used by all six of the now gone
BRC Alco Century's. Also includes many of the other now gone BRC non-Alco diesels in service, and shows many of the other
railroad users of the line. Besides covering all of the Alcos, this tape supplements the material in the "Train Watcher's
Guide to Chicago". TW16 $31.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW18 - TRAIN WATCHING IN KANSAS CITY by John Szwajkart (appx. 120 min.) Supplements and complements material in the
"Train Watcher's Guide to Kansas City". Provides a good idea of the types of rail action that can be seen in this
rail center by looking at major routes, and selected locations from the Guide. All material on this tape was taken while
the Guide was being prepared. TW18 $28.00 ea.
{*}TW20 - RUSH HOUR ON THE BN by John Szwajkart (appx. 67 min.) Features nearly all the E's on the BN before they were
replaced. All the action is centered about the afternoon rush hour, which is well over one-hour long. All this begins at
Union Station in downtown Chicago and continues at 16th Street where the trains turn west. Then it is out west on the three
track mainline to Berwyn, followed by Brookfield, and then on to Downers Grove. All this ends with one more look at the E's
symbolically running into the sunset at Congress Park. TW20 $23.75 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW25 - THE GREEN BAY & WESTERN BOAT TRAIN by John Szwajkart (appx. 44 min.) Follows two different "Boat
Trains" one from Green Bay to Kewaunee and back and the other from Kewaunee to Green Bay. The material in this tape
was taken and consolidated from TW3, for those that are not interested in the other railroads. TW25 $22.25 ea. tape only,
for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW44 - CIRCUS TRAIN by John Szwajkart (appx. 43 min.) This is a look at the W&S E units in two different paint
schemes and in two different types of service. It begins with the units on the now discontinued Dinner train out of Milwaukee,
running in a blue and yellow scheme. Next they power the July 1997 Circus train with the circus cars from Baraboo for the
Milwaukee Circus Parade. This time the units appear in the standard W&S Maroon and Silver. Since then the W&S has
sold the units and the circus train no longer uses the original circus cars from the museum. TW44 $22.25 ea. tape only,
for dvd check dvd listing.
TW45 - CONRAIL ST. LOUIS LINE FROM TERRE HAUTE TO INDIANAPOLIS by John Szwajkart (appx. 60 min.) Pre-merger Conrail
freight action is caught at Haley Tower in Terre Haute, along with additional trains east toward Avon Yard in Indianapolis.
Conrail blue predominates, but there are plenty of other pool-power diesels that appear making this tape quite a colorful
and enjoyable experience. TW45 $28.00 ea.
TW49 - INDIANA HARBOR BELT by John Szwajkart (appx. 120 min.) An in depth look at the Harbor diesels, past and present,
and operations at selected locations on the line. Another tape that adds and complements the information in the "Train
Watcher's Guide to Chicago". TW49 $31.00 ea.
TW52 - ILLINOIS CENTRAL from Kankakee to Champaign by John Szwajkart (appx. 114 min.) This is coverage of the IC main
from Kankakee south to Champaign before the CN took over the line. Mainline freight and passenger trains are seen. The
first part covers the line between Kankakee and Gilman. The second covers the line from Gilman to Champaign, including a
run on the Rantoul Branch. This concludes with a look at the hot-spot on the line, Gilman. TW52 $31.00 ea.
{*}TW57 - BNSF(BN) from Aurora to Savanna by John Szwajkart (appx. 84 min.) Here is an extended look at trains on the
former CB&Q mainline from west of Aurora to Savanna. This is a single track line with passing sidings, that hosts lots
of stack trains, regular freights and locals. Also included is a look at the railpark at Rochelle. Although taken after
the BNSF merger, there is still an interesting and colorful mix of BN, AT&SF and BNSF power that appears on the trains.
TW57 $28.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
{*}TW58 - BNSF(AT&SF) West of Joliet by John Szwajkart (appx. 68 min.) Although several years into the BNSF merger,
operations on this line west of Joliet still resemble those of the former Santa Fe with lots of very fast and frequent stack
and piggyback trains, along with a few regular freights and locals. All of this on a surprisingly scenic mainline, if you
know where to look. Discovering this is the objective of this tape, combined with lots and lots of very fast trains. TW58
$25.25 ea.
{*}TW61 - MORE ALCOS IN WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN by Rosemarie and John Szwajkart (appx. 120 min.) It's Alcos and more
Alcos on another trip into the Upper Peninsula. This time the emphasis is the C&NW Alcos on the ore line and the LS&I
with its' varied Alco and GE roster. This is all new material not included in TW3. TW61 $31.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check
dvd listing.
S2 - ALCOS IN THE MIDWEST (appx. 30 min.) is a sampling of Alco powered trains on the BRC, GB&W, LS&I, and C&NW
all excerpted from the previously mentioned tapes. S2 $16.75 ea.
S3 - AT&SF IN CHICAGO - (appx. 30 min.) Is a look at AT&SF operations in the Chicago area between McCook and
Joliet. None of this material is found on any other tape. S3 $16.75 ea.
S6 - CB&Q 9911 - (appx. 30 min.) The only operational E5 in existence is followed running over the C&NW and CB&Q
to Galesburg for Railroad Day's. This was the only time the locomotive and train ran unescorted over the CB&Q mainline.
In addition there is other diesel action on the C&NW West line and BN line to Galesburg. S6 $16.75 ea.
The TRAIN WATCHER'S TAPES - TRACTION
TW15 - NEW TRACTION Vol. 1 by Rosemarie and John Szwajkart (appx. 56 min.) Is a collection of traction material from
the late the 80's illustrating the beginning of the transition from traction's expected demise to its current resurgence.
Consists mainly of streetcar operations overseas, Switzerland, Austria and Germany, in the U. S., Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and
Chicago, and at few local museums Union and Fox River. TW15 $22.25 ea.
TW22 - TRACTION TODAY Vol. 2 by John Szwajkart (appx. 59 min.) Illustrates the comeback of traction along the west coast
with a look at several new lines and one of the well known traction museums. Includes traction in Sacramento, Vancouver,
Seattle and at Rio Vista. TW22 $22.25 ea.
{*}TW68 - TRACTION TODAY Vol. 3 by John Szwajkart (appx. 118 min.) (Modern contradictions) Covers streetcar operations
in New Orleans, Kenosha and Memphis. At the same time provides an opportunity to compare new technology with old technology.
Which is better? You can decide. TW68 $31.00 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
The TRAIN WATCHER'S TAPES - GENERAL (A mix of steam, diesel and/or traction)
TW28 - A TRAIN WATCHING TAPE FOR THE YEAR 1990 by John Szwajkart (appx. 53 min.) Looks at a number of different major
railroad events that took place during the year. It is divided into three parts, steam, diesel, and traction. Steam begins
this tape with SSW 819, UP 844 and SLSF 1522 at St. Louis, N&W 1218 on the Wabash west of Detroit, and PM 1225 in MI.
Some of the rarely seen steam includes DRG&W (narrow-gauge) at Flint, MI, LR 110 and L&ER 1 in IN, and PS&SV 2-6-6-2
11, MRS 5 and CP 2860 in the northwest. The BN E's are featured, singly and in multiple, along with a bunch of short line
operations in Chicago, Indiana, and around St. Louis. Traction is limited to the Fox River Electric Museum, Melbourne trams
and the Seattle streetcar line. TW28 $23.75 ea.
TW29 - A TRAIN WATCHING TAPE FOR THE YEAR 1991 by John Szwajkart (appx. 40 min.) Looks at a number of different major
railroad events that took place during the year. It is divided into three parts, traction, steam, and diesel. Traction begins
with a look at Union, Sacramento and Rio Vista. Steam includes operations at Heston, IN, The California State Railroad Museum
inside and outside, the Sierra Railroad, and the UP double-header through Feather River Canyon. Diesel coverage includes
the Napa Valley Wine Train, SP on Donners, ST&E, CCT, AT&SF specials out of Chicago, other Midwest roads plus a last
look at the BN E unit commuter fleet and one of their replacements. TW29 $22.25 ea.
TW30 - A TRAIN WATCHING TAPE FOR THE YEAR 1992 by John Szwajkart (appx. 53 min.) Looks at a number of different major
railroad events that took place during the year. It is divided into three parts, diesel, steam and traction. The diesel
portion begins with a look at SP operations into Chicago, more on the BN E's including last runs, a look at the BRC Alcos,
and the Wab F at Monticello. There is a lot of steam including steam in New Zealand, N&W 611, NKP 587, UP 3985, SP 4449,
SP 2472, AT&SF 3751, The 50th Santa Claus Special on the CRR and more. Traction includes the San Francisco cable cars,
Traction in Australia, CSS&SB in Iowa and the last run of the CTA 6000's. TW30 $23.75 ea.
S1 - TRAIN WATCHER'S DEMO TAPE ( appx. 30 min.) consists of some of this photographer's favorite scenes all selected
from a number of the early TW tapes. The selection includes a nice mix of steam, diesel, and electric selections taken in
the U.S. and overseas. S1 $16.75 ea.
The following tapes are intended to teach youngsters about railroads and at the same time to entertain. However these
are not limited to children as they can be also enjoyed by adults too. Each includes a lot of great railroad action along,
no narration, yet can be used to introduce railroads to those not familiar with them.
{*} COLORFUL RAILROADS (appx. 30 min.) Looks at all the major railroads and their predecessors. $16.75 ea. tape only,
for dvd check dvd listing.
{*} KINDS OF TRAINS (appx. 30 min.) Looks at the various types of trains, passenger, commuter, special passenger and freights,
general and single commodity, along with stack trains and other types. $16.75 ea. tape only, for dvd check dvd listing.
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