OVERSEAS STEAM
TW36 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '95 (DAY 1) by Jack Wheelihan and John Szwajkart You may have heard of the German Plandampf's but never seen one, this is your opportunity to experience one. The railroad is paid to substitute preserved steam for diesel. One or more lines are selected and participants are provided with schedules of the operations. What you do is up to you, you can ride, chase or go to a spot and watch trains. On this first day you will see start-up operations, and the change into all steam running where passenger and freight trains are powered by 4-6-2, 2-8-2, 2-10-0, and 2-10-2T locomotives. It's winter, it's a scenic, busy branchline, it's all steam, and it couldn't be better. Single disc $25.00
TW37 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '95 (DAY 2) by Jack Wheelihan and John Szwajkart Day two continues from the first day except different locomotives are used on different trains. Steam (a 4-6-2, 2-8-2, two different 2-10-0's and a 2-10-2T) is seen on both passenger and freight trains and in pusher service. Lots of neat action with two and three cylinder steam locomotives. After this you will have a greater respect for and understanding of what it was like in Germany or in the U.S. when steam powered all trains. Single disc $25.00
*TW36 and TW37 WINTER PLANDAMPF '95 (DAYS 1 and 2) (2-disc set) by Jack Wheelihan and John Szwajkart are also avaliable as a combined set to save storage space and can be ordered this way. 2-disc set $40.00
TW38 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '95 (DAY 3) by Jack Wheelihan and John Szwajkart The Plandampf is over, but there is more steam to see while in Germany. It is off to the Hartz Mountains and The Hartz Mountain Railway. It is a meter-gauge line that takes tourists into the mountains and at the time is all steam powered. All day is spent on the line and it is not what you would expect for a meter-gauge railway in the middle of nowhere. It turns out to be a heavily used tourist line with lots of trains and the bonus is great scenery with steam in winter. Standard power is 2-10-2T's on all passenger trains and they are found all over the system, which is covered in this tape. In addition, because of the Plandampf, additional specials were run using older power, and these too are seen. Single disc $25.00
TW39 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '95 (DAY 4) by Jack Wheelihan and John Szwajkart Continuing from "Day 3" there is still more non-Plandampf steam to see. This time it is running on two three-quarter meter gauge lines that serve suburban communities around Dresden. The locomotives are small but they too put on a show equal to that of the full sized railways and these too are quite busy rail lines in spite of their small size. Since shooting them both lines have had major reductions in service. Single disc $25.00
*TW38 and TW39 WINTER PLANDAMPF '95 (DAYS 3 and 4) (2-disc set) by Jack Wheelihan and John Szwajkart are also avaliable as a combined set, GERMAN NARROW GAUGE STEAM, to save storage space and can be ordered this way. 2-disc set $40.00
TW46 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '98 (Part 1) (So this was what it was like) by John Szwajkart Another Plandampf, this time on a different branchline, one serving a potash facility. Steam powered freight trains with up to three locomotives, all 2-10-0's, working hard, plus steam powered passenger trains recreate the days when steam ruled German rails. This is an in depth introduction to heavy freights using two and three cylinder 2-10-0's in mountainous country on a busy branch line. Single disc $25.00
TW47 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '98 (Part 2) (It's easy to get used to this) by John Szwajkart Another day of double and triple headed potash freights on the same German branchline, plus steam powered passenger trains. Two and three cylinder 2-10-0's power the potash trains and a 2-8-2 pulls the passenger train. Although it is a branch line, the trains still run fast and though the chasing is rough it is very rewarding with great results. Single disc $25.00
*TW46 and TW47 WINTER PLANDAMPF '98 (Parts 1 and 2) (2-disc set) by John Szwajkart are also avaliable as a combined set to save storage space and can be ordered this way. 2-disc set $40.00
TW48 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '98 (Part 3) (Back to reality) by John Szwajkart The last day of the Plandampf has more steam powered freights and passenger trains along with the addition of a steam powered fantrip. This is followed for the rest of the day and into the next, as it uses four different steam locomotives. This all concludes with a look at current rail operations at Frankfurt Station. Single disc $25.00
TW54 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '00 (Part 1) by John Szwajkart This dvd begins the day before the regular Plandampf. In it you get a chance to see current German railroad operations. The next day we are around to see the steam locomotives move into place for the Plandampf. This includes a chase of a double-headed steam freight to Arnstadt and concludes with a look at the activities at the roundhouse that evening. Single disc $25.00
TW55 - WINTER PLANDAMPF '00 (Part 2) by John Szwajkart Continuing from Part 1, this covers days two and three with a super mix of steam powered (2 and 3-cylinder 2-10-0's, a 2-8-2, and a 2-6-2) passenger and freight trains in a variety of winter weather ranging from snow storms to bright sunshine. Single disc $25.00
*TW54 and TW55 WINTER PLANDAMPF '00 (Parts 1 and 2) (2-disc set) by John Szwajkart are also avaliable as a combined set to save storage space and can be ordered this way. 2-disc set $40.00
*TW56 Part 1 and 2 - POLISH STEAM by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) After Plandampf '00 was over, a side trip was made to Poland to see steam operations there. This is no Polish Joke, as steam can be found hauling passengers and freight on a regular basis, albeit only out of a single steam terminal, Wolstein. Wolstein is maintained as an operating museum. In this two disc set you can see steam as it earns its keep hauling passenger trains, freight and doing switching and local work. Part 1 covers the first day and a half with a look at the museum and freight and passenger trains all steam powered with either a 2-6-2, or a 2-8-2. Part 2 covers balance of the three day trip. A 2-8-2 on a local passenger trains is followed as it runs between Poznan and Wolstein. On the last day, a 2-10-0 is captured as it switching its' train at Wolstein. Then the local is chased out of town in a snow storm. In a light snow fall the local is followed as it delivers and picks up freight cars and returns to Wolstein. Winter railroading with steam, what better way to conclude an overseas adventure. 2-disc set $40.00
TW62 - AN INTRODUCTION TO CHINA RAIL by John Szwajkart China Rail is a mix of cultures. Operations are left handed, British style, yet everything else appears American. It is a mix of what is unusual with what is familiar. This introductory look at railroad operations in China is an attempt to explain why Chinese railroads and especially steam, is attracting the attention and enthusiasm of railfans throughout the world. This dvd will answer many questions that may come up with the use of Chinese Steam in the U.S. Single disc $25.00
*TW63 CHINESE STEAM IN THE STATES Parts 1 & 2 by Bill Raia and John Szwajkart (2-disc set) This two dvd set is a part of the forthcoming Chinese Steam Collection, but since all the video was shot in the U.S.A., this is also listed in this section. Disc #1 covers some of the SY and JS class 2-8-2's in tourist line use on the Knox & Kane and Boone & Scenic Valley Railroads. Also included at the end of this disc are shots of the QJ's in operation on the IAIS. Disc #2 covers three days with the QJ 2-10-2's as they pull both passenger and freight trains on the IAIS in September, 2006. Also includes a day of tripple-headed steam with the two QJ's and Milw 261. A great introduction to Chinese Steam for those who did not have a chance to see the locomotives in China. 2-disc set $40.00

OVERSEAS DIESEL AND ELECTRIC
TW71 THE NETHERLANDS RAILWAYS by John Szwajkart. The NS, the Netherlands Railway, is primarily a passenger carrier with trains to just about any town in the country. Service even on branches is frequent with trains to and from on a one or two hour basis. Most of the trains use emu's but there are still plenty of locomotive powered trains. On this dvd nearly all varieties of emu's are seen at Amsterdam station along with a bunch of locomotive powered trains including some of the latest Thalys and Belgian trains. Also there is a look at several different branchline trains with their locomotive powered trains or emu's. This is interesting railroading totally different from anything we have in the States. Single disc $25.00
TW72 THE BELGIAN RAILWAYS by John Szwajkart. Like the Netherlands the Belgian Railways covers the country like a blanket, reaching just about every town. Most of the system is electrified, with a few diesels filling in and pulling trains on the few non-electrified lines remaining. Passenger services predominate using emu's and locomotive powered trains. In this dvd we look at operations at the main stations at Antwerp, Brussels and Bruge. Each is different, with Brussels providing the greatest variety. Here just about every type of emu can be seen along with different locomotive powered trains, international and also within the country. Besides this you will get to see just about all the high-speed trains that run in Europe, the German ICE's. French TGV's, the international Thalys, and the British Eurostars. Antwerp with its local trains and Bruge with its tourist traffic, though different, are equally interesting. Single disc $25.00
*TW75 - TRACTION TODAY Vol. 5. by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) This two disc dvd set examines current electric operations in Europe. Part one covers mainline electric operations in Germany and Austria, including close up looks at the German ICE's. Part two covers streetcar operations in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. 2-disc set $40.00
*TW77 - TRACTION TODAY Vol. 7. by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) This two disc dvd set examines current electric operations in Eastern Europe, namely Romania, Serbia, and Hungary. Part one looks at streetcar operations in Bucharest, Romania and mainline trains on the CFR. Included on part 1 are shots of Belgrade, Serbia streetcars in rush hour service. Part 2 continues this examination of Belgrade streetcars at another location. Then it is on to Budapest, Hungary for a ride and look at streetcar lines in and outside the city. Included is a look at one of the emu powered HEV lines that serve the suburban areas. 2-disc set $40.00
*TW78 - TRACTION TODAY Vol. 8. by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) This two disc dvd set continues our look at electric operations in Eastern Europe, this time Prague, Czech Republic. Part one covers streetcar operations through a typical weekday, from the morning rush, through the day and into the evening rush. Part two examines the contrast between modern streetcars and older cars as they run through the narrow twisting streets of the old inner City. Also included on each disc are shots of the Prague Subways. 2-disc set $40.00

TW70 Amsterdam 2005

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