SETS
Super DVD sets introduce you to a wide variety of rail history!
High Mountain Steam 2-Set
High Mountain Steam 2-Set
Over Lizard Head Pass
Ride the last steam passenger trains of the Rio Grande Southern and experience the world of real Colorado Narrow Gauge, amid the breath-taking peaks of southwest Colorado.
Across the Top
Gathered here in a single tape are the only known records of steam engines in motion across the highest railroad passes in North America. A feast for both the Narrow and Standard Gauge fan.
Over Lizard Head Pass. In 1932 the Rio Grande Southern stopped running passenger trains. After that date the Rocky Mountain RR Club ran three steam excursions and Charlie Ryland, the club president, filmed two of them. His friend Ed Hailey, who organized the trips, edited his footage into this film. On Memorial Day 1947, the first trip departed from Ridgway to Dolores over Lizard Head Pass and returned the following day. The second trip in 1949 ran from Ridgway to Telluride where it tied up for the night. The following day it continued on to Lizard Head, reversed direction, and returned to Ridgway. Photographed on board and from trackside, capturing all the mountain mining towns: Ridgway, Placerville, Vance Junction, Telluride, Ophir, Lizard Head and Dolores. A wonderful memory of mountain railroading with ancient passenger cars. Closes with footage of the fabled “galloping goose” rail-bus cars.
40 minutes
“‘Across the Top’ is one of the finest archival railroad tapes I have ever seen. Your value for money and quality of presentation are the best anywhere!”
Across the Top. Ride the last passenger train from Leadville to Denver on the Denver, South Park & Pacific. Quadruple headed freights in the dead of winter blasting upgrade in South Platte Canyon. Ore trains in Clear Creek Canyon on the Colorado Central. The San Juan Express across Cumbres Pass and on to Durango. A detailed look at both the earliest example of D&RG Articulated power and at the final mammoth 4-8-8-4 version. Some black & white.
The 1930's:
Watch the ore trains descend from the Blackhawk Mine on the Colorado Central to Clear Creek. The South Park Line is shown with quadruple headers battling upgrade through South Platte Canyon. The last passenger train from Leadville. Scenes at Buffalo, Pine Creek and detail shots of Como. Enrout to Boreas Pass and Fairplay.
The 1940's:
Ride the "San Juan" from Toltec to Durango; watch the freights and the Silverton mixed. Ride over Marshall Pass and down the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a place that no longer exists because of flooding for reservoirs. Scenes of the "Shavano", the Transcontinental Express of the thirties, at Gunnison and the Colorado Museum's #346 as it really used to be are included. Finally, climb aboard and pull the throttle on the climb from Leadville to Climax.
Includes early 1400 class Mallets doubleheading and the monster 3400 series, the last steam built for D&RG.
47 minutes