Diesel dvd's
All dvd's consist of material shot on video tape from the mid 80's into the early 2000's. All are in color and have sound. A range of different video equipment was used, starting with early portable VHS, followed by Hi8, and currently digital. The original tapes, shot in the 80's, now comprise what could be considered vintage video. The rest in the 90's and 00's is of more contemporary railroading. I like steam and prefer chasing it, but diesels and traction are also photographed whenever and where ever there is the opportunity. And some may appear in any of the dvd’s. Also notice that I don't just photograph American railroads, but do shoot overseas railroad operations.
A lot of different diesel locomotives are covered in this collection, most of them featured in regular service. There are Alcos, on the C&NW, LS&I, GB&W, and on the BRC, all working hard doing what Alcos do and doing it well. There is a Baldwin in this collection and we pace it. Classic EMD power from E Units to SD45 are covered on a bunch of different railroads, ie BN, AT&SF, IC, WC, CB&Q, and Milwaukee Road. Smaller EMD, SW’s are featured in service on the IHB and its variants on the C&IM. GE’s are not left out, and are seen on the BN, AT&SF, BNSF, and LS&I. I may like steam, but in going over this collection, it should be obvious to you, I did not ignore diesels and maybe enjoyed them as much as steam.
All dvd.s are at least an hour long or longer. If there is any narration it is provided before the action begins or over the titles. I do not narrate over the railroad sounds. Prices for the dvd's are: $25.00 ea. for single disc programs. Two disc sets, marked (*), are $40.00 ea. When buying more than one dvd, please contact me for a better price. All prices include first-class postage and packaging in the U.S. Illinois residents please add 10% for sales taxes.
*TW3 Parts 1 and 2 - ALCOS IN WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) It's Alcos and more Alcos with BW and GE locomotives mixed in, in this two part set. Part 1 covers the first day of a three day trip into MI's Upper Peninsula. This includes a stop at Green Bay to chase a GB&W Boat Train to Kewaunee and back, and an E&LS BLW powered train, which is followed north. Part 2 starts at Escanaba where a C&NW ore train departs and goes north. At Marquette, LS&I Alcos and GE's are found switching the ore dock and on ore trains. Day 3 is spent following a C&NW Alco powered train, with problems, south to Green Bay and chasing another GB&W Boat Train back to Green Bay. (Also check out TW61) 2-disc set $40.00
TW9 - CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND AS IT WAS by John Szwajkart Covers the entire railroad from Taylorville to Peoria before sale to the I&M. Begins with a local from Taylorville to Springfield using RS1325 30. Then traces the path of Extra #75 north to Havana where we get a cab ride to Pekin. The train is followed north to Peoria. Concludes with following an Oakway powered BN empty coal train north to Galesburg. (More can be found on A1, CF2, and SS10) Single disc $25.00
*TW16 Parts 1 and 2 - THE BRC ALCO CENTURY'S by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) This two part set includes all six of the now gone BRC Alco Century's. Part 1 examines some of the regular routes used by the Alcos and also includes many of the other now gone BRC non-Alco diesels. Coverage shows many different Chicago locations along with other railroad users of the BRC. Part 2 is the train watching part of the original tape, where you can sit back and just enjoy watching the Alcos perform. Each of the Alcos is seen running in transfer service in numbered order. This concludes with what were extra shots of one of the Alcos on a Proviso turn. (Also check out SS11) 2-disc set $40.00
*TW18 - TRAIN WATCHING IN KANSAS CITY by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) Originally intended to be a companion piece for the "Train Watcher's Guide to Kansas City", this re-edited version now provides a glimpse of railroading in Kansas City during the late 80's, before the mega-merger era. Divided into two parts, the first disc covers operations and railroads on the Missouri side of the City. The second disc provides an overlook of operations on the Kansas side of the City. 2-disc set $40.00
TW20 - RUSH HOUR ON THE BN by John Szwajkart Features nearly all the E's on the BN before they were replaced. All action is centered about the afternoon rush hour, which is well over one-hour long and the E’s are west bound. We start in downtown Chicago, at Union Station, and continue on to 16th Street where the trains turn west. Continuing west into the suburbs, where the three track mainline begins, more E powered action is found at Berwyn, followed by Brookfield, and Belmont Avenue in Downers Grove. We end with the E's running into the sunset at Congress Park, in Brookfield. (more can be found on C5, TW57, and TW83) Single disc $25.00
TW25 - THE GREEN BAY & WESTERN BOAT TRAIN by John Szwajkart Follows two different "Boat Trains". The first one is followed from from Green Bay to Kewaunee, where you get a chance to see the loading operation. Then we follow the train back to Green Bay. The second train is caught another day, on its return to Green Bay. All material on this disc was taken and consolidated from TW3 Parts 1 and 2. Single disc $25.00
TW44 - CIRCUS TRAIN by John Szwajkart This is a look at the W&S E units in two different paint schemes and on two different trains. We begin with the units on the now discontinued Dinner Train out of Milwaukee, running in a blue and yellow scheme. Next they are seen on the July 1997 Circus train with the circus cars from Baraboo for the Milwaukee Circus Parade. This time the units appear in W&S Maroon and Silver. Since then the W&S restricts the units to special service, and the circus train no longer uses the original circus cars from the museum. Single disc $25.00
*TW49 - The INDIANA HARBOR BELT Parts 1 and 2 by John Szwajkart (2-disc Set) Examines this unique Chicago railroad from East Chicago, In to Franklin Park, IL. Part 1 shows trains at various locations on the Harbor main. Part 2 covers the diesel roster, examining many of the different diesel models and some of the latest in color schemes. (Also check out SS8, SS11 and TW16) 2-disc set $40.00
TW49 - The INDIANA HARBOR BELT Part 3 Out Takes by John Szwajkart Sounds bad, but this single disc dvd contains extra shots not included in the original two-disc set. Some should have been included, but there was no room, and others were considered to be of interest. Among these are additional shots of the SW's in action, a look at interchange operations at Congress Park, trains on the original Indiana Harbor line in East Chicago, and extra shots of the newer power purchased by the Harbor. All quite worth while, especially after seeing them. (Also check out SS8, SS11 and TW16) Single disc $25.00
*TW52 - Train Watching on The ILLINOIS CENTRAL by John Szwajkart (2-disc Set) Is a look at trains on the IC between Kankakee and Champaign. At one time the line was a double track super railroad, but today it has been reduced to a single track main with passing sidings. This is the railroad we examine, quite busy with Amtrak passenger trains and fast freights. Part 1 covers the railroad, while part 2 looks at hot spot, Gilman, and the change over to CN ownership. (More IC is on A1, CF2, SS1, and SS3) 2-disc set $40.00
*TW57 - BNSF(BN) from Aurora to Savanna by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) Here is an extended look at trains on the former CB&Q mainline from west of Aurora to Savanna. It is a single track line with passing sidings. There are lots of stack trains, regular freights and locals, keeping the line quite busy, as you will see. There is also a look at the railpark at Rochelle. Although taken after the BNSF merger, an interesting and colorful mix of BN, AT&SF and BNSF power appear on the trains. (Also check C5, TW20, and TW83) 2-disc set $40.00
*TW58 Parts 1 and 2 - The SANTA FE IN ILLINOIS by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) Although taken several years after the BNSF merger, operations on this line west of Joliet, still resemble those of the former Santa Fe with lots of very fast stack and piggyback trains, along with a few regular freights and locals. All of this on a surprisingly scenic mainline. Discovering this is the objective of this dvd set, as the line is examined, starting at Joliet and going west through Streator, Chillicothe, and beyond Fort Madison into northern Missouri. (Chicago to Joliet is covered on TW81) This is a fast paced dvd with lots of fast and long stack and piggyback trains, along with mixed freights and locals. Though well into the BNSF era, o perations appear little changed from the old Santa Fe days. Parts 1 and 2 cover the line from Joliet to Toluca. (Also check out SS7, and TW26) TW58 Parts 1 & 2 (2-disc set) $40.00
TW58 Part 3 - The SANTA FE IN ILLINOIS by John Szwajkart Part 3 covers the rest of the line from Toluca west, through Iowa, Forth Madison, and into northern Missouri. This too is quite interesting with lots of fast stack and piggyback trains running in and out of the scenic Mississippi River valley on the Illinois, Iowa and Missouri sides of the River. Here too, operations appear little changed from the good old Santa Fe days. (Also check out SS7, and TW26) Part 3 (single disc) $25.00)
Special Combined Deal
*TW58 Parts 1, 2, and 3 - The SANTA FE IN ILLINOIS by John Szwajkart (A 3 disc set) The complete 3 disc set can be ordered at $60.00. (You might also want to check out SS7, TW26, and TW81)
*TW61 Parts 1 and 2 - MORE ALCOS IN WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN by Rosemarie and John Szwajkart (2-disc set) There are more C&NW and LS&I Alcos on this two disc set, complementing and supplementing TW3. Part 1 covers the C&NW Alcos on the ore line around Escanaba and north toward Marquette. Part 2 looks in more detail at the LS&I Alcos and GE's. Operations in and around Marquette, Eagle Mills and Ishpeming are checked out. Concludes with more C&NW Alco action as a freight is chased south. This is all new material not included in TW3. 2-disc set $40.00
*TW74 Parts 1 and 2 THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL REMEMBERED by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) Part 1 covers the early years on the WC with its unpainted locomotives and some of the steam runs on the line with 1522, 261 and 2719. Part 2 looks at diesel operations from the early years into more recent times in and around the Chicago area. 2-disc set $40.00
*TW74 Parts 3 and 4 THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL REMEMBERED by John Szwajkart (2-disc set) Both of these parts cover chases on the WC that resulted from the early encounters. Part 3 covers two different days of chasing the WC from the Illinois State Line north to Byron. Part 4 covers the WC from Byron north to Neenah. 2-disc set $40.00
*TW74 Parts 5 and 6 THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL REMEMBERED by John Szwajkart. (2-disc set) Includes more chasing on the WC. In part 5 the WC is covered just before and after Merger Day. The day before, the line between Silver Lake and Allenton is covered. Then some Chicago area material is included that was shot around the merger date, followed another day out on the line, in the winter, after the merger. Part 6 looks at the railroad nearly a year after the merger. One day is selected in the summer, after a line closure of three days because of a bad derailment. The other is a day, the following spring, where the line west of Neenah is checked out. 2-disc set $40.00
TW74 Part 7 THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL REMEMBERED a single dvd disc by John Szwajkart. This single disc covers the balance of my coverage of the WC. On it I include two looks at the WC in Neenah, a center of operations, both a year apart. This provides a good opportunity to see what changes the CN was making. The disc ends with a look at the changes that took place in the Chicago area after the merger. Single disc $25.00
Special Combined Deal
*TW74 THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL REMEMBERED By John Szwajkart (A 7 disc set) The complete 7 disc set can be ordered at $130.00. (You might also want to check out TW14, TW32, TW34, and TW50)
TW79 - The SOUTHEASTERN by John Szwajkart. Is a look at the Milwaukee Road's line into Indiana, commonly called "the Southeastern", originally the Chicago Terre Haute & Southeastern. Comprised of video taken just before and after the Milwaukee's merger with the Soo. Milwaukee, SOO and CP diesels are seen in various locations on the IHB, which provided the connection with the main and the line into Indiana, and in Indiana. (More background information can be found on the slide show SS6) Single disc $25.00
*TW81 - The AT&SF IN CHICAGO by John Szwajkart. (2-disc set) Completes a look at the AT&ST in Illinois started on dvd TW58. This two disc set covers the balance of the line into Chicago. Part 1 starts at Corwith and then heads southwest with stops at Lawndale Avenue, McCook, Hodgkins, and Willow Springs, ending on the east side of Lemont. Part 2 begins at Lemont, and continues on through Romeoville and Lockport to Joliet and Joliet Union Station. (More background info on the line into Chicago can be found on Slide Show SS7) 2-disc set $40.00
TW83 - CB&Q 9911 on the Q by John Szwajkart. This is a two part mixed media dvd, using colored slides and video. First is a look at the early EMD passenger units including the CB&Q E5's. One remains, 9911, at IRM in Union IL. Normally it is confined to the museum grounds, but it did make four trips on the Q. The first, in 1993, with an escort the next three, in 1994 and 2013 were unescorted. And all are covered on this dvd. the second part is a look at some of the trains that ran on the line between Aurora and Galesburg. (More on the Q can be found on C5, TW20, and TW57 Pts 1&2) Single disc $25.00
Mix of Steam, Diesel, and Traction
TODAY'S COLORFUL RAILROADS and KINDS OF TRAINS is a combination of two short half hour tapes, which were released individually. A description of each follows: TODAY'S COLORFUL RAILROADS Looks at all the major railroads and their predecessors by examining the different paint schemes used on the locomotives: KINDS OF TRAINS Looks at the various types of trains, passenger, commuter, special passenger and freights, general and single commodity, along with stack trains and other types. Each was intended to be an introduction to Railroads in the U.S. for Kids. There is no narration, but what is shown is clear enough that adults with children, could provide any explanation. Though kid oriented, the material shown is such that even adults and railfans will totally enjoy everything. Single Disc $25.00.