From My Workbench

 Here is a video of my latest diorama I entered in Houston last week. I am pretty happy with the final product hope you enjoy it. It took 1st place Dioramas, 1st place Automation at the convention.

Image of the Month

Another Edison Movie showing a SP double header reefer train with a helper unit, probably somewhere in the Sierras in 1898. Enjoy...

Image of the Month

Birth of a Locomotive - Proof positive that they don't make them like they use too....

Fascinating video of the construction of a steam locomotive...

Image of the Month

Since this is the first Image of the Month for the year, I wanted to do something special. If you are a Southern Pacific Daylight Fan, this one is for you...

Released by the Southern Pacific RR CO in 1937 to promote the Daylight Lines on the Pacific Coast. One interesting thing I noted on the very last scene where the daylight in heading off to the sunset, notice the car diaphragm flapping in the wind, I am sure SP officials blushed over that shot...

Image of the Month

As I continue to work on my layout room, (I will post pictures shortly) my modeling is at a standstill. So I post this video regarding railroad safety from the 50's. It is kind of Hokey but if you are a Southern Pacific Fan you are in for a treat. Among others there are shots of Daylight PA units, CabForwards, Black Widow F units, Halloween S units, Even a reefer string and a wigwag.... (lol only SP railroad fans would have the slightest inkling of what I am talking about) Enjoy...

Image of the Month

I thought it would be cool to post a 1903 film called "the Great Train Robbery"

Of particular interest is the way they transposed the train film onto the windows in the film sets, very clever for the age. Enjoy...

Image of the Month

Lets start off 2011 with a really cool video regarding troop trains during WWII.
You all know by now that I model WWII era railroading so this is just what the doctor ordered...

Vintage footage of Military Transport by Railroad is somewhat rare, the War Department at the time was reluctant to film such moves due to the military security could be compromised. This movie appears to have been released in 1943.

Image of the Month

A nice Edison video of some railroad action from the turn of the last century. Shows front end shots, brakemen on top of cars, crossing flagmen, semaphores.... Well worth a watch.

1898 SP Sunset Limited Edison Movie

An truly amazing 1898 Edison movie depicting the Southern Pacific Sunset Limited. The people on the train waving at the camera could little imagine you would be looking at them over a 100 years later.