the best of 2019 is an 90 minute video that trains magazine showcases some of the big stuff to come out of 2019 to close out the 2010's decade of course the big story of them all is the return of union pacific big boy 4014 but besides the return of the big boy there were also many other events and special interest stuff to come out of the year many include norfolk & western 611 visiting the strasburg railroad with a reunion with n&w class m 475 the iowa interstate railroad's steam engine 6988 returning to the mainline milwaukee road 261 operating an excursion a photo charter on the cass scenic railroad with shay 5 and newly restored climax 9 the last run of the norfolk southern f units before they were sold to new owners both the heritage and veteran units canadian pacific now operates metra's new heritage units (featuring both the milwaukee road and rock island heritage) and more that's some highlight's of the video as i won't entirely spoil the rest as there's a lot to share but it's a insightful video showing some exciting railroad action for the last year of the 2010's

Additional remarks by chris collins:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Definitely.

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First the program starts with Jim Wrinn hosting an opening monologue, followed by a shot of Former LS&I 2-8-0 number 29 going under the BNSF mainline while having a photo Session at the Grand Canyon Railway. Here's what happened in order:

1. The first steps of the Restoration of Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis 4-8-4 Number 576 in January as the engine is being removed out of Centennial Park in Nashville after staying silent for 65 years. Here the 576 is being moved on Semi-Truck Flatbeds which includes a Go-pro Ride that was sped up for time constraints.

2. The Newly Restored Articulated 2-4-4-2 number 7 the Skookum performing its final freight special on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in March which was covered in another Trains Magazine DVD: Skookum Lives.

3. A visit to the Greater Chicago Area where Metra Commuter trains launched its brand new Heritage units in the spring of that year. One of the Units: number 425 painted in the Rock Island Scheme is referenced to the Former Gulf Mobile & Northern 4-6-2 on the Reading & Northern in Pennsylvania.

4. The biggest American Steam Railroading Event of the Final year of the 2010's Decade: the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike, with the First Mainline trip of Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy 4014 as it Doubleheads with 844 from Cheyenne to Ogden for the participation of the celebration. Countless railroad video producers were also there for this big event as well as almost 70,000 people witnessing this mighty giant of the rails, & even a visit to the Golden spike National Historic site with UP 119 & CP 60 known as the jupiter. The people of Trains Magazine covered the Doubleheader in Big Boy Back in Steam.

5. Iowa Interstate 2-10-2 class QJ number 6988 on a few trips during May & June of that year including the May 16 freight run, followed by a passenger run the following day as a diesel is placed on the rear. Later a cab ride is included.

6. Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 number 261 operating a few trips on the Twin Cities & western in June of that Year. Just like 6988, 261 also has a diesel on the rear.

7. The Return of Canadian National Class 018A 0-6-0 number 7470 at the Conway Scenic Railroad in June of that year where it made its first runs after being out of service for a 1472 day inspection in the White Mountains of Northern New England. Here 7470 makes a rare mileage run to Whitefield Via Frankenstein Trestle. A cab ride aboard the Crawford Notch with Former Pan Am Diesels 216 & 252 are included

8. The first steps of the third restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 number 2716 after being on Display at the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven as it heads for its new home in Ravenna Behind Clinchfield F unit 800 which at one time was later CSX 116 & C&O 8016, plus there is also some scenes of the RJ Corman included This was filmed in July of that year.

9. A final farewell to the Keokuk Junction F units in Iowa & Illinois in August.

10. The final run of the Norfolk Southern F units before moving to its new home at the Reading & Northern

11. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga where Southern 2-8-2 number 4501 was transformed into Louisville & Nashville 1593 for a photo special that was made by the L&NRHS in September as it heads for the All day line to Summerville Georgia

12. An epic Month Long Reunion at the Strasburg Railroad where Norfolk & Western J Class 4-8-4 number 611 visits one of the Most popular steam powered tourist railroads in America for a Late September & All of October Reunion with the Strasburg Railroad's own N&W Steamer: 4-8-0 Number 475. Here we get to see some ferry moves of 611 on its way to Strasburg in August.

13. The Stewartstown Railroad's return of steam on their lines as Jeddo Coal Company 0-4-0 tank engine number 85 visits the Pennsylvania line in October where John & Byron Gramling takes control of the little engine. Like 6988 & 261, the Dockside switcher has a little Plymouth diesel: Number 9 known as Mighty Mo on the rear of the train. The last time steam operated on the Stewartstown Railroad was in November of 1939!

14. The final Run of Alcos on the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad during an October visit to the Region.

15. Canadian Pacific's New Heritage units in the Winter as it travels through the rockies

16. The final run of LS&I 29 on the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona Leaving CB&Q 4960 the only Steam locomotive to operate on the Williams to South Rim line. This trip was an all Trains Magazine Exclusive for a late October visit

17. The Innagural run of Climax number 9 on the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia which was the Third & final Trains Magazine photo special of the year before all of the 2020 events were postponed, delayed, & Canceled due to The Coronavirus.

18. A visit to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor where SCS-64 number 606 is wearing the Coca-Cola Colors for the entire winter season

And finally 19. a highlight reel of 4014 from May to November as there are more scenes of the Beast Doubleheading with 844, Heading to the Midwest in July & August, & an Epic 2 month Circle tour from Cheyenne, to Salt Lake City, South to Las Vegas & greater LA over Cajon Pass, Roaring through the Dessert over Arizona, Carrying George H. W. Bush unit 4141 in Texas, & heads through Kansas & Colorado as the Snow is falling from the sky.

In the closing credits, an overhead shot of the WNY&P 4 unit hopper train is shown.

Overall, Kevin Gilliam did a decent job Narrating this Recently Released Trains Magazine DVD.

Additional remarks by Steamboy:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Definitely!
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

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