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Illinois Terminal: A Traction Time Machine DVD
 4.3 of 5 (3)

Illinois Terminal: A Traction Time Machine DVD Pentrex ILT-DVD 748268005534
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Step back to the 1930s-1950s to experience one of the largest interurban railroads in the country. Originally known as the Illinois Traction System, the Illinois Terminal Railroad was a significant provider of passenger and freight service for central Illinois, with Springfiled as its hub. Now, through this fascinating collection of color and black and white films and photographs you can revisit the Illinois Terminal during the height of its career.

The full range of Illinois Terminal passenger equipment is displayed here, from the trademark IT traction orange arch window cars as well as the blue arch window cars to blue-and-silver streamliners, PCC cars, and even the Alto-to-Grafton Railbus. A wide array of freight power is also highlighted, such as center cabs and streamlined class B freight motors. Scenes of passenger and freight action are captured from St. Louis, to Springfield, Bloomington, Peoria, and many other locations along the Illinois Terminal route. You'll enjoy great shots of street running with cars negotiating sharp curves, fast running on elevated tracks, trackside views taken in towns, cities and along the open countryside, action on the Lake Decatur and McKinley Bridges, and lots of fantastic cab rides. There are many insider scenes as well, such as crews changing trains, rides inside the cars, cabooses on the ends of freight trains, a conductor at work, the Railbus being turned on a turntable, a new streamlined freight motor being rolled out, freights exchanging with steam railroads, the Springfield yard, railfan excursions, the last run of an older traction car, and many other special images that round out this amazing story of an iconic interurban electric railroad!

45 Minutes
In Color and Black & White with Hi-Fe Sound and Narration
Presented in Standard Definition 4x3 Format
No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide
Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case
ISBN: 1-56342-271-9
UPC: 7-48268-00553-4
Copyright Interurban Press 1992; Pentrex 2009

DVD
TVD Price:$ 23.95
List Price:$ 29.95
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DVD Item#:ILT-DVD
Runtime:45 Mins ($0.53/min)
Producer:Pentrex
Aspect Ratio:Full Screen
DVD UPC:748268005534
Shrink Wrapped?:Yes
Disc Type:DVD
Region Code:0 Worldwide NTSC
Illinois Terminal: A Traction Time Machine DVD
Jeffrey Ornstein on 2010-02-13 22:48:44.

People who found this review helpful: 4

  •  3 of 5


Any traction enthusiast will enjoy this look down the Illinois Terminal memory lane. With the IT's big colorful orange and blue arch-windowed interurbans, one also gets the impression that there were some colorful characters in management as well. There's lots of interesting equipment to be seen, ranging from the large single-ended cars, to the streamliners, to PCCs and streamlined freight locomotives. Lots of rare images, especially of the blue and silver fluted-stainless steel cars, the railbuses and center-cab motive power. There's also some interesting front-window views, especially of the steep grades and sharp turns that the IT was known for. Narration was good and professional. However, I do agree with the previous reviewer in that the image quality could have been improved upon by Pentrex and today's digital technology. But overall, an interesting video.

Additional remarks by Jeffrey Ornstein:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Yes.

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Illinois Terminal: A Traction Time Machine DVD
Tank Platoon Sergeant McCluskey, Retired (On the Bavarian/Hessian border, Germany.) on 2014-09-18 02:14:39.

People who found this review helpful: 2

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  •  5 of 5


I'm FROM the metro-Saint Louis area... born in East Saint Louis, Illinois. Lived in and near trhe areas IN this video. Loved the content and the area. Clang clang! To bells UP!

Additional remarks by Tank Platoon Sergeant McCluskey, Retired:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Not unless they REALLY were interested in the subject matter.

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Illinois Terminal: A Traction Time Machine DVD
Mr N on 2009-10-20 06:18:48.

People who found this review helpful: 2

  •  5 of 5


Great content and I recommend this to anyone who has not seen this tape, but the quality is only as good as the VHS version. I had hoped this DVD would be sharper and better sound quality but appears to be just a DVD copy of the original VHS version.

Additional remarks by Mr N:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value: Seemed a little high, but not too bad.
Recommend to others? Yes.

Did you find this review useful?