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Key System Empire D-123 Charles Smiley Presents

Key System Empire D-123 Charles Smiley Presents

See the Key System from its early days with ferryboats to the Bay Bridge era. Learn the history from start to finish of the great East-shore Empire. Visit all the lines and cross the bay by ferry and bridge-rails to San Francisco. Streetcars, Bridge-articulated units and many surprises, plus cameo appearances of early Muni and IER make this a transportation story.Featuring: Pre & Post WWII Action, Street Car Lines, 1939 World's Fair, Ferryboats, Bridge Trains, Color & Black and White.Relive history on the Eastshore Empire built by Borax Smith from numerous streetcar lines. Follow the rapid build up of the area from the real estate and building days of the builders of the Key System. Ride a train to the ferry terminal. Witness the new Bay Bridge and the 1939 World's Fair. Ride the bridge trains and see early views on both sides of the bay .Lots of pre and post WWII action. Film in color and black and white with maps, graphics history, period music and narration

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Price:$ 20.95
List Price:$ 28.50
Item:D-123
Live Stock Status: IN STOCK!
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Specs
Length (mins):61:00:00
Producer:Charles Smiley Presents
Aspect Ratio: Full Screen
Disc Type:DVD
Region Code:0 Worldwide NTSC
Ranked #11 of 1119 items.
There is 1 review of this item. Click here or scroll down to read them.
Rated 3.91/5 (22 Votes)

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Added 2008-06-19 01:12:37 by rrvideoman

I am going to start this review by saying that I am going to be honest. I am a diesel fan, not a fan of electrics, or of trolleys and inter-urban transit systems. However, I am a person with an interest in history, and therefore when I had the opportunity to receive this video, I took the opportunity out of pure curousity. This video does an excellent job at explaining the light rail system that once existed in the San Fransico Bay Region. Going back to the days when horses pulled the trolleys to the day when the system was finally torn up, plus a few scenes thereafter. It is all explained from the days of the ferry crossings to the bridge where the rail cars ran under the auto bridge. I was amazed at how interesting I found this video to be. Charles Smiley has done an excellent job with the research of the history. Some of the filmage is in black and white, and some in colour with maps to go along with it. This video is a work of art, and really brings back to life the way it once was. It has helped to give me a new appreciation for this type of rail systems. I don't believe that it would be a disappointment for any rail fan to own this video. An absolutely great production of a system once so widely used and all but forgotten. I am very pleased that this video is now a part of my collection. I highly recommend it to all rail fans.

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

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