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Norfolk and Western Steam in the East Series

It's hard to believe that such a tape could exist. One solid hour of the largest fleet of articulateds ever built - all operating in their original setting on their own tracks - in this case on the western slope of the Norfolk and Western main line between Bluefield and Portsmouth Ohio.

In the first half you see the agile A Class 2-6-6-4, between Williamson and Portsmouth with high speed manifest or rolling long strings of heavyweight passenger cars at 70 MPH; then, completely at ease, holding 10,000 tons of coals hoppers at a steady 40 MPH. When they hit the steep grades, some trains are triple headed.

The last half is devoted to the huge Y class 2-8-8-2 sluggers. These carried their enormous low pressure cylinders like overloaded grocery bags under each arm.. Listen while the slow moving giants shake the Appalachians to their very roots on the heavy grades and tortuous curves of the Tug Fork. Glorious sound by the master O.Winston Link: deep booming steamboat whistles and piercing screams. Watch then as they chuff softly around the coal tipples in the narrow mountain yards. Then hang on to your chair as they come blasting onto the main. Not a single static shot, no builders footage, no interviews with big wheels. From start to finish every single frame is stunning action. 157 run pasts from the by gone-age of real railroading. Shot by Guy Brant. Brought to you by Arnold Jones and Bob Hanna. 60 minute running time.