Big Trains Rolling (1955)

A film promoting railroads and their importance to the economy.
Follows two kids on a train journey.

[@fafnir242]

There's so much rare power in this video, even for the 1950s. There's a B&O EA sitting at the roundhouse with the turntable, the train they show coming into the train station is led by a pair of Santa Fe Erie-builts, and there's a New Haven train later in the video behind a couple of C-Liners. Definitely great to see Fairbanks-Morse get a little representation.

[@fafnir242]

And one of the Rock Island AB6s second out on the train at 22:00!

[@marthavaughan4660]

in the 50s,it was a very relaxing way to travel. It was not important to get to your destination immediately. when one travels by rail, there is no jet lag at all. There is a feeling of truly having been there ....a bit like travelling on a vessel. arrive relaxed and not frustrated and angry.

[@jackanthony976]

It still is a very relaxing way to travel. I book a sleeper room on Amtrak and travel from New York City to Los Angeles every summer.

[@M60A3]

I love to take train but it depend of the surroundings of the train I live in Canada but I traveled to China with school and we took night train and it suck cause it was night so I couldn’t see the landscape and i slept badly but i still love train

[@CountvonStaffordofVirginia1607]

I had a copy of Union Pacific's Last of the Giants on VHS that my parents got for me when I was little. This was actually included as a second video after Last of the Giants ended. My favorite part on this video was watching the B&O's Thatcher Perkins (Western Maryland in the video) and the Galena & Chicago Union's (predecessor to the Chicago and Northwestern) Pioneer ringing their bells. I would rewind it just to watch the two of them. This and Last of the Giants sure brings back many memories.

[@eduardodeazevedoesilva6833]

I am TOTALLY DELIGHTED with ALL these Scenes. The Railway Passengers Service from those times it Was Much more Attractive than presently. I am 52, l am a Train driver here in Lisbon, Portugal and l wish have a possibility to make one those SPLENDID and SUPER NICE trips in one of those Magnificent American Trains, like SUPER Chief of Santa Fe, Southern Pacific Company or, .... whatsoever. Those Panoramic American Passengers Car Certainly must be a REAL Dream, observing a REAL Vast view of American Territory, during the Trip. That's why TOO Fast Trains presently don't give so good Sensation like a trip from those times.

[@01DOGG01]

Unfortunately, I have to cease posting these types of videos. Although it is perfectly legal (and I fight bogus copyright issues all the time at personal risk), KZbin has told me to stop because I didn't personally record the videos. It's not my 'content'. Many organisations, such as Der Spiegel TV, have been very receptive and withdrew their (mostly automatic) copyright claims in a very timely manner. But I cannot continue to post these types of videos. Large companies like Sony cause problems. YT doesn't want to deal with being an intermediary hosting service. Glad that you enjoyed the video. Another favourite of mine is 'the incredible machine', which is still available on my channel. It pertains to computers. Adios

[@frankkirby5763]

I grew up in the 50's. Rail travel was normal nationwide. Now the airlines have the very high priced train travel, right where they want them. The times of this movie are long gone. Never to return.

[@mediatrainfan0282]

Yeah that’s so sad, but at least we have heritage-tourist railroads to in enjoy.

[@sardu55]

I took the Santa Fe Chief from Anaheim, CA to Chicago in August 1969. Left Sunday evening, arrived in Chicago Tuesday morning. I was a kid. Had meal ticket that cost $12 and covered my meals (2 dinner, 2 lunch and 2 breakfast) and had $10 my relatives gave me to spend on the train. Slept in my seat both nights. Food was the highlight of the trip. I could order from the standard menu for adults, put had to pay 25 cents extra to get steak. I did that the second night and got this massive steak, baked potato, chicken noodle soup, peas and ice cream for dessert. And a can of Coke. Coke came with the meals, but you had to pay for it at other times (it cost 15 cents, so I gave the waiter a quarter a let him always keep the change) from the usually open bar/snack bar or you could ask the porter to get one for you. My big memory in the dining car was sharing my table with 3 girls my age who were from California and going east to visit relatives. One of the girls was sick and didn't eat her lunch, so the Porter gave it to me, and I ended up having 2 cheeseburgers and fries/Coke. The Santa Fe stopped passenger service a few months later and switched to Amtrak. So, I guess I was in on the very end of the US passenger rail era. It spoiled me, but I can say that it's hard to understand that in the US someone has not taken the torch from the old passenger service days and continued it. The ride was a major part of the entire trip I had that summer to California. Now, all of that type of service is gone.

[@PajamaManFan]

When I was little I used to watch this Film!

[@Kane-ib5sn]

Great documentary...timeless!

[@arrienl6372]

this was fun to watch, thank you :).

[@rockerneck]

Western Maryland represent!

[@Rebel9668]

Love the horns on these diesels, they sound so much better than the ones on locomotives today.

[@jimihendrix1575]

At 12:22, "That food looks good enough to eat." Well, that's the idea, I guess.......

[@mediatrainfan0282]

From the 1820s to the late 1950s, considered to be the golden age of American railroading.

[@desmisc9911]

Regarding the very end of this wonderful film. What have we done to our once glorious country?

[@itsMrNoble]

You did it, mate, if anyone did...

[@tobygoodguy4032]

Railroad nationalism in the best year of the American century as these trains highball into the future abyss.

[@trolldad7922]

an era gone by

[@TheMNrailfan227]

That express actually looked very nice

[@BFDT-4]

Art Gilmore is the narrator, and, boy, is that voice familiar in the many films like this that I had seen...

[@mitchdakelman4470]

Art never saw the films, he once wrote me. He would record the narration at his home studio and then send it over to Carl Dudley. I actually sent him VHS copies of some of the films he narrated and was delighted.

[@hifijohn]

getting dressed up to take the train, what a time.

[@Duececoupe]

....and all companies in the movie are a fallen flag, so many great companies and trains nothing but a memory of perhaps better times! Bring back the 50's again, trainwise aaaand perhaps the cars and the music! 😉😄 Damn I miss my Milwaukee Road! 😞😢😉😄

[@DestroyertheRailwarrior]

Agreed

[@richardgordon8110]

Duececoupe yes, bring back the 50s. MINUS the racism and the prejudice.

[@darnit1944]

@@richardgordon8110 Double agreed on that too

[@mitchdakelman4470]

Designed to show in school even the young teachers today have no knowledge of railroad history. Its simply not taught and there is very little exposure of the railroad industry.

[@americanfoodie8998]

This film was made at the beginning of the end of passenger rail travel, when airline travel became much more prominent in the post-WW2 years.

[@andyharman3022]

And the Insterstate Highway bill would be signed in 1956, leading to further erosion of passenger railroading.

[@4gauge10]

American Foodie This film was also made at the beginning of"GM"s Levit Town.GM was directly responsible for the removal of public transportation in a big way. GM wanted everybody to own one(or more)of their cars that would quickly wind up on blocks in a trailer park,hence GOODWRENCH.(🚗💥💥💨💨💨💥💥💥💨💨)

[@mediatrainfan0282]

I agree, from the 1820s to the late 1950s considered to be the golden age of American Railroading.

[@brianparkhurst1019]

I wonder if in 50 years people will talk about the good Ole days, like I'm thinking about right now.

[@01DOGG01]

They always do

[@marthavaughan4660]

Train stations also are where the term 'Station Wagons" originated. Wagons would pick you up at the station and take you to the hotel and back. Because the automobiles with large capacity were used later after horse drawn conveyance, station wagons became part of the lexicon.

[@userunavailable3095]

The typos are hilarious!

[@americanrf5925]

1950 this locomotive used every day and now this locomotive only at scrapyard :(

[@bobmartin3]

The new Consist of The desert wind. Features Auto-Racks, & other railway cars.

[@bobmartin3]

2 the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe railroad Route.

[@peridotfacetflcutxg-qb7bp]

Rip Santa Fe

[@andrewthomas9777]

This is the 2nd video I have seen where kids are traveling by themselves, back then we didn't have to worry about "stranger danger" or weirdos preying on the youth. Now? no way would I let my kids do this. So sad the state of our country.

[@bobmartin3]

Along with the restoration project of the 20th Century Limited, & The city of Saint Louis.

[@bobmartin3]

Plus The returning edition of the Early Empire Buidler.

[@bobmartin3]

Presenting The Big Trains rolling film 2 honor The work be done 4 the Desert wind restoration project.

[@kylehill3643]

this show has a whole new meaning when CC is turned on!

[@bobmartin3]

Along with the Superchief, & the Canadian.

[@insanic5012]

The man didn' t comment when the boy punches the pillow. He could say: " So let s give this f** pillow a very good punch like a gentlemen"

[@DancingNotes83]

The pre-swamp era. No graffiti on the freight trains. Young people didn’t look like hippies, and weren’t on drugs. I’m older than dirt and lived through those times, and life was much better in many ways than it has now become. I’d go back in a flash if I could. When there are no cell phones , iPads, etc., no one misses them or needs them.

[@bobmartin3]

Plus the word due 2 make it better.

[@choirboyfromhell1]

The dubbing is KILLING ME!!!!!

[@01DOGG01]

+choirboyfromhell1 Hehe, that's one reason that I enabled it. I know that some have fun with it.

[@oilsmokejones3452]

Ah, post war nationalism and innocence..then Vietnam..

[@wanshei]

I was thinking the same thing, except I was coming from a post 9/11 America. Near the end of the vid, the V.O. says "the freedom to go where you want, when you want."

[@jeremydes100]

Europa H2O Alien you got that right!!..Vietnam was controlled by liberalism. What a shame. And then.....there’s 2017!!!!

[@isaacroebuck9514]

*enters Vietnam flashback*

[@ross5506]

Europa H2O Alien something when wacko between early 80s and just after 9/11 now it's a different world!

[@ross5506]

Isaac Roebuck

[@bobmartin3]

Plus the word the 2 Make it better.

[@bobmartin3]

Even The Comeback of The early edition Of California Zephyr.

[@bobmartin3]

Now running in its new home. Due the older home Which is closed down now 4 the new home 2 the Southwest Chief.

[@samhouston1673]

Whose Country? Our Country!

[@67401Salina]

11:01 guy in blue hates his job.....

[@isaacroebuck9514]

Now you just get dragged across the country by a lazy old GE Genesis, in coaches that haven't been cleaned since this video was made, with attendants that just want to go home when the train arrives 200 miles away 3 days later.

[@josephbourque5027]

Hilarious translations !

[@kylehill3643]

that's what socialism is like on steroids! only it's lives effected.

[@angelopach5]

I wonder where Carol and Jimmy are now in days?

[@CarolynTainter1]

If a kid traveled alone today someone would have called CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES !

[@model-man7802]

God I wish we had this again,Now it's every dog for himself and who cares.Life was less complicated,and people had morals,Respect and thought about what they would say and had Values.Now look at us.Cant even watch a pro football game with out some kind of Stupidity going on.

[@BFDT-4]

At 21:40, there is a little march that sounds familiar. Anyone know it? :) It's also the lead music on the title of the film.

[@KurtBenning]

I got nothing!!

[@lorenzoboyd6889]

22:18 - 9947 Sunset Blvd. Beverly Hills

[@justforever96]

I thought at first that this was a film created to show to kids in schools, but then I realized it was impossible. It was actually speaking about _pride_ in America, it depicted industry in a positive light, there was nothing about American crimes and American guilt, nothing about racism or imperialism, or the decadent capitalist oligarchy. It even mentioned people going to _church_ and worshipping God....it even showed a number of _Christian_ churches, not a single mosque or synagogue. OS it is obvious they _never_ would have shown this in American schools, to children. I mean, think of what kind of effect this would have on young minds. It is crucial to instill guilt and doubt, disgust and self-loathing, to make patriotism a joke, while the audience is stilll young enough.

[@thenekom]

All with the latest conveniences. So they got wifi? Cool!

[@bobmartin3]

By Adding Lux: Business Cars.

[@01DOGG01]

Try to condense it all into the one message next time lol

[@prrrailfan2726]

2:56 turn captions on for mujheeb

[@bobmartin3]

Association of American Railroads is just the place 2 raise Money 4 Private Railroads 2 now afford 2 operate their Passenger trains. Just 2 join forces with Amtrak Today.

[@pacbeltrr38]

Yeah, they 3 didn't give the 9 railroad 1 chance 2 succeed, like they did B 4. 2, 5 and 3, said to 9 and 6, U 8 me!!!!!!!

[@teacfan1080]

Back when children could go to school and be safe without the words "lock down" or "active shooter" in the vocabulary.

[@marthavaughan4660]

Politically correct or LGBTQRSVP either.

[@darnit1944]

Also a reminder: full auto weapons can be purchased easily via your local gun store in this era. American school shooting problem is caused by social problems

[@c.h.s9022]

Is to just me or does the film skip at times?

[@glenpower1677]

What is a red cap?

[@marthavaughan4660]

Don't worry, it's not a Donald Trump hat, it's the porters that carried your luggage at the station.

[@stevengrotte2987]

What was top speed, mid 80's???

[@CarmineRC]

Steven Grotte - closer to 100! The Government didn’t have their noses up the Railroad's ass back then.....

[@Trip-the-Sungazer]

650th liker of this video!

[@1cmman]

I didn´t know they had AC in the coaches in the 50s. Quite impressive for the time. I wouldn´t mind going back to the 50s for a few days and try this. The passengertrains also went quite fast for it´s day, maybe a 100 mph? Very natiolistic video though and I wonder why all the servants were black?

[@lylecosmopolite]

I was a boy in the 1950s, and trains and movie theatres were air conditioned. 100mph was the top speed for the crack train from Chicago to LA, in the New Mexico desert. The USA emerged from WWII much stronger, while most of of Europe and Asia was devastated by the war. Foreign manufacturers could not compete with American technology and mass production. American triumphalist swag was the order of the day. The era 1948-70 was American capitalism at high noon. Men wore suits and fedoras, while women wore shirtwaists and poodle skirts. The porters and dining car workers were all black, as were most remaining domestic service (my mother had a black cleaning lady). In my view, the first cloud in this clear blue sky was Hemingway's 1961 suicide. Then Monroe's. Then the assassination of the Kennedy brothers. Then the race riots of the 1960s. Then the Vietnam debacle. Drug, rock and roll, and the sexual revolution.

[@1cmman]

Thanks for the info. Yes atleast in terms of trains Asia and Europe have now surpassed the U.S. with their highspeed bullet trains doing 200mph+. But the U.S. is also beginning to join that race now. Your Acela Express does 150 mph which isn´t bad either by todays standards.In my country trains only do 120 mph which isn´t much faster that the U.S. trains back in the 50s.

[@xr6lad]

The Spirit of Progress, a streamlined steam loco that ran a express luxury service between Melbourne (Australia) & Albert, NSW that started in 1938 was air conditioned.

[@npo64]

What a shame. Today's goods might be transported by trains (and trucks) but most of those goods are made in China. In 1950, who'd ever think that would be?

[@darnit1944]

In the 1950s, the crappiest consumer products are "Made in Japan". Oh boy how times has changed

[@GEORGE-jf2vz]

The closed caption makes me afraid to ride a train.

[@geac9100]

Who changed the words in the closed caption?

[@01DOGG01]

It's YT's voice recognition algo from back when I first uploaded the video

[@peterhewel8984]

Mind if I smoke Jimmy? I don't care if you burn!

[@evertonporter7887]

0:30 Did I just hear God Save The Queen LOL?

[@darnit1944]

The melody of God save the Queen/King can be heard in many European countries. USA too actually. The song's name is "My Country, 'Tis of thee"

[@NickyH60]

Where were the subtitles added? They are sooo bad, they're hilarious!

[@01DOGG01]

YT's auto voice recognition at the time of upload.

[@beachbum1523]

Back when the U.S. truly led the world in manufacturing, technology, productivity, and prosperity. I miss those days. I got to take a train trip back in the 1960's before the days of luxury passenger rail came to an end. I also remember flying the airlines back in the days of the friendly, regulated skies. Now, air travel is something more to endure than enjoy, and Amtrak is little more than a Greyhound bus on rails. Of course, if you weren't white, the "good old days" weren't quite so good.

[@liakmelia2272]

AC Ver (1996)

[@adambohm4367]

Looking at them load meat in the sun with bare hands

[@lanceforever2412]

Y God save the queen-king at the beginning???

[@rickzitarosa]

Passemgers. mail and freight once traveled by train. Today, they go by airplane or in"virtual reality" by staying glued to their screens. Mail is sent electronically.Most small freight is sent via Amazon through its 6-Billion (with a "B") contract with the US Postal Service, which it will eventually buy. Freight trains will survive.

[@01DOGG01]

As long as stuff needs to be moved around, trains, trucks, and ships will be there to do the job.

[@teksal13]

The Postal Agents had their pistols strapped on.

[@drgw489productions]

So many turbine locomotives

[@jonny0goddard]

Anyone notice god save the queen at the start? lol...yanks

[@andyharman3022]

Over here, it's called "My Country 'tis of Thee".

[@jonny0goddard]

Fair enough

[@Rebel9668]

We've done that with all sorts of tunes from the old country. Heck, our national anthem has the same melody as an English drinking song, lol. Sherman's "Marching Through Georgia" has the same melody as an Irish tune called "Come In". A bluegrass tune here called "Hear The Wind Blow" has the same melody as an old Irish tune called "Connemara Cradle Song".

[@evertonporter7887]

I just did LOL.

[@hamilton197432]

if only..

[@michaelhosking8150]

Shame about the subtitles.

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

I was not born until 1968. Being used Globally without the help I need to clarify anything I’m not living THE FREEDOM I DESERVE WITH CORRUPT MARKETING CAMPAIGNS & GLOBAL ISSUES & GOOGLE & APPLE & AT&T & ATTORNEY TAKEOVERS. My FREEDOM & IDENTITY WAS STOLEN💔

[@Gizmologist1]

Whoever is writing the closed captioning needs to go back to flipping burgers.

[@tomtom1484]

Is this a video about trains, or our patriotism?

[@JohnEDoey]

Both! It was ment to promote both Capitalism and American Nationalism during the Cold War.

[@jivaprabhu]

Ah! The Fifties, when the only passengers were white. When cigarettes and eating dead animals were accepted pastimes.

[@teksal13]

Dead animals are tasty!

[@windsorcorbin9026]

LOL!!!!!

[@LakeRatDan]

14:53 Wabash

[@ptsmith4660]

Oh look, Bobby is getting on the train .. and there is Lucy, she is getting on an airplane .. Look at Bobby, he is having so much fun … Wow,, Lucy is already in Florida, she is on the beach and swimming .. where is Bobby .. oh, there he is ,, the fkn train broke down ,, the fkn union slug who is operating the train is on drugs .. Bobby is puking, it was his lunch .. What's Lucy doing ? Ooops .. Lucy is in a pool with Mr Dirty, the guy she met at the pool bar .. How's Bobby doing .. he is in where .. on the side of a rail yard .. the train is on fire … Bobby is losing it .. he is fkn pissed .. Bobby wants to fly .. like Lucy .. who is now knocked up …

[@01DOGG01]

LOL, what kind of experience did u gave with trains?

[@ptsmith4660]

AMTRAK ,, pos trains are slow, dirty, break down . heck, I can drive faster than that shit ass railroad .. the employees are all protected union slugs who aren't worth warm spit ..

[@alexanderblitz4569]

For a second I thought the voice was bout ready to talk about communism lol

[@TwoWheelDriveOnly]

This is a

[@davidalvearmartinez4258]

I wish Ecuador were as rich as USA.

[@ndbiet]

Jobs and trades inside America by American and for American, the wonder machines of Capitalism. Now i understand more why Trump wanna bring jobs and manufacture back inside the Country.

[@accaliamurraymusic]

I don't know which time period I'd rather live in... The 1950s, with fantastic machinery and amazing post-war advancements, but a disturbing number of people who would happily attend the murder of anyone black, gay, or transgender. Or the 2010s, with equality becoming more commonplace and people becoming more emotionally mature, except the country is in severe political decline and everything is made of plastic. Tough choice.

[@forwhomthebelltolls392]

More emotionally mature? I think not. Being born in the early 1950's, I would MUCH rather prefer to live in that era. It was also my pleasure to ride the El Capitan from Los Angeles to points east many times before the Santa Fe acquiesced and gave up the passenger service to the government.