GTW 3740, "Last Breath Of Fire"

Рет қаралды 1,480

Жыл бұрын

"Last Breath of Fire" chronicles the passage of the ever-present Mikado into the final days of steam on American railroads. Almost every road had Mikes on their roster, but none lasted as long or worked as hard as the 2-8-2s on the Grand Trunk Western. From the camera of Steve Booth comes this beautiful panorama of steam as it was in the late 50s - close to the end but still surviving. This program is truly worthy of these work-horses of the steam era. Mikes were not especially famous locomotives, perhaps because there were so many of them, but they did the everyday work of the railroads, hauling freight and passengers all over the United States. This program is a tribute to all of them. In "Last Breath of Fire" you will spend a day with the crew on GTW engine #3740, a classic USRA light Mikado, as they handle a way freight from Durand, Michigan to Fernwood Yard, near Detroit. The time is the late 1950s, and the end of steam is close at hand. You'll watch as the 3740 takes the siding to get out of the way of faster trains, or to switch out a few cars. You will get the feel for what it meant to be a railroader when steam power ruled the rails...when the train was the only way to travel...a time when all American commerce relied on the train...when steam locomotives were a part of everyday America...a time not too long ago. You will also see the last regularly scheduled steam passenger train on a U.S. class 1 railroad. March 27,1960 was the date, and a GTW Mike was there at the end of this magnificent era. Take the time now to enjoy railroading as it was for over 100 years in America. Recall those days gone by with "Last Breath of Fire."
This program was made by Steve Booth in 1987 & was sold under Hopewell Productions for a number of years, eventually going out of print many years ago. This show has been lost for 36 years.
Nickel Plated Productions does not lay claim to the ownership/copyright of this program. Ownership & Copyright belongs to Steve Booth (Paragon Productions).This has been uploaded in an effort to preserve the contents of this long lost video.

Пікірлер: 19

@RailsofMichigan Жыл бұрын

I am born and raised in Durand, Michigan and still live there today. I've been a railroad lover since I was a child and I've watched this film millions of times since I was seven. Not a day goes by that. I don't wish I could have seen my town in those days. And I still imagine those days whenever I'm up at the Durand Union station. It's sad that unfortunately this locomotive 3740 that they filmed did not make it into preservation but at least one 2-8-2 is preserved sister 3734/4070 and I can tell who all read this comment. She needs our help. The organization that owns and operates her in Cleveland, Ohio is trying to raise money to get her fully restored and back up into operation and she is in the midst of a heavy rebuild. I would love to see this soul surviving Grand Trunk Western Mikado return to steam and I hope she does again someday. If anybody wants to find any more information, they can find it on Facebook. The group has a Facebook page the Midwest steam preservation society. I was also very pleased in the beginning to see that scene with the Pacific 5632 that is on display in my town. This is the only footage I have ever seen of her under steam. I've seen dozens of other films and there's not a single film out there that has any footage of her under steam

@Mr.RailYard-LJLRailYard Жыл бұрын

This is a cool video of Grand Trunk Western steam.

@KatyPacific382 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful video😎👍 Its a damn shame 3740 wasn't preserved. Hope we see 4070 run again 1:11 rare we see grand trunk 5632 in steam, especially in its last days before retirement.

@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702 Жыл бұрын

I never heard of this engine before but it looks cool

@SouthernRailwayProductio-rw8wb Жыл бұрын

Dayum! I Haven't Heard Of This Engine Before.

@T128Productions Жыл бұрын

Me neither. I’ve only heard of 4070 but not this one. Too bad 3740 was scrapped. Both of the mikados would’ve made a perfect doubleheader like the Reading Rambles, and back in 1991 when NKP #765 and PM #1225 doubleheaded.

@gnsaxton 8 ай бұрын

My VHS copy is badly worn. I had Green Frog put it on a blu-ray,but I wish I could up it to 4K to match my TV. I have been looking for a newer copy as it is my favorite Railroad tape.I grew up in Pontiac,my grandparents married there in 1932.GTWHS ,CNRHA , and NMRA member.