“MODEL RAILROADING UNLIMITED” 1970s SCALE MODEL TRAINS PROMO FILM WARD KIMBALL HO SCALE XD50084

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This short from 1975 titled “Model Railroading Unlimited” details the pleasures of being a model railroad hobbyist as well as the steps it takes to become one. Produced by Liberty Pictures in association with Model Railroader Magazine, this copy of the film was found at the State Library of Ohio Southeastern Regional Library Center in Caldwell Ohio. The film features a robust and renowned cast and crew with Ward Kimball as host, Hans Conried as narrator, Rick Harper as director, Mike O'Connor as producer, Larry Wright as musical director and Mitchell Giannunzio, Sandy Stotzer, Bob Anderson, Stan Greiwe, and Jo Anne Wolcott as featured actors. Additionally, the film collaborated with various clubs and businesses such as Beach Cities Model Railroad Club, Frank’s Hobby Shop, John Olson, Grizzly Flats Railroad, Pasadena Model Railroad Club, Slim Gauge Guild, Teleprompter - Newport Beach, The Town Tour Ct. and Travel Town. Scenes of decaying train locomotives at abandoned train depot (0:15). Sign for Wells Fargo & Company Express (0:24). Train master sitting in an office talking to the camera and discussing his hobby of model railroading (0:31). Stamp collector furiously sifting through stamps while looking through magnifying glass (1:16). Man hunting butterflies in an open field (1:23). Bird watcher holding telescope and wearing Mickey Mouse t-shirt (1:42). Camera pans model railroad apparatus while banjo music plays in the background (2:08). Segment on brief history of model railroading (2:30). Neanderthal sitting on rock thinking (2:34). Experimentations of model railroading across cultures and history (3:00). Explanation for how model trains are made to scale (3:34). How to get started as a model train collector (4:19). Man walking towards Frank’s Hobby Shop (4:24). Young man making model railroad at home using found objects (4:31). Same young man moves to the garage and putting new model together (5:29). Examples of large-scale, realistic railroad models (6:35). Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad (DSP & PRR) model train riding through apparatus (7:28). Explanation on how to expand a model railroad layout (8:52). Dramatization of traffic control correspondence for trains and train masters working with computers (9:35). Issue stemming from McGuffin Matrix, traffic controllers frantically trying to problem solve (12:33). Man with flashlight crawling through the railroad model to locate issue (13:42). Crisis averted, traffic controllers celebrate (17:03). Credits and ending scenes from model railroad (17:34). Note the McGuffin Matrix mentioned above is fictional, however, in screenwriting terminology a McGuffin is an object or device in a film or a book which serves merely as a trigger for the plot.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@mackpines]

Good old Ward Kimball. He gave Walt the idea to build a live steam operation in the backyard of his house. Awesome film with a touch of that classic Disney humor.

[@formerparatrooper]

That was certainly back in the day when Disney was something that the FAMILY could be part of.

[@marka5478]

His view of the then-state of the railroad industry was way off, thankfully.

[@formerparatrooper]

@@marka5478 To most maybe, but John Allen's G&D was indeed part of this production. I started serious modeling in the mid 50s and I tried as a kid to do what Allen did. Obviously my work was--well a kid.

[@kittymervine6115]

oh my gosh, my husband has such a joy of this hobby. He has a very pressure filled job and also is the one everyone in the family calls if they are sad or worried (or maybe need a little help). But our basement is filled with the sounds of trains. He does the most beautiful detailed layouts (he's always working on them) and he even has a travel layout to take around to senior homes around the holidays. I've learned to love it also as it makes him so happy.

[@williamrussell3811]

take pics please!!!

[@bdh3949]

I grew up in the 50's-60's with multiple 027 Gauge sets, several transformers, all kinds of farm and industry cars and always 4 locomotives running all at once and can really relate to this well done video, whew!

[@lorettacaputo6997]

I have an old kodak b/w picture of myself as a kid playing with lionel trains on the floor. The 1950's scout set chasing its tail around a loop of track was the enthusiasm that has stayed with me even today. Simple pleasure from a fertile imagination is the key to enjoying this hobby. Keep it fun, and avoid those who say you are doing it wrong. Be amused with all the bells and whistles of the latest developments, but best of all find joy and satisfaction in the "toys" that keep us all kids at heart.

[@tomtbi]

My Dad had an Uncle that was from West Virginia that had a HUGE Model Railroad display that took up his while basement .. He even got rail cars from Germany and Europe!!

[@kittymervine6115]

this sounds like my husband NOW! He belongs to a US European train club and a US only train club.Europe is currently being built in the basement with so many trains from all over Europe (when we have gone to Europe for work, we always ride trains and I've learned to enjoy them as much as he does...to ride that is!). Also there is a smaller American layout going up and he has a travel layout for taking to the CHildren's hospital and retirement homes around the holidays. We downsized our home a few years ago and I was in charge of finding a new place. My first thought was "Is this basement finished?" Then I would look at the rest of the home!

[@MarkHenstridge]

I remember seeing this at a theater back in the '70s here in Australia when I was a teenager. I must admit I loved it back then and still love it now, thanks PeriscopeFilm.

[@charliepalmer3244]

I grew up with a grandfather that had a whole room dedicated. He would have had them running all throughout the house, however my grandmother said one room. Lol.

[@thomas_dries]

What a fun and enjoyable video! I honestly was not expecting so much humor!

[@alanpope179]

What memories! I spent a few bucks back in the early 80's at Frank's in Orange CA! I worked in nearby Santa Ana....I'm sure none of this exists anymore.

[@TairnKA]

In the early 70s (?), the dad of a friend of mine had a very elaborate setup in their large basement (bought the house because of the basement) and once a month a small group of operators would be handed routing sheets with the times specific things would need to be done. My friends dad would oversee what was happening from a small corner booth, while the operators would be running their assigned trains from openings within the setup, like a lake, building, etc...

[@scotthaddad563]

I’ll never forget when I was about twelve years old and went walking down the sidewalk on my way to visit a friend. As I got near to my friend’s house I passed a trash can absolutly full of Lionel trains and tracks. It took me three trips home to get all of the stuff to my garage . It was old stuff like twenties, thirties or fortys era trains. There were four engines that worked and a few others that needed parts. I put together all of the good stuff and go t my mother to drive me to the local hobby store where I traded all of it to one of the employees who was a train guy. He gave me a radio control plane kit along with an engine and a two channel radio control outfit. All of it was brand new except the engine which was in perfect shape. And so began my interest in model planes. That was in the 1960’s.

[@californianorma876]

That's wonderful, good for you for saving such precious wonderful items. Great ...youthful creativity too ! ;-)

[@tedpatterson196]

First-rate production, especially the operations session. I had a Tyco HO set as a kid in the late '70s. I've recently gotten back into it with DCC. I had no idea that level of sophistication existed back then.

[@dexecuter18]

Couple of older layouts I help work on are like that. Huge expansive basement filling empires in the vein of the Gorre and Daphetid. All DC with with all 4 maximum operators dashing around flipping switches like madmen with little hand throttles on hundred foot phone cables. DCC was a god send for stuff like this.

[@GeneralLiuofBoston1911]

That was way too much fun to watch

[@californianorma876]

Heck. I was not expecting an Action movie! Bravo bravo

[@tracynation2820]

A superb video. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

[@tracynation2820]

P.S. How would you like to have an operating session like that? 💙 T.E.N.

[@Tom53Tech]

Watching this wonderful production, I kept thinking the narrator sounded like Hans Conried, a voice-over and cartoon voices in the 50s and 60s. Turns out ... It is.

[@theretroblondie]

Apparently if you go bird watching, you're at risk at getting attacked by a Sasquatch.

[@saltysailormike]

Lol. That was a pretty good story twist with action they put in at the second half. So much techno babble I felt like I was watching Star Trek but with probably Real railroad Terminology.

[@thedude3423]

The last half reminds me of the movie "War Games"! Lol! 👍😆

[@Santaanacanyon]

Oh my gosh! I remember Frank’s Hobby Shop. Went there a lot, and was crushed when he closed it down. And now, sadly, I have learned that Frank Santangelo himself passed away last month.

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

Man, this guy is throwing some serious shade at stamp collectors and bird watchers. Cuz we all know scale model railroad enthusiasts get all the poon.

[@cowerdnerddespacito9518]

Who do you think coined them term ran a train on her?

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

@@cowerdnerddespacito9518 Or "Nice caboose!"

[@retailwarrior1502]

I Laughed, this was good.

[@tomtbi]

I enjoy seeing model train displays but I'm more of a 1/24 and 1/25 model Car,Truck and Tractor builder myself...

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

1/26 is where it's at. You've wasted your life.

[@jessiematthews4224]

Well done finding this

[@mikeks8181]

I Still have my Second NO Scale Train Set! I'm 56! The First Succumbed to being a Seven year old and carpet! The Second is a Tyco Chattanooga Choo -Choo Set! I Sold off Most of my collection a couple years ago. I Would Buy All the Time at Yard sales, Flea Markets and Wherever I Could! I Was a Junkie! That Chattanooga Set Is Now Displayed in My Basement In An Old Radio Flyer Satan Hanging from the floor joists! Oh The Memories of Running Those Trains! Like That And Moment When Just So Relaxed! Thank You for Bringing Back The Life Before n Adult!!!!!!

[@mikeks8181]

HO Set! Radio Flyer Wagon! I Hate Spell Check!

[@mamarussellthepie3995]

What a wonderful show!

[@laming2006]

This is the edited version that does not include the satirical dancing girl scene in the hobby shop. I don't know why that was removed, it was pretty funny.

[@mrjsanchez1]

Why was the dancing girls scene cutout. That was the best part!

[@zhugeliang1000]

Fantastic!

[@shawnr761]

I got my first trainset back in 1983, it's now DCC multiple locos, lots of cars, and now doing scenery

[@williamjohnson4554]

Say, that was fun...

[@rjl110919581]

GOOD OLD OF DC RAILROAD WITH A BOCK SYSTEM LOT OF WIRES THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE VIDEO

[@arielfilmsinc1926]

The edited version no dancing girls

[@Simple_But_Expensive]

The first rule of model railroading is you need more money.

[@11Airshow11]

OMG so funny...

[@davidw6936]

Apollo 13 got nothin on these guys.

[@Nico93]

im surprised you found a copy of this particular movie, its a hard-to-find movie, does anyone know of this model railroad were a real one or really good filming in general?

[@thadrobinson8343]

The important thing to remember about the 1970s is that everyone was on drugs all the time.

[@CHill-uh1fg]

I usually enjoy most anything about model railroading, but this one was not one off them.

[@MichiganPeatMoss]

May 2022: This is also elsewhere on KZbin, thankfully. Slightly better transfer quality here Originally saw it on the Nickelodeon channel in 1981 (on a show called Hocus Focus) and never forgot it, as my dad always had a HO layout in progress.

[@thekingsilverado8419]

I did not think Periscope films existed after 1965 for some reasons. I have several old Model Railroading Magazines from my grand father back in the 50s and 60s. Periscope Films had quite a few credits in those old Magazines for Photography. I remember meeting a guy that was in one those old Magazines was actually one of my grand parents neighbors. His name was Charles Mann. I would hang out at his house in his basement with him as a kid and play with his expansive platform took up 90ft of the nearly the entire basement except where the fuse electrical stuff was. By memory he had the thing constructed with 5 foot x 10 foot sheets of plywood. So considering the center of the putz had a 6 foot wide human walking space and had 2 of the 5 foot sheets on either side the thing was over 26 feet in width. Charlie died while I was in Bootcamp. I always wondered what happened to that massive Putz. I heard rumor the new home owners chopped it up with a saw and threw it out. I am still pretty heartsick at 60 years old to have heard that. My grandfather my dad & I built a small HO set in out house. It still exists here with me up in my barn. I have been wanting to enclose and heat my barn since I got home from Iraq but not with this communist government. I thinking about selling it now... Before it goes totally to hell. Everything is still boxed up solid and ultra clean

[@jackholmesdiscovereranglos7891]

The earliest model railroading were made by the Germans (Marklin, 1891). Bing, and Bassett-Lowke then followed. American Lionel with 3 rail idea came up in 1900s. However after the First World War, nobody in Britain would ever but model trains from Germany, and there is trouble trying to import model trains from USA, So Frank Hornby of Meccano in the 1920s came up with the idea of model railways by making his own clockwork trains based on the O gauge of Lionel. Tinplate O gauge trains were expensive and a simple O gauge Layout can fill an entire living room. So for a bigger layout you need a large backyard of a big house. (Make Millions of dollars in a music centre and buy yourself a huge mansion.) Lionel's 3 rail did make its way to britain in the 1930's onwards and was adapted by Frank Hornby for his O gauge tinplate trains. Unfortunately O gauge layouts can in houses can cause an angry frustration of taking up to much space, much to the size of someone's pottery shed (that was in the US). Frank Hornby in Britain realised that, meant smaller trains were needed so small boys in small houses can play with them. So Hornby brought out Dublo gauge. It's half the size of O gauge trains and can make a perfect table top railway. But just like the O gauge sets and Lionel, there on the steep side. Christmas of 1950, Martin spencer came to the rescue with the poor by selling them the plastic trainset (cheap, simple, but did not work properly). However Lionel and original Hornby were both declining by the incensement challenge of Tri-ang model railways (the group that bough Scalextric cheaply). Lionel had HO scale meant that too was challenged by Tri-ang trains. A district difference between Hornby Dublo, Lionel HO and Tri-ang. Hornby Dublo were much like models, the king of modellers, Lionel HO and O gauge were Tinplate models but with a play value (enjoyed by kids and children) but with a cartoon sound effects like the diesel horns engine whistle of the Lionel trains were cartoon sound effects. Moslty tinplate. Tri-ang on the other hand had a much greater sense of Play value, and they exported the different types of Model trains to commonwealth countries around the world as well as the United States. This meant Tri-ang railway had succeeded. 1965 Hornby had gone bust and bought by Tri-ang = Tri-ang Hornby. half of Lionel's model railway company (in theory) was bought by Tri-ang Hornby. Tri-ang range had became enormous. It's not just trains but buildings, platforms, figures, tunnels, bridges and all sorts of things. Tri-ang was essentially a toymaker just like Lionel but a novelty item not very far away. Military trains, helicopter rail truck, cattle wagons, coal trucks, logging trains, missile trains, ducking giraffes, and exploding box car in OO gauge. New ones introduced were the mail collecting (based on the Royal mail trains) and even the modern style freight lining equipment. Other model train sets Manufacturers cashed in: Athern, Tyco, Aurora, Liama, Ferris, O Gauge House, Maurlyn and Robilt, North Yard Engineering in the Modern era Tri-ang trains are rebranded as Hornby. Today vintage trains of the 20th century are rare and would be in collectors hands

[@keithmoore5306]

i take it this was made before the drug test was invented!!!

[@J_Calvin_Hobbes]

👍

[@davenone7312]

First!