The New York Central in "Rhapsody of the Rails" (1933)

This film, originally made for Fox's "Magic Carpet of Movietone" series of travel shorts, features passenger trains on the New York Central's Hudson Division. Scenes include the pre-streamlined 20th Century Limited and numerous shots of the NYC's new Hudson locomotives.
Like many early sound films, this feature was made to be shown in either sound or silent formats. The soundtrack is almost entirely music and sound effects, with little if any actual location sound.
I have edited about two minutes out of the original feature, mostly to eliminate some heavy-handed attempts at humor that just aren't funny any more.

[@troystaten5633]

You know the roadbed and equipment is good when the barber on the train is shaving a passenger with a straight razor.

[@clarkellis1306]

I noticed the same thing! That couldn't be done on Metro North today..sometimes it's hard to stand up and or walk lol. I've not ridden Amtrak over the same lines...

[@wphubert]

Oh how many of us would love to take the 4 track water level route pulled by steam New York to Chicago. We can now only dream, but this great film helps us fantasize!

[@stevenspaziani9159]

That was a cool video. My Father hired out on the NYC in Watertown NY in 1942 as a fireman and became an engineer till he took a disability retirement in 1973. I hired out with Conrail in 1990 as a brakeman/conductor and became an engineer in 1992 and have been in the seat for almost 28 years now, but boy I sure wish I would have had the chance to Engineer a steam locomotive.

[@douglasgreene923]

and that's my hometown to is a little baby I was at Watertown New York and my great-uncle George worked on what does call the st. Lawrence division can you imagine that in the real railroad yard of a railroad cars in Watertown New York when I was four to six years old I remember my Uncle George is an engineer on the New York Central from Utica to Syracuse to Massena New York & Beyond What a Wonderful Life it was

[@douglasgreene923]

Loop

[@OneLastHitB4IGo]

My Grandfather worked as a machinist for the New York Central from 1916 to 1961. I came along in '53 just after the switch to diesels so I, very regretfully, missed out on the steamers. But, while my friends played with model railroads I got to play on the real McCoy's. Sure wish somebody would devise a time machine.

[@pauleyplay]

Same story ,1951 Grandfather Senior engineer, PRR. We just missed. The stories we missed. How I wish I could visit yesteryear !!

[@homerstube2]

Some philanthropist should run a train just like that. They could make their money back from fares and the dining car

[@OKFrax-ys2op]

Pictures and video are only time machine Available at this time

[@infaredxkingz8786]

​@OKFrax-ys2op does don't count....

[@anotherview9604]

I worked in GCT in the late 1960's when travel by rail was going downhill. Many of the older generation railroaders that I worked with took a dim view of what was happening and often referred to the 20th Century Limited as the 20 cent limited.

[@SpeedGraphicFilmVideo]

I used to prowl around GCT with my tape recorder then. Maybe we crossed paths.

[@anotherview9604]

@@SpeedGraphicFilmVideo I worked different shifts as a gateman so there is a possibility we may have crossed paths. You never know.

[@Petemonster62]

The filmmakers captured many aspects of the New York Central's daily operation in the Steam Era!

[@douglasgreene923]

I came along just in 4 years maybe five at the most of the Steamers on the great New York Central I had the flavor of it I just before the ALCO RS ones and the GM gp7 and so forth came along I was there just in the nick of time for three or four years as a very young child from 4 years old on

[@doc_1851]

Such a disappointment that the Hudsons aren't around anymore. Many people (including myself) aren't able to experience their favorite locomotive in person. I'd love to bring one back to life.

[@coldwar1952]

Looks like 79" driver build on 5336 - Speedy

[@newriverproductions12]

Is crazy that today there are little to no NYC steamers left. Back in the 30s and 40s, you wouldn’t have cared about the trains too much, unless you had To go somewhere or they hold up traffic. Now, steam is all the rage.

[@wabisabi6875]

Wonderful footage, thanks for sharing!

[@daltondick5223]

The introduction song is my favorite song of all time Casey Jones!

[@Ad_Valorem]

As a child in the '60s I rode the 20th Century Limited several times. 5:14. That's how the passengers dressed - coats and ties. I don't remember any sections in the sleeper cars, though (the relationship with Pullman had ended by that time). 5:27. The dining car, Lobster Rockefeller, my favorite dish. How many restaurants still have finger bowls? The Century's diner had them.

[@SRRC245]

that 20th century limited must have been a pretty special baby...

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

It was considered the most luxurious train in America.

[@caroltenge5147]

4:10 wow to be alive been there and seen it..... thrill of a life time.

[@ebt12]

Would love to know the locations and see what they are like today.

[@b3j8]

Out-takes of some of the scenes on this feature like grabbing the mail pouch on the fly are posted here too.

[@arborist57]

The background song is "On the 5:15"

[@azmike1]

Great stuff.

[@mariestick6636]

Awesome

[@michaela.chmieloski3196]

0:19 Must admit, that third running rail spiked down the middle of the track upon which the train operates (as well as the track to the left but apparently not the two on the right) has me stumped. I've seen offset third-rails, of course, in places like Colorado for accommodating narrow-gauge equipment in dual territory, but never centered as is pictured here. Anyone able to offer an explanation? 2:43 Somewhere on the Electric Division between Grand Central Terminal and Harmon.

[@Toledo1940]

The train at 0.21 is about to enter a Track Pan, from which an NYC steam locomotive could scoop water at speed (80 mph, if the tender was equipped with overflow equipment--otherwise no more than 60 mph) The third rail in the middle of the gauge is not a running rail; I have never seen this anywhere before but I assume that because it is only on an approach to the pan that it is meant to prevent a scoop from being lowered too soon.

[@sneadh1]

Next stop... Willoughby!

[@stevenlester2606]

Upper berths are "almost a pleasure"...but not quite. LOL

[@mikeggg5671]

back in those days yes - better than anything Amtrak can offer now!

[@ericgriswold1268]

@Troy Staten- I think I'd rather not get a shave on a moving passenger train! Could be deadly.. . quickly! I'm thinking about when the engineer sets up the brakes for a station stop. And what about sharp curves at speed??? OOOPPS!!!

[@b3j8]

The Central's Passenger Enginemen were real Pros. And I mean smooth as silk in both starting as well as stopping their trains! A Road Foreman of Engines would often board the train un-announced taking a seat in the dining car. He would order a glass of water. If any spilled as the train was getting underway, the Engineer received a stern written reprimand, at minimum, for it!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@b3j8 I used to work for the Chicago & NorthWestern Rwy. and an "old timer" told me about how they'd perform the same test on the C&NW's then premier train, "The 400."

[@OKFrax-ys2op]

Stop, look and listen or else!

[@BruceMielke-h1b]

Quite the scratch on the soundtrack record.😂

[@danielboone3770]

😍😍😍😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩