Unbelievable Scenes Cab Forwards, SP Steam and Black Widow Units

Look back to a great era with steam and early diesel trains filmed by the most prominent railfans of the time. We extensively cover Northern California and the San Francisco Peninsula to San Jose and Los Gatos in the early 1950s. Many classes of SP steam, diesels and FM Train Masters pulling commutes are shown when it mattered. We visit Niles Canyon Tower and then off to Altamont Pass and the greater East Bay area with stunning views of the area that have changed forever! See large steam Cab Forwards and other early diesels leading freight trains at Giant, Oakland, Berkeley and beautiful places to Crockett! Marvel at the parade of early freight cars from around the US and SP cabooses and Passenger Cars, that are a real highlight!
Unbelievable scenes of the NWP Railroad running with Steam and Black Widow units! Look back in time at Island Mountain and Old "Alton" station when they were important locations. The NWP Line North all the way to Eureka, with freight and passenger trains, real lineside stations, bridges, tunnels, lumber towns, and a way of life that has vanished forever! The never-before-seen crystal clear Kodak Movie Film has waited up to 70 years for your viewing! The picture and sound quality are incredible in this 2 HR 1 Minute movie!
This is a must for any SP or NWP fan, or fans of real railroading who remember or want to see how it really was!

[@charlessmileyvideo]

This movie and all our others are available at our website www.cspmovies.com

[@rapidthrash1964]

I wish railroads would make a full comeback

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Us too these were the glory days of railroading!

[@minichols5472]

I do too!

[@NormanSilver]

Thank you Charles. More colorful SP history.

[@AB-vc7ox]

Thanks! that was a cool flashback to the road trips to many of the still relatively unexplored State and National Parks around N CA with my parents back in the mid 60’s. The steam engines were gone, but there were still plenty of trains to watch on the tracks that most of the highways at the time were built parallel to. Some of those relatively primitive two lane roads you see are actually State Highways, I even remember some of the buildings we often drove past. But my keys, where are my keys, my glasses,? lol. Back in the 60’s a kids playground at San Francisco Zoo had a couple of steam engines on display that we kids got to climb all over and under, but they were eventually taken away after the hazardous nature of asbestos became known. The vintage jets at a different playground were also removed, but that’s a different story. We took turns robbing the train, having gunfights, dying and falling off into the sand, ah the fun bone breaking things today’s kids miss out on.

[@d-fender4489]

Southern Pacific had the most beautiful steam locomotives and passenger trains in the world, in my opinion, and this truly delights me.

[@charlessmileyvideo]

We agree with you d-fender!

[@alcopower5710]

Have to say that my favorite passenger trains were Santa Fe. But SP were beautiful too. Awesome era gone too soon

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

This wonderful video should be digitally remastered! Thanks for presentation, from Germany

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Thanks hartmut visit this site to see digital streaming vrf.tv/productions/publisher/charles-smiley-presents Rent, Stream or Own this movie instantly!

[@paralleler]

@@charlessmileyvideo Two questions: Is this film ("Unbelievable Scenes Cab Forwards, SP...") possibly "Vintage SP West" on your web site? After a dead-end on your "Shop" page, I finally found videos to rent but not to own. Above you mention it's available for purchase. True? To your "shop" page, you might want to add a link regarding renting or owning your films. Wonderful work!

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Hi Bruce thanks for the e-mail. The movie in question in "Historic SP Around the Greater Bay" and you can find it at our website item number D-155 www.cspmovies.com or call us direct at 805-685-5639. You can stream or purchase at Virtual Railfan TV if you would like to go the digital route. vrf.tv/productions/publisher/charles-smiley-presents Finally, yes the original 2 hour movie does not have all of the promotional material as they are just previews of what you will see. The movie is an epic presentation waiting over 70 years for your viewing pleasure. Free shipping on all orders. Thanks again we look forward to hearing from you again soon!

[@paralleler]

@@charlessmileyvideo Well done folks! If you're familiar with the SF Bay Area, I live just below the Altamont Pass mentioned in your steam video. Wonderful photography, map details, etc. This will make for good presents for my brothers. It will also be interesting to see what other films you have. Once again, well done!

[@ABQRT]

My cousin was the "Schellville Blacksmith" his shop and home were directly across the tracks from the Schellville Depot. The mainline was right next to his property, that is where the SP Crews would come in from the Napa side, tie up and switch to North Western Pacific RR Crews, there actually was Section Gang there also, bunkhouse, cook house chow hall, and shop all using older rail cars, before the NWP became part of SP. The turning "Y" was right behind his property. Trains still went from Schellville north into Sonoma. I still remember Steam Switchers working the yard at Schellville.

[@redfoxblacksocks]

It's surreal to think that maybe 70 years in the future, there will be videos like this of the trains we see now as modern. "See the unbelievable last days of diesel on the Caltrain before electrification"

[@LectronCircuits]

Excellent plug for wonderful training. Cheers!

[@MySteamChannel]

Amazing quality digital upscaling, well done!

[@beeble2003]

Wow, amazing footage!

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Thanks Beeble, yeah it is pretty magical. Have a great holiday tomorrow and thanks for the comment!

[@RickyJr46]

My uncle George was a towerman in SP’s Bayshore yard, and he was infamous for once having routed a freight train to a deadend at the 3rd & Townsend passenger station during rush hour. Oops!

[@charlessmileyvideo]

That is all time Ricky! I am sure he had some other stories as well.

[@charlessmileyvideo]

More SP and Fallen Flags at our website www.cspmovies.com

[@brianfrost7376]

These were the days,,, born in Oakland, Merritt Hospital, 1959, I had just missed it. But I did experience some of it in the 60s and 70s. As my late great cousin once said, “ Nothing Gold can stay.”

[@4wdiesels]

Stream these! I don't even own a DVD player anymore but would love to be able to stream these

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Thanks, you can find many of our titles to purchase or stream at VRF.TV

[@charlessmileyvideo]

vrf.tv/productions/publisher/charles-smiley-presents

[@tracynation2820]

Super. 💙 T.E.N.

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Thanks Tracynation we think so!

[@saodotxedu6]

Nice. Trainz

[@paulcastillo1310]

This is my favorite DVD

[@charlessmileyvideo]

It is one of ours too! Thanks for your support Paul we appreciate it!

[@wskinn]

I find these scenes to be completely believable. 🙂

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Thanks, we now do too!

[@UsTrainsAndSirens]

Went on google maps 4 months ago and I found the line near Beatrice and traced it from there. I didn't know this all went through there until I pulled it back up! Sad all that is gone now and abandoned😔

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Yes for sure but you can relive it all again!

[@charlessmileyvideo]

vrf.tv/productions/publisher/charles-smiley-presents Rent, Stream or Own this movie instantly!

[@speedbirdoneone]

In fact, Southern Pacific 4449 now resides in Portand Oregon.

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Thanks great engine!

[@MikeLoveBuns]

Enjoy steam locomotives 🚂 videos! Mike From Missouri

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Thanks Mike!

[@speedbirdoneone]

It will come as a surprise for the video makers to learn that Southern Pacific operated out side of california. Maybe even to learn that life exists outside of california.

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Yeah, check out our SP movies in Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and Kansas City thanks Speedbirdoneone!

[@danielboone3770]

😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@annmariehenrioulle8399]

Did any Pacifics make it to Santa Cruz (Suntan Special) in the 1950's?

[@Hairy_Melon]

Small error I caught @ 3:08 - added an extra "8" in the wheel arrangement.

[@christopherdibble5872]

The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954!

[@maciekkra539]

They wave alright, sometimes with one finger 😆

[@JMY1000]

Is this movie available on Blu-Ray? The site says DVD :/

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Not available in Blue-Ray but is available in DVD!

[@JMY1000]

@@charlessmileyvideo Dang, okay, thanks. Is there anywhere where I can download the full movie in HD?

[@mihamaker]

And where is the story of cab forward engines?

[@suppylarue220]

Millbrea???

[@jaysnively2472]

Interesting to see all these old operations, but why are they "unbelievable?" Click bait?

[@Quebecoisegal]

Wood burners produced the best smoke, coal burners a close seconed, but oil? ugh...

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Yeah, we agree we like the coal actually the best!

[@chrisloomis1489]

Back when our cities were clean and DEMOCRATS had not put men in dresses. The Good Days.

[@T128Productions]

Tell me about it.