RAIL – The Rest of The World

AF 1                Steam in South Africa ~ The Drakensburg Farewell Rail Tour 1995 (DVD-R)                   75 min                $42.00

Machines of Iron

South African Railways was perhaps the most extensive narrow gauge system in the world. The steam locomotives that roamed the rails here were big narrow gauge steam. Join Machines of Iron as we go back to 1995 for a photo charter that traveled the rugged railway lines of the Drakensburg region behind Garratts, 4-8-2s, a 2-8-4 and an ancient 4-6-0.

Then thrill to a run down the mainline with a 4-8-4. This was a great steam train adventure that can not be duplicated today.  * Colour * Narration

CH1-DVD    WINTER ON JINGPEN PASS [DVD-R]                                                 120 min               $50.00
By Highball Productions
China's Jitong Railway is the last big steam hauled main line in the world, with double headed QJ 2-10-2's blasting their way over the grades and curves of Jingpeng Pass. We visited Jingpeng Pass in Mongolia in February, 2003 to take in the sights and sounds of big steam working hard, and what a trip it was. We visited the shops at Shenyang to see QJ's being overhauled, the sheds and shops at Deban (it's like travelling back in time 50 years) then watched the action over Jingpeng Pass, visited the CTC room at Shangdian, watched servicing at Jingpeng and had a cab ride over the pass. What an experience being on the second engine working hard upgrade through a tunnel! There are approx. 17 freight trains a day over the pass, mostly doubleheaded.
 

CH4-DVD    CHINESE STEAM AT WORK [DVD-R]                                                 120 min               $50.00
By Highball Productions
Steam doing what it was designed to do, in regular service.  First we visit the Fengshuigue Coal Mine Railway, with a JS

2-8-2 on a passenger train at a very crisp dawn, then JS's shuffling cars.  Next we visit the Benxi steel mill with SY 2-8-2's shuffling hot metal cars and slag cars, continuous action often with several trains moving at once.  We even got a peek into a section of the mill where they were pouring molten steel and slag.  Next, it's off to the totally charming Weihe Forestry Railway with it's delightful, tiny 0-8-0's hard at work hauling logs. We caught a passenger train chartered by a Japanese group, and several trains with helpers, the workshops, and generally marvelled that something so small, with such tiny drivers could sound so good.  Then we visit the huge Anshan steel mill for more SY's, and lastly the Puhe mine railway with SY's.

CH5-DVD    BEIJING’S COLOURFUL TRAINS [DVD-R]                                         122 min            $50.00

Highball Productions

 This 2 Disc set shows an impressive variety of locomotive types, both diesel and electric, and colours.  We visit Fengtai for both passenger and freight, plus DF7’s drilling the yard, then it’s off to Dahuichang for diesel freights and the limestone railway’s 2’ 6“ gauge 0-8-0’s.  Visit a busy junction for electric hauled freights, a busy crossing for industrial units and 2 unit electrics, Beijing City Wall for Central Station, and get invited into a yard.  Impressive railroading!

CH6-DVD    The World’s Last Great Steam Show - CHINA 2003 [DVD-R]        59 min            $46.00

Machines of Iron

Jingpeng Pass was the world’s last great steam show!

The cold January temperatures created billowing clouds of steam and smoker as the 2-10-2 QJ class locomotives challenged the stiff grades of Jingpeng Pass.  Visit Daban Locomotive shed where the QJs were serviced and maintained, you will see the Jitong Railway’s steam hauled passenger train near Chabuga.  Visit rural villages, pass through the crowded village markets, see the local people getting ready for the Chinese New Year and visit the ‘Great Wall’. Machines of Iron brings China steam to you in all its dynamic glory.

CT~D            CHINESE TAKE OUT (DVD)                                                                  83 min               $51.00

Vision International (UK)

From small narrow-gauge systems, commuter services, and coal trains, to the incredible sight of double-headed freights working the steeply graded Jiltong Railway and through the spectacular Jing Peng Pass.  In addition you will see working steam sheds, a loco Works carrying out overhauls and a rope-hauled incline!  These beautifully filmed images are complemented by wonderful sound effects, on-screen maps and an informative commentary by David Maxey.  Filmed using digital video equipment complete with the actual sounds.

We visit the following:
Dahuichang Limestone Railway (narrow-gauge C2 0-8-0s)
Beijing Railway Museum (wide variety of classes)
Jinxi Loco Shed (JS & SY 2-8-2s)
Nanpiao Mine Railway (SY 2-8-2s)
Pingzhuang Mine Railway (Rare deflectored SY 2-8-2s)
Yuanbaoshan Mine Railway (JS 2-8-2s)
Fuxin Mine Railway (SY 2-8-2s)
Fuxin Loco Works (SY 2-8-2s undergoing overhaul)
Benxi Steelworks (SY 2-8-2s)
Tiefa Mine Railway (SY 2-8-2s)
Jixi Mine Railway (SY 2-8-2s)
Huanan Forestry Railway (narrow-gauge C2 0-8-0s)
Hegang Mine Railway (SY 2-8-2s)
The Jiltong Railway (QJ 2-10-2s)
Bonus Features: Class Profiles & narration on/off

J1-DVD    TOKYO’S COLOURFUL TRAINS [DVD-R]                                                105 min            $50.00

Highball Productions

A wild variety of color schemes! All trains are colour coded by destination!  See the incredible volume of commuters, electric locomotives on freight trains, the Shinkansen high speed Bullet trains, station action at Tokyo, Ueno, Shinagawa, Shinjuku and a wide variety of EMU’s, old and new.  Take a train ride from Shinagawa to Tokyo in the rush hour- wild!

CHINAST-DVD     CHINA STEAM SPECTACULAR  (DVD)                                       148 min           $40.00
Pentrex 

Imagine thousands of steam locomotives in everyday use, rolling through lands of stunning beauty.  That was steam railroading in China in 2001 when this exciting documentary was filmed.  Much of it is hauntingly similar to the American railroads of the 1930s-1950s.  All of it is fascinating. Join our tour of six unique sites and see why steam in China may be the greatest railroad show on earth!  We begin on legendary Jing Peng Pass with its 40 miles of tunnels, 2% ruling grade, horse shoe curves, and spiral bridges entirely serviced by double-headed 2-10-2 QJ class locomotives.  Next we take you to Daban where the entire fleet of 100 QJ's are serviced. Their resemblance to Union Pacific or NYC locomotives, with smoke box deflectors, Boxpok driving wheels, and large smokebox-mounted headlights, is remarkable.  In the coal mining region of Tiefa, a fleet of thirty 2-8-2 SY class locomotives pull fast commuter trains with amazing frequency.  The Dahiuchang Limestone Quarry near Beijing is an enchanting narrow gauge steam line where we'll view endless strings of tiny ore cars pulled by miniature locomotives.  At Anshan, we are granted rare access into one of the world's largest steel mills with its own fleet of forty 2-8-2's. Finally, we'll witness the brute strength of 2-8-2's straining full throttle up the 3-1/2 percent grade to the Chengde steel mill complex. This line has it all, steep curves, rock cuts, narrow tunnels, and terrific rural scenery.

IA 3        Calcutta’s   Colourful   Trains [DVD-R]                                       120 min            $55.00

Highball Productions

Over 300 trains and 1,000,000 people use Howrah Station, across the Hoogly River from Calcutta, every day! Broad gauge (5’6”) trains, with people hanging from the doors, EMU’s and both diesel and electric hauled passenger trains, from locals to Rajdhani Expresses.  The trains are colourful and full of character, the diesel locomotives are Indian built Alco models in a variety of types and colours. Howrah, with swarms of people everywhere, is India’s largest station.  We also visit Kamarkundu Junction and Kolaghat Junction for more passenger trains and some freight trains.

IA 4        STEAM TO JANAKPURDHAM [DVD-R]                                       100 min            $55.00

Highball Productions

Tipong Coal Mine is located in Northeast India, on the border with Burma, and for the moment runs the oldest steam locomotive in regular service in the world, and a Darjeeling B class.  Living on borrowed time, this 2 foot gauge railway takes coal from the mine through the jungle to a truck loading facility.  Far from tourist destinations, this seldom visited little line is full of charm and character!  As soon as they have the money, two bridges will be rebuilt, the coal will move by truck and this delightful little railway will die.  The Janakpur Railway runs from Jayanagar, India to Janakpurdham, Nepal.  This 2’6” gauge line has now dieselized, but we rode and taped a chartered steam train, with an 0-6-2 Hunswell Clarke side tank, built in 1930.  We were only allowed to stay in Nepal for one night because of terrorists!  The festival of Shiva was going on in Janakpurdham during our visit, and there were thousands of people on the station waiting for the diesel train, many of them rode on the roof and sides, and on flat cars on our chartered train.  Run by’s, the ride from the train (and the roof) and a look at the people.  An entertaining look at a charming little railway!

AVAILABLE IN REGULAR OR WIDESCREEN FORMAT.

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IA 5        THE DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY [DVD-R]                                       105 min            $48.00

Highball Productions

TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD BY STEAM

The Darjeeling - Himalayan is totally charming, and once out of the frenetic lower portion, so are the people, especially the children.  We start our journey at Siliguri, not quite the start of the railway, but the site of the engine shed, and an Indian Rail station, so there are 3 gauges, broad gauge, metre gauge and the two foot Darjeeling.  During the journey, the railway crosses Hill Cart Road 177 times, and rises 6874 feet to the summit at Ghum.  Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world at over 28,000 feet was visible from near Darjeeling, it's mostly not!  Take a ride on the train, and see some of the scenery and the people as well as seeing the trains in action.  The DHR is now a UNESCO world heritage site, and a truly outstanding, delightful little railway. 

BONUS FEATURE - The sugar mill at Riga in Bihar province, it's 0-8-0T, an odd critter, ox carts and kids!

AVAILABLE IN REGULAR OR WIDESCREEN FORMAT.

Please state when ordering if you require ‘WIDESCREEN’ format, otherwise regular format will automatically be sent.

SA 1        Andes Adventure ~ Guayaquil and Quito Railroad [DVD-R]                88 min            $48.00

Machines of Iron

Ecuador's narrow gauge Guayaquil and Quito Railway is one of the most spectacular railroads in the world. Starting in the lowlands at Duran, travel behind a 2-6-0 to the San Jacinto Festival in Yaguachi.  Then tackle the Andes Highlands with 2-8-0 #53 battling the 5% grades of the switchbacks on the Devil's Nose. Visit the colourful Indian Market at Guamote and ride through the Valley of the Volcanos to Rio Bamba.  Then continue up to the highest point on the railway, at 11.800 ft. Urbena, and see our steam train with 20,509 ft. high Mt. Chimborazo towering above it.