As other commenters have posted there is so much to see in these clips. I noticed during the pacing shots it must have been a very warm day since both the cab side doors are open as well as the roof vent. The fireman was doing a fine job since she was running with a clear stack. These scenes brought back memories of my watching the Adventures of Superman back in the 1950's. A GS2 was used for the "More Powerful Than a Speeding Locomotive" shot though I feel that the following clip of the spinning drivers were from another engine. Thanks so much for posting this and for all your efforts. The added musical score was spot on!
Love the wag-wig in the first two sequences. Southern Pacific must have had great faith in those lower-quadrant semaphores to keep them in service. Nice catch, Speed Graphic, on the "1" in the second run-by, I missed it. That certainly wasn't a railfan shooting the "nighttime" chase! A real aficionado would have kept the camera's lens fixed on that GS-4 (specifically its drivers) no matter what. And had that chase car gotten between the cameraman and his subject there might have been a few unidentifiable flying objects hurled at the vehicle in an effort to get the driver to move! Good stuff, nice musical score; thanks for posting this, Speed Graphic.
If I remember correctly, and I may not, the location of the first two shots is Chatsworth. It appears to have been a fairly common filming location. There is another clip (which I think you have worked on) that shows a train catching a mail bag at about this location.
The train in the first two shots is the Los Angeles-bound, all-Pullman "Lark," Train #76, overnight from San Francisco via SP's Coast Line. (The second of the two shows the number boards as "1-76," meaning that there is a second section following.)
After witnessing the spectacle of the 4449 speed by me a few years ago as I was out for a jog, I can't imagine that steam locomotives were ever taken for granted (but of course they were in their day).
The unknown train - Perhaps it is the second section of the Lark as atsf1920 suggested. I also wonder if it is a mail & express train, since the second car has windows that look like the ones on a baggage car door. The first car may be a Rail Post Office car.
Could you please tell me the name of the music you used? I would really like to know. I have subscribed and greatly enjoyed watching many of your great railroad railroad videos.
@@SpeedGraphicFilmVideo Thank you very much for the quick reply to my stupid question. Stupid because I remember seeing credits at the end your other videos but somehow missed this one! My father was a composition major at Eastman School of music when Howard Hanson was on the faculty. I have recordings of Hanson’s Symphonies 2, 4, 6, and 7. I’m going to have to try to find a recording of the Third.
No. Railroads were happy with the free advertising. Movies with navy ships did not pay the Navy, either. Enlistments always went up after a new war movie came out. Navy and other military branches were happy to help the movie studios.
The "Larks" had three-unit articulated diners -- three cars riding on four trucks. Extraordinary.
Thank you for that snap shot into the past
As other commenters have posted there is so much to see in these clips. I noticed during the pacing shots it must have been a very warm day since both the cab side doors are open as well as the roof vent. The fireman was doing a fine job since she was running with a clear stack. These scenes brought back memories of my watching the Adventures of Superman back in the 1950's. A GS2 was used for the "More Powerful Than a Speeding Locomotive" shot though I feel that the following clip of the spinning drivers were from another engine. Thanks so much for posting this and for all your efforts. The added musical score was spot on!
Superman was one of my favorite shows in the 50s. I was disappointed when later seasons replaced the steamer with a diesel.
That was some cool footage. The world looked different 85 years ago.
This shot alone has so many things you don't see anymore
-wig wag signals
-semaphores
-steam locomotives
Nice bit of film. Handsome locos plus Hanson’s #3. Marvelous.
Love the wag-wig in the first two sequences. Southern Pacific must have had great faith in those lower-quadrant semaphores to keep them in service. Nice catch, Speed Graphic, on the "1" in the second run-by, I missed it.
That certainly wasn't a railfan shooting the "nighttime" chase! A real aficionado would have kept the camera's lens fixed on that GS-4 (specifically its drivers) no matter what. And had that chase car gotten between the cameraman and his subject there might have been a few unidentifiable flying objects hurled at the vehicle in an effort to get the driver to move!
Good stuff, nice musical score; thanks for posting this, Speed Graphic.
Beautiful GS-4's
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!
Magnificent! Thank you for posting these wonderful films.
If I remember correctly, and I may not, the location of the first two shots is Chatsworth. It appears to have been a fairly common filming location. There is another clip (which I think you have worked on) that shows a train catching a mail bag at about this location.
The train in the first two shots is the Los Angeles-bound, all-Pullman "Lark," Train #76, overnight from San Francisco via SP's Coast Line. (The second of the two shows the number boards as "1-76," meaning that there is a second section following.)
What an interesting film! And well presented.
Amazing. Thank you.
If we could only read the little milepost sign on the double semaphore post--that's the number of miles from San Francisco.
After witnessing the spectacle of the 4449 speed by me a few years ago as I was out for a jog, I can't imagine that steam locomotives were ever taken for granted (but of course they were in their day).
excellent. thx.
The unknown train - Perhaps it is the second section of the Lark as atsf1920 suggested. I also wonder if it is a mail & express train, since the second car has windows that look like the ones on a baggage car door. The first car may be a Rail Post Office car.
I love the SP GS-4's
Semaphores and wig-wags in the first to clips. Back when railroading was a bit more... animated.
Ah, the glory days of the Southern Pacific. These must have been shot after WWII since the headlight does not have a light shield.
Or before. The car in the last segment has a late-30s look to it.
Could you please tell me the name of the music you used? I would really like to know. I have subscribed and greatly enjoyed watching many of your great railroad railroad videos.
I always credit the music, and the performers, at the end of every video. In this case, it's an excerpt of Howard Hanson's Symphony No. 3.
@@SpeedGraphicFilmVideo Thank you very much for the quick reply to my stupid question. Stupid because I remember seeing credits at the end your other videos but somehow missed this one! My father was a composition major at Eastman School of music when Howard Hanson was on the faculty. I have recordings of Hanson’s Symphonies 2, 4, 6, and 7. I’m going to have to try to find a recording of the Third.
I dig the wig wag signals.
Could that engine be 4449 pulling the Lark?
Interesting possibility! But I couldn't read the engine number.
Looks as if it's about two stops underexposed. Plus bad lighting. Was thinking the same. Couldn't read number.
Did studios have to pay railroads for stock films of their trains?
No. Railroads were happy with the free advertising. Movies with navy ships did not pay the Navy, either. Enlistments always went up after a new war movie came out. Navy and other military branches were happy to help the movie studios.
@@dfirth224 ATSF had a very close relationship with the Studios back then