Product Description

From steam engines to sleek diesels, experience the romance, majesty and adventure of trains past and present. Remember the days when thundering trains bridged the world's continents, nourished the pioneer spirit, ferried our troops to war, and provided politicians with mobile campaign platforms. Then settle into a first-class seat aboard the luxurious Orient Express, and glide through storybook cities from Paris to Istanbul. Celebrate a slice of history and ride the rails of the world in LOVE THOSE TRAINS.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11017 in VHS
• Released on: 1997-07-08
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Amazon.com
From riding the rails atop a luggage rack through the mountains of Ecuador to enjoying a gourmet meal aboard the Lalique-laden Orient Express, this potpourri of train travel is bound to satisfy train buffs. The 57-minute National Geographic video opens with a segment on riding and working on old steam engines. There's a visit to a Montecito, California, property where grownups sit in miniature steam-engine cars and ride a mile-long track. Later, narrator James Whitmore takes viewers to Iowa to a celebration honoring hobos, especially the Hobo King, who calls himself "Steamboat." Then it's on to the notorious Donner Pass, where locomotives face the same trying weather conditions that vanquished most of the Donner party so long ago. In between stories, there's lots of black-and-white photographs and footage of early steam engines, the building of the railroad, and early travel. Viewers are treated to some of the more remarkable views in U.S. train travel as the engines make their way up steep inclines of the Rockies, pass unusual rock formations in the Southwest, or negotiate perilous stretches in crime-ridden urban areas. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

A must for train enthusiasts!
This video is a must for train buffs! It has everything a train enthusiast wants in a video: solid information coupled with stunning footage of some of the most interesting train runs in the world, as well as clips from "the good old days" of railroading. The video provides a good historical perspective of railroading and the advent of steam engines, moving along briskly to bring the viewer up to modern times. Because it was produced in the early 80's, some of the material may be a little dated, but a true rail fan won't be bothered by this aspect. The video is produced in the classic informative and easy-to-watch style which is the hallmark of National Geographic Videos. If you love trains, you won't be disappointed.