On March 19, 2022, I was asked by the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society to be a guest at their annual banquet. They were very fortunate to have digitized copies of a "few" of John's incredible collection of 16mm railroad films... which he began shooting in 1936. The original thought was for me to provide commentary on the films we were watching, since I was well versed in John's life, and the photos, films, and sound recordings John made throughout his life.

I was completely prepared for what I was going to talk about as I previewed the small collection of films the Chapter had in a single video of John's digitized films. However, two weeks before the banquet, I found a nondescript VHS tape that I had completely forgotten about. There's really no need for me to say any more. The video you are about to watch will explain it all.

Video Chapters

0:00 - Introduction and overview
5:37 - The 1st Film - PRR footage at Ebenezer, NY, 1936
12:09 - John's first color film, 1937
15:53 - PRR footage from the new Union Road overpass bridge, 1937
16:20 - PRR Train 571 and 570 in Arcade, NY
17:20 - Oil City, PA. John's favorite engine... the PRR E-3
18:04 - PRR Train 571 in Lockhaven, PA
18:50 - PRR S-1 at the New York World's Fair in 1939
1923 - PRR BNY-14 freight train south of Ebenezer, NY, 1940
20:49 - The 2nd Film - Johnstown, PA & more
21:15 - PRR footage in Baltimore, MD - "Diesels were rare and unusual"
22:50 - Englewood, Chicago 1948 - "It looks black to me..."
24:39 - East of the Gallitzin Tunnel on the PRR
25:20 - Tyrone, PA - Bald Eagle Branch
27:10 - PRR M-1 pulling a train, 1956
27:47 - PRR D-16 in Strasburg, PA, 1962
31:22 - The 3rd Film - John's trip from Philadelphia to Pittsburg
47:35 - The 4th Film - John's return trip from Pittsburg back to Philadelphia
51:05 - The 5th Film - Pacing a NYC train from Broadway Avenue in Buffalo
52:39 - Track pans & water scooping
1:04:26 - Introduction to John's PRR Horseshoe Curve films
1:07:44 - John talks about contributing to Don Ball's PRR book
1:10:46 - The 6th Film - The Horseshoe Curve copy print
1:20:26 - Closing credits