RED
STAR RAILWAYS
VIDEOS
Effective January 2004, I have decided to stock only videos
produced by people whom I know as friends and colleagues: Revelation Video
(Ron McElrath), Three Stars Productions (Peter
and Maruta Bergs), and Hillside Films (Robert
and Elena Hendry).
REVELATION
VIDEO
Ron’s programs combine excellent rail video with
the music, history and culture of the countries visited. It’s a great combination. From Red Star Railways -- Thank You!
White Nights Steam Express
Steam in endless daylight! In June 2004, Revelation Video's Ron McElrath documented G. W. Travel's P36 4-8-4 touring from Karelia through northwest Russia, Estonia, and (with an L Class 2-10-0) in Latvia. Additional footage in Finland. 100 minutes. VHS $22.50, DVD $25.00. NTSC format only
TRANS-SIBERIAN CENTENNIAL
Begins in and around Kiev. Rail and non-rail video around Moscow. To St. Petersburg on the October
Railway. Moskovskii Station in St.
Petersburg. Tour St. Petersburg. Steam from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Through the Urals on the scenic South
Siberian line. Omsk, Novosibirsk,
Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude, Mongolia. Electrics, diesels, steam, passenger,
freight, music, culture. In my opinion,
this is the perfect Russian rail video.
Four hours. VHS $40, DVD $44.
NEW YEARS IN UKRAINE
Ron’s first video in the former USSR. Mid-winter views in and around Kiev. Winter steam retro tour with different
classes, cab rides, double-headers in the Carpathians, diesel and electric
mainline action, trams, city transit, yards, shops, station views, Ukrainian
music and culture. Two hours. VHS $22.50, DVD $25.00.
ESTONIA: PRIVATIZATION PIONEER
Estonian Railways privatized in 2002, replacing
ex-Soviet locomotives with American GE diesels.
This video takes us from Moscow to Tallinn, then introduces Eesti
Raudtee (Estonian Railways). New and
old diesels, interviews with Ed Burkhardt and others, hump yard, Haapsalu
Railway, Muuga port, Lavassaare narrow-gauge museum, old and new Tallinn. One hour.
VHS $22.50, DVD $25.00.
THREE
STARS PRODUCTIONS
Peter Bergs and his family are dedicated to
documenting the railway heritage of Latvia, especially the 750mm narrow gauge
lines which once covered all three Baltic states. I traveled to Latvia with Peter in September
2000, and it was a great experience.
A Lithuanian Narrow-Gauge Empire
This 58-minute program takes you on an in-depth tour of the dual-gauge station, yard, and workshop complex at Panevezys, Lithuania. Comprising footage recorded between 1998 and 2001, this program shows the “siaurasis gelezinkelis” during its last years of full operation. Notable is the extensive coverage inside the workshops, which formerly maintained not only the railway’s fleet of Tu2 diesels but also the city’s deployment of TEM2 broad-gauge shunters. Some on-line footage also. Available in VHS or DVD, and in either NTSC (North American) or PAL (European) video systems. VHS $22.95, DVD $25.95.
THE 100TH YEAR OF GULBENE'S LITTLE TRAINS
This 54-minute video depicts the Gulbene-Aluksne 750mm narrow gauge railway during the celebration of its centennial. Also included in footage of a typical daily service over the line, filmed from the train. This video is available as a VHS tape or as a DVD. Also, we are pleased to offer this film in NTSC (North American) TV format AND in PAL for Europe, again as VHS or DVD. Price: VHS $22.95, DVD $25.95.
RAILWAYMEN’S HOLIDAY
In 1999 Latvian Railways (LDZ) celebrated its 80th
anniversary with steam trips from Riga.
This video covers preparation of the “L” class at Jelgava and Riga;
steam trip coverage; cab ride; and footage of events associated with the steam
trips. This was Red Star Railways’ first
video in January 2000, and I’m proud to offer it in 2004. 56 minutes.
VHS $21.95.
THE LITTLE TRAIN OF GULBENE
The Gulbene-Aluksne 750mm line is the last public
narrow gauge railway in the Baltics. In
this video you see the line in everyday operation, as well as during the 2000
and 2001 celebrations of the line as a cultural treasure. I was there with Peter in 2000 -- look for a
brief glimpse of an American University sweatshirt, that’s me! -- and I will
remember always the genuine hospitality of the people of Vidzeme as they
celebrated their “banitis.” 44
minutes. VHS $22.95.
HILLSIDE
FILMS
Robert and Elena Hendry use a video magazine format
for their “then and now” Soviet Railways films.
Their videos include segments aimed at railway modellers. The commentary is technically accurate, and
they include archival footage and information aimed specifically at
modellers. Robert Hendry chairs the
Russian Railways Group, and he and Elena work hard to encourage the modelling
of Russian railways.
SOVIET RAILWAYS IN ACTION
Hillside Films’ first Russian video includes retro
tour footage of steam classes E, L, Su, and P36; diesel and electric locos in
mainline and industrial service; coverage of Kiev railways, funicular, tramways
and metro; Gaivoron 750mm narrow gauge; everyday use of E Class 0-10-0s; and
more! 58 minutes. VHS NTSC $25.95.
SOVIET RAILWAYS IN ACTION 2
Railtour action with SO17 Class 2-10-0; WW2
archival footage; Czech-built diesels ChME2, ChME3, and ChME5; Donbass
railways; modelling features; trams; massive goods train activity; Donetsk
railway museum; Ch4 and Ch4S electrics; Soviet FD20 Class and its Chinese
derivative the Class QJ. 58
minutes. VHS NTSC $25.95.
SOVIET RAILWAYS IN ACTION 3
For the modeller, coverage of the Class YeA
USA-built 2-10-0 and conversion of the Bachmann HO model. Odessa passenger terminal, harbor, and
trams. Avdeyevka interurban line. Crossroads of the Ukraine at Dzhankoi. Leningrad metro. Latvian Railways including Riga works, narrow
gauge. Modeller’s Tips, including
getting the environment right; railways during the Revolution; Yevpatoria;
strategic reserve. 57 minutes. VHS NTSC $25.95.