Charles Smiley Presents

Description	Collection
Conrail: Hall of Fame This is the 1976 to 1997 story of the Consolidated Rail Corporation, widely known as Conrail. It was created from the bankrupt Penn Central and a number of other bankrupt northeastern roads in 1976. We bring the early years of rebuilding, and the later years of a successful operation, that surprised nearly everyone. Everyone that is except the committed employees and the leadership Conrail had during its four phases of existence. This was like a four act play – with every element needed to make a great story that will be studied by business analysts and rail historians for years to come. The four principal phases of Conrail’s existence each had a CEO from a different business background that helped forge Conrail into a valuable operation. Our presentation includes many maps created especially for video to keep the viewer informed and to help paint the big picture. Once the system was stabilized, Conrail started making a profit and they went public with shares of stock that repaid all the accumulated debt. By the late 1980s, Conrail was now taken seriously. Fortunately, all this was carefully recorded for history. This video has been created from the early movie filming and professional-format video material of three different rail historians? each with their own talent and unique style. These are all visions you can no longer see along the rails of today. Conrail has since been divided and integrated into the Norfolk Southern and the CSX systems. Learn the plan that could have bolstered Conrail’s future as a separate, large system — but for a twist of fate. Our presentation includes many maps made especially for video to keep the viewer informed and to help paint the big picture. We bring the former Pennsylvania Railroad’s Pittsburg line, from Altoona to Cresson in 1988 to 1992, with all the intense action, grades and helpers. The line east of Altoona brings more action from the late 1980s and 1996. See a great mix of manifest freight and intermodal trains in many scenic locations. Then, don’t miss the Harrisburg to Reading scenes on Conrail’s former Reading Railroad line. Consolidated Rail saved the northeastern railroad industry by lifting 6 bankrupt roads from an ash heap – albeit a colourful one – with lots of work and an identity of its own making.
The Hard Coal Roads: What Went Wrong This is a look back in time to the “Anthracite” roads that once made the eastern rail scene more interesting and colourful. These principal roads were the Lehigh Valley, Jersey Central, Reading, D&H and the Erie Lackawanna Railroads. The common theme was their early success based on hauling anthracite coal from a unique area in Pennsylvania and the decline of that business. The last decade of these roads largely depended on a declining business in hauling “bridge traffic”. The corporate history of these five roads is woven into a wealth of wonderful, all-colour, railroading scenes. Our animated maps, made especially for our videos, are used to keep the viewer more informed. We explain all the mergers and some that almost came about. This railroading action has a grand look at five Class 1 rail lines that were independent until 1976. Our presentation is based on colour movie film with its rich colour rendering and digital enhancement to make it appear better than even the original. This is 1 hour and 40 minutes of five featured railroads that have disappeared along with highlights from three other regional railroads that faced the same fate. The closing chapter brings the beginning of Penn Central and its rapid failure that swept up the other roads in their northeast. This is a large slice of US railroading history with many “moving parts” — from a lost but colourful era.
Northeast Rails Remembered Brought back from 1988 and 1989 is the Conrail story with material never before released. Conrail’s former Reading line, Allentown, Reading and numerous scenic places through many small towns and splendid countryside. The scenic Southern Tier on the former Erie mainline brings lots of action with Conrail, NYS&W and Delaware & Hudson trains – and more! See some scenes from the early 1970s with a struggling Penn Central and its collection of old and eclectic diesels. Learn the Conrail story that saved the rail industry by merging many failed roads into a first-class operation. Conrail was split up into parts of the NS and the CSX system in 1999. We bring it back to your screen! See a great variety of diesel power and freight cars before the graffiti era. The 1988 era was at the point in time when Conrail had transformed itself into a successful railroad. This material was shot over a two year period of time, in all seasons. It was shot by videographer, Tom Luckey in a professional video format. It has been digitized, image enhanced and edited to bring you a look at many things you miss, but can no longer see.
Northeast Rails Remembered II Revisit the early 1990s on the last years of the D&H and the ushering in of CP Rail to new territory in the US. This was a very colorful era in the Northeast and dramatic changes were still in effect from ripples of the bankruptcy of the old Penn Central days. We cover the history of the D&H and its sad demise. Don’t miss the parade of older and borrowed power that came from all over North America. This was also a time when CP Rail was consolidating its extensive US-based rail lines. We bring you power from the D&H, Soo Lines and from lines such as CSX, NS, Conrail, leasing companies and others. This material was shot over an extensive period of time, in different seasons and numerous locals. This new video is the perfect companion to the first Northeast Rails DVD that covered the success of the Conrail in the late 1980s. Revel in wonderful scenery, colourful power, “Fallen-Flags” and graffiti-free trains in a bygone era that will never come back again.

Conrail: Hall of Fame
This is the 1976 to 1997 story of the Consolidated Rail Corporation, widely known as Conrail. It was created from the bankrupt Penn Central and a number of other bankrupt northeastern roads in 1976. We bring the early years of rebuilding, and the later years of a successful operation, that surprised nearly everyone. Everyone that is except the committed employees and the leadership Conrail had during its four phases of existence. This was like a four act play – with every element needed to make a great story that will be studied by business analysts and rail historians for years to come. The four principal phases of Conrail’s existence each had a CEO from a different business background that helped forge Conrail into a valuable operation.
Our presentation includes many maps created especially for video to keep the viewer informed and to help paint the big picture.
Once the system was stabilized, Conrail started making a profit and they went public with shares of stock that repaid all the accumulated debt. By the late 1980s, Conrail was now taken seriously. Fortunately, all this was carefully recorded for history.
This video has been created from the early movie filming and professional-format video material of three different rail historians? each with their own talent and unique style. These are all visions you can no longer see along the rails of today. Conrail has since been divided and integrated into the Norfolk Southern and the CSX systems. Learn the plan that could have bolstered Conrail’s future as a separate, large system — but for a twist of fate. Our presentation includes many maps made especially for video to keep the viewer informed and to help paint the big picture.
We bring the former Pennsylvania Railroad’s Pittsburg line, from Altoona to Cresson in 1988 to 1992, with all the intense action, grades and helpers. The line east of Altoona brings more action from the late 1980s and 1996. See a great mix of manifest freight and intermodal trains in many scenic locations. Then, don’t miss the Harrisburg to Reading scenes on Conrail’s former Reading Railroad line.
Consolidated Rail saved the northeastern railroad industry by lifting 6 bankrupt roads from an ash heap – albeit a colourful one – with lots of work and an identity of its own making.

The Hard Coal Roads: What Went Wrong
This is a look back in time to the “Anthracite” roads that once made the eastern rail scene more interesting and colourful. These principal roads were the Lehigh Valley, Jersey Central, Reading, D&H and the Erie Lackawanna Railroads.
The common theme was their early success based on hauling anthracite coal from a unique area in Pennsylvania and the decline of that business. The last decade of these roads largely depended on a declining business in hauling “bridge traffic”.
The corporate history of these five roads is woven into a wealth of wonderful, all-colour, railroading scenes. Our animated maps, made especially for our videos, are used to keep the viewer more informed.
We explain all the mergers and some that almost came about. This railroading action has a grand look at five Class 1 rail lines that were independent until 1976.
Our presentation is based on colour movie film with its rich colour rendering and digital enhancement to make it appear better than even the original.
This is 1 hour and 40 minutes of five featured railroads that have disappeared along with highlights from three other regional railroads that faced the same fate.
The closing chapter brings the beginning of Penn Central and its rapid failure that swept up the other roads in their northeast. This is a large slice of US railroading history with many “moving parts” — from a lost but colourful era.

Northeast Rails Remembered
Brought back from 1988 and 1989 is the Conrail story with material never before released.
Conrail’s former Reading line, Allentown, Reading and numerous scenic places through many small towns and splendid countryside. The scenic Southern Tier on the former Erie mainline brings lots of action with Conrail, NYS&W and Delaware & Hudson trains – and more!
See some scenes from the early 1970s with a struggling Penn Central and its collection of old and eclectic diesels.
Learn the Conrail story that saved the rail industry by merging many failed roads into a first-class operation.
Conrail was split up into parts of the NS and the CSX system in 1999. We bring it back to your screen!
See a great variety of diesel power and freight cars before the graffiti era. The 1988 era was at the point in time when Conrail had transformed itself into a successful railroad.
This material was shot over a two year period of time, in all seasons. It was shot by videographer, Tom Luckey in a professional video format. It has been digitized, image enhanced and edited to bring you a look at many things you miss, but can no longer see.

Northeast Rails Remembered II
Revisit the early 1990s on the last years of the D&H and the ushering in of CP Rail to new territory in the US. This was a very colorful era in the Northeast and dramatic changes were still in effect from ripples of the bankruptcy of the old Penn Central days. We cover the history of the D&H and its sad demise. Don’t miss the parade of older and borrowed power that came from all over North America.
This was also a time when CP Rail was consolidating its extensive US-based rail lines. We bring you power from the D&H, Soo Lines and from lines such as CSX, NS, Conrail, leasing companies and others.
This material was shot over an extensive period of time, in different seasons and numerous locals. This new video is the perfect companion to the first Northeast Rails DVD that covered the success of the Conrail in the late 1980s.
Revel in wonderful scenery, colourful power, “Fallen-Flags” and graffiti-free trains in a bygone era that will never come back again.