MBTA Ashmont - Mattapan Line: Traction Volume One(2023)

Engineering Tragedy: The Ashtabula Train Disaster(en)

The Ashtabula train disaster and bridge collapse was the worst train disaster of the 19th century, claiming the lives of 97 people. The engineering and structural failures that caused the collapse of a bridge that stood for over a decade, also took down the most luxurious train of the day, “The Pacific Express #5.” The accident happened in Ashtabula, Ohio on December 29, 1876 during a raging blizzard, sending the luxury train crashing 70-feet into a river gorge and costing the lives of 97 people. The disaster shocked the nation, yet it’s a story that’s been lost in the pages of history. In a strange twist of fate and intrigue, the bridge disaster also became the backdrop to the still unsolved murder of Charles Collins, the railroad’s chief engineer. It also contributed to the eventual suicide of millionaire Amasa Stone, the president of the railroad and the designer and builder of the bridge.

Opening a New Frontier(en)

A documentary outlining the railroad's roll in expanding the nation.

Last of the Giants(en)

A Union Pacific production outlining the Big Boy locomotive and the history of the last great steam engine to rule the rails

A Railroad at Work(en)

A documentary on railroads doing their daily tasks created by trhe The Milwaukee Railroad

The Nickel Plate Story(en)

The story of the independent railroad and its survival against the giants.

TGV Paris-Marseille, ligne de tous les défis(fr)

Zugkraft mit Strom – Die Hightech-E-Lok(de)

Flight of the Century(en)

The story of the most famous train in the world

End of an Era(en)

A documentary on the passing of the steam locomotive as the primary means of transportation in the United States

Desert Empire(en)

A travelogue, this film provides a guided tour of pre-World War II Utah and of course does not pretend to cinematic greatness. Recommended viewing for those in search of introductory Utah history. Also valuable for persons seeking insight into the state as it would have looked during this time period. Especially informative for those desiring a window into the past for a view of how Utah was in the days of their pre-World War II progenitors living in the state. Those whose Utah ancestors were involved in mining, railroading, sugar beets, and other featured industries; featured towns, sights, recreational attractions, and industries may find this otherwise banal travelogue a quite valuable addition to their family history.

This Is My Railroad(en)

A film about the Southern Pacific Railroad and the men and women who keep the trains running.

Big Trains Rolling(en)

A production of the association of American Railroads outlining the wonders of America's rail system.

Mainline U.S.A.(en)

A documentary on the railroads of America produced by the Association of American Railroads

Beef Rings the Bell(en)

The sory of the railroad's roll in getting beef to your local market

The Modern Coal Burning Steam Locomotive(en)

Documentary on the evolution and introduction of modern coal burning locomotives on the Norfolk and Western Railway line.

Railroads and Western Expansion 1845-1865(en)

A BFA Educational media production on western expansion via railroads and the role they played in the foundation of the Americas

Railroad Man(en)

The story of the railroad man in his role in keeping the trains moving on the rails.

Rolling the Freight(en)

Film on the movement of material from the Chicago and Northwestern System.

Od Karolinky ke Sputniku(cs)

Building the Channel Tunnel(en)

The Channel Tunnel linking Britain with France is one of the seven wonders of the modern world but what did it take to build the longest undersea tunnel ever constructed? We hear from the men and women, who built this engineering marvel. Massive tunnel boring machines gnawed their way through rock and chalk, digging not one tunnel but three; two rail tunnels and a service tunnel. This was a project that would be privately financed; not a penny of public money would be spent on the tunnel. Business would have to put up all the money and take all the risks. This was also a project that was blighted by flood, fire, tragic loss of life and financial bust ups. Today, it stands as an engineering triumph and a testament to what can be achieved when two nations, Britain and France put aside their historic differences and work together.