Plot: What’s it about?
On this two disc release, you’ll find four programs that add up to over two hundred minutes of content, which is nothing to sniff at. The first program is called Engines of Enterprise and focuses on the economic impact of the railroads, especially in terms of America’s involvement. As the railway transportation became a nationwide practice, there was a lot of money to be made with those rails, without a doubt. As this program states, the railways were America’s first big business and as the cash rolled in, someone had to be there to rake it all in, of course. The second program is called Taming the Iron Monster, which deals with the perils, failures, and triumphs of building the railways, which was a massive task indeed. The War Machine is our third program and as the title suggests, it look at how the railways impacted us in times of war. This piece travels from the Civil War to World War 2 and all stops in between, to gauge the important role trains played in those conflicts. The fourth & final program is Magic Machines and Mobile People, which shows how trains have changed life for everyday folks, which is more than you might first think, to be sure.
This two disc set was released as part of A&E’s Collector’s Choice line, which means great content at a more than reasonable price. And much like the other releases in this Collector’s Choice line, Locomotion: The Amazing World of Trains offers four programs, each of which is packed with informative content. I found each one to be a real treat, as we’re taken on a virtual tour of the history of railroads, very cool stuff. I really wasn’t expecting too much here, but this is a grand scale kind of documentary series, very in depth and insightful. From the genesis of the railway systems to the role of trains in times of war to the modern railroads, it is all covered in Locomotion: The Amazing World of Trains. As you would expect from a History Channel & BBC Networks production, the programs are very slick and enjoyable, well written, edited, and executed at all times. I am very pleased to see another train themed documentary release, so I recommend this two disc set to all those interest, with no hesitation in the least. I hope to see more titles of this kind and of course, more of these Collector’s Choice releases very soon.
Video: How does it look?
The programs are presented in full frame transfers, as intended. This looks as good as can be expected, given the nature of the programs and varied source materials used. As such, the image is flawed at times due to the source materials, but on the whole, this is a clean, sharp overall presentation. I’ve never seen these programs on normal broadcast look this rich, so I doubt anyone will be let down in the least here. The basic elements look terrific and I saw no compression errors, a solid effort in all respects.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is your basic stereo track, just like the programs were shown with on television. These are documentaries, so the sound is dialogue driven and never requires much in terms of range. Your system won’t get an intense workout by any means, but this mix more than does the material justice. The music and dialogue are about all the elements present, but they sound terrific and the volume is proper & consistent as well.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains no bonus materials.
