THE NEW IRON HORSE

Year Published: 1950

Creator: general-electric-richard-lyford-and-lyford-foutz-academy-productions

Description: Created by filmmaker Richard Lyford and Lyford-Foutz Academy Productions for General Electric, "The New Iron Horse / An Excursion in Science" (1950) promotes new technologies in railroading, including electric, diesel electric and gas turbine locomotives. The film portrays the historical evolution and technological advancements in American rail transport, focusing on the shift from steam to electric and diesel-electric locomotives, and how these changes have improved efficiency, safety, and the distribution of goods. The film is narrated by Denis Connell from a script by Norman Borisoff. (According to filmmaker Lyford, this movie was shown to Walt Disney, and it received his stamp of approval.) 00:00: A young boy waves to the crew of a steam locomotive as it comes by a grade crossing. 1:18: Introduction to the scene at a train yard where a short freight train is being assembled. 1:43: Reflection on how freight trains have evolved, mentioning that not long ago, a dozen cars were considered a large load, and railroads were once a wild dream. 2:03-2:37 - Shot of railroad tracks from a moving train, and a shot off the top of a steam locomotive. Locomotive wheels move and smoke belches from smokestacks. Description of the expansion of railroads westward, bringing prosperity and increasing demands for goods, speed, and power. 2:37-3:28 - Discusses the growth in locomotive size, rail strength, and the need for more power leading to bigger locomotives but also noting that the steam locomotive was beginning to be phased out. Steam engines move across steel bridges. 3:28-4:01 - Unspooling copper wire from a reel. Animated sequence: introduction of electric locomotives, mentioning the earliest efforts in 1892 to use electricity for rail transport.Shots of a third rail on a subway or elevated train. A huge electric switch is thrown. POV shots down the right of way. 4:01-4:55 - Pantograph on electric overhead lines. The adoption of electric trains in urban areas like New York, offering smoother power, speed, safety, and comfort. Electric trains are described as economical for densely populated areas. 4:42 Passengers aboard a commuter train. 4:55-5:30 - Passengers in a train station. The limitations of full electrification for long, remote stretches of rail, which led to further innovation. Virginian diesel electric locomotive shown. 5:30-6:00 - Introduction of the concept of a self-sufficient electric locomotive, which doesn't require extensive infrastructure like overhead wires or third rails. 5:36: Train station at Summit, California. 5:52: Union Pacific EMD F7 locomotive. 6:00-7:19 - Animation describes the diesel-electric locomotive, which was a solution for versatile track use, explaining how a diesel engine drives a generator to power electric motors on the wheels, providing control and safety. Santa Fe diesel electric locomotive shown. 7:19-8:27 - Talks about additional electrical advancements in railroading, like communication systems, automatic signals, snow melters, and centralized traffic control, enhancing safety and efficiency. 8:27-8:56 -Ordering food aboard a train passenger car. The hand of an African American porter serves a drink. Emphasizes improvements in passenger comfort due to electricity, and mentions the ongoing search for new power sources. apple is eaten. 8:56-9:21 - Introduction of Union Pacific's gas turbine electric locomotive as a new experimental idea in rail technology. Lightning strikes. shots of locomotive headlights, a brakeman waves a light, montage of a plow, grain, pancakes are served, juice is made from a juicer, a woman shows off her new fashion, a fresh 9:21-10:22 - EMD F3 diesel electric locomotive on the move. Concluding remarks as the boy seen at the start of the film waves at a diesel locomotive: the impact of faster freight services on daily life, enabling the distribution of various goods across the U.S., symbolizing the progress and connectivity provided by modern rail systems.

Complete Record: Created by filmmaker Richard Lyford and Lyford-Foutz Academy Productions for General Electric, "The New Iron Horse / An Excursion in Science" (1950) promotes new technologies in railroading, including electric, diesel electric and gas turbine locomotives. The film portrays the historical evolution and technological advancements in American rail transport, focusing on the shift from steam to electric and diesel-electric locomotives, and how these changes have improved efficiency, safety, and the distribution of goods. The film is narrated by Denis Connell from a script by Norman Borisoff. (According to filmmaker Lyford, this movie was shown to Walt Disney, and it received his stamp of approval.) 00:00: A young boy waves to the crew of a steam locomotive as it comes by a grade crossing. 1:18: Introduction to the scene at a train yard where a short freight train is being assembled. 1:43: Reflection on how freight trains have evolved, mentioning that not long ago, a dozen cars were considered a large load, and railroads were once a wild dream. 2:03-2:37 - Shot of railroad tracks from a moving train, and a shot off the top of a steam locomotive. Locomotive wheels move and smoke belches from smokestacks. Description of the expansion of railroads westward, bringing prosperity and increasing demands for goods, speed, and power. 2:37-3:28 - Discusses the growth in locomotive size, rail strength, and the need for more power leading to bigger locomotives but also noting that the steam locomotive was beginning to be phased out. Steam engines move across steel bridges. 3:28-4:01 - Unspooling copper wire from a reel. Animated sequence: introduction of electric locomotives, mentioning the earliest efforts in 1892 to use electricity for rail transport.Shots of a third rail on a subway or elevated train. A huge electric switch is thrown. POV shots down the right of way. 4:01-4:55 - Pantograph on electric overhead lines. The adoption of electric trains in urban areas like New York, offering smoother power, speed, safety, and comfort. Electric trains are described as economical for densely populated areas. 4:42 Passengers aboard a commuter train. 4:55-5:30 - Passengers in a train station. The limitations of full electrification for long, remote stretches of rail, which led to further innovation. Virginian diesel electric locomotive shown. 5:30-6:00 - Introduction of the concept of a self-sufficient electric locomotive, which doesn't require extensive infrastructure like overhead wires or third rails. 5:36: Train station at Summit, California. 5:52: Union Pacific EMD F7 locomotive. 6:00-7:19 - Animation describes the diesel-electric locomotive, which was a solution for versatile track use, explaining how a diesel engine drives a generator to power electric motors on the wheels, providing control and safety. Santa Fe diesel electric locomotive shown. 7:19-8:27 - Talks about additional electrical advancements in railroading, like communication systems, automatic signals, snow melters, and centralized traffic control, enhancing safety and efficiency. 8:27-8:56 -Ordering food aboard a train passenger car. The hand of an African American porter serves a drink. Emphasizes improvements in passenger comfort due to electricity, and mentions the ongoing search for new power sources. apple is eaten. 8:56-9:21 - Introduction of Union Pacific's gas turbine electric locomotive as a new experimental idea in rail technology. Lightning strikes. shots of locomotive headlights, a brakeman waves a light, montage of a plow, grain, pancakes are served, juice is made from a juicer, a woman shows off her new fashion, a fresh 9:21-10:22 - EMD F3 diesel electric locomotive on the move. Concluding remarks as the boy seen at the start of the film waves at a diesel locomotive: the impact of faster freight services on daily life, enabling the distribution of various goods across the U.S., symbolizing the progress and connectivity provided by modern rail systems.

Transcription

[Music] oh [Applause] [Music] hey [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] 55 56 57 58 a short Freight came right out of the yard here yesterday that one they're making up has [Music] 108 [Music] 108 wasn't so long ago a dozen cars were considered quite a load in fact it really wasn't too long ago the whole idea of railroads was considered a while I dream then that old Iron Horse began pushing out towards the West carrying Prosperity on its back and there was no stopping as our country grew the West demanded more Goods the East more raw materials more speed they cry more power more [Music] power more power meant bigger [Music] locomotives heavier rails to carry them heavier rails larger loads faster service bigger locomotives [Music] stronger Bridges more power and speed to meet the ever greater demands of a growing Nation always more Never Enough strange thing was happening the steam locomotive which had built a new continent was driving itself out of d [Music] [Applause] [Music] but a new kind of power was already at work in industry and Men of skill and vision worked long and hard to put this power to work on the rails as early as 1892 their efforts brought into operation a locomotive driven by electricity 195 Grand Central Terminal went under the ground 1910 Pennsylvania station the electric train was on the Move New York to New Haven Baltimore to Bridgeport Newar to Trenton wimington Philadelphia Wasing [Music] power smoother power and plenty of speed with greater safety and [Music] comfor in densely populated areas the electric train was the most economical form of transportation where millions of people could share its benefits the electric locomotive also demonstrated its ability to solve many difficult engineering problems where the grades were too steep are the tunnels too long for steam [Music] locomotives but for most railroads operating over long lonely stretches complete electrification was simply too great an undertaking as before this problem sparked the imagination of industrial Engineers required an electric locomotive that could run anywhere on any track without miles and miles of overhead wires or third rails again they came up with an answer [Music] an electric locomotive that carries its own power plant wherever it goes from New England to the Northwest from Kansas to California the Great Lakes to the gulf from one end of this great land to the other the Modern Diesel electric locomotive in this powerhouse on Wheels a diesel engine drives a high-speed generator which supplies current to individual electric motors mounted on the wheels this gives flexible control and greater safety on the downgrade with more power on the upgrade but railroad Men And scientists developed other electrical devices which kept pace with this new form of motive B modern [Music] communication automatic signal [Music] system snor melters conveyor belts flood lights electric lers safe with centralized traffic control okay leave on arrival number four on time nor was passenger Comfort forgotten [Music] [Music] electricity has contributed much to improved passenger [Music] service but the basic assignment never varies to find new sources of power and efficiency today railroad men are trying out another brand new idea the gas turban electric locomotive [Music] but whatever it Source diesel gas coal jet or [Music] Atomic electric power's greatest contribution to railroading is the new meaning it has given the words fast Freight regardless of where we live or what we do for a living most of the things on which most of us depend are brought To Us by rail faster schedules mean more of the good things of life for more and more people maple syrup in California oranges in Grand Rapids Furniture in Dallas cotton in Detroit automobiles in Seattle in New York City keeping Pace with the ever increasing demands of a progressive Nation faster longer freight trains roll behind the new Iron Horse [Music] [Applause] [Music]

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