Season 4

DVD Disk 1

Program #401       Rail Safari

Take a ride on the Rail Safari deluxe in South Africa, visit an old logging railroad in the high Sierra's north of Yosemite, view an exciting Houston, Texas, layout that is lighted for night, and visit with New Mexico artist John Coker. Spencer Christian again hosts this series on railroading.

Program #402        White Pass

Ride the White Pass & Yukon Railroad in Skagway, Alaska, which has been declared an international historical engineering monument. Look in on the workings of mass transit in Pittsburgh, and talk with Boston modeler George Sellios about his amazing work. Trolley cars were in vogue during the early 20th century. Meet a man who has chronicled their history in word and picture.

Program #403        Trolley Museum

The Connecticut Trolley Museum keeps history alive as it maintains a glimpse of early mass transit systems. Learn about the importance of the railroads and the mail as we look at the Railway Post offices. Meet a military man who started a Lionel Railroad Club in each town he was stationed, and visit an Ohio model railroad.

Program #404         Tank Cars

See how tank cars have evolved and how they are constructed, ride on the movie railroad of the Black Hills, talk with Mike Kotowski, a California railroad artist with an eye for detail, and visit an N gauge layout in the nation's capitol.

Program #405          Narrow Gauge

Visit England, and ride the narrow gauge lines, as Tracks Ahead visits the "The Little Trains of Wales." Follow the multimillion dollar restoration of the Pioneer Zephyr, the nations first streamlined diesel electric train, find out where the end of the train has gone, as Tracks Ahead looks at the life and times of the caboose. Also talk with an S gauge modeler, whose layout has a complete fictional historical perspective.

Program #406          Middle Rhine

Experience the castles of the Middle Rhine region of Germany as we tour the area between Koblenz and Mainz. Steam is still king at the Pennsylvania National Historic Site, Steamtown. Visit a model of Northern Pacific territory in 1950's Montana, and talk with a Hawaiian businessman whose passion is cast iron trains.

DVD Disk 2

Program #407           Vintage Diesel

Travel back into the wilderness as Tracks Ahead explores the interior of British Columbia on vintage rail diesel cars. You can rent and operate a steam locomotive for a day in Ely, Nevada. Also featured is a vineyard in Napa, California which has a special place for large gauge trains, and a model railroad in Utah.

Program #408            Custom Building

Huff & Puff Industries builds exquisite custom model railroads, both for the garden and the home. The Louisiana Toy Train Museum is featured, as is a museum quality collection of imported large gauge live steam locomotives. Also profiled is a family model railroad.

Program #409            Rail Motor Cars

Some people collect cars, some baseball cards. But a profile shows a new collection catagory in the railroad universe - rail motor cars. The history and operation of the Cascade Tunnel is featured, as is an animated spectacle at the Choo Choo Barn in Pennsylvania. One couple in California has turned their entire front yard into a garden railroad - much to the delight of the neighborhood.

Program #410            Bailey Yard

As a sole is to a shoe, so is the track to a railroad. Tracks Ahead explores how track is maintained and serviced. Also featured are a traction layout and a California State Historic Park that is best known for its role in movies such as "Back to the Future." Railroad cartoonist Dick Hafer is also featured.

Program #411            Track Maintenance

The largest rail freight yard in the world is featured as Tracks Ahead visits central Nebraska and looks in on the Union Pacific's Bailey Yard. One of the most scenic western railroads is featured in a visit to the Durango & Silverton Railroad in southwester Colorado. Engineer and artist Charlie Amos is featured, as well as a Florida garage filling model railroad.

Program #412            Logging

The last logging railroad on the North American continent is found at Canadian Forest Products on Vancouver Island. Enjoy the sights and taste of My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, and ride along the Maine shore on a tourist line. Also featured is a model logging railroad.

Program #413            Floating Railroad

Soar over traffic is Tracks Ahead visits the historic "Floating Railroad" of Wuppertal, Germany. Meet a master model maker of structures, visit a beautiful model timber railroad, and look in on the man who founded the Milwaukee light rail system.