Charles Smiley Presents
Our Interests
Charles Smiley Presents (CSP) has been bringing rail fans and model railroaders videos of railroad subjects since 1994. Since 1997 the emphasis has been on railroads and eras that have either changed dramatically with time, or in many cases, disappeared altogether. CSP uses old movie film and video shot back when the rail scene looked a lot different. The vanished-differences seem far more appealing to us than the things you can easily see today.
Our Background
It began as an idea in 1994. Charles Smiley is an electronic engineer with a background designing military/aerospace, industrial computer and patented professional and broadcast video and audio equipment. After a number of years designing video equipment, the urge to create entertaining videos on railroad topics became irresistible. A lifelong hobby of model railroading added the spark.
A modeler’s thought
By making these videos, and evaluating many hundreds of hours of rail material, the time spent in that activity improved my modeling. It has also expanded my interest in all North American railroads – not just the few that I have modeled. I hope these videos will expand your interests as well.
Production Value
Each video takes two to three months to research, edit, script, add narration, create maps, add a bit of licensed music and sound effects. These are not videos that spend 24 hours video-taping at one location and that are slapped together. We don’t ‘fill up time’ showing an entire 120 car coal train crawling by at 10-mph. That is not our idea of a documentary. Each video we make has material shot over several years, to several decades, of time. Most of our videos incorporate material from a number of movie film and video sources to create a balanced program.
Great Shortlines WestSee the Modesto & Empire Traction, Amador Central, Central California Traction, Yolo Shortline, Trona, South West Portland Cement, Stockton Terminal & Eastern and the Ventura County Railway.
Western Pacific the Last DecadeWP diesels to the early 80s end of operation of the last major railroad built in the west! See the California Zephyr passenger trains, and mainline freights.
SP When the Empire Was IntactVintage SP diesel action in the Siskiyous, Donner, Shasta, Bay Area, Stockton, Sacramento, Roseville, Fresno Line, S.F. Bay, NWP and San Jose.
Western Pacific Vintage WestSee WP freight and passenger action like no previous video has ever provided. The 50s through the 1980 era are covered in lavish detail.
SP Vintage WestThis 1950 to 1978 feature brings the long-vanished SP visions out west. Cab-Forwards, early F-units and the snows on Donner Pass plus both sides of the beautiful Bay Area are in this video.
Santa Fe Vintage WestThe Santa Fe from the 50s to the end in the 1993 era. Lots of passenger F-unit trains and freight with many paint colors. See the speedy “Super-C” freights that redefined the rail-freight industry - as it was run like a premium express passenger train.
Union Pacific ScrapbookMarvel at the UP from the 50s to 1996. Lots of early diesels from many great locations. Both passenger and freight trains are featured in the pre- 1971 years.
Your Colorful Southern PacificThe best material from our discontinued video, “Sunset Salute”, is combined with a wealth of newly discovered material to make this new DVD video.
Canadian Rails Vintage ScrapbookVisit Canada from 1939 to 1973 from New Brunswick to Vancouver Island. We bring lots of steam and the early diesels in both freight and passenger service.
Northeast Rails RememberedConrail's former Reading line, Allentown, Reading and numerous scenic places through many small towns and splendid countryside.
Mountain Grades of the B&OThis material was shot in 1983, 1989 and 1991 with a mix of video and color movie-film dating back to 1969. See a colorful mix of power and a style of railroading that is vanished forever.
CSX ScrapbookThis material was primarily shot in 1999 to 2001 with other scenes from 1991 to 1993. The various chapters bring portions of Ohio with the diamond crossings of Deshler (“Crossroads of the B&O”) and Fostoria (“The Iron Triangle).
Conrail Hall of FameThis 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.
Western Pacific RememberedVisit the Western Pacific from both sides of the San Francisco Bay down to Niles Jct. and then on the San Jose branch and return to Niles Jct. for a ride through Niles Canyon.
Chessie and Seaboard Hall of FameHave you wondered what ever happened to some of the railroads you grew up with? This presentation could shed some light on those thoughts and at the same time, bring back visions of many things that have vanished from the railroad scene.
The Hard Coal RoadsThis is a look back in time to the "Anthracite" roads that once made the eastern rail scene more interesting and colorful. These principal roads were the Lehigh Valley, Jersey Central, Reading, D&H and the Erie Lackawanna Railroads.
Railfanning Cajon and TehachapiLook back at a grand era that featured three class one independent roads with first and second generation power. This big time mountain style of railroading will never be seen again-but this feature brings it back for your enjoyment.
Colorado Narrow Gauge RemembrancesThe Rio Grande still had hundreds of miles of Narrow Gauge Rail operations in 1954 when Andy Payne became a steam locomotive fireman, then yard hostler and later an engineer! Andy filmed many hours of movie film all during his career!
Southern Pacific ScrapbookPre-merger SP in Arizona and California. Main and branchline action with grades, helpers, manifest, oilcan, beet, “boxcar” and stack trains.
Donner Pass ThunderFilmed over three decades in all types of weather and every type of train from 1955 to 1995. Ride a F7 powered passenger train in a raging snow storm.
Soldier Summit ReflectionsSee vintage black and orange Rio Grande action and rare film of the RSD and “Alligator” ALCOs of the Utah Railway.
Milwaukee Road WestThe “Road” from 1955 to 1978 covering the electric, diesels and some steam. This is a nostalgic and technical look at electric, mountain railroading. See GE box-cabs, Joes, and Bi-polars in many great locations.
Electric Rails around the BayThree electric lines in one video. The Sacramento Northern, SP Red Trains and the Peninsular Ry. We bring the SP ferry boats on the San Francisco Bay as well.
Milwaukee Road ScrapbookSee the Milwaukee Road’s “electrification” on the old Pacific Extension. Remember the “Quills”, Bipolars, GE Boxcabs and GE “Joes”. Additional coverage includes the Milwaukee Road’s diesels and a nice review of Milwaukee Road’s steam powered trains.
Electric Rails of UtahSee the splendid Bamberger RR, classic interurban Salt Lake & Utah, the lengthy Utah Idaho Central and the famous Saltair lines of the “Garfield, Salt Lake & Western”.
Key System Scrapbook Part-1See the Key’s new bridge units in their original, striking, orange and silver splendor. Also we bring supporting scenes of the IER Red Trains, Muni Railway, steam trains and the Key’s small streetcars.
Key System Scapbook Part 2Visit and ride through the Bridge Yard and recall the Key's great fleet of Bridge Units connecting th great East Bay and San Francisco! Run through the Emeryville Yard and watch trains spill past the tower.
ESPEE Hall of FameVisit "Espee" locations that were in and around Sacramento, CA in the early 1990s. See Elvas and Stockton Junction with the towers that have long ago been removed.
Kansas City Diesel Power ReviewVisit Kansas City and surrounding areas, before all the great mergers of the 90's! See trains from many different roads, with detailed maps and narration on how trains moved thru the KC area.
Canadian Electric Rails 1950'sVisit 5 classic electric railroads in Canada in the 1950's! Brilliant color film of the Canadian people, architecture and trains!
Midwest Electric RailsThis extensive presentation will paint the transportation picture that once wrapped around the lower part of the Lake Michigan-from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, down through Chicago, Illinois and ending in South Bend Indiana.
Freight West:1970's and 80's!Do you miss Santa Fe, SP, WP and the old UP? This presentation brings it back with beautiful scenery, old smoking diesel power and colorful, grafititi-free freight cars in the 1970's and 80's!
Building Better Model Railroads Vol OneIn this volume, we will see, and build, flatcars, boxcars, and tank car models. Structures modeled include a Fruit to Reefer loading-complex, a rail bridge, a highway bridge, plus simulating country road pavement.
PACIFIC ELECTRIC and LA RAILWAYThis program has a wealth of color movie film from 1940, to the complete end in 1963. The accurate sound recordings, accompanying these movie scenes, bring back the auditory experience of living in those bygone years.
UNION PACIFIC VINTAGE WESTVisit eight states and see America’s original line that helped build the west. Filmed by 14 different people over decades.
EXTREME SPSee the SP battle back to respectability in the early 90s. The aborted merger with the Santa Fe during the 1980s left both lines greatly weakened and the SP seemed to be the worst victim.