Product Details

• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Mountain Automation Corporation
• VHS Release Date: October 5, 1999
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• ASIN: 0936206683
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #548,192 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal, February 1, 2000

Well produced video. Recommended

Product Description

Railway to Heaven tells the story of thirteen churches in railroad cars that prowled rural America searching for souls to save for more than half a century. Included are many rare photos of Chapel Cars as well as motion picture footage of Baptist car Emmanuel in service in Colorado in 1935. Learn from appearances by Fr. Herman Page of the Episcopal Church, Father Kenneth Velo, president of the Catholic Church Extension Society, and Mr. Ken Giacoletto, president of the American Baptist Assembly and guardian of chapel Car Grace. Don't miss the model chapel car built by Fr. Page. The production includes footage of two existing cars: Catholic car St. Paul and Baptist car Grace as well as much historic railroad motion picture footage.

Operated by Catholic, Episcopal and Baptist organizations, these chapel cars were hauled by both freight and passenger trains from 1890 to the 1940s. Missionaries and priests started new churches in over 3,000 towns and ministered in rail towns where crime, gambling and prostitution were rampant. They faced opposition and suffered personal hardships. Chapel cars were caught in hurricanes, struck by lightning, set afire and surrounded by floods.

The first chapel car was the Episcopal Cathedral Car of North Dakota built in 1890. Two more Episcopal cars would roam the wilds of Michigan. In 1891, the American Baptist Publication Society built Evangel, the first of seven cars. Cars were promoted by posters, much like circuses of the day. The Catholic Church Extension Society would build three chapel cars.

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