Producer: Pentrex
Timeframe: 1994-1996
Locations: San Joaquin sub
Length: 73 minutes
Pentrex was busy filming, Central California back in the mid 1990’s. The Southern Pacific is the railroad, featured in this show. The San Joaquin subdivision to be specific.
The line is compass, North – South. Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon. The agricultural belt is what this territory is made of.
Bakersfield Yard is the beginning of this show.
Pentrex has maps which are important.
Full narration by David Drui.
Plenty of intermodal traffic. Much more variety overall.
A highway is conducive to fine pacing with some tunnel motors.
A San Joaquin Valley shortline is encountered.
San Joaquin River bridge is a graceful one.
SP designations as East – West and how a wye turnout plays into this time table directional designation. Pentrex explains it well.
SP trains rollby vineyards, and farms.
This freight travels over a dry riverbed.
Modesto station no longer serves rail passengers.
A GP9 set from 1994.
Stockton tower has a Santa Fe here.
Elvas tower is at a wye. Splits the lines in opposite directions.
American River bridge at Sacramento. Note the high water marks in the spring of 1995.
Roseville yard with SD7s, still in service.
Oddball award of the show. The only caboose to see is a Burlington Northern!
SP’s Central California Mainline
A fast paced trip through Central California. Mainline freight trains that hardly pause for slower movements. There are just enough locals for variety.
Agricultural history and scenery are intertwined. Locomotives, both old and new, power the various trains.
An interesting show.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 