Producer: Bill Lambert
Timeframe: 1997
Locations: Spokane,WA., to Sandpoint, Idaho
Length: 80 minutes
Source: Bill Lambert
The Funnel is a single track mainline between Spokane, Washington and Sandpoint, Idaho. This key section of Burlington Northern trackage is a hotspot. Carrying 90% of the BN container traffic. A huge amount of lumber. Plenty of grain and general freight, as well. Over 100 trains daily travel this line.
Video Rails was the original production company of this program. There is no Chapter Menu. It is sparsely narrated. A basic map outlines the towns, along the 71 mile route. Bare bones presentation. Jim Knight narrates a simple, script.
The show begins at Spokane. An oddly named location, named Latah Junction. Notice how much of the shooting is distant. Gives the show a detached feel.
Marshall Canyon is up next.
A Right here, where too much time is spent.
Containers, stack trains. Seen one- seen them all. They come in red, blue and green. Modern standardization reality.
A rock cut provides additional scenic variety.
A Workman like program. Videography is fine. Although, it stays too long in spots. Lacks a certain creative sense. Though it does try.
This show runs very quiet. Live sound and little else happening. Yes, all single track running and no helper locomotives.
Modern and relatively boring container traffic. The whole works, feels repetitive pretty quickly. Script does not contain enough interest to save it. Not a show that has much rerun value. Snoozer…
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 