Classic Midwest Rails Volume 2

Producer: John Pechulis

Locations: Bailey Yard, St. Joe, Mt. Vernon

Timeframe: 1980

Length: 52 minutes

Source: Jonathan Reck

This series is Midwest oriented. Class one mainlines, branch lines, industrial and short lines. Union Pacific Stars in this release.

Volume 2 follows the Union Pacific westward. Fremont to North Platte, Nebraska. Return is, Burlington Northern from Grand Island to St. Joseph, Missouri. Finally, some action in Illinois.

This show is narrated by Jonathan Reck. A detailed Chapter Menu. Single DVD-R. Location breakdowns.

Delves right in, at Fremont, Nebraska. Drives towards the destination at North Platte. Many Union Pacific freights are encountered along the way. GP30 units are common. A caboose on every train!

Plentiful run through power. CNW, Conrail, NW, Frisco, MoPac, BN, MKT, SP, WP.

A DD40X speeds past. Couple CNW units in the Lashup.

DD40AX Centennials are still in service. Interesting Lashups abound, on the Union Pacific main.

GP9 gets paced.

UP #345, a GP9. This train gets paced at Lexington, Nebraska.

GE U-boats on a Piggyback Train.

In 1980, it is TOFC on the Intermodal. Trailer On Flat Car…aka, Piggyback.

Mainline action is heavy! The trains are all at high speed. Even the locals, hurry down the track.

UP and Milwaukee Road units, at Bailey Yard.

Arrives at Bailey Yard. This in North Platte Nebraska. Public area access views. Best, are the yard leads.

A Centennial blasts out of Bailey Yard.

He films at the West end of Bailey Yard. Trains depart and enter on the yard leads here. Jonathan travelled to find the DD40 locomotives. He found them, in this show! Numerous freights shown. Departures and arrivals. A highlight.

This power set leads a Coal Train, at St. Joe.

Slow freights are seen around, St. Joseph. Above, the BN/ MoPac lashup departs with a Coal Train.

Union Pacific GP30 set, at St.Joe.

UP GP30s cross the river bridge.

Pair of L&N GP38 locomotives.

L&N with pair of GP38 engines, at a street crossing.

Southern GP35 pair, with GP30 units.

Mount Vernon, Illinois area. Precision National from public land. Various trains in vicinity.

C&NW caboose restock in progress.

A variety of cabooses on hand. Ten Chicago NorthWestern are being sent back, to balance the system. Viewers might be surprised at some of the roadnames.

Classic Midwest Rails Volume 2

This is a fine tour around the given territories. Union Pacific was especially full of action. BN also, busy. Hodgepodge of St.Louis and Illinois and interesting, mini- sample, of 1980 Midwest Railroads. Bonus, a fine supply of various cabooses!

The narrative is plain, but sufficient. Camera work is good. Film restoration is excellent. Live sound is mostly very good. Some scenes, excessive wind noise on microphone. A level issue there.

All in all, a nice window to 1980. Union Pacific being the Headliner here. BN is pretty good. The remainder is a mixed bag, of interesting miscellaneous.

Rating: 4 Stars