Grand Island

Producer: Pentrex

Locations: Grand Island, Cairo, Clarks, Ashley Park, Paddock

Timeframe: 1996

Length: 48 minutes

A definite hotspot at Grand Island, Nebraska. BNSF and Union Pacific. Overpass has the BNSF line.

A single DVD. No chapter menu or advance. It is push Play or Previews. A simple map that shows little.

Dave Drui narrates this lackluster show. Picture quality is off the usual Pentrex standard. Live audio is good.

Are We There Yet?

Starts at Cairo with BNSF mainline to Cairo. Takes some time to move along this route.

SD70MAC lashup

SD70MAC 9669 was newer power. Powder River Coal traffic.

Grand Island…

UP Tracks date to 1886 and the Transcontinental. Originally, this was a grade level crossing here. The Viaduct/ Overpass relieved congestion here.

Finally, the camera crew makes it to the BNSF flyover and the ground level Union Pacific 3 track mainline.

KCS with Coal on the flyover

Kansas City Southern SD60 locomotives are overhead with coal. One UP is moving on the mainline, and this other train waits, led by Union Pacific 2000.

Away from Crossover UP main out to Clarks.

CNW Operation Lifesaver SD40-2 with auto racks.

CNW SD40-2 Operation Lifesaver wirh empty auto racks.

UP 9107 leads at Central City

At Central City. Lead unit Union Pacific 9107 eases out of town, with a heavy unit grain.

Union Pacific 6273 leads this double-stack

East of Grand. UP SD60M 6273 and a CNW GE unit with a double stack. It roars by the camera.

Back to GI Viaduct

Additional action above and below the overpass.

Nebraska Central Interchange with UP

A Nebraska Central adds a little spice. 4201 and 4204 in shiny paint with grain. It leaves the consist at a small adjacent up yard.

BN units lead on the overpass.

CNW 8605 leads a piggyback to Bailey Yard

CNW 8605, a C44-9W, has a hot Piggyback to Bailey Yard at North Platte.

Grand Island

This is a quick one by Pentrex. At 48 minutes, it is somewhat limited at the actual intersection.

Unit Coal dominates the proceedings. That action becomes repetitive fast.

The general freight is good and has no graffiti. Most everything passes at track speeds. Hence, it is slightly difficult to get detailed views.

In summary, it is not one of the better Pentrex efforts. Seems rather lackadaisical. Examples are no shots from the overpass and multiple shots, at the crossing gate scenes.

While unremarkable, it is not all bad. Documents the hot spot in a plain fashion. Call it good, and if it cranks your tractor, have at it.

Rating: 3 Stars