Producer: Highball
Timeframe: 2015
Locations: LaGrange, Homewood
Length: 69 minutes.
Source: Crook
Highball has a double feature in this release. LaGrange and Homewood, Illinois. Two well-known hot spots near Chicago. The title has the running order reversed. Nevertheless, it should be loaded with freight trains… right?
A single DVD-R. Main Chapter Menu. Narration option is on/ off. No extras, except a Preview section. Narrated show.
Cinematography is well done. Live audio.
I had high expectations for LaGrange. The famous BNSF racetrack near Chicago. Busy freight line and passenger service. What a huge letdown!
A couple of shortcomings. Too many trackside bells, that are constantly sounding. Doesn’t this guy like Freight on the BNSF? The low hanging fruit is to film at passenger rush hours. Which he does. The freight trains move around the rush hours. Takes more waiting time to catch those. Looks like a quick, in and out job.
Heck, this chapter has the BNSF line appearing like Long Island commuter service in New York! Never would have wanted this show. Time waster. Unidentified Amtrak train above.
Several BNSF freights are seen at Hinsdale Highlands station. It is quick and moves into the ultra repetitive evening rush hour. FYI, it’s the same as the morning rush hour.
Tim Walter does an excellent job as a narrator. Although the script dissappears during the afternoon parade in LaGrange. That part is dumb anyway. Also, during Homewood. Would have liked more narration.
The wheels fall off quickly. Repetitive trains are boring. The Metra paint is not attractive either. All stainless fleet. Everything becomes extremely monotonous. Is this over yet? Film away from the bells. Ugh! Stand away from the bells…
Homewood.
Originally, this was Illinois Central. Markham yard was once, the world’s largest. Historically, it is an excellent location to see freight trains. A viewing platform was installed here. Electric bilevel Metra commuter service.
Seen one, seen them all. Electric Metra commuter service at Homewood.
Finally, a freight train. A Norfolk Southern led auto racks. 9323 and 9212. This seems like a railroad quiet zone.
GT 4909 GP38-2 appears going to Markham Yard. This proves to be a yard switcher. Let’s see the railyard… Doesn’t happen 😦
Illinois Central GP38-2 9635 and EJ&E GP38-2 703. Hauling a double-stack. They reverse direction, to back into the yard. Yes, this pair reappears with different cars. There is a large yard. Perhaps, pick up and move the camera, film the yard.
Canadian National 2708 leads an Eastbound double-stack. A BC Rail unit 4616 trails in the lash-up.
The Homewood portion is more of what one would expect. Freight trains and some passenger moves. Better balanced here.
Hot Spots 35 LaGrange and Homewood
The LaGrange is super disappointing. That line is loaded with freight traffic. Instead, 2 featured sections of same- same Metra rush hour trains! Not to mention almost constant bell ringing. Barely any freights. Inaccurate representation of LaGrange rail traffic. Yuck! A dealbreaker. Not Recommended.
Researched for a possible alternative. C Vision has a Windy City Rails Volume 4. Appears to be a better representation of the actual traffic, although includes the entire line out to Aurora. Plenty of freight trains. That one looks like the one to have for the modern era.
Homewood is much better. Still, a bit of missed opportunity. No shots of the actual railyard. The public road runs alongside parts of that. Seems like another fast job. Filming at the yard lead area only.
Overall, it is a disappointing show. By the way, looking at another Hot Spots 15, Willard now. Almost no narration. Save your money.
Even more disappointment in Hot Spots 6 Gary. Basically, it is NOT a fully narrated show. There are a few blurbs on the introduction. Although, it is advertised as narrated. Shall avoid anymore Hot Spots in the series.
There are far better, narrated Productions in the market. Check around.
Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
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