Producer: Pentrex
Locations: USA & Canada
Timeframe:1986
Length: 2 hours
Pentrex show with highlights from 1986.
Single DVD. A detailed Chapter Menu with a dozen listings. Also, preview section.
Pentrex quality. A little soft on HDTV. However, this was shot in 1986. Live environmental audio. Narration is light. Could have used some more narrative.
A Santa Fe train with Museum pieces is traveling to destination at Sacramento Railroad Museum. It’s behind 3 SF Kodachromes. Steamers 5021 and 2925 are in the consist. Several vintage diesel switchers, a doodlebug, and more!
August had CNW 7000/7001/7002 and an F7b are leading a Special through Feather River Canyon. All the equipment is clean. Definite show highlight.
Electromotive GP60 demo set 5/6/7 is fueled at Barstow. Going towards Tehachapi Loop. Hauling a Piggyback.
Needles subdivision on Santa Fe Across the Mohave Desert. Begins at Barstow. Plenty of Kodachrome repaints are coming online in 1986. Blue/ Yellow Warbonnets are dominant. Eastbound on Bridge.
Daylight to Hollywood features Southern Pacific GS class steam engine. The 4449 is on it’s way to be in a Hollwood film. Tough Guys is the movie.
Numerous scenes of the stunning Daylight painted train. Although, no narration or any locations are given.
Canadian Railroads.
CP Rail, Canadian National and VIA passenger. A highlight chapter!
Excellent scenic areas on Canadian Pacific. This is the CP Rail pac-man paint era. Cab ride on 5955 to Stoney Creek siding is included.
Canadian National thru Fraser Canyon. Cisco bridge. Another CN at a set of short tunnels. Spectacular scenery!
Steam Expo 1986. This was in Vancouver with over 20 locomotives. Brief and zero commentary.
Donner Pass 1986. A 4 unit Westbound with one Kodachrome and rear end pushers is chased. Excellent footage! Short.
Santa Fe Training. FRED system produced for railroad employees. The ETD operation is shown… Give me a caboose 😀
Santa Fe 3751. A 4-8-4 Northern type. Removal from its display setting. Snap track (prototype version) being assembled on the site. Interesting chapter. SP hauls it outbound.
Chicago 1986. CNW, Metra, BN Racetrack freights, and E9A Commuters. 3157 in experimental Tiger Stripes. Commuter at Highlands. Long Chapter.
Amtrak at Union Station is shown next. 348 departs and checkout that complex track work.
CNW coach yards. Various power around town. Southern, IHB, Conrail, ICGRR electric, and CTA.
Blue Island has Conrail and Chessie System.
A Chessie System GP30. C&0 3016. It leads a still factory painted C&O EMD at Blue Island.
Best of 1986
The big question on the Pentrex Best of xxxx titles. Are they worth a purchase? If you don’t have many shows, they are great previews. If you have plenty. The show stands on its own. Similar to a greatest hits collection.
Variety is the key. It is an entertaining way to Railfan for a couple of hours. The bonus previews even extend the action
Hence, the short answer is… Yes!
The single issue with this 1986. A thin narrative. Could’ve used more.
Show is fine otherwise.
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 