Producer: Clear Block
Locations: Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul…
Timeframe: 1990s
Length: 1 hour 53 minutes
Source: Todd Miller
A part of the Clear Block, Into the 90s series. Grand Trunk is a series predecessor. Former Milwaukee Road line from Chicago to St. Paul is featured here. Plus, points in between. To be correct, this is Soo Line and CP Rail.
A a single DVD-R. No Chapter menu. Hidden chapter advance. Maps are included. Narrated by Todd Miller.
Videotape sourced. Live audio. A little soft looking on HDTV. Cleaner, overall appearance vs. a Grand Trunk in this series.
Three Soo Line paint jobs on the locomotives. Standard Red nose and light gray. Newer all red color. Milwaukee Road bandit overpaints. Leased units from Electromotive, Helm Leasing, and more.
Soo Line coverage starts in the Chicago area. Bensenville Yard under CP Rail. Gray skies, but that is typical crummy Chicago Winter weather.
Passenger trains are Amtrak and that ugly paint scheme Metra. FYI- Some Amtrak trains have a locomotive at each end. Here, Amtrak blows by the local Metra at Gulf. Additional Amtrak trains in Wisconsin.
They shoot at Roundout Tower. Dismal weather. 4432 hits the crossing.
CP Rail Train 200 on the Kinnickinnic River Railroad Bridge in Milwaukee and is going to Chicago. This structure was constructed for Milwaukee Road.
SW1500 #1400 pulls a local to service the famous Beer Line in Milwaukee.
The winter grayness continues at Columbus with a CP Rail.
Wisconsin Central at Wauwstosa. 6525 an SD45 is on the point of a short freight.
At Wisconsin Dells. A Soo Line freight passes by the Depot.
A Priority Sprint as Train 421 on the River sub. This is Minneapolis to Chicago service. The SD pair is on the Mississippi riverfront.
Three bandits near Oconomowoc. A GP40 in front.
Numerous locomotives are seen at this joint Soo / BN freight yard in St. Paul.
Daytons Bluff hosts plenty of Soo, CP Rail and BN moves.
Todd Miller has excellent camera skills. He indulges in some Dusk and Nightime scenes.
Soo 4429 with 3 cabooses backup at Muskego Yard in Milwaukee.
Into the 90’s Soo Volume 1
This is a step up in visual quality compared to your average Clear Block Vignettes. Even beats a couple of their Grand Trunk 90s shows.
The chief concern is the mid-winter, dreary conditions. The depressing gray skies and inclement weather are over half the length of time.
Overall, it is a very good show. Coverage of Soo Line is generally a tougher find. Plenty of Canadian Pacific is present. A little bit of BN.
Rating: 4 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 