Producer: Pentrex
Locations: Cajon Pass to Barstow
Timeframe: 2007
Length: 1 hour 50 minutes
Here is a series about viewpoints from the diesel locomotives. Lash-up on this show is 4 GE Dash 9 44CWs on a BNSF Z train. The territories and camera mounts vary on the other volumes. These were all filmed in California.
Volume 2 is, The Cajon Subdivision. 70 miles. Devore to Barstow.
A single DVD-R. Chapter Menu. Onscreen graphics with locations and mileposts. No maps. Previews.
Aspect ratio is 4×3. Full screen. Live environmental audio. You here whatever the microphone did. This includes some windnoise.
Camera mounted on the front of a locomotive. So, there is no crew chat or sqawkbox. Microphone outside and front facing.
Train creeps along, leaving Devore. Meet with an opposing BNSF and zero commentary on that train.
A double-stack is met next. No information. Yikes! This might be a Snoozefest.
Cajon with the newer style signal bridge. Diverging trackage just ahead.
The terrain and curving trackage keep some interest. It surely isn’t the weak narrative. Historical line and nothing to say?
At Summit, a BNSF leads an opposing double-stack train.
On the downgrade towards Victorville. Union Pacific double-stack works upgrade to Summit.
A BNSF Piggyback at Lugo.
He announces they miss around 10 miles of filming. Had to change reels. Good! Let’s get to Barstow.
Victorville breaks the monotony somewhat.
Very soon, our train stops at a crew change point.
They should have shown our lash-up! A lackadaisical production overall. Bump it up for being Cajon Pass. Would have rated lower otherwise.
At the Throttle Volume 2
Yes, you experience riding Cajon Pass. There are other shows that often include some Cab Ride footage here. Even better, they film from inside a cab.
Most anything without a solid narration becomes boring. As this show demonstrates. It’s a weaker show by Pentrex. It’s quite disappointing overall.
Perhaps they could have used an actual camera in the locomotive cab. A 2 camera set-up. Make the 2nd camera with movable views. This release really drags…
Are we there yet?
Rating: 3 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 