Wisconsin Central Volume 1

Producer: Clear Block

Locations: Chicago to Fond du Lac

Timeframe: 1990s

Length: 1 hour 56 minutes

First of a series of 6 shows on Wisconsin Central by Clear Block. This one covers Franklin Park Yard to Shops Yard at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The Tracks are former Soo Line.

A single DVD-R. No Chapter menu. On-screen graphics. A map. Hidden chapter advance. Preview section. Narration by Todd Miller.

Image is very good quality. A bit soft on a modern TV. Colors are fine. Live environmental audio sound. Well balanced in all areas.

Enough foreign road locomotives to keep lash-ups interesting. Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CSX, and Conrail are seen.

Let’s see some highlights…

WC 6654 with SD45 pair leads a freight.

Begins at Franklin Park. A Chicago suburb. The show covers the line to Fond du Lac at the East end of Shops Yard.

I&M Rail Link

I&M Rail Link running ex: Susquehanna. Crosses the WC trackage.

Train T 48 at Burlington, WI.

T 48 at Burlington, Wisconsin.

SD45 with chevrons

X 6498 Eastbound with the first SD45 painted in chevron stripes. FP45 6652 trails.

WSOR local

Wisconsin and Southern local led by 2002 leads the 2011 at Rugby Jct.

WC Extra 6595 at Allenton

At Allenton, this scene is representative of the rural farm towns. X 6595 East moves through.

Southern Pacific leads 4 WC units

SP leads across a snowy Marsh at Theresa.

Iron Ore at Theresa

One of a daily Iron Ore Trains led by 6587 at Theresa

Wisconsin Central Train 59

Train 59 behind WC 700. The first GP30 for Soo Line and the first WC repaint GP38 are going back to Shops Yard.

CN at Byron

Canadian National Extra 2501 East at Byron. Chicago to Duluth run through train.

WC Train 45

Train 45 on the curve from County Road F.

Byron Hill helpers

Train 50 is Eastbound from Fond du Lac and rates 2 helpers. Algoma Central in front. Two SW1500 switchers are helpers on the rear in snowy weather.

Train 48

Train 48 with an SD45 pair on the Byron Hill tracks. The action continues to Fond du Lac. A quick wrap at Shops Yard… The story continues from here in Volume 2.

Wisconsin Central Volume 1

Todd Miller has a worthwhile entry on Wisconsin Central. Plenty of the earlier lineup. Meaning, abundant SD45 power. Mostly repainted locomotives. Cowl units and yard switchers.

This show follows on the advertised. Towns along the route are shown. Plenty of full length trains.

The only issue holding this back is the older videotape sourced imagery. It plays soft on modern HDTV. Otherwise, it’s a very solid show.

Rating: 4 Stars