Canadian Pacific’s Soo Line Around Chicago

Producer: Midwest Video

Locations: Chicagoland. Clinton, Iowa,

Timeframe: 1995, 1996

Length: 1 hour 19 minutes

Source: Bob Calvert

The Canadian Pacific’s Soo Line. Metropolitan Chicago area and a little more coverage.

A single DVD-R. One Chapter that plays like a videotape. Map included has area rail lines. Informative narration with train assignments and location information.

Proper viewing may require a screen reset to 4×3 aspect ratio. Check the circle at the start. The video quality is a lower level from old camcorders. Historical value is the proper term. The smaller picture does cleanup the imagery. Live environmental audio exceeds the picture.

This show has a Remaster credit for Tim Walter. He digitized the tapes for DVD. Appearance is better than some previous MVD shows that I have seen. Good colors. It’s a little dark on some scenes and too light on others. Videography is adequate. Not professional but not bad.

Apparently, Bob Calvert was the original video and narrative source.

To the Trains…

Railroad days in 1996 begins the show. Franklin Park location. Also, their freight yard is there.

Tower B12 is also in Franklin Park. CP Rail 5552 on the lead.

Eastbound train 340 on a freight. Departing Franklin Park to Indiana Harbor Belt. This is behind Soo 6027. He incorrectly calls these scenes Bensenville. The Franklin Park water tower is visible, as is Tower B12.

More action in Franklin Park.

Bensenville under CP Rail signage. Diesel House and service area. Former Soo Line, nee Milwaukee Road. Tower B17.

Bryn Mawr. Soo Line and Union Pacific tracks are here. Red Soo 6619 and CP Rail 5798 ease past the camera with train 213 is Northbound to St. Paul hauling grain cars. Aircraft from neighbor O’Hara airport.

Des Plaines at Norma Jct. This train is The Ford Fast. Routed Chicago to St. Paul on a Northbound.

Techny Jct. in Northbrook provides a different viewpoint.

UP PRGB (Proviso to Green Bay) has a mix of CNW and UP engines with a Manifest. Technology Jct.

Hastings, MN. In 1995, Soo 4439 crosses the Mississippi River with a local.

CP Rail dual flag leader at Minneapolis in 1995. Train 574 is at University near Northtown Yard.

An older painted Soo SD with CP Rail dual flags SD unit. At University near Northtown Yard.

Some action on Belt Railway in 1994. CP/ Soo Dispatcher office. Former Milwaukee Road Bandits 2064 and 2041 depart from yard going to Soo Cragin Yard.

Train 120 enters the West End of Clearing Yard. Origin was St. Paul. A convoluted set of moves is described before arrival here.

Canadian Pacific’s Soo Line Around Chicago

One of the better MVD shows, from what I have seen. Tim Walter has a 2020 credit for editing and audio. Remastered by Middle Earth Video.

Everything is pretty good. The imagery continues to be the weak point in these Midwest Video shows. Exposure issues that result in too light or too dark scenes. However, the grain is tighter.

At the end of the day. A possible show for the  hardcore railfans. Soo Line and Canadian Pacific enthusiasts might like this, or maybe not. If you can live with lower visual quality. Historical value is here. Up to you…

Rating: 3 Stars