Producer: Pentrex
Locations: Tehachapi line
Timeframe: 2002-2005
Length: 8 hours
Ultimate Tehachapi contains 8 hours of video. A 2 DVD set. An extensive tour of the route. There are over 300 trains. BNSF, Union Pacific, and more. Filmed during a 3 year period. Begins in Bakersfield, California.
A 2 DVD set. Main Chapter Menu. Narrated by Dave Drui. A fold out map is included.
Pro shot. Full screen presentation. Stereo soundtrack. Live environmental audio.
Obviously, there is way too much in an 8 hour set to cover everything here. Some representative highlights will give the overall presentation style.
To the Trains… 👉
Disc 1 (4 hours) Bakersfield to South Mohave
We begin at Bakersfield Station and Kern Junction. This half of the show travels timetable Southbound. Previously Southern Pacific. Today, it is operated by Union Pacific. Note that BNSF operates via trackage rights from Santa Fe.
Three UP SD70M locomotives are paced out of Bena.
Caliente. A Union Pacific freight rolls past.. There are a couple of dead GE C30-7 units, with three powered SD70m locomotives. The leader is 4582. A BNSF powered Circus Train waits to move.
Bealville is at Milepost 340. BNSF 4371 leads with a GP60B third in the lash-up.
Ex, Warbonnet BNSF 742 rounds a curve near Woodard. 1:57 chapter 12
Tunnel 9 at Walong. BNSF 4050 leads a Grain Train. The mid-train DPUs are seen above.
Walong siding. This SP era signal bridge has 4197 duck underneath it. Great scene for Model Railroaders.
UP Manifest with 4059 on the point, is on Tehachapi Loop. Snow here is rare!
Viewed from above Highway 58. This UP freight travels through tunnels 14 to 17.
Solid set of SD40-2 units are led by a relettered BNSF outside of Tehachapi.
The Circus Train to Mohave.
Disc 2 (4 hours) Mohave to Bakersfield
Part 2 moves Northbound. South Mojave to Kern Junction. Opposite direction of the first half of the set. In short, very similar to the 1st half of this set, across 22 location chapters.
Ultimate Tehachapi
Pentrex certainly went overboard, covering Tehachapi. The most comprehensive visit in the modern era. A cornucopia of freights moving at moderate speeds in the mountainous terrain.
All of this production has top quality. Great variety of viewpoints. Excellent soundtrack. Outstanding videography. A fine narrative.
For my tastes, I would have preferred less time watching the many long intermodals. They are not very compelling to see over and over. Perhaps foamers need this endless repetition. Hence, there is no deduction.
Overall, this can be all the modern era Tehachapi video that one needs. Vintage era being a separate issue. There is plenty in the marketplace of old and new.
Ultimate Tehachapi is an outstanding choice for contemporary fans.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 