Producer: Bradley A. Plets
Locations: Chicago area, Milwaukee, LaCrosse, Minneapolis, Minot
Timeframe: 1990- 1995
Length: 2 hours
Source: Bradley Plets
Soo Line tour circa 1992. Chicago to Milwaukee. Additionally, Wisconsin to Minneapolis area. This on former Milwaukee Road lines. Rural scenes abound in Minnesota and North Dakota later in the show.
A single DVD-R. Full screen 4×3 aspect ratio. Live audio. Fine images for a 1990s shot video. An occasional tape flaw reveals the video source.
Main Chapter Menu by locations. Included is a 1992 Soo locomotive roster and color system map. Narrated by Bradley Plets.
The advertised states that 15 different Soo diesel models are seen. Also, Amtrak, Metra, and various connecting railroads power.
To the Trains… 👉
The show begins in Chicagoland. Assorted engines are seen at Bensenville Yard. GP38-2 4405 is working the yard. Note the lack of dynamic brakes.
Franklin Park. Soo bandit leader GP40 2010 with a rare SD39 6240 in the 4 unit lash-up. Some local Metra trains are present. They have a paint scheme that is the ugliest livery, this side of the even worse Metro North!
Milwaukee. A large freight yard is here. GP9 2412 at the west end. Model railroaders note the weathering.
Amtrak Empire Builder stops at Tomah, Wisconsin.
Old and new paint on these SD40-2 units 760/743 are leaving the yard at LaCrosse. Some former Milwaukee Road stations are seen along the line.
At Winona. Train orders are hooped up to the Conductor on 4405. A former Guilford EMD follows relettered for Helm.
GP40 4600 is paced from Highway 61 and along the Mississippi River.
Two red GP9 engines. Here in a high 2553 and low nose 4203. They run light in St. Paul.
GP9 pair 2407/400 haul at busy Daytons Bluff. FYI… The higher 2407 is an original Wisconsin Central 1954 order. The 400 is an original Soo Line from 1954. This spot has both old and newer locomotives.
SD60 wide cab # 6061 with trailing 6046.
Shoreham Intermodal at Minneapolis. A GP15C 4100 is a Caterpillar repower. The ex: Milwaukee Road bandit is an MP15AC
The tour continues into flyover country in Minnesota. North Dakota follows. Red River Valley and Western. This railroad has CF7 locomotives. They are even uglier than Chicago Metra painted diesels. The BN Cheyenne River Bridge a highlight. Farmville is the predominate scenery. The plain, skinhead-like scenery near the end, is not my cup of tea. Apperance is like a half-finished model railroad. Most of the second hour is less interesting.
There are quite a few wide vision cabooses still in service. While many are rust buckets, #13 is a clean example.
A Salute to the Soo Line
An engaging mix of road freights, yard jobs and passenger service. No graffiti!
Plets videography is excellent. Balanced live audio. Informative narration.
Soo Line fans should find this a satisfying release.
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 