Producer: Pentrex
Locations: Fort Bragg, Willets
Timeframe: 1990- 91
Length: 1 hour
California Western is a short line in Northern California. The line is 40 miles long. Route from Fort Bragg to Willits. Kyle Railroad is the owner in 1991. Viewers shall experience this Short line in a scenic area.
A single DVD. Aspect ratio is 4×3 full screen. Live environmental audio.
Push play. Preview section is the other choice. Locations augmented via on-screen graphics. Two maps. Narrated by David Druid.
My guess was a motorcar and a steam engine hauling tourists. But wait! There’s more…
To the Trains… 👉
A skunk motorcar departs from Fort Bragg, California. Station is at left. Multiple viewpoints. Inside and exterior of the buggy. Apparently has a pilot vehicle with a camera facing the front of the unit. Beautiful Redwood forest. The route travels through a sparsely populated area. Fisherman are dropped off and picked up along the way. US Mail Service, as well.
Tunnel 2 is at the summit of the mountain grades. The destination is a redwood station at Willets.
Off-season is for maintenance and restoration. A steam locomotive gets resurfaced tires. While not the Pennsylvania Railroad film of old. The process of hearing tires is the same.
An infrequent freight train at Ranch. Vintage GP9 #64 and an offline Alco RS-11 #62 trundle through. The geep is a rebuilt former Southern Pacific engine. Flatcars are hauled in to fetch outbound lumber.
Georgia Pacific Lumber is at Fort Bragg. The venerable Alco delivers the empty flatcars. This sequence could be inspiration for a model railroad business.
May 13, 1990. The Baldwin Mikado #45 is going to work. It hauls a Tourist Train.
Northspur. A water tank stop. The 2-8-2 picks up the Alco RS-11 for mountain assistance.
An ex: McCloud River Baldwin is #56. This engine subs on an as needed basis.
Steam cab ride. A variety of views.
Great stack talk as this train traverses through the woods.
California Western Railroad
Excellent videography with detailed coverage. A relaxed but efficient paced show. Soundtrack is live environmental audio. Very informative narrative. High quality Pentrex production.
This release was more intriguing than expected. The old Diesels operating on freight and passenger trains were a surprise. Hard to beat antique steam.
This program exceeded expectations. Well done Pentrex!
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 