Producer: C Vision
Locations: Calumet Tower, Indiana Harbor, Graselli, Griffith…
Timeframe: 2014
Length: 2 hours
Source: Marshall Beecher
Calumet Rails Volume 2. This show highlights Indiana. The Grand Calumet River and Little Calumet River are in this vicinity. Many tracks converge in this region.
A variety of rail carriers serve or traverse this area. An assortment of some in the highlights. There are even more within this release.
A single DVD-R. Widescreen 16×9 aspect ratio. Excellent modern picture. Live environmental audio to match. Assorted views add interest.
Main Chapter Menu is detailed by locations. On-screen location graphics. Has a map. Narrated by Don Grant.
To the Trains… 👉
Begins at Klein Avenue CP100. BNSF 7074 leads on Train NS 31K fom this overpass view. Heavy industry is a Hallmark of this part of the Calumet area. Arcelor Mittal is in the background. It is a multi-national steel company.
Arcelor Mittal Steel Mill at Indiana Harbor. More trains and Arcelor Mittal switching seen. Hot metal bottle cars, as well. Norfolk Southern 5814 pulls coiled steel cars. Mainline traffic on the NS Chicago Line (left) even sees Amtrak.
End cab switchers with coiled steel flatcars work the mill. The facility is busy with assorted power and freight cars.
Calumet Tower – hotspot
Calumet Tower. Canadian National 5845. This GP38-2 is a GTW repaint. Mixed freight cars.
NS 9909 (C44-9W) with mixed freight cars.
CSX double stacks on the intersection. There are numerous CSX stackers in this segment.
Illinois Central 1505 (SW14) with an EJ&E 446 unit.
IHB 1508 passes by Calumet Tower. Calumet Tower is extremely busy! Not narrated, but the widescreen videography here is outstanding.
Graselli is on IHB, between Calumet Tower and Gibson. Canadian Pacific Train 147 is led by CP 5951.
CP Gibson is a sizeable interlocking. NS 5146 meets 8152/1094 with a long string of tankers.120ms
CN 2800 leads a freight past the small train museum at Griffith, Indiana.
At Tolleston. Norfolk Southern Train 66-Z is pulled by Union Pacific 3746/3651/3570 on a unit tanker.
Calumet Rails Volume Two
This series captures the heavy industrial side of far South Chicago into Indiana. The Calumet Tower action is worth the price of admission for the outstanding videography. Close-up and although not narrated, it is like being there.
The narrative is too light. This is barely present. Nearly zero train or locomotive details. FYI, the last interlocking tower on Indiana Harbor Belt was the Calumet Tower. Mains are ex: New York Central crossed by ex: B&OCT. Modern version is NS and CSX. Also, former EJ&E is now CN.
Excellent videography by Marshall Beecher and sharp editing carry this release. It is an enjoyable look at an area not often seen.
A great companion to the first volume. Plan on acquiring both volumes.
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 