Producer: Highball
Location: Tennessee Pass route
Timeframe: 1997
Length: 2 hours
Here is a final look at Tennessee Pass. Located in Central Colorado. Highest railroad summit in the United States at over 10,000 feet. The route crosses the Continental Divide. This was recorded in 1997. Southern Pacific AC44 locomotives were relatively new and plentiful. There are still EMD units working the line. Both SP and UP locomotives are used.
A single DVD-R. Fullscreen image. Videography is excellent. Live environmental audio. Well-balanced levels.
No Main Chapter Menu. Push play. A hidden chapter advance function. No maps or extras. The narrator is Pete Falconi.
To the Trains… 👉
Begins in January, 1997. Southern Pacific #254 on point. Train CHROM routed from Chicago to Roper Yard in Salt Lake City. This move enters Minturn. Check the parked helper sets. The helpers are added to Eastbounds here.
Union Pacific pushers at Minturn. UP 7036 on the rear.
Southern Pacific a tunnel motor fronts a helper set on a Manifest at Eagle River Canyon.
Southern Pacific meet. General Electric built SP 212 (AC4400CW) is on a Manifest and stops on a siding. SP 286 rolls up leading a Unit Coal train. It is hauling Burlington Northern hoppers. The big GE locomotives are frequently seen on Tennessee Pass.
Union Pacific mid- train helpers on the Coal Train.
At Mitchell, loud dynamic brakes are whining hard as this freight travels downhill. SP 9723 (GP60) leads the three engines including UP 9113 and a dead SP tunnel motor. Mitchell is a classic photogenic location. Cinematographers have filmed here since the steam era.
The front GE AC #240 is in distress as it puffs smoke on a Taconite Train at Mitchell.
Pushers 121/331 are on the rear of the Taconite Train.
Diesel exhaust pours out of the tunnel. The summit is at over 10,000 feet in elevation. Union Pacific 6010 fronts this Westbound freight during a snowstorm.
Mixed power is along the riverside at Balltown.
Winter on Tennessee Pass
Highball is one of those hit or miss labels. The better shows are worthwhile. Some lesser ones are unnecessary and not needed.
This show has much going for it. Nice picture quality. The soundtrack is professional. Narration is solid and basic. Peter Falconi is their best narrator.
The scenery is fantastic. Videography is spot on. Plenty of snow on the ground, adds to the crispness of the visuals.
This program seriously needs map references. Where is Pando? No sense of distance between locations.
This release is one of the best in the Highball catalog. A fine looking show with Pete Falconi narration.
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 