Producer: Pentrex
Locations: Fraser Canyon, Kamloops, Hell’s Gate, Yale
Timeframe: 1994
Length: 62 minutes
Canadian transcontinental route hotspot. British Columbia to eastern provinces. Fraser and Thompson Rivers. Both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific. Over 60 daily trains. Many famous locations. A cabride is included. This is an original VHS reissue.
A single DVD. Fullscreen 4×3 aspect ratio. Live audio. This was an early VHS show (1994) by Pentrex to transfer into DVD format (2019). Grainy and blurry on a large Hi-Def screen. A long preview section in much higher visual quality.
This plays like the original VHS tape. Noc chapter menu or divided chapters. On-screen graphics. A couple of maps of the route. 3715 Narrated by David Drui.
To the Trains… 👉
Begins with some history of the area. At Kamloops, CP Rail 1579 is performing some switching.
CN 5436 slows to a stop for this crew change point. Canadian Pacific also changes crew at Kamloops.
A CP Rail Sulfur Train crosses the Trans Canada Highway behind a pair of SD40 engines. This is alongside the Thompson River.
The Westbound CP Rail is by this SD40 is wearing the Two Flags livery. This train has been cleared to enter on the mainline.
CN 6950 hustles a Piggyback through Fraser Canyon. Check the snow/ rock slide sheds.
This distant scene on CN gives a sense of scale. Three snowsheds or more likely for rocks are seen. Check the winding trackage which hugs the mountainside. Too bad about the image quality.
Cisco bridges are The hotspot to see! At Siska, crossing the Fraser River. Canadian National on their bridge in the background. CP Rail in front. What a fantastic scene for Model Railroaders!
CN crosses the Fraser River.
CP Rail behind a ‘red barn’ lead locomotive.
CN cab ride aboard locomotive 5543 is a fine tour. Extended coverage and a show highlight. At Yale. Both front window and rearview mirror on 5543. How about this rare shot!
Fraser Canyon Route
Although an older professional show. This has not aged well. It certainly could use a remaster. Hence, it falls into the Historical value. Does not meet even a low modern visual standard. Soundtrack is mastered in somewhat low volume. A rare disappointment in the Pentrex catalog. If you are a hardcore Canadian fan, this dud may still do a minimal job.
Rating: 2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 