Producer: Highball
Location: Dolton
Timeframe: 2000
Length: 90 minutes
Dolton, Illinois is the site for another show from the Highball Hot Spots series. A Dolton Crossing Towerman provided lineups, which facilitated the train symbols. Timestamps recorded the actual times. Dates filmed were May,11 and 12 in 2000.
A single DVD-R. Fullscreen 4×3 aspect ratio. Standard def picture. Live environmental audio. Clean picture.
No Chapter Menu. A hidden chapter advance function. On-screen graphics.
To the Trains…
Time is 09:10 am. Symbol MCHPB. UP 3936 hits the diamonds with a general freight train.
Leader BN 3150 (GP 50) hauling auto racks at 09:40. Train is Q255.
Heavier rain at 10:55. Indiana Harbor Belt train BA5 has two veteran switchers on a transfer run. IHB 9007 and 8866.
The unique Bottle Train moves hot molten steel. CSX renumbered Conrail 5267 pulls here. A standard highlight on typical Dolton shows. A bit of narration breaks the monotony on one of these trains.
CSX 5911 is seen crossing with Q597. Note the background tracks.
Moved into the Dolton Tower and out of the rain. Ralph Eisenbrandt is the Towerman. Some interesting internal shots. A little bit of narrative here. At 1:57 pm. BNSF Q587 approaches the crossing. Led by BNSF 738.
Later in the day, at 5:35 pm. CSX Q139 appears to be a Conrail train. These are renumbered Conrail units. Engine 7351 in front.
UP MNLR is led by switcher 1389 with 1606 (GP15). An uncommon unit versus all of the road locomotives. Model Railroaders may run similar lash-ups on home layouts for added interest.
May 12, 2000 is Day Two …
We are now on Day 2 at 8:55 am. Amtrak Train 51. The Kentucky Cardinal. Here is an amazing Amtrak lash-up! Leader engine 503 is a Dash 8 in Phase IV livery. This is followed by 355 (F40) in Phase III. Number 198 is a GP40TC in Phase III. Plus, 2 Genesis locomotives. Unit 90 is in Phase III and number 2 in the Phase IV scheme. A nice, slow roll by at Dolton.
Train is Y330 at 11:10 am. Conrail paint on 4444 (GP40-2) with CSX 2679. (GP40-2). Notice the tower in the background.
Norfolk Southern appears here at 9:44 am.
Canadian Pacific 5597 in the dual flag livery leads St. Lawrence and Hudson 5654. Symbol is GA7.
Hot Spots 7 Dolton
Many trains of various railroads are seen at Dolton Crossing. Modern mergers have narrowed down the roads. CSX and Union Pacific dominate. Conrail paint is still often seen. Indiana Harbor Belt, BNSF and Canadian Pacific are some of what is included. A wide variety of locomotives.
Dolton Tower is a busy location on the Chicago Southside. Slow speeds are great for railfanning. There are various shows of Dolton in the marketplace with a good narrative. This HBP offering is well filmed. Balanced soundtrack. A mostly quiet program. Majority of trains have symbol and time via graphics. It comes up very short on narration.
Excellent videography carries the show. One of the better releases in the Highball Hot Spots series.
Rating: 4 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 