Category: Clear Block

ATVR Reviews Clear Block

Into the 90’s Soo Volume 3

Post author By William J. Hudson
Post date April 19, 2024
No Comments on Into the 90’s Soo Volume 3

Producer: Clear Block

Locations: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri

Timeframe: 1990s

Length: 1 hour 50 minutes

Source: Todd Miller

Third and final volume of the Soo Line in the 1990’s series. Focus is on Kansas City and Louisville lines. Trackage is mostly, ex: Milwaukee Road and Rock Island.

A single DVD-R. Videotape source. Live audio. Todd Miller narrates. Maps are included. No main menu or advance feature.

The Videography is solid. Appears somewhat faded for much of the show. Videotape flaws throughout although minor ones. Soundtrack is lively. Good balance of narration and train sounds. Obviously, not modern sharpness. Historical value.

Some other railroad locomotives. Burlington Northern, Chicago Northwestern, GATX, Norfolk Southern and more…

To the Trains…

CP Rail with 2 Flags logo

CP Rail 5773 is street running with a Soo unit. Albany, Indiana.

Note the semaphore dropping

At Mitchell, Indiana. Here is an Eastbound as it splits the semaphores. Soo Line SD60 6002 leads red 6050. The B&O had crossed Monon in Mitchell.

Street running

6604 in the rain travels through Bedford.

Linton

Multiple old Milwaukee Road bandits on a lash-up with a Coal Move. Linton, IN.

Blue Island bridges in the background

The show continues with a look at the Chicago to Kansas City route. Begins at the famous Blue Island bridges. Soo train 240 to Louisville passes the street tower. 6034 leads. There is some good traffic here.

Along the Mississippi River

Soo SD60 6028 passes under the former Rock Island main at Davenport.

EMD switchers

Bandit Milwaukee Road MP15 switchers stand around at Muscatine.

Soo 6055 fronts this red pair on joint trackage with Union Pacific.

Three birds with one stone. A meet of CP Rail power with Union Pacific nearing Kansas City. There are plenty of freights around Santa Fe Junction in Kansas City.

Soo caboose in late paint.

Into the 90’s Soo Volume 3

A tour of additional trackage of the Soo Line up to 1996. The show is well done for its age.

Fine companion to the previous two volumes. Not modern picture quality. However, Soo is one of those harder to find railroads. Good for Soo Line fans.

Rating: 4 Stars

Tags American Train Video Reviews, Canadian Pacific, Chicago railroad, railroads, Soo Line, trains

ATVR Reviews Clear Block

Into the 90’s KCS Volume 1

Post author By William J. Hudson
Post date January 9, 2024
No Comments on Into the 90’s KCS Volume 1

Producer: Clear Block

Locations: Kansas City, Shreveport, Beaumont..

Timeframe: 1994- 1995

Length: 105 minutes

Source: Paul Geiger

Clear Block tours Kansas City Southern. Kansas City, MO. to Shreveport, LA. DeQuicy splits towards Lake Charles, LA. and Port Arthur, Texas. Filmed in mid 1990’s by Paul Geiger. Newer and older power. Includes Mid South, a recent acquisition. This is Volume 1.

A single DVD-R. Narration and script by Paul Geiger. Map. Preview of Volume 2.

Videotape source. Live audio. Picture is in the good range. It is considering tape origin. Soft on a modern TV. Good colors overall. Soundtrack is clear and robust. The narrator is stiff, reading a basic script. He is not Todd Miller. This is the Videographer narrating.

The show begins at Kansas City, Missouri. Local switching. Soo Line 1203. KC has a varied railroad scene. Plentiful, are the end cab switchers.

Santa Fe Jct.

A Westbound Kansas City Terminal with KCS led pool power at Santa Fe Jct. Nice mini tour of KC.

Train 5

Pittsburgh is South of Kansas City. SD40 629 fronts Train 5 to switch cars here. Crew change point.

White passes Gray at a siding

White KCS is Southbound goes past the waiting Gray train at Neosha.

Passing old Joplin Station

A Northbound with 4773 and 4791 at Joplin, MO.

708 on the point

A Southbound leads with 708 at Sulphur Springs.

Arkansas River

3 units cross a bridge over Arkansas River in Oklahoma.

616 on Train 12

SD45 pair on Train 12 to Kansas City at Heavener.

Train 9

Train 9 stops to recrew at the Heavener station. 664 in front.

Page

Train 10 at Page, OK. It hustles by on a downgrade.

Shreveport yard

Shreveport is a busy location. The last GP7 switching the yard.

Tower 31

UP 9015 at Tower 31 in Beaumont, Texas. Lift bridge is there.

Port Arthur, Texas

A Kansas City Southern caboose at Port Arthur.

Into the 90’s KCS Volume 1.

An action packed show with a boring narrator. While the trains are fairly interesting. This tedious guy puts the viewer to sleep.

Still, poor narration beats no narration. There are many trains packed into this release. Save this one for hardcore KCS fans.

Rating: 3 Stars

Tags American Train Video Reviews, Kansas City Southern

ATVR Reviews Clear Block

Into the 90’s Soo Line Volume 2

Post author By William J. Hudson
Post date December 24, 2023
1 Comment on Into the 90’s Soo Line Volume 2

Producer: Clear Block

Locations: Dayton’s Bluff, Minot, Portal…

Timeframe: 1990s

Length: 2 hours

Source: Todd Miller

Clear Block continuation of the Into the 90’s Soo Line series with Volume 2. This is mainly Soo Line. Plenty of CP Rail is here.

Territories from Twin Cities to Noyes and Portal.

A single DVD-R. Maps included. Narrated by Todd Miller.

Good videography. Excellent environmental audio.

Dayton’s Bluff

A GP 9 2402 leads a CP Rail geep at Dayton’s Bluff.

Transfer cut

Transfer move has just left Pig’s Eye Yard.

Humboldt Yard

4300 in new look Soo red paint at Humboldt Yard.

Hankinson Station

CP Rail SD45 rebuild at Hankinson

Pacing sequence

Portal subdivision. This goes to the Canadian border. Soo Line and GATX SD40 locos are paced.

Soo GP38 pair at Minot.

Soo Tower

4410 on the point of a freight at Soo Tower.

Minot

Soo uses this borrowed BN caboose at Minot.

Into the 90’s Soo Line Volume 2

This show tours 550 miles of mainline Soo. Fans of 2nd generation EMD power will find these dominant.

A solid program for Soo Line railfans.

Rating: 4 Stars

Tags American Train Video Reviews, Canadian Pacific, Chicago railroad

ATVR Reviews Clear Block

Wisconsin Central Volume 1

Post author By William J. Hudson
Post date December 3, 2023
No Comments on Wisconsin Central Volume 1

Producer: Clear Block

Locations: Chicago to Fond du Lac

Timeframe: 1990s

Length: 1 hour 56 minutes

First of a series of 6 shows on Wisconsin Central by Clear Block. This one covers Franklin Park Yard to Shops Yard at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The Tracks are former Soo Line.

A single DVD-R. No Chapter menu. On-screen graphics. A map. Hidden chapter advance. Preview section. Narration by Todd Miller.

Image is very good quality. A bit soft on a modern TV. Colors are fine. Live environmental audio sound. Well balanced in all areas.

Enough foreign road locomotives to keep lash-ups interesting. Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CSX, and Conrail are seen.

Let’s see some highlights…

WC 6654 with SD45 pair leads a freight.

Begins at Franklin Park. A Chicago suburb. The show covers the line to Fond du Lac at the East end of Shops Yard.

I&M Rail Link

I&M Rail Link running ex: Susquehanna. Crosses the WC trackage.

Train T 48 at Burlington, WI.

T 48 at Burlington, Wisconsin.

SD45 with chevrons

X 6498 Eastbound with the first SD45 painted in chevron stripes. FP45 6652 trails.

WSOR local

Wisconsin and Southern local led by 2002 leads the 2011 at Rugby Jct.

WC Extra 6595 at Allenton

At Allenton, this scene is representative of the rural farm towns. X 6595 East moves through.

Southern Pacific leads 4 WC units

SP leads across a snowy Marsh at Theresa.

Iron Ore at Theresa

One of a daily Iron Ore Trains led by 6587 at Theresa

Wisconsin Central Train 59

Train 59 behind WC 700. The first GP30 for Soo Line and the first WC repaint GP38 are going back to Shops Yard.

CN at Byron

Canadian National Extra 2501 East at Byron. Chicago to Duluth run through train.

WC Train 45

Train 45 on the curve from County Road F.

Byron Hill helpers

Train 50 is Eastbound from Fond du Lac and rates 2 helpers. Algoma Central in front. Two SW1500 switchers are helpers on the rear in snowy weather.

Train 48

Train 48 with an SD45 pair on the Byron Hill tracks. The action continues to Fond du Lac. A quick wrap at Shops Yard… The story continues from here in Volume 2.

Wisconsin Central Volume 1

Todd Miller has a worthwhile entry on Wisconsin Central. Plenty of the earlier lineup. Meaning, abundant SD45 power. Mostly repainted locomotives. Cowl units and yard switchers.

This show follows on the advertised. Towns along the route are shown. Plenty of full length trains.

The only issue holding this back is the older videotape sourced imagery. It plays soft on modern HDTV. Otherwise, it’s a very solid show.

Rating: 4 Stars

Tags American Train Video Reviews, Chicago railroad

ATVR Reviews Clear Block

Into the 90’s Grand Trunk-1

Post author By William J. Hudson
Post date September 16, 2023
No Comments on Into the 90’s Grand Trunk-1

Producer: Clear Block

Locations: Chicago area, Wellsboro, Battle Creek

Timeframe: 1990s

Length: 2 hours

Source: Todd Miller

The Grand Trunk in a transferred 2 VHS tape set, to the DVD format. Traced from the Chicago area into Michigan.

A single DVD-R. Press play. A Chapter advance function. On screen graphics. Includes plenty of maps. Narrated by Todd Miller.

The image plays widescreen. Live audio.

A surprising variety of connecting railroads. Blue Island has an interesting assortment. Others are seen on the route. Now, Grand Trunk power dominates the show overall.

As with many Clear Block shows, the visual quality is the weak point. The colors are muted. Some flaws from the source tapes remain. Although, not as flawed as Volume 2. Finally, not modern viewing standards.

It is well composed. Basically, in need of a remaster. Brightness levels raised on the TV, helps out. Not bad for what is.

Hayford Jct.

Begins at Hayford Jct. This location is near the massive Clearing Yard.

Blue Island Bridges

At Blue Island. A number of freights from assorted railroads appear. Those five bridges are active places.

GT meets a CSX move

CSX has nearby Barr Yard. A light CSX lash-up meets a Grand Trunk freight.

Harvey is on Chicago’s far Southside. Illinois Central is on the IC tracks at the overpass.

GP50 crossing at Thorton Jct.

Thornton Jct. Interchange with a Union Pacific freight, a former MoPac site. Chicago and NorthWestern 5067 is leading with a UP here.

Amtrak Hoosier

Amtrak Hoosier is Northbound, on UP Rails. Amtrak 411 for power.

Griffith Tower

Griffith, Indiana. A known hotspot. Crosses EJ&E here.

BN at Wellsboro

At Wellsboro. Burlington Northern run through power on a Powder River Coal Train. CSX crossing. CSX 8159 with a mixed Manifest. Plenty of GT pass this location.