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Great American Train Ride

Great American Train Ride (Deluxe Boxset)

Topics Entertainment/ Railway Productions

Format: Four DVD boxset

Length: 5+ hours

Time Period: Contemporary

Locations: USA

Producer: Les Jarrett

A collection of four train videos, in a DVD boxset by Topics Entertainment  These were originally released by Railway Productions.          The four shows are as follows. Santa Fe Mainline Memories, Winter Steam Spectacular, The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon.

With over 5 hours of train videos, there is much to see. The highest rated shows were: Santa Fe Mainline Memories and Atlanta’s White Pass & Yukon.

Mainline Memories is the best one in this set. An unusual style of presentation makes this show jump out. The premise is to travle the Chicago to Los Angeles mainline in under two hours. By using the Santa Fe’s subdivisions as a basis. The distance is served in manageable portions. Extremely well done program. See the ATVR main review of the individual title for more information.

White Pass & Yukon is another highly rated show. There is a fine visit to Skagway, Alaska. Climb over White Pass an on to Fraser, British Columbia. A seat in the locomotive cab, with travel in both directions, double the fun. Great exteriors and the wild, Alaskan scenery. See the full review on ATVR for more.

Cumbres and Toltec is well covered, from both directions. The Chama origin seems the better of the two. Pretty complete coverage. Not as exciting as some presentations. Still, it is a good program. ATVR has a full review.

Winter Steam Spectacular. The snow must be in Phoenix, because there isn’t much here. There are some decent highlights. Durango & Silverton has the most snow, just don’t expect tons of snow. Nevada Northern does have authentic equipment going for it. ATVR has a complete review.

All of the shows are well produced. First rate videograpghy. Good narratives. Natural sounds and music mixed in the programs.They are packaged in a single plastic case, with one big spindle to hold the four DVD’s. Not as deluxe, as advertised- is it?

The first 2 shows listed are the best of the lot. Santa Fe Mainline Memories , is the true highlight show. This one alone can be worth the price of admission. If you get a good price, there is plenty of good material on every show. If the money is tight, maybe the Santa Fe will do by itself. Either way, this is a nice set, and a fine value.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

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ATVR Reviews Railway Productions Topics

Winter Steam Spectacular

Winter Steam Spectacular

Great American Train Ride (deluxe boxset)

Railway Productions/ Topics

Format: DVD

Length: One hour 30 minutes

Time Period: 2006 release

Locations : Durango, Ely, Heber City, New Hope, Cumberland

Producer: Les Jarrett

Steam engines in a winter setting. Cold temperatures and snow are railfan favorites. The locomotives take on a new appearance. Five tourist lines with photo charters are visited.

Durango and Silverton is first. A roundtrip from Durango to Cascade Canyon. There is some snow on the ground. looks like much has melted away. There is enough snow left to brighten up the scenes. Naturally, we get to enjoy that famous Colorado scenery.

On the turntable, back at Durango 473 gets a spin and is put away. Servicing is shown. A short tour of the working and museum side of the roundhouse. A small shock, as we are out again on the ds, this time, onboard a mixed train.There are two trips like this. Snow is nearly gone. Unusual views from the Animas River. A  featured chapter.

Heber Valley. Runs from Heber City to Vivian Park. A simple map illustrates the route. An ex: Union Pacific 4-8-0 is the power. Beginning in Provo Canyon/ Vivian Park. This is a photo charter freight train. This is a semi-convincing train. Looks better at a distance. Fine mountain scenery. The snow looks good, as it travels along a large water reservoir. The steam engine emits white, billowing smoke in the cold air. Some shots resemble holiday cards. A nice trip.

New Hope & Ivyland has just the tiny remainders of snow. looks very springlike. A mixed train runs here. They have a few old,  40′ tankcars that add spice.A lone coach brings up the rear.Calling this is ‘steam spectacular’ is a big exaggeration. Seems like filler. Just a fair chapter. This is one I would skip on subsequent viewings.

Nevada Northern Railway Museum. A gray sky and visible snow on the ground. Two steam engines operating at the station. Ely, Nevada has original buildings there. This looks promising. A photo charter freight will perform. A 2-8-0, #93 hauls some authentic, vintage freight cars. Some snow and sleet is mixed together and variable. The railroad structures create that atmosphere lacking on some museum lines. Besides, the charter freight, a short, passenger train is in service. Nevada Northern #40, A 4-6-0, with a baggage car and a coach..

The freight train is out on the mainline. The mountains aren’t as dramatic as some others. It is a good backdrop for the train. Not much snow on what looks like high desert. The sunny sky and long distance views show snow up in the high mountains.

Double-headed, the freight is the highlight. This equipment really is fantastic! Nice action at a tunnel. More snow at this section.See the engines park for the night.                       Overall, looks real, is real. A  highlight chapter.

Western Maryland Scenic at Cumberland, MD. The narrator admits another snow-less train. Yes, that’s the brakes of life. This train has a fake painted Western Maryland GP30 with a steam pusher. The freight train is satisfactory.  That GP30 should have been in B&O blue.Western Maryland #734, a 2-8-0 is the helper engine. Nicely shot over the run. Helmstetter’s Curve is a highlight. It’s single track nowadays. The bare trees remind one of winter.

Narration is adequate. This one feels like it should have some more detail presented.

There are a number of previews after this program.

This is a show that does have some good subjects. Obviously, the weather cannot be controlled. It is not, a winter spectacular. More like cool runnings. Misleading title.               There are some winter scenes, although, in the minority for the whole program.

Rating: 3 Stars

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ATVR Reviews Railway Productions Topics

Santa Fe Mainline Memories

Santa Fe Mainline Memories

Great American Train Ride (deluxe boxset)

Railway Productions/ Topics

Format: DVD

Length: 1 hour 40 minutes

Time Period: 1995

Locations: Chicago to Los Angeles mainline

Producer: Les Jarrett

A grand tour of the Santa Fe mainline. The producer has a unique way of traversing this mainline. The Chicago to Los Angeles trip in under two hours. His focus is directly on the 1995 Santa Fe, with some history.

This is available as a single disc. Also is 1 of 4 DVD’s in Great American Train Ride by Topics Entertainment. Yes, all of these shows will be reviewed on ATVR.

Each subdivision is looked at, and traveled! Very comprehensive program.

For a 1995 journey, this is an interesting program. Santa Fe has many of it’s 1990’s Superfleet locomotives on the hot intermodals. Conveniently, the Superfleet stable gets a quick overview. Blue and yellow warbonnets are still very plentiful.

The train consists are generally unexciting. Unless you just have to see a piggyback train ,where the diesels roll on by, and then trailers that read:, JB Hunt, JB Hunt, JB Hunt… Outside of that problem, inherent in many post 1990’s shows, there are plenty of captivating subjects along the route itself.

In a rather brilliant bit of decision making, the producer gives a tour de force. He serves up, a generous helping of: cities, stations, crew change points, yards and plenty of beautiful scenery. By including a look at the towns and surrounding areas, we get the flavor of Santa Fe. The mainline memories.

Transporting into the cabs of Santa Fe locomotives give us the premium view from the train. There are multiple rides like this. A stunning one, is crossing a bridge at the Missouri River. Check all of the lattice and trusses!

Narration is excellent on this show. Current operations and status of what is seen. Historical info that adds background. Sometimes a bit nostalgic, but always engaging.

Beginning in Chicago at Corwith Yard. We travel westward towards California. Passing through wooded Willow Springs and into Lemont. We arrive and visit Joliet Union Station. This is a blueprint for this show. Roll off many miles, see towns, stations, add a highlight.

Variety then, actually lies within the journey across the mainline to California.

Good map displays and frequent usage makes sense of the vast amount of mileage covered. The Santa Fe trip is broken down into the subdivisions of the railroad. They range from about 150 to 280 miles. Some are well known. Chillicothe from Chicago. Seligman has Arizona to Needles, CA.

This has many stations and division point structures. Large ones like, Amarillo, Belen,  Flagstaff. Smaller stations such as: Henrietta, Carrollton, Kiowa, Galesburg. Division points with impressive ones that are mostly out of service in Argentine, Chillicothe, Seligman, Barstow, San Bernadino. Classics that appear in vintage films like Vaughn, NM.

There are plenty of Amtrak trains. The Southwest Chief is encountered frequently.

Scenery is an element that constantly evolves. From the big city, to farmlands. Texas, green in the east, to the drier plains west. New Mexico with it’s rock faces and moody look. Arizona with that authentic western flavor. Into California, across the Mohave desert, to Barstow. Onwards to the Cajon sub.

By 1995, the once important San Bernadino was being transformed into an intermodal facility.

Abo Canyon is one very scenic area for Santa Fe. Cajon Pass was a photographic hotspot since the days of steam. Both landmark locales get extended visits.

Canyon Diablo, in  Arizona gets a brief visit. Flagstaff, Kingman and Seligman, as well. Arizona gets good coverage, as do the rest of the states.

We end up at Hobart yard in LA. An abrupt end to our long journey. It is as if time ran out.

This is a dynamic show. The viewer will gain a vast amount of experience of this mainline.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

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ATVR Reviews Railway Productions Topics

Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon

Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon

Great American Train Ride (deluxe boxset)

Railway Productions/ Topics

Format: DVD

Length: 40 minutes

Time Period: 2007

Locations: Skagway to Fraser B.C.

Producer: Les Jarrett

This show is the trip from Skagway, Alaska to Fraser, British Columbia. The distance covered is about 27 miles, by railway. This is available separately, or in a boxset. The Great American Train Ride, by Topics Entertainment is the boxset. That set has four shows, on four DVD’s. There are some previews at the end of this DVD.

We begin at Skagway. Elevation is sea level. The line climbs to White Pass. Elevation over 2800 feet. The journey continues to Fraser, BC. That seems to be the end of the line.

This is a narrow gauge line. It was built in 1896. Purpose, was to serve the gold rush in the area. The terrain is very rugged. Mountains and steep canyons. The smaller footprint of the narrow gauge snakes it’s way through. It will cling to a mountainside. You will see how earlier snow has left some challenges, that are now under control.

Spectacular scenery along the line. Some interesting engineering feats too. The wooden trestle that enters a tunnel is a model railroader’s delight! As the train climbs to the higher elevations, the snow pack is more prevalent.

A brief look at the yard facilities offers glimpses of the two steam locomotives that are still on the property. The custom built diesels are odd looking ones. Remind me of those strange looking Australian engines.

There is a chapter menu. On a show this short, you won’t be needing it. There is a toggle for on/ off narration. Either method is enjoyable. There are no maps. I would have preferred a route map. To see the lines twisting trackage. An elevation map would have been very fitting. It’s all about the climb upwards to White Pass. Some on screen graphics give location and elevation. Again, maps would have made those references, more  meaningful.

The train ride includes a good chunk of time in the locomotive cab. Outside of some beautiful exterior views, the front end view rules. You really get the feel of traversing this line. Sans narration has unedited sounds. Seemed like there was some extra radio traffic this way.

I have noticed that Les Jarrett always does an excellent narrative. That is certainly the case here. he gives some good background on the history of the line. He also describes the current scene.

This is a good choice for the entire family. Your woman, and even non train head people, will find pleasurable viewing, in this wild and untamed country of Alaska.

Rating: 4 Stars

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ATVR Reviews Railway Productions Topics

Steam in the Autumn

Steam in the Autumn

Railway Productions

Format : DVD

Length: 2 hours

Time Period: contemporary

Locations: Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio.

Producer: Les Jarrett

This volume is from a four-part set.

I have received 3 volumes, sans Winter.

I was wondering how one of these shows look. Covering the basic 4 seasons of the year, each has its own special opportunities for photography. The combination of steam and fall colors seem just right for October. Naturally, this will only be accomplished in the 21st century on photo charters, fan trips and museum excursions.This show features some chartered photo trains.These are mainly post year 2000 outings, in different years for this collection.There is a nice chapter menu that options on/off narration. Rudimentary maps are sometimes displayed for the short routes.Let’s roll this picture…

Ohio Central is at Sugarcreek, PA. OC is a working, diesel-powered carrier.It runs steam specials for a good time. The show leads with a Grand Trunk Western #6325. (Northern type 4-8-4). It is a large locomotive. This is on a typical passenger excursion. Farmland setting. Next, they do a freight train with 6325. Better background of fall colors and trees. Up in the cab with the crew. This freight segment is the best of the pair.

New Hope & Ivyland at New Hope, PA. Featured with cab ride action. Watch the crew work and view that hot firebox. A bit unspectacular after that cab. Nice trees.

Strasburg Railroad at Strasburg, PA. This one is a fine chapter. Not only do we get Canadian National 4-6-0 #89 on the point. Restored 1920’s era wooden freight cars are in tow. Add a northeastern Strasburg cabin car, and we are in business! Norfolk & Western gives us additional action from earlier film. Check the black & white shots. Does that look authentic, or what?

Ohio Central at Coshocton, OH. has larger, mainline equipment on parade. They run on a double-tracked mainline. Former Pennsylvania Panhandle Line mainline trackage. This is an action packed sequence. Two trains running the same direction on the parallel tracks. A freight and a passenger special smoke it up ,large! A Grand Trunk Western 4-8-4 #6325 pulls regular freight cars, including a train of empty coal hoppers. An Ohio Central 4-6-2 doubleheads with the GTW engine. Fine steam action with the two trains.

East Broad Top at Rock Hill Furnace. EBT is a famous narrow gauge line in Pennsylvania. Abandoned in 1956, this 33 mile line is still in place. All of the original 1900 era facilities intact. It is as if the railroad was frozen in time. Five miles are used for tourist trains. EBT #14 has some hoppers with a traditional red caboose. The steam whistle reverberates in the hilly countryside. The ‘armstong’ turntable is too much! An excellent featured chapter.

Western Maryland Scenic Railway at Cumberland, MD. A Western Maryland ‘ fireball logo’ steamer sure  looks sweet. A 16 mile long track gives us running room. 2-8-0 734 is a Baldwin from 1916. Cosmetically altered to appear as a WM original. it’s not one. The fake freight does get some stunning steam up and the fall colors are fine. The heavily weathered freight cars give an authentic vibe to this train. it runs with a wide vision caboose..oh well. Helmstetter’s Curve is the big highlight. Brush Tunnel, cab ride and train in the fog are more highlights. Outstanding visit to this line. This extended feature chapter is a really fun one!

The videography is first-rate. Modern era picture and crisp sound. Creative touches add spice to the scenes. Some of the scenic operations were true bell ringers. Others were good, but less of a thrill. Overall, a high quality train video.

On the whole, this show does offer something for everyone. It is an action oriented program. Minimal, professional narration, with the option of just natural sound sans narration. Oh, kids will adore this show. All that smoke, bells, whistles, and plenty of good, old-fashioned steam train action. See the companion shows for more great trainwatching!

Rating: 4 Stars