Tag: Arizona

Categories
ATVR Reviews Broken Knuckle

BNSF Return to the Arizona Forest

Producer: Broken Knuckle

Locations: Northern Arizona

Timeframe: 2004

Length: 2 hours

The original show was filmed in 1996. Broken Knuckle went back 8 years later for more! The BNSF transcontinental across Northern Arizona. Packed with beautiful scenery. The former Santa Fe route is worthy of this return trip.

Second show in this 3 disc set. Two DVD-R for this one. Chapter Menu. On-screen graphics. Narrated. No maps.

Videography is excellent. Live audio with a strong mix. Sounds like you are there. Some wind noise at times.

To the Trains…

Disc 1 of this show. #2 in the set. 1 hour 10 minutes

The narration is good, although more detail on train symbols would be welcome.

October 13, 2004. Flagstaff, Arizona. Milepost  on the BNSF Transcon line. Seligman subdivision. DPU power is widely used now.

Cosnino, Arizona, at a signal bridge. A plethora of Intermodals traverse the territory. Milepost is 333. Mostly, 3rd generation GE units in BNSF colors dominate now. More foreign power is in this sequel. Occasionally, Norfolk Southern is on the point.

Flagstaff Switcher

The Flagstaff Switcher. Two engines. Check the fried paint on the silver Warbonnet. Performing some Mine service at Darling Cinder Pit.

Eagle’s Nest

Eagle’s Nest is the Western end of the show.

October 18. East Williams Jct. Kaibab National Forest.  It splits the signals. The consist should be: 46 loads, 0 empties, 2950 and 4268 for tonnage and length. Kansas City, Kansas to Los Angeles, California, my best guess.

Eastbound travels towards the Arizona Divide. Milepost 371.4.

Disc 2 of this show. #3 in the set. 1 hour 16 minutes

October 18, 2004. Train is S LBTCHI1 17. Long Beach Terminal to Chicago Intermodal… my guess. BNSF 5311 is a General Electric C44-9W locomotive. It leads at Supai Summit. Milepost 370.5. Travels on track two and is Eastbound. The location is 4 miles from Williams.  Local time at 14:22 hours.

H train

Train H DENBARI 16. It has a 6 locomotive lash-up. Boxcars and mixed freight. The consist of 31 loads and 49 empties. Should be a Denver to Barstow move.

Oct 19. Electromotive power works upgrade. Notice the sound of these. Santa Fe 6748 leads the three blue and yellow Warbonnets. The Seligman Local.

Z train at Arizona Divide

The Elevation of over 7,000 feet is at the Arizona Divide.  The highest point on this vast system.  Z LACWSP8 19. Should be a Los Angeles to Willow Springs Intermodal move.

Norfolk Southern power on the head at East Darling. Cross country action. New York to Los Angeles. Engine 9892 is in chargeof the 4 unit lash-up.

The program continues in a similar fashion. The modern era is less interesting than earlier times. A sameness of trains. Railroads have been moving towards standardization for decades. A Wal-Mart and McDonalds in most towns, if you see the similarities.

BNSF Return to the Arizona Forest

This release is fine for the contemporary era. Professional videography. A soundtrack that puts viewers trackside. The narrative is minimal and highlights train sounds. One narration improvement would be to decode symbols. A few are obvious, and many are strange. Inclusion of a map or two would have been helpful.

If this material rings your bell. It should satisfy with a high volume of over the road trains.

By the way. This double feature set is well priced and the way to go. The early merger first show is the hot ticket.

Rating: 4 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews C Vision

EMDs Across America Volume Two

Producer: C. Vision

Locations: AZ, CA, FL, MI, MS, NE, SD

Timeframe: 2000s

Length: 2 Hours

Sources: Mike Savona, Dan Hadley

EMD Across America Volume 2. A continuation of a contemporary look at older Electromotive Diesels still in revenue service.

A single DVD-R. Main Chapter Menu.  On-screen graphics. A map or two. Narrated by Chris Laskowski.

Images are excellent overall. Live environmental audio is awesome. Pro shot videography. State of the art presentation.

This is a compilation show. Contains previously released material.

To the Trains…

Sonoran Desert in Arizona

Arizona and California Railroad. This leads off the show. Attractive SD4O power is followed in 2018. Beautiful Sonoran and Mojave desert scenery.

A&C SD40 leads these units out of Wenden, AZ. Genesee and Wyoming own the line. This A&C visit is almost an hour in length with a plentiful supply of trains.

Downhill action at Granite Wash Pass.

Train B-PHXLAC

BNSF Train B-PHXLAC. Passing through Bouse, AZ. Empty equipment returning from Phoenix to Los Angeles. 8497 is the leader.

Colorado River

Leaving Parker, AZ. this A&C move crosses the Colorado River. The tour continues across California’s Mojave Desert to the Santa Fe Interchange at Cadiz, CA.

KCS in Mississippi

L-GP101 is South of Saucier, MS

Kansas City Southern on the Gulfport sub in Mississippi. Local Train L-GP101. Gulfport to Hattiesburg turnaround. A local Nortbound with a 4 unit lash-up of SD40 types and a gray unit leading. These EMDs rumble by on the stereo!

Saucier, Mississippi

Newer livery on two SD40 types. Pair of old scheme grays at the back of this set. Train L-GP101 is Southbound.  Saucier, Mississippi.

Florida East Coast

In 2014, FEC 226 double-stack travels North. Numbers 711 and 716 are SD40-2 units. St. Augustine. Hialeah Yard, Miami to Bowden Yard, Jacksonville. SN Sébastien River.

Train 101 runs the system length

Newer SD70m pair at Bunnell, FL. Train 101 from Bowden Yard to Hialeah Yard at Miami.

Train 101 at Melbourne. Great chapter.

Great Lakes Central RR

Restored Durand Station

SD35 384 and 386 passing Durand with the Owasso Turn.

RCP&E

Yes, another G&W scheme.

It is a short and quiet chapter with little narration. Train works hard on a grade near Wayside, Nebraska. This railroad runs into South Dakota.

EMDs Across America Volume 2

An emphasis on the Arizona and California. This plays like a show within the show. If you like desert scenery. It delivers!

Kansas City Southern has some SD40 power highlighted. Florida East Coast has the scenic settings. Some 3rd generation locomotives are included. FEC is another longer highlight.

The last two are much smaller operations. The SD35 pair is a rare set on Great Lakes Central.

High-quality presentation throughout. Uncommon subjects keep the viewing interesting. Note some memorable scenery in Arizona and Florida.

The train sounds deserve special mention. Outstanding! Hear those EMDs rumble on a stereo. Wheel clack is akin to standing trackside. A must hear show.

Another successful entry in this new EMD series!

Rating: 5 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews Pentrex

Rail Explorations

Producer: Pentrex

Locations: Seven States

Timeframe: circa 2012

Length: 2 hours 14 minutes

Talk about variety. Steam, Diesel, and Electric power. Action in seven states. Mega carriers to Shortlines and Tourist Trains. An interesting assortment.

Coverage includes: Arizona, Colorado, Arkansas, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.

A single DVD. Factory pressed. Main Chapter Menu by geographical area. Maps are included. Preview section. On/ Off narration.

Widescreen presentation.

Let’s see some trains…

This show begins in Northern Arizona with Williams, Holbrook, and Page.

BNSF at Williams Station

BNSF from Phoenix to Belen, NM. Viewed from Williams Station. 7133 leads this pair with mixed freight. Grand Canyon Flyer.

Apache Railway

Alcos at Holbrook on Apache Railway in 2012. Number 81 is an ex: L&N C420 in front.

Black Mesa and Lake Powell. Electrified line. Dedicated coal hauler. GE G60 power is former NdeM. Train gets paced.

Chama

Cumbres and Toltec from Chama, NM. The diminutive number 484 gets a train chase with a Tourist Train.

Amtrak moves at Levi, NM. Plus Delphi, Colorado. Southwest Chief passes the last wigwam signal.

KCS in Joplin

Kansas City Southern is a good catch at Joplin.

Arkansas and Missouri

Arkansas has Springdale. See the Arkansas and Missouri with two Alco C-420 units on a slow-moving local freight. Various A&M trains are seen in operation.

Arkansas- Oklahoma

Oklahoma checks in at McAllister. Arkansas- Oklahoma Railroad is another shortline. An SW8 in a Rock Island Tribute paint scheme. Part of the long former Rock Island Sunbelt Line.

8255

Kansas. Abilene, Baldwin City and Ottawa. Former New York Central Alco RS-3 8255 works on the Midland Railway. Ride a Midland Tourist Train.

3415

Abilene and Smokey Valley. An Alco switcher. This Baldwin steam locomotive #3415 is again operational.  The 3415 is a former Santa Fe engine. Pulls a speed restricted passenger move.

18

San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad. Shown at Alamosa, Colorado. Class 3 railroad with approximately 150 miles of track. Steam engine #18 on a daily passenger train. Modern diesels also serve this line. LaVeda Pass is the high point for United States freight trains.

UP at Aztec

Back to Southern, Arizona. The former Southern Pacific Sunset Route. Aztec water tank survives from the steam era. A Union Pacific freight passes.

Rail Explorations

This is a good value show. Something for about any Railfan. A nice one for family viewing. Plenty of slow speeds. Cab Rides and onboard Passenger experiences.

The issue of this release is Volume levels. Dave Drui narrative is loud, versus the quieter train sounds. Unusual flaw for Pentrex.

Besides the audio levels. A fine show!

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews WB Video

BNSF A Time of Change 2

Producer: William Brown

Locations: Crozier Canyon, Peach Springs, Nelson Tunnel, Pico

Timeframe: 2000

Length: 1 hour

Source: William Brown

A look at the BNSF Transcon. Coverage is in Western Arizona. Volume 2 of a short series. The vintage WB titles are hit or miss. Let’s see one of these contemporary shows now.

A single DVD-R. No Chapter menu. On-screen graphics with subtitles. Hidden Chapter advance. Brief Previews.

Narration by Tom Jensen. Lively and energetic narrator.

Picture is excellent, although not wide-screen. Live audio soundtrack. The audio is loud. Well composed scenes.

New. Running soundtrack on a full-on stereo, as well. Outstanding separation! Trains come and go. One channel to the other. WOW!

Script is the rather basic style. Eastbound,  Westbound and generic descriptions. The train sounds and consist views are centerpieces.

Pica steam era tanks

Begins at old abandoned facilities in Pica. Arizona. Where’s this place?

A 10 engine lash-up

Cool catch as 10 engines roar by…light!

Nelson Tunnel East

Nelson Tunnel. Milepost 457. East of Peach Springs. Never heard of either one. Good action on the East portal.

Manifest to Yemple, Texas

A Barstow to Temple, Texas with mixed power.

BN 6811 leads at the West Portal

West Portal is next with afternoon trains.  6811 leads an Electromotive and a B unit.

Peach Springs

Peach Springs the next morning.  A sunny day. Three Warbonnets and a BNSF Heritage unit lead an Intermodal. Milepost 462. He mentions this is the month of April.

Crozier Canyon

Crozier Canyon is West of Peach Springs. 6348 leads 3 Santa Fe units.

Quartet of Warbonnets

Four Warbonnets upgrade in opposite direction.

Perfect scene for Model Railroaders

Overhead and trackside views. Many trains at various spots in Crozier Canyon.  One awesome scene after another! A show within the show.

A high view

Even more great scenery near Valentine, Arizona. The action continues onward in Western Arizona on former Santa Fe trackage.

Listen to the train pass by the camera

The stereo experience adds to enjoyment. As the camera pans the trains, stereo imaging accompanies the scene. What fun!

BNSF A Time of Change 2

An excellent production. Stunning videography in Crozier Canyon. Audio features the natural train sounds. Stereo listening adds to the feeling of being trackside. Narration is simple but enthusiastic. Beats a non-narrated by a country mile.

Yes, a map would be handy. On the other hand. The program only highlights several locations on the mainline. Mile markers are noted.

The sum total. A fine film featuring Crozier Canyon and Nelson Tunnel (rare). An enjoyable hour of BNSF by WB Video. Great for any Railfan or Model Railroader.

Rating: 5 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews Broken Knuckle

BNSF in the Arizona Forest

Producer: Broken Knuckle

Locations: Seligman sub

Timeframe: 1996

Length: 1 hour 47 minutes

Before the Pumpkins the show subtitle. The BNSF Transcon across Northern Arizona is the main subject. This was filmed in October, 1996.

This is one half of a 3 disc set. This version is a digital remaster, with added features. For review purposes, it is better to post these shows separately.

BNSF Return to the Arizona Forest. This was filmed 8 years later. Watch for an individual review.

A single DVD-R. Chapter menu. On-screen graphics with additional information.

Videotape sourced. 4×3 aspect ratio. Narrated. Live environmental audio.

Image is somewhat grainy. Colors are solid. Videography is well done.

Right after the BNSF merger. Winslow, AZ. to Needles, CA. Eighty miles of coverage from West Darling in the East to Eagle’s Nest on the Western end.

A double-stack at East Flagstaff

East Flagstaff aka McPhetridge. This is our 1st location visited. Trio of Warbonnets with a double-stack.

GP30 leads past Route 66

Camera crew moves East. A GP30 out front. Route 66 overpass in the background.

Maine is located at Parks. Milepost 362.1. A short piggyback to Phoenix. Tall Ponderosa Pines. Coconino National Forest.

Rare lash-up

This SF30cu is a repowered U36C to 3000hp. It shall be off the roster in a year. A GP30u, GP20U, U23-7 has a great lash-up.

SF 6368 at Riordan

At Riordan. Here is the Arizona Divide. 7300 feet in elevation. Santa Fe GE B23-7 6368 pulls upgrade. Down to East Williams.

Freight from Phoenix

Santa Fe 852, a C40-8W with a variety of power, on a long lash-up from Phoenix. Check the Burlington Northern cabless GE B30-7 unit, which is the 2nd unit.

Amtrak at Williams Jct.

West Wiiliams Jct. A diverging track, which is the route to Phoenix. The Peavine Line. Amtrak cruises through.

Bootlegger Crossing

Santa Fe SD45 on the point at Bootlegger Crossing.

This double-stack departs after a crew swap

This double-stack departs after a crew swap. The previous crew on the background train. Along Double AA.

A double-stack at Eagle’s Nest

Eagle’s Nest is a part of Kaibab Forest and lower at 5600 feet. The fill can rise to 100 feet.

Blue and Yellow Warbonnets at West Darling

West Darling is the Easternmost location on this show. 12,633 foot tall Humphries Peak in the background.

BNSF units at Darling

The future is now! A couple of relettered warbonnets show the new deal at Darling.

BNSF in the Arizona Forest

This was filmed during an interesting early merger BNSF. A wide variety of paint schemes and locomotives. Plenty of freight cars in the consists. Excellent scenery! Some off the beaten path shooting locations.

The old video quality is still present. Resortation has the show, in best possible quality. Although, obviously not to a modern standard.

BNSF and Santa Fe railfans and model railroaders should find this an enjoyable presentation. Anyone interested in Arizona railroading might be surprised at the variety of terrain.

Rating: 4 Stars