Tag: Burlington Northern Santa Fe

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 Pentrex

The Best of Midwest Volume 3

Producer: Pentrex

Locations: KS, MO, IA, WI, MS.

Timeframe: circa 1999

Length: 1 hour 21 minutes

The third installment of this Pentrex series. Midwestern area. Class Ones and smaller railroads are the subject material. Coverage is across 5 States.

Union Pacific is the big boy of this show on the Coffeyville sub. Also the Spine Line on the Albert Lea subdivision. Illinois Central is on the mainline in Iowa. BNSF’s St. Croix sub in Prescott, Wisconsin. Canadian Pacific’s River sub at Hastings, Minnesota. Regionals include; I&M Rail Link in Iowa plus Wisconsin Central’s Superior sub. There is enough Southern Pacific paint within for a guest star role.

A single DVD-R. Live environmental audio. Choice of On/ Off narration. On-screen graphics with symbols and further train info. Plenty of MAPS! Previews.

Dependable Pentrex quality. David Drui with a sharp narrative. Excellent Videography. Professional in every aspect.

To the Trains…

North Antelope Mine  to Newark, AK

Show leads off with Union Pacific on the Coffeyville sub. Eastern Kansas to KC. At Bucyrus, train C-NANW travels to Newark, Arkansas, with a coal move. Led by SD9043MAC 8032. Early version SD90MAC with 4300hp.

Illinois Central 8732

Illinois Central has a nice extended chapter. Having left Webster City,  ICRR GP11 8732 with a local freight. Travels yonder to Fort Dodge Yard.

IMRL Train 377

I&M Rail Link. Marquette to Mason City, Iowa line. Train 377 is followed to Mason City. Number 384, ex: BCOL SD-38 is the lead unit. Trailing is a former Southern in Susquehanna livery. Manifest, Marquette to Mason City.

CNW 8613 with O-MIGV

Leaving Mason City. Action directs Northbound via Union Pacific. The Spine Line is ex: Rock Island to St. Paul. CNW leased the line after Rock Island closed. A CNW C44-9W 8613 is in charge at Manly, Iowa. Minneapolis to Geneva, Utah. O-MIGV is the symbol for this Taconite move. It’s a long chapter.

Albert Lea Tower

Albert Lea Tower is a rare survivor.  Another Taconite move with Southern Pacific units leading.

C-NAPU

UP EMDs on a Coal Train to Green Bay. Albert Lea Yard. Gets transferred to WC for final delivery.

Hastings Patrol

Twin Cities leads to Hasings, MN. Canadian Pacific 4599 is resplendent in a fresh Golden Beaver scheme. The ex: Soo Line GP38 is operating in Hastings at the old Milwaukee depot.

Burns on BNSF

4384 in BNSF Heritage premium paint. This Manifest symbol is M- NSINTW1-01. This is Burns on the BNSF trackage. Chicago to Northtown Yard. Norfolk Southern origin. The lift bridge spans the St. Croix River.

Junction City

WC is the final chapter. Junction City, Wisconsin is a hotspot. This Canadian National freight with 5690 leads number 177. The 6 unit lash-up rolls past the camera. Intermodal to Winnipeg.

Wisconsin Central F45 6655 and SD45 6598 on WC Train 18. Wausau to Stevens Point. Led by an Electromotive cowl diesel, these are highlight lineups for Railfans.

The Best of the Midwest Volume 3

An interesting assortment of railroads and locomotives. The high level of detailed information is great! In fact, the subtitles are fascinating. One wonders when trackside. What is the origin and destination of many trains? The foreign power too. Trackage rights, or leased motors?

The combined: narrative, train info, and maps are more intriguing than the ugly graffiti disfigurements on the freight cars.

Notice the contemporary era is best when featuring scenery or a ton of good information.

One would think that map references would be a standard on the majority of shows in the marketplace. They add a sense of geographical awareness and scale to a show. Sadly, this important facet is often neglected so often. Fine work here.

This is a fast paced show. The variety and detail create an enjoyable presentation. Well done Pentrex!

Rating: 5 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews WB Video

Abo Canyon and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway

Producer: WB Video

Locations: Belen, Abo Canyon, Mountainair

Timeframe: 1998

Length: 58 minutes

Source: William Brown.

Abo Canyon is located on the old Santa Fe Chicago to Los Angeles mainline. It has seven bridges. BNSF predecessors and some with original paint.  New BNSF liveries, as well.

The tour begins at the ex: Santa Fe yard in Belen, New Mexico. Circa 1998.

A single DVD-R. Hidden Chapter advance. On screen graphics. Previews. Narration by Tom Jensen.

Videography is solid. Well composed scenes. Natural audio. The narrative is hard panned to one channel or another.

To the Trains…

Belen

Belen Yard is briefly seen. Quickly, moves along to the first bridge. The longest of the seven. Double-stack traffic is dominant in this show. The tour on the first half is Eastbound to Mountainair.

Bridge One

Ten locomotives on the over 500 foot long Bridge One. Likely, a power balance move.

2

Bridge 2 is  on a slight curve. Original Santa Fe scheme on the leader.

4

Bridge 4 hosts a quadruple set of BN green plus one Blue Santa Fe.

Newest BNSF scheme in front

Two different BNSF paint schemes on the point of this double-stack.

BNSF lettered Warbonnets

BNSF reletters on Santa Fe warbonnets are seen on bridges four and five.

5

A blue and yellow warbonnet SD45 is on the point of an Intermodal at Bridge Five.

Abo

Abo, New Mexico is at milepost 862. BNSF 4924, 4311 in orange and green. Relettered SF Warbonnet 742. Dash 9- 44CW engines with a mixed freight.

BNSF 8205 at Mountanair

Mountainair Depot. A grimy 8205 on a trio with a double-stack train. Turnaround and back towards Belen is next.

Bridge 7

Westbounders are next. Similar to first half of this show. Note the black cow, seems oblivious to the passing train above. An untouched Burlington Northern SD40-2 leads.

Bridge 6

General Electric C44-9W on the point. All of the pre and post merger paint schemes are present in this lash-up. Bridge six.

Abo Canyon and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway

Extensive coverage of Abo Canyon. This is from both directions. Videography is excellent. The soundtrack is very good. Although the narration is oddly placed, either left or right.

In summary.  This is an out and back tour covering around 15 miles through Abo Canyon. Early enough in the merger years to see a variety of locomotives. Paint ranges from original to the then current BNSF liveries.

A satisfactory program. Script is on the lightweight side. Little in historical background. Mainly, it is power focused, and locations are well documented.

Fine visual coverage of the route.

Rating: 4 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews Pentrex

EMDs Across America Volume Three

Producer: C Vision

Locations: AR,CO,KS,MO,ND,NE,SD

Timeframe: 2002-2020

Length: 1 hour 52 minutes

Source: Mike Savona

C. Vision continues this unique series in Volume 3. A contemporary look at surviving Electromotive of LaGrange diesels. These are still in service revenue locomotives. Shortlines featured in this show. Rural coverage in seven States.

A single DVD-R. Chapter Menu with subjects. On-screen graphics. Maps. Narration by Chris Laskowski.

Videography by Mike Savona. His work is excellent across all three volumes!

C Vision high quality in all production areas. Soundtrack is awesome on a stereo!

To the Trains…

Dakota, Missouri Valley, and Western SD45’s begin a long chapter in North Dakota.  A ballast train is East of Pierce. Old Milwaukee Road hoppers are well weathered and sport original numbers. 327 on the head. A former Montana Rail Link engine. Former BNSF line.

DMVW 7510

7510 leads at Forman, North Dakota.

KYLE Railroad is likely the best known of this bunch. Runs ex: Southern Pacific tunnel motors. SD40T-2 and SD45-2T power. The SP engines wear the SP Speed Lettering circa 1990s. A variety of paint on other motors. Former Rock Island mainline. A lengthy chapter.

KYLE

A raunchy looking  SD40-2 ex: BN 8041 with a new scheme SD tunnel motor in Gennesse & Wyoming style paint. Near Selden, Kansas.

KYLE

This ex: Southern Pacific 9333 is still in grey paint. The weathered SD45-T2 leads 3 additional tunnel motors on KYLE. This train is East of Prairie View, Kansas. Rewind to 2009-2011 with even more action.

Missouri & Northern Arkansas (MNA) on ex: MoPac trackage. Also, with tunnel motors and SD40-2 action. Circa 2018. Rail America to Genesee & Wyoming years. MNA ex: Union Pacific pair.

MNA

Two SD45-T2 units. 9362 / 9361 makes a set out at and crew change at Harrisonville, Missouri.

Pleasant Hill Station sees Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner pass through. Notice the Missouri Pacific caboose on display. Pleasant Hill, MO. Union Pacific Sedalia sub. Onto Lee’s Summit, MO. from 2003-2020. More UP paint.

Independence, MO. Former Union Pacific SD40M-2 2762 is in charge of this freight.

Norfolk River Bridge

At Norfolk, Arkansas. Two tunnel motors in 2017. Norfolk River crossing.

NK&CR

Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway. EMD 2nd generation units. Mainline is between Sterling, Colorado to Holdrege, Nebraska. Former Burlington Route tracks. 7427 going to Grant. One of its final runs with all 20 cylinders to be retired by 2018.

Working at 3:30am.

Sisseton Millbank Railroad. Operates in South Dakota. A rebuilt end cab switcher #561 handles the chores on former Milwaukee Road branchline. The current switcher is an SSB1200. Still retains a recognizable appearance. A bit homely looking, though.

Some 2013 footage. BNSF with interchange traffic is our Class One for the show. Millbank.

EMDs Across America Volume Three

Considering this release features no Class One railroads. It maintains interest with this collection of Shortlines. Although several BNSF trains are a nice inclusion.

Some locations, such as Kansas can make a decent argument for Flat Earthers. The settings are rural ones. However, the locomotives are interesting.

C.Vision has a consistent EMD series here. You may try one or get them all. Everyone is a winner!

Rating: 5 Stars

Categories
ATVR Reviews Pentrex

Columbia River Gorge Volume 2

Producer: Pentrex

Locations: Portland, Biggs, Hood River, Viento State Park, Cascade Locks, Multnomah Falls, Mosier, Troutdale

Timeframe: 1996 to 2000s

Length: 2 hours 18 minutes

Source: Will Hollaway

Union Pacific’s Portland Subdivision.

The Columbia River Gorge is very scenic. Union Pacific runs along the Columbia River’s Southern Shore to Portland, Oregon. Iron Horse America shot this video.

A single DVD. Main Chapter Menu is location based. David Drui is the narrator. Maps. Previews.

Now, Pentrex has Volume 1 with BNSF on the opposite shore in Washington in a previous release. Hence, Union Pacific is the subject of Volume 2. Many natural highlights. A good amount of BNSF is included here. Chicago Northwestern in UP lash-ups. Canadian Pacific seen on Spokane International freights. Potash trains, as well.

Image quality is very good plus. A slight softness on the 1996 footage.  Videography is excellent. The audio is excellent.  Overall, the soundtrack is louder than many Pentrex shows.

Many popular locations are included. Goff to Hood River and Mt. Hood Railway. Continues through Viento State Park, Multnomah Falls, Troutdale, and Portland. To name several. UP Rails are on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. Interstate 84 parallels along the route.

To the Trains…

Extra 3594

Starting at Goff by John Day Dam. Grain Extra 3594 is Eastbound. IT pulls forward with two SD engines.

Potash cars

CEFX SD90 units are on a Canpotex Potash Grain train at Biggs. Spokane International move, which also runs freights with various leased locomotives.

A BNSF auto rack from Bend, OR about to enter a tunnel. The UP tracks nearest the riverfront. A few miles from Biggs. What a dream scene for Model Railroaders.

Spokane International trains have various power. UP 5768 leads a mixed bag, including Canadian Pacific units.

Dalles Yard

The Dalles Yard has 9730 and 9104 moving out with a freight.. GP38-2 834 with 507 are back from local work.

4 unit lash-up

In 1996. At McClure Lake on the causeway. A Westbound is powered by two SD60M and two SD40-2 engines. Additional 2002 footage here.

Chicago NorthWestern 8617 at a rock cut with piggyback and containers is traveling Westbound. The 1996 footage includes plenty of CNW locomotives.

Eastbound UP 3594 / 3733. This empty grain train is too long for the siding. It eases past a Westbound.  A seesaw move at Mosier siding. 1996.

Mount Hood GP9 is ex: Southern Pacific

Mount Hood Railroad with a UP blowing by on the UP mainline. The tourist line is visited. Up

APL move

A UP stack train with many American President Lines containers at Viento State Park.

At 630 foot Multnomah Falls. A Westbound speeds through the scene.

7528 leads at Tunnel Point. Portland, Oregon is the final show destination.

Columbia River Gorge Volume 2

Excellent coverage of this attractive looking route. Many natural highlights are included. A fair amount of BNSF is viewed from across the river.

It’s a fine show that should satisfy not only Union Pacific fans but anyone interested in touring this remarkable line.

Rating: 5 Stars