Tag: trains

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ATVR Reviews Clear Block

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

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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

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ATVR Reviews Pentrex

Those Incredible Alcos Volume 3

Producer: Pentrex

Locations: USA, Canada, Mexico

Timeframe: 1986-1997

Length: 1 hour 58 minutee

The final installment of this series. Each features Alco diesel locomotives. Later models appropriate to the time progression. Big Century road power is featured. Schenectady built to Montreal Locomotive Works.

These engines are seen on a variety of railroads. Mainline, Shortlines and Industrial service. Contains some previously released film.

A single DVD. Main Chapter Menu by locomotive types. Billboards with locomotive specifications. No maps. Narration by Dave Drui.

Schenectady built designations. C-425 example. C for Century type. 4 is the four axles. 25 shows 2500 horsepower.

By the way. The old rule of thumb on Alco versus Electromotive of LaGrange engines. The Alcos blow black smoke. The EMDs blow blue.

To the Trains..

MLW RS-27

Montreal built RS-27/C424 types with CP Rail 4217/ 4250. Brownsville Jct, Maine, a freight from Canada to the Banger and Aroostook.

Former Delaware and Hudson

Two Centuries to New Brighton, Minnesota.  C-424M is Delaware and Hudson. Old number was 462. Cheap paint over marks it as 62 now. The D&H was rebuilt. GBW 313 trails.

Hamburg,  New York

Susquehanna 2010 with a high hood. Hamburg, New York. A C-420. 251 powered and was originally on Long Island.

Holbrook,  Arizona

C-420M operate at Holbrook, Arizona, on the Apache Railway. The 5 units pull into the yard. This being located off the Santa Fe mainline.

Alco C-628 in Mexico

C-628. The last Survivors were working for FCP in Mexico. Number 606 was built in 1966. Pentrex Mexico’s Pacifico Railroad the source for this footage.

C-425

C-425. Erie Lackawanna had the first order. Former BCOL 603 is on Mohawk,  Adirondack and Northern at Rome, New York.

The gray was originally Monon.

A trio of Alco diesels at Browns, Illinois. Lead is ex: L&N. The former BN was previously on KYLE.

Reading and Northern puffing smoke

C-630 5308 is restored in Reading Lines- Beeline Service scheme. This is on Reading and Northern. A 3000 horsepower diesel. Owned by Reading Technical and Historical Society. Working on a Special Excursion Train with an ex: GBW engine, nee Reading Lines.

Cape Breton

C-630M trio on Cape Breton. Trains operating in Nova Scotia. Impressive to see these hauling freight at track speed. Additional units in BC Rail paint are viewed in Mexico, working for FNM.

Alco in center is former demo.

Cartier still operating C-636 and M-636 models. They haul ore predominantly.

HR-616

Continues with a variety of Bombardier built units. HR-616 was a modernized Century.

Those Incredible Alcos Volume 3

An intriguing show packed with hard to find Alco and Montreal Locomotive Works power. Visits multiple countries to document the assorted examples. No vintage footage. Seems to have been shot in the 1990s.

There is much more to see. Obviously, the review format just has highlights.

The usual high quality Pentrex production.

Alcophiles need this program. Plenty of surprises and perhaps unknown diesels. Any Model Railroader od Railfan should find this wide-ranging show interesting.

Rating: 5 Stars

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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

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ATVR Reviews Pentrex

CSX Mountain Sub

Producer: Pentrex

Locations: Grafton, Cranberry Grade, 17 Mile Grade, Altamont, Keyser

Timeframe: 2000

Length: 1 hour 36 minutes

CSX’s former B&O line from Grafton, West Virginia, to Keyser, WV. This is the CSX Mountain subdivision. It actually extends to Cumberland.

This is a contemporary visit to the route. All the trains are identified by symbols and locations.

A single DVD-R. Main Chapter Menu. On-screen graphics. Map. Previews. Narrated by Dave Drui.

Image is in 4×3. Live environmental audio. High quality in all areas.

To the Trains…

Begins at a key location. Grafton, WV. in January. Locomotive servicing and yard. CSX 442 (AC44CW)  heads  through coal move. Train V-840 is going to a power plant in Pennsylvania. The AC44CW units are common power. This D-Tower was closed in 1999. Many of the old towers are included.

The 2667 works the yard

Seaboard System 2667 is ex: L&N. A rare find. One of the last on CSX still wearing this livery. At East Grafton Yard.

Three Fork Creek

There are many Winter scenes. At Thornton,  a Q-316 rolls past. Three Fork Creek.

A return in the Spring season. The 640 is a 6000 horsepower  GE CW60-9AC with an EMD SD70MAC. This departs Newburg after having 2 helpers added at the rear. Train T-862. Newburg Grade is one of four on this sub.

381 on Train U-823

Tunnelton’s approaching tracks have many curves. Hiorra Road sees engines 381 and 167 on the Cheat Grade. Train U-823 is a coal to Maryland move.

In the Fall. CSX leader with an intriguing lashup of older power. Mixed freight consist. A Union Pacific is the far flung locomotive.

Coal is King

Check out the coal train further up the line. Piled high. Memorable view.

Tray Run Viaduct with a Helper set #496 leading from Newburg. This huge 3 arch structure is located on The Cheat River Grade.

Cheat River Bridge in the Fall. Train W-510. Grafton to Cumberland. Notice the contrast of the forest between Fall and Winter. East of here is Cranberry Grade.

Cranberry Grade

Train Q-316 is on Cranberry Grade. GP38-2 #2665 is on the point of this fascinating lash-up. The old B&O signals are still functional.

Q-317

Train Q-317 is at the Summit of Allegenies. CSX 7624 is a General Electric C40-8.

Downhill on 17 Mile Grade

A coal train V-628 travels slowly downhill on 17 Mile Grade. Bloomington, Maryland. CSX 762 out front.

CSX Mountain Sub

This show offers a look at a route that is uncommonly seen. The majority of Railfans focus on the Sand Patch line. Here is an interesting trip on a similar type of line, with some key highlights in the show.

Many old towers were still standing. They are included. Twisting trackage results in great scenes. Coal Train aficionados get a full belly.

A variety of seasonal visits add interest. Some locations are quite rare on videos. Excellent map references. Intelligent script.

To hear the train horns reverberate in the mountains is straight-up fun. Listen to the motors run hard.

An enjoyable presentation.

Rating: 5 Stars