In this program, it starts with the unretired northern pacing, followed by the logo and the title for the show. The date is April 28, 1989 (just 2 days after actress and comedian Lucy Ball ended her life) and 8444 is making some preparations before the big month long journey in all of the western region of America, followed by the chase leaving Cheyenne on the number 3 track over Sherman hill. Snow is falling from the sky. Only pentrex and Goodheart was there for 8444�s first days of the trip west while Mark 1, and Greg Scholl chased 4449 from Portland. The snowy weather is gone as 8444 climbs over the continental divide. E unit 951 is behind the northern, for the most photographed event with SP 6051 and Santa Fe 347 from the California state railroad museum in Sacramento. The following day, April 29, 8444 leaves green river heading to Salt Lake City. These next scenes shows some snow flurries falling from the sky as 8444 passes by echo canyon. With some help from 951�s dynamic brakes, it approaches Ogden. Next the engine rolls alongside the riverbed, and it departs Ogden for Salt Lake City, with the city dome included, and a look at the original station which is now a museum. The following day being April 30, 8444 is on public display while workmen washed and cleaned the train. On May 1 (Amtrak�s 18th birthday), 8444 heads for the Southwest region as it is on the freight only line which is known as the caliente subdivision. The Utah desert looks stunning as the unretired northern picks up the pace. At Milford Utah, the engine stays overnight. On May 2, the once Brand new SD60M number 6085 was added. Next the entire train heads through the canyon on the caliente subdivision to Las Vegas, followed by a short s curve at the tunnel. Afterwards it whistles past the water tower. Arriving at the gambling city, 8444 slows down to a complete stop for a short ceremony. On May 3rd while 8444 is on display, the Goodheart coverage of 4449 begins somewhere south of Oakland. On this trip the red and orange 4-8-4 wore 2 different whistles minus the rarely used air horn. Of course Greg Scholl was there to chase 4449 to Los Angeles. On May 4, the coverage of 8444 is resumed as it rolls through the desert west of Vegas. Next 8444 leaves California�s afton canyon for an overnight stop in Yermo. On May 5, 4449 heads south alongside the Pacific Ocean. This scene was recorded from a helicopter. Followed by a ground level shot along the cliffs. Then the helicopter chase resumes as 4449 paces alongside highway 101. You can barely hear one of 4449�s 2 whistles at a railroad crossing. Leaving the ocean behind, it enters through Oxnard. Next 4449 conquers Santa Susanna Pass, And it leaves through one of the tunnels down the line and enters and exits another tunnel. More helicopter angles are included as 4449 makes a bend. After passing mission tower, one of the Grand moments of US steam railroading in the 80s are included as both 4449 and 8444 whistle side by side for the grand entrance into the station. Not only was the local media, national media, and some visitors from America and the world were there, but noteworthy railroad video producers, Pentrex, Greg Scholl, Mark 1, Video Rails, Dave Goodheart and some forgotten producers were there for the Grand Event. Many of the night photos were shot by the late Jim Boyd. On Monday May 8, 4449 is waiting for 8444 from San Bernardino for the epic race over Cajon Pass. As the 2 northerns get underway with some helicopter footage, 4449�s fireman Jack Wheelihan did some commentary. 2 helicopters were used for the climb. One for Goodheart productions, the other for Mark 1. Pentrex was onboard 8444, while Greg recorded the climb from the ground. At Sullivan�s curve, 8444 continues its journey northbound to the Pacific Northwest, while 4449 had to come to an emergency stop due to the thick black smoke billowing out of the funnel. While 4449 is being serviced, Amtrak�s long discontinued desert wind meets the red and orange northern heading for Los Angeles from Salt Lake City. Not only is the desert wind a thing of the past, but so too are the F40s. Not long after the steam locomotives participate the climb over Cajon Pass, the attitude for Railfans suddenly changed to a painful event, as a runaway southbound freight crashed through lots of houses destroying almost each and every residential village of the Pass. The cause was revealed to be something blocking inside the air pipe of the freight which powered the main brakes. It is really sad to see a week difference from steam climbing uphill to a runaway diesel powered freight destroying the town. 4449 meets a freight with a bay window caboose, as it heads to Bakersfield for the San Joaquin daylight as well as the Sacramento Jazz train. Meanwhile 8444 is heading east across the desert in afton canyon. 8444 crosses the state border with the providence mountains in the background. As night falls in Las Vegas, 8444 sits on display for the trip north. The next day, it is rolling the caliente subdivision, through the Nevada desert, and it heads alongside meadow valley wash. At caliente Nevada, gun slingers welcome the train. Meanwhile, the crew is maintaining the engine. Next it leaves the tunnel at clover creek canyon. At Milford Utah, the engine spends the night under the sky. The following Wednesday May 10 (which is the 120th anniversary of the golden spike), 8444 gets underway again. The final scene of 8444 is included as it approaches Salt Lake City. For continued coverage of 8444 in May of 1989, please insert 8444 down the deschutes. Meanwhile, 4449 is leaving Bakersfield on Thursday May 11, for the trip to Sacramento on the San Joaquin daylight special. Some Rio Grande coaches are added on the rear as well as onboard footage from the rear of the observation car. At Fresno, 4449 comes to a stop for service and also to speak the night. Rebuilt SD40-2 number 7308 couples up to the coaches on the rear. On Friday May 12, 4449 crosses the San Joaquin River. Cab footage of the red and orange northern is shown. Engineer Doyle McCormack takes the controls, while jack does some flue sanding in the firebox. On this trip a high pitched 5 chime whistle is included, while in some scenes 4449�s own whistle is included from Doyle�s side. Arriving at the Amtrak Sacramento depot, everyone celebrates the city�s 150th birthday, with jazz music, vintage dancers, and ending the video with balloons flying in the sky.

It�s hard to imagine that it�s been 30 years since one of the most popular steam specials of the 80s heads for the golden year in LA Union Station.

Additional remarks by Steamboy:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!