Shot between 2007 and 2020, we take you to mostly western venues to see a wide variety of diesel power and scenic locations. We begin with an Amtrak segment, but on BNSF's Raton Pass line which features some semaphore shots made in 2020. These were the last ones on the line, and may be gone by the time you read this. We see both trains 3 and 4, The Southwest Chief on two different days of operation. So this is an interesting way to start our show.
Next we move into Colorado to Palmer Lake south of Colorado Springs. This is the Joint line of the BNSF and the Union Pacific. We see 3 different BNSF trains including some with distributed power on the rear. Next we move over to the front range west of Denver and see a Union Pacific Train, and a BNSF descending the grade. These have distributed power helpers as well.
Staying in Colorado we head to Fort Collins where we see some street running. We see a Union Pacific local train, as well as two BNSF trains heading north. It's interesting to see the trains mix with the city traffic and pedestrians.
Next we venture to the Powder River basin for coal train action. This is mainly shot not far from Gillette, but a bit south of there. We see a parade of loaded and empty trains, mostly with distributed power helpers. There is also some older power on a ballast train, and a local train. You will also see some oil well pumps bobbing in the foreground of some scenes. This is all shot in fine weather as well.
Now we move to further north and west to the Wind River Canyon region. This scenic area follows the Wind River and the canyon is very scenic. We see some foreign power as well as some older units, besides the usual modern wide-cabs. Most trains are manifest mixed freights. This area is not seen too often.
Our final segment is one of the longer segments feature the Montana Rail Link trackage. We begin with an MRL local train, then see mostly BNSF trains using the MRL to get to the Pacific NW parts of Portland and Seattle. Most of the footage is shot west of Helen in the helper district over Mullan Pass. Most trains are BNSF with helpers, or distributed power or both. A couple of MRL trains are seen, including one that has manned helpers cut in mid-train. Trains are working hard, and the scenery is great, with many shots around Austin Creek trestle, and Austin, among others.
As you can see there is a lot packed into this contemporary diesel video.
83 Minutes plus previews of other shows.
Next we move into Colorado to Palmer Lake south of Colorado Springs. This is the Joint line of the BNSF and the Union Pacific. We see 3 different BNSF trains including some with distributed power on the rear. Next we move over to the front range west of Denver and see a Union Pacific Train, and a BNSF descending the grade. These have distributed power helpers as well.
Staying in Colorado we head to Fort Collins where we see some street running. We see a Union Pacific local train, as well as two BNSF trains heading north. It's interesting to see the trains mix with the city traffic and pedestrians.
Next we venture to the Powder River basin for coal train action. This is mainly shot not far from Gillette, but a bit south of there. We see a parade of loaded and empty trains, mostly with distributed power helpers. There is also some older power on a ballast train, and a local train. You will also see some oil well pumps bobbing in the foreground of some scenes. This is all shot in fine weather as well.
Now we move to further north and west to the Wind River Canyon region. This scenic area follows the Wind River and the canyon is very scenic. We see some foreign power as well as some older units, besides the usual modern wide-cabs. Most trains are manifest mixed freights. This area is not seen too often.
Our final segment is one of the longer segments feature the Montana Rail Link trackage. We begin with an MRL local train, then see mostly BNSF trains using the MRL to get to the Pacific NW parts of Portland and Seattle. Most of the footage is shot west of Helen in the helper district over Mullan Pass. Most trains are BNSF with helpers, or distributed power or both. A couple of MRL trains are seen, including one that has manned helpers cut in mid-train. Trains are working hard, and the scenery is great, with many shots around Austin Creek trestle, and Austin, among others.
As you can see there is a lot packed into this contemporary diesel video.
83 Minutes plus previews of other shows.
Customer Reviews
- 4 of 5
In the late Greg's second all-diesel Blu-Ray (first to have narration), the Coverage from the angles of Ron Burkhard begins on the route of Amtrak's Southwest Chief between La Junta Colorado & Albuquerque New Mexico with most of the since been replaced Semaphore Signals that was filmed in February & March of 2020 during production before & after Greg's other video: The Rotary. From New Mexico, we moved to Palmer Lake on the Joint Line which the date during the visit is May 5th 2008 (the day after Ron photographed Lake Superior & Ishpeming 2-8-0 number 18 operating a Freight Special on the since closed Rio Grande Scenic Railroad which was captured in "Steam Over La Veta Pass"). On one scene, number 9647 is in the experimental paint scheme while operating a loaded coal train to the powder river basin in Wyoming. Next, we moved North on the Moffat Tunnel line as a Union Pacific coal train arrives from the Craig Branch with a pair of Southern Pacific units helping out on one scene. East of here, we moved to Fort Collins in August of 2008 with a quartet of Union Pacific SD40-2s while heading to the cement plant on a manifest in one scene. Moving North to Wyoming, the date is October 2nd 2007 as this segment takes us to the Powder River Basin. On One scene, a loaded coal train passes by some oil pumpers at Donkey Creek while negotiating an S curve. Not to mention a local with a Burlington Northern Caboose. Afterwards, we moved to the Wind River area that was captured Yesterday (the first day of October 2007) that includes a chase of a freight with a blue & white SD60 in charge, as well as another train with a Kansas City Southern Unit in the Consist. Last but not least is a visit to the since-sold Montana Rail Link that was captured on October 5th 2018, as there is a 2 unit local while switching around, & 2 days later on October 7th, there is a ton of action on Mullan Pass where in one scene, a Ferromex unit is crossing the curved trestle known as Austin Creek Bridge & Later a Citi-Rail unit helps out with some pusher service. The next day October 8th finds a freight train at Bonita Tunnel. The October 2018 visit to the Montana Rail Link is the longest segment in this program & is a nice companion to the Montana Combo DVD.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Good value.
Recommend? Definitely.
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- 2 of 5
Really a shame, as the locations and scenery were very nice, but the videography made this tough to watch. Still shots were fine, but panning was not, very jerky.<br>Also, many trains were filmed in windy conditions, and the fur-covered windsock was visible in the top of the frame.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
Value: Seemed a little high.
Recommend? Only if really interested.
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