Pentrex traveled to Donner Pass in the winter of 2009-2010, spending several weeks to capture the revitalized action that can now be found on the Roseville Subdivision. The Union Pacific had just finished a 12-month project to increase the clearances in 15 tunnels and snow sheds on Donner Pass so that doublestack trains could again be routed over this crossing of the Sierra Nevada range. Southern Pacific once ran doublestacks over Donner Pass but as larger containers with extra height evolved, its successor, Union Pacific, had been compelled to route its container trains over the Feather River Canyon instead, and traffic on Donner declined to a trickle of its former intensity. However, in 2008 UP decided it would be worth the cost to "raise the roof" on the shorter, faster line to expedite delivery of intermodal freight by several hours when compared to the more lengthy transit of the former Western Pacific line. As a result, traffic is now flowing over Donner in abundance!
You'll see types of trains showcased here: grain trains, fruit trains, auto trains, general freight, and Amtrak's California Zephyr. We'll show them battling the stiff grades and serpentine curves that railroaders face on Donner. The spotlight, however, is on the enormous doublestack trains, some of them up to 9,000-feet long! Once again, the sounds of laboring diesels hauling containers by the hundreds echo off the granite walls of this historic pass. At last you can see those massive doublestacks slugging their way over the crest of the jaw-dropping 7,000-foot summit. There is nothing quite like Doublestacks Over Donner!
DVD Special Features:
* Chapter Menus provide instant access to program segments.
* Special Audio Feature provides the option of watching the program with or without narration
2 Hours
In Color with Stereo Sound and Narration
Presented in High Definition 16x9 Format
No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide
Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case
ISBN: 1-56342-295-6
UPC: 7-48268-00578-7
Copyright Pentrex 2010
You'll see types of trains showcased here: grain trains, fruit trains, auto trains, general freight, and Amtrak's California Zephyr. We'll show them battling the stiff grades and serpentine curves that railroaders face on Donner. The spotlight, however, is on the enormous doublestack trains, some of them up to 9,000-feet long! Once again, the sounds of laboring diesels hauling containers by the hundreds echo off the granite walls of this historic pass. At last you can see those massive doublestacks slugging their way over the crest of the jaw-dropping 7,000-foot summit. There is nothing quite like Doublestacks Over Donner!
DVD Special Features:
* Chapter Menus provide instant access to program segments.
* Special Audio Feature provides the option of watching the program with or without narration
2 Hours
In Color with Stereo Sound and Narration
Presented in High Definition 16x9 Format
No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide
Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case
ISBN: 1-56342-295-6
UPC: 7-48268-00578-7
Copyright Pentrex 2010
Customer Reviews
👍 1 found this helpful
- 4 of 5
More than double stacks enroute east & west. This video has a nice variety of trains.... auto, manifest, Amtrak passenger, grain... etc. But the show does belong to the intermodal double stacks as they finally are able to run over Donner Pass following a huge upgrade of the line. Very interesting to watch the giants climbing 2%+ grades and battling the Pass.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? Definitely.
Was this review helpful?
👍 1 found this helpful
- 5 of 5
I think this is an excellent program of Donner Pass in the modern doublestack era. I can't help but compare it to 7ideaproductions Donner Pass program. Both Pentrex and 7idea cover the Roseville to Sparks sector but Pentrex covers more locations although they don't shoot at the summit due to heavy snow. Their tour of the line takes 2 hours. The 7idea program shoots the same territory but has many scenes at the summit and one inside a snowshed. They cover the area in one hour and 30 minutes so there isn't as much individual attention to locations as Pentrex but 7idea adds 30 minutes at the end of the program showing winter snow fighting trains amidst blizzard conditions at times. How they were able to get these shots, I will never know.
I would recommend getting both of these programs. Each is excellent in its own way.
I would recommend getting both of these programs. Each is excellent in its own way.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? "Must Have"!
Was this review helpful?
👍 1 found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase
- 4 of 5
I really enjoyed this DVD, I really enjoy watching any railroad video having to do with Donner Pass be it present day railroad or steam and early diesels on Donner Pass.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? Yes.
Was this review helpful?
👍 1 found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase
- 5 of 5
If you love double-stacks as much as I do, then you will definitely want this DVD in your collection! This has some great scenery with some truly awesome footage in it. I've seen some of the footage in other Pentrex videos but, for the most part this video has plenty of unseen footage and I highly recommend the video for your collection!
Additional comments:
Narration can be turned off.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? "Must Have"!
Was this review helpful?
👍 1 found this helpful
- 5 of 5
This video is in typical Pentrex style. Professionally done,with great scenery and lots of action. I would highly recommend it.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? "Must Have"!
Was this review helpful?
👍 1 found this helpful
- 4 of 5
This DVD provides a different view of the fabulous Donner Pass. I enjoyed the DVD but I liked the Pentrex Donner Combo better. While the object of buying this disc is to watch trains, I also like a bit of the scenery included for us foreign train layout modelers, and on this I could have seen a little more. Over all the disc could be higher definition for big screen TVs, but it is still enjoyable.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
Value: Good value.
Recommend? Definitely.
Was this review helpful?
- 5 of 5
this definitely a good program about double stacks services on donner pass got this as a Christmas present on Christmas day defiantly worth the money
Additional comments:
Narration: Could have used more.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
Value: Fair.
Recommend? "Must Have"!
Was this review helpful?
✓ Verified Purchase
- 5 of 5
I enjoyed the dvd very much. As I am a doublestack fan, it was amazing to watch these monster stack trains climb over Donner Pass. I was out that way in 2006 and went to watch trains at the trench in Reno, Nv. There was no action in the 2 and a half hours I was there and now I understand why. All the trains were going over the Feather Canyon route.
Additional comments:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Excellent!
Value: Excellent value!
Recommend? Definitely not.
Was this review helpful?