This program covers a visit to Dolton on May 11 and May 12, 2000. on the former Chicago & Eastern Illinois territory which later became joint Missouri Pacific (now Union Pacific) and Louisville & Nashville (now CSX). In addition, the Indiana Harbor Belt is also represented at Dolton.

As with previous Hot Spots installments, there is a timestamp model used in this program. On the first day, the photographer filmed the first train at 7:49 AM and the last train was filmed at 7:15 PM which is approximately 12 hours. On the second day, the first train was filmed at 8:25 AM and the last train was 5:30 PM, 9 hours after the first train was filmed. An added bonus is a slideshow in the end of the program showing Tower Operator Ralph Eisenbrandt retiring on June 30, 2000, 1 month after the filming.

Many different kinds of trains are featured. One of the most interesting trains is the Bottle Train with its cars being of a unique design. In addition, Amtrak makes 2 appearances represented in the form of the Cardinal and Kentucky Cardinal. The Cardinal was filmed on the first day as it was on a Thursday having left Washington DC the day before and the following day, Friday, the Kentucky Cardinal was filmed. The second Amtrak appearance has the MOST AWESOME Amtrak locomotive lashup ever captured on video in my opinion due to the variety of motive power and paint schemes with a Dash 8 in Phase IV paint leading followed by an F40 in Phase III paint, a GP40TC in Phase III paint, and 2 Genesis locomotives in Phase III and Phase IV paint respectively.

In Part 7 of the Highball Hot Spots Series, a visit to Dolton Junction Illinois on May 11th & the next day the 12th of 2000 was made as this Joint Line/Diamond located in the Southern Chicago area contains a parade of diesels on Conrail with GP40-2 number 4444, CSX, Indiana Harbor Belt, Soo Line, HLCX Leasing, FURX Leasing, Metra Commuter, Norfolk Southern, ATGX leasing with a Burlington Northern C30-7, Union Pacific with the 3000 series & 4000 series SD40-2s plus the Dash 8-40CWs & C40-8s, MPI, Burlington Northern, Southern Pacific, Amtrak with the Cardinal on the 5-12-2000 trip, BNSF, Kansas City Southern, Canadian Pacific with SD40-2s, LRCX Leasing with a former Santa Fe unit, AT&SF with 2 Red & Silver Warbonnets on train Q587, EMD, Chicago & Northwestern with a Dash 8-40CW, HLGX Leasing, GATX Leasing, Wisconsin Central, & St. Lawrence & Hudson with SD40-2 5654, RMGX Leasing with a BN Unit, GECX Leasing with Union Pacific 4000 (not the scrapped Big Boy), BNSF, & Canadian National. Besides the Trains, there is also a visit to the 1897 built tower with a brief interview from Signalman Ralph Eisenbrant, not to mention the weather changing from cloudy skies to an unexpected Thunderstorm on the 5-11-2000 trip. With Minimal Narration from Camera Operator Peter Crooke, this is one Hot Spot that many Railfans would visit again & again. A bonus slideshow containing the Signalman’s final days of operation for the railroad is also included at the end of the program.

Dolton is always interesting, no matter who has produced a video on it. This is no exception. Lots of trains from various companies. Seeing inside the tower is very interesting as we learn some of how it works. My favorite was watching the hot steel train on the move, known as the "bottle train". Good production.