Union Pacifics Cascade Sub Part I and II 2 DVD Set 7idea craigv on 2010-02-18 09:49:36.
People who found this review helpful: 7
As with the more recent Feather River video, this Cascade video features excellent photography, and great effort to capture many angles. What makes this older video very distinctive is that the producers had to hike in to some very remote, hilly sites. No one else has covered the Cascade route adequately in the past, due to this low accessibility. Nothing from Pentrex. Nothing yet from Highball or the others. Yet not only does 7idea cover it, but they do so thoroughly and provide an outstanding product which I will view many times.
There were some shots, including those taken in extreme temperatures and snow, ice, thunderstorms . . . that frankly left me being astonished with their intrepid effort to document the line in all conditions. Bravo. I would never have had the courage or stamina.
I own detailed UP track profiles of the route, available on ebay. Armed with that, and this video, it provides a great virtual visit to a beautiful area, historic line, heavy grades, and curves --- in ways that I would not otherwise see.
Given the heavy grades (and being a veteran of Cajon Pass who grew up in that area) the SOUND of locomotives battling the grades is just as important as the VIDEO !! That is an attribute that some other producers do not understand. But 7idea does, and they have captured great sound. I use train videos to do my stairmaster and cycling workout by, down in the basement thru my old college stereo, and this video has the whole house shaking. The narrator is excellent, but I would like to have the option of turning the narration off or on for subsequent viewings.
The first thing I did after viewing this video, was order their companion Mt. Shasta line video. I own about 100+ train videos, and there is a lot of subject redundancy. (I probably have 10 or so on Tehachapi). But 7idea has mastered this route, I might add a route with scenery that transcends my old haunts like Beaumont Pass. Thanks!
As a Blu-Ray and HDTV owner, I would love to see 7idea embrace that technology. Given their quality of sound and image, a full high-definition (and widescreen format as with Marias Pass video) would add to the impressive quality of their products.
Additional remarks by craigv: Narration: A little bit too much. Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it. Image quality: Excellent! DVD Value: Excellent Value! Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!
Union Pacifics Cascade Sub Part I and II 2 DVD Set 7idea dmacleo (Maine) on 2014-06-26 15:59:27.
People who found this review helpful: 4
nice scenery and good production, good value for the money as its 2 discs.
Additional remarks by dmacleo: Narration: Just enough. Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it. Image quality: Excellent! DVD Value: Excellent Value! Recommend to others? Yes.
Union Pacifics Cascade Sub Part I and II 2 DVD Set 7idea mysp7377 (San Diego, Ca.) on 2012-03-28 17:40:34.
People who found this review helpful: 4
Simple:Excellent DVD in every way. This covers an area that's hard to rail fan and you don't see many other DVD producers trying to cover it. I tried rail fanning this division myself a couple of times when I was with the SP but most of it is hard to get into. 7Idea does a fantastic job covering the action from Eugene to Klamath Falls, at Chemult the BNSF ex BN main line joins the UP line to Klamath Falls with some great action from both railroads. Its a steal at this price for a two volume set shot in this kind of quality. Great train action, fantastic scenery, plus some nice coverage of UP/SP heritage ACE 1996. An A++++ job.
Additional remarks by mysp7377: Narration: Just enough. Would kids enjoy this? Maybe. Image quality: Excellent! DVD Value: Excellent Value! Recommend to others? Definitely.
Union Pacifics Cascade Sub Part I and II 2 DVD Set 7idea Dave (Harrisburg PA) on 2012-03-09 14:39:12.
People who found this review helpful: 4
Never heard of 7ideaproductions before. But what a job they did with the Union Pacific line from Eugene to Klamath Falls Oregon. The pictures were great and the narration was knowlegable. I feel like I know that line, even though I've never been to Oregon. The only thing I could pick on is their lack-of-coverage of Oakridge Yard. There's stuff there and they didn't show it. Still...I love it and watch both DVDs twice a week.
Additional remarks by Dave: Narration: Just enough. Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it. Image quality: Good. DVD Value: Excellent Value! Recommend to others? Definitely.
Union Pacifics Cascade Sub Part I and II 2 DVD Set 7idea bigvan on 2009-10-04 21:37:12.
People who found this review helpful: 4
Hey this is a GREAT DVD I grew up and surveyed for ODOT for 37 1/2 years and we worked on the Blue Pool slide just above Oakridge. The slide sent the railroad (Then Southern Pacific) down toward the highway we worked with there surveyors and we did other suveys from Eugene to Klamath Falls and on to the California line with the railroad just very close by. Just wish I could have been a surveyor for the railroads back about 1900.
Additional remarks by bigvan: Narration: Just enough. Would kids enjoy this? Maybe. Image quality: Excellent! DVD Value: Excellent Value! Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!
Union Pacifics Cascade Sub Part I and II 2 DVD Set 7idea armchairrailfan on 2009-08-12 00:05:31.
People who found this review helpful: 4
Southern Pacific built the Cascade Sub in western Oregon to bypass the curvature and steep grades on the old line through the Willamette Valley and over the Siskiyou Mountains. The Cascade Sub includes 40 miles of 1.6 percent grade, the longest continuous grade on the former SP (including Donner Pass!). UP had considerable problems using DPUs on this line due to the tunnels and grades, causing them to switch back to manned helpers while upgrading the communications system.
<p>Disc one covers the line from Eugene OR south to Cascade Summit. This is very scenic territory including fertile farmland in the Willamette Valley, dense forest and near desert high plains. Highlights include the nicely restored 180 foot long Westfir Covered Bridge on the West Fork of the Willamette River near Oakridge OR and the curved trestle crossing Salt Creek.
<p>Disc two covers the line from Cascade Summit south to Klamath Falls OR. This DVD has some of the best snow scenes that I have seen on a railfan DVD. One scene early in this video was shot in an area with nearly 5 feet of snow on the ground. We get to see a Pike Plow in action – a self propelled spreader. BNSF trackage rights trains are seen enroute from the former WP High Line to the Oregon Trunk Sub which begins a Chemult OR. An added bonus is video from a few years ago of the now discontinued Swift Road Railer. Topping this DVD off, we see the UP 1996 – the SP Heritage SD70ACe departing on it's first revenue run.
<p>Narration is more than sufficient. Train symbol markers are included for many trains, and location markers including the milepost are provided for most locations. The photography is excellent – as good as it gets. The only thing that could improve this video is widescreen format. This video is a MUST HAVE for UP fans, mountain railroading fans as well as those who like winter scenes.
Additional remarks by armchairrailfan: Narration: A little bit too much. Would kids enjoy this? Maybe. Image quality: Excellent! DVD Value: Excellent Value! Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!
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