Another excellent video production of the "America by Rail" series by Greg Scholl. This video follows the same format of the other 3 videos in the series with the music and the narration. This video is also the same with the extra excursion trains and stops along the way.
Starting in Chicago Illinios, Amtrak's Southwest Chief makes it;s way across the USA, following the old Santa Fe Route. We see the typical Illinos landscape before darkness hits. There are scenes from within the train of dining and pulling the beds down for the night. Throughout the video, scenes from aboard the train, in the cab, and rail side are all part of this adventure. Like all the "America by Rail" series, there are the stops along the way. This journey is filled with some interesting locations like the Eisenhower Museum, where we are even treated to scenes of the President and his wife on board a train from an archive film. A side trip to Santa Fe, via the Santa Fe Southern Railway, and the American Orient Express makes an appearance. One of my favorate scenes is the Verde Canyon Railroad in Arizona. It's a beautiful trip through a very scenic area. The engines have a unique paint scheme with a bald eagle on them. Then there is a trip to the Grand Canyon, whichs includes a helicopter ride over the area.
Near the end of the video are some intersting locations in the state of California, which includes the Orange Empire Railway Museum. The history lover's will enjoy this part of the video as old trolley cars make them way area the museum.
This is an excellent video production that all rail fans, and even non-rail fans will enjoy many times over again.
I highly recommend this to all.

As with all of the other America by Rail programs, this one shows a long-distance Amtrak train, the Southwest Chief, running the entire route all the way from Chicago to Los Angeles. Furthermore, there is informative narration on the route of the train itself along with side trips to other locations and trains (i.e. Abilene, KS; Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad; Cumbres & Toltec; Santa Fe Southern; American Orient Express; Verde Canyon Railroad; Orange Empire Railway Museum; Ghost Town and Calico Railroad) as well as one national park, in this case the Grand Canyon National Park. However, one of the unique things about this program is that it was probably produced in cooperation with Amtrak because some of the areas on the train are inaccessible to the public, especially today since September 11 (i.e. the dining car lower level as well as behind-the-scenes footage of chefs in the dining car cooking meals for the patrons on the train). In addition, there is a more detailed look at the classes of service that Amtrak Superliners offer especially for those who want to take an Amtrak trip for themselves for the first time ranging from the coaches to the sleeper cars to the dining car and the lounge car.

Overall, this program is as great as the other America by Rail programs in this series.

Additional remarks by Nikhil Murthy:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Definitely!
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

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Nice program. The side trips were interesting. The cab ride and track side alternation is well proportioned. I'd highly recommend the pop-out. I'm sure the whole series is great.

Additional remarks by docalpha:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Very enjoyable video! My wife and I took the Empire Builder last year,
we are going to ride the California Zephyr this year, and we may
ride the Southwest Chief next year. I was especially impressed with
the sharp graphics.

Additional remarks by Chris and Sally Beaton:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? Definitely.

...Nice review of the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA..
Some interesting sidelights away from the route that are entertaining. Gives you scenic railroads and a few historic places that are eye-catching.. (If you've never been there)
Was interested in the Raton Pass part in New Mexico.. Saw the Chief highball "out of Lamy" a few years ago, and the DVD put me right back at the same spots, as if I was there again! Love the scenery too..

Additional remarks by RBZ:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Made in 1997, this final ABR video discovers the life of cowboys, canyons, cab rides, and great southwest action. Eventually most of these segments were used in other videos such as, The Alphabet Train, Cab Ride Along The Santa Fe Trail, Rocky Mountain Snowplow, Cumbres & Toltec (1999 version), and some supplemental scenes which were never used in ths video.

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