I was looking forward to receiving this video since some of my railroad interests are commuter trains and classic diesel power.

While this is a dated video, it's quite impressive. On this dvd, you are taken on a tour of Metra's line from Chicago's Union Station to Auroura. Runbys are meshed with a cab ride, and it's interesting to see the engineer controlling the throttle and watching the digital speedometer.

However, one aspect of this video which I didn't expect was the superb camera work. Whoever filmed it had an excellent eye for composition, color, and the ability to expertly pan and zoom to get maximum effect. There are some beautiful shots of the trains glimmering in the sunset, rounding curves and head-on views of the E units leaving the stations. Many shots in the first half of the show have the Sears Tower in the background.

You also see the unique stations along the line and a little bit of the communities it serves. At the end, there's a shot of the inside of an E unit, so you get to see its power plant in action.

This was a enjoyable video that I will watch again and again. Hopefully, Pentrex can do an updated video of the line in the near future.

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

Burlington northern e units looks at the bn's e units on chicago's commuter trains from chicago to Aurora illinois before they were retired from services in the early 90s pentrex explores the line with the triple track mainline named the race track on the afternoon dinky parade there's also a cab ride in unit 9914 starting from union station to aurora as the engineer drives the unit carefully with screeching nose and exhaust with stops at every station along the way this is a excellent look back at these units handling metra's commuter trains which is no longer seen in today's modern railroad operations

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

In this nearly 30 year old video from 1991, it starts with the Chicago skyline. Keep in mind that these scenes were recorded during production of today's Chicago railroading. More than 700,000 people are seen in busy streets followed by a map. Coming around the bend is 9916 with 9 bi-level coaches. Next a map of Chicago to aurora on the racetrack which is 36 miles away. Next up is engine 9901 leaving the city. A cab ride on the E unit is shown as it's passing A freight with a booster unit. A doubleheader is shown with 9907 and 9903. Another doubleheader is shown. This time it's led by 9910 and 9911 carrying 9 coaches. 9906 follows behind. An overhead shot from the bridge is shown as the sun goes down. The next day, 9914 is heading to union station. In the evening, an unknown unit is roaring through the signals. The next day, A tour of the 14th street yard is included as these diesels and coaches are being serviced. From the bridge, one commuter train couples to the other one that is led by 9904. 9923 is passing by the Amtrak service yard. Note the bay window caboose and The observation car with a dome that was used for the California zephyr. Another arrives. Inside the platforms of union station, 9914 departs. A cab ride is included. Meanwhile 9917 passes by the work crew as it leaves the station. Back in the cab, the tracks are on the left, and the Metra service yard is on the right. An overhead shot of 9924 is shown. Back in the cab it passes by the Amtrak coach yards, as An F40 arrives with 4 coaches. Back on The ground, 9920 is picking up speed. In the cab, it curves into canal street. From the ground, 9901 does the demonstration. In the cab, it goes under a bridge. Back in the ground, 9914 picked up speed. Meanwhile, 9905 is passing through A junction where one track takes passengers to the saint Charles airline. In the cab, it passes by the first station stop at haltstead street. Here it passes union avenue tower, as well as workers, and GP9 number 6174. Leaving the first station, A Chicago & Northwestern geep is on a local. From the ground, 9918 passes by the multi-lane tracks. The bridge in the background is for the city's own elevated subway system. The second station on the line is western avenue. Located just nearby the depot is the C&NW intermodal yard. Here 9907 makes a stop, and also departs. This station is the final depot in downtown Chicago. From here, the trains race on the elevated roadbed to the east end of Clyde in the town of Cicero. The diesel is at 57MPH. Entering Clyde yard, A 4 coach train is shown from the bridge, then cuts back to the cab for the third stop. The freight yard is on the left, as well as maintenance of way equipment. The road to the bridge is on the right. 9922 arrives and departs Cicero avenue. BN 6300 is doing some switching with some help from other units. From the cab, it passes by the Cicero yard, and crossing the diamonds. The regular freight yard is on the left, and the intermodal containers are on The right. From the bridge, 9919 passes by the hard with the Chicago skyline in the background. 9916 is being shown from one of the quiet zone crossings. The next station stop is Harlem avenue as 9923 makes a stop and departs. Harlem avenue is one of the 3 stations in the town of Berwyn Illinois. On the center track, 9907 is on the express line. Further down the line, there is a three way meet with an eastbound, A westbound with 9912, and another westbound with 9904. At riverside, an express with 9915 passes by a local with 9917. 9914 crosses over the bridge at the des Plaines river. Another station is shown known as Hollywood avenue is located nearby the local zoo in Brookfield. An eastbound with 9913 arrives for a passenger pickup at the zoo stop, then it heads for downtown Chicago. Moments later, A westbound arrives with 9904, then it too departs the zoo stop. Note the dolphins painted on the town's industrial water tower. The next station is Congress park. At sunset, 9922 arrives, then departs for a stop at a red signal. Again note the water tower in the background. At the same time, the express arrives passing by the waiting train. Afterwards, it switched directions to the inbound track, as it crosses the express track, then it heads back to union station. At la grange, an eastbound arrives at stone avenue. The lead unit is 9911. Back in the cab, A meet with an eastbound BN freight is shown. At western springs station, an uncommon water tower is shown in the background. An inbound arrives with 9901 pushing, then it heads for union station. Back in the cab, A look at the triple track line is shown. On the east side of Hinsdale is the interesting highlands station. An express passes by. Back in the cab, it goes under A bridge and through the switches. A look at downtown Hinsdale is shown. The original Hinsdale station is now a local bank. Back in the cab the engineer notches on the throttle. A meet with Amtrak California zephyr is shown as local 1219 departs. Back in the cab it passes by the road. Back outside, 9920 picks up the pace. At Clarendon hills, an inbound arrives with 9904 pushing. West of the depot, A triple track curve is shown as 9918 makes a bend. Following behind is 9912. At Westmont station, local 1262 arrives on the inbound train, that is shoved by 9915. Between Westmont and Fairview avenue, 9914 is on the outbound line. Back in the cab, the engineer takes things really easy on the controls. Fairview ave station looks like a barn. 9915 heads back to Chicago, while a westbound freight arrives at the same time. It's led by BN 8052, and 6365. Downers grove station is well known for using safety purposes from operation lifesaver, as a young woman was killed by a fast train due to ignoring the safety rules. 9906 arrives at the spot next to the track where the girl ends her life. The engineer releases the brakes and continues it's trip west. Leaving belmont, 9908 leads a long line of coaches. Back in the cab, the diesel is picking up the pace. From the ground, 9922 makes a bend a gives the camera crew a horn show. Inside the bend, the train makes a stop at lisle depot from the cab, then it departs town. An inbound commuter with 9907 makes a meet with Amtrak California zephyr as it heads for Oakland. It's powered and led by F40 number 274. From the bridge, A freight is shown with BN 3139 leading with a booster unit. At the same time, an outbound catches up to the freight. Between lisle and Naperville, there is track work near the bend as 9923 gives the work crew a horn show. A freight is waiting for a clear signal as 9902 passes by the waiting freight while approaching Naperville. Back in the cab, the speed is increased. On the express line, 9907 negotiates a bend. You won't believe how many coaches this diesel is pulling. From the cab again, the train arrives in Naperville. It's the busiest station on the racetrack. 9919 arrives at the depot. Back in the cab, the train departs, as well as 9919. The diesel is still picking up speed. Route 59 is the newest station on the racetrack. It opened in 1989. 9915 arrives at the less than 2 year old station, then it quickly departs. At the same time, an eastbound freight is shown. It's led By BN 2927, and 2804. 9914 passes under the signal bridge. At east eola, A westbound doubleheader is shown as it scares some crows off the tracks. It's led by 9920 and 9904. The sun is setting. Next, 9916 goes under the EJ&E bridge. Back in the cab, it passes by the freight yard on the right. A look inside the generators of the diesel are shown. A freight passes by an outbound as it approaches its final destination. Back in the cab, it passes by the junction at West eola. The diesel switches tracks, and arrives at a bend with tons of empty tracks on the right. The sign for West hill yard is shown as the diesel arrives at its final destination on the racetrack: aurora Illinois. The sun is starting to set as 9913 arrives, then switches directions to the west hill yard. 9905 heads for Chicago. The program comes to a close as an outbound races to the sun set.

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