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Lots of great footage abounds in this video production from Pentrex. When Amtrak began operations in 1971, it inherited a hodgepodge of equipment from the host railroads, a typical Amtrak train was a veritable rainbow of color. EMD E-units still pulled passenger trains, and you'll see these at the head end of Amtrak consists in this video.

Considering the age of the footage, the picture quality is great, while the sound is equal or better.

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

Exellent video for anyone having an interest in early Amtrak trains and 1970´s railroads. Considering the age, the image quality is very good, and the narration is good.

Additional remarks by Kristian:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Rainbow trains. No better word to describe this video. Amtrak had a challenge as it took on power units and passenger cars from various companies. To give this video more interest was the freight railroads as we see many of them along with a circus train. The video is slightly more than Wisconsin as trains around Chicago also make appearances. Very good video.

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

In the sequel to empire builders to Milwaukee, the program starts with a mismatched rainbow train, then comes the animated map. A year prior to the Amtrak debut in March of 1970, Burlington Northern�s north coast Limited roars through hinsdale Illinois. Near lacrosse the following August, CB&Q E-8 number 9951 is at grand crossing on its way to Chicago. The 4th unit is BN 9943. In the opposite direction at the same spot, the BN morning Zephyr passes by the cameraman. It is led by number 9950. Afterwards, a quartet of CB&Q E-units are passing by the Mississippi River on the north coast Limited. Another look at the map is shown. On November 14, 1971, the first run of Hiawatha number 9 is shown led by a yellow Milwaukee road unit, a northern pacific A and B unit in the middle and Burlington Northern 9182. There are only 5 coaches on this train, 2 for the great northern, one from BN, one from NP, and one from the Gulf Mobile and Ohio. Speaking of the GM&O, train 323 the Abraham Lincoln is shown at oak wood road from St. Louis. Moments later, the debut of a southbound number 326 passes. Listen to the saxophone style horn on number 300. Winter has fallen, as empire builder number 7 heads to Seattle as it crosses the swan boulevard bridge in Wauwatosa. It is led by BN 9943. At the same spot, it�s time to fast forward to July of 1972, as one of the final runs of the cannonball commuter is shown. These colors on this one unit 3 car train look identical to the Union Pacific. Afterwards another look at the map is shown. Near St. Cloud in August of 1973, a westbound BN freight passes by the cameraman on northern pacific tracks. Back in those days, cabooses are used at the end of freight trains. At last coast number 10 arrives with the debut of Amtrak�s own paint. It is led by a pair of SDP40Fs as it heads for the twin cities. On great Northern tracks, GP9M number 1355 is on a freight east of wyzeta. Note the damage wooden ties in the foreground. Hiawatha number 9 crosses the stone arch bridge as it approaches Minneapolis. The bridge was built in 1884. Having to reposition the camera at the bridge, Hiawatha number 10 heads to Chicago. The tracks were removed in 1982, and the bridge is part of the bicycle path. Moving on, the Minneapolis skyline is in the background as a different number 10 crosses the bridge. The following November of that year, another train 10 the Hiawatha passes by a freight at Dunn interlocking. Following behind is a Milwaukee road freight led by a pair of GP35s numbers 3009 & 3008. For a split second there is a white screen as the freight rolls by. At st. Croix tower south of St. Paul in the 10 minute mark of the program, this 2 unit Burlington Northern freight leaves Milwaukee road tracks, and heads onto its own tracks on its way to the river. It�s August 1973, and it is led by F45 number 6615, with Uboat 5331. Another BN freight is shown. This time it is on the opposite direction led by U33C Uboats number 5714, and 5743. In the late afternoon sun, SD45 number 6516 heads south with sister engine 6544, and Geep number 3013. Next, Penn Central number 450 is on coast number 9 as it heads to St. Paul switching from Milwaukee road to Burlington Northern. Afterwards another freight passes led by SD40-2 number 6360. Another look at the tower is shown as a trio of Milwaukee road units are racing east. They are led by 3037, 3032, and 3040. The tower was out of service and demolished in 1984. Back on the Mississippi River in July of 1973, an Alco RS3 is on a caboose hop near wabashaw. Afterwards coast number 9 passes with an Amtrak F unit in the lead. The empire builder races down river towards lacrosse. It is led by BN 9912. Next up is another Milwaukee road freight, with early automobile carriers. At the same spot but on the wrong track, is another Milwaukee road freight. It�s October of 1973(known as the greatest Chelsea Massachusetts fire of that year). Following behind is the number 9, the Hiawatha. In August 1971, builder number 31 is crossing the swing bridge led by northern pacific units. The track speed on the bridge is 25 MPH. With the train traffic gone, the bridge opens for bigger boats. Next, it closes back to railroad traffic as the cameraman moves on to the grand crossing junction and tower for builder number 7. The tower was closed in 1991, and was relocated in Copeland park. It is led by BN covered wagons 320, 9716, an Amtrak B unit and a northern pacific unit. Moving right along to a golf course, the men are ignoring the eastbound freight in August of 1971. It is led by Burlington Northern 6526, and an unidentified great northern unit. The station legs still have the CB&Q logo on top. It was built in 1940. Back on the Mississippi River, a fast freight is south of lacrosse with great northern power on BN rails. Note the business car in front of the caboose. Builder number 31 leaves tunnel 1 at tunnel city. It has northern pacific power in the front with a BN unit as the 4th unit. Next, CB&Q NP & GN units are on train number 8 in July of 1972. Afterwards, a repeat of the opening clip is shown. Moments later, an eastbound Milwaukee road freight with GP40 number 2026 is at lakeside. Hiawatha number 9 passes by The detector. Again listen to the saxophone style horn. Next, it�s April 1972, the Hiawatha passes by with An E9 in charge. Number 10-the North Coast Hiawatha is Racing with a car on highway J. On a different day, number 9 heads for heartland. More winter scenes in February of 1972 are shown as twin cities number 10 is on the shore of the frozen lake. Following behind is the empire builder number 8 running late. Hey what a rhyme! It is led by a CB&Q unit. Train number 9 passes by a grassy field on milepost 104. On another day, coast number 9 is trailing the silver veranda. Builder number 8 is on milepost 104 once again as it is being led by a CB&Q E8A. Afterwards, the cameraman moves to Duplainville as number 10 passes by the home signal in April of 1972. This train is led by yellow Milwaukee road units with a unique horn. Next the North Coast Hiawatha passes by the tower. Again listen to the saxophone style horn. Once cleared, the SOO line freight crosses the diamond, as it is being led by 2 f units with a Geep in the middle. In July of 1972, empire builder number 7 passes barker road in Brookfield. This train is led by BN 943. Moments later Hiawatha number 10 soon passes by the cameraman. Note the audio error when the viewers leaves the volume buttons alone. Winter returns as the North Coast Hiawatha plows through the junction. Note the unique horn. Afterwards number 9 passes by the 1867 station. Returning to clear sunny weather, the cannonball commuter makes a stop. The 1867 station is between the 2 tracks. Back in the snow, the North Coast Hiawatha passes by elm grove park on the very first day of 1972. The following February, coast number 9 is shown once again. The following March, The Hiawatha approaches on the divided double track. Halfway into the program, the coast Hiawatha number passes with E9A number 32A on a different day in the month of May. Hey i found another rhyme! The following October coast number 9 attempts at Amtrak paint. Soon it coasts downhill into elm grove. It is led by Burlington Northern 940. In November of 1973, the North Coast Hiawatha is shown with an Amtrak F unit in the lead. Later number 8 nears elm grove. It is led by great northern power. Back In the snow, it�s December of 1971 as train number 10 is on Juno boulevard covering the cameraman in snow. Soon coast number 9 passes the mill as it approaches in the opposite direction. In the going away shot, train number 9 is passing elm grove. Train 10 soon approaches in the opposite direction. There is the abandoned airline freight only branch is shown. Another going away shot is shown. This time its at the wood creek bridge on Christmas Eve 1971 in Wauwatosa. Following behind is a Milwaukee road freight. Next, the snow is starting to fall as great northern 9708 is on the empire builder. A couple weeks earlier, Hiawatha 9 passes. Going in the opposite direction is train 10. Back in the snow, units on Milwaukee road, CB&Q and the GN are on North Coast Hiawatha 9 in January of 1972. Soon train 10 passes by. Next up is the westbound builder with northern pacific unit leading in the late afternoon sun. In light rain, number 9 crosses the swan boulevard bridge. On a different day, builder number 7 crosses with BN 9943 in the lead. In November of 1971, the Hiawatha is at point park. Note the snow falling. Following behind is a patrol freight led by GP9 number 314. In the opposite direction, North Coast Hiawatha number 10 is shown with an E9 in the lead. At hoit park, builder number 8 heads for Wauwatosa that is led by BN 9948 in December of 1971. Soon Hiawatha 9 passes. In the going away shot, Hiawatha 10 sneaks by. In February of 1972, coast 9 passes by with E9A number 30C in charge. In the same area, but on a different season of the weather, the empire builder is led by CB&Q E8A Number 9952. The third unit is BN 9130. On another day, builder number 7 is led by GN power. In near darkness, the westbound cannonball is shown. On a different day, another going away shot is shown. This time its a freight with covered wagons in March of 1972 heading east. Afterwards coast number 9 is in the opposite direction. A late eastbound builder makes the bend. It is led By CB&Q 9948. Later builder number 7 appears with CB&Q 9952 in the lead. Snow is falling as CB&Q 9943 is shown as the smoke on the B units blows from the safety valve. In March of 1972, the snow is on the ground and still falling from the sky as builder number 7 is shown led by BN 9948. In late May, Seattle bound number 7 is shown With CB&Q power in the lead. Following behind is the cannonball commuter in July. In late September, builder 7 passes by the park but with BN power in the lead. On Thanksgiving day 1971, Hiawatha 9 approaches hardwood ave in Wauwatosa. Following behind is the Milwaukee road freight with 3 units. Soon train 10 passes Wauwatosa station. Note the reused sound from empire builders to Milwaukee. At last BN 9943 arrives with the number 7 builder in April of 1972. In downtown Milwaukee, a busy junction is shown. Going under the cameraman is the 4 car patrol train with a Fairbanks Morse unit in the lead. Switcher 382 goes backwards. The same FM switcher passes by the diesel service shop, and the 30th Street viaduct. In May of 1972, the Abraham Lincoln approaches the Milwaukee station after traveling north from St. Louis Via Chicago. It is led by 31C. Out of the Milwaukee station, GM&O power leads the Abraham Lincoln to St. Louis. It led by engine 102A. Trip time to St. Louis is 7 hours more or less. In July of 1973, the east bound Abe crosses the 6th street overpass with a GM&O unit in the lead. Builder number 7 passes westbound. Finally, there is a montage of vintage trains, as well as the circus train. One shot with Chicago and northwestern diesels, and 2 more scenes with southern 4501. Finally there is a ride on the limited.

Additional remarks by Steamboy.:
Narration: Just enough.
Narration CAN be turned off in special features.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Definitely.

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It was nice to see the early 1970s vintage scenery, but the content was a little redundant - not quite mindless runbys, but close. The circus train at the end was a nice finish

Additional remarks by Tommy Z:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Not unless they REALLY were interested in the subject matter.

If you already have the Pentrex production "Empire Builders to Milwaukee," then you have a good idea of what this video is all about. This show provides more footage from the same photographer of Early Amtrak trains in the Wisconsin passenger train corridor. Like the previous DVD, there's lots of rainbow consists, a few freights and additional locations are shown from the previous program. Some early Amtrak paint schemes are what makes this program different from Empire Builders. There's repainted E units as well as the new SDP40F's. A few passenger cars here and there are wearing the red white and blue as well. I was, however, slightly disappointed that there was no full Amtrak consists shown in the video. No entire train in the Phase 1 paint scheme are to be found. But, overall, if you like early 70's passenger trains with a variety of colors, then it could definitely be of interest. There seems to be a bit more stainless steel cars seen in this program, and the SOO line makes a guest appearance.

Additional remarks by Jeffrey Ornstein:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Yes.