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Pittsburgh Line Blues Farewell to Conrail DVD
 4.8 of 5 (5)

Pittsburgh Line Blues Farewell to Conrail DVD Pentrex PLCON-DVD 748268005473
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Farewell to Conrail
Savor images of Conrail action across the Pittsburgh Line - the very soul of this once mighty transportation giant as captured during the late 1990s. See how Big Blue conquered the Allegheny Mountains and witness the diverse variety of freight it sent over the line. Huge intermodal trains powered by shiny new "Blue" diesels hustle doublestacked containers over the recently rebuilt right-of-way. Massive coal trains and high tonnage freights flow across the double and triple track of this most scenic and demanding stretch of railroad.

Starting west of Pittsburgh at the massive Conway Yard, heading east through the Steel City, Greensburg, and Latrobe to Conpit Junction, we follow the trains into the heart of the Allegheny Mountains. The line comes down through Conemaugh Gorge to Johnstown. From here most eastbounds get helpers to pull tonnage over the mountains. The trains put on great shows on the west slope as they work through Cresson, past MO Tower, to the summit at Gallitzin and down to Altoona. For a grand finale we follow westbound traffic from Altoona to the Gallitzin tunnels. View famous spots such as Alto Tower, Horseshoe Curve, Allegrippus, and Bennington Curve as train after train assaults the east slope of the Alleghenies. You'll experience Conrail to its fullest in this farewell tribute to the men, women, and machines of the railroad known as Big Blue!

DVD Special Feature:

* Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments.

1 Hour 30 Minutes
In Color with stereo Sound and Narration
Standard Definition Full-screen (4x3) Format
No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide
Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case
ISBN: 1-56342-264-6
UPC: 7-48268-00547-3
Produced by Pentrex 1998.
Released on DVD by Pentrex 2009


DVD
TVD Price:$ 23.96
List Price:$ 29.95
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DVD Item#:PLCON-DVD
Runtime:1 Hour, 30 Mins ($0.27/min)
Producer:Pentrex
Aspect Ratio:Full Screen
DVD UPC:748268005473
Shrink Wrapped?:Yes
Disc Type:DVD
Region Code:0 Worldwide NTSC
Pittsburgh Line Blues Farewell to Conrail DVD
chris collins (fletcher north carolina) on 2015-01-16 17:39:08.

People who found this review helpful: 3

  •  5 of 5


great video I would recommend this to conrail fans wish they were still in services but the best way to remember them is with this video

Additional remarks by chris collins:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value: Seemed a little high, but not too bad.
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

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Pittsburgh Line Blues Farewell to Conrail DVD
Mysp7377 (San Diego Ca) on 2013-08-25 02:13:51.

People who found this review helpful: 3

  •  5 of 5


An excellent DVD great coverage of the Conrail right before the merger, everything that Pentrex is know for great photography informative narrations maps and graphics are in this DVD. The Conrail was one of my favorite roads to railfan and like many others I hated to see it go this DVD keeps the memories alive defiantly get a copy of this DVD.

John Schmeling
Southern Pacific/Union Pacific Railroad (Retired)

Additional remarks by Mysp7377:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

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Pittsburgh Line Blues Farewell to Conrail DVD
Allan Love Sr (Herman, Nebraska) on 2010-09-29 09:23:20.

People who found this review helpful: 3

  •  5 of 5


I've viewed this video several time's and would suggest it to anyone looking to visit the area of where it was shot. I used to live in the area some years ago, it's a beautiful location of the country to visit also.

Additional remarks by Allan Love Sr:
Narration: Could have used more.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Yes.

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Pittsburgh Line Blues Farewell to Conrail DVD
rrvideoman on 2009-10-13 17:46:33.

People who found this review helpful: 3

  •  4 of 5


Conrail.... the company that rose from the ashes of a bunch of Fallen Flags to be the bride of the east is in it's final days. The video takes us through the most scenic region of the Conrail system in west/central Pennsylvania. Starting just west of Pittsburg, we travel east seeing the city, and on to the very picturesque Conemaugh Gorge, in the Allegheny Mountains, then up to Cresson PA. Here, Pentrex makes a switch from it's normal pattern. The producers jump ahead to Altoona and reverse direction traveling westward, through Horseshoe Curve. At this point I was slightly disappointed as the narrator does not say a lot favorable comments about Horseshoe Curve. A little too much "nic-picking", giving the idea that Horseshoe is not a great place to watch trains.

Over all, a good video. Worth the purchase... Yes, but not one of Pentrex's finer productions.

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

Did you find this review useful?

Pittsburgh Line Blues Farewell to Conrail DVD
Steamboy (Revere MA US) on 2020-04-09 11:34:00.

  •  5 of 5


In this program from 1998, it starts with a musical introduction as a 2 unit coal train is heading from Conway to Altoona. At the same time, a piggyback doublestack combo makes a race with a coal train. Afterwards a look at the map from Conway to Harrisburg is shown. Another map is shown from Conway yard to Pitcairn. The line from CP bell to pitcairn has 2 routes. Leaving Conway yard, 5566 & 5575 are on a piggyback from the bridge on train TV-22. East Conway is at milepost 20.8. Moments later, there is some switching to be done as SD40-2 number 6988 (A reference to the iowa interstate 2-10-2 from China) moves the cars as it passes by the tower. A closer look at the maintenance facility is shown. Arriving at the yard is train TV-11 with 2 units. It's on its way from Kearney new jersey to Chicago. Afterwards GP40-2 number 3398 leads a local as it leaves the yard. Back on the mainline, a 3 unit doublestack is on TV-12. In hayesville at milepost 10.6, a westbound local negotiations the bends that is led by B36-7 number 5059 on WICE-11. Another B36-7 pushes on the rear. Next up is train UWE12A, an empty coal train with 2 units: 5565 & C40-8 6018. As the coal train continues to head east, a westbound mixed train heads for Wisconsin on train MOPI from Morrisville. At CP bell, we are at scully bridge as a meet with a coal train and a 3 unit doublestack/piggyback combo is shown with 5641, 5535, & 6636 on train Tv-1. The fort Wayne line is located under the bridge. At CP Penn near Milepost 1.8, a CSX freight with chessie system GP40 6565 switches tracks while going under different bridges. An overhead shot of downtown Pittsburgh is shown, as well as surrounding towns. From the top of the mountain, a 3 unit piggyback is shown on train MAIL-4. One of the city's 2 remaining incline railways called the Duquesne goes uphill. Back to ground level, there is construction noises in the background as an eastbound 3 unit mixed train crosses over the Allegheny river bridge on train PIES with engines 5569, 6186, & 5549. Afterwards, we are at the Amtrak station at CP pitt. Here the 2 helpers are waiting for the clearance of the freight. The helpers are SD40-2 units 6398, and 6376 as they head to couple onto the freight. 11 miles east of Pittsburgh, we are at milepost 341 as an Altoona to Conway bound mixed freight on train ATPI-5. It's a 3 unit lash up with 6264, and a pair of former Santa Fe units that are painted in conrail blue. A visit to Pitcairn is included as there is an almost empty yard with the shop building still there. Next up is a 3 unit doublestack with engines 6067, 5531, & 6485 on train TV-2M from Morrisville to Chicago. Afterwards, an oak island to Conway mixed freight is shown on train OIPI-5B led by 6445, a leased LMX unit, & CSX GP40-2 number 6220. It's early before fall as a 2 unit doublestack heads from Chicago to Kearney new jersey. It's led by 5605 & 6713 on train TV-78 from the route 48 overpass. Another look at the map is shown from Pitcairn to Conpit junction. At milepost 333.5, we are at Larimer as train PIES goes under different bridges from Pittsburgh to Harrington Delaware with 2 units in the lead of this mixed train, plus 2 helpers on the rear: 6374 & 5381. At the same time, a westbound empty coal train with 2 units makes a meet with the helpers on train ULK-49C. At milepost 329, we are at manor as a 3 unit piggyback rolls by with 6753, 5649, & 5526 in the lead in mail-9. Following behind is Amtrak train 43 the Pennsylvanian with 4 coaches led by a genesis unit. At milepost 325 we are at CP rade. Here 5582 leads a 2 unit piggyback with Union Pacific power blasting downhill on TV-1H. Following behind is a 3 unit doublestack with engines 6165, 6059, & 5555 on TV-1. Next up is yet another westbound: 6384 leading 6413, and 2 others on train TV-11 the doublestack. At last a special private train with E units heads east with 9 coaches on train OCS-101. Following behind the special is Amtrak's since discontinued 3 rivers with a pair of genesis units on train 40. Greensburg station is undergoing for some more renovations. The station is at milepost 322 as a fast piggyback roars through the platforms on TV-3 from Kearney new jersey to east saint Louis Illinois. Most of the station itself has since been transformed into a restaurant and brewery. Moving Onto milepost 312.3, we are at Latrobe as 1659 switches cars longhood forward. This is on local WILA. At the small town of Derry, we are at milepost 307.4 as a westbound goes under the signal bridge with 3 units: 728, Norfolk southern 3241, & an unknown SP unit on train OIPI-6A. There are 2 conrail helpers on the rear. 7 miles east, we head for Torrance as the special negotiates a bend at milepost 300. Next, we moved to milepost 291 at Conpit junction where an eastbound arrives with 2 units in the lead of TV-12 with the cooling towers in the going away shot. A few minutes later, a westbound arrives on track 3. At the same time, Another eastbound arrives, this time it's a 2 unit doublestack with 6257 & 6259 on train TV-12X. The westbound is still waiting as yet another eastbound arrives with 2 units on a piggyback known as train TV-22. Amtrak's westbound Pennsylvanian is running an hour late with 4 coaches and a genesis unit leading. At last after waiting for so much freight traffic, construction on the rails and a late Amtrak passenger train, the westbound piggyback known as mail-9 gets underway with 4 units: 5531, 6067, 6485, & 6789. Halfway into the program, a look at the map from Conpit junction to cresson is included. It's early in the morning as fog is scattering through The conemaugh gorge. Train TV-11 heads for track 2 on a doublestack/piggyback combo. Several minutes later, Amtrak's 3 rivers arrives with a trio of genesis power. In downtown Johnstown, the concrete bridge is shown on the river as a 4 unit mixed train with UP & Southern Pacific power on OIPI-7 at milepost 275. In milepost 273.2, we moved to C tower as a 5 unit coal train with 6359, 8081, 8084, 8078, & 8079 in the lead as it passes by the helper units. The 5 helpers on the rear are: 8075, 8073, 8083, 8070, & 8076. Following behind is train XSG-57D with 2 units on an empty hopper train while at the same time, 6365, 6375, 6207, & 3351 with An NS SD60 leads piggyback train TV-2H. From the cliff at milepost 271, we are at East conemaugh as the coal train is parked on the siding to let train TV-12X led by 4 units on a doublestack with 6372, & 6377 helping the wide cabs. Back on The ground, Train RR-281 is led by 6730 & 5505 on a roadrailer. It's heading from Rutherford Pennsylvania to Willow run Michigan. At milepost 268, we see an eastbound counterpart of the roadrailer at mineral point with 5502 & 6817 in the lead. The triple crown roadrailer is formed by NS. At South fork in milepost 266, the WISF-4 local with 8074 & 8072 switches tracks as it curves on the wye. There are 2 helpers on the rear: 6360 & 6361. Afterwards, 6449 & 6264 are leading this mixed freight known train ALPI-8F. There are 4 helpers on the rear. Moments later, one of the Amtrak diesels lost its lead locomotive as helpers 6368 & 6382 lead the 3 rivers on train 40. 9 miles east of South fork, we waited for 2 hours as the local is underway again at milepost 257 in Sonman from the bridge. In the background, the tail of the piggyback heads for Cassandra. A westbound is on mixed train OIPI-8B as it makes a meet with the local. Speaking of Cassandra, we are at milepost 256 as an empty coal train with 6247 & 6101 heads under the bridge and negotiates a wide bend on train XGW-36W. Afterwards, Amtrak's Pennsylvanian heads east on train 43. At Lilly, it's early in the morning at milepost 253 as an eastbound piggyback known as train TVLT-8 heads up the mountain with 6823 in the lead, as well as its own RS3L horn. A 3 unit doublestack is at Cresson near milepost 251 on train TV-12. This location is a well known hot spot for visitors and railfans who wanted to get a good overnights rest at the nearby bed and breakfast. MO tower is located at milepost 250.5, as train ML-401X is on an auto carrier with 5010, & NS 6652. Panning to the right from the going away shot is the helper phase refilling for fuel as there are 2 helpers pushing on the rear. Next a look at the map from Cresson to Altoona is shown. Here the crew goes West from Altoona. In Altoona, a visit to the juniata shops are included where steam on the Pennsylvania railroad was built. At CP works in milepost 235.7, a 2 unit piggyback arrives on train TV-22. Passing through the Amtrak station in milepost 236 is Mail-9X with 3 units. The since been closed Alto tower is located at milepost 236.7 as train ULK-55C leaves Altoona on an empty coal train with 2 units. Going under the camera crew, a 13 unit light power move heads for Conway on train ENS-102. Train PIBA is led by 2 units as 5618 activates the horn on an unprotected crossing near the brickyard as it is heading from Baltimore to Pittsburgh. Train ALPI-9F is led by 6810 with an interesting horn. 6236 is the second unit on this mixed freight. At one of the most iconic railroad hot spots of America: horseshoe curve in Altoona, Train ATPI-9 is led by 2 units on a mixed freight. Everyone really loves this popular hot spot in the East. There are 2 helpers on the rear: 6385 & 6413. From the New portion of Us highway 22, we are at milepost 244.4 in Allegrippus, as train OIPI -8A is led by 6364, 6367, 6257, & 6259. At the same time, a Baltimore bound freight with 3 units makes a meet. They are led by 5617, 6077, & 735 on train PIBA-9. Helpers on the rear are 6369, & 6390. The helpers on the westbound train are a pair of SD40-2 units. Later in the day, Another westbound doublestack/piggyback combo from Harrisburg to Chicago is shown as it heads for Bennington curve on train Tv-61. At the same time, an eastbound piggyback leaves the tunnel and also going under the camera crew on train TV-12 while making a meet. The helpers on train TV-61 came into view. The final location on the Pittsburgh line is the Allegheny tunnel near the Jackson street overpass. This double track tunnel replaces the Gallitzin tunnel. Pennsylvania railroad caboose 477852 is on display as the westbound piggyback exits the double track tunnel with 3 units: 6075, 5056, & 6845 on train Mail-9X. Gallitzin is at milepost 248. At last, Amtrak train 44 The Pennsylvanian arrives with a private car in the consist. Back on the ground, Another westbound exits the double track tunnel. This is train ALPI-7F with 4 units: 6381, 6374, 5612, & 6429. Helpers 6392 & 6412 are on the rear. This freight train concludes a look at the final months of conrail on the Pittsburgh line before it was owned by both Norfolk southern and CSX.

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

Did you find this review useful?