Amtrak Across America Combo (DVD).

Featuring 2 Shows on 1 Disc! Amtrak Across America: 25th Anniversary and Amtrak's X2000 Demonstration.

From the early years when a rainbow mix of motive power and passenger cars pioneered its debut service, Amtrak has been a subject of avid interest to railfans. Pentrex celebrates the first twenty-five years of Amtrak history with two special documentaries. Included on this Combo DVD are:

Amtrak Across America; 25th Anniversary.
Climb aboard for a tribute to the first quarter century of America ’s national passenger train service. Amtrak ’s colorful history rolls across the screen, from the earliest years to the Genesis locomotives and high-speed corridors of the 1990s. Historic footage of passenger trains prior to Amtrak sets the stage. Then you ’ll see great views of Amtrak as it evolved. Highlights include the Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, Desert Wind, Sunset Limited, and other well known trains as they travel on the Northeast Corridor, the Hudson Division, Horse Shoe Curve, Chicago Hub, and other famous routes. Travel to scenic locations across the country to see Amtrak at its finest!

Amtrak ’s X2000 Demonstration.
Amtrak ’s search for new equipment to serve the Northeast Corridor allowed ABB-Traction to demonstrate its futuristic X2000 trainset. After initial testing, the X2000 began scheduled revenue service in February 1993, running from Washington, D.C. to New York City and occasionally on to New Haven and back. The sleek, high-speed train amazed everyone with its looks, speed, and ride. Pentrex takes you aboard the train to see how its radial self-steering trucks, car body tilt functions, and regenerative braking systems operate. A cab ride gives you an idea what it ’s like to zip down the corridor at 135 mph. Then we go trackside and airborne for shots of the train racing through the countryside. Join Pentrex for a ride on Amtrak ’s X2000 Demonstration!

Presented in Standard Definition 4x3 Format; No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hour, in Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxamtrx
Price: 22.95 USD

Amtrak's Northeast Corridor Cab Ride DVD: Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia.

If you ’ve ever wondered what it would be like to step back to the early 1990s to experience a cab ride on one of Amtrak ’s fastest trains, this is your golden opportunity! Pentrex takes you into the cab of an AEM7 for a high-speed ride at the head of Metroliner Train 110 from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia along the electrified, heavily trafficked south end of Amtrak ’s Northeast Corridor.

The big picture windows of locomotive number 911 give you a clear view of what it ’s like to meet trains at full throttle. With both trains doing 125 mph, the closing speeds are a thrilling 250 mph! Amtrak ’s constant maintenance and its manicured roadbed result in a smooth ride for the AEM7. You ’ll be amazed as the Metroliner rolls through a high-speed turnout at almost 70 mph.

Produced with Amtrak ’s cooperation in 1992, this video was released originally in VHS as part of a 3-volume tour of Amtrak ’s pride and joy, the Northeast Corridor. Now all the excitement of a high-speed cab ride can be yours to enjoy through the enhanced viewing benefits of DVD. Take home Amtrak ’s Northeast Corridor Cab Ride today!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hour 25 minutes, in Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. Presented in Standard Definition 4x3 Format. pxnecab
Price: 22.95 USD

Northeast Corridor Volumes 1 and 2 VHS have been combined on one DVD.

Vol. 1: We open at daybreak at the west end of Sunnyside yard located in Queens, NY as an Amtrak train powered by an AEM-7 (on both ends ) departs for Penn Station followed by shots of more Amtrak (including Pumpkin powered wire train), Long Island R.R., NJ Transit and NY City subway trains. We see the car wash on the loop in action as Amtrak and NJ Transit trains pass through. You will also get a look at Q, Harold and R towers as well as the engine pit. We depart Sunnyside Yard with a look at F tower as a Long Island commuter train passes and enters Line 4 (one of the four tunnels under the East River).

At Penn Station we see various Amtrak, NJ Transit and Long Island trains passing A tower before we head upstairs to the main waiting room for a few announcements including The Crescent. Next we view Amtrak and NJ Transit trains entering and leaving the Hudson River Tunnels at Bergen, N.J. We then move west to Portal drawbridge. We then move west to Hudson tower at Harrison, N.J. for a few more run-bys including PATH trains.

Several GG-I electrics in storage and owned by NJ Transit are viewed before moving west to Dock lift bridges over the Passaic River. Several Amtrak, NJ Transit and PATH trains are seen arriving and departing at Newark Station before closing with selected run-bys at the B&O Bridge at Linden, N.J.

Vol. 2: We begin at Hunter interlocking which is located in Newark, NJ with run-bys of Amtrak and NJ Transit trains, a Conrail westbound freight passing over the former Lehigh Valley bridge and a look inside Hunter tower viewing the Operator at work as a westbound NJ Transit Raritan Line train heads up The Hill. Then we head west to Lane tower and sub-station. Our next stop is North Elizabeth Station for more run-bys then west to Elmora interlocking which is located just west of the famous Elizabeth Curve. Elmora is one of the busiest Interlockings on the Northeast Corridor.

Again we move west to the B&O bridge in Linden, N.J. and Linden Station for more run-bys and on to Rahway Station and Union interlocking with more run-bys and a look at the operator and leverman at work. We close part two with run-bys of Amtrak, Conrail and NJ Transit trains on the main line and many NJ Transit trains entering and emerging from the Eastbound and Westbound Holes (tunnels under the Amtrak main line giving access to the Perth Amboy & Woodbridge Branch).

Railroad Video Productions, 120 minutes, color and sound. List price: $29.95. RVP3-1-2D
Price: 24.95 USD

This program will take you on a trackside tour of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor starting at the stone arch bridge spanning the Delaware River which is just west of Trenton, NJ Station to Shore Interlocking located in the Frankford Junction section of Philadelphia, PA. Many run-bys of Amtrak, SEPTA and Conrail trains are seen as well as stations, towers signals and bridges.

Railroad Video Productions, 60 minutes, color and sound. List price: $29.95. RVP3-4D
Price: 24.95 USD

Early Amtrak Across Wisconsin Combo DVDs.

PENTREX LIMITED-TIME SPECIAL! RECEIVE THESE 2 DVDs FOR $33.95!

EARLY AMTRAK ACROSS WISCONSIN and EMPIRE BUILDERS TO MILWAUKEE. For the limited-time price of just $33.95 you will receive two separate DVD shows covering the early years of Amtrak service in Wisconsin and neighboring states.

Included in this Special Offer are:

EARLY AMTRAK ACROSS WISCONSIN (60 minutes):

Follow Amtrak's progress in the years 1971-1973 from the Twin Cities to Southern Wisconsin. Featured are the Hiawatha, North Coast Hiawatha, Abraham Lincoln, Empire Builder and more in this new Pentrex DVD!

EMPIRE BUILDERS TO MILWAUKEE (50 minutes):

Step back to the six months preceding and following the start of Amtrak service in Milwaukee and enjoy Amtrak's Empire Builder, Chicago to Milwaukee corridor service, and more in this Pentrex DVD!

Pentrex, 2 DVDs in separate clamshell cases, 1 hr. and 50 min. total programming. In color with stereo sound. pxecomb
Price: 33.95 USD

Privately run intercity passenger service in Milwaukee was a thing of the past by early 1971. The Federal government had formed Amtrak to remove the burden of passenger service from the railroads and insure that core passenger routes remained active. By May 1st, when Amtrak rolled into Milwaukee, things had changed. Milwaukee Road ’s Hiawatha and C&NW ’s bi-level Streamliners were out, but Amtrak ’s Empire Builder was in. Direct rail service was now available all the way to Seattle, but one could no longer travel to Green Bay! All passenger service on C&NW rails was gone, but Amtrak did pick up some Chicago-Milwaukee trains over Milwaukee Road rails.

These new trains looked different, too. Amtrak paint was months away and its first units were made up of mismatched heritage cars and engines that earned them the nickname Rainbow trains (BN green, GN orange and blue, Milwaukee yellow, Burlington silver, NP greens, and others). Their classic motive power included E-9s, F-3s, F-7s, and F-9s.

Empire Builders to Milwaukee takes you back to the six months preceding and following the start of Amtrak service in Milwaukee. You ’ll view the Morning Hiawatha and the C&NW bi-level Streamliners during their last winter and spring of operations as well as Amtrak ’s new Empire Builder and Chicago-Milwaukee corridor service. Also making appearances are freights (many pulled by venerable GP35s and GP9s) on the Milwaukee Road and Soo Line, the commuter Cannonball, and specials including Amtrak ’s Turbo Train on its national tour and the Great Circus Train of 1971. These exciting scenes were filmed at Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Duplainville, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Wauwatosa, Oak Creek, West Bend, and other Milwaukee metro areas. There ’s plenty to enjoy in this fascinating tribute to Amtrak ’s early Empire Builders!

DVD Special Features: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Audio Feature provides the option of watching the program with or without narration. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 50 min., In Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxempire
Price: 22.95 USD

Join Kayla & Alec as they take an exciting journey from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington, D.C. on America ’s first high speed train – the Amtrak® Acela Express SM.

See the kids explore the new train with Conductor Cody; visit the facilities where they build and maintain the Acela Express train; witness Amtrak ’s Acela Train Simulator in action and even get some safety tips from an Amtrak police officer!

The journey also features adventures to select cities along the route including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The kids visit exciting, educational attractions from each city – promoting family tourism interest via the Acela Express!

Railroad Video Productions, 35 min., full color, sound & narration. List price: $29.95. RVP175D
Price: 24.95 USD

This program is a continuation of a Head-End Amtrak F40PH ride on the former New York, New Haven and Hartford mainline. This video covers from Providence, Rhode Island to Boston, Massachusetts plus action at Amtrak's New Haven engine house featuring a newly restored (the original New Haven paint scheme) EMD FL-9 diesel-electric.

Railroad Video Productions, 60 minutes, color, sound and narration. List price: $29.95. RVP9-2D
Price: 24.95 USD

Sunrise-Sunset 4, A Day at Fullerton, California.

At the Fullerton Station in Southern California, Amtrak ’s Pacific Surfliners, Metrolink commuter trains, BNSF freights, Locals, and other trains glide past the platforms one after the other, sometimes with mere minutes between arrivals and departures. Fullerton is a haven for railfans and photographers and we ’ll show you why!

Pentrex camera crews set up to capture the action at this busy location on a beautiful Fall day in 2007. During the 12 hours from dawn to dusk, over 60 trains passed the station and we filmed them all. Amtrak Pacific Surfliners running between Los Angeles and San Diego are seen throughout the day. Amtrak ’s Southwest Chief makes a daily stop here. During the morning and afternoon peak rush hours, Metrolink turns into a nonstop parade of trains carrying commuters between Los Angeles and Oceanside or Riverside. The traffic is just as heavy for BNSF freights, with plenty of doublestacks plying these rails. There are surprises, too, such a 12-unit power transfer, maintenance of way, and interesting local freights.

Fullerton Station is located on the BNSF San Bernardino Subdivision twenty-five miles east of Los Angeles. Fullerton Junction, where Metrolink ’s Orange Subdivision splits off, is just east of the platform. The traffic on these two Subs keeps the station ’s three tracks in constant use, making this area an exciting hot spot. Join Pentrex for a unique look at a favorite railroading landmark: Fullerton, California — from Sunrise to Sunset!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. Special Audio Feature provides the option of watching the program with or without narration. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 2 hours, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxsun4
Price: 22.95 USD

Philadelphia to New York City.

A Head End ride on an Amtrak AEM-7 electric engine over the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia to Penn Station, New York City at speeds of over 100 mph. You will see many Amtrak, Conrail, SEPTA, and New Jersey Transit trains, stations, signal towers, pass over the Delaware, Raritan, Passaic, and Hackensack River Bridges, and view the New York City skyline before entering the Hudson River tunnels into Penn Station.

Narration referring to speed, signal indication, track designation, stations, cities, and towers, as well as radio transmissions of trains, tower operators, and train dispatchers highlight the entire trip.

Railroad Video Productions, 90 minutes, color and sound. List price: $29.95. RVP14D
Price: 24.95 USD