New Mexico Road & Recreation Atlas by Benchmark Maps.

The New Mexico Road & Recreation Atlas, our first in the series, has forever changed the way people see and use state atlases. It pioneered the use of Benchmark's exclusive Landscape Maps ™ and introduced such features as classified roads (from interstate highways to rough dirt roads) and page-to-page overlap. A useful recreation amenities grid is included as well as a thorough and comprehensive index.

Contents:

Regional Maps:
* USA Interstate Highway Map.
* Surrounding states with US Highways and Mileage Chart.

Recreation Guide Details:
* Interstates Highways to Trails with distances between Markers shown.
* Political Boundaries.
* Weather Reporting Stations.
* Rest Areas, Parks, Waysides, Campgrounds and RV Parks.
* Lighthouses, Covered Bridges, Natural Wonder and Scenic Overlook.
* Hiking, Rafting, Fishing, Boating, Wildlife and Birdwatching Viewing.
* Rivers, Streams, Intermittent Streams, Lakes and Marsh Areas.
* Various Goverment Land Ownerships.

Landscape Maps:
* All of the above information in more detail.
* Railroads, Powerlines, Tunnels, some abandoned Railroad Grades as 'other trails'.
* Trailheads, Gates, Mines and other details.

Benchmark Maps, soft cover, 96 pages, 10.75 x 15.25 x .25 in., color maps. BMRRANM
Price: 15.95 USD

A Head End ride over the Southern Pacific Route.

Back on board the Amtrak F40PH diesel at Sparks, Nevada, we pass the elaborate hotels and casinos of Reno. Leaving Reno, we pass spreading ranches through Tahoe National Forest and across the Sierra Nevadas. We then follow the Truckee River in California, through Donner Pass and arrive at Sacramento. The train then continues around the San Francisco Bay and arrives at Oakland, California. Part 2 is from Norden Interlocking to Colfax, California.

Railroad Video Productions, 1 hr. 45 min., color. List price: $29.95. RVP18-2D
Price: 24.95 USD

PRR scrapbook is dedicated to the memory of the PRR and it's employees.

We begin in color (the 16mm film was shot by Robert Sage) with a brief look at the St. Louis area. We then move to the North-South main line between Washington, DC and Philadelphia for scenes shot from several different GG-1's as well as scenes from the rear of the train. We then board train 3307 powered by GG-1 4872 at Penn Station, NY for a head-end ride (in black & white) on the fireman's side all the way to South Amboy, New Jersey.

Over 75 pictures of PRR employees are seen including Train Dispatchers, Movement Directors, Clerks, Levermen, Engineers, Firemen, Conductors, Brakemen, Maintainers, Helpers, Janitors and more - all to help preserve the memory of the 'PENNSY'.

Railroad Video Productions, 1 hr., color and b&w. List price: $29.95 RVP186D
Price: 24.95 USD

Featuring Beaumont Hill and Beaumont Hill Cab Ride.

Beaumont Hill's San Gorgonio Pass was a tough proving ground for Southern Pacific's locomotives. Video Rails spent three years filming there and the result was two exciting shows that have been combined on one new DVD. Featured on this DVD are:

Beaumont Hill Experience Southern Pacific's high-speed crossing of San Gorgonio Pass, a daunting grade that demanded mid-train and rear-train helpers for the push to the top. SP employed a vast array of motive power on this route and you'll see leased units from CSX, Conrail, and many other roads. Ride in the cab of an SD40T-2 rebuild from Colton to Indio aboard one of SP's hottest trains. See the last runs of the Sugar Beet trains. From flash floods to 120 degree heat, here is mainline railroading at its best!

Beaumont Hill Cab Ride Climb aboard Southern Pacific engine 8305, an SD40T-2, on Southern Pacific's hottest train, the LAMFF. Leaving the West Colton yard, you'll get the crew's vantage point of beautiful San Gorgonio Pass as your train climbs over Beaumont Hill at track speed!

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 30 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxvrbeau
Price: 22.95 USD

In 1991, Pentrex traveled across the country to capture the highlights of the year ’s railroading events. The result is two hours of nonstop adventure featuring 8 different railroading subjects, many of which are now fallen flags. Steam and diesel mainline railroading fills the screen in this edition of the Pentrex “Best of ” series!

Included are:

SP Beet Train: Watch as SP ’s famous wooden gondolas are filled to the brim. Then follow two SP GP9s and a Cotton Belt GP40-2 as they haul the gondolas from Los Banos toward Fresno en route to the refinery.

SP Sacramento Shops: Wheel repairs, traction motor rebuilds, and heavy locomotive repairs were still taking place at the Sacramento shops in 1991. We ’ll take you through the facilities to see the work in progress.

Berea Tower: This busy Conrail junction near Cleveland, Ohio, saw a nonstop parade of trains in the fall of 1991. The interesting mix of power includes SD40s, SD40-2, GP40, GP38-2, 6-axle GE locomotives, and more.

Union Pacific Challenger 3985: Pentrex's coverage of a special excursion from Salt Lake City/Ogden to McCanon, Idaho includes a cab ride as well as trackside views. No diesel helpers were included on this trip; it ’s all steam!

Santa Fe Shippers Special: Five Santa Fe business cars pulled by GE Warbonnet units made a special run from Fresno to Richmond. Highlights include fast running, a classic SF Depot, and Glen Fraser Tunnel.

Southern Pacific 2472. Join 2472 on her maiden excursion, running from San Francisco to San Jose and return. This was her second outing after 13 years of restoration efforts and the results were a flawless performance!

Railroads of Salt Lake City and Ogden: UP, SP, Rio Grande, and the Utah Railway keep the joint double track mainline at Grant Tower humming with activity. It ’s not uncommon to see 3-4 trains there at the same time!

Union Pacific Desert Victory Unit 3593: Follow UP ’s SD40-2 #3593, painted in camouflage colors and displaying the names of UP employees serving in Operation Desert Storm, as it leads a train from SLC to Yermo.

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. Presented in Standard Definition 4x3 Format. No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 2 hours, in Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. px1991
Price: 22.95 USD

Weighing in at one and a quarter million pounds, measuring 132 feet long, Union Pacific Big Boys were the giants of the rails. Just 25 Big Boys were built and they only remained in service for 18 years before the end of the steam era. Yet their power and performance make them as popular today as in their own day. This Combo DVD brings you two viewing treats: a Pentrex documentary focusing on Big Boy operations over Sherman Hill and a 1950s television drama about a Big Boy engineer.

Last of the Giants Volume 3: Sherman Hill (70 Minutes)

Allan Krieg, writer and director of Last of the Giants, shares the challenges his camera crews faced while capturing the Big Boys on film. Scenes of the running gear in motion, shot from a camera car on a parallel track, and pacing sequences of the Big Boys on the road are thrilling to see. You ’ll ride in the cabs and watch the firemen and engineers at work. Interviews with surviving crewmembers give you a sense of what it was like to run these giant engines over Sherman Hill. All the scenes shown in this production are compiled from 16mm color film shot between 1955 and 1958.

Big Boys on TV (70 Minutes, Black & White)

Ed Begley stars in this 1950s NBC Lucky Strike Theater drama about a Big Boy engineer who is struggling with fears about his future. The live broadcast takes you right into the heart of this railroader ’s life at home and in the cab of his Big Boy. Pentrex incorporated some of the original footage shot on location showing Big Boys on Sherman Hill and in the Cheyenne yards. (It ’s all new material, not used in other Pentrex videos.) We also included the old commercials that aired with the broadcast. They will make you smile. This is a program the whole family can enjoy.

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. 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 20 minutes, in Color and Black & White with Appropriate Stereo Sound and Narration. pxbbc2
Price: 22.95 USD

Cajon Pass is one of the world ’s great railroading landmarks. From 1991 to 1993, Video Rails visited Cajon, capturing great scenes of Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and Amtrak trains at your favorite Cajon hotspots. The result was two entertaining videos that have been combined here on one action-packed DVD.

Cajon II - Railroading in the ’90s

It ’s pre-merger days and Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, and Union Pacific are sending their latest motive power to tackle this famous mountain pass. You ’ll see a wide variety of manifest trains and unit trains at classic photo sites and new locations as well. Long, heavy freights grind up the slopes to the summit and squeal downgrade to the desert below, filling the screen with nonstop excitement. Cajon in the ’90s means mainline railroading at its best! (1 hour 30 minutes)

Cajon Pass Cab Ride.

Climb aboard the cab of a Southern Pacific freight train as engine 8537 leads a five unit lash-up along the Palmdale Cutoff. You ’ll ride from West Colton to Phelan on Southern Pacific ’s Los Angeles Division. Along the way, you ’ll witness spectacular meets with Santa Fe trains. The views from the cab of your locomotive give you a whole new perspective of this famous route. It ’s a thrilling ride! (1 hour)

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provide instant access to program segments. In Color with Stereo Sound and 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 30 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxvrcajon2
Price: 22.95 USD

California Vintage Collection

Featuring 3 Shows on 1 Disc!

Three rare films are brought together here for a nostalgic and thoroughly entertaining revisit of California railroading from the 1920s to the 1950s. Included on this combo DVD are:

Gerald M. Best ’s California Limiteds

The films of railroad cinematographer Gerald M. Best are highly prized among devotees of the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe. This video takes you back to the late 1920s for Best ’s own black and white movie footage capturing the Lark, the Daylight, the Grand Canyon Limited, and even the Santa Paula local. The action is mostly in Southern California but you ’ll also see Pullmans over Cajon Pass, action at long vanished city terminals, and the only footage we know of showing the Mt. Tamalpais gravity car! Black and white. 33 Minutes.

California Zephyr

In this rare 1950s public relations film, you ’ll see glimpses of ‘50s-era Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Oakland, and San Francisco, stopping points on the east-west route of the famous California Zephyr. Enjoy images taken in the diner, the sleepers, the Vista-Dome coaches, and from trackside. Relish the spectacular scenery that made this route so popular. Plus, a rare newsreel is included that features the last run of the California Zephyr! Color. 30 Minutes.

Western Pacific on TV

Step back to 1956 and join host Bob Day in a television salute to the Western Pacific Railroad. This “Success Story ” episode begins at WP ’s Oakland Yards with the 1872 Baldwin Genoa and Alco #94 steamers, Lucius Beebe ’s elegant Gold Coast private car, and WP ’s new F-unit #803-A, the pride of its fleet. Your tour includes the commissary, classrooms, and the Sacramento shops. Plus, you ’ll see the California Zephyr on the Feather River Route. Thanks to this gem of a film, we can view the Western Pacific when it was the role model for the American success story! Black and white. 30 Minutes.

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 33 minutes, Black & White and Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxcalvnt
Price: 22.95 USD

Chicago Traction Combo (DVD)

Outside Chicago: Midwest Electric Lines I
Chicago ’s 3 Interurbans: Midwest Electric Lines II
90 Years of Chicago Traction: Midwest Electric Lines III

Noted railroad historians Bill Warrick and Walter Keevil have assembled an amazing assortment of rare color and black & white footage to document electric railroading operations in and around the Chicago area from the 1990s all the way back to 1900. Originally released by Interurban Press as three separate VHS videos known as the Midwest Traction Classics, this series is now available for your enjoyment on one combo DVD! Included on this disc are:

Outside Chicago: Midwest Electric Lines I

The lines outside Chicago are brought back to life in this fascinating documentary. The Indiana Railroad; the Illinois Terminal; the Crandic; and the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern are just a few of the interurbans covered here. Plus, streetcars in Indianapolis, St. Louis, and the Twin Cities are shown as well! 30 minutes, color footage, produced in 1987, formerly titled “Midwest Traction Classics. ”

Chicago ’s 3 Interurbans: Midwest Electric Lines II.

This film has it all, from Electroliners to Birneys. Visit Insull ’s Big Three: the North Shore; the South Shore; and the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin, with footage from every era plus present day action on the two survivors. You ’ll also ride the Illinois Central Electric and the Gary Railways. 30 minutes, color and B&W footage, produced in 1988.

90 Years of Chicago Traction; Midwest Electric Lines III

This film treats you to images of the Chicago Surface Lines and its predecessors, including horse, cable, and electric service from around 1900 to the 1950s. The famous CSL drop-platform cars and plenty of Chicago PCCs are shown across the windy city. The Chicago Elevated Railways are also covered in scenes throughout the system from 1900-1990. You ’ll see cars swinging around curves and through interlockers, crowds boarding at stations, trains of wooden and later steel cars, the “Skokie Swift, ” and other unique Chicago El lines! 58 minutes, color and B&W footage, produced in 1990.

Full-screen (4x3) Format; No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide; Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hour 58 minutes, in Color and Black & White with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxctc
Price: 22.95 USD

Christmas and trains are bound together by generations of tradition. Think how festive a Christmas tree looks when a toy train is chugging around its base. And what a special treat it is when retail stores set up displays with whistling trains rolling through holiday wonderlands!

Pentrex captured the sights and sounds of nine different Christmas train displays ranging from toy train layouts and garden railroads decorated with holiday scenes to full-scale trains pulled by steam locomotives and modern diesels draped in Christmas lights. These holiday extravaganzas will delight the whole family, year after year.

The Huckleberry Railroad Christmas Train in Flint, Michigan; The Galleria Wonderland Express in Dallas, Texas; CSX's Santa Claus Special in Kentucky and Tennessee; The Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad Santa Claus Train in Nelsonville, Ohio; The New York Botanical Garden's outdoor garden railroad in New York City; Cincinnati Gas & Electric's O-gauge B&O model train; The Cincinnati Zoo's Festival of Lights garden and live steam railroads; The Neiman Marcus Holiday Express; Plus, the BNSF Santa Claus Express in Springfield, Missouri —a diesel-powered Christmas train covered with over 20,000 glowing lights! The joyous sounds of familiar Christmas music add a cheerful note to the stunning visual images waiting for you in Christmas Trains!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments, In Color with Stereo Sound and Narration; Full-screen (4x3) Format; No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide; Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hour 8 minutes, in Color. pxtmas
Price: 22.95 USD

Colorado Road & Recreation Atlas by Benchmark Maps.

Colorado's mountains are the source of everything that makes Colorado unique. No other publication can portray this entrancing scenery and its recreation potential with more precision than Benchmark's new Colorado Road & Recreation Atlas. Large-scale Landscape Maps and a 30-page Recreation Guide make it the ideal planning tool for any outdoor adventure. It's the only Colorado atlas with Benchmark's legendary field-checked accuracy.

Contents:

Regional Maps:
* USA Interstate Highway Map.
* Surrounding states with US Highways and Mileage Chart.

Recreation Guide Details:
* Interstates Highways to Trails with distances between Markers shown.
* Political Boundaries.
* Weather Reporting Stations.
* Rest Areas, Parks, Waysides, Campgrounds and RV Parks.
* Lighthouses, Covered Bridges, Natural Wonder and Scenic Overlook.
* Hiking, Rafting, Fishing, Boating, Wildlife and Birdwatching Viewing.
* Rivers, Streams, Intermittent Streams, Lakes and Marsh Areas.
* Various Goverment Land Ownerships.

Landscape Maps:
* All of the above information in more detail.
* Railroads, Powerlines, Tunnels, some abandoned Railroad Grades as 'other trails'.
* Trailheads, Gates, Mines and other details.

Benchmark Maps, soft cover, 144 pages, 10.75 x 15.25 x .25 in., color maps. BMRRACO
Price: 17.45 USD

Between Roseville, California and Sparks, Nevada lies one of the most difficult sustained climbs in American railroading, the Donner Pass Summit route. This 140-mile stretch of formerly Southern Pacific, now Union Pacific, double-tracked mainline routinely challenges trains with 2.3 percent grades on its 85-mile eastbound climb to the 7,000-foot elevation at Donner Summit. In Pentrex's Donner Combo DVD you can experience 3 hours of thrilling Donner action in these two dynamic shows.

Battle for Donner Pass shows the incredible story of Southern Pacific men and equipment that fought impossible odds to keep this historic mountain pass open through winters worst storms. Ride in the cabs of the equipment and meet the people who work with flangers and regulators, spreaders and bulldozers, rotary snow plows and more!

Across Donner Summit is hosted by noted railroad photographer and historian Richard Steinheimer. Heavy Southern Pacific trains continue to use the original route constructed by the Central Pacific railroad in the 1860's. Steep grades, sharp curves, and cruel weather face the trains on their way over the Sierra Nevada. Helper locomotives are required in both directions. Freight and passenger trains roll over Donner in bitter storms and as clear skies brighten the surrounding snow cover. DVD includes the option of watching the program with or without narration.

Pentrex, 3 hours 17 minutes, Beautiful Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxdonr
Price: 22.95 USD

This video contains two Pennsylvania Railroad produced vintage movies plus GG-1 Head End highlights.

Part 1: WHAT IN BLAZES. A PRR diesel and electric engine fire safety movie produced for the Pennsy about 1955. A variety of PRR diesels as well as GG-1 and P-5 electrics are featured. Color film with sound, 18 min.

Part 2: CLEAR TRACK AHEAD Produced for the Pennsy's 100th birthday in 1946, this film describes the growth of the PRR from 1846 to 1946 and features steam, diesel and electric trains with interior, run-by and Head End shots. All departments are represented including train and engine, on-board service, C&S, M of W, E.T., power director, block operator, train dispatcher, heavy equipment repair, etc. A true classic for Pennsy fans! B&W film with sound, 27 min.

Part 3: GG-1 HEAD-END HIGHLIGHTS. Highlights of a Head End ride aboard GG-1 #4882 between Penn Station, New York City and South Amboy, New Jersey. B&W film with sound, 15 min.

Railroad Video Productions, 60 minutes total running time. List price: $29.95. RVP28D
Price: 24.95 USD

This program is divided into three parts. Part one features approximately 30 minutes of vintage footage (supplied by Bob Erich of Baltimore, MD) of B&O steam and diesels in both freight and passenger service. Also included are a few scenes of steam on the Western Maryland and diesels on the C&O.

Part two is the B&O produced movie (circa 1946) Meeting the Challenge describing the entire railroad operation and featuring many steam, diesel, freight and passenger train shots.

Part three gives the viewer a look at the former B&O (now CSX) as it looks today.

Railroad Video Productions, 60 minutes, color and b&w with sound. List price: $29.95. RVP42D
Price: 24.95 USD

This program will take you on a trackside tour of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor from Colonia to Trenton, New Jersey featuring many run-bys of Amtrak AEM-7, E-60MA, GP-7 and GP-9 powered trains. Also New Jersey Transit ALP44, F40PH2B and GP40FH-2 powered trains. Plus Conrail GP38-2 and GP35 powered freights. New Jersey Transit & SEPTA General Electric MU trains as well as stations, towers, Interlockings, bridges and more complimented by informative narration.

Railroad Video Productions, 60 minutes, color, sound and narration. List price: $29.95. RVP3-3D
Price: 24.95 USD

This program is part five of a continuing series featuring a trackside tour of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. We begin at North Philadelphia and continue west (South) to 30th Street Station, Philadelphia. Many Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and SEPTA trains are seen as well as a view of Conrail's High Line over Zoo and Penn Interlockings.

Railroad Video Productions, 60 minutes, color and sound. List price: $29.95. RVP3-5D
Price: 24.95 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

The Last of Pennsylvania Railroad Steam between Columbus and Bradford, Ohio.

From color films by Jerry W. Fisher.

In 1955 the Pennsylvania Railroad suddenly laid up its steam locomotives. Jerry Fisher grew up along the Pennsylvania Railroad at Piqua, Ohio. His favorite locomotive, the PRR J1 2-10-4, was missing from the landscape. Word came in 1956 that some J1s were being withdrawn from storage and would be used for traffic west of Columbus. Jerry purchased a 16mm movie camera and headed out to capture those last days of steam in 1956 and 1957 and a few early diesel powered trains.

For almost a year he spent weekends along 83 miles of the PRR between Columbus, Ohio, and Bradford, Ohio, capturing the last days of steam on the PRR in western Ohio. This CD contains his historically significant scenes of the Pennsylvania railroad during the last days of steam, some early diesel powered trains and scenes of cabooses. The railroad is gone today, it did not survive Conrail.

Cam-Tech Publishing, 45 minutes approximate run time, 15 Sequences with scenes at Columbus, Urbana, Garrett, on the Blue Hill, Piqua, Covington and Bradford, Ohio. Color films-no sound. ct100dvd
Price: 19.95 USD

Two great classics together on one DVD! Digitally re-mastered from two VHS classics: Airbrushing with Acrylic Paints and Model Railroad Scenery Made Easy.

The expert staff of Model Railroader Magazine shows you everything you need to know about building fantastic layout scenery and the art of airbrushing with acrylic paints. From start to finish, you'll learn about the tools, applications, and special techniques you can use to create realistic-looking model railroad scenery and detailing projects.

Segments cover:

• Weathering and finishing techniques

• Carving, molding, and coloring rocks

• Modeling ground vegetation and water

• Using carved foam and cardboard strip plaster forms

• Creating backdrops and seasonal adaptations

• Blending structures into the ground

• Painting tips for brass and plastic

• Multi-color schemes

• And much more

Kalmbach Publishing, 120 minutes, color, stereo sound. KP15060
Price: 22.95 USD

Giants in the Dark-Winter on the Alaska Railroad.

The third in Pentrex's 3-volume DVD series about the Alaska Railroad brings you a view of Alaskan railroading like no other, for it carries you along the rails in the dead of winter, when temperatures are minus 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and you ’re lucky if you see five hours of daylight. Photographer Patrick Hunstiger set up his studio lights and cameras to capture this incredible action in 1994. Now, with this new DVD release from Pentrex, you can experience powerful diesels challenging the cold, snow, and darkness, guiding freight and passenger trains through the frozen frontiers of the Alaskan wilds.

Winter alters the way the Alaska Railroad does business. A busy summer week of up to 100 trains a week will drop to 25 during the winter. However, the spectacular drama of railroading in Alaska is undiminished. GP40-2s, GP49s, a GP30, F7-B, E8-B, and MP15 are seen spewing show from the rails, sliding through the darkness while snow flurries cover the cabs, and hauling their trains past ice clogged-bays and jagged white peaks. Approaching the Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood aboard the Ski Train is a magical sight for the mountain is lit for night skiing, but for the most part what you ’ll see is the bitter cold, the heavy storms, and the dangers facing the men and equipment in a land of perpetual darkness. It ’s an extraordinary insight into a type of railroading that few dare to face.

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Full-screen (4x3) Format. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

A Mind's I production. Produced in cooperation with the Alaska Railroad.

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

Featuring Eight Rare Promotional, Training, and Safety Films Produced in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Here, combined on one DVD, are the first two volumes in an exciting Pentrex film collection featuring your favorite railroads of the 1950s-1970s!

VOLUME 1: MO-PAC DELIVERS. Produced by Missouri Pacific in 1975. Mo-Pac demonstrates its many strengths to prospective customers in this rare promotional film. See welded rail installation, maintenance of way equipment, automated wheel shops and hump yards, dispatch center, specialized freight cars, unit trains, modern diesel locomotives, and more! (25 minutes).

PORTRAIT OF A RAILROAD. Burlington Northern, 1973. BN moved 100,000 cars on 126,000 miles of rail to transport food, fuel, and goods to American markets on a scale only the railroad could handle. This is a tribute to the people and equipment that could pump 2,000 freight cars a day through its classification yards. (26 minutes).

SWITCHES, HANDBRAKES & YOU. Chicago & North Western, 1974. This detailed and instructive film in the Safe Railroading Series shows employees the right and wrong ways to handle switches and hand-brakes. Featured equipment includes ball, lever, high stand, dual control, and spring switches; plus wheel and lever hand brakes. (22 minutes).

TLC (Tender Loving Care) CN Rail, 1978. Transporting newsprint requires special care and attention; otherwise it's easily damaged and expensive to replace, as Canadian National rail workers learn in this informative program. You'll see the skills needed to load, route, and deliver this valuable commodity just in time. (22 minutes)

VOLUME 2: THE FREIGHT GOES THROUGH! Association of American Railroads, 1952. Yard workers get a good look at damage prevention techniques and the effects that temperature and load have on coupling and rolling speeds. Both steam and diesel engines are featured in this AAR training film. (18 minutes).

THE RIGHT TO COMPETE, AAR, 1956. The importance of revising Federal regulations to permit fair competition among different transportation modes is promoted in this 1950s-vintage AAR film. Featured railroads include Southern Pacific, Missouri Pacific, the Pennsy, New York Central, B&O, Santa Fe, Nickel Plate, Seaboard Air Line, and more. (14 minutes).

NEW DIRECTIONS IN MODERN RAILROADING, AAR, 1966. The AAR demonstrates how new developments are bringing traffic back to the rails. See welded rail, tunnel expansion, electronic communications, special-purpose freight cars, just-in-time delivery, piggyback and containers, grain and coal unit trains, and passenger transportation on the GN, UP, SP, PRR, SOU, NP, ATSF, NYC, C&NW, ACL, and others. Narrated by Chet Huntley. (28 minutes).

THE RIGHT TRACK, AAR, 1967. Kids (and adults, too!) learn lessons in safety in this timeless film featuring the New York Central. What seems like fun can have deadly results when trains are involved! (16 minutes).

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provide instant access to program segments. 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 51 minutes, in Color with Original Sound Track and Narration. pxarc12
Price: 22.95 USD

The Northeast Corridor was a modern commuter raceway when Pentrex set out to capture this busy line in 1992. So much great footage was filmed with Amtrak's cooperation that two videos were released giving viewers an exclusive, insider's look at Amtrak's pride and joy. Now both shows have been combined on one Combo DVD, bringing you the whole Northeast Corridor story. Included are:

New York City to Philadelphia

Focusing on this electrified heavily-trafficked portion of the line, our program brings you a fascinating mix of old and new technologies. Trains roar down the electrified mainline at speeds of up to 125 mph, governed by Automatic Block Signals and dispatched from Philadelphia. Yet manned block towers dating back to the turn of the century can still be found in use on the line. Experience over 150 Amtrak and commuter trains in action as you visit Penn Station, Hudson Tower, Newark, Trenton, Princeton Junction, and Zoo Interlocking and the venerable A and Zoo towers on your trek from New York City to Philadelphia. (80 minutes)

Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.

Exploring the electrified south end of the system, our cameras capture over 100 commuter and Amtrak trains between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. You'll see the action at Eddystone, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; Perryville, Havre de Grace, Aberdeen, and Baltimore, Maryland; and the D.C. area. You'll also go on a private tour of the CETC control center in Amtrak's 30th Street station and visit Washington Union Station's K tower. A special highlight is a ride in the cab of an AEM7 locomotive at the head of a Metroliner train doing 125 mph! (80 minutes)

DVD Special Features: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. In Color with Hi-Fi Sound and 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, 40 minutes, in Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxnec12
Price: 22.95 USD

At the Throttle Cab Ride Vol. 2 (DVD). The Cajon Subdivision —Devore to Barstow on the BNSF.

Climb aboard as we take an exciting 70-mile trip over BNSF ’s Cajon Subdivision from Devore to Barstow. You ’ll have the best seat in the house! We ’ve placed our camera at the very front of the lead unit on BNSF ’s hottest Z train. The four GE Dash 9 44CWs on our train provide 17,600 horsepower for the battle to the summit of Cajon Pass!

We ’ll depart Devore and then just east of Keenbrook we ’ll cross over onto the original line to Summit, which is preferred for most westbound traffic. It ’s shorter and steeper but our train has enough horsepower to conquer the 3 percent grade. Once past Summit, our train eases downgrade, clears the Upper Narrows and the scenic Lower Narrows, then makes good time streaking across the desert floor to Barstow. Along the way you ’ll meet westbound hotshots, spot third main track construction and signal installations, and get a totally unique perspective of the famous hotspots that make Cajon such a popular railfanning destination. Welcome aboard Volume 2 —you ’re “At the Throttle! ”.

DVD Special Features: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hr. 50 min., in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxatt2
Price: 19.95 USD

At the Throttle Cab Ride Vol. 4 (DVD): The Alameda Corridor.

Hop on board! We ’ve got a first class ticket for you to ride a BNSF doublestack train on the Alameda Corridor! From Hobart Yard in Los Angeles to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and back again, including Terminal Island and Pier 400, you ’re about to witness a line that few are privileged to see. So get ready. You ’re about to experience the Alameda Corridor!

The congestion generated by heavy BNSF and UP trains moving freight in and out of the ports led to construction of a 20-mile long consolidated route linking the railroads ’ container facilities near Los Angeles to the harbor area. The central feature of the Corridor is the Trench, a 33-foot deep, 50-foot wide, 10-mile long cut that carries trains below grade crossings. With an average close to 70 trains a day, the Corridor is a busy place, as you ’ll see on three separate outings.

Your first trip begins near Eastern Avenue on a cool, overcast October morning in 2007. After passing Hobart Tower, you enter the Trench at 25th Street, return to ground level 10 miles later in Compton, ending your trip at Delores Yard. Your second trip takes you from Watson Yard to Terminal Island where your consist will traverse a giant balloon track to keep your lead unit on the point before coupling to a waiting train. For the third trip, you ’ll depart from Pier 400 for the return trip back through the Trench. This time the camera is mounted on the second unit to give you a different perspective. The highlights of your trips include appearances by Pacific Harbor Line locomotives, a passing UP stack train in the corridor, and more. This is a railroading adventure like no other!

DVD Special Features: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments; Full-screen (4x3) Format; No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide; Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 2 hours 16 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxatt4
Price: 22.95 USD

Volume 2 of B&O Odyssey, which covers the years 1965 to 1968, is the second in a multi-volume series based on the works of noted railroad photographer Emery Gulash. The odyssey resumes in Michigan, shortly after the B&O had merged with the C&O. Motive power and rolling stock of both roads are seen intermingled. Passenger trains between Detroit and Toledo are seen including the Cincinnatian plus the towers of Wayne Junction, Romulus and Carleton. Moving east, Connellsville, PA and Brunswick, MD are visited where heavy freight action is happening. Motive power includes F-units and GP30s. At Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, perhaps the most scenic spot on the B&O, passenger and freight trains are seen making their daily runs. Coverage continues on to Hancock, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and back to Michigan where lots more passenger action is observed.

Pentrex, 60 minutes, chapter menu, option to listen with or without narration. pxbo2
Price: 22.95 USD

5 Shows on One Disc! British Columbia Railway.

BC Rail was as spectacular an operation to watch as the scenery through which it ran. Sold to the Canadian National Railway in 2004, it ’s now a beloved fallen flag of the past, but you can still experience the thrill of BC Rail as it existed in 1986 when this show was originally filmed. Pentrex takes you for a ride along Howe Sound behind Royal Hudson 2860, one of the world ’s most beautiful steam locomotives. You ’ll also enjoy a trip aboard the Budd passenger cars from North Vancouver to Prince George, a 13-hour journey that takes you into the cab for first-hand views of meets with other trains. Traveling the various subdivisions, you ’ll get close-up views of freight operations and will pay a visit the Tumbler Ridge line to see its electric locomotives and their coal loading operations. BC Rail ’s color scheme was shifting from green to its new red, white, and blue paint at this time; you ’ll see both color schemes traveling through mountains, past lakes, and across bridges. Step back in time with Pentrex to savor BC Rail at its finest!

Uncommon Carrier. View the steam, diesel, and electric locomotives used by BC Rail to serve its shipping, passenger, and tourist operations and get special insight into BC Rail ’s contribution to the economy of its province. This production includes footage from Pentrex and the BC Rail film library.

995 Days. Experience the Tumbler Ridge Line, the only 50-kilowatt electric railroad in North America. Construction began in 1980 and was completed in 1983, after just 995 days! You ’ll see tunnels drilled, track laid, catenary strung, insulators fired, and the unique locomotives designed by GMD of Canada for this remote and fascinating line.

Mile 63.5. On a cold November day in 1985, a northbound BC Rail train hit a rockslide at Mile 63.5 and derailed. Experience the efforts of the men and equipment pulling three locomotives up an embankment back to the main line in the middle of a British Columbia winter!

Dayliner One and Snowtrain. Enjoy two beautiful travelogs of the BC Rail system. Climb aboard the stainless steel Budd cars, view the beautiful scenery, and visit the towns the railroad serves. Includes great aerial shots of the Budd cars traveling the rails!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 3 hours 24 minutes, in Color with Hi-Fi Audio and Narration. pxbcrail
Price: 22.95 USD

During the 1950s, steam ruled the Union Pacific fleet. From the smaller 0-6-0s to the giant Big Boys, these workhorses were the backbone of an empire. Step back in time and savor the sights of steam on the UP in three different shows originally released as part of the Video Rails Classic Collector's Series. Combined on this DVD are:

Union Pacific Big Boys (30 Minutes).

Charge out of Cheyenne and Laramie and blast up Sherman hill with these kings of steam-the largest, heaviest steam locomotives to ever run in the western U.S. You'll see spectacular scenes of Big Boy doubleheaders, some with UP turbines. The rare footage captured here is combined with original sound re-recorded in Hi-Fi Stereo to enhance your viewing and listening experience.

Union Pacific Challengers (30 Minutes).

Massive and fast, the Challengers successfully conquered the entire Union Pacific system, operating through every type of terrain. Enjoy exciting pacing sequences, dramatic helper scenes, shots of Challengers running with turbines and diesels in Weber and Echo canyons, and spectacular views of Challengers pulling freight on Sherman Hill and in the Wasatch Mountains.

Union Pacific Steam (30 Minutes).

Here are the smaller and medium sized steam locomotives that performed a major part of the work on the UP system. See 0-6-0s, 2-8-0s, 2-8-2s, and 2-10-2s moving freight along branch lines and in yards. Witness UP's mighty 4-8-4 Northerns racing across Nebraska. These and other unique scenes pay rich tribute to Union Pacific's steam heritage.

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hour 30 minutes, in Color with Appropriate Stereo Sound and Narration. pxvrup
Price: 22.95 USD

Union Pacific's Portland Subdivision.

Climbing gently from the tidewater ports near Portland, Oregon is the Columbia River Gorge —a wide, flat-water river passage that provides access to the inland agricultural regions of Washington and Oregon and divides the two states along most of their border. It is a spot of unparalleled beauty that hosts two railroad lines: BNSF to the north and Union Pacific along the southern shore.

In Columbia River Gorge Volume I: BNSF ’s Fallbridge Subdivision, Pentrex explored the BNSF side of the Gorge, heading east from Vancouver, Washington to the arid desert mountains near the John Day Dam. Now, in Volume 2, we jump across the river to head back west toward Portland following Union Pacific ’s Portland Subdivision. We ’ll visit many of the region ’s best railfanning spots, such as Biggs, Celilo Park, The Dalles, Memaloose State Park, Mosier, and Hood River with the Mount Hood Scenic Railroad. We ’ll travel through the Viento State Park area to Wyeth, Cascade Locks, Bonneville Dam, and the spectacular Multnomah Falls. At Troutdale, the mainline splits into two routes to Portland and we ’ll visit the junction there before heading into the city.

The trains you ’ll see include Canpotex unit potash trains, Spokane International mixed freights, container, grain, trailer, and stack trains, and Amtrak ’s Pioneer. Motive power varies from SD40-2s to SD60Ms, SD70Ms, leased SD90MACs, Dash 40-CW, AC4400-CW, GE AC6000, Geeps, and more. CP, BNSF, and C&NW power also make appearances. These images were captured from the mid 1990s to the early 2000s, giving you a chance to see some of the older and newest power in use. With its incredible scenery and nonstop parade of interesting trains and motive power, it ’s no wonder UP ’s Portland Sub is one of the best railroading hotspots of the nation!

DVD Special Features: 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 18 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxupcrg
Price: 22.95 USD

Railroading hot spots are favorite gathering places where railfans can expect to see numerous trains in a short amount of time. Following upon the success of Conrail Hot Spots East, which covered the eastern half of the extensive Conrail system, Pentrex set out to record many of the revered hot spots on the western half of the system in the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

The locations visited in Ohio include Ashtabula, Alliance, Crestline, the Cleveland Drawbridge, Berea Tower, Galion, Marion, Port Clinton, Toledo, and Ridgeway. Indiana sites include Elkhart, South Bend, Porter, Hammond, Muncie, and Terre Haute and in Illinois we view the action at St. Elmo and Effingham. All Conrail trains are identified by their symbols indicating departure cities and destinations. Big Blue puts on an impressive show for us with its fleet of power that was relatively new for 1996, such as SD60s and C40s. Locomotives from other railroads are seen on Conrail trains as run-through power. In addition, trains belonging to CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, Illinois Central, and Grand Trunk Western are seen at many of the important junctions.

Released originally in 1996, this presentation is now available with the enhanced viewing clarity and ease that DVD can offer. Join Pentrex for an exciting tour of railroading along Conrail Hot Spots West!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. In Color with Stereo Sound and 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. pxhswest
Price: 22.95 USD

CSX Southern West Virginia Coal: The Logan, the Big River, and the Big Coal Subdivisions

In 1994, Pentrex went on a tour of discovery along CSX branchlines in the coalfields of West Virginia to show you how coal was brought down out of the hollows and moved out to world markets. The beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, the power of the railroad, and the importance of the task are just as riveting today as they were then. Pentrex is proud to bring you the story of Southern West Virginia Coal!

Traveling on the Logan, the Big River, and the Big Coal Subdivisions, as well as their numerous connecting subs, you ’ll see hard working diesels pull strings of hoppers up stiff grades and twisting branchlines where the cars will be flood-loaded at the mines. Cabooses are still utilized on some trains and rear-end pushers can be seen on others. Following the loaded trains out of the coalfields, you ’ll visit a rail-to-river transfer facility where a rotary dumper quickly unloads the “black diamonds ” into barges. An interview with Tim Hensley, CSX Resident Vice-President for West Virginia, provides intriguing insight. Mr. Hensley was once a locomotive engineer and he reflects on his personal experience and the significance of these coal operations to the railroad and the state.

Long, heavy trains grinding through curve after curve, powering through daunting grades, loaded with the raw ore that will feed a hungry nation; that ’s what you ’ll find here. The action never ceases for CSX as it meets the challenge of the coalfields of Southern West Virginia!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. 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 30 minutes, in Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxcsxc
Price: 22.95 USD

Join Pentrex for an exciting ride on the longest and highest narrow gauge railroad in North America, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. This remnant of the once flourishing Rio Grande narrow gauge network runs from Chama, New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado. The spectacular vistas of the San Juan Mountains and the Upper Rio Chama Valley flank the rails of this serpentine route as it switches back and forth across the two state lines.

Mikado steam locomotives built in the mid 1920s power the vintage equipment for these passenger trains. Daily, during summer months, they struggle up the four percent grade to the 10,015-foot summit of Cumbres Pass. You ’ll ride in the cab and witness the expertise of the engineer and fireman who control these locomotives as they blast upgrade. Numerous run-bys highlight the power and beauty of a C&TS doubleheader at many scenic spots along the 64-mile line.

This program, released originally in 1991 and now available on DVD, brings you narrow gauge railroading at its finest on one of America ’s most popular tourist railroads. Enjoy the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Passenger Train!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hr. 15 min., in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxcatsp
Price: 22.95 USD

The Denver & Rio Grande Western means rugged, spectacular mountain railroading, heavy freight hauling, and terrific action shots. That was especially true in 1986 when this show was originally filmed. At that time, the railroad was still an independent entity and most of its trains were pulled by pure sets of Rio Grande power, many with cabooses. Units from Burlington Northern, Southern Pacific, and Missouri Pacific could also be seen with run-through trains. This was pre-merger time, a great time to tour the D&RGW.

This DVD covers the entire Denver to Salt Lake City mainline. Savor the thrill of a cab ride up the Front Range to Moffat Tunnel. Travel to Winter Park to see the Ski Train with its heavyweight coaches. Watch Rio Grande, Santa Fe, and Burlington Northern trains share operations on the Joint Line between Denver and Pueblo. Climb the awesome slopes of Tennessee Pass to the 10,000-foot summit; then descend into the Royal Gorge with its sheer rock walls. Filmed throughout the four seasons of the year, this show brings you the beauty of the Rio Grande terrain and all its nonstop action, including the Rio Grande ’s business cars, Amtrak, and plenty of freights. It ’s a fantastic trip!

DVD Special Features: Bonus footage: A 23-minute cab ride through the Royal Gorge. This footage has never before been released! Two Hi-Fi soundtracks, one with the natural train sounds, the other with narration added. The viewer can switch the narration on or off at any time. Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format; No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hour 52 minutes plus 23 minutes bonus footage, in Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxdrgw
Price: 22.95 USD

On June 1, 2008, AT&SF 3751 made its first trip from Los Angeles to San Diego in 55 years and Pentrex was on the spot with multiple camera crews using the latest in high-tech equipment to bring you the best possible coverage of this exciting event. Using our famous aerial photography as well as trackside and onboard cameras, we were able to capture the train from all angles —and we do mean all! We were able to get some truly incredible shots! The powerful 4-8-4 Northern never looked better as she headed south along the beautiful Southern California coast.

The skies were clear and sunny as the 3751 departed Los Angeles at the head of its 10-car train. The Amtrak unit behind the 3751 was placed in reverse mode for the turn-around in San Diego and to provide head end power for the cars. Otherwise, the special was pulled entirely by steam. Our camera crews had the train well covered as it followed the west side of the Los Angeles River, past Amtrak ’s Redondo Yard, and headed east to Fullerton and then to San Juan Capistrano. A photo run-by for passengers took place at the Poinsettia Station where the thirsty Baldwin stopped to be watered and serviced before proceeding to San Diego. Leaving the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the oil-burning 81-year old steamer filled the canyons with a throaty exhaust as it tackled the 2.2 percent grades of Miramar Hill. In a scene reminiscent of the glory days of steam, the 3751 pulled into San Diego ’s classic Mission Revival style station where fans of all ages were waiting to greet the train.

Our special coverage of this historic excursion also includes some rare in-cab footage of the 3751. There ’s nothing quite so thrilling as the sights and sounds of big steam on the rails again and Pentrex has captured all that excitement for you in Above 3751 to San Diego!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. Shot in High Definition and Widescreen (16x9) Format. No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hour 30 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxa37sd
Price: 22.95 USD

Featuring World's Fair Daylight 1984 and By Daylight to the Fair

The year 2004 marks the 20th Anniversary of one of railroading's most notable events-the famed excursion of Southern Pacific's beautiful Daylight 4449 steam locomotive and its matching trainset traveling from Portland, Oregon to the World's Fair in New Orleans and back. In this commemorative Combo DVD, you will be treated to two outstanding documentaries, giving you complete coverage of that spectacular and historic event.

World's Fair Daylight 1984 (60 Minutes). Ride in the cab of Southern Pacific Daylight 4449 as the engineer and fireman put her through her paces across Arizona and New Mexico. Enjoy exciting aerial shots along the California coast as the Daylight speeds back to San Francisco. This award-winning program covers the Daylight and her 13 beautiful matched passenger cars from start to finish! (Produced by Video Rails in 1984).

By Daylight to the Fair (90 Minutes). Pentrex cameras were on board and trackside to bring you the Daylight as it traversed every type of terrain from Portland down to Los Angeles, over to Phoenix, across Texas, and on into New Orleans for the World's Fair. On the way you'll pace alongside, ride aboard, and share the festivities with the enthusiastic crowds that greeted the train at every stop. (Produced by Pentrex in 1984; narration added in 2004).

DVD Special Features: Bonus footage: Included are 15 minutes of bonus footage filmed by the Southern Pacific Railroad showing the Daylight on its way from Bakersfield to Los Angeles via Tehachapi Pass!

Two hi-fi soundtracks, one with the natural train sounds, the other with narration added. The viewer can switch the narration on or off at any time. Chapter Menus provide instant access to program segments. 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 45 minutes, in Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxdaycombo
Price: 22.95 USD

A Head End ride over the Denver & Rio Grande Western riding Amtrak's California Zephyr in the cab of an F40PH diesel. We leave Denver and snake up the giant S curve high into the Rockies passing through 28 tunnels before reaching the famous Moffat Tunnel which pierces the Continental Divide at an altitude of 9,239 ft. and continue along the scenic Colorado River to Grand Junction. Part 1 is from Denver to 5 miles east (before) of Moffat tunnel. The view is BREATHTAKING.

Railroad Video Productions, 1 hr. 40 min., color. List price: $29.95. RVP17-1D
Price: 24.95 USD

Here are two shows that lift you up into the skies above Southern California for an incredible look at railroading as you've never seen it before!

Above Southern California Rails (42 Minutes) Get ready for the ultimate railfan video as Pentrex takes you into the skies to experience Southern California railroading as it's never been seen before! Climb aboard a jet helicopter loaded with state-of-the-art, gyro-stabilized video equipment. Then soar skyward to enjoy sweeping panoramas, pace speeding locomotives, and get incredible aerial views of long curving trains.

Skim over the blue Pacific Ocean as they follow Amtrak trains and BNSF freights along the Surf Line near San Clemente. Check out the newly-rebuilt BNSF yards in San Bernardino and examine UP's West Colton Yard. Race the Talgo trainset as it travels through the Los Angeles area. Then swing over to the harbor area for a bird's-eye view of container operations and the brand new coal facility. The weather is crystal clear and there are plenty of trains to be seen. You'll marvel at the ultra-smooth, incredibly close, breathtaking photography as our helicopter cruises above these fast freight and passenger trains. This video offers a perspective like no other!

Above 3751 Over Cajon (75 Minutes) Join Pentrex for a fantastic video experience! Santa Fe steam engine 3751 traveled over Cajon Pass as it moved from Los Angeles to Sacramento to attend Railfair '99. Pentrex was there to document this incredible journey, with multiple camera crews capturing every highlight of famous Cajon Pass. As always, the handsome 3751 put on quite a show! Their coverage begins as the engine and tender are pulled out of the Redondo Junction Roundhouse in preparation for the trip. Then the big day arrives when the special train rolls out of Los Angeles, through Santa Ana Canyon, and on toward San Bernardino. Pentrex cameras are in the air, aboard the train, and on the ground showing this mighty locomotive from every angle. Nowhere else can you find such outstanding shots of a steam locomotive at work! Highlights include spectacular views of Sullivan's Curve, Mormon Rocks, the climb up to Summit, Mojave Narrows, and fast running across the high desert to Barstow.

This video will give you a completely different perspective of Cajon Pass. The jet-powered helicopter with state-of-the-art broadcast equipment allows you to pace alongside the 3751 and hover over freight trains as they meet the steam special. You're railfanning from the ultimate chase vehicle!

DVD Special Features: Two stereo soundtracks, one with the natural train sounds, the other with narration added. The viewer can switch the narration on or off at any time. Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format; No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 117 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxatrc
Price: 22.95 USD

This program features service to and from Milwaukee between 1930 and 1958 at locations including Burlington, Rochester, Waterford, West Junction, Racine, Waukesha, Hales Corners, Kenosha, Highwood, Wilmette, Waukegan, Chicago and more.

The original 8 & 16 mm film was furnished by Gordon Sandstrom and Charles H. Damaske.

Railroad Video Productions, 60 minutes, color and music. List price: $29.95. RVP146D
Price: 24.95 USD

A Head End ride over the Southern Pacific Route.

Back on board the Amtrak F40PH diesel at Sparks, Nevada, we pass the elaborate hotels and casinos of Reno. Leaving Reno, we pass spreading ranches through Tahoe National Forest and across the Sierra Nevadas. We then follow the Truckee River in California, through Donner Pass and arrive at Sacramento. The train then continues around the San Francisco Bay and arrives at Oakland, California. Part 3 is from Colfax to Davis, California Milepost 77.

Railroad Video Productions, 1 hr. 45 min., color. List price: $29.95. RVP18-3D
Price: 24.95 USD

Double the Action! Train Meets-Double the Action was Pentrex's first show dedicated to that rare, sought-after moment in railfanning when two trains are meeting each other or running side by side.

Train Meets 2 continues the pace with an hour and a half of nonstop, screen-filling, multi-train action featuring two and sometimes three trains in every scene.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific trains are the stars of this show, with an occasional appearance by Metrolink. The action takes place throughout Southern California at Cajon Pass, San Timoteo Canyon, the BNSF Needles Sub, the San Bernardino Sub between Colton and Fullerton, and the Tehachapi route. You ’ll see a variety of modern high-horsepower diesels heading up trains at Cajon and Summit on Cajon Pass, the flyover at Frost, Daggett, Colton, and Santa Ana. Some unusual treats include a BNSF passenger special at Colton and a UP officers ’ special meeting the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus train on Tehachapi Pass. It ’s great viewing!

DVD Special Features: Two stereo soundtracks, one with the natural train sounds, the other with narration added. The viewer can switch the narration on or off at any time. Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 hour 30 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxtmda2
Price: 22.95 USD

This spine tingling video highlights some of the worst train crashes to occur in over 20 years of railroading. You'll witness the aftermath of such devastating events as:

The Potato Wreck on the Boston & Maine at Clinton, Mass. on November 3, 1934; The Vandeveer Park wreck on the Long Island RR at Brooklyn, New York on December 4, 1934; The derailment and explosion of a gasoline tank train on the Santa Fe at Olathe, Kansas on April 10, 1936; Derailment of Milwaukee Road train #15, The Olympian, due to a washout at Custer Creek, Montana on June 19, 1938; The sabotage of Southern Pacific's City of San Francisco at Carlin, Nevada on August 12, 1939; The New York Central's Lake Shore Limited disaster on Death Curve at Little Falls, New York on April 19, 1940; The derailment of Baltimore & Ohip's passenger train no. 8 at Indiana Harbor, Indiana on December 2, 1941; The Kew Gardens rear-end collision of two Long Island trains at Jamaica, New York on November 22, 1950; Derailment of Pennsylvania train no. 733, The Broker, at Woodbridge, New Jersey on February 6, 1951; The rear-end collision of Union Pacific's City of Los Angeles with the City of San Francisco at Wyuta, Wyoming on November 12, 1951; The wreck of New Haven train no. 172, the Federal Express, on Jenkins Curve at Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 14, 1955.

It's a documentary you won't soon forget!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 45 minutes, in Black & White with Narration. pxnv040
Price: 22.95 USD

Esteemed for its scenic beauty and respected for the difficulty of its terrain, Tennessee Pass has been a magnet, drawing railfans and photographers to Colorado ’s mountains for years. When word spread that Union Pacific was closing the pass in 1997, interest climbed to an all-time high. Along with visitors from throughout the world, Pentrex traveled to this revered line to document its final months of operation. Our efforts were rewarded with a high volume of movements and an outstanding mix of trains.

The grit of heavy-haul railroading is an awesome sight. Coal trains slug it out on the 3 percent grade leading to the 10,000-foot summit. Colorado ’s highest snow-capped mountains loom over toiling freights. Squealing flanges echo off canyon walls as trains grind through serpentine curves, and past the raging waters of the Arkansas River. Helper engines are viewed assisting trains over the mountain. Up to nine of UP ’s newest AC-powered giants are needed to lug tonnage across the pass. It ’s this type of intense action and spectacular scenery that made the line so idolized. Join with us as we pay tribute to Union Pacific ’s Tennessee Pass Subdivision!

Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case. DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments.

Pentrex, 1 hour 40 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxtribute
Price: 22.95 USD

California ’s Cajon Pass has long been a favorite destination for countless railfans from around the world. The first line was built by Santa Fe in 1885 and years later the Southern Pacific constructed its own line through the pass. Today, Cajon is busier than ever with more traffic than the two lines can support. So, after several years of careful planning, BNSF broke ground in 2007 for a third main track linking the 15.9 miles between Keenbrook and Summit.

Pentrex brings you the story of this third track construction from beginning to end. We ’ll take you back to the start of the project and show you the process of cutting new slopes and embankments; moving millions of cubic yards of earthwork and rocks, building culverts and retaining walls, eliminating two tunnels, creating five new bridges, and track laying. It was a massive undertaking, as you ’ll see during the first portion of our show.

Then we treat you to nonstop action on today ’s triple-tracked Cajon, traveling from Verdemont to Summit with great before and after footage. A heavy winter storm gave us the opportunity to bring you rare, fantastic snow scenes. As a special treat, we ’ve included Bonus Footage featuring a cab ride from Blue Cut to Summit. If you thought seeing dual movements on two tracks was a thrill, wait until you see the screen filled with the excitement of three trains operating simultaneously on three tracks! Triple Track Cajon delivers the kind of railroading adventure that you will enjoy time and again!

DVD Special Features: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments. Special Audio Feature provides the option of watching the program with or without narration. No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

The main portion of the show is presented in High Definition 16x9 Format; Bonus and archival footage is presented in Standard Definition 4x3 Format.

Pentrex, 3 hours 15 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxttc
Price: 22.95 USD

Streamliners! The look captured the imagination of the nation. The name represented luxury, glamour, and mobility. Streamliners epitomized a new world of modern living, symbolizing style and technical evolution in the ongoing fulfillment of the American Dream. Pentrex is proud to present this comprehensive tribute to the streamliners of the Union Pacific, utilizing material from the archives of the Union Pacific Historical Society, much of which has never before been seen.

Three years in the making, this production offers a detailed look at the development and evolution of Union Pacific passenger trains from 1934 to 1971. UP ’s streamliners spring to life with fantastic images: America ’s first streamlined train, UP ’s M-10000, including rare color footage. Steam turbine electrics 1 & 2 in Omaha at the 1939 premiere of the movie Union Pacific. The General Motors Train of Tomorrow , introducing Astra Domes in 1947. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and inaugural run of the Aerotrain City of Las Vegas, shown inside and out and at its arrival in Las Vegas in 1956, with Liberace in the cab. A 1959 scene with the entire crew of 35 employees lined up outside the City of Los Angeles to demonstrate the luxury of service provided aboard UP streamliners. Dozens and dozens of run-bys at classic UP locations such as Echo Canyon, Sherman Hill, Cajon Pass, Puget Sound, and even aerial footage. CTC board operations, maintenance-of-way track repair, and a tour of the back shops. The last City of Los Angeles to depart L.A. Union Passenger Terminal in 1971 and the last UP passenger train to pull into L.A. from Chicago, seen trackside and from aboard the train.

Motive power includes EMD E-3s through E-9s and F-3s, Alco PAs and FAs, Fairbanks-Morse Erie-builts, steam turbine electrics, and more. Interior shots include club cars, lounges, dome coaches, dome diners, sleeping cars, and others. The list goes on and on! This exciting production will show you the UP streamliner era as it ’s never been seen before!

DVD Special Features: Bonus footage: Over 17 minutes of UP television commercials from the 1950s and 1960s, plus a 10 minute railroad safety film from the 1940s featuring UP streamliners in color, are included on the same DVD! Two stereo soundtracks , one with the natural train sounds, the other with narration added. The viewer can switch the narration on or off at any time. (This feature is not available on the bonus footage.) Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. 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 7 minutes, in Color and Black & White with Appropriate Stereo Sound and Narration. pxpcsl
Price: 31.95 USD

In 1982, the Western Pacific system, including the Feather River Canyon route, was purchased by the Union Pacific. Improvements began immediately to facilitate increased traffic. A brief 9 years later, Pentrex set out to capture the variety and volume of trains now flowing over this famous pass across California ’s scenic Sierra Nevadas.

Step back to 1991 to watch as Union Pacific sends Doublestack and intermodal trains through the Canyon ’s challenging terrain. Unit grain trains, steel trains, and others led by Dash 8-40CWs, Dash 8-40Cs and SD40-2s, wind their way past the vertical cliffs that rise from the track bed. All the well-known landmarks are featured here: Keddie Wye, Williams Loop, James, Clio Trestle, Pulga, and others. Plus, 20 minutes of bonus footage takes you trackside to witness the rerailment of cars after a derailment at Pulga in 1984. For an exciting look at mainline operations on one of the most rugged and spectacularly beautiful mountain routes, you can ’t do better than Union Pacific ’s Feather River Route!

DVD Special Features: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments; Bonus Footage: 20 minutes of a rerailment at Pulga in 1984. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

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

The Kearney Sub. Travel with Pentrex to the busiest freight mainline in North America. Union Pacific ’s Kearney Subdivision lies in the heart of central Nebraska. The 110-mile portion from North Platte to Gibbon Junction can see an average of 100 trains a day. In 1999, Union Pacific completed construction of a third main track to ease the congestion. Pentrex cameras captured some awesome railroading action here, including many meets and passes. This is Class One railroading at its best!

Many different types of trains can be seen rolling across the sand hills and between farm fields. We take some extra time to view trains rounding Buttermilk Curve, which is the best spot for watching trains on the line. Coal shipments are a big reason for the increase in traffic on the Kearney Sub. But with the world ’s largest classification yard at the west end of the line in North Platte, many other freights traverse the triple track main as well. Ninety-two different trains are captured running along the triple track with all kinds of motive power utilized, including distributed power coal trains. Pre-merger power can also be seen, including C&NW, Southern Pacific, and Rio Grande! You won't want to miss this show!

DVD Special Features: Two stereo soundtracks, one with the natural train sounds, the other with narration added. The viewer can switch the narration on or off at any time. Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 96 Minutes In Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxupmain
Price: 22.95 USD

Have you ever passed a track gang and wondered what all those machines actually do Here's your answer and more. You'll visit a tie replacement and surfacing gang to witness the amazing parade of equipment as it progresses down the track. Close-up shots explain what each machine does. Then you'll tour a major shop to see in detail how coal hoppers are built. Next you're off to view undercutting machines cleaning ballast on BNSF.

Did you ever wonder what it's like to work as a dispatcher You'll visit a Norfolk Southern facility where the chief dispatcher explains the operation. Returning to BNSF, you'll see one of the most awesome pieces of railroad equipment: the P-811 concrete tie layer. This gigantic device lifts welded rails from the ties and forces them to both sides of the machine. It then removes old ties from the right of way, replaces them with new ones, and puts the rails back in place, all in one continuous movement. It's an absolutely fascinating, complex apparatus. You're sure to enjoy this and all of the other exotic equipment Workin' on the Railroad!

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide.

Pentrex, 1 hour 35 minutes in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxwotr
Price: 22.95 USD

Workin' on the Southern Pacific (DVD Video)

This collection of rare training and PR films was produced by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the 1950s and Pentrex is proud to present them together for the first time ever! Early diesels, including E- and F-Units, PAs, and F-Ms dominate the motive roster, many in Black Widow paint scheme. Included are:

* Men, Wheels and Power. SP takes you on a grand tour of its motive power and car maintenance departments where you ’ll observe new car construction, including SP ’s first dome car; visit foundries where iron wheels and brass journals are manufactured; explore the shops where freight cars are reconditioned; and visit stations and yards from Eugene to El Paso. 27 minutes. Color.

* One Spot System of Car Repair. The mechanized car repair shed at its Roseville Yard allowed SP to get Bad Order cars back on the rails fast. You ’ll see how the three-track shed and its automated systems worked, including a truly speedy truck replacement system! 12 minutes. Color.

* Progress Through Safety. Protecting against the uncontrolled movement of cars and engines is the subject of this safety training film. After looking at the fatal consequences of failing to comply with safety rules, SP operators are shown the precise sequence of steps to follow for securing engines and setting out cars on grades. 15 minutes. B&W.

* The Lost Picnic. The California Highway Patrol and the SP Safety Training Department teamed up to present this public service film that shows viewers what happens when crossing signals warnings are not heeded! 23 minutes. Color.

* This is Piggy-back. Southern Pacific had one of the largest piggyback fleets in the nation and designed its own rolling stock. You ’ll see flatcar assembly and specialized equipment such as refrigerator vans, open top vans, and sliding top vans. A trip to a brewery in San Francisco demonstrates how the combined use of truck and train made overnight delivery to distributors in Southern California possible. 23 minutes. Color.

Full-screen (4x3) Format; No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide; Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 1 Hour 40 Minutes, In Color and Black & White with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxwotsp
Price: 22.95 USD

Featuring The Pennsylvania Railroad Collection and The Standard Railroad of the World.

For 125 years, the Pennsylvania Railroad was the leader of its industry and proudly called itself the Standard Railroad of the World. Now, for the first time, two outstanding video productions about the Pennsy have been combined onto one DVD for your total viewing entertainment!

Featured are:

The Standard Railroad of the World: The mighty Pennsy is well represented in this superb video biography. You ’ll see steam, diesel, and electric power including K-4s and GG-1s, T1 Duplex 4-4-4-4s, shiny E-units, and even doodlebugs. Penn and Washington Union Stations are shown and you ’ll enjoy images of the Broadway and Congressional Limiteds. Also featured are the Northeast Corridor (including the Long Island Railroad) and commuters; inclined planes of the 1830s; Horseshoe Curve, Rockville Bridge, and Enola Yards; the wreck of the Federal Express and the birth of the Metroliners. Producer and director Bill Warrick spent years poring over archival footage and data and the result is this milestone production. Color and B&W.

The Pennsylvania Collection: The Pennsylvania Railroad of the 1950s was a railroading show unlike anything else. With powerful duplex-drive T1s, classic GG-1 electrics, and “next generation ” cab unit diesels, the Pennsy was truly a class act. In this video you ’ll get to sample that era through a collection of previously released Pennsylvania Railroad publicity films. Included are: “Progress on Rails, ” “Wheels of Steel, ” “Opening a New Frontier, ” and “Clear Track Ahead. ” B&W.

DVD Special Feature: Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments; Full-screen (4x3) Format; No region code; can be played in NTSC DVD players worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 2 hours 9 minutes; in Color and Black & White with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration. pxpennsy
Price: 22.95 USD

Winter on Marias Pass

Continuing their very popular winter theme, Highball visited Marias Pass in January, 2002. Heavy snow and 70 m.p.h. winds marked their visit, and BNSF celebrated by dumping a westbound intermodal off the bridge at East Glacier on the Saturday night. They taped some of the cleanup work on Sunday morning, and caught the first train to pass the wreck. Lots of dash 9's in both Heritage schemes, and a number of Warbonnets, plus SD40-2's, including some still wearing Cascade Green.

Taped between Blackfoot and West Glacier, all the favorite locations including Two Medicine Bridge, Spotted Robe, Bison, False Summit, Marias, Java, and Essex, and the weather goes from sunshine to heavy snow.

Highball Productions, 1 hour 45 minutes. hpwomp
Price: 30.95 USD