Blue Mountains Combo: Volumes 1 2 and 3
SKU: DVD-PNX-VRBLUE$24.95
For the Union Pacific Railroad in the early 1990s, railroading in the Blues – the 200-mile segment of UP’s Oregon Division Mainline – meant staggering grades, extreme weather, and 3 daunting summits.
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| Producer | Pentrex |
|---|---|
| Run Time | 3 hours |
| Narration | Yes |
| Shrink Wrap | Yes, Brand New |
| Technical Details | No Region Code, NTSC |
For the Union Pacific Railroad in the early 1990s, railroading in the Blues – the 200-mile segment of UP’s Oregon Division Mainline – meant staggering grades, extreme weather, and 3 daunting summits. What a great bit of American railroading to capture!! Video Rails did just that when it set out to film the power of the Union Pacific as it faced its toughest run. Video Rails released the story of this northwest passage in three separate videos. Now, combined here for you on one action-packed DVD, are those three exciting shows!
Volume 1: La Grande to Huntington
Dramatic footage covers all the action from La Grande to Huntington. Climbing out of the Grande Ronde Valley and heading past Oxman Curve and through Burnt River Canyon, Dash 8-40CWs, SD40-2s, C36-7s, and SD60s take on the 2.2 percent grades of UP’s roughest helper district. Trailer trains, container trains, double stacks, grain, soda ash, auto racks, and Amtrak are seen on this exciting journey.
Volume 2: La Grande to Hinkle
Scale the Blue Mountains from La Grande northwest through Hilgard and Motanic to the summit at Kamela. Ride the cab of a GE Dash 8 and get an engineer’s view from a helper set on the rear of a UP freight. SD40-2s, C36-7s, 8-40Cs, and an SD60 are seen at Meacham Creek Canyon, the Umatilla River, and beyond.
Volume 3: Winter in the Blues
Travel the 56-mile “snow zone” of the Blue Mountains from North Powder to Meacham in the dead of winter. Climb the steep grades to the summits of Telocaset and Kamela, and then barrel across the Grande Valley through La Grande. A steady stream of UP trains have to battle against heavy snows in this formidable obstacle course and you’ll be trackside to appreciate the challenges they face!
Ron Harber III –
These mountains are beautiful but they are also challenging as trains on the Union Pacific had to climb toughest grades in eastern Oregon. Some of the locations are flat .25% but others have an uphill climb and sometimes downhill. Volume 2 is the only one of the 3 to have one scene of FEF-3 #8444 as it returns home after celebrating the 50th anniversary of Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal. Volume 3 covers the snow zone in the area of La Grande, Oregon and driving in snow are hazardous to the crew.
rickyfreni –
In part 1, there are locations at Hot Lake, Union Junction, Pyle, Crooks, Telocaset, Eames, Lun, Antelope Canyon, North Powder, Hutchinson, Haines, Wing, Baker, Quartz with C40-8 9325 towing the Pioneer Zephyr after an accident at the crossing, Encina, Pleasant Valley, Hindman, Oxman, Leonard, Durkee, Nelson, Weatherby, Jett Lime, & ends at Huntington (not West Virginia) near the Idaho state line. On one scene, an SD40-2 is referenced to a Santa Fe 4-8-4 that is still on display at Kingman Arizona.
In part 2, there are more locations like Perry, Hilgard, Glover, Motanic, Bodie, Nordeen, Kamela, Ross, Nibley, Meacham, Huron, Camp, Duncan (not the Thomas & Friends character), Bonifer, Gibbon (not Nebraska), Homly, Cayuse, Minthorn, Mission, Munra, Pendleton, Reith, Barnhart, Nolin, Echo, Stanfield, & ends at Hinkle. Meanwhile, there is also a pair of cab rides as well as a handful of action in the winter. On one scene, a May 1989 flashback of never retired northern 844 is heading home to Cheyenne after being renumbered to 8444 in 1962 which was shown in 8444 rides again.
Speaking of winter, in part 3, there is tons of snow on the ground between North Powder in the East, & Meacham in the west which includes a really steep climb through Telocaset & Kamela hill. Meanwhile Amtrak’s already discontinued pioneer zephyr is running 12 hours late due to the huge amount of snow on the rails as night falls.
Note: parts 1 & 2 from 1990 were the final video rails titles to be narrated by Donald Harris while part 3 from 1991 was narrated by Jim knight. Unfortunately, the closing credits were cut on the DVD version, but at least the individual VHS versions contain the full instrumental version of the blue mountains theme song.
Other road names are shown like Amtrak, C&NW, & Cotton Belt.
Mwdonoughue –
This 3 DVD combo features Union Pacific freights and Amtrak passenger trains as they traverse the Blue Mountains, along with some surprises featured.
Dan –
These were some of the first programs in my collection, and thirty years later they’re still on my short-list of favorites! The Blue Mountains videos showcased modern, big-time railroading when Video Rails released the series on VHS in the early ’90s; today, they’re a nice look back at railroading from a generation ago. Video quality is exceptional, and the scenery … especially on “Winter In The Blues” … is spectacular! These are still among a handful of programs in my collection I’d show non-railfan friends and say “THIS is why I enjoy videos about trains …”
Dylan Jones –
Very detailed video series. Lot’s of footage of operations. The winter series has to be the best in my opinion, highly recommended. Lot’s of Modern (for the time) GE and EMD units, although they’re no longer modern now, it’s still great seeing them.
rrvideoman, Delisle Saskatchewan –
Do you enjoy mountain railroading, in various weather conditions? This is one of the finest movies made. Based in Northeast Oregon, the movie combo series is put together in a very well manner. With La Grande as the home base point for all 3 movies of this combo, you will be amaized at the differences in the region. Vol. # 1 travels timetable east through rolling, open hills and cattle graizing land. Vol. # 2 travels timetable west departing the rolling hills and into the forested region of Oregon. A vast difference from Vol. # 1, but then settles into more open rolling land, finishing with a preview of what’s to come in Vol. # 3. Vol. # 3 is winter, starting with a mild amount and graduly increasing as the Volume progresses. I was very impressed at how the producers put the 3 Vol’s. together. Open valleys with the mountains as a back drop. Trains running at speed to mountain climbing with 2% + grades and slow motion trains. Almost hard to believe that it is all the same area. Most of the power is UP, with Amtrak making the occasional appearance, and even a Steam excursion runby. All adds to the interest. Vol. # 3 — Winter railroading is always a challenge, and this is no exception. Witness an auto on the highway in blowing snow. The photographer shows it all. Narration is limited, with alot of the natural sounds of the operating trains. Maps are provided which are very helpful understaning the region. A great movie that is a bonus to any collection. Highly recommended.
Kevin Willie –
Good Video Engineers Face a challenge going up and down
Arthur –
a 3 show dvd of Union Pacific on there Oregon Division a little long but a good show eather way