Early Amtrak, 1970 through 1999, 5 Discs, 6 Hours

Here in 4 shows we see the transformation of Amtrak from a hodge-podge of rainbow colors and routes, to the national system we know today. The fifth show focuses on the world of private passenger cars, and their Amtrak power.

Empire Builders to Milwaukee Individual railroad run intercity passenger service in Milwaukee was a thing of the past by early 1971. Amtrak had been formed 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 not 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.

The Amtrak Chief Join Pentrex as we travel back in time to the summer of 1972, a truly great time to be a railfan in Southern California. During Amtrak’s first summer in 1971, the Super Chief/El Capitan enjoyed high ridership levels, which prompted Amtrak to run an additional train between LA and Chicago during the busy summer months. This train, known simply as “The Chief” had a daily 1PM departure from LA that allowed for a daytime run over Santa Fe’s Second District mainline and the majestic Cajon Pass. This became the only time “The Chief” was ever run. In this fascinating DVD watch leased Santa Fe F Units pulling the Chief eastward out of Los Angeles through a number of communities and over Cajon. Both Summit and Sullivans Curve are shown before major realignments would soon change these areas forever. You don’t want to miss this incredible footage! The show wraps up with a ride aboard The Chief between San Bernardino & Barstow! All footage was captured on Super 8 film equipped with it’s own recorded sound.

Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Cab Ride 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 AEM 7 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 windows of locomotive number 911 give you a clear view of what it’s like to meet trains at full throttle. With both trains at 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 AEM 7. 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 highlights Amtrak’s pride and joy, the Northeast Corridor, as no other video can – from the engineer’s viewpoint!

Amtrak the Surfline and Amtrak Surfline Cab Ride Two shows on one disc! One of the most scenic stretches of railroad track in the entire country is about as far west as you can get – hugging the Pacific coastline between Los Angeles and San Diego. Known as the Surf Line or Surfline, this famous route was filmed in detail by Video Rails in the mid-1990s. The resulting two videos have now been combined on one DVD to bring you all the historic sites, exquisite scenery, and railroading action you look for. Amtrak – The Surfline
Our journey begins at Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal and heads south to San Diego. You’ll stop at each station along the Surfline route to see the unique features of these historic boarding points, including the lovely San Juan Capistrano station. Highlights of your tour feature views of the famous Carlsbad wooden trestles, interesting motive power including Amtrak’s Dash 8-32 BWH, Santa Fe freight action, and the fantastic oceanfront scenery found along the Surfline! Amtrak – The Surfline Cab Ride Climb aboard a new General Electric P32-8BWH for a cab ride on Amtrak’s train 579, the San Diegan, at speeds of up to 90 mph!. You’ll witness many train meets and see gorgeous beach scenery along the fastest stretch of track on the West Coast. It’s a fantastic ride!

Luxury on the Rails Here’s your opportunity to discover the many pleasures of traveling aboard luxuriously appointed private passenger cars. Every year, members of the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners hold a convention at a different site around the country. Getting to and from the gathering is as much fun as the event itself! In 1999, eighteen private cars dating from 1913 to 1950 arrived in Chicago to make up a special train called the Dixie Flyer. This set of “Varnish” then set out as a rolling party, taking exotic and seldom-used routes until it reached its destination of Tampa, Florida. At the end of the convention, the train returned to Chicago via another unusual route. We’ll ride aboard the Dixie Flyer and meet with the owners to hear them describe the time, effort, and resources that have been poured into these opulent, rolling palaces. You’ll learn about each car’s history, and view the collections of railroad china, silver, and historic appointments that make each car so unique.