Fallen Flags, 10 Discs, 12 shows, 15½ Hours (Pentrex Combo Series)

Whether it’s a favorite railroad from your younger years or a recent railroad that’s been merged out of existence, these are the railroads that make our heart beat a bit faster. Let’s go back to when these railroads flew their flags high and proud.

Great Northern Railway For over 40 years, respected railroad photographer Anthony DeRosa railfanned the Great Northern Railway system, filming its operations from Seattle to Lake Superior and capturing the essence of a once-powerful and always popular railway. In 1994, Video Rails compiled Mr. DeRosa’s collection into a 3-volume ALL COLOR video set that was highly prized for its rare images and historical significance. Now you can experience the Great Northern Railway with all the improved visual clarity and crispness that DVD viewing provides. The three original volumes are now together in one show. Volume 1: Iron Ore Operations Witness the iron ore operations of the Great Northern from the mines and ore docks at Kelly Lake to Allouez, St. Paul, and Superior. Includes great views of GN’s N-3 class 2-8-8-0s in action. Volume 2: Diesel & Electric Power View the diesel locomotives that were common to everyday use across the vast Great Northern system, as well as Northern Pacific and SP&S diesel power. GN’s mighty electrics are featured as well. Volume 3: Steam Power See the Great Northern’s widely varied fleet of steam power in action, from the smallest 0-6-0s to the giant 2-8-8-2s. A special highlight is a pacing sequence with a huge R-2 class 2-8-8-2. These and other unique views bring you the Great Northern Railway as few have seen it!

Southern Pacific’s Geeps & Cadillacs Enjoy the sights and sounds of 40-year old GP9, SD7, and SD9 diesel locomotives moving freight over Southern Pacific’s Central California mainlines and branch lines in the 1990s. Nicknamed “Geeps” and “Cadillacs,” these engines revolutionized American railroading when they were introduced by EMD in the 1950s. Their popularity among the railroads was due to their efficiency, ease of maintenance, and operational flexibility. However, old age and hard work caught up to the engines during the 1970s and 1980s, and the majority were retired by almost all Class 1 railroads. Incredibly, Southern Pacific was still relying on the venerable workhorses in the spring of 1994 when Pentrex captured them on video. You’ll visit SP’s Fresno Line between Bakersfield and Sacramento to view the endangered diesels in action. Watch from trackside as solid sets of Geeps and Cadillacs work hard along the mainline on the Roseville-to-Fresno Local, and catch the Lodi Local as it travels over the Ione Branch out of Galt. Then ride in the cab of Geep #3742 for a thrilling return trip downgrade to the mainline at Galt. This is a fantastic opportunity to witness classic SP diesel locomotives in operation!

Kansas City Southern Step back to 1990 and tour the entire Kansas City Southern Railway system from Kansas City, Missouri to Port Arthur, Texas and over the former Louisiana & Arkansas line from New Orleans to Shreveport and across the Texas Division towards Dallas. Thrilling action on the KCS reveals heavy coal and grain trains snaking through the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas as helpers shove hard on the rear. Manifest freights are seen grinding their way over the summit of Rich Mountain. Elsewhere locals are racing against the clock before their time expires while yard switchers toil at their unending tasks. Every class of engine running on the KCS in early 1990 is seen in action here. Its well-known white paint scheme was transitioning to the new gray and you’ll see examples of both. In a Grande finale, a hot train with one of the KCS F-Unit slugs sprints across the rolling Texas Division. Here’s a great opportunity to revisit one of America’s favorite railways.

Pittsburgh Mainlines Imagine a place where the railroading includes mountain helper districts, long tunnels, countless bridges, triple track mainlines, heavy industrial switching, an active interlocking tower, and well over a hundred trains a day! That’s Pittsburgh, one of the busiest railroading centers in America, with possibly the widest variety of railroad operations to be found in a single region. The last months of Conrail’s Pittsburgh routes were captured just prior to Norfolk Southern’s takeover in 1999. “Big Blue” provided enough traffic to keep any railfan happy. CSX played an equally important role in this region and you’ll find plenty of dramatic CSX action. Plus, the heavy-industrial-hauling Union Railroad also contributed exciting scenes. You’ll see switchers toiling in a massive steel mill, Amtrak passenger trains on the mainlines, an unusual coal-hauling railroad, and even freight barges on the rivers around the city. Here’s your opportunity to experience heavy-duty railroading during several seasons of the year as we tour the best spots around the “Three Rivers City” before the 1999 mergers that changed the face of the area’s operations.

Covered Wagons of the Cascade F Units and E Units, commonly known as Covered Wagons, were very much standard power in the 1950s & 60s. By the 1970s, age was catching up to these classic units and their sheer numbers began to dwindle as railroads either rebuilt them into switchers or retired them from service altogether. By the 1980s if you could catch any Covered Wagons in operation, you would probably seize the opportunity to capture them on film as their days were definitely numbered. Pentrex has assembled a collection of movie films shot by a railfan in the 1970’s & early 80’s who expected these first generation diesels to come full-circle at any time. An added treat was that these films were recorded using the actual sound as the trains passed. In this all-color DVD, we will get an all-too-brief look at activity from Portland Union Station and Chicago when Amtrak was young. A more extensive collection of films were made in Washington along the Burlington Northern between the Seattle area and Sumas, along the Canadian border. Trains 143 and 144 ran daily between those 2 points and even in the early 80’s often had F7s for power. Much of Washington’s beautiful countryside is evident as we see F Units passing forests, meadows, and impressive bridges as long strings of mixed freight is hauled in the northwestern part of the state. We even caught a cab ride for part of the way!

Hot Rails through the Twin Cities Sizzling action – that’s railroading in the Twin Cities in 1998 when this show was filmed. Minneapolis/St. Paul hosts eight different railroads plus Amtrak passenger trains. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Canadian Pacific, Twin Cities & Western, Minnesota Commercial, Wisconsin Central, and the I&M Rail Link all operate here. These rails are kept highly polished by cross-town transfers, local freights, yard jobs, and road trains! Tremendous variety and sheer volume make the Twin Cities a railfan’s dream. Experience the action at the hottest locations. University Avenue, Division Street, and Dayton’s Bluff at Hoffman Avenue are extensively covered. Shortline Hill, where trains strain to lift heavy tonnage out of the river valley, the BNSF mainline through St. Paul, and Wisconsin Central out of Shoreham provide plenty of action, with train meets and multiple trains underway. Steam is on the rails in the Twin Cities. You’ll spot Milwaukee Road #261 pulling an outbound excursion. Then it’s on the Minnesota Commercial where many of their unusual locomotives are hard at work. MC owns a unique fleet of old Alco and EMD museum pieces that will take you back to an earlier period.

Today’s Illinois Central, Main Line of Mid-America, Volume 1, The North End Explore the exciting northern half of the Illinois Central Railroad from the Chicago area to Fulton, Kentucky during the pre-merger days of 1996. Pentrex takes you on a journey down the main line where you’ll see locals, switch jobs, through-freights, and fast intermodal trains hard at work. The IC intersected with a variety of other railroads on its southward trek so you’ll also be treated to the sight of Union Pacific, Conrail, Norfolk Southern, CSX, and Burlington Northern trains at those diamonds. Train symbols are provided to enhance your understanding of how the Illinois Central fit together as a system. Mile markers, and maps of each district help identify the lines being presented and a rundown of IC’s diesel roster explains which types of units were in use. These include GP11s, GP40s, SD20s, SD40-2s, SD70s, and Paducah-built SW14s, SD28s, SD40s, GP10s, and a GP38. Here’s your opportunity to experience great action circa 1996 along the “Main Line of Mid-America”.

Today’s Illinois Central, Main Line of Mid-America, Volume 2, The South End Visit the southern half of the Illinois Central Railroad as it existed in 1996 for an eye-opening tour of discovery. The secrets of the IC unfold as our travels take you from Fulton, Kentucky to New Orleans. Watch heavy grain and long mixed freights, locals switching pulpwood lots, fast intermodals, and trains with long strings of tank cars from the famous “Chemical Coast”. Along the way you’ll cross western Tennessee to Memphis and then into Mississippi. Trains are followed down the length of the famous Delta country where you’ll see how the IC rebuilt the line into a modern transportation artery. Excitement builds as trains are seen climbing the hills south of Yazoo City to reach Jackson. Between Jackson and New Orleans many beautiful old passenger stations line the route and the charm of the South is evident as the rails pass through quaint, small hamlets. Informative maps and train symbols are displayed to help identify the different parts of the system. IC’s diesel roster included GP11s, GP40s, SD20s, SD40-2s, SD70s, and Paducah-built SW14s, SD28s, SD40s, GP10s, and a GP38. Hop on board as we depart for a rewarding trip down the southern half of the “Main Line of Mid-America”.

Mexico’s Pacifico Railroad Join Pentrex on a journey of discovery back to 1992 to explore Mexico’s Pacifico Railroad. We’ll take you across the entire line from Guadalajara to the US border at Nogales. It’s an eleven hundred mile odyssey that examines the many faces of a truly extraordinary operation. With everything lined up and no problems on the rails, the trip takes an FCP train 27.5 hours. A map helps you follow the action. The Pacifico Railroad is a bastion of old and new technology with an unusual locomotive roster. You’ll see older Alco and MLW engines reporting for duty, including the last remaining active Alco PA diesels, and freshly painted Alco PA DH-17 in its Southern Pacific Daylight paint scheme. Newly acquired BC Rail locomotives are also seen in action. Stepping into the shops at Empalme, you’ll view both maintenance work on the older locomotives and construction of new GE Super 7 engines. Here’s your chance to witness railroading from a different era, where train orders are still hooped up, telegraphers attend to their keys, cabooses mark the end of all freight trains, and marker lamps are in regular use.

BC Rail Cab Ride From Sea to SkyStep back to the late 1990s and climb aboard one of BC Rail’s brutish C40-8 diesels for a fantastic cab ride from sea level at Squamish up through the rugged coastal mountain range to the big sky country at Lillooet. You’ll see the line from the crew’s vantage point and witness the challenge of operating trains over this awesome stretch of railroad. Venerable Budd cars, the icons of BC Rail’s passenger operation, are highlighted. The last Alco powered RS-18 is seen switching at Squamish. Helper service is shown in detail as we ride an assisted freight up steep mountain grades. Rebuilt Cat-powered diesels are seen toiling at the large yard in North Vancouver. You’ll see the school train that provides children with a unique form of transportation to and from class. Even more action is waiting to be enjoyed in this insightful look at BC Rail operations and the gorgeous British Columbia scenes that enrich the footage taken from the cab. Hop on board for the ride of your life as we travel from sea to sky on BC Rail!