Three Beaumont Hill Shows SPECIAL SALE

THREE SHOWS

Ultimate Beaumont Hill: At the border of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in Southern California lies one of the most interesting and scenic mountain passes in the Southwest. Some call it Banning Pass or San Gorgonio Pass, but most railfans simply refer to it as Beaumont Hill. Pentrex is pleased to present complete coverage of Beaumont Hill from West Colton to Indio in six hours of pounding, railroading action! Although it peaks at only 2,591 feet above sea level, Beaumont Hill still presents sufficient hardship to rival taller passes. Flanked by Mount San Gorgonio to the north and Mount San Jacinto to the south, it has a beautiful charm all its own. Known now as UP’s Yuma Subdivision, the 76-mile line is mostly double-tracked and busier than ever.

In addition to Union Pacific, you’ll see engines from Ferromex, NS, CSX, BNSF, CEFX, GCFX, plus survivors from C&NW, Rio Grande and SP – and those are just the units we captured on the point! You’ll also see the SP, MKT, Mopac and WP Heritage units. Many engine models are represented, ranging from the SD38-2 to the newest SD70ACe and Dash 840C to the mighty GEVO. We even caught a rare GP15-1 in double stack service! Autos, lumber, and intermodal trains dominate the line. The “Rock Train” and Amtrak’s Sunset Limited are well covered and UP’s Centennial 6936 is seen pulling many passenger specials. There’s much more to see in this unending parade of dazzling color, open throttles, squealing brakes, and serpentine curves!

Over five years in the making, across the four seasons, under broiling summer sun and snow on the Pass, through windstorms and sandstorms, from dawn to dusk, this is the Ultimate Beaumont Hill!

Union Pacific over Beaumont Hill: Part of the former Southern Pacific “Sunset Route” east of San Bernardino. It’s post-merger, but there is still lots of SP power around, plus older UP power, though the merger is really starting to show. Shot over two springs and a summer, you see a variety of power and trains. This is helper country, usually SD45s, sometimes on the head end, sometimes on the rear. The line runs through the orange groves of the scenic San Timoteo Canyon, over Beaumont Summit and then down to the desert

and lastly, Beaumont Hill Combot with two shows: Beaumont Hill’s San Gorgonio Pass – the mountain gateway to the Sunset Route – was a tough proving ground for Southern Pacific’s locomotives. The demanding grade and extreme weather conditions of this Southern California railroading landmark put SP’s newest locomotives and leased power from other roads to the test. Video Rails spent three years filming great action over Beaumont Hill and the result was two exciting shows that have now been combined on one DVD for your viewing pleasure

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! (1 hour 30 minutes)

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! (1 hour)