The Tehachapi Mountains create a natural barrier between California's fertile San Joaquin Valley and the arid Mojave Desert. That barrier was breached 140 years ago by Southern Pacific’s civil engineer William Hood. The result was an engineering marvel that is still impressive today. Both BNSF and Union Pacific keep these rails polished with increasingly long and heavy trains. The Tehachapis have a reputation as a hard climb with a stiff 2.2% grade on both sides of the summit. Trains negotiate numerous curves, pass through several tunnels and wrap around the crown feature that has attracted railfans from all over the world: the Tehachapi Loop. Our journey begins in Bakersfield as we travel timetable south through the mountains to Mojave. Stacks, manifests, hot intermodals, and heavy unit grain trains grind up grade to Summit Switch, then drop down into the desert. Night and day, the pass resounds with the steady drum of prime movers, the squeal of wheel flanges, and the whine of heavy dynamics. Join us on an exciting adventure through Southern California's back country as 7idea Productions presents: Tehachapi...Union Pacific's Mojave Sub. This program was shot between April, 2011 and March, 2012. by 7idea Productions 2 hours 25 minutes * colour * May be viewed with or without narration. |
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Spend the day, from sunrise to sunset, on the overpass at the summit of busy, 4 track Logan Hill on BNSF's Orin Sub in the Powder River coal basin. More than 400 million tons of coal are produced every year, and more than 100 trains a day are needed to cope with demand. Multi train meets are common on Logan Hill, and loaded trains are working hard up the grade to the summit. by Highball Productions 135 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off |
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One of North America's iconic train watching locations, California's Cajon Pass takes the trains of BNSF & UP through the San Bernadino Mountains. You'll see trains at Keenbrook, Blue Cut, Cajon, Sullivans Curve, Mormon Rocks, Steins Hill, Alray, Hill 57 and the summit, working hard up the grade, or in dynamics down grade. by Highball Productions 2 hours * colour * narration * Features narration on/off |
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Part 1: Union Pacific’s Portland Sub The mighty Columbia River carves its way through the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest as it fashions much of the boundary between Oregon and Washington State. The Columbia River Gorge is rich in scenery from snow capped mountains to magnificent waterfalls. This is the backdrop for Union Pacific’s Portland Subdivision between Portland, Oregon and Hinkle Yard. Many manifest trains make their way to and from UP’s classification yard at Hinkle while expedited intermodal trains race between western ports in Portland, Tacoma and Seattle to major intermodal hubs in and around Chicago. With a gentle grade and many high-speed curves, this water-level route through the Cascade Mountains is ideal for long, heavy trains. Add the breath-taking scenery found along the gorge and you have the perfect recipe for great train watching. See UP's mighty SD90 MACs pounding the rails with 130 car potash trains! ES45AC's on the point of long double-stack trains! Vintage geeps in local service and much more, all in the spectacular setting of the Columbia River Gorge! This program was shot between June, 2011 and February, 2012. by 7idea Productions 1 hour 58 minutes * colour * narration * Features narration on/off |
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CSX’s Metropolitan Sub to Washington and the Old Main Line to Baltimore diverge at Point of Rocks, Maryland. MARC commuter trains use the station, and Amtrak’s Capitol Limited passes through daily. CSX runs locals, manifests, coal trains, autoracks and intermodals. We also take a look at Harpers Ferry, with it’s big bridge over the confluence of the Shenandaoh and Potomac rivers. by Highball Productions 100 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off |
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Norfolk Southern’s Pocahontas District recently had clearances raised for double stacks as part of the Heartland Project. Elkhorn grade between Bluefield and Iaeger is the steepest part of the Pokey, giving even NS’s latest SD70ACe’s a workout with heavy coal trains as they wind through the valleys and through the small towns of West Virginia. This is helper country, with two to three units pushing heavy trains up the grades. by Highball Productions 105 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off |
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BNSF & UP haul an amazing quantity of coal out of the Powder River coal basin on BNSF’s Orin Sub. We catch the trains of both roads from Orin Junction to Donkey Creek Junction. The line has had a major upgrade since our last visit due to the sheer volume of traffic. You’ll enjoy side by side runby’s, overtaking and lots of meets. by Highball Productions 2 hours 20 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off |
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In MRL Montana Mainline Part 2, we return to Helena in the dead of winter as trains prepare to do battle with Mullan Pass. A strong Canadian storm system slammed into the Rockies sending the mercury below zero while a quintet of MRL's EMD SD70ACe's put on a fantastic show shoving heavy trains to the summit. This is a mountain railroading at its best with 2.2% grades, numerous curves and high trestles. Shot in January and July of 2011, you will see the MRL taking on Mullan Pass in all types of weather as it climbs to the continental divide at Blossburg via the famous Mullan Tunnel. The action doesn't stop there, as trains race west along the 3rd, 4th and 10th subdivisions through the fantastic scenery that is the hallmark of Montana. Catch trains as they follow the course of the Clark Fork River and scale high above the treetops on Evaro Hill. Our tour concludes as we head west through the Bitterroot Mountains along the banks of the Clark Fork to Sandpoint, Idaho where MRL joins BNSF's busy "Funnel." A great variety of trains run over the line including coal, grain, mixed manifests and MRL's daily gas train. From perfect sunny skies, through thunderstorms and winter's arctic chill, this is a trip to MRL country you won't soon forget! Raw horsepower and beautiful scenery combine again for two great hours of entertainment. by 7idea Productions 2 Hours 4 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off * Widescreen |
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 In the American west, one place holds a special allure to those who have discovered its splendor...Montana. If you listen closely, you just might hear the pulse of a regional railroad that has been beating strongly for nearly a quarter of a century: The Montana Rail Link. Rolling on over 900 miles of former Northern Pacific track through Montana, Idaho and Washington State, the MRL passes through some of the most splendid scenery the NP had to offer. MRL serves as a bridge line for BNSF Railway between Laurel, Montana and Spokane, Washington. BNSF trains make up the majority of traffic seen here, although they are operated by MRL crews. In Part 1 of our two-part video series, we cover the First and Second Subdivisions between Jones Junction and Helena, Montana. The railroad follows the Yellowstone River west to Livingston, then up over Bozeman Pass, through Lombard Canyon and over Winston Hill before arriving at Helena. Thrill to the sight and sound of genuine 20 cylinder SD45’s shoving heavy unit trains over Bozeman Pass! Watch MRL and BNSF trains at several scenic locations in both summer and winter. Catch 125 car coal trains, grain trains, mixed manifests, locals and the special Boeing 373 train. The combination of great scenery and raw horsepower makes this an exciting video to see and hear! This program was shot in January and July of 2011. by 7idea Productions 1Hour 56 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off * Widescreen |
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CSX crests the Allegheny Mountains in Pensylvania at Sand Patch summit. We’ll explore the east slope from Cooks Mills to the summit in fall and in spring. Older power fights the unrelenting westbound grade, often with manned helpers. This is real mountain railroading! by Highball Productions 120 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off |
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The Powder River Basin lies between Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Thirteen active mines produce over 400 million tons of low-sulfur coal each year and it is up to the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific to transport it from the mines to customers throughout the United States and various ports for export. Over 100 miles of coal hoppers roll through the Powder River Basin each day. The majority of traffic can be found along the Orin Subdivision between Donkey Creek Junction and Shawnee Junction, making this the highest tonnage mainline in the world. This joint line serves several Powder River Basin mines including the Caballo, Belle Ayr, Cordero Rojo mines, Coal Creek, Black Thunder mines, North Antelope Rochelle and the Antelope mines. We begin at Donkey Creek Junction and follow the Orin Sub south to Shawnee Junction where joint trackage ends. Between those two points, a steady parade of long, heavy coal trains traverse the triple track main. Get ready for 117 miles of coal as 7idea Productions presents: 'Coal Trains of the Powder River Basin' by 7idea Productions 1 hour 52 minutes WIDESCREEN FORMAT May be viewed with or without narration Available end September 2011Your Credit Card will be billed for this item immediately, and it will be sent to you as soon as it is available. Click here for a wmv preview of this video! |
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The Patriot Corridor between Ayer, Massachusetts and Mechanicville, New York is Norfolk Southern’s access to the Boston market. Run as Pan Am Southern, the line was refurbished and developed jointly by NS and Guilford Transportation. We’ll see the daily pig trains, usually with NS power, coal trains with NS, BNSF, Providence & Worcester and UP power, and Pan Am trains with both the old orange and gray paint, and the new dark blue paint scheme. by Highball Productions 105 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off. |
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Kansas City Southern, with Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern trackage rights trains on the recently upgraded Meridian Speedway between Shreveport, Louisiana and Meridian, Mississippi. KCS puts on a show with Geeps, AC44's, SD70MA's and SD70ACe's, some still in TFM paint and some new 'Retro-Belle' paint, and the Louisiana Southern makes an appearance with GP35R's. by Highball Productions 105 mins * colour * narration * Features narration on/off. |
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BNSF RAILWAY’S CAJON SUBDIVISION 7idea Productions traveled to Cajon Pass in April of 2011 to capture modern-day railroading at this spectacular place. We will begin in San Bernardino first thing in the morning and head east over the summit and through the Mojave Desert to Barstow. Thrill to the sound of 10,000 foot-long stack trains grinding up the 2.2% grade and right into your living room! A great variety of trains are featured including mixed manifests, auto racks, coal and piggyback trains. We will visit famous locations such as Sullivan’s Curve, the Mormon Rocks, the daylighted tunnels at Alray and much more. There is plenty of action on BNSF’s new triple track main plus UP trains on the former SP Palmdale Cutoff, making a total of four main lines over Cajon! The high density of trains, noteworthy scenery and numerous photo locations has made this THE destination for railfans from all over the world! You’ll see why in Cajon Pass...BNSF Railway’s Cajon Subdivision. Two hours runtime WIDESCREEN FORMAT Dolby Digital Audio May be viewed with or without narration |
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Hot Spots A constant parade of high tech power, mostly from GE in one of the most scenic locations on BNSF’s Transcon, Kingman Canyon in Arizona. From meets in rare snow to winter sunsets, the action never stops, stack train after stack train. Some work windows see unusual movements on normally single direction lines. Taped in February, 2011. by Highball Productions 2 hours 25 mins * colour |
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New Mega Machines of the Sierra 12 hours a day, 6+ days a week for 3 months, Union Pacific and a team of skilled contractors made history by rebuilding two Jordan Spreaders, the SPMW 4031 and 4032. Today, Spreader Snow Plows are the workhorse and backbone for keeping the rails clear of snow and ice during Winter months for the new high-priority double stack trains crossing Donner Pass. Since originally built in the 1960's, the Jordan Spreaders have basically been unchanged. In September 2009, the team undertook the monumental task of completely rebuilding the MEGA machines - before Winter sets in. Like a reality tv show, witness the drama and difficulties incurred along the way. The 4031 and 4032 were completed and deployed on the first day of the "storm of the decade" in 2010. In the end, the dedicated crew may have prevailed, but would it plow snow? by BA Productions 1 hour 20 mins * colour * narration |
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BNSF Railway’s Oregon Trunk Subdivision stretches 220 miles between Wishram, Washington and Chemult, Oregon. This DVD will take you on a trip from Chemult to the Columbia River Gorge ending at Wishram Yard. Watch trains as they sprint through the pine forests of Central Oregon, roll through an ancient lava flow near Bend, cross high bridges and trestles at breath-taking locations like the famous Crooked River Bridge, and snake through the scenic Deschutes River Canyon. We will also see a few Union Pacific trains detouring off of the nearby Cascade line due to a massive mudslide. This program was taped between January and July, 2008. by 7idea Productions 101 mins * colour * narration * Widescreen |
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Klamath Falls to the Famous Keddie Wye BNSF Railway's Gateway Subdivision stretches 203 miles between Klamath Falls, Oregon and Keddie, California. This remote line traverses the semi-arid high country of extreme northern California meeting Union Pacific's route through the Feather River Canyon at the famous Keddie Wye. The southern Cascades and northern Sierra Nevada mountain ranges offer both scenic vistas and many challenges for railroaders who work here. Shot in beautiful Hi-Definition in all seasons, our cameras show trains pounding the diamond at Stronghold, enduring icy winter conditions at Lookout, climbing mountain grades of up to 2.2% near Almanor and nearly stalling while climbing out of the Feather River Canyon! by 7idea Productions 1 hour 52 mins * colour * narration * Widescreen |
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CN & CP Along The Thompson & Fraser Canadian National and Canadian Pacific in the magnificent scenery of Canada’s Canyon, along the Thompson and Fraser rivers of British Columbia. Follow the line from Hope to Kamloops Lake through the lush rainforest of the Lower Fraser to the arid canyons of the Thompson River. Directional running has trains of both roads on each other’s tracks. Big time action in splendid scenery! by Highball Productions 120 mins * colour * narration On/Off * Widescreen |
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BNSF Railway’s Hi-Line Subdivision It’s mid October at Glacier National Park in Montana’s rugged Rocky Mountains. Fall splendor has faded from the quaking aspens. Stands of larch have begun their annual transformation from green to yellow before their needles fall. The wind-swept open country to the east has taken on shades of brown while evidence of recent snows highlights the mountain peaks. Somewhere below all of this the Middle Fork of the Flathead River meanders through this wild and scenic country on its way west. The icy water knows an easy way through this forbidding mountain range and so does a railroad, for this place is Marias Pass. Today’s BNSF Railway continues to use this historic route through the Rockies forged over 100 years ago by the “Empire Builder” James J. Hill. Beginning at Whitefish, BNSF’s Hi Line Sub heads east through tunnels, trestles, wooden snow sheds and over the Continental Divide where mountain forests meet the high plains. Witness heavy trains and big power rolling through Montana’s Big Sky Country. Enjoy bonus scenes of SP Daylight steam locomotive #4449 in Montana and Idaho. by 7idea Productions 112 mins * colour * narration on/off * Widescreen |
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Amtrak, BNSF & UP action on oppsite banks along the mighty Columbia River, which divides Washington and Oregon. This is rugged, highly scenic country, and both railroads put on great displays. BNSF is using some older power, including a number of warbonnets, while UP is using mostly newer power. Big time railroading in big time scenery. Dolby 2.0 audio. by Highball Productions 120 mins * colour * narration on/off * Widescreen |
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Saint Louis hosts a wide variety of railroads, Alton & Southern, Amtrak, BNSF, CSX, KCS, Manufactures Railway, NS, TRRA and UP. See the action on the huge MacArthur Bridge, Merchants Bridge, Gateway Yard, Lecledes Landing, Granite City, Grand Boulevard, the Amtrak Station, Valley Junction, Bremen Interlocking and Kirkwood. Gritty, urban railroading! Dolby 2.0 audio. Narration on/off. by Highball Productions 2 hrs 10 mins * colour * narration on/off * Widescreen |
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Stacks in the High Sierras For over 140 years the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California have reverberated with the sounds of hard-working locos of the Central Pacific, Southern Pacific and now the UP. In November, 2009 double-stack traffic was re-routed off the nearby Feather River Canyon adding to the frequency of trains on this legendary route. 7idea Productions made three trips to Donner Pass between January and September 2010 to capture the many personalities of "The Hill" between Roseville, California and Sparks, Nevada. From late summer sun to blizzard conditions on the mountain, you'll have a front row seat of the action! Take in the amazing view of mainline action from high atop Red Mountain, the old Central Pacific fire lookout above Cisco. Stand inside the snow sheds of Norden as a heavy stack train blasts through! Snowshoe into Troy and see Jordan Spreaders and flangers hard at work clearing the white stuff off the double-track main! Feel the ground shake as 10,000 foot stack and manifest trains labor up 2% grades in Run 8! Distributed power is everywhere, as Union Pacific utilizes this technology for more efficient train handling. Witness heavy trains running in 4x2, 1x1x1, even 3x3x1 configurations. Shot in beautiful high-definition in spring, late summer and winter, this is the ultimate look at Donner Pass! by 7idea Productions 120 mins * colour * narration on/off * Widescreen |
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Travel to the legendary Feather River Canyon and see this historic line between Oroville and Portola, California. This DVD will show you many highlights of the canyon including: the famous bridges at Pulga, Clio Trestle, Serpentine Canyon, Williams Loop (where trains loop over themselves), and the famous Keddie Wye. Catch the legendary "Broncos" escorting trains through the rain, when the risk of rock slides and washouts is high. You will see the Quincy Railroad in action and take a ride on their EMD SW7 switcher up and down the 4% grade which connects a local Sierra Pacific sawmill with the UP. At Portola, we spend some time at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum where the WP lives. You will even witness the UP 844 steam locomotive making a special appearance as the UP celebrates 100 years of railroading in the Feather River Canyon! Special DVD features include a chapter menu and the ability to view the program with or without narration. by 7idea Productions 110 mins * colour * narration on/off * Widescreen Regular Price £ 21.00 NEW RELEASE OFFER £20.00 until 8th October 2010 |
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Stevens Pass stands at an elevation of 4,061 feet above sea-level in the heart of the Pacific Northwest's Cascade Mountains. Large granite outcroppings tower above the densely forested landscape creating a cool, wet rainforest on the west and semi-arid country on the east. Weaving through this seemingly impassible barrier is a transcontinental railroad connecting the heartland of America with the Pacific Northwest and the Orient. BNSF Railway utilizes a historic route carved by John F. Stevens over 100 years ago. A continuous parade of long and heavy trains roll back and fourth over the beautiful terrain on what is fittingly named the Scenic Subdivision. 7idea Productions traveled to the State of Washington in May of 2010 to document current operations over this former route of the Great Northern between Everett and Wenatchee. Witness long stack trains crossing beautiful mountain streams, heavy grain trains thundering up 2.2% grades with mid and rear-end DPU's plus Amtrak's Empire Builder on its daily run between Chicago and Seattle. The highlight of the line is the famous 7.8 mile Cascade Tunnel. the longest tunnel in the United States. See how smoke and fumes are flushed out of the tunnel in between trains. Plus recount the 1910 Wellington avalanche which swept two trains off the mountain. No one ever said mountain railroading was easy and you'll see why in STEVENS PASS...BNSF Railway's Scenic Sub! by 7idea Productions 108 mins * colour * narration on/off * Widescreen |
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7idea Productions traveled to Oregon's Blue Mountains in January and April, 2010 to capture today's Union Pacific operations over this spectacular route. For more than a century, the Blue Mountains of Oregon have echoed with the sounds of hard-working trains laboring up and down steep grades and squealing through numerous curves. Even with today's powerful, high-tech locomotives, railroaders still face a daunting challenge of running long and heavy trains through a range of mountains with three different summits. This DVD takes you on a 204 mile journey through "The Blues" starting at the Hinkle hump yard and heading toward the Idaho border just east of Huntington. Heavy trains and heavy grades means BIG POWER! Thrill to the sound of 16,000 ton soda ash trains tackling 2% grades with mid and rear DPUs! Watch long stack trains race by at nearly 70 miles per hour! Enjoy winter scenes around Meacham and Kamela where trains seem to appear right out of the ground as they crest the summit and immediately plunge down the other side. The magnificent scenery of northeast Oregon's Blue Mountains coupled with a good mix of long, high-tonnage trains makes this an amazing program to see and hear! by 7idea Productions 117 mins * colour * narration on/off * Widescreen |
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We continue our journey east across BNSF's North Dakota former Northern Pacific main line in to the prairies of the Jamestown Sub. Traffic is mostly coal loads and empties to and from the Powder River coal basin, led by SD70M's, SD70ACe's and new GEVO'S. This is a great DVD, following on from the very popular "Badlands Coal" released earlier this year. by Highball Productions 90 mins * colour * narration on/off |
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The San Francisco Bay area Is busy with trains! Pinole for Amtrak and UP alongside San Pablo Bay- Niles Junction for Amtrak, ACE, UP & BNSF, Jack London Square for street running Amtrak and BNSF, Franklin Canyon for BNSF Martinez for Amtrak and UP and Santa Clara for Cal Train, Amtrak, ACE and UP. Continuous action from around the Bay Area. by Highball Productions 110 mins * colour * narration On/Off * Widescreen |
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Tehachapi Loop, one of the seven railroad wonders of the world, and a favorite railfan location, sees trains of the Union Pacific and BNSF Railway looping over themselves as they struggle to gain height in their crossing of California's rugged Tehachapi Mountains. by Highball Productions 105 mins * colour * narration * Widescreen |
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BNSF's Dickinson Sub runs from Glendaive, Montana to Dickinson,North Dakota on the old Northern Pacific main line.Traffic is mostly unit coal trains to and from the Powder River coal basin, led by SD70MAC's, SD70ACe's and GE's new ES44'. Some older power can be seen, including a couple of warbonnets.The line runs through the North Dakota Badlands, which provide interesting backgrounds for the hard working trains. by Highball Productions 90 mins * colour * narration * Widescreen |
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Trains around Fort Worth and Dallas. Locations include Tower 55, Tower 60, Saginaw, Dallas Union Station, the Trinity River Bridge and Irving. Railroads include UP, BNSF, TRE, DART, DFW&W, DGW and Amtrak. 4 railroads use gensets, and we see them all. by Highball Productions 120 mins o colour o narration o Widescreen Was £22 Christmas Special Offer £20 |
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- A Route 66 Rail Adventure Well, this one's a bit different. Elrond Lawrence's book "Route 66 Railway" convinced me that I should go take a look and see what was left of Route 66's artifacts. Disc 1 takes a look at California, from San Bernardino, over Cajon, through Victorville to Barstow, and across the Mojave to Needles and the bridge at Topok. Disc 2 takes a look at Arizona, from Kingman Canyon to Flagstaff and on to Canyon Diablo, Winslow, Holbrook and the the NM border at Lupton. In addition to the trains, you'll see neon, abandoned gas stations, tourist traps and restored depots. by Highball Productions 3 Hours * colour * narration * Widescreen |
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Kansas City is home to some of the most intense railroading anywhere, with upwards of 400 trains a day passing through. We take a look at the old industrial area of The Bottoms, with trains from BNSF, UP, NS & KCT, and spend time at BN Crossing, with trains on three levels and continuous action through the day. Awesome! No narration. by Highball Productions 2 hours 37 minutes. * colour * No narration Regular Price £ 21.00 |
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Kansas City Southern tackles the stiff thirteen mile grade over Rich Mountain on the Oklahoma - Arkansas border. New power is much in evidence, SD70ACe's, Gevo's and of course the new "Retro Belle" paint scheme. BNSF & UP coal trains make an appearance, as do KCS's former Mexican units. by Highball Productions WIDESCREEN ONLY Was £22 Christmas Special Offer £2090 mins * colour * narration ON/OFF and a marker for each train |
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We start at Peterson on the Overland Route heading east on Union Pacific's transcontinental main line between Weber Canyon, Utah and Green River, Wyoming. The mountains of Utah are dusted with snow and the snow is with us as we start into into Wyoming where more snow gentle falls in the bleak landscape. The SD70ACe's are out and about, we catch the Western Pacific unit leading. UP has painted one of the locos in Western Pacific colours to commemorate their merger in 1982. They have also painted 2 others in heritage paint, Katy and Mopac, with 3 others planned. Lots of C44-ACTE's are also evident on a variety of trains. Enjoy the bright winter conditions with some light snow and heavy UP action. Highball starts this programme by explaining some of the differences between the locos, which is a great help if like me you find it difficult distinguishing the sometimes subtle changes. This is railfanning in an area you probably will not visit so sit back and let Highball transport you to Utah & Wyoming. by Highball Productions * 90 mins * colour * narrated |
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