Producer: Pentrex
Locations: Tucson to Lordsburg
Timeframe: 1995
Length: 90 minutes
Southern Pacific’s Lordsburg District. Filmed in the spring of 1995. Last of the semaphore signal usage there. Some double track installation, along with signal upgrades.
This was a power short SP. Leased units abound. No cabooses. Not much excitement in general here. Double stacks and more double stacks…
Pentrex has a quality show. Excellent presentation. Detailed Chapter Menu. Full narration. Plenty of graphic extras.
The show begins at the SP yard in Tucson, Arizona. It will proceed East until the conclusion at Lordsburg, New Mexico.
SP dark grey paint is what you get.
Maps are used at the appropriate times.
The last of the vintage semaphore signals are shown in operation.
There are some sizeable bridges.
Much of the fleet needs repainting in 1995. Variety of locomotives.
SD units are the dominate road power.
Top notch videography. Note, the CSX locomotive on the lead.
Pentrex does so well at the pan.
There are some old structures from the steam era, still standing along the route. Check the GE on the head end.
Amtrak makes several quick appearances.
Willcox still has a Station in use by SP.
After awhile, the trains begin to look the same.
Intermodal traffic is the main traffic.
A hot Union Pacific train breaks the monotony of SP led freights.
Pentrex can be great at identification of trains. On screen graphics, combined with narration, decide this information.
A couple of shortlines get a glimpse. Arizona Eastern here.
The camera crew captures all of the major highlights.
Here are some leased diesels.
Lordsburg provides an anti-climatic conclusion. Fairly quiet. Oddly enough, Pentrex returns to Tucson!
This is the lone caboose in this show. San Pedro Southwestern.
The route traverses scenic, yet relatively barren desert terrain. Sleepy, small towns. In fact, outside of the speeding freights, the show does have a sleepy feel. Most of the time, trains are the only thing moving.
Rating: 4 Stars
Colors looking artificial, on the bright side. Some scenes, such as this one.
This train gets paced on lower elevation. It has some intermittent color issues .
The once familiar red caboose.
SP in their dark grey paint.
Mid train helpers are used by both Railroads.
The shot everyone wants to see!
Yes, Union Pacific power can be found here.
A unit coal train meets, a helper set.
A pair of diesels painted to match the passenger special. Note the color issues.
Locomotives both old and new, will be found. Norfolk Southern 8854.
Chicago Northwestern 8686, leads a train on this stunning shot. Looks like a painting.
Tough to choose a Kansas City Southern. These SD45T3 rebuilds are singular!
Gateway Western with a transfer run.
Armourdale Yard. This vast facility was a Rock Island property.
Although the lighting isn’t perfect. The trestle displays a part of the charm of KC. Those Southern Pacific locomotives must be testing the strength of the steel.
Burlington Northern original Cascade Green paint. This is still plentiful here.
Soo Line 6045 still wearing it’s factory paint. Leads a Canadian Pacific move.
Windup at Victorville. Santa Fe crossing over Cajon Pass complete.
