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No More Mindless Runbys
Below are the ten newest releases from Big "E" Productions in both DVD-R and VHS format.

UP-CSX Shared Track south of Chicago

The former Chicago and Eastern Illinois and Missouri Pacific, now Union Pacific, double track line between Chicago and Woodland Junction that CSX has trackage rights on is by far the busiest rail line running south of Chicago. All of UP’s trains between Chicago and Texas take this line along with most of their traffic between Chicago and St. Louis. This line, often referred to as simply the double track, is also CSX’s primary connection between the Windy City and the Southeast. Although the recession has taken a bite out of the traffic, both railroads have a healthy mix of intermodal, manifest, and unit trains on this busy line. At Woodland junction, eighty-two miles south of Chicago, each railroad goes their own way and the double track ends. This program shows all of the action for over twenty-four hours on the UP-CSX shared track between Momence, fifty miles south of Chicago, and Steger, twenty-two miles further north, in April of 2010. “UP-CSX Shared Track south of Chicago” is 83 minutes in length.  The DVD of this program can be watched with or without narration.

Price: $32.95

UP-CSX Shared Track south of Chicago DVD

The former Chicago and Eastern Illinois and Missouri Pacific, now Union Pacific, double track line between Chicago and Woodland Junction that CSX has trackage rights on is by far the busiest rail line running south of Chicago. All of UP’s trains between Chicago and Texas take this line along with most of their traffic between Chicago and St. Louis. This line, often referred to as simply the double track, is also CSX’s primary connection between the Windy City and the Southeast. Although the recession has taken a bite out of the traffic, both railroads have a healthy mix of intermodal, manifest, and unit trains on this busy line. At Woodland junction, eighty-two miles south of Chicago, each railroad goes their own way and the double track ends. This program shows all of the action for over twenty-four hours on the UP-CSX shared track between Momence, fifty miles south of Chicago, and Steger, twenty-two miles further north, in April of 2010. “UP-CSX Shared Track south of Chicago” is 83 minutes in length.  The DVD of this program can be watched with or without narration.

Price: $32.95

Attributes

  • Video Format: DVD

UP, CN, and Amtrak at Kinmundy, IL

Small town railroad crossings that haven’t lost their trains or tracks to the mega-merger movement of today, often have a unique character.   The small town of Kinmundy in south-central Illinois, 23 ½ miles northeast of better known Centralia, has only around 900 hundred residents, but it still retains much of its old time railroad flavor. Kinmundy is where the former Illinois Central main line, now Canadian National, from Chicago to Memphis crosses the former Chicago and Eastern Illinois, nee Missouri Pacific line to the coal fields of southern Illinois, that is now owned by Union Pacific and hosts all of UP’s trains between Chicago and Texas. Although CN has fewer but longer trains through Kinmundy today than 40 years ago, the former C&EI line through Kinmundy has several times the number of trains that it had during C&EI or early Missouri Pacific days, including run-through trains from CSX and Norfolk Southern. And UP and CN interchange trains at Kinmundy, utilizing a new interchange track. Run-through power is common. And finally Amtrak’s Chicago to Carbondale mini-corridor passes through Kinmundy. This program shows all of the UP, CN, and Amtrak trains through Kinmundy for over 24 hours in April of 2010. This DVD has the option of being watched with or without narration.  “UP, CN, and Amtrak at Kinmundy, IL” is 1 hour, 31 minutes long and sells for $34.95 plus $5 for S&H. 

Price: $34.95

UP, CN, and Amtrak at Kinmundy, IL DVD

Small town railroad crossings that haven’t lost their trains or tracks to the mega-merger movement of today, often have a unique character.   The small town of Kinmundy in south-central Illinois, 23 ½ miles northeast of better known Centralia, has only around 900 hundred residents, but it still retains much of its old time railroad flavor. Kinmundy is where the former Illinois Central main line, now Canadian National, from Chicago to Memphis crosses the former Chicago and Eastern Illinois, nee Missouri Pacific line to the coal fields of southern Illinois, that is now owned by Union Pacific and hosts all of UP’s trains between Chicago and Texas. Although CN has fewer but longer trains through Kinmundy today than 40 years ago, the former C&EI line through Kinmundy has several times the number of trains that it had during C&EI or early Missouri Pacific days, including run-through trains from CSX and Norfolk Southern. And UP and CN interchange trains at Kinmundy, utilizing a new interchange track. Run-through power is common. And finally Amtrak’s Chicago to Carbondale mini-corridor passes through Kinmundy. This program shows all of the UP, CN, and Amtrak trains through Kinmundy for over 24 hours in April of 2010. This DVD has the option of being watched with or without narration.  “UP, CN, and Amtrak at Kinmundy, IL” is 1 hour, 31 minutes long and sells for $34.95 plus $5 for S&H. 

Price: $34.95

Attributes

  • Video Format: DVD

UP's Jefferson City Subdivision

“UP’s Jefferson City Subdivision” shows all the trains on one of the most historic railroads in the West – Union Pacific’s Jefferson City Subdivision that stretches from St. Louis to Jefferson City, Missouri. This line was once the Pacific Railroad, the first railroad to lay track west of the Mississippi River and the first to reach Kansas City. Later part of the St. Louis to Kansas City main line of the Missouri Pacific and the route of the Eagles, this UP main line today, at least before the current recession, is as busy as it has ever been, thanks to the tide of low sulfur coal trains from the Powder River Basin, UP’s many intermodal, auto, and manifest trains, and Amtrak’s Missouri River Runners. All UP traffic between St. Louis and Kansas City takes this scenic, two main track line that follows the Missouri River. This program shows twenty-four hours of fast-paced action between Herman and Chamois on UP’s Jefferson City Subdivision east of Jefferson City in October of 2009.  This DVD has the option to be watched with or without narration.  “UP’s Jefferson City Subdivision” is 1 hour, 33 minutes long and sells for $34.95 plus $5 for S&H. 

Price: $34.95

UP's Jefferson City Subdivision DVD

“UP’s Jefferson City Subdivision” shows all the trains on one of the most historic railroads in the West – Union Pacific’s Jefferson City Subdivision that stretches from St. Louis to Jefferson City, Missouri. This line was once the Pacific Railroad, the first railroad to lay track west of the Mississippi River and the first to reach Kansas City. Later part of the St. Louis to Kansas City main line of the Missouri Pacific and the route of the Eagles, this UP main line today, at least before the current recession, is as busy as it has ever been, thanks to the tide of low sulfur coal trains from the Powder River Basin, UP’s many intermodal, auto, and manifest trains, and Amtrak’s Missouri River Runners. All UP traffic between St. Louis and Kansas City takes this scenic, two main track line that follows the Missouri River. This program shows twenty-four hours of fast-paced action between Herman and Chamois on UP’s Jefferson City Subdivision east of Jefferson City in October of 2009.  This DVD has the option to be watched with or without narration.  “UP’s Jefferson City Subdivision” is 1 hour, 33 minutes long and sells for $34.95 plus $5 for S&H. 

Price: $34.95

Attributes

  • Video Format: DVD

BNSF Creston Sub in Western Iowa

The former Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy line from Chicago to Denver, now BNSF’s Chicago to Denver main, was the heart and sole of the Burlington Route. Often referred to as “the way of the Zephyrs”, this line in western Iowa where this program was videotaped, once hosted the Burlington’s Denver and California Zephyr passenger trains, the famous Fast Mail, the Chicago to Denver hot shot freight trains, and the eastbound meat trains out of Omaha and Lincoln. In spite of the favoritism shown it by Burlington officials, the CB&Q’s Denver line in western Iowa was never a major freight route and hosted almost as many passenger trains as freight trains as late as the early 1960s. Today this line still hosts Amtrak’s California Zephyr but low sulfur coal out of the Powder River Basin bound for Midwestern power plants is what has allowed this line to flourish as it carries more freight tonnage today than ever. This program shows a day and a half of action on the west end of BNSF’s Creston Subdivision west of Red Oak in western Iowa in October of 2009.  “BNSF Creston Sub in Western Iowa” is 94 minutes in length and sells for $34.95 plus $5 for S&H.  This DVD has the option of being watched with or without narration.

Price: $34.95

BNSF Creston Sub in Western Iowa DVD

The former Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy line from Chicago to Denver, now BNSF’s Chicago to Denver main, was the heart and sole of the Burlington Route. Often referred to as “the way of the Zephyrs”, this line in western Iowa where this program was videotaped, once hosted the Burlington’s Denver and California Zephyr passenger trains, the famous Fast Mail, the Chicago to Denver hot shot freight trains, and the eastbound meat trains out of Omaha and Lincoln. In spite of the favoritism shown it by Burlington officials, the CB&Q’s Denver line in western Iowa was never a major freight route and hosted almost as many passenger trains as freight trains as late as the early 1960s. Today this line still hosts Amtrak’s California Zephyr but low sulfur coal out of the Powder River Basin bound for Midwestern power plants is what has allowed this line to flourish as it carries more freight tonnage today than ever. This program shows a day and a half of action on the west end of BNSF’s Creston Subdivision west of Red Oak in western Iowa in October of 2009.  “BNSF Creston Sub in Western Iowa” is 94 minutes in length and sells for $34.95 plus $5 for S&H.  This DVD has the option of being watched with or without narration.

Price: $34.95

Attributes

  • Video Format: DVD

Montana Rail Link on Mullan Pass

Since its inception in 1987, Montana Rail Link, which handles BNSF Railway trains between Laurel, Montana and Spokane, along with its own trains, has always been one of the largest and most interesting of the new crop of regional railroads. And today it is the favorite Regional in a Trains Magazine poll. Twenty-two years since its inception fans still flock to the MRL to see the venerable SD40’s still used in helper duty and the four year old SD70ACes in spectacular mountain and forest scenery.   And thanks to the growth in grain and coal traffic provided by BNSF, Montana Rail Link today handles more tonnage than predecessors Burlington Northern or Northern Pacific ever ran through the Rockies on this track. This program shows two and half days of action on the former Northern Pacific and Burlington Northern, now Montana Rail Link main line on both sides of spectacular Mullan Pass west of Helena in September of 2009.  “Montana Rail Link on Mullan Pass” is 86 minutes in length and sells for $32.95 plus $5 for S&H. This DVD has the option of being watched with or without narration.

Price: $32.95

Montana Rail Link on Mullan Pass DVD

Since its inception in 1987, Montana Rail Link, which handles BNSF Railway trains between Laurel, Montana and Spokane, along with its own trains, has always been one of the largest and most interesting of the new crop of regional railroads. And today it is the favorite Regional in a Trains Magazine poll. Twenty-two years since its inception fans still flock to the MRL to see the venerable SD40’s still used in helper duty and the four year old SD70ACes in spectacular mountain and forest scenery.   And thanks to the growth in grain and coal traffic provided by BNSF, Montana Rail Link today handles more tonnage than predecessors Burlington Northern or Northern Pacific ever ran through the Rockies on this track. This program shows two and half days of action on the former Northern Pacific and Burlington Northern, now Montana Rail Link main line on both sides of spectacular Mullan Pass west of Helena in September of 2009.  “Montana Rail Link on Mullan Pass” is 86 minutes in length and sells for $32.95 plus $5 for S&H. This DVD has the option of being watched with or without narration.

Price: $32.95

Attributes

  • Video Format: DVD

 

                                                       Big “E” Productions

P.O. BOX 75

GREENLAND, NH 03840

Our DVDs show the whole train!

Our web page is at www.trainvideos.com, email us at bigeee@trainvideos.com.

 800-832-1228 or 603-430-3055   Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or Discover Card Orders Accepted.

Last updated 12/14/2023

 

Frequency – twice a year

 

 Issue #179                            December, 2023

May all of you have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

Remember, our DVDs make great Christmas gifts for the railfan in your family.  This Newsletter begins our 32th year of selling train videos.  As long as both my wife and I are in good health we intend to continue selling old videos and I still have some hope to do a few new programs. We will not be attending the Big Train Show in West Springfield, Massachusetts anymore.

 

Again no new programs.  I was recently diagnosed with AFib (atrial fibrillation – fast, erratic heartbeat).  Medication seems to help but it will be some time before I know how much.  Also both knees need to be replaced but it will also be some time before that can happen.  My wife is still recovering from having both knees replaced.  She is using a wheelchair and walker to get around.  I would still like to do more videotaping but this is looking less and less likely.  We hope that all of you are safe and sound.  Our next newsletter will be around June of 2024.  Railfan Depot in Indianapolis is now carrying some of our videos.

 

We have four grandkids playing sports right now – two here in New Hampshire and two in Illinois.  I hope to be able to see their games in person as much as I can.  And then we have 12 other grandkids and one great grandson to keep track of.  I am looking forward to attending the girls state basketball tournament in Illinois beginning in 2025 and the class IV boys baseball tournament here in New Hampshire next spring.

 

No other train video producer shows and explains railroading like we do and our catalogue includes programs on fallen flags ATSF, SP, BN, CNW,  IC, Wisconsin Central, and Conrail.  We almost always show the whole train and most of our videos show all of the action – day and night.  Our newest program is “PSR on CSX’s Chicago Line in Northern Indiana”, part of our look at PSR on eastern railroads.  This is our 49th program to be released in both Blu-ray and in regular DVD.  You need to specify what type of DVD you are ordering with programs available in both DVD and Blu-ray.  All of our DVD’s have chapters and menus and around half – everything videotaped from 2004 on plus a few programs from 2003 - have a choice of being watched with narration and without narration by using the menu or audio and language buttons on your DVD player controller.  321 programs are available in DVD (49 in Blu-ray) and all are listed in the flyers.  No other train video producer shows and explains railroading like we do and our catalogue includes programs on fallen flags ATSF, BN, SP, CNW. IC, Wisconsin Central, and Conrail.  Our shipping and handling charge on orders remains $5.00 with no charge on orders over $100.  We offer year-round discounts on large orders.  See flyers for details.  These discounts are available only by mail and phone.  If you have questions and get our answering machine, please leave your name and number and we will call you back as soon as possible.  You can reach us by email at bigeee@trainvideos.com or on our webpage at www.trainvideos.com.

 

If we are able to videotape again, the focus will be on changes on the western railroads due to PSR.

 

                                              Dick and Barb Eisfeller