Greetings, fellow members of the Western Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. I hope that I can provide information through my monthly reviews that will be useful to you in your search for entertaining and informative RR videos. I have eighty-four different RR videos at this time and plan to continue adding to my collection as time goes by.
Thank you, Bill Thomas, for allocating some space in the Pennyrail for my reviews.
As we kick off this monthly feature, I would like to share with you my favorite on-line vendors for RR videos. I have found the following websites to be excellent sources of good videos and the vast majority of my collection has come from these sites:
I will try to rate the videos in an objective manner but we all have our favorite railroads and we all have connections to particular areas of the country. If I review a video that has special meaning to me, I will warn the reader that my review might not be entirely objective.
Let’s start this thing off with a 7idea Productions video entitled “Marias Pass, BNSF’s Hi Line Sub.”
| Title | Marias Pass, BNSF Railway’s Hi Line Sub |
| Producer | 7idea Productions |
| Format | Wide Screen DVD |
| Playing Time | 1 hr 52 Min |
| Time Period Covered | Fall 2009 |
| Geographic Area | Western Montana; Glacier Park area; Marias Pass, the northernmost crossing of the Continental Divide in the Lower 48 States by a RR (originally, the Great Northern RR). |
| Purchased From | TrainVideoDepot.com |
| Comments | I highly recommend this DVD. The scenery is magnificent, with beautiful fall colors and some fresh snow on the mountain peaks.The image quality is even better than Pentrex quality, and that says a lot. I have never been disappointed with a 7idea video. In every case where I have the same area covered by two or three producers, the 7idea video is always the best by far.There is good RR action, including the use of helper locomotives and even some footage of the Empire Builder. There are tunnels, snow sheds, and trestles included in the scenes. The sound quality is excellent. |
Greetings Everyone. This month is a bitter sweet month, September marks that time of year when the weather starts to change. We can experience cool temperatures at night and an occasional 90 degree day. For the most part though, very pleasant days, which are often, reflected in lower energy bills!
While this is the norm, the hurt-filled news of member and friend Dennis Carnal passing away at a young 53 years has really put a damper on the season. Our Chapter has lost more than a member with Dennis, we have lost an icon. I say that with sincere repose. Dennis could recall from memory, local history be it rail or coal mining or what ever…and then ensue a LONG discussion about same! For that alone he will be missed. At the September meeting, I will ask the Chapter to remember Dennis with a moment of silence.
I would like to use Dennis’ untimely passing as a reminder or a “wake up” call as to our Chapter Photo Archive. Steve is working on rescanning the photo’s provided us on disc and as I understand, they are of poor quality. Dennis was in possession of a large majority of the photos used in the first archive. Keith and I will be talking with his estate executor about obtaining them once again for photo coping purposes. As everyone recalls, I have “adopted” this project while I do not possess the skill or equipment necessary to properly see it through. I will rely heavily on Steve and Keith to see this through.
At the September meeting we will confirm details of the Clayton/Watts open house, the December Christmas Dinner and dare I say, ELECTIONS. That is correct folks, October will see our Chapter calling for nominations for officers and November will see the election results….that time will be upon us very soon.
Until then, remember to be safe when watching or photographing trains. Remain mindful of private property, be it the railroad of interest or land owners along the right of way. Living next to CSX’s Henderson Sub at Mortons Gap KY has opened my eyes to a problem I knew existed but had seen very little of. Motorist AND Pedestrians alike simply do not have time to wait for the train to pass…or so they think. I have not witnessed a collision as of yet (and hopefully I never will) but I have seen many close calls. One motorist was even verbal with me when I commented on her un-necessary haste…with two children in the car no less! Rick Bivins
A CSX train derailed at Guthrie, Ky at 05:20 (CDT) on September 15, 2011. The Lead loco is just south of Fairgrounds Rd with a broken knuckle. The second loco is about 1/4 mile north upright at a 30 degree angle to the tracks. Between the Guthrie interlocking and the second loco (mostly on the west side of the tracks) is a large pile of orange Hamburg Sud 40′ containers with well cars sticking up at various angles.
Both tracks are blocked and it appears that the northbound signals may have been hit. To my UNTRAINED eye it appears that the train derailed in the interlocking or immediately south of it at the yard lead switch. This will not be a good day to railfan the Henderson Sub.
The dispatcher was talking reroutes but no specifics. Last derailment the TOFC and hot freights went from Evansville down the ‘Texas’ to Louisville and then down the Mainline Sub to Nashville. So keep an eye out on the Mainline for TOFC traffic today and maybe tomorrow (Sept. 16, 2011). – Steve Miller
Greetings all. It is with sadness that I pass word to you that Dennis J. Carnal passed away last night (Monday, September 12) around midnight, at Regional Medical Center, from what appears to have been an embolism brought on by unknown circumstances. Dennis had been suffering from occasional seizures for a couple of weeks. Keith Kittinger and I carried him home from my house Saturday. He saw a Dr. at Multicare Monday, suffered another seizure while there, was admitted to RMC, then died that evening.
His cousin Peggy, Keith and I met with Reid Walters funeral home this morning. Dennis will be cremated and buried in the Earlington Cemetery alongside his mother and father.
At Dennis’ request there will be no public service of remembrance. I suggest as a chapter we collect a donation for one of Dennis’ passions. Disaster Relief/Emergency Management or American Red Cross Disaster relief. I’ll not make the next meeting due to a conflict at the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts.
I’d like to host a Thursday night get-together sometime soon at the house, build a roaring campfire (Dennis hated the fire pit) and roast some hotdogs while we give a memory roasting to the Old Goat!
Take care guys! – Bill Thomas
