In part 2 of this two-part series, we continue our trek across the Grand Canyon State. Beginning at Williams Junction we explore BNSF's Seligman Subdivision east through Flagstaff while a fast moving snowstorm blows over the Arizona Divide. The weather improves as we follow the Southern Transcon over Canyon Diablo Bridge and through the big sag into Winslow Yard.

The high mountain forests transition into open country accented by the vividly shaded badlands of the Painted Desert as trains head east over the Gallup Sub to the New Mexico border. We will visit locations such as Joseph City, Holbrook, Arntz, Adamana, and Coronado Junction, before reaching the state line beneath the beautiful rock cliffs at Lupton. Intermodal, manifest, grain, and coal trains ply the rails on this busy corridor.

Seeing over seventy trains per day, this is one of the most popular railfan destinations in the west! Join us as we travel “Across Arizona! BNSF's Arizona Mainline Part 2: Williams Junction to Lupton.”

This program was shot in April and May of 2014.

May be viewed with or without narration.
1 hr 29 min

The Book Cliffs rise above the desert floor of eastern Utah stretching 200 miles between the Wasatch Mountains and Colorado's De Beque Canyon.  The towering rock faces set the backdrop for the former Denver and Rio Grande Western's Desert Mainline, known today as Union Pacific's Green River Sub.

Running between Grand Junction, Colorado and Helper, Utah, this lesser known route is often overlooked by railfans, yet it offers great railroading action through some of the most incredible scenery you'll find anywhere!

Join 7idea Productions as we take you on an amazing journey through a land few get to see. Hike into Ruby Canyon and catch Amtrak's California Zephyr rolling beneath giant sandstone cliffs. Watch heavy coal trains climbing the grade at Thompson Cut.  The scenic highlight of the trip is our tour of the thirty-seven mile Cane Creek Branch near Moab, Utah between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The ageless setting of the American West overshadows any train that runs through here.

Union Pacific, BNSF, Amtrak, and even the Utah Railway make an appearance as we uncover one of the best kept secret railfan locations in the west! Join us as we travel Across the Utah Desert on Union Pacific's Green River Sub.

May be viewed with or without narration.
1 hr 58 min

Journey to northwestern Washington State where the BNSF main line reveals the beauty of Puget Sound. Running between Seattle and the Canadian border at Blaine, trains traverse the western portion of the Scenic Subdivision and the entire Bellingham Sub.
 
Visit the Seattle waterfront and busy yard at Interbay. Follow the shoreline of Puget Sound while viewing several hot spots including Carkeek Park, Richmond Beach, Edmonds, Mukilteo, and Everett. 

The scenic shoreline transitions to lush farmland, wild rivers, and  secluded coves while passing the charming communities of Stanwood, Mt. Vernon, Burlington, and Bellingham. 

Unit coal, crude oil trains, and hot shot intermodals draw the latest high tech diesels, while several locals still sport vintage four axle EMD’s. Besides freight, Amtrak’s Empire Builder, Cascades Talgo sets, and Sounders are everywhere shuffling passengers between busy stations along the line. 

This is modern day railroading in the heart of the Pacific Northwest! 

Shot in the summer and fall of 2018.

2 hr 31 mins

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.
101 mins

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.
May be viewed with or without narration.
2 hrs

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.
May be viewed with or without narration.
1 hr 58 min

7 Idea Donner - Stacks in the High Sierras

For over 140 years the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California have reverberated with the sounds of hard-working locomotives of the Central Pacific, Southern Pacific and now the Union Pacific. In November, 2009 double-stack container 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 Union Pacific in 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!
May be viewed with or without narration.
2 hrs

For over 150 years Union Pacific’s transcontinental main line has played a key roll in the growth and prosperity of the nation. Since the driving of the golden spike at Promontory, Utah, the prairies of southern Wyoming have been alive with the humming of steel wheels.

7idea Productions takes you on a tour of Union Pacific’s Rawlins and Laramie Subdivisions between Green River and Laramie. This rarely visited portion of the Overland Route sees over fifty trains per day. The double track main line follows the route of the Overland Stage crossing the Continental Divide three times through Wyoming’s Great Divide Basin.

We will begin at historic Green River and head east for 250 miles. Watch coal being delivered to the Jim Bridger Power Plant and its origin at the Black Butte Mine. Then we cross over the Continental Divide to Wamsutter, then again at Creston and Hadsell before arriving at Rawlins. Entering the Laramie Sub, we will continue east passing the refinery at Sinclair and around the northeast side of the Medicine Bow Mountains before arriving at Laramie. This is two-and-one-half hours of great main line action over a portion of UP’s original stomping grounds! Join us now as we head East to Laramie! 

May be viewed with or without narration.
2 hr 26 min

7 Idea Farewell MRL Part 1

Since its founding in October 1987, the Montana Rail Link has plied the rails laid down by the Northern Pacific in the Big Sky country of Montana. It has served as a bridge line for the Burlington Northern and later BNSF between Jones Junction, Montana and Sandpoint, Idaho. In addition to handling main line freight, MRL has provided rail service to many local customers along its 900 plus miles of track utilizing several branch lines.

In January 2022, news of the MRL reaching an agreement with BNSF to end its lease brought many railfans out to Montana to see their beloved regional railroad one last time, not knowing exactly when the end would come. We made several trips in 2022 and early 2023 to capture some of the hot spots at various times of the year and are proud to present this four-part series showcasing Montana Rail Link in quite likely its last years of operation. 

Part 1 begins in Missoula and follows MRL’s Gas Local over the 4th and 10th Subdivisions to Pipeline. Then we turn east over the former Northern Pacific’s racetrack to Garrison. Highlights include MRL’s system-wide manifest trains the LM (Laurel-Missoula) and ML, the Bonner Local,  both Day and Night Gas trains and a few of the BNSF run-through trains including coal, grain, and crude oil. 

This series was created to preserve the memory of this amazing regional railroad. Farewell MRL!
May be viewed with or without narration.
2 hrs

7 Idea Farewell MRL Part 2

Since its founding in October 1987, the Montana Rail Link has plied the rails laid down by the Northern Pacific in the Big Sky country of Montana. It has served as a bridge line for the Burlington Northern and later BNSF between Jones Junction, Montana and Sandpoint, Idaho. In addition to handling main line freight, MRL has provided rail service to many local customers along its 900 plus miles of track utilizing several branch lines.

 In January 2022, news of the MRL reaching an agreement with BNSF to end its lease brought many railfans out to Montana to see their beloved regional railroad one last time, not knowing exactly when the end would come. We made several trips in 2022 and early 2023 to capture some of the hot spots at various times of the year and are proud to present this four-part series showcasing Montana Rail Link in quite likely its last years of operation. 

Part 2 covers MRL’s army of EMD SD70ACe’s in helper service shoving BNSF trains over Mullan Pass. Up to three sets of helpers, made up of four or five engines, assist heavy trains over the pass. The sight and sound of big two-stroke EMD’s battling the 2.2% mountain grade is what this show is all about! This is the greatest showcase of MRL power preserved here for you to enjoy! 

This series was created to preserve the memory of this amazing regional railroad. Farewell MRL!
May be viewed with or without narration.
1 hr 57 mins

7 Idea Farewell MRL Part 3

Since October 1987, Montana Rail Link has plied the rails of the Northern Pacific through central and western Montana. Trains roll over the 900 plus miles to the tune of two-stroke EMD locomotives dressed in the Washington Companies’ blue and black paint scheme.

With news the MRL would soon fade into BNSF, we set out to make a four-part series to document this beloved regional railroad in its final years. 

In Part 3, we continue east across Montana Rail Link’s Second Subdivision over Winston Hill and through Lombard Canyon to Logan. See the Helena Local working to Montana City and Townsend. Catch the Jimbo Train in action setting out ties at Toston. The system-wide LM (Laurel to Missoula) and ML (Missoula to Laurel) trains make an appearance pulling long manifests. 

In addition to mainline action, we will head up the former NP’s Butte Line through Three Forks, Sappington, and the Jefferson River Canyon to Whitehall. We will also see a rock train loading at the Pipestone Quarry and visit the remote Harrison Branch.
May be viewed with or without narration.
2 hrs

7 Idea Farewell MRL Part 4

In early 2022, MRL announced that it had reached an agreement with BNSF for an early termination of its 60-year lease of former Northern Pacific track in Montana. Since that time, 7idea Productions has made several trips to the Big Sky State to assemble a four-part series on this beloved regional railroad.

 Part 1 covers trains running in and out of Missoula.

Part 2 shows the climb to the Continental Divide over Mullan Pass.

Part 3 explores Winston Hill, Lombard Canyon, and through the Jefferson River Canyon to Pipestone. 

This final episode covers the eastern portion of the railroad from Logan to MRL’s busy yard in Laurel. In between these two points is the legendary grade of Bozeman Pass. Manned helpers based in Livingston assist both east and westbound trains over the summit and we will watch them working in summer and winter.

 East of Livingston, the mountain grade gives way to fast running along the scenic Yellowstone River. Spectacular aerial footage shows the classic Northern Pacific shops in Livingston and the sprawling yard at Laurel.
May be viewed with or without narration.
2 hrs 32 mins

7 Idea Marias Pass - BNSF Railway's Hi Line Subdivision

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!
May be viewed with or without narration.
1 hr 52 mins

The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful part of America. Getting to see it up close by rail only enhances the experience. Join 7idea Productions as we visit five tourist lines in Oregon, Washington, and northern California.
Enjoy steam and vintage diesels pulling excursions and photo freights at:

• The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in Garibaldi, Oregon
• The Eagle Cap Excursion Train in Elgin, Oregon
• The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad in Elbe, Washington
• The Sumpter Valley Railroad in McEwen, Oregon
• The McCloud Railway in McCloud, California
We will begin by visiting the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad on the Port of Tillamook Bay line between Garibaldi and Salmonberry. Next stop is Elgin, Oregon where the Eagle Cap Excursion Train traverses the wild and scenic Joseph Branch. Heading to Elbe, Washington we visit the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and see their tank engine, the Hammond Lumber Company #17 pulling excursion trains to Mineral. Returning to eastern Oregon, the Sumpter Valley Railroad hosts a photographer’s special with their Mikado Number 19 and Heisler Number 3. Finally, we take a look at the former McCloud Railway in northern California as McCloud Number 18 pulls a fall photo special and plows snow. This is your ticket to enjoy some of the unique rail heritage of the Pacific Northwest!

2 hr 4 min

7 Idea Over Sherman Hill; Union Pacific's Laramie Sub

In Southeast Wyoming the Laramie Mountains mark the division between the Great Plains and the Rockies. Rising to over 9,500 feet above sea-level, the transition from prairie to mountains is subtle except for the Sherman Granite rock outcroppings which dominate the landscape. Three sets of steel rails twist and wind through this remarkable setting with a history dating back to the First Transcontinental Railroad. This is Union Pacific's legendary route over Sherman Hill.

Join 7idea Productions as we take you trackside from Cheyenne to Laramie. Known as the Laramie Sub, this busy portion of Union Pacific’s Overland Route is witness to a nearly steady stream of rail traffic heading to destinations in both the eastern and western United States.

We will begin in historic Cheyenne Wyoming and head west as long, heavy trains snake their way over the highest point on the Transcontinental Railroad. You’ll see trains passing through deep cuts, over high fills and rolling through the legendary Hermosa Tunnel. Witness monster manifests over 2 miles long tackling the grade. This is big time railroading in the Cowboy State as trains travel Over Sherman Hill on Union Pacific's Laramie Subdivision.

May be viewed with or without narration.
1 hrs 45 mins

7 Idea The Kearney Sub: Union Pacific's Triple Track Main

In the heart of America there is a super-highway paved with steel running between North Platte and Gibbon Junction, Nebraska.

It is known as the Kearney Subdivision and historically it has seen well over 100 trains per day. Traffic may be down from the line’s heyday in the early and mid-2000’s, yet this is still a fantastic place to watch trains.  

This program begins with a nighttime visit to the Golden Spike Tower as a summertime thunderstorm lights up Bailey Yard. We then turn east through Maxwell, the Buttermilk Curves, Gothenburg, Lexington, Kearney, Gibbon Junction, and many other noted locations before wrapping up at the BNSF flyover at Grand Island.  

Dominating the scene are monster double-coal trains that measure up to three miles in length, running to and from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. In addition to coal are mixed manifests, hot-shot intermodals, and locals that service industry found along the route. 

Along with cameras on the ground, aerial coverage of the Buttermilk Curves and Gibbon Junction gives a whole new perspective to this amazing line.

2 Hour 23 Min with Narration

7 Idea The Wasatch Grade - Union Pacific’s Evanston Sub

Standing guard over the Utah-Wyoming border the massive cliffs of the Wasatch Mountains divide the rolling grasslands to the east from the salt deserts to the west. The immense features once echoed the bark of the largest steam locomotives on earth. Today they reverberate with the drumming of mighty diesels climbing the Wasatch grade.

In this program we will explore the Union Pacific’s Evanston Subdivision between Ogden, Utah and Green River, Wyoming. This is the classic grade over the Wasatch Mountains where the Big Boy’s once roamed. Highlights include scenic Weber and Echo Canyons, monster 200 car manifests cresting the summit at Wahsatch, and cleaning up a derailment at Peru that wiped out both main tracks. As a bonus, see historic footage of Big Boy 4014’s return to the Wasatch grade while heading to Cheyenne for restoration.

Join 7idea Productions on an amazing tour through northeast Utah and southwest Wyoming. Shot in beautiful hi definition the panoramas of the west come alive on the wide screen!

Shot in 2014 and 2016.

2 hr 45 mins

7 Idea Union Pacific's Idaho Main Line Part 1 The Huntington Sub

Etching a course through Southern Idaho and along its western border with Oregon, the Snake River provides a natural route for Union Pacific trains heading to and from the Pacific Northwest. This is the route of the Oregon Short Line, and trains have been rolling through this wild and scenic country since 1884. 

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we are focusing on the western portion of the line from Huntington, Oregon to Nampa, Idaho. The scenery transitions from rugged canyons to rich agricultural land and industry as trains sprint through the lush Treasure Valley. We will visit the communities of Weiser and Payette, Idaho before crossing the Snake River back into Oregon at Ontario and on through Nyssa. Crossing one last time into Idaho, the line continues along the course of the Boise River to the southeast through Parma, Notus, and Caldwell before arriving at the division point of Nampa. 

Several mixed manifest trains are seen daily, along with hot Z trains, and heavy soda ash trains from Wyoming. An army of locals work out of Nampa and a few branch lines are seen in action like the Oregon Eastern Railroad at Ontario and the Boise Valley Railroad at Caldwell.

Shot in beautiful 4K!

1 Hour 48 Min with Narration On/Off

7 Idea Union Pacific's Idaho Main Line Part 3 Bliss to Pocatello

In our third in what has become a three-part series across southern Idaho, we continue our tour of Union Pacific’s Oregon Short Line route between Bliss and Pocatello.

Trains work their way across the Snake River Plain through small towns, farms, and wild, open country. Water tanks from the steam era remain at Bliss, Kimama, Minnidoka, and Wapi and classic code lines still follow the rails creating a sense of nostalgia. We find an old passenger and freight depot at Shoshone as well as a preserved Amtrak waiting area, a throwback to when the Pioneer once ran on these rails.

The Eastern Idaho Railroad interchanges with the UP at Minnidoka and we will see it in action at Acequia and Rupert.

One of the most impressive features of the Nampa Subdivision is the crossing of the Snake River at the American Falls Dam. The program wraps up at UP’s busy yard in Pocatello. Modern UP trains rolling over classic rails in a timeless setting best describes this look at Union Pacific’s Idaho Main Line Part 3.

This program was shot in May and July, 2022.

Shot in beautiful 4K!

1 Hour 42 Min with Narration On/Off

7 Idea Union Pacific's Yuma Subdivision

Running nearly 200 miles between Colton, California and Yuma, Arizona, the Yuma Subdivision is a part of the former Southern Pacific’s Sunset Route, which today serves the Union Pacific as an important rail corridor. It is part of the second Transcontinental Railroad built in the late nineteenth century connecting southern California with Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico.

The Yuma Subdivision is a diverse piece of railroad with steep mountain grades and high-speed desert running. It climbs over  Beaumont Hill through San Timoteo Canyon, and drops down along the shore of the Salton Sea at an elevation of 204 feet below sea-level. It races over the arid desert to a meeting with the Colorado River at the Arizona State line.

This busy piece of railroad is mostly double-tracked, seeing a number of high priority intermodal trains along with manifests traveling to and from West Colton Yard. Long stack trains with both DPU and manned helpers out of Indio dig in for the climb over San Gorgonio Pass.

Join us for this fantastic adventure over Beaumont Hill and along the Salton Sea!

Shot in beautiful 4K!

2 Hour 22 Min with Narration On/Off

7 Idea Willamette Valley Main Line

In the heart of Western Oregon, a former Southern Pacific main line traverses a long, fertile valley surrounded by the Cascade Mountains and Coast Range. Described in the 1820’s as a land of “flowing milk and honey” the Willamette Valley stretches for 150 miles between the cities of Eugene and Portland. The abundant small towns, farms and factories are fastened together by a network of rails feeding an important segment of the I-5 Corridor known as the Brooklyn Sub.

Traffic on the busy main line varies from intermodal and mixed manifest trains to heavy crude oil and grain trains from Canada. A few locals switch industry and pick up interchange traffic from smaller branch lines that connect with the UP. Those railroads include: CORP, Coos Bay Rail Line, Portland & Western, Albany & Eastern, Willamette Valley Railroad and the Oregon Pacific Railroad.

Besides freight, eight Amtrak trains including the Coast Starlight and Cascades Talgos allow travelers to experience the beauty of the Beaver State.

Western Oregon has a lot to offer railfans and you will see why as we tour Union Pacific’s Willamette Valley Main Line!

1 Hour 59 Min with Narration On/Off

7 Idea Winter on Marias Pass

7idea Productions takes you on a winter journey through Marias Pass! This spectacular mountain railroad skirts the southern boundary of Glacier National Park in Montana.

From Whitefish, travel east on BNSF’s Hi Line Subdivision as trains traverse the icy canyons along the Flathead River. Visit the iconic Izaak Walton Inn and maintenance of way yard at Essex. This is the base where snow fighting equipment is kept on hand for the annual war against snow. We will see spreaders and vintage Great Northern snow dozers at work keeping the line clear.

Avalanches are a constant hazard and we will take you into the heart of the snow shed district, from both trackside and the air, as trains battle the 1.8% climb to the Continental Divide. Unit grain, crude oil, intermodal, and several mixed manifest trains ply the rails daily, along with Amtrak’s Empire Builder.

Watch trains crest the top of the pass while gale force winds whip up the snow. On the east side, forests give way to open prairies as trains pass the classic GN station at Glacier Park and on to Spotted Robe. This is the perfect combination of big trains and beautiful mountain scenery in winter! Bundle up for Winter on Marias Pass!

Shot in beautiful 4K!

2 hours 23 minutes
Can be viewed with or w/o narration

7 Idea Winter on Stevens Pass

Great Northern’s historic crossing of Stevens Pass has never been easy. The first two months of 2020 proved particularly harsh as “Old Man Winter” relentlessly pounded BNSF’s Scenic Subdivision with a barrage of winter storms.  This provided the perfect setting for capturing trains in punishing arctic conditions.  

On the west side, we will visit Skykomish, which lies at the base of the mountain grade.  From here, trains dig in for the 2.2% climb across the Foss River Trestle, over the icy waters of Deception Creek, and into Scenic and the west bore of the 7.8-mile-long Cascade Tunnel.  

On the east side, trains emerge back into the wintry setting at the east portal of the Cascade Tunnel. From Berne, it’s a stiff 2.2% descending grade to Merritt and Winton as the railroad navigates the foothills of the Cascades. Leaving the snow zone behind, we will tour the former railroad town of Leavenworth, which has been transformed into a Bavarian village decorated in Christmas lights for most of the winter.  Bundle up and get ready for a chilling railroad adventure!

Shot in beautiful HDR 4K!

1 hours 46 minutes
Can be viewed with or w/o narration