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As with the more recent Feather River video, this Cascade video features excellent photography, and great effort to capture many angles. What makes this video very distinctive is that the producers had to hike in to some very remote, hilly sites. No one else has covered the Cascade route adequately in the past, due to this low accessibility. Nothing from Pentrex. Nothing yet from Highball or the others. Yet not only does 7idea cover it, but they do so thoroughly and provide an outstanding product which I will view many times.
There were some shots, including those taken in extreme temperatures and snow, ice, thunderstorms and in remote locations . . . that frankly left me being astonished with their intrepid effort to document the line in all conditions. Bravo. I would never have had the courage or stamina.
I own detailed UP track profiles of the route, available on ebay. Armed with that, and this video, it provides a great virtual visit to a beautiful area, historic line, heavy grades, and curves --- in ways that I would not otherwise see.
Given the heavy grades (and being a veteran of Cajon Pass who grew up in that area) the SOUND of locomotives battling the grades is just as important as the VIDEO !! That is an attribute that some other producers do not understand. But 7idea does, and they have captured great sound. I use train videos to do my stairmaster and cycling workout by, down in the basement thru my old college stereo, and this video has the whole house shaking. The narrator is excellent, but I would like to have the option of turning the narration off or on for subsequent viewings.
The first thing I did after viewing this video, was order their companion Mt. Shasta line video. I own about 100+ train videos, and there is a lot of subject redundancy. (I probably have 10 or so on Tehachapi). But 7idea has mastered this route, I might add a route with scenery that transcends my old haunts like Beaumont Pass. Thanks!
As a Blu-Ray and HDTV owner, I would love to see 7idea embrace that technology. Given their quality of sound and image, a full high-definition (and widescreen format as with Marias Pass video) would add to the impressive quality of their products.
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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