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

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 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 Train Mountain Triennial 2022

One of the best known events in the Live Steam hobby is the Train Mountain Triennial in Chiloquin, Oregon. After being postponed for one year, the Triennial was back and better than ever in 2022! This was the 8th such meet since the year 2000 so it was officially called Triennial VIII. It ran between June 20th and 26th and was preceded by a work week from June 11th to the 19th. 

This program begins by recounting the devastating wildfire and subsequent mud slide that dramatically changed the north end of the 2,200 acre railroad park. Stirring footage and images tell the story of the destruction and massive cleanup effort by hard-working volunteers to get the track back in service. 

You will see amazing work trains hauling ballast and pine needles during the Triennial Work Week and meet the “Super Sucker!”

With the Triennial in full swing, hundreds of trains roamed the rails pulled by classic steam, diesel, and electric locomotives. True to tradition, Triennial VIII wrapped up with the Big Toot and Parade of Trains. 

Video extras include the full Parade of Trains, John Cooper demonstrating the new full-scale Pennsylvania Position Light Signals, and the film crew in action.

1 hr 46 mins

In this presentation, we feature models of more freight cars from the 1940s to the 1960s era. Many of these cars remained in use even into 1970. Most of the techniques and ideas used to build these older cars can work well on more modern rolling stock too. In this volume, we will see ways to use low-cost materials to build classic Gondolas, a variety of early-style covered Hoppers, and some great-looking freight carloads. For building construction, we have used a pair of affordable kits that we build into one larger and very convincing Grocery store that works into a smaller town setting from the 1940s to the 1970s era. This model is fully lighted inside and out with long life, small warm-white LEDs that were semiconductor-based items only considered theoretically possible in this 1956 time frame. To aid in building this store we use animated diagrams and the DVD has a printable documents folder with many diagrams and useful items you can print out to make these models. Another fine model of a Walnut processing plant could just as easily serve Almond, Pecan, or various grain milling duties in the back area of a small city where the branch line track runs. Facilities like these from earlier days are still in use today. Full plans are furnished that can be printed with dimensions and a duplicate set for printing out with no dimensions that can be bonded onto the materials for building. Building the freight cars from older inexpensive BlueBox and Model Die Casting kits in this video with guidelines on how to build very rewarding models. The theme here is to adapt some less expensive materials into your plans and expand your tool and technique resources in the process. The techniques are generally useful in building or altering models in any era. Whether you are still building models for a future layout or trying to design a layout with models already built, this might help your ideas to move ahead…..
1 Hour 42 Minutes plus 20 minutes of previews

Greg Scholl 463 On The C&TS

K-27 2-8-2 number 463 is the oldest regularly operated steam engine on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. In September 2014 we spent several days capturing this engine on 2 different freight trains(For Engineer & Fireman School Freights), plus we get to see it doubleheading with K-36 number 487 on the first fall doubleheader of the year. Its a great show of 463 plus the doubleheader action.

Running Time 103 min.

Greg Scholl Canadian Vintage Steam

This program is new for 2008-2009 and includes a variety of steam action in several areas of Canada. Most of it is 16mm, from a variety of sources, but there is also a little bit of 8mm shot by Warren Scholl in 1958 of CN 4-8-2 number 6079 in Windsor, Ontario, and some CP commuter steam near Montreal in the summer of 1959. In this section we see a few G3 Pacifics, as well as 4-6-4 Royal Hudson 2822 in service. The 16mm material includes a section out west with Canadian Pacific action in the area of Kicking Horse Pass, and Banf, with some rare views of 2-10-4 Selkirk type engines plus a few others. Then there is a mish-mash of steam segment including a neat scene of a rare New York Central snowplow train with two ancient NYC steam engines in Southern Ontario. The core of the program is a neat visit over several days to Manitoba by Perry Becker (Of Perry's Hobbies) in July of 1959 where we see tons of action with both Canadian Pacific, and Canadian National, plus a couple of scenes of rare first generation diesels that wonder into the frame. There are scenes in Portage La Prairie, as well as the engine service areas of the CP and the CN at Winnipeg. If you have seen our Canadian Steam 1958 and 1959 then you will enjoy this, since several of the same engines are seen here as well, but not on the same visit. We also included a short segment of CN 4-8-4 6218 in excursion service in the 60's, and a few steam tractors in Canada as well. Music and Narration as no steam sounds exist with these silent films of course. Many of these scenes we rescued from odd films we have found here and there, and while some are short snippets they are now preserved at least for others to see. The snow plow scene was one such scene like some others where we had no clue who the photographers were. However, all the Becker footage, and Scholl footage is well documented in the script. A nice variety of steam in Canada.

Running Time 50 min.

Greg Scholl D&S Railfest 2010

Go back to 2010 in this newly released show depicting several days of steam on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in the Colorado Rockies. These events, which have not happened since 2016 featured guest locomotives as well as special D&S trains with their locomotives. The 2010 event was one of the best Railfests ever operated.

Running Time 105 min.

Greg Scholl N&W Steam Variety

Enjoy a variety of Norfolk and Western segments in this variety show. First we ride behind Class J 609 from Lynchburg on the Westbound Powhaton Arrow. Next we see Virginian Railway action with 200 series 4-6-2's east of Roanoke. Then we see more onboard footage to Bluefield on the N&W, before seeing some great color 16mm footage in 1958 in and around Roanoke.

Running Time 30 min. + free 30 min of extra previews

Greg Scholl Riding The Narrow Gauge in the 1950s

Take a unique trip over the Denver & Rio Grande Western from Alamosa, Colorado to Durango and Silverton, via Chama, New Mexico in the mid-1950's. Enjoy the 8mm movies of Warren W. Scholl from a 1954 trip, and another trip in 1956 with the entire family.

Running Time 60 min.

Greg Scholl Rio Grande Southern Memories

Here is rare footage of Rio Grande Southern Operations on this storied railroad in the Colorado Rockies. There are films by several photographers, and its mostly color. We see steam operations including some freights, excursion runs, and several of the Galloping Geese in operation between 1947 and the end of operations on the RGS in 1951.

Running Time 49 min.

Greg Scholl Rio Grande's Third Division

The Denver & Rio Grande Western operated Narrow Gauge and Standard Gauge out of Salida in several directions. This video concentrates on the Narrow Gauge steam operations including west to Gunnison over Marshall Pass, and the steep grades of the Monarch Branch which features the railroad's only switchback, and 4.5% grades. Multiple engine trains are seen with mountain railroading at its finest. This is footage from the 1940's through the mid-1950's.

Running Time 54 min.

Greg Scholl Rio Grande's 4th Division

Rio Grande ran steam right through 1968 being the last class 1 railroad to operate steam in regular service. The line from Alamosa was the last stronghold and we see footage from several different photographers. We begin in Alamosa with scenes of engine servicing and switching, plus see trains arriving and departing from the yard. This segment takes us westbound along the dual gauge tracks to Antonito, and on to Chama.

In Chama we arrive aboard the San Juan and see some late 1940’s footage riding to Durango. We meet a doubleheader and pass the eastbound San Juan during this segment. There is a nice section in Durango showing engines near the roundhouse as well as switching duties. We then see a lengthy segment on the Silverton Branch with has several different mixed trains shot from the late 40’s through 1951 or so, plus some later passenger trains. We will see the older K-27 class engines, and in 1951 the 473 painted in the Grande Gold (Bumblebee) scheme.

Next we head back to Chama, and show several trains heading toward Cumbres, which includes engines with helpers, mostly on the rear as they start up the 4% grade.

The last segment features the final years, with film from three different photographers. In 1966 we see a little action with 488 around Durango and at Carbon Junction, as it gathers a freight. In 1967 we see some wonderful 16mm film shot by Fritz Klinke. One day they got 497 and 498 from Alamosa to La Jara. This was the first run of 497 for the year, which would be its final year of operation. We pace it as a light engine to La Jara, then see 498 bring the freight past the depot. A few days later we are in Chama, and see 4 engines being readied for duty on one day, then enjoy a few scenes of 493 and 497 taking a freight eastbound.

Footage of 1968 includes scenes from Durango to Farmington with engine 478 on June 3rd, some scenes of 498 headed east on June 4th, and 498 doubleheading with 478 on June 5th headed back toward Durango. You will see class K-27, K-28, K-36, and K-37 engines mostly and a surprise or two. There is a lot to like in this vintage steam show.

Color scenes with music and informative narration.

Running Time 87 min.

Greg Scholl Vintage Cab Units

Here is a unique show that covers diesel cab units from a by-gone era. The footage is pre-Amtrak, and goes back to some footage in the 40's through the 1960's. We see things in the east before moving to the Mid-West, and the western United States. You will see rare early E-unit, F-Units, Alco PA's, and much more. Historic collection of older cab units and many railroads.

Music and informative narration takes you along this journey of early diesel power. Includes some footage from Perry Becker! (Of Perry's Hobbies)

Running Time 73 min.

Greg Scholl Vintage Steam In The West

39 minutes of rare all color vintage steam action. Great Northern 2-8-2’s & 0-8-0 in Minn. •Great Wester 2-10-0 #90 regular service in Colorado. •Milw Rd 2-8-0. •Northern Pacific 2-8-2s & 4-8-4 #2600. •Santa Fe 4-8-4’s; •SP 2-10-2 & 4-8-2’s. •UP 4-6-0 #1243 on Encampment Branch. •UP Steam Rotary 099 on Coalmont branch. •WP 403 & 404 on freight. •WP 4--6-0 on 50th Ann. of CZ and movie work.

Running Time 39 min.

Greg Scholl Western Steam Trips

65 minutes of Historic Steam-Era Fantrips in the West in the 1950’s & 1960s. DRGW 2-8-2s Narrow G.•SP&S 4-8-4 #700, NP 2-8-2 #1911 & NP 4-8-4 #2626. •NWP May 1952 various engines. •SF 4-6-4, •Sierra 2-8-0 #34 & 36 doubleheading, 1952. •Santa Maria Valley #21 + SP#1744. •SP 4460 on 3 runs in 1958. •WP #94+ 2-8-2 #334 in 1954 and 1958. From color silent films. Music and informative narration.

Running Time 65 min.

Plets Express Steam, Smoke & Thunder, Vol 1.

Featuring 23 steam locomotives from 21 different railroads. You'll see a great variety of steam engines in action with everything from 0-6-0's to the huge 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. There's 17 different locomotive models in all that are manufactured by ten historic steam builders. Also 3 exciting sections with double and triple header steam action. Plus a bonus section with 1959 DM&IR steam action including a massive 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone. *DM&IR steam courtesy of Ben Imbertson. 

FEATURED STEAM ENGINES SOO 2719 • UP 4014 • WMSR 1309 • BHCR104 • IAIS 7080 • RBMN 425 • CP 2816 • NKP 765 • CN 3254 • D&NM 14 • BSVY 8419 • MILW 261 • N&W 611 • SP 4449 • WC/CNW 1385 • WMSTR 353 • MCRR 16 • FRISCO 1522 • EV 11 • IAIS 6981 • SOO 1003 • NP 328 • DM&IR 225 • *Plus 6 Bonus DM&IR

Narration On/Off Options, Beautiful Color with Live Audio
70 min

Plets Express Steam, Smoke & Thunder, Vol 2.

Featuring 23 steam locomotives from 17 different railroads. You'll see a great variety of steam engines in action with everything from 0-4-0's to the massive 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. There are 17 different locomotive models in all that are manufactured by ten historic builders. Also a section with some double header steam action. Shot from the camera of Bradley A. Plets. Footage era 1987 to 2013.

FEATURED STEAM ENGINES UP 3985 • N&W 1218 • BHC 110 • IAIS 6988 • Soo Line 1003 • CP 1293 • WMSR 734 • UP 4014 • UP 844 • CP 2317 • DM&IR 332 • PM 1225 • RBMN 2102 • GT&W 6325• NP 328 • C&NW 1385 • MWC 6 • RRC 3 • NCR 17 • N&W 475 • MWC 9 • CP 2816 • MR 261

Narration On/Off Options, Beautiful Color with Live Audio
74 min

Trains Search for Steam Vol 1.

Trains magazine is excited to bring you Search for Steam Volume 1 featuring over 40 engines from across the United States and England. The first release in this all-new series shows regular operation and one-off events such as photographer’s specials with freight trains, mainline, excursions, or themed weeks for many big and small operations.

You’ll get a sneak peek at debuts of new steam engines, once in a lifetime events, changing operations, and more.

This includes:

• Durango & Silverton 493
• D&RG 168 and 425 to Cumbres
• Nevada Northern 81 Debut
• US Sugar 148 Santa + 1st Public Excursion
• WMSR 1309 Debut
• Victorian Iron Horse Roundup
• And so much more!

With short segments and light narration, Search for Steam Volume 1 is an easily digestible and enjoyable mix of differing locations and many different locomotives perfect for railroad enthusiasts or families of all ages!

Plus, for the first time ever, this DVD comes with the option to turn off music and narration to allow you to truly experience the stunning sound of steam.

Running Time 120 min
Kalmbach Publishing