Log In Login/Register | Help Help d1bf8

Rathole Combo DVD
 4.9 of 5 (12)

Rathole Combo DVD Pentrex RTH-DVD 748268005176
Click to enlarge
Note: Cover image may differ from actual product

The Rathole &
Through the Rathole Cab Ride

Named for the 23 tunnels that once embellished the line, the Rathole stretches between Danville, Kentucky and Oakdale Tennessee. High bridges, deep cuts, tunnels, and grades cover this vital link in Norfolk Southern's system. Pentrex visited this rebuilt route in October 1995 when fall foliage and clear blue skies framed NS's glossy black diesels in a dramatic show.

Two different looks at railroading through the Rathole have been combined on this exciting DVD for your enjoyment. Featured are:

The Rathole: Norfolk Southern diesels put on amazing shows as they pull heavy tonnage across the Second District of the CNO&TP. Up to forty trains utilize the track each day! Our tour includes Kings Mountain, Burnside Bridge, the deep cuts south of Tateville, the tunnels at Nemo, and the famous high bridge across the New River. Informative narration identifies all the trains by number, and gives you the detailed story of this fascinating line.

Through the Rathole Cab Ride: Ride at the head of Triple Crown #252 in the cab of GP60 number 7149 and experience the 138-mile line from the crew's perspective. Traveling from Emory Gap, Tennessee to Danville, Kentucky, you'll see the tunnels at Nemo, the high bridges across the New and Cumberland Rivers, and the deep cuts that gave the Rathole its name. The high priority Triple Crown passes 15 other trains during our ride. When our train starts back up after stopping to allow a hot piggyback to pass, the engineer struggles to get the train up the grade as the single engine slips its wheels and nearly stalls!

DVD Special Feature:

* Chapter Menus provides instant access to program segments.

2 Hours 28 Minutes
In Color with Hi-Fi Sound and Narration
Full-screen (4x3) Format
No region code; can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide
Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case
ISBN: 1-56342-234-4
UPC: 7-48268-00517-6
Produced by Pentrex 1995. Released on DVD 2008


DVD
TVD Price:$ 23.95
List Price:$ 29.95
Live Stock Status: IN STOCK!
Ships Today! if ordered now. (PST)
When will I receive it?


Free Shipping on this item!

Award Value: 119 Points Earn points for free DVDsEarn points for free DVDs. Signup free.

DVD Item#:RTH-DVD
Runtime:2 Hours, 28 Mins ($0.16/min)
Producer:Pentrex
Aspect Ratio:Full Screen
DVD UPC:748268005176
Shrink Wrapped?:Yes
Disc Type:DVD
Region Code:0 Worldwide NTSC
Rathole Combo DVD
Charles B. (Cairo, GA) on 2015-04-01 18:41:26.

People who found this review helpful: 1

We have verified that this reviewer has purchased this item from Train Video Depot because this reviewer is a member of our loyalty program and was signed in when they purchased the item and when they left the review.

  •  5 of 5


One word...amazing. This is one of the best railroad DVDs I have ever seen. Classic Norfolk Southern in some of the most stunning scenery on their system. No wide cabs in site but you do see plenty of high hoods and even "slave" mid train helpers. The cab ride DVD gives you a first hand account of being behind the throttle on a RoadRailer train. Pentrex hits another home run with their Rathole Combo DVD.

Additional remarks by Charles B.:
Narration: Just enough.
Narration CAN be turned off in special features.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
Trackside (Missouri) on 2014-07-03 21:28:13.

People who found this review helpful: 1

  •  5 of 5


This was made during great fall sunlight with colored leaves creating the backdrop. Captured during days when rail fanning is at its best. All kinds of rail traffic are covered. Nice ride through cuts, valleys, tunnels and shadows as they hug the river. The cab ride portion retraces the route taken during the ground DVD so it is seen from two perspectives. Plenty of meets. An excellent production.

Additional remarks by Trackside:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Definitely!
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
chris collins (fletcher north carolina) on 2014-06-24 19:04:51.

People who found this review helpful: 1

  •  5 of 5


northfolk southern action is here in this awesome dvd even though I live in north Carolina it was nice to see the scenery of Tennessee and Kentucky and the cab ride was awesome as well seeing how the line looks like so this dvd is non stop action for people railfaning in the east

Additional remarks by chris collins:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
the glider (40 miles north of grand central) on 2013-08-07 06:04:01.

People who found this review helpful: 1

We have verified that this reviewer has purchased this item from Train Video Depot because this reviewer is a member of our loyalty program and was signed in when they purchased the item and when they left the review.

  •  5 of 5


Great DVD. Seeing the rock cuts, bridges, tunnels, etc along the ride is great. i watch this over & over - never gets dull. Makes me want to spend a week down on the TN/KY border checing these out !

Additional remarks by the glider:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
Barry (N.S.W. Australia) on 2012-09-18 16:24:08.

People who found this review helpful: 1

  •  4 of 5


A totally different railroad to my usual interest but absolutely stunning scenery and I loved the roadrailer trains, a truelly worthwhile watch. Recommend to any rail fan.

Additional remarks by Barry:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
minasmorgul8201 (matthews,nc) on 2012-03-26 00:28:20.

People who found this review helpful: 1

We have verified that this reviewer has purchased this item from Train Video Depot because this reviewer is a member of our loyalty program and was signed in when they purchased the item and when they left the review.

  •  5 of 5


The rathole is a wonderful subject. The combination of a cab ride and an overview of the trackage is just wonderful.

Additional remarks by minasmorgul8201:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
Texas Hi-Railer (West Texas) on 2011-11-14 21:17:10.

People who found this review helpful: 1

We have verified that this reviewer has purchased this item from Train Video Depot because this reviewer is a member of our loyalty program and was signed in when they purchased the item and when they left the review.

  •  5 of 5


The Rathole is an amazing DVD and much more than I expected? It has so much beautiful scenery throughout the entire footage, that it's almost a coin toss as to what was more enjoyable... the trains or the scenery, lol? No kidding! This is one of those DVD's you'll want to watch over and over again because you can't get enough of it. It hasn't been that long since it arrived from TVD and I have watched this particular DVD atleast a half dozen times already? And, I always see something I missed previously which is also what makes you want to watch it again and again. The quality is top shelf, images, sound, narration, etc... It's a must have for any railfan, especially if you're a NS fan and you simply love beautiful scenery!!!

Additional remarks by Texas Hi-Railer:
Narration: Could have used more.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
calin on 2010-08-29 18:19:18.

People who found this review helpful: 1

  •  5 of 5


great photos views great train watchig great video all around.

Additional remarks by calin:
Narration: Just enough.
Narration CAN be turned off in special features.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
WEM3 on 2010-02-22 11:20:02.

People who found this review helpful: 1

  •  5 of 5


I keep forgetting how dark it is in a train tunnel. I am glad you only go thru two tunnels, any more would have been too much.

Additional remarks by WEM3:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Definitely!
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
rrvideoman on 2008-09-30 18:29:28.

People who found this review helpful: 1

  •  5 of 5


The Rathole. The name itself grabs the interest. This is a very scenic region, with a vast combination of tunnels, bridges, grades and deep cuts. Part # 1 we watch as big, heavy Norfolk Southern trains work their way across this very unique region. The trains are put to the test as they have to work hard. The locations of many shots are something in itself as we watch bridge crossings and trains passing below in deep cuts. But it gets better. Part # 2, A cab ride. Wow. Exciting as we are treated to the view the crew gets riding the rails, with a long stream of road railers in tow. There are meets, and sidings. See the view from high bridges as the train passes over. Excellent. This is one of the best Pentrex videos made. You will love every bit of it. Even my children found it hard to walk away, as they were very intrigued by it. It is "a Must Have" for all video rail fans.

Additional remarks by rrvideoman:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Definitely!
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
Joe on 2008-04-06 05:46:07.

People who found this review helpful: 1

  •  5 of 5


I just got my copy in and what a great video this was! First off, its a combo DVD. Two shows for the price of one- you can't go wrong right from the beginning. Next, you get a tour of the Rathole and then a cab ride over the line. If that is not a good conclusion I don't know what is. Additionally, Norfolk Southern really put on a good show. Here are some highlights I observed:

Several locomotives (including the newest, largest GE's at the time) were run long nose forward on the head of the train. What a sight that was. Other trains were observed with high nosed B36-7's, which Norfolk Southern only had six of. Most trains had solid lashups of NS power, except for one train with a Santa Fe unit in the blue and yellow paint scheme. There were some other surprises that could be found in the consists of the trains, but I don't want to spoil the show. With all this and minimal narration, you'll be sure to enjoy this show as much as I did...

Did you find this review useful?

Rathole Combo DVD
Steamboy (Revere MA US) on 2020-04-10 11:43:14.

  •  5 of 5


In this recently turned 25 year old program, it starts with a look at the 3 unit freight crossing Burnside bridge, followed by the Cincinnati skyline. Look carefully for a meet with 3 light helpers and 2 units in the triple crown roadrailer as it crosses over one of the bridges. Afterwards a look at the entire map from Cincinnati to Chattanooga is shown, followed by still images of some locations on the rathole. Next we see the same roadrailer after climbing erlainger hill, followed by a map from SJ tower in Danville to Oakdale. At Danville, a 3 unit lash up hauls an auto carrier for a crew change with the station and the tower in the background. Meanwhile, switchers 2368 & 2366 are going backwards to do some work as it pushes the doublestack into the yard, then we see train 388 with units 8032, 7012, & Southern Pacific 8016 leaving the yard heading north for Cincinnati and Detroit. Near SJ tower, Train 108 is seen from Danville to Cleveland with an SD40-2 & a GP9 running longhood forward, then it makes a meet with the Chicago to Knoxville mixed train 175 with 3 units. At the far south end of Danville, Another meet is shown as 7028 leads train 168 while waiting for train 215 with 8680 running Longhood forward with 8571. Both of them are C40-8s. With the doublestack/piggyback combo clears the junction, 7028 leads 7131 & 3200 on a mixed freight as it enters the yard. Moving Onto junction city near milepost 120.8, a Chattanooga to Bellevue freight is shown with 6582 in the lead of this 3 unit mixed freight known as train 180. Just 20 miles south of Danville, is Palm at milepost 130.2 as 3302 leads a mixed freight known as train 112 heading north or west from Roanoke to Kansas city as it stops for a meet with train 229 per by 3508, 3522, & 1597 on a container train. With the signal switched to green, 3302 gets the right of way with units 3265, & 4159. 4 miles down the line, we are at milepost 134.8 in South fork as a southbound doublestack is shown on train 236 with 7150, 7152, & 7121 in the lead. One of the bridges on the rathole line is shown as a 3 unit mixed train known as I-24 is shown crossing the bridge. A cow grazes on ground level. This is the location where Greg Scholl shot a 4 unit freight in 1986 for his early diesels 3 video. At kings mountain, Train 229 goes under the camera crew. From the ground, the camera pans left to view an abandoned tunnel at kings mountain. Back to the action however, we see 7105 on train 251 the roadrailer from fort Wayne Indiana to Jacksonville Florida. At the north end of kings mountain we are At milepost 138 as train 168 rolls through the deep cut with engines 7049, 7129, & an unidentified blue and yellow Santa Fe unit on a mixed freight while it's at dynamic braking mode. Not long afterward, a 3 unit southbound known as train 236 is shown on a doublestack with 3 units: 3314, 7031, & 7023. Back at the junction, there is a meet at the transition from single track to double track as an auto carrier with engines 3303, 3232, & 1522 (A reference to the Frisco 4-8-2 that operates between 1988-2002) known as train I-39 makes a meet with the mixed freight. At the deep cut, Train 117 is steadily climbing upgrade with 8045 in the lead of a mixed freight. This train is heading from Columbus to Atlanta. At last the mixed freight that was parked on a siding known as train 176, gets underway again with engines 6169, 8048, & 3289 in the lead. 3 miles south of Kings mountain, the sun is still rising as we are at waynesburg in milepost 142.1 for a northbound with 6550 in the lead as it heads for Chicago on train 144. 12 miles south we are at milepost 154.8 in Norwood hill. Here we see 6632 & 6634 making a meet with A trio of units for Kansas city. At last the mixed freight is finally getting the green signal as 4148, 5185, & B36-7 number 3815 heads for Knoxville. A couple of miles south we are at milepost 157, as a northbound train #112 the mixed freight climbs the grade with 6560, & C40-8 8581. Another C40-8 number 8702 pushes in the middle. Further down the hill in somerset, Train 236 is seen with 3500, cotton belt 8049 & C40-8 8552 making a meet with train 176. One of the most noteworthy landmarks on the rathole route, is Burnside bridge crossing over lake Cumberland at milepost 167. A power plant is located nearby. A Chicago bound doublestack comes first on train 235 with 2 units in the lead. This location is also a hot spot. From the top of a cliff, a northbound extra crosses over the bridge with 2 units on a mixed freight known as train M-68. 4 miles south of the bridge, we are at the Daniel Boone national forest as a Chicago to Mencken Georgia bound mixed freight with C40-8s 8553, & 8708 with 7115 & 7105 on train 143 at milepost 171. 4 road bridges cross over the cuts high above the tracks. The following day, we are at the route 805 bridge as auto carrier train 239 goes under the camera crew with a pair of C40-8s in the lead heading South from Louisville to Jacksonville. Relocating to the second overpass, a northbound doublestack is shown on train 235 with 3 units in the lead as it does a brief horn show while going under the camera crew. Shorty After that, Train 215 heads south from Chicago with 3 units in the lead. On another day, the same train is recorded from ground level, but with different units: 2807, SP 7857, & cotton belt 8054. Keep in mind that this visit was recorded in the fall of 1994, which is also the final year of mainline steam specials with N&W 611 (which pentrex recorded the J one final time at the 1994 NRHS convention in Atlanta), and also for the final run of steam on CSX tracks through The New river gorge in West Virginia with Milwaukee road 261 in the lead. Halfway into the main program, we are at milepost 175.5 as a northbound passes the detector with 3 units on a piggyback known as train I-24. From the Sheldon road overhead bridge, Train 11 heads south with 2 units leading this mostly tank train up front, and other mixed freight cars on the rear with auto carriers, hoppers, a helper unit in the middle, and more cars on the rear. A couple of miles down the line, we are at milepost 177.5 as train 180 heads north with 7011 leading this 3 unit mixed train as it switches from double track to single track at KD tower. At milepost 183, Train 168 is led by An SD40-2 & a C40-8 on a mixed freight heading North. A few minutes later, a southbound doublestack is shown with 3 units on train 236 to Norfolk Virginia. The early morning silence is being interrupted by squealing flanges as a pair of C40-8s lead this container train at milepost 188,5 on train 230 from Jacksonville to Chicago. At Whitley city near milepost 190.4, the mixed freight with 3 units are parked on a siding as train 177 waits for train 111 on a mixed freight. 2 miles South of Whitley city is Stearns where it is the headquarters for the big south fork scenic railroad. Here a look at the tracks for the interchange with the Kentucky and Tennessee is shown as well as a mention of 2-8-2 4501 as number 12, which includes a special stock footage flashback to the first weekend of November 1991 as 4501 is operating on a special for the 25th anniversary of the steam program. You can see more of the 1911 Baldwin built Mikado in 1991 in the pentrex program: Chattanooga steam reunion. Which of course Greg Scholl & main line motion pictures were also there as well. Back to the regular NS freight action however, 6579 leads a 2 unit auto carrier on train 239. Seconds later, the northbound comes into view as the tail of a southbound makes a meet. It's an Atlanta to Kansas city mixed freight known as train 224 with 4 units: 5106, 4629, 7046, & 5213 as it rolls through milepost 192.5. Near milepost 201.1, we are at the state line as we are already into Tennessee. Here we witnesses a 3 unit hopper train with an odd horn on lead unit 2069 at Silerville. As the tail of the freight brings up the rear, listen to the detector. Moving into the small yard in Oneida at milepost 209.4. From the bridge, 3310 leads a 4 unit mixed freight. The highest point on the rathole line is at pemberton. Here a northbound makes the climb with 3303 in the lead of this 3 unit mixed freight with 3325 & 7001 on the Chattanooga to Cincinnati line known as train 388 in milepost 211.5 while switching tracks. In Phillips train 224 negotiates the bend as the track switches to double track. It's led by C40-8 number 8719 with 2517 on a mixed freight. The spur on the left is the new river branch. Moments later, Train 239 passes by the camera crew at milepost 215.4. It's an auto carrier with 3 units. A brief visit to the pre-1963 line is shown. The triple crown roadrailer crosses over the new river bridge from highway 27 heading north on train 252 with 2 units. Under the bridge, an inspection underneath the rails are shown as a 3 unit mixed freight on train M-68 from Knoxville to saint Illinois at milepost 218. Moments later, a southbound mixed train number 229 with 3 units crosses over the New river bridge. A couple of miles south of the bridge, we are at mountain view as train 144 climbs uphill with a mixed freight led by 7085 on a 3 unit lash up. 2 miles South of mountain view, we are at Robbins as train 231 enters the double track mainline while leaving the post-1963 line. It's an intermodal from Chicago to Atlanta with 6659 leading this 3 unit lash up longhood forward. Later in the afternoon, a diesel powered excursion with 5179 & 5146 is shown that was sponsored by the Tennessee valley railroad museum in Chattanooga. This is train 63 as we are at milepost 222 while the special heads Back to the museum from Oneida. A while later, a northbound on train 196 is shown. It's a 3 unit mixed trainwith 2505 in the lead while the middle unit is another blue and yellow Santa Fe diesel. Back at Somerset, a visit to the dispatchers office is shown. The map of the South end is on the left, and the map of the North end is on the right. The dispatcher makes some communication calls on the radio to different crews on different freights. From the dispatchers point of view, Train 143 leaves the double track mainline and enters The New river bridge at milepost 215.4, and also switching rails. Back outside, an abandoned bridge at sunbright is shown. It's fall in the mountains as the late afternoon sun is glowing through the trees. Again, this program was recorded in October of 1994 as 261 was operating the final steam powered New river train from Huntington to Hinton West Virginia. At annadel, Train 215 negotiates the bend as it is led by C40-8 number 8675 with 6595 on the doublestack/piggyback combo. 3 miles south at Lancing a coal train is parked on the siding at the route 62 crossing as a mixed freight with engines 5241, 1515, C40-8 number 8613, & 8503 on train 117 passes by the hopper cars. Lancing is located halfway between Oakdale & sunbright. At milepost 240.5, a northbound Chattanooga to Cincinnati bound auto carrier With a mixed train on the rear known as train 302 climbs uphill. It's a 4 unit lash up led by 5237, 2770, 1329, & 5168. A couple of miles south of Lancing, there is a bridge & tunnel near the South end of the rathole. The much wider tunnel was built after 1963. The pre-1963 tunnel built with mountain rocks is abandoned as 6581 & 6631 lead a mixed freight known as train 143 leaves the post 1963 tunnel and goes over the Emory river. From the top of the post 1963 tunnel, Train 230 goes over the bridge and enters The tunnel. It's a 5 unit piggyback train with 3 from NS and 2 from Southern Pacific although one has the cotton belt logo as it heads from Jacksonville to Chicago. From the spot between the bridge and the tunnel about minutes later, Another northbound is shown with 4612 leading this 3 unit mixed train known as train 168 at milepost 243. At the north portal of the second tunnel, we are at nemo as train 180 leaves the longest tunnel on the rathole with C40-8 number 8530 leading 6629 on a mixed freight. It's on an early Monday morning as the freight heads for Bellevue. At the south portal of the second tunnel, 4106 leads a bag window caboose and an observation car on train 905 known as the test train. Afterwards a quick visit to the original tunnel 24 is shown despite its abandoned. A northbound on train 196 is shown as it passes by a pick up truck that belonged to a fisherman. It's a mixed freight with 6690 leading this 3 unit lash up. It takes 11 miles from nemo to Oakdale. Oakdale is at milepost 254.4 as the roadrailer on train 251 arrives at the South end of the rathole with 7111 in the lead as it heads for Chattanooga. The program comes to a close with a look at a couple of tunnels. Tunnel 26 was built in 1963 as well as tunnel 25. The final train of this program shows a 3 unit doublestack as it arrives at Oakdale on train 235 in milepost 254.8. This is led by 4638 with the operation lifesaver logo, 7062 & 4616. As a bonus we are at Harriman junction at milepost 258.2. Train I-39 heads by with C40-8 8753, 3206, & 1633. Moments later, mixed train 111 passes through The junction on the Kansas city to Roanoke line. It's led by engines 6560 & C40-8 number 8743. 6632 is the helper unit between the cars.

The extra hour long cab ride is also quite interesting with meets of other freights, mountains, bridges, and tunnels.

Additional remarks by Steamboy:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Did you find this review useful?