Mexico’s Mainlines in the Early 1990s - National Railways of Mexico, Part 1

In this video, C. Vision Productions takes you on a fascinating journey across Mexico, as we explore several mainline routes of the country's rail network in the early 1990s. This was traditional railroading. Train orders, open stations, exotic motive power, mixed trains, and five-man crews would make one think they had stepped back in time, but this was simply the way things were in the last decade of the 20th century. We’ll see both freight and passenger trains on several important rail lines between the United States border and Mexico City, then operated by Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (FNM). Also included is coverage of FNM’s Tampico to San Luis Potosí route, one of the most scenic stretches of track in all of Mexico. On this line, we’ll visit the station in Tamasopo, where a friendly operator allows us to document him at work communicating via telegraph, as well as copying train orders from the dispatcher over the block line telephone. We’ll then hop aboard the head end of an extra passenger train for a cab ride up steep mountain grades through the Sierra Madre Oriental, aboard SD40 8577. All of this footage was documented in the early 1990s, several years before Mexico’s rail network was privatized. As of 2023, the routes covered in this program are being operated by CPKC, Ferromex, and Ferrovalle. A wide variety of EMD, GE, Alco, and MLW units are seen in this video, with many rare locomotive models viewed in operation. EMD models include SD40, SDP40, SD40X, SD40-2, GP38-2, GP40, SW1504, and G12. GE models include C30-7, C30-S7 (Super 7), B23-7, and U18B. Alco and MLW units were once very common in Mexico, with models M630, RS-11, and RSD-12 making appearances in this video. Sit back and relax, as videographer Dan Hadley takes you trackside, in the cab, and behind the scenes, in this classic look at the railroads south of the border.
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[@TM-bk3ok]

It’s so difficult to find footage of Mexican railroads around this time. Can’t wait to see more.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re absolutely correct on that. There isn’t much out there from this era. More from the Dan Hadley archives coming soon… We appreciate the comment.

[@eccentriceric]

I agree. When i was a teenager in the 90's i never got to see much of the Mexican RR's in videos or pics. but went with the church mission trip for the youth group as i was invited from a friend to go and we went to Piedras Negras Mexico and i got the pastor to take us to the depot so i could see the trains and we didn't see any moving but i got lots of slides of the parked locomotives and caboose. the blue FNM engines i think it was.

[@BuckeyeNationRailroader]

I wish the FNM was still around. They arguably had the best roster of locomotives out of any railroad in North America at the time.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You are 100% correct.

[@AlexM1A2]

The Super7 in my opinion is one of the most unique diesel loco considering the fact that most models were built from old GE U36C/U30C I believe and C30-7 units. I even had the chance to ride on one thanks to uncle

[@CVisionProductions1]

@AlexM1A2 Those Super 7s were (and still are) awesome locomotives. Thanks for mentioning them.

[@Opinionatedguy1989]

It is now cpkc

[@BuckeyeNationRailroader]

@@Opinionatedguy1989 Well not entirely, part of it is yes.

[@LoneRanger5150]

I love seeing the boxes marked "fragile" being thrown against the wall 😂. Quality customer service right there!!

[@robertlozano1984]

Lol and we are proud of it 😂😂😂

[@c44ac99]

No hablo inglés 😂

[@eccentriceric]

I came to the comments for this. i wonder what they was hauling.

[@cardenasr.2898]

​@@eccentricericin Mexico you can't be sure that the boxes labelled fragile actually contain fragile objects

[@NortheastRailfan3985]

Hey at least they stopped the train first

[@jukeboxdude]

Weird seeing so many "retired" SD-40 variants considered on their last legs in the 90's when UP is still using them for local switch work at least in my area in 2023. Even have a snoot nose # 1888 running around. Love the sound of them and they are kept in better shape than most of the Dash-9's on the mainline.

[@CVisionProductions1]

For sure! It seemed that many class one railroads were giving up on the non-Dash 2 EMDs around that time. GP40s and SD40s were solid locomotives. They just needed a little more TLC compared to EMD’s newer Dash 2 variants. As you know, a little rebuilding goes a long way! Thank you for the comment.

[@FranTheTrainfan]

This has got to be one of the most unique videos of railroading in North America ive seen. I love the stuff you realese on yt. Its amazing. Cant wait for part 2 and other cool videos from you guys.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Well, thank you very much! We’re happy that you’re enjoying our videos. That’s what it’s all about. And yes, more on the way! Thanks again.

[@Jfrmr1]

This is the single greatest railroad documentary video ever produced. I could watch that ride through the mountains on a loop feed every day for the rest of my life. The station stops, cab views of the engineer throttling, motorcar action, camp cars for the section workers built out of old boxcars, old derailed hoppers halfway down the fill with trees overtaking them, miles of curve rail laid out for replacement.... this is top notch. Well done!

[@CVisionProductions1]

All we can say is thank you!!! Your comment is going on the C. Vision refrigerator. In all seriousness, it means a great deal to us that you’d take the time to write such a thoughtful, detailed comment about this video. We know Mr. Hadley appreciates it too. Thanks again!

[@mjrodriguez8670]

It sure is a joy to watch vintage ALCo diesels and EMD SD40 units rolling from Laredo to Monterrey and Saltillo! I really enjoyed watching old operating practices that had disappeared from US railroads many years ago. Plus the Mexican trains ran with cabooses! Thanks to Dan Hadley for his trip to Mexico in the early 1990's!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much, MJ! You really hit the nail on the head here. Everything you mentioned is the reason we made this project a priority. You’ll see more of Mr. Hadley’s Mexico footage in the future.

[@emisgta]

My grandfather was an N de M telegraphist for more than 30 years. He used to love the Tamasopo scene of the telegraphist copying orders. He passed away two years ago and I spent all this time trying to find that special scene. Now I found it together with a lot of good ones. Thank you for this amazing documentary.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We’re sorry to learn of your grandfather’s passing. Regarding your discovery of the Tamasopo scene in this video, it’s great to hear that you finally found it. The footage was stored in our archives until November of 2023, when it was reviewed and prepared for use in this program. We are grateful for the opportunity to share it with you. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@rutaloot]

Thank you for uploading this footage! I only got to experience a few years of FNM as a kid in the 90s but those are still some of my fondest railroad memories. The smokey blue engines and that almost always present yellow caboose were sights that always made me so excited! Something that also really comes through in these videos is the friendliness of the crews back then. I remember several times the crews smiling and waving even on one occasion when stumbling upon a train that had broken down.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing some of your railroad memories. Regarding the train crews and other FNM employees, they were some of the nicest railroaders Mr. Hadley ever encountered. Their friendliness and hospitality were very much appreciated.

[@jellostrains]

this is incredible! the amount of differences in the operating styles as well as safety culture is phenomenal to me. it blows me away how close those trains are running to each other.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We appreciate you bringing up the differences in railroad operating style. That is what intrigued us the most while reviewing the footage. We’re just as amazed as you are! Thank you for the comment.

[@KansasPower]

After FNM was selled to private sectors, many things changed and now, rules and regulations are applied properly most of the time As a Mexican railfan, im also amazed

[@chandlerbranchrailfanprodu5928]

Didn’t Pentrex buy some of your footage and use it for their own DVD of this exact railroad? (With your permission of course) Because I recognize a lot of the footage.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Good eye! There is a lot to discuss here. The owner of this footage is Mr. Dan Hadley, the original videographer. During his time producing programs for Pentrex, he retained the rights to all of his raw footage. That allowed us to work out an agreement with Mr. Hadley for use of his original tapes. The rest is history! Thank you for watching, and please let us know if you have any further questions.

[@LMLRailfan]

The main thing that I love about FNM in the 90s is always focusing on Freight Trains.

[@CVisionProductions1]

The FNM was such a neat railroad… Thank you for watching!

[@gregorygant0525]

This is the best video on Mexico 🇲🇽 fantastic

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much! We appreciate the kind words. It’s always great to see these videos being enjoyed by our viewers.

[@chefjavier]

OSHA will have a field day in Mexico Railroad for sure.

[@minnesotarailfan11]

Lmao that’s for sure

[@CVisionProductions1]

Perhaps. Things certainly were done a little differently 32 years ago! Thanks for watching.

[@bali2516]

Fantastic video. I've been learning a lot about Mexican railroads lately, mainly the KCSM, so this video was quite a treat for me. I imagine it was pretty easy to snag a ride on the nose of a train then!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much! From what the videographer has stated, those were some of the friendliest railroaders he had ever met. Quite the easy-going bunch! We appreciate you watching the video.

[@KSRailfan]

This is an absolutely incredible video! It was thoroughly captivating, and I ended up watching it all. What a fascinating collection of operations.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much for the nice comment! It’s great to hear that you enjoyed the video. We appreciate you taking the time to watch the entire video.

[@GEVOlutionCPKC]

Viva México 😎✨🙏🏼💥⚡

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! The railroads of Mexico impressed us - so much variety. And the operations were simply fascinating. Thank you for the comment.

[@boweandrew3]

Pentrex did have a 2 volume set called Northern Mexico Rails and Central Mexico rails, can’t wait until part 2

[@Taok_Productions]

They hace Copper Canyon too, and a south México rails

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes, sir! We are in possession of all the raw footage from those shows. Our goal is to produce at least three more videos covering the railroads of Mexico. Thank you for watching, and stay tuned!

[@wavesnbikes]

Raw footage? If you guys pull a Blu Ray / 4k upscale of the originals, can you consider doing one in spanish and/or subtitles as well or just one with raw sound?​@@CVisionProductions1

[@CVisionProductions1]

@wavesnbikes Those are actually some pretty good ideas. The agreements we have in place with all parties involved may preclude any DVD or Blu-ray releases using this footage. We’ll have to see how things go. But we very much appreciate the suggestions.

[@just4funTrains]

@@CVisionProductions1 Great idea, maybe you can produce one call Mexican Railways todays, we have Ferromex and Ferrosur from Grupo México that also has investment in Union Pacific and Florida Railways. We have CPKC and Ferrovalle in Mexico City.

[@pm565b2]

The FRA should release your video as a safety bulletin on what not to do!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Ha! There were a few risky maneuvers seen in this video, that’s for sure.

[@RanOutOnARail]

I recognize many of these places.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We’re certain that you do! You have some phenomenal footage, by the way. Thanks for watching the video.

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

Wow… where are the lawyers? Trusting people with their own capabilities, what a novel idea.

[@CVisionProductions1]

It certainly was a different time. Back in those days, the job got done… quickly! We appreciate the comment.

[@Trainspotter3033]

By the time the video takes place I was almost 5, and I remember watching my first trains on the city I was born near Guadalajara. Some years after my family moved to Querétaro and since then I’m hoping to see everything related to those years and the trains I used to see passing on my birth place… And now I’m dedicated to cover much of the railroads that nowadays operate here in a way of documenting and preserving this to the next generations, and still, I’m amazed every time I get to see some old school power still doing work on the mainlines of FXE and KCSM/CPKC. Awesome footage, can’t wait to watch Part II!

[@CVisionProductions1]

It’s great to have those memories. They really do guide us in this railroad hobby of ours. Nostalgia is a powerful force. As information for you, we will be sharing footage from Guadalajara in Part 3 of this series. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@centaurodelnorte4555]

Congratulations and thanks for taking into account the history of Mexican railroads. As is well known by many fans, Mexico was home to many models and brands of locomotives, in addition to its very peculiar passenger train trips. We hope you publish more videos referring to Mexico. Greetings from Mexico

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much! The variety of trains and operations found in Mexico during this era was unmatched. You can be assured that we will release more of these videos in the near future. Best regards, and greetings from the United States!

[@mjbiehnstrainvideos9831]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome!!! Thank you for watching the video.

[@rubenrojo700]

@@CVisionProductions1😅

[@Oliver01958]

Pretty cool seeing what appears to be old Troop cars.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Mexico really did have some neat equipment back in those days. Thank you for appreciating it.

[@grated_lemon5630]

will mexico's electric operations be featured in future videos?

[@CVisionProductions1]

Nothing planned as of now, but there are several more videos in line that will cover the railroads of Mexico. Thank you for asking.

[@THE_IRON_HORSE]

You just gotta love all the mix match if locomotives, power and all the caboose, this video is also really wholesome with all the kids and family watching and getting on the trains 😂

[@CVisionProductions1]

Mexico really did have a great variety of equipment back in those days. Like nothing we’ve ever seen before. And we suppose you could call this video wholesome. Mr. Hadley always did a great job capturing the spirit of the land and its people, wherever he might be. Thank you for watching, and for your comment.

[@CesarHuescaMusic]

Going back to my childhood right away with this video. So nice!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you for watching!

[@Eduardomd54]

Beautiful ! Great footage ! Hard to find videos of this good quality. A NdeM fan that appreciate all of this. Thank you

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you for the nice comment. It’s great to know that this video is being enjoyed. Due to popular demand, we will be sharing more of this footage in the future. There is still plenty remaining in our archives. Thanks again!

[@minnesotarailfan11]

Do they not care about kids jumping onto moving trains i find that absolutely wild

[@LegoMan6619]

Me too! You’d think there’d be a bit more safety. I understand that kids are fascinated by the trains, but still.

[@CVisionProductions1]

It appears that they weren’t overly concerned with it 32 years ago. All we can really say is… different time, different place.

[@stemwinder3054]

I'm quite surprised by the amount of passenger trains!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! Passenger trains were still operating all over Mexico back in the early 1990s. It wasn’t long after this that they started disappearing. Thank you for watching the video.

[@jackdacop9827]

It's also nice to see rolling stock without all the graffiti.

[@etrem]

Thanks to share this amazing documentary with the Worldwide! You have a new subscribe here from Brazil. We recived some of mexican C30-7's here and some of them still operating at MRS logística. I'm really apreciate to see some operations of this amazing engine at past. Again thank you very much.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Greetings, and welcome aboard! We appreciate the kind words. Also, thank you for the update on the C30-7s. It’s great to hear that some are still in service on MRS Logística. More videos coming soon. Stay tuned!

[@alexschmollinger6576]

Ferromex, Ferrosur and CPKC Operate all the Ex FNM Ex NdeM and Ex FCP lines in Mexico 🇲🇽 And the Ferromex , FSRR and KCSM now CPKC Main lines has all CWR and Concrete Ties and CTC Signals

[@CVisionProductions1]

There have been some incredible upgrades to the railroad infrastructure in Mexico over the past few decades. It’s great to see! Thank you for watching, Alex.

[@cardenasr.2898]

My fondest childhood memories come from taking the train from Aguascalientes to Gómez Palacio during FNM's last years, it was a long, cold, messy ride but it was cheap as heck and for a small kid it seemed to be an adventure. Thanks for uploading these videos, it made me relive those crazy trips on the rundown trains of Mexico's national railways

[@CVisionProductions1]

First of all, thank you for the nice comment. It sounds like you went on some exciting adventures! Those were definitely the “good old days”. We appreciate you sharing those memories with us.

[@ricardomoreno1307]

Da nostalgia ver estos videos que fueron parte de nuestra niñez y un gusto por los trenes.

[@nonstopmaximum2141]

1:12:50 Sad ending for an F2. That was probably one of if not the last one in existence at that point.

[@no-le2vm]

Not to mention all the steam locos and Alcos there. I hope those steam locos didn’t get scrapped there!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Regarding the F2, we don’t doubt it. It’s not too common to see a locomotive model totally wiped out, especially an EMD. As for those steam locomotives, they were still being cared for in storage, in the hopes that they could be saved.

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

43:39 Spanish I'm guessing I did not understand a single thing he said. Like I know those are train orders but I didn't understand a single word he just said If I knew how to translate Spanish I would know what was said between him and the dispatcher but I can't

[@S-47.616]

track order for the meet shown at 57:53 Orden No. 37 for Extra 8577 south (passenger). Extra 8510 north (passenger) takes the siding and meets Extra 8577 south (passenger) at "El Balcon" KM L-450 instead of Espinazo del Diablo

[@CVisionProductions1]

It looks as if another member of the audience has come to the rescue on this one (and we appreciate that very much). Train orders were pretty incredible. It took true skill on the part of the dispatcher to ensure that all went well. No computer protection back then. Thank you for watching the video.

[@rottenroads1982]

It’s interesting. Most locomotives in Canada & the US are all very Big, while the EMD G12 is small. It’s small because the G12 is an international model of locomotive.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re right. The G12 was light and compact to meet the needs of railroads abroad. EMD had a great design team. They knew just what the export market required. We appreciate the comment.

[@patricknoveski6409]

This is rare & unbelievable footage. 😳 Who would have thought a RR could be run so loose. Kids, brakemen, & asorted others jumping fast moving trains. Kind of mind blowing. & how bout those grades ? Very entertaining.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you, Patrick! You never knew what you’d see south of the border back in those days. We appreciate the comment.

[@O-PAC]

The lack of safety in this video cracks me up…I know all the risk management people watching this video are losing their minds lol.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We don’t doubt it! Can you imagine seeing this sort of operation today? Plenty of skill, along with an overwhelming amount of risk. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@ShawnCalay]

Nothing has really changed, the farther south you go the worse it gets...

[@brandancruz2696]

First you spoil me with SP action through the 20th century and now Steam Diesels (Dash 7s) & Joint Track! Here goes an hour of my life! 🤣💯 Dan Hadley is a Legend!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you, Brandan! We’ll do our best to continue the spoiling! All of us here at C. Vision appreciate your kind words.

[@SamLovesTrains]

Phenomenal program! Excited for part 2!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much, Sam! We have 35 tapes of raw footage for these Mexico videos, so we’ll be busy for a while. Thanks again for tuning in.

[@TheAustinSubRailfan]

It's kind of crazy to see all these kids just walking on the tracks as there's a train coming. I genuinely wonder if they knew how dangerous that is. I live in America so railroading is a lot different here.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes, some of those scenes had viewers a little concerned. But, that was a different time. Safety culture has advanced significantly since then, not only here, but also in Mexico. Thank you for the comment.

[@rubikstone7780]

My father showed me these videos and after watching them I remember the old days when I was a child and I always had the question why the old railway lines stopped working. This brings me back to those good old days. Thanks for the videos. 🤟

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome! We’re happy that these videos helped bring you back to those “good old days”. It’s always nice to hear that. Thank you for taking the time to watch our videos.

[@owenjones9659]

18:07 the FRA are crapping themselves rn after that guy got on by using the fuel tank as a sep ladder

[@CVisionProductions1]

Ha! Those were some impressive acrobatics! No hesitation either. Thank you for watching the video, Owen.

[@owenjones9659]

@@CVisionProductions1 No problem. love the content ya'll make.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We appreciate hearing that. Thanks again!

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi3409]

I know for fact union pacific ran in Mexico we gave them ex katy unit it's pretty. Interesting

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! We have footage of the MKT unit that you’re referring to. Expect to see it at some point in the future. Thank you for watching the video.

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi3409]

@@CVisionProductions1 oh yeah your welcome marry Christmas

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you! We hope that you and your family enjoy a peaceful and relaxing holiday season.

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi3409]

@@CVisionProductions1 we will

[@rimodeler7963]

Captivating! Once I started watching, I couldn't quit. This is an incredible collection of video footage. A whole different world of railroading versus the U.S. Very much enjoyed and thank you for sharing! Mike

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much, Mike! What you described is exactly why we were so excited to share this footage. We appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment.

[@MontanaDirtRoads]

Those are some antiquated peices of working museum peices there,

[@CVisionProductions1]

You ain’t kidding! It seemed that much of the rolling stock in service during FNM days was quite old. There certainly were a few surprises in this video. Thank you for watching.

[@stampycatfan01lol]

It’s so surreal to see these sorts of operations with hardly any safety regulations compares to the US. Very different times back then (not sure about nowadays though). Great video though!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much! And yes, the contrast between then and now is like night and day. We appreciate the comment.

[@wavesnbikes]

Timetable and Trainorders, hand signals, 6+ crewmembers. Station operators. Some of the BEST and SAFEST way to operate trains.

[@wavesnbikes]

The Men and Women from Nacionales were true badasses.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We’d have to agree with you on that! You don’t see railroading like this anymore. Definitely some risk involved, but very impressive to watch, nonetheless.

[@sp8192]

Absolutely wild and incredible! So many current rules violations :-)

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! It was basically a “no rules” environment on the railroad back then. Signals and train orders being the notable exceptions to this. If you didn’t comply with those, you’d be toast. Thank you for the comment.

[@erivanarriaga6338]

Éstos videos son "oro molido" muchas gracias por compartir ❤

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much! We’re happy to share these videos with you. Your appreciation of this content is very encouraging. Stay tuned for more.

[@robertlozano1984]

Thats freaking awesome lots of these trains tracks in this video are probably abandoned now, but we are seeing history 😮😊

[@CVisionProductions1]

Definitely a lot of history here. The rail lines seen in this program are today operated by CPKC, Ferromex, and Ferrovalle. We do have a video planned that will cover the abandoned branch lines of Mexico. Thank you for watching, and for your comments!

[@CSXEK]

I love how the Mexican railroads love using almost 100 or 100 year old + freight cars

[@CVisionProductions1]

Some of those freight cars were ancient! Many of the passenger cars used in Mexico during this time were also quite old. Thank you for watching the video.

[@simigalaxtrain]

Do you have scenes from Monterrey? I'm surprised that being such a large terminal they haven't taken video there.

[@CVisionProductions1]

It doesn’t look like we do. We’re also surprised that there wasn’t any coverage of Monterrey. Just as a note, we have several videos planned for the future that will cover more of Mexico. Thank you for asking.

[@crsrdash-840b5]

OMG...! Mexico's safety standards were so terrible! I hope by now they got their priorities in order! Seeing those kids playing death with those engines breaks my heart

[@CVisionProductions1]

Never fear! Everything worked out. It could have gone much worse…

[@crsrdash-840b5]

@@CVisionProductions1 I watch the entire video. Love the many S-curves through the mountain ranges. Some of those "village stops" shocked me. Never seen anything like it!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you for watching the whole video! We’re glad that you enjoyed it.

[@montanarailfanproductions8002]

Boys will see this video and think: "he'll yea"

[@CVisionProductions1]

Ha! We’re hoping so! Thank you for watching the video.

[@TheTrainExpert]

Do you guys have any footage of FNM's M630s, specifically the ex-BCR ones?

[@CVisionProductions1]

We sure do! That will be coming soon. Stay tuned…

[@railsetc]

Something I picked up on, it appears none of the locomotives (apart from the UP ones) have MU cables, and there is instead an engineer for each cab.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Interesting observation! Our guess is that these units had the necessary hoses and cables only where they were needed. So a leading locomotive would not have any on the front end, but would have them on the back if being used in a multiple unit consist. As for crew members riding in the trailing units, this was quite common in the days of five-man crews. We appreciate you pointing out those noteworthy details. Thanks for watching.

[@AlexTrain5249]

You are on a roll! I wanted to see this for so long!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you, Alex! Expect to see more footage from Mexico in the future. We appreciate you checking out the video.

[@М62]

Although much has been lost today, at least the infrastructure has improved considerably compared to those times.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re right about that. The path to prosperity for the railroads took them through some dark days. At least they came out stronger in the end. Thank you for the comment.

[@DimitryGorvachov]

La corrupción e ineficiencia del gobierno federal ocasionó el colapso del sistema ferroviario del país en 1996,,, Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México llegó a su fin,,, privatizandolo y desapareciendo el servicio de pasajeros.....

[@joelpoland40]

With all the current rules and regulations, almost railroading in bubble wrap, it's sure interesting to see how the "other half" lived. That was a fun watch and those views through the Sierra Madre Oriental were stunning!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much, Joel! We like how you put that - railroading in “bubble wrap”. It’s interesting to compare the old ways with the new. And yes, that was some magnificent scenery between Tamasopo and Las Canoas. Probably some of the best in Mexico. We appreciate the nice comment.

[@CSX2665]

Having been born in the United States with parents from Mexico and being a lifetime fan of trains, one of the things that has always brought me a lot of joy is that the trains in Mexico are the same kind as in the United States and as I child I was able to pick up on that. It definitely is nice to be able to understand the railroads in 2 different languages and countries. More so in the model railroad world I currently have quite a bit of Ferromex and a few of nationals of Mexico stuff along my large float of csx power, a train roster that truly represents the glory of being a bilingual railfan. I am the only Hispanic member at the train club I’m in so it’s always an honor to represent the railroads south of the border. More so some manufacturers are beginning to take interest in models of south of the border stuff which is a good sign as there is already more than enough of Canadian stuff out on the market. I feel like not enough love is shown to our southern neighbors and it’s time to change that. I find the railroads in Mexico way more interesting than Canadian pacific or Canadian national and with modelers like me that can speak for our fellow modelers south of the border, hopefully we’ll raise our voices so that more Mexican models can come into the market and have plenty of interesting models to enjoy for decades to come!!!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We appreciate the railroads of Mexico, not only for their similarities to US railroads, but for their differences. They have a familiar look and operations style, but are a bit more “exotic” than US railroads. We hope that this video sparks some interest in Mexican railroads, as they are truly deserving of our attention. More to come. Stay tuned…

[@robertlozano1984]

Kids enjoying the train action ,probably train crew kids,i really enjoy watching my culture train videos ,thank you guys..❤

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome! We’re glad that you enjoyed the video. The railroads of Mexico are truly fascinating.

[@stevenbrooks1243]

Those guys are all heavy on the throttles! Lol Rollin coal

[@CVisionProductions1]

You got that right! They didn’t mess around back then. Old school railroading, for sure. Thank you for watching the video.

[@stevenbrooks1243]

Thanks for putting the video up. I actually showed a buddy of mine from Mexico who was a kid when he left these videos and I'm like look at these guys down there. They don't mess around​@@CVisionProductions1

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome! It’s nice to share these videos with others who appreciate “real” railroading.

[@Lawrence-St.Lawrence1701]

Will this be released on DVD / Blu-ray? I'd rather watch this video on disc rather than poor quality KZbin. This video also has more footage than what Pentrex provides. Thanks

[@CVisionProductions1]

Well, we’ll see. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes with these projects. Our official answer is that it’s possible, but no approval has been given at this time. Thank you for your interest in the video!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Currently, there are no plans to release this program on DVD. We’ll see what the future brings. Thank you for noticing the additional footage. We always look for those “lost scenes” when editing these videos together.

[@ADM-m2p]

Anything on the KCM & Oriente ???

[@CVisionProductions1]

We do have footage of the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico in FNM days. You can expect to see it later in 2024. Thank you for asking.

[@PedroLopez-ic7ob]

Bonitos recuerdos de N de M empresa en la que trabaje en mi juventud

[@CVisionProductions1]

We’re glad to share these memories with you! Railroading back in those days must have been exciting, to say the least. Thank you for watching the video.

[@KansasPower]

Awesome tapes!! Its great to see FNM videos and photos Do you have any videos of Tampico rails?? My home Town!!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much! To answer your question, we don’t have anything from Tampico. The closest footage we have is from Ciudad Valles and Tamasopo. We appreciate your interest in our videos.

[@KansasPower]

@@CVisionProductions1 So unfortunate 🥲 I'll wait to the next parts anyway!

[@just4funTrains]

Magic México! No protection gear, safety rules? Kids everywhere! But believe this is one of the best videos. Congratulations and thanks

[@CVisionProductions1]

We very much appreciate your kind words. And yes, it was a different era. But everyone looked happy and seemed to enjoy the trains, even the railroaders themselves - and that’s saying a lot! Thank you for taking the time to watch this video and share your thoughts.

[@zanesmith6794]

36:50 is hard to watch. He uncoupled the hose with air running through it 😳

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you for pointing out that moment in the video. Those were some “unconventional” techniques, to say the least! Lots of running around, no handbrakes, going in between before the movement had stopped, and much more. Even after all that, they still ended up delaying the passenger train. It really did look like they were trying to get out of the way in time, but they simply had too much work.

[@ortlu-ro9yn]

Believe or not that was the standard procedure in FMN, as the railroad did not want damage to the hoses, so the trainmen were instructed to uncouple the hoses themselves charged or not

[@mattrharmon]

Love how they are tossing the boxes that say Fragil at minute 40:00

[@CVisionProductions1]

Absolutely! It was highly entertaining to watch those boxes go flying into that pile on the station platform. They were probably in a bit of a hurry after being delayed by that freight train. Thank you for watching, Matt.

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

5:16 I am completely shocked that they would allow a 5-7 year old to climb aboard a moving piece of equipment, parents failed their jobs I see. Ferromex would never allow this.

[@CVisionProductions1]

That certainly was surprising to see. All we can say is that was a different time. Thank you for your comments.

[@Dexter037S4]

6:58 UP 3004 as seen here, would later be bought by NREX after it's time operating for N de M, and later would be sold to become CP 5499, making it one of the only locomotives currently in service to serve a Class 1 in all 3 countries!

[@CVisionProductions1]

That unit has an interesting history. Although, it was never an FNM unit. The Union Pacific provided those SD40s to FNM mainly to protect their cross-border service agreements. But yes, if you don’t consider ownership, that locomotive did serve major railroads in all three countries. Thank you for watching the video.

[@AnontheGOAT]

5:34 fresh af sexy SD40-2 😍

[@CVisionProductions1]

3627 was spotless! That was definitely some fresh paint. Thank you for watching.

[@_mynewcareer]

Old school bad*ss railroading

[@CVisionProductions1]

You are absolutely correct. They did it their way, and the job got done. Today, rulebooks are thick, and the moves are slow. Thank you for the comment.

[@sarasotasage6135]

Even the chicken is playing "chicken!"😂

[@CVisionProductions1]

We noticed that too! You gotta expect the unexpected while railfanning in Mexico… Thank you for the comment.

[@danielneeley5480]

It's awesome to see Missouri Pacific locos in action, but I have to say they are some of the most dangerous trainmen I've seen on video. 😳

[@CVisionProductions1]

Those MP SD40s were really neat to see in operation. Thank you for mentioning them. As for the way those railroaders were performing their duties, we understand what you’re saying. It would appear that personal safety was left to the employee back in that era. However, some of those moves were mighty impressive!

[@just4funTrains]

Minute 40:16 they unload boxes with sign "Fragil" Fragile jajaja

[@CVisionProductions1]

Haha, yes! We noticed that as well. Those boxes were really flying! They were probably trying to expedite the station stop, especially after being delayed by the freight train. We appreciate the comment.

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

40:06 this is the worst box handling I have ever seen. And half of those boxes were clearly marked “FRAGIL”. 🤣

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! That was highly entertaining to see… It looked like they were trying to get the job done as quickly as possible.

[@by_kpan]

As a Mexican I still remember going to see whit mom the blue locomotives on the port of veracruz back in 2008 (before. Ferromex bought ferrosur)

[@CVisionProductions1]

Those sound like great memories! As you know, there have been sweeping changes for the railroads of North America since then. You can consider yourself lucky to have experienced railroading in the previous era. We appreciate you watching the video.

[@papeleriamaru9809]

Hola! ojala los chinos se animen a invertir en trenes de alta velocidad en mexico. muy buen video, recordando aquellas epocas. saludos.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you again! It’s nice to enjoy a little railroad nostalgia from time to time. We appreciate your thoughtful comments.

[@QUINTENSMUSICCHANNEL]

Its nice to see these sd40s at work however not in the state they are in its like they dont give a fck about them just completely clean them give them a fresh coat of paint fresh oil filters and oil and replace all the parts that a worn in and premium diesel fuel its not that hard

[@CVisionProductions1]

Those old UP and MP SD40s were definitely run down. They probably could have used a little more TLC during their time in Mexico. Most of those locomotives had been previously retired by the Union Pacific before being reactivated for service in Mexico. So it seemed that all parties involved understood that putting money into them was unnecessary. As they failed, other units took their place. Eventually, they were returned home and retired for a second time. Thank you for watching the video.

[@Cnw8701]

Wow, those kids sure did love playing around by cheating injury or possible death!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thankfully, they all went home safe. We appreciate you watching the video.

[@tylartuggle720]

OK so can anyone tell me what the heck is going on at 1:23:00? LOL!!!

[@CVisionProductions1]

We were wondering that ourselves! It’s safe to say that Mr. Hadley’s video camera and tripod attracted some extra attention on more than a few occasions… Thank you for watching the video.

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

super video sir❤❤❤❤

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you!!!

[@pauludulutch4353]

Wonder what’s in the boxes marked fragile that are being thrown.😂

[@CVisionProductions1]

We wondered the same thing. Those boxes were really flying! Thank you for mentioning that scene. It’s nice that people are noticing those details.

[@undine117]

Oh, dear... Many thanks for uploading this fantastic and super great documentary, dear friend! When I saw the thumbnail and there was those blue locomotive and the black-red one... Got the childhood flashbacks. I almost cried. I loved to watch the train pass next to the Presa Allende (Allende dam) in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato in the early 90s. Cherished memories of childhood, of a México that no longer exists. To see the passenger car, some cargo ones, the "cage" yellow car, to hear that characteristic sound of the horn. When train stations were often used. The fashion, cars and people attitude in their daily lives. I cant believe more than 30 years of this. And how to forget the yellow cabús! (caboose). Always thought train was amazing. In 1994 we moved to another city. I always tried to see if railroad was near. N de M. Unir, servir. To unite, to serve. Many, many thanks for this upload! It was such a blast to the past, and you have no idea how happy you made the inner child of mine that always wanted to come back to see the train again, with the bright dam as background. A bit later, N de M dissappeared as passenger trains (so I didn't have the chance to travel by train), and cabooses weren't no longer seen... This is of historical value. Thanks again. I send you blessings, love and super hugs from México! 😽💕💐💐💐💐

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and heartfelt comment for us. Your passion for railroading is apparent. We are grateful that this video has brought you happiness. Greetings from everyone at C. Vision Productions!

[@undine117]

@@CVisionProductions1 A total pleasure, friend! You have no idea how touched I am to see again the memories I treasure so much. I also saw that Empalme Escobedo station appeared in the footage. It's located in Comonfort municipality, actually, near San Miguel de Allende. So everything was a literal trip to the past. Keep up documenting the fantastic beauty of trains, their teams behind and the people interacting with them! I do enjoy so much seeing the trains pass. But I'm actually a n00b and I lack the technical deep knowledge. Still. Admirable work of yours! Love and greetings again from México! 😺💕

[@norfolksouthernguy9350]

nice video different engines SD40-2S ALL KINDS OF ENGINE but those kids shouldnt be on the engine like that they could,ive falling of we would get in trouble in america

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yeah, you’re right. But this was a different time. Way back in the early 1990s when things were a little different. That sort of behavior wouldn’t fly today (in most places). Thanks for watching.

[@norfolksouthernguy9350]

@@CVisionProductions1 yeah those kids aregrown up by know and your welcome

[@marciogoncalves8821]

Vendo descarregar esse tren, vemos o porquê as ferrovias estão chegando ao fim ... The end. Falta amor❤ e QI 😮😮😮

[@rogelioperez-delgado7082]

Almost the entire Mexican train system, with more than 150 years of tradition, was sold for the neoliberal government era in 1995, for peanuts to several private groups. Now in 2023 and in the future, the new federal government has already begun to regain control, it has already built 1,554 new kilometres of roads and opened a new cargo and passenger route to connect the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast. In the coming years, there is a plan for the entire country to return to passengers trains and to renew the entire railway network. People will be able to go from Cancun to Tijuana or EL Paso and vice versa etcetera.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Wow! Those are impressive plans for Mexico’s railway network. We hope for a prosperous Mexico, and a successful evolution of its rail system. We’ll keep an eye on future developments. Thank you for watching, and for your comment.

[@ricardomoreno1307]

Son buenos proyectos con beneficios para todos. Gracias por estos valiosos videos.

[@exceptionallyaveragejoe]

This video is straight fire. Good job. 😊 very well done

[@CVisionProductions1]

We appreciate the kind words, sir. Mr. Hadley was 100% dialed in during his trips to Mexico. Thank you for taking the time to watch the video.

[@RussJoys]

1:02:54 does he have a piece of wood in the throttle idle and notch 1 never seen or heard of that

[@CVisionProductions1]

Good eye. It really does look like there’s a piece of wood jammed in there. A quick fix, perhaps? Thank you for pointing it out.

[@Oliver01958]

Also at 1:12:01, The Speeder kinda sounds like an old beetle.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Perhaps? Those little speeders could really move! We appreciate the comments.

[@PedroLopez-ic7ob]

En esas locomotoras EMD y GE me hice eléctrico de locomotoras

[@CVisionProductions1]

Very neat! That sounds like an interesting job. Thank you for sharing that.

[@RailWayBandit]

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you!!! And, you’re very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ShawnCalay]

Any videos of Bolivia or Brasil of this time.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We wish there was! Unfortunately, the answer is no. Thank you for asking - questions are always welcome.

[@mr.sir.]

As one man said "They all went to Mexico"

[@CVisionProductions1]

It sure seems like it! Thanks for watching.

[@UniónSovietica-w1z]

Unión Pacifico and has been passing through Mexico for a while

[@CVisionProductions1]

That is correct. Union Pacific power has been running through into Mexico for several decades. The Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific SD40s seen in this program were assigned to service in Mexico as part of a special agreement between Union Pacific and FNM.

[@UniónSovietica-w1z]

​@@CVisionProductions1As a video of the Yucatan railroad is called United Railways of the Southeast (FUS)