‘SNO ESCAPE! UNION PACIFIC Tackles the Cascades with Helper operations

April 16, 2022-My journey took me to places I hadn’t planned on that day. But the adventure was worth the challenges. Union Pacific overcomes many challenges geographically and meteorologically. All are on display as we witness heavy trains tackle the Cascades of Oregon.

[@RailFanRob]

Wow incredible scenery and railfan footage!!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thank you very much!

[@nevergetlost1261]

Nice video! very beautiful landscape. BRGS from Germany

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thank you very much! And Welcome to the channel all the way from Germany! Be well my friend.

[@robertartac1853]

Awesome work. Thank you for giving us a chance to railfan 1000s of miles away.

[@robertlloyd7167]

Spectacular! Thanks so much!

[@jackdeforrest]

Some of the best rail fanning video I have ever seen!

[@robertfmoore7216]

Fantastic video.

[@nickandrade6777]

great video and commentary! thanks so much! the details (train lengths, use of helpers, track grades, etc. etc) you provide in your commentary are rarely produced in other railfan vids. Great work.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thank you Nick! That means a lot to me; I’m glad you left your thoughts! I like details; and I feel lucky to have experience to offer them. Blessings!

[@stumpy2816]

Thank you. Really enjoy watching here in Kansas. My grandson is a engineer on BNSF between Wellington Ks. And Amarillo Tx. 👍👍

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks for watching! It’s not Kansas for sure;) But I’m glad to have you aboard!

[@johnfreeman1189]

Outstanding... Love your channel!!

[@jerryjohnson6929]

You do a good job

[@danielhiggins4331]

THANK YOU ... LOADED WITH INFO THAT HELPS GREATLY !!!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Glad it helped!

[@billpalmer2711]

That was epic loved the narrative and of course your.knowledge of what was happening thx

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Much appreciated! I’m glad you shared your thoughts Bill!

[@bibledefinedbymartycozad]

Just found your channel, thanks for posting details of the trains.

[@paulschedler]

That railfan is Jeremy who has been working with Union Pacific for many moons. He is a great voice for the awesome scenery, perfect I think!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks for that! Glad I get to do it

[@china-trip]

My best friend, Super! Looked, very interesting! I liked your work! I enjoyed watch your video. Thanks

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@cjbeyer8340]

Wonderful video, thanks for sharing! I love the Union Pacific!!! 😊

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Me too!

[@NGH99999]

Thanks for your efforts. Not only was this entertaining, your video and commentary answered a lot of questions I had about how they cut in and out the helpers over this sub. I drive 58 from Bend over to the valley a few times a year, and I look high up on those mountainsides and see the snowsheds, and wonder what it's like "up there". Now I know!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Well thank you William! I am eventually going to attempt the grain helpers, which put two sets together, and cut into the middle of the train. A lot more going on with those!

[@NGH99999]

@@pacificrailproductions5281 I'll be ready and waiting for that one. Any chance you'll ever haunt the Siskiyou Line? You were within spitting distance of the wye right there in Springfield!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

@@NGH99999 yes I only have 1 video chasing a Medford job recently, but am going to be branching out much more from now on including the siskiyou:)

[@NGH99999]

@@pacificrailproductions5281 Right on, I'll keep an eye out for that content!

[@akbelliott]

Thank you for a wonderful movie. I have wanted to find out about that area's trains for a long time.

[@CobraChamp]

Great video. Thanks for the serious commitment being out in that weather for us. Liked and Subscribed...

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

That was really terrific !! The scenery was spectacular. Thanks for sharing it. James.

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

Great video. Love the snow scene but hate the snow. Thanks for making and sharing.

[@thorne62]

Great video, I really appreciate all of your hard work and perseverance, thanks for sharing...😁👍🍻

[@Panzermeister36]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@aramcartozian6084]

We (me and the kids) used to camp at Odell Lake up next to the tracks, that was when SP was running. Good times. Thanks for the video, brought back some great memories.

[@ddanrach]

Outstanding. Great job. I really enjoyed the trip.

[@MitchellWCheek]

this is my 1st time here and this is a wonderful vid. thank you.

[@SuperHirokuni]

Awesome... Great video and spectacular scenery 👍 I love this location as a railfan 😃

[@juhatoiviainen3759]

One of the best,awesome work!

[@johnboughton7451]

Thank you for taking the time & trouble to film, edit & post it was very much appreciated I’ve L&S to your channel

[@andyfmx322]

That was brilliant mate thoroughly enjoyed this one. 👌

[@shaunaustin7848]

Thank you for sharing, it's been 40 years since I was on that pass, and all the times, never saw a train on that bridge. We always talked about stopping and taking pictures of the falls by the tunnel, but never did.

[@stevek4153]

Stunning video! Your added verbal color was appreciated, i find it interesting to learn where things are moving from and to.

[@fridayjoefriday]

You've out done yourself, wonderful journey.

[@Noblemarq12]

Thank you!! I always wanted a shot of a train going over Salt creek bridge, now I know how to access it,

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks! Yessir, it’s a wonderful place!

[@williamchristian8389]

Excellent!!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@FranciscoAntonio-rd1eu]

La Historia de los Ferrocarriles Norteamericanos es Gloriosa, gracias.

[@jaywheeler8207]

This was one of the best train videos I’ve ever seen! Thank you for sharing!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Jay thank you for the encouragement! I’m glad you watched!

[@dwayneroth100]

Thank you so much for this. Great scenery, a lot of interesting shots here, really enjoyed it. This is super work!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Glad you enjoyed it! I’m encouraged by your comments! Be well, Dwayne!

[@sparkyart5702]

Excellent capture thanks for sharing

[@trainsafeeccentricswithben2984]

Awesome and spectacular. Brings back fond memories from 20 years ago on this subdivision. Great job dude.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Mr Ritter, thanks a lot! I enjoyed meeting you down in the goose lake speeder trip!

[@squidkid2]

Great video. I live in Albany and have made several trips on the Coast Starlight over the years so I know that mountain area. I used to live in LA and would go up to Tehachapi and a once to the Keddiie Y. I grew up in NY and rode the NY Central into NY City but that's a whole different world from the mountains of the west. The Southern Pacific was my favorite in LA because it was a real work horse company and the engines were always dirty. On the other hand there was a lot of Santa Fe stuff that looked like it had just been washed and waxed. When I moved to Oregon I found out that UP rules the roost in this area. I did a lot of skiing in Utah and camping in the Sierras so I know how driving in the mountains can be a real gamble weather wise in the winter. Looks like your gamble paid off in some great video!

[@jademonkie]

All around great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks for watching!

[@darylhitchcock7680]

What a great day and video....

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thank you Daryl!

[@garyolsen3409]

I really enjoyed this. Very well made video. Thank you.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Gary

[@jhardman4534]

Excellent coverage. I love that personal touch given to the trip. He mentions Highway 58 in his info. That's odd as I just finished looking at some Tehachapi tapes and their main Highway there is also Highway 58. Neat. Thanks for your trip and hope to see more of you in the future. Jim Hatboro, PA

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks a lot for the shout out, and for watching! Be well!

[@echohunter4199]

Ugh. I grew up in K-Falls, OR in the 70’s-80’s and the snow on the Cascades is a wet and heavy type that’s just miserable to deal with and worse when it freezes over. We always kept an eye on what altitude the “snow line” was at so we knew when we’re about to get hammered with nasty snow. It all depended on which way the storm was mainly coming from and they’d let you know if it was a light fluffy type or the gnarly type. My dad worked for SP/UP from 65-2008 and worked the Shasta, Cascade and even the Modoc line. He hated the cascade runs in the winter since if something happened, it was often by the many tunnels and he’d have to walk the train to get to the problem and walking on track ballast that’s at a 45 degree tilt, is murder on your ankles. But it is beautiful up there, I enjoyed going to the ski resort at Diamond Lake and go tubing with friends.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Indeed! I can relate with your dad! What’s his name? I likely worked with him. I hired out in 2003. Been over the mountain for 20 years now!

[@peterocallaghan3867]

beautifully shot and professional commentary, congratulations

[@Oklahoman-in6ph]

Well I had a lot of enjoyment joining the trip to the Cascades. Video was nicely done like Distant Signal Quality. So I've subscribed making this channel my West coast channel. Now I have a CSX Line , Union Pacific , BNSF. Rail fanning is Fantastic.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Awesome, thank you! I’m glad you did! There’s much to see coast to coast:)

[@ScottJohnson4449]

Excellent video. I love goin g to Oakridge to railfan, and up and down Hwy 58. I model the Brooklyn and Cascades subdivision locations in more or less the 90s using mainly SP. I do have some UP locos for more modern trains, including Amtraks 11 and 14. I have subbed. Scott

[@foranken]

This was beautifully done, and thank you! I wouldn't do it now as I am old, but I used to relish getting out there in challenging weather. Made for the best photos! Never got to do it in the mountains back then...jealous.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Well Bob, I’m grateful you watched! Thanks for your thoughts, and stay well!

[@hankmishima4798]

Great video on this operation. As a native Oregonian, I appreciate you sharing this!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thank you very much!

[@unionpacificcascadesubdivi6477]

Really awesome!

[@jeffreyaumand6447]

Brought back memories! I have spent some time around Oakridge, Salt Creek trestle or bridge, Heather, Wicopee I think it's called and Fields. Love the Cascades and all the scenery and former SP, now UP. Certainly one interesting and challenging railroad. I had worked out of Coos Bay for the railroad for awhile. Thanks for the video. I hope to return to at least visit the Oregon area someday. Would certainly visit that area of the Cascades and Coos Bay area, North Bend and Myrtle Point as I have friends there. Jeff Aumand locomotive engineer (ret.)

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I hope you can come out again and visit us!

[@turkfiles]

I believe the previous comments have summed it up very nicely! Great video! Very creative opening! And, last, but not least, very informative! Keep them coming! Thank you for all of your hard work! (I believe I’ve used my daily allotment of exclamation marks…)

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thank you very much! That is very encouraging!

[@mountainmanwannabe9495]

That was nice, I like your style of narration/commentary. Hope to see more videos like this in the future (whatever Stardate that may be) ;)

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks a lot for taking time to comment! I’ll see you in the next hyper-space train warp!

[@steverudder3321]

Wonderful video! Back in July 2018, I camped at O'Dell Lake. I found out that there were tracks nearby and found myself drawn to explore. I was unaware of the Cascade Summit and of the nearby tunnel. I keep hoping that someone will show a video of that beautiful area, and I think that this video comes the closest. However, one of my favorite videos is of 2 guys that hid in the tunnel as a slow freight was coming. The audio in that tunnel is AWESOME with the right speakers! I'd like to return some day if my now fixed income will let me. I'm originally from WA, and I dearly love the PNW. Thanks for the great video, and I am now a new follower! 😊👍 UPDATE: I just found your video on Tunnel #3! 😁👍

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Steve I’m glad you found it! I am glad to have you aboard, and hope you can come back for a visit! Stay well, and thanks for watching!

[@mikepriceup]

I recognize the dispatcher voice. That's ASG that dispatches down in Roseville also. Pretty cool stuff.

[@stocktonrails9279]

I really enjoyed this video! You definitely did a great job with the camera… the shot of the manifest crossing the salt creek bridge was stunning, nicely framed as well (I’ve done a few train videos myself, so I can spot a nicely framed shot when I see it). Great job overall… will sub to your channel as soon as I finish this text, keep up the great work. 👍😉

[@joebidenbites1015]

great work, thanks.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks friend!

[@travelunion10]

Beautiful Coverage!

[@elizavetamixailova3848]

Excellent

[@jamesstuart3346]

Worth watching just for the beautiful scenery

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Glad you joined the journey!

[@davids6533]

I'm so glad people like you are videoing such beautiful scenery these days. I've learned the hard way how quick this beauty can be lost at the blink of an eye, or even an elder passing on and taking their memories with them, never to be seen again by anyone. The historic type videos of such things like a store front in the olden days, 60's for me, as simple as an old Sears catalog that someone saved, can just be lost forever if nobody records it before the bulldozers come and take it away forever in a single day. To be able to look back on such beauty as this because someone like you decided to preserve it for hopefully generations to come is greatly appreciated by many, including myself. My Mother's side of the family has less than a handfull of pictures of my childhood and around that time, lost, just nonexistent. On the other hand, my Father's side has boxes and boxed of Kodak pictures, boxes of rolls of 8mm film... all proof that my sister and I did have a childhood, and things as simple as this is a treasure in so many ways, and it's appreciated. : )

[@ohgary]

Consider Legacy Box to convert home movies to digital.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

I agree; I love the classic film of days past, of the way life was and never seen again. I’m glad for the convenience at least that today we have to capture things like this.

[@sk8sn0surf]

Your Vids are great! Keep up the good work.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Glad you like them!

[@eddingtonrailroading]

Nice Star Trek style intro

[@joeanita8654]

Awesome

[@scotty4579]

great video , cool to see manned helpers in action

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@WhiteRockBoy]

Entertaining video. Pretty nice of Hanks to close it out! lol

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Lol! Yeah, how’s my Hank voice-over!? Convincing? Thanks man!

[@slowb4lls1]

Killer video again man and the movie quotes is funny as hell too man go get em

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks buddy! A little humor

[@slowb4lls1]

@@pacificrailproductions5281 just finding your channel man you do some killer videos man. Not to toot your horn or anything but the quality of the vids, how Ya break stuff down and really blew my mind when you went into the math behind where to cut in the helpers man that’s legit. And plus your voice sounds normal and matches the video not some toolbag rambling or saying stupid shit and playing a bunch of stupid music thru the whole thing. So keep it up boss man. That’s my honest review

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

@@slowb4lls1 that’s probably one of my best, most memorable reviews! You made me laugh, so did my wife! Good stuff! I’ll try to live up to it man!

[@tonyobbeek8910]

Absolutely stunning scenery in this video, beautiful blue skies against the pure white snow and then introduce the UP livery ........ what a perfect combination of colors. Your photography skills are awesome my friend and so is your narration, many thanks for this brilliant journey. Kindest regards tones1957 (New Zealand)

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

I’m very happy you watched Tony! Glad to have a NZ watcher! Thank you for the wonderfully kind words and encouragement! I’ll be glad to keep trying to find more scenes to frame up! Thank you again friend! Stay well in NZ-Jeremy from Oregon

[@fred5727]

I fully agree. I began to watch with no intent on watching for the entirety. Wrong...I could not break away. Beautiful in many respects. Thank you for sharing!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

@@fred5727 that makes the effort feel worth it! Thanks a lot for your comment!

[@michaelthayer643]

Excellent!

[@sterlingspencer2934]

Nice horn salute from the UP engineer. You can sure tell there are a lot of sawmills in that area!

[@trapf2698]

There used to be a lot of sawmills in this area

[@lowellpearson8782]

The SP days where the Best all that thunder on the hill . but you did not get all the cars at hampton , lol they have been their for 5 years. good stuff.

[@birdman5223]

Gr8 content and information👍🏻☺️

[@patricknoveski6409]

This is about as good as photography gets. You're camera is better than my 69 yr old eyes. The commentary, train dispatch, was amazing. Thank you brother.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thank you very much!

[@MegaBloggs1]

awesome work

[@sterlingspencer2934]

He sure has those dogs a screaming! Sounds like he has the throttle wide open!

[@ohgary]

I lost track of the🎉narrative. Saw the helpers hook up and push,then they were gone and now they are back.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

It’s the magic helper set! I bet they wish they could snap their fingers and be at the bottom of the mountain. It takes an hour and 45 minutes to get back to home base from the summit.

[@bradjames6748]

There was an interesting article in Trains last year called ""anatomy of a freight train" which showed a southbound freighter being assembled in Vancouver BC's Thornton yard (CN/BNSF) the cover shot looks like salt creek bridge .....

[@VirtualRailroad]

Beautiful content

[@trainsmachineryldegmtrains3509]

Briliant rail movie! Awesome images with trains, lovely places and landscapes! Good work, mater! MEGA Thumbs Up & Subscribe Greetings from Ireland Andrew

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

I’m very glad you watched, Andrew! Welcome to you from Oregon! Thank you for your comments!🍻

[@victorrojas8798]

Excelent video, I wish t be able sometime to do a trek like yours.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Maybe one day! Thank you

[@johnberger8869]

In order to avoid a misunderstanding of the time of day we use hundreds time in the military. their is only one 0500 and their is only one 1700 .May I remind you that even thought it's Union Pacific it's still a gov. agency. I thank you for driving where you drove to get those shots.

[@yankeesforlife24]

Union Pacific isn’t a goverment agency

[@knowledgeispowermediaprodu7094]

I used to live right there in that area youre filming at! Right across from the glue factory. I used to play down there as a kid all the time! This was 35-40 years ago. I always used to go down to watch the switching operations for the factory. Now I live in stupid California, in the stupid desert. 😁😁😂😂 Anyways, thank you for the memories! Subbed!!!!

[@seabulls69]

Your knowledge of train length, weight, job#, etc. suggest that you're an 'insider' with UPRR. True? Or, have you discovered some sort of portal that provides this information? Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention, this is by far the best trainiac video production I've seen to date. Thank you for your efforts and dedication to quality.

[@tristanstrains]

Great video. 👍👍 just subscribed too

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks for the sub!

[@tonyordaziii7250]

You might see the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 going through there this year

[@streetrodder2846]

Southern Pacific tackled the Sierras better. SP was such a great railroad to work for. We even had system seniority. No other carrier did. I retired from SP as a freight conductor in 1996.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Wow! You literally saw SP through to the end! 96 it was no more! I’m sad about that, but glad to be working old SP rails!

[@markturner6240]

Enjoyed this: Was that an old Milwaukee Road approach signal? To me, that's a great catch at Dexter siding, you called it out at 604.8

[@rsmith.182]

Excellent video, I never have seen a segment where you see the hook up of the helpers and the termination. How do you find out the information about how many loads, empties and weight of the train? Your radio reception seems to work very well, I have trouble whenever I have hills or mountains nearby, maybe my antennae is the problem. Keep up the good work, liked the Apollo 13 reference at the end.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Russ, I thank you for taking the time, sir! I am an employee of UP; and know these guys working, and have access to the crew boards, and train lineup information and train details. So my radio comes in handy! But it takes a lot of guess work out for sure to see what and where trains are! Thanks again!

[@TamasKiss-bv9hz]

💚💚💚💚 Tom from Hungary.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Welcome from Oregon! -Jeremy

[@joey809]

Thumbs up and a Subscribed for that...Thanks.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Thanks for the sub!

[@ronaldpiper4812]

Wonder how you and buddy handle a nice person walks up asking to visit with you ? Just a thought from somewere in Peoria sub part or close to Galesburg. Lol

[@TimD1952]

My question is: Why didn't the two crews set up the helpers units as DPU's instead?

[@mikeairhart6814]

Kool

[@richardreid6377]

One empty ... Let me guess; the lonely cement hopper.

[@danchapman7215]

When I’m in charge, which could be any day I hear UP is looking for a new CEO, that train will never stop. That under motivated, high dollar helper crew can just catch up, knuckle in and start pushing. PSR for the win!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

😂 I anticipate your leadership sir, and am upping my life insurance policy.

[@KarpucMotoring]

Anyone catch the graffiti at 4:11 ? Haha. Is it just me or does the snow seem to absorb much of the noise of the train in those scenes..

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Snow definitely does that! Thanks for watching!

[@northlander4370]

when the helpers are connected does the head end automatically take control of the helpers ?

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

No just the train air gets connected. The manned helper crew still controls their engines separately. Thanks for the great question!

[@michaeld53]

So tell me if those 5 tankers are going to prineville, why take them all the way to klamath, when they can drop them in chemault ?? And what happened to the other empties from the back of the train? Is the crossing at hwy 58 past the high point!!

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Because it takes too much time to set them out enroute, and also they don’t want to give up a siding to keep them until a BNSF train can get them.

[@pacificrailproductions5281]

Ok question 2: the gondolas are loaded. Almost all cars on most south trains are loaded cars. 3: the bridge is lower than the summit. It is somewhere between cascade summit and Oakridge.