Case Study:
New Conrail Modules
IMPROVING Conrail’s TRAINING MODULES 🎥
🚦 The Challenge: Outdated Training for a Modern Rail Yard
When Conrail appointed a new Training Director, one of his first discoveries was a major gap in their onboarding and operational training materials.
Much of the yard orientation content was outdated, inconsistent, or missing altogether. In particular, there was no clear, visual training module that showed new trainees how the tracks feed into — and flow out of — the yard.
The new director needed:
A comprehensive training video that visually mapped every track leading up to and just beyond the yard
Clear identification of track name designations, especially where names change
A modular format that instructors could pause and teach from
A modern, professional production that aligned with current safety and operational standards
This wasn’t about recruitment — it was about clarity, safety, and operational precision.
🎬 Our Solution: A Visual Track-By-Track Training Module
As a long-term production partner, From Start to Film worked closely with Conrail’s new Training Director to build a completely new training module from the ground up.
The goal was simple: create a video that instructors could use as a powerful visual teaching tool.
Our Process:
Met with the Training Director and yard supervisors to outline every track segment that needed to be covered
Mapped out all approach tracks and post-yard continuations
Scripted a logical, sequential flow that mirrored how trains actually move through the yard
Designed on-screen post graphics identifying each track clearly by name
Structured the edit with intentional pacing, allowing instructors to pause the video at key transition points
Each track was clearly labeled with graphic overlays — especially where track name designations changed. This gave instructors a precise visual reference point during classroom instruction.
The result was not just a video — it was a teaching tool.
🎥 On Location: Filming in a Live Rail Environment
Capturing the full track layout required careful planning.
We coordinated with yard management to safely film active rail lines without disrupting operations. Drone footage, ground-level perspectives, and moving track shots were used to give trainees a complete visual understanding of how each line connects.
Challenges included:
Coordinating around live train movements
Ensuring safe filming distances and compliance
Capturing clear visuals of track signage and designation points
Through detailed pre-production and close communication with operations staff, filming was completed efficiently and safely.
⏱️ Timeline & Delivery
Pre-Production & Planning: 2 weeks
Filming: 1 week on location
Editing & Graphic Integration: 3 weeks
Final Deliverable: A modular training video formatted for classroom and digital LMS use
The video was delivered in segments, allowing instructors flexibility to teach in sections or as a full walkthrough.
✅ The Outcome: Clarity, Consistency, Confidence
The new training module immediately elevated Conrail’s onboarding process.
Instructors now have:
A clear visual aid for explaining track flow and name transitions
A pause-and-teach format built directly into the video
Consistent messaging across all training sessions
Trainees gain a stronger spatial understanding of the yard before stepping into live operations — improving comprehension, safety awareness, and confidence.
The new Training Director successfully modernized the program, setting a new standard for internal training content.
📸 Behind the Scenes
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