Tracks Ahead

[JeremyB]

I live in Hamilton and can get tracks Ahead on channel 235 at 5:00pm tuesady to Friday that is If you have Rogers Digital cable. The station is a PBS station from out west

Jeremy

[rambo1]

Is there anyway I can see tracksahead tv show in the toronto ontario area? rambo1.......

[PennsyHoosier]

Don't know it.

[Anonymous]

i did a program search and georgia public tv doesn't air tracks ahead but they do air world class trains - the great railway journeys of the world. I accidentally caught an episode last week and the program was fascinating. it told about the great railway journeys of the northeast (maine, mass, etc.) this weeks episode will cover a luxury railway in Zimbabwee and relive the golden age of the steam train. it will be broadcast at different times and different days.

[ericboone]

Unfortunately, the search of DirecTV's web site saying the show would be on channel 998 was incorrect. [sigh] Hopefully when the new season is on, one of the Twin Cities stations will run it again.

[Bob Hayes]

The RFD-TV, ch 379 on Directtv, train shows are on as follows in PST.
Trackside followed by I Love Trains 10 PM Thursday
Machines of Iron 6AM Saturday, repeating Noon Sunday.
While most always not train related, there is a program on DIY, ch 230 called Radio Controlled Hobbies which comes on at 7:30PM PST with a re-run of a previous show on Saturdays @ 5:30PM. And, since we tend to use power tools in our hobby, there is a program called Tools & Techniques @ 3PM PST on DIY M-F which has several tips on such things as cutting plywood, and using a biscuit joiner. Thank goodness for VCRs.
Bob Hayes

[Markgro]

"Tracks Ahead" is produced by the local public television station in Milwaukee, and is broadcast of various PBS stations around the country (i.e. stations which choose to buy the show so they can air it). New 13-episode series are released every few years:

Series 1 = 1990
Series 2 = 1992
Series 3 = 1995
Series 4 = 1997
Series 5 = 2001
Series 6 = arriving Fall 2005

This likely explains why some of your local PBS stations haven't shown it in a few years, while other stations continue to show reruns.

Here's a link to the official "Tracks Ahead" website:

http://www.mptv.org/Trax_main.htm

[fec153]

Eric- where is the listing? How can I find it?
Phil

[ericboone]

I just did a search of DirecTV's schedule for Tracks Ahead and it shows up as being on at 4:30 PM EST tomorrow on DTV channel 998. They list 998 as WNEO, but on my set, it is a generic info channel. I'll have to check it out tomorrow.

[twhite]

Unfortunately, our local Sacramento PBS station quit showing the program several years ago--it seemed to interrupt their weekly "Begathons" and women's self-improvement shows, to say nothing of the "Eurotrash" music specials featuring a skinny Vampira-looking woman named Sara Brightman and her little teeny screechy voice singing Andrew Lloyd Webber ad nauseum. However RFDTV has those pretty neat railroad shows TRAINS AND LOCOMOTIVES, TRACKSIDE, and I LOVE TRAINS. Not quite TRACKS AHEAD (what is?), but good, anyway. Wish KVIE would put TRACKS AHEAD on their schedule again, but I doubt it. Model Railroading doesn't quite meet with their sensibilities (whatever they are).
Tom

[ericboone]

RFD TV http://www.rfdtv.com has three train shows and they do repeat a few times each week.

Trains and Locomotives - Typically broadcasts of videos from "Machines of Iron"

I Love Trains - Broadcast of "I Love Trains" video series focusing on classic "toy" trains like Lionel and American Flyer.

Trackside - Nicely produced community television show from the Chicago area focusing mainly on Chicago area trains, but the show does travel to other areas of the country sometimes. The broadcasts seem to be mainly of shows produced several years ago.

[Anonymous]

Hey, guy's. I've seen the show. But, can't anymore. The PBS station in my area is too weak to receive. It came in for awhile, so, I watched it when I could.

Do any of you get RFD TV. They have some train shows on it, too. The times vary, so, you'll just have to check your listings. I don't know the titles of the show.
The shows talk about the real RRs. Don't think there are any about models. To me, a train show is a train show.[:D][8D]

Robert

[fec153]

Whoops- I ment Eric. Sorry about that.
Flip

[fec153]

Sp4449- I had a senior moment ie. flashback, and just remembered his name. Yes, you are correct. Ward was the narrator. Big black frames and coke bottle lenses were his trademark glasses.
Flip

[ericboone]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

I have some on tape from about 94. Who was the man that worked at Disney? He was
featured on them. The rear platform he was standing on was on the Magellan, U.S. passenger car No.1.
Flip

I believe his name was Ward Kimball. Correct me if I am wrong. I think he hosted a season or two. I personally have not seen it in a while, but I did tape the first season and gave the tapes to my former train club (I moved away. [:(] )

[SP4449]

The show is great and for a half hour, they do a nice job of introducing the public to a wide variety of railroad subjects - model and 1:1. I enjoyed both hosts and have two full seasons (Spencer Christian) on tape. My wife got them for me as a gift a few Christmas's back. The sponsors of the program's production on the tapes I have were Kalmbach and Walthers.

Just for general information: if you happen to catch the PBS station running one of the episodes during their "fund drive" time (generally for a week once each quarter) and send them some money during the time it is running, that counts as a vote for that type of programming plus they will send a gift of some type related to the current subject - a tape or CD of the show or a mug or some such. The PBS station has to purchase the show for future running and needs to know how much interest there is in that subject before they will put as much money as it costs into the show.

[CP5415]

Oh really!

What time was it on Friday night?
I'll have to look for it

Gordon

[fec153]

I have some on tape from about 94. Who was the man that worked at Disney? He was
featured on them. The rear platform he was standing on was on the Magellan, U.S. passenger car No.1.
Flip

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JeremyB

I think you mean Chuck Zehner. Or did Spencer Christian die???

Chuck Zehner did die a couple of years ago. He was the original host back in the early 90's. I don't believe that the show has had new episodes produced each year, it's more like every other year. Unfortunately for me, my local PBS station doesn't usually pick it up. It is the choice of each station to run a show or not.[:(]

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JeremyB

I think you mean Chuck Zehner. Or did Spencer Christian die???

Chuck Zehner. He died several years ago,was 'founder' and original host.
And,I believe he worked for Kalmbach.

If you like 'Trains',it's a very good program to watch. I had known about it
since its beginning,and now my wife is Very interested in it. She lets me
know when it is on.

In our area,it is on KET2 at 5:30pm Mon. evenings.
(Ch. 68,if anybody reading this lives around Louisville,Ky.)[:)]

[JeremyB]

I think you mean Chuck Zehner. Or did Spencer Christian die???

[CG9602]

One reason why this show has become more difficult to see is that the host died some years back.

[tomytuna]

have heard nice things about thi program..BUT..here in Boston Ma area have never seen in on local PBS channels.....i'm not supprized..i even sent e-mail requesting them to put on their programming...but as i sent no $ .....never heard back...oh well..will look for vidios...

[Anonymous]

Wyoming Public Television Carries it, But they like to run it Saturday Nights at 11:30 pm. as their last broadcast for the day. It is incredibly annoying to run it at that time.

James

[AggroJones]

It doesen't come on in my area anymore as far as I know. I don't see it listed in our programing. Which is odd considering Sacramento is such a railroad city.
But I do have volumes 4, 7, and 8 on tape though.

[Anonymous]

I loved this show and taped every episode of it on PBS Detroit. Unfortunately, they stopped showing it and Detroit is the only PBS station that we get here!

[scotttmason]

This series (earlier seasons) is available on video too. Lots of variety (proto, historical and modeled) and you get a better sense of space than even the best MRR photo spread. And now with DCC sound equipment the new season should be even better. The trick is catching it on TV as the MRR market still can't compete with Lawrence Welk, NOVA, etc. so time slots vary, sometimes weekly. I've got a few tapes in my library.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and if you have HDTV, the recent (last 2-3 years) shows have been in high definition, which makes them really spectacular. HDNet (satellite and maybe some cable systems) used to run the show in HD as well, usually about a year behind PBS.

[Anonymous]

Its a PBS program. I saw it Saturdar morning @ 8:30.

key in (www.pbs.org) and do a search for it and your area.