Cable's - "Railroad Channel"

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't this be a good idea? .. because right now there are far too many worthless home shopping channels as well as other garbage on cable. And if it's not just about railroading, how about transportation in general? Then every so often at least a train video could be aired.

There's a Discovery Wings. Why not a Discovery Rails?

[Anonymous]

I don't know if there would be enough material out there for an all-train channel, but an all transportation channel would be awsome....

I know I would watch.

[Anonymous]

Checkout RFD-TV if you can get it. They have a different program every week at various times about railroads. Usually a film from one of the commercial producers, so it is good stuff. Scan for "locomotives"

[Junctionfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

I don't know if there would be enough material out there for an all-train channel, but an all transportation channel would be awsome....

I know I would watch.

Oh yes there could be. Think of all the NMRA, Trains Magazines, hobbyshop, model railroading manufactures and video producers that would climb on board to fill in with shows.

Not to mention you could get the railroads, builders, lessors,equipment manufacturers and organizations like Operation Lifesaver on board.

[rrnut282]

I suspect the video producers would want paid for their material to be shown on a syndicated cable channel. Whether they would trade "air time" and shameless plugs of their material in exchange for sponsoring an hour of programming remains to be seen.

[Anonymous]

What ever happened to 'Trains Unlimited'? it was a cable program about railroads.

[wcfan4ever]

Good Idea! It would be nice to watch a channel like that. But until that happens, I will be trackside!

[wcfan4ever]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelrailroader71

What ever happened to 'Trains Unlimited'? it was a cable program about railroads.

I dont think that had enough money to continue the program. I occasionally still see re-runs maybe once or twice a year.

Also, check out Modern Marvels on...um I forget what channel its on...I think The Learning Channel. They have shown the Dash-9 already on it and other railroad stuff.

[richardy]

Modern Marvels is on the History Channel.

I would love to see an all railroad channel but there is probably not enough continued commercial advertiser support to make it happen. An all transportation channel greatly expands the possibilities but I still don't know if it has the attraction to keep commercial advertisers paying the bill. Even if the producers would trade program for commercial air time (I doubt they would) it is a small part of the cost of transmitting the program to you.

The garbage home shopping channels are there because they work, people actually buy that stuff and that pays the freight. It is the same as the railroad transporting a product from supplier to customer.

[spankybird]

Trains Unlimited can still be seen from time to time on the “History Channel International”. As of now, there is none showing. Here is the link

http://www.historychannel.com/global/listings/listings.jsp?NetwCode=HCI

Also on some of your PBS station, you will find ‘Tracks Ahead’.

tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

Trains Unlimited can still be seen from time to time on the “History Channel International”. As of now, there is none showing. Here is the link

http://www.historychannel.com/global/listings/listings.jsp?NetwCode=HCI

Also on some of your PBS station, you will find ‘Tracks Ahead’.

tom

I saw an episode of track ahead one time on PBS, it seemed to be an early 90s re-run, but I found it very interesting indeed.

I always watch for it in the listing, but never seem to come across it.

[gabe]

I don't think it would fly--although I like the way you think. As many train buffs as there are, there are probably 450 times as many military buffs--ranging from Napoleonic, Civil War, naval warfare, modren military opperations, etc.

Admittedly, Discovery, A&E, and the History Channel run a lot of programs for such people. But, the fact that there is no channel for them indicates we are a long way away from seeing a less popular transportation/train channel.

Alas, (despite spending a considerable amount of my years reading about naval history) I would much rather watch mankind build things for the betterment of mankind rather than blow things up to mankind's detriment--so I would be all for a train channel. I don't expect to see it in my lifetime though. But, then again, I wouldn't have expected to see a golf or cooking channel, so there is always hope.

Gabe

[Anonymous]

I have to agree!

[JoeKoh]

rfd tv has trains and locomotives and trackside and i love toy train videos
the A&E network(history channell too) did trains and locomotives and modern marvels
pbs locally runs the tracks ahead and new thomas episodes.
check local listings
matt and I are good to go
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

I also agree with Gabe, but if a really good format could be put together you never know. Maybe start the day with rail business and safety issues like Operation Lifesaver. Then during the evening you put shows on about railroad history and hobby. Then there could also be trackside shows, which could preach safety and instruct fans on where there are good places much like what is already done on Trains webiste. But, the best we're going to get is the scattered tidbits on the various networks already mentioned.

[shrek623]

"Trains Unlimited" can be seen on in the Chicago area on Comcast High-definition PBS channel only. For some reason the regular PBS station does not include it in its programming. But the HD picture is incredible.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623

"Trains Unlimited" can be seen on in the Chicago area on Comcast High-definition PBS channel only. For some reason the regular PBS station does not include it in its programming. But the HD picture is incredible.

"Trains Unlimited" or "Tracks Ahead"? The local PBS channel dropped "Tracks Ahead" about a decade ago.

[Anonymous]

Backing up gabe and n-stephenson, I think railroads have as much to cover as airplanes. Air history goes back to the early 20th century wheras railroads go back even further by another hundred years. Just look at how many DVDs and VHS tapes are out there now. The library is huge!

Was ESPN the result of Sports Illustrated? Discovery Rails + Trains Magazine? Hmmm

RFN = Railfan Network
RRC = Railroad Channel
TMC = Trains Magazine Channel

[Anonymous]

There are enough programs dotted around that are regularly shown to support this. York Pennsylvania has "Rails around York", MPT (a PBS channel) shows "America's scenic railroads", Trains Unlimited was excelent (and that was a history channel show by the way), and should be brought back. The potential is out there, and there are quite a few viewers who would watch it. Make some of the daytime programming family-oriented, and kids would watch it.

[miniwyo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dgwicks

Checkout RFD-TV if you can get it. They have a different program every week at various times about railroads. Usually a film from one of the commercial producers, so it is good stuff. Scan for "locomotives"

Dish Network Has RFD TV on channel 9409 and they air "Trains And Locomotive on Monday nights at 10:00 Mountian Time.

The cable channel would be a good idea, it would give all the Model Manufacturers, Railfanning Equipment Companies and Even Railroads themselve a great place to advertise.

The idea should get piched to Discovery.

[shrek623]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623

"Trains Unlimited" can be seen on in the Chicago area on Comcast High-definition PBS channel only. For some reason the regular PBS station does not include it in its programming. But the HD picture is incredible.

"Trains Unlimited" or "Tracks Ahead"? The local PBS channel dropped "Tracks Ahead" about a decade ago.

Ericsp,

Thanks for the correction, it is "Tracks Ahead" with Lester Holt that I am talking about. I confused the two when I read it.

Shrek

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623

"Trains Unlimited" can be seen on in the Chicago area on Comcast High-definition PBS channel only. For some reason the regular PBS station does not include it in its programming. But the HD picture is incredible.

Where exactly does the Comcast "PBSHD" channel originate? I get it too, here in Northern Indiana, and the program guide lists it as the local affiliates "HD" signal,...but I seriously doubt it, since there is never any simulcasting between the two....EACH always have separate programming, so I've just concluded the "HD" channel must be a national feed.

But yeah,...GREAT picture

[shrek623]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheAntiGates

QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623

"Trains Unlimited" can be seen on in the Chicago area on Comcast High-definition PBS channel only. For some reason the regular PBS station does not include it in its programming. But the HD picture is incredible.

Where exactly does the Comcast "PBSHD" channel originate? I get it too, here in Northern Indiana, and the program guide lists it as the local affiliates "HD" signal,...but I seriously doubt it, since there is never any simulcasting between the two....EACH always have separate programming, so I've just concluded the "HD" channel must be a national feed.

But yeah,...GREAT picture

AG,

You are correct, it is a national PBS feed. I think it still originates out of Denver area.(Former AT&T Broadband and TCI Cable headquarters) I am pretty sure it is included in the standard HD package Comcast offers across the country.(Used to work for them)

Shrek

[Anonymous]

I enjoy "Tracks Ahead" which is still aired in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoons. I learn things from it and it is entertaining. However, I think that it is slightly unethical to air segments that were shot perhaps ten or more years ago, and treat them as if they were contemporary. Not that the material itself isn't interesting, I just wi***hat they would put the message "originally aired in September 1998" (or whenever) in somewhere so that you don't think of it that it is "news," and that you can gain a historical perspective on the info being presented.

[rrnut282]

Didn't they try a Discovery Wings channel a few years back, or was this just a long series of programs? The reason I ask is to ascertain whether there is/was a sustainable demand for a channel with a focus on a single mode of transportation. Unfortunately, I don't think there is. However a cleverly packaged channel highlighting all forms of transportation, IMHO, would "fly" in the marketplace. Between rail and air, there should be enough programs to fill a schedule without too much repetition. Throw in boats, buses, and trucks (I'll go wash my mouth out for that last one [:)]) and it becomes a well rounded offering (as in drawing in many more advertisers).

[tree68]

Discovery Wings is alive and well, and an occasional stop on my trips throught the channels looking for something worthwhile to watch. And if you missed the program today, it'll be on tonight, and probably 6 more times before the wekend...

Given the sponsors, an interesting facet of an all-rail channel might be a live camera feed from some busy place or another. Not a 24/7 thing, but perhaps a half hour here or there. Maybe even a mix of several live cams or a rotation...

[dldance]

does the BBC have any rail related programming? seems like Briti***V has been a rich source of programming for PBS and also ideas for commercial networks.

dd