Trains.com

Railroading Alaska Cable TV Series

1958 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,901 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Sunday, October 18, 2015 9:01 AM

The first run episodes were/are on the Animal Planet channel.  We've discussed this before.

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/228685/2553573.aspx

How soon we forget.Laugh  Maybe that says something about the show.

Jeff

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, October 17, 2015 8:26 PM

CMStPnP

 

 
switch7frg

Question I wonder if the folks that come out of the woods have to pay to ride to "town" or have the goods hauled?  Is there a tree marked for  for the folks to stand by  for the train? Just curious.

                                               Cannonball 

 

 

I believe the VIA Rail Skeena operates this way as well for part of it's route.     However, if you stand by the tracks and flag the train will stop.     After a while the regularly assigned locomotive engineer knows who lives where......just like a school bus driver would.

I believe Alaska runs an all stops local (and flag stop) each way per day.

BTW, a good portion of Class I railroad freight trains will also stop if you flag them and your in a harsh weather environment in the middle of nowhere or will radio it in.    Locomotive Engineers have empathy for someone in an emergency situation.Cool

 

VIA Rail's Jasper-Prince Rupert train (it no longer has a name) has many flag stops shown in its schedule. When I rode it (both ways) last September, we stopped at many of them; I do not recall any stops for passengers at places not listed in the public timetable. I do not doubt that it would stop for someone who obviously needed help. Eastbound, we did stop by a herd of bison for a while, but none indicated that it wanted to board; as well as I could tell, none showed any interest in the train.

Johnny

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 6,449 posts
Posted by MidlandMike on Saturday, October 17, 2015 7:35 PM

CMStPnP

...

I believe Alaska runs an all stops local (and flag stop) each way per day.

...

 

The "Hurricane Turn" operates Talkeetna to Hurricane Thursdays thru Monday during th summer.  In winter, the Fairbanks train makes all stops, but it only runs once, and occasionally twice, per week.

http://www.alaskarailroad.com/travel/Transit/Schedules/tabid/98/Default.aspx#15647-summer

 

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, October 17, 2015 6:07 PM

switch7frg

Question I wonder if the folks that come out of the woods have to pay to ride to "town" or have the goods hauled?  Is there a tree marked for  for the folks to stand by  for the train? Just curious.

                                               Cannonball 

I believe the VIA Rail Skeena operates this way as well for part of it's route.     However, if you stand by the tracks and flag the train will stop.     After a while the regularly assigned locomotive engineer knows who lives where......just like a school bus driver would.

I believe Alaska runs an all stops local (and flag stop) each way per day.

BTW, a good portion of Class I railroad freight trains will also stop if you flag them and your in a harsh weather environment in the middle of nowhere or will radio it in.    Locomotive Engineers have empathy for someone in an emergency situation.Cool

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, October 17, 2015 6:03 PM

CSX7527

I suppose it's a good sign that you have too many channels when you've never even heard of Destination America.  I'm on Comcast Xfinity and it's on 221, not sure if that's nation-wide or not.  Doesn't appear it's available in HD either.  BTW, DirecTV is 286 HD and Dish is 194 HD.  No idea which channel package is required to get DA.  I also looked on DA's website to find the show and, oddly, it said the show wasn't on the current schedule, however, it is airing on Wednesday, October 21, according to Comcast's Guide.  Season 2, episode 1 at 6p ET and episode 2 at 7p ET.  DVR is set so I'll give it a try.

I have AT&T UVerse (without the phone).   I work at home almost 100%.    So ordinarily I would not pay for full cable but since I do not have to drive to and from work and I am typically on flex time and my employer pays the INTERNET part of the bill.   I can enjoy full cable during the day when I use flex time. 

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Saturday, October 17, 2015 11:27 AM

rdamon
Unfortunately, it became more about people living “off the grid” and less about trains.

People that ride their gas-powered snowmobiles to catch the state-supported train, so they can get their car at the station and go into town and spend their welfare checks to buy propane and food from the grocery store in town? 

 

I'm more off the grid than they are.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Cordes Jct Ariz.
  • 1,305 posts
Posted by switch7frg on Saturday, October 17, 2015 11:13 AM

Question I wonder if the folks that come out of the woods have to pay to ride to "town" or have the goods hauled?  Is there a tree marked for  for the folks to stand by  for the train? Just curious.

                                               Cannonball

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • 2,515 posts
Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, October 16, 2015 11:20 PM

II've watched it on the weather channel on comcast. Reality tv with hyped "situations" but it does highlight some interesting situations that ARR encounters that stateside RR's don't encounter. Yes, they do provide a lifeline to some but they also show unloading of the carferry barges at Whittier, and it unique route through the tunnel,  the shooting of cannons to bring down potential avalances, some track work. Much of it gets exagerated for effect but still is an interesting show. 

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • 9 posts
Posted by CSX7527 on Friday, October 16, 2015 8:36 PM

I suppose it's a good sign that you have too many channels when you've never even heard of Destination America.  I'm on Comcast Xfinity and it's on 221, not sure if that's nation-wide or not.  Doesn't appear it's available in HD either.  BTW, DirecTV is 286 HD and Dish is 194 HD.  No idea which channel package is required to get DA.  I also looked on DA's website to find the show and, oddly, it said the show wasn't on the current schedule, however, it is airing on Wednesday, October 21, according to Comcast's Guide.  Season 2, episode 1 at 6p ET and episode 2 at 7p ET.  DVR is set so I'll give it a try.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Louisiana
  • 2,310 posts
Posted by Paul of Covington on Friday, October 16, 2015 1:14 PM

   On our provider's program guide it's listed with the abbreviation, "DAM."

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Friday, October 16, 2015 1:13 PM
I believe History Channel carried it when it first aired.
Unfortunately, it became more about people living “off the grid” and less about trains. I also wished their sound editor didn’t feel the need to add a train horn every time they showed a locomotive.

 

I lasted about four episodes.
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Rhode Island
  • 2,289 posts
Posted by carnej1 on Friday, October 16, 2015 11:24 AM

CMStPnP

Good show, wish I remember what Cable TV Channel or network but I don't.     Here is a link to some of the episodes though....

http://www.destinationamerica.com/tv-shows/railroad-alaska/railroad-alaska-videos/sneak-peek/

 

 

You answered your own question with that link: Destination America is the channel that airs Railroad Alaska.

"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Friday, October 16, 2015 6:15 AM

CMStPnP

Good show, wish I remember what Cable TV Channel or network but I don't.     Here is a link to some of the episodes though....

http://www.destinationamerica.com/tv-shows/railroad-alaska/railroad-alaska-videos/sneak-peek/

Interesting show, however, they ramp up the 'drama' versus the reality of situations and rules covering those situations.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Railroading Alaska Cable TV Series
Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, October 16, 2015 3:31 AM

Good show, wish I remember what Cable TV Channel or network but I don't.     Here is a link to some of the episodes though....

http://www.destinationamerica.com/tv-shows/railroad-alaska/railroad-alaska-videos/sneak-peek/

 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy