Somehow I missed that "Tough Trains" is a new series produced by the Globe Trekker TV folks: http://www.pilotguides.com/tv-shows/tough-trains/
The "Russia's Ice Trains" episode just aired on a local PBS affiliate. Most of the episode recounted the history of the uncompleted Stalin's "Railway of Death" of which I was not aware previously. The railway was being built by gulag inhabitants in a very isolated, northern and cold location. Most of the railway is being reused to serve a very large gas field discovered in the 1960s.
UPDATE - changed title of this topic to make it a generic, possibly semi-sticky one.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
Great thread, thank you.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Another alert - a new episode of 'Japan Railway Journal' is airing later today on the NHK World channel. This program often features one of the more rural rail lines that were spun off from the national system. I have seen older episodes on YouTube.
NHK World is usually available as a secondary stream on local public television stations. It may or may not be carried on cable or satellite TV.
Other travel shows on NHK World such as 'Journeys In Japan' frequently include passenger rail travel as it is a well used mode of transportation in this densely populated country.
Meant to update this thread earlier.
Another Globe Trekker 'Tough Trains' episode has arrived, entitled 'Cuba's Sugar Railroads'. Check it out on your local PBS station. There have been four other episodes that I didn't post about (sorry).
Also stumbled upon a short segment on the CN owned 'Aqua Train', a barge bridge between Prince Rubert, B.C. and Whittier, AK. It is part of the Science Channel program 'Alaska Mega Machines', episode 'Warriors in the Last Frontier' that just aired here.
According to the NHK World website, the program 'Japan Railway Journal' still airs monthly on Thursday / Friday. It is carried on a public TV stream (KCET) here.
MikeF90According to the NHK World website, the program 'Japan Railway Journal' still airs monthly on Thursday / Friday. It is carried on a public TV stream (KCET) here.
Good news: you can watch the 'current' episode as video-on-demand on the computer.
Bad news: The upcoming tech program on W7 Shinkansen won't be up until June 2nd. Until then I think all you can watch is the cat that saved a railway...
The program 'Japan Railway Journal' just had a great episode on the new Kyoto Railway Museum, a truly stunning place.
If you didn't catch the show on local TV, it is still on VOD:
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/japanrailway/
The latest episode of 'NOVA' on PBS is 'Super Tunnel' which shows ongoing construction of Crossrail (the new London area tube line). A great fix for us construction geeks.
Not emphasized on the show was the astounding amount of archaeology work done on the project. The breadth of buried history under London uncovered would be worth a two hour program by itself! Do visit the Crossrail site for details: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/sustainability/archaeology/
Some NOVA episodes are available on-demand with the Roku PBS app (AFAIK no cable subsciption req'd).
I found it interesting, though for me they got a little overly dramatic, though not as badly as History channel and some others. It's also available on PBS:
http://www.pbs.org/video/2365861734/
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
MikeF90 The latest episode of 'NOVA' on PBS is 'Super Tunnel' which shows ongoing construction of Crossrail (the new London area tube line). A great fix for us construction geeks. Not emphasized on the show was the astounding amount of archaeology work done on the project. The breadth of buried history under London uncovered would be worth a two hour program by itself! Do visit the Crossrail site for details: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/sustainability/archaeology/ Some NOVA episodes are available on-demand with the Roku PBS app (AFAIK no cable subsciption req'd).
this Nova episode is a cut down version of a three hour BBC2 program (programme?) titled "The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway" available on You Tube.
ORNHOOthis Nova episode is a cut down version of a three hour BBC2 program (programme?) titled "The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway" available on You Tube.
Thank you for the heads up. I think I've seen all parts now on YT. Very disappointed how much material the NOVA episode cut out!
The PBS 'American Experience' episode 'The Race Underground' starts its run tonight; it chronicles the story of Boston and New York attempting to build the first subway. More info:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/race-underground/
Check your local PBS schedule, times and dates may vary.
ORNHOOI caught episode 2 (of 3) of this last night (the things you find by channel surfing!): http://www.aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/vLinkTitle/BILLY+CONNOLYS+TRACKS+ACROSS+AMERICA
Fixed that link for you:
https://www.aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/vLinkTitle/BILLY+CONNOLLY+S+TRACKS+ACROSS+AMERICA
Coming to a public TV station near you, and Thanks for the heads up!
Likewise, Japan Railway Journal on NHK World had another (new?) episode recently.
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