WOW!! BANG!! BOOM!! COOL!! SERIOUS!! It IS pretty informative. I always wondered about the couplers on roto dump cars.Last dumper I saw, they had to uncouple every car and run it up and down a ramp track.
loatharI was hoping a spike would fly out and hit him in the mouth!
I was praying the shop crane would drop that GE unit on his head.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
SteamFreakloatharI was hoping a spike would fly out and hit him in the mouth! I was praying the shop crane would drop that GE unit on his head.
I had exactly the same thought......... What a dork! The camera work was obnoxious to say the least. It did remind me just how much I hate watching commercials though. Ithinkhetalkedrealfastsotheycouldfinishtheshowandgetafewmoreofthemin. On a scale of one to ten, I'd give it -3. Did you notice they did manage to get some "Hitler" footage in though.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
I'm REALLY surprised they let him get so close to some of the moving equipment. He kind of reminded me of Hulk Hogan at times. That over excited steroid kind of acting...
loatharThey must be showing footage of different coal trains. I thought I saw 4 pushers in one of the arial shots.
You did and they did. The train kept switching tracks too.
Still, I found it fun and even informative IN SPITE of the "host" and the fifteen plus minutes of commercials.
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
wm3798 He sounds like Billy Mays... "That's Amazing!" But wait! If you order now, I'll send you another pack of wonder widgets at no extra cost! That's a $14.99 Value!" He could also be played by Will Farrell... L
He sounds like Billy Mays... "That's Amazing!" But wait! If you order now, I'll send you another pack of wonder widgets at no extra cost! That's a $14.99 Value!"
He could also be played by Will Farrell...
L
Yea, at $20 shipping and handling per Widget.
Dick
Texas Chief
loatharSomebody PLEASE put a ball gag in the hosts mouth! He sure doesn't act like he's an engineer.
Somebody PLEASE put a ball gag in the hosts mouth! He sure doesn't act like he's an engineer.
As for why does he talk so loud (I know somebody has asked that one somewhere) if he didn't they'd be complaining that he didn't talk loud enough. I've also seen remarks (at least one) indicating that the dialog seemed too simple (thought up by a ten year old is one remark I've read). The answer to that is simple enough. Whether you want to believe it or not many of the people watching know next to nothing about railroading. Where does it say you have to be a serious modeler or a railroader to watch a show about trains? My parents watch them and they know next to nothing about how the railroads work but they enjoy the shows nonetheless. A drawn out technical explanation about how things work would probably result in much of the veiwing audience going somewhere else for less cerebral material.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
secondhandmodeler "So, how do you know which hole to fill?"
"So, how do you know which hole to fill?"
Conductors are trainmen not MOW workers.Take a MOW worker and he will know nothing about being a trainman.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
jeffrey-wimberly loathar Somebody PLEASE put a ball gag in the hosts mouth! He sure doesn't act like he's an engineer. He never said he's an engineer. He's a conductor. As for why does he talk so loud (I know somebody has asked that one somewhere) if he didn't they'd be complaining that he didn't talk loud enough. I've also seen remarks (at least one) indicating that the dialog seemed too simple (thought up by a ten year old is one remark I've read). The answer to that is simple enough. Whether you want to believe it or not many of the people watching know next to nothing about railroading. Where does it say you have to be a serious modeler or a railroader to watch a show about trains? My parents watch them and they know next to nothing about how the railroads work but they enjoy the shows nonetheless. A drawn out technical explanation about how things work would probably result in much of the veiwing audience going somewhere else for less cerebral material.
loathar Somebody PLEASE put a ball gag in the hosts mouth! He sure doesn't act like he's an engineer.
Jeff,
All railroaders have a tenancy to talk loud-I did and still do.
The biggest problem with this show is the forum "experts" that know very little about real railroading.
It is not a glamorous job and guess what? To the majority of railroaders its no more then a job with a very nice pay check.
As far as being fast in changing brake shoes..Why bother? That's a carman's job and I never seen a trainman change brake shoes in the 9 1/2 years as a brakeman especially on a steam locomotive like that that shop man was doing.
Lol, me too. It was a little informative but other wise I thought it was pointless.
Does anyone know if this will be a series? If so, when the next show? What's it about?
I had a huge deja vu moment when yet another conductor had no clue how the dynamic brakes worked. Was there another railroad show that made the same mistake, or is it just one of those wierd mind things that happend when you get old like me? OK, not his thing, he's a conductor not a <insert craft here>, but since it was a breakout segment you think they would have gotten it right.
The speedy video thing was annoying, and misleading - managed to get my gf to watch it with me and when they started out from the coal loading facility she was like "wow, doesn;t take them long to get moving". Well, yeah, it does, that was just speeded up. I have NO clue why they kept switchign trains in the overhead, very confusing except the one switch was obvious because it was a train of empties. It sure seemed like they had enough footage of the one they were riding to not have to do that.
I also watched a bit of Modern Marvels: Bullet Trains that came on after, nice being able to pick out locations on the Northeast Corridor.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
When they were changing the wheelset on the freight car, was it just me or did it seem that they were working at the front of the truck in some scenes and at the rear of the truck in other scenes?
Wow You guy's are a tough crowd!!
First off They didn't have to make this series at all!! Keep criticizing it and maybe it will get cancelled, That would be one less railroad show available to us.
Not every body knows how things work in the Railroad industry! I found it very interesting to watch, The rotory dump was probably the most interesting for me,Plus watching them switch out the wheel.I would have never known how they do that if I hadn't watched the show.
Also I liked the ariel view of Horseshoe curve,Someplace I intend to visit in the future.
As for the shots of apparently different trains posing as one, well anybody who has ever filmed a train knows how hard it is to get shots at different locations of the same train. Probably harder when helicopters are involved!
And as for the host, Well he's just acting.I think it's better then having a narrator talking in monotone!! if nothing else he at least made it funny.
Personally I can't wait for the next episode!!
How many "wow, bang, amazing"s are necessary? Didn't need a long technical explanation - but getting ALL the facts right would help!
Believe it or not, I DID enjoy the show - after I started using the mute button & reading the script!!
BRAKIE secondhandmodeler "So, how do you know which hole to fill?" Conductors are trainmen not MOW workers.Take a MOW worker and he will know nothing about being a trainman.
I sort of feel like I was watching Sesame Street with the host! Video footage was great! I rate the host up there with the "Sham Wow" idiot! Turned the volume down and I enjoyed the show.
secondhandmodeler BRAKIE secondhandmodeler "So, how do you know which hole to fill?" Conductors are trainmen not MOW workers.Take a MOW worker and he will know nothing about being a trainman. Sorry, my mind was in the gutter when I wrote that! The show was quite informative, with or without Tom Arnold!
I thought it was funny to even though I knew each plate has 4 holes-2 to each side.
I have to agree that the host was a bit irritating. His loud talk reminds me of that idiot, what's his name - Billy Mays, on the OxyClean commercials. Now you want a host that drives me absolutely buggy, it has to be that guy on 'Air Combat' constantly talking on a monotone radio!
BRAKIE I thought it was funny to even though I knew each plate has 4 holes-2 to each side.
While tie plates have two spike holes on each side, I've always just seen two (one on each side) to ever be used at one time, and once pulled, it might be hard for a layman -- the guy's a a train conductor, not an MOW fella -- to know which ones had been formerly spiked. So, it wasn't such a dumb question, even if it had been asked by a former brakeman.
Mark
lvanhenHow many "wow, bang, amazing"s are necessary? Didn't need a long technical explanation - but getting ALL the facts right would help!
I think the show was pretty much geared for EXTREME SPORTS players, particularly those who weren't wearing helmets when their heads hit the concrete a few times.............. Actually I liked the commercials the best (and I already told you I hate commercials!). If there are more of these shows, I think I will just spend the time in the layout room doing something of value. I wonder who they thought their audience would be?
I know I'm probably going to get blasted for this, and it won't be the first or last time, BUT,
I thought the show was pretty good. I've been in this hobby on and off for several years (mid 70's) and I have never seen the inside of a moving operating Locomotive. So, that was cool. Yeah, maybe the guy was a little annoying, but at least he appeared excited to be there ( I would have been) and excited about his job, and didn't mind telling you about it. I've also never seen THE Horseshoe Curve, or an entire train from the air, or watched them use helpers to go up a grade, or seen it done from the inside of the cab. I enjoyed it, very much. I hope they do more of them. See, I like trains. You can yell all you want at me about them. If you are saying stuff I know or don't know, I don't care. I like trains, so I'll take any chance I can get to watch them or talk to people who know about them. My wife actually sat and watched the show with me, (Bless her heart, I knew there was a reason I married her.) and she thought the roll-over coal car was amazing.
Oh and BTW, that Sham-Wow guy could sell Ketchup Popcicles to ladies wearing white gloves. It's the old snake oil thing, it's not the stuff, it's the pitch, and if you are good at what you do, it's worth the watching.
Ok. I've got my USAF Approved fire suit on. Gimme what you got.
Steve.
Steve,
I tend to agree with you. I also enjoyed the show and am looking forward to the next one next Tuesday night.
Now I'll go back to my USAF job generating sorties.
Mike
howmuslvanhenHow many "wow, bang, amazing"s are necessary? Didn't need a long technical explanation - but getting ALL the facts right would help! I think the show was pretty much geared for EXTREME SPORTS players, particularly those who weren't wearing helmets when their heads hit the concrete a few times...
I think the show was pretty much geared for EXTREME SPORTS players, particularly those who weren't wearing helmets when their heads hit the concrete a few times...
You nailed it, Ray. In fact the Modern Marvels episode on Bullet Trains that followed it was far more informative and interesting, in spite of not having a host with a WWF delivery. Once they put EXTREME in front of something, it's a safe bet it's been amped-up and dumbed-down.
KnowcentsI sort of feel like I was watching Sesame Street with the host! Video footage was great! I rate the host up there with the "Sham Wow" idiot!
I love how he says he's going to absorb the spilled soda in real time, then they change camera angles and carpet swatches and the spill is suddenly 1/4 the size.
The History Channel has lost its meaning. Nothing they show any more is history -- just gimmicky speeded up videos with horrible narrators and ear-splitting noise they call music that drowns out everything else. Seems to be aimed more at today's iPod teen crowd who just want to be entertained with flashy graphics and noise.
Other than the "Billy Mays" type host I enjoyed the programme. A better and more informed host would be an improvement. The host acted like a little kid in a toy store.
We get unit grain trains here and they are as impressive as the coal trains.
Did anyone stay tuned after Extreme Trains and watch "Bullet Trains" that followed?
Meyblc Steve, I tend to agree with you. I also enjoyed the show and am looking forward to the next one next Tuesday night. Now I'll go back to my USAF job generating combat sorties. Mike
Now I'll go back to my USAF job generating combat sorties.
As for the latter - been there, done that, have the A&D. (20 years worth. Then they stuck me in ICBMs.)
As for the show - great footage, including some locations and processes I hadn't seen.
As for the host - I think we insulted Billy Mayes, Hulk Hogan and a few other folks I can visualize but not name. Fortunately, my TV has a mute button. I made good use of it.
As for the future - I'll check in, If it's just a dumbed-down rehash of things I already know or don't care about, I'll check out (to NHK.)
Just my . Other opinions will vary.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
lvanhen jeffrey-wimberly loathar Somebody PLEASE put a ball gag in the hosts mouth! He sure doesn't act like he's an engineer. He never said he's an engineer. He's a conductor. As for why does he talk so loud (I know somebody has asked that one somewhere) if he didn't they'd be complaining that he didn't talk loud enough. I've also seen remarks (at least one) indicating that the dialog seemed too simple (thought up by a ten year old is one remark I've read). The answer to that is simple enough. Whether you want to believe it or not many of the people watching know next to nothing about railroading. Where does it say you have to be a serious modeler or a railroader to watch a show about trains? My parents watch them and they know next to nothing about how the railroads work but they enjoy the shows nonetheless. A drawn out technical explanation about how things work would probably result in much of the veiwing audience going somewhere else for less cerebral material. How many "wow, bang, amazing"s are necessary? Didn't need a long technical explanation - but getting ALL the facts right would help! Believe it or not, I DID enjoy the show - after I started using the mute button & reading the script!!
I agree. I really enjoyed it and will watch again. (with the sound on) This is a railroad guy that acted like an excited 6 year old girl that had never seen or been on a train before. They need to find a host that's midway between this guy and the techno number spewing railfan nerds that narrate the Trains and Locomotive series.
When I started this thread I never thought it would cause such a vigorous discussion. Having watched and enjoyed “Trains Unlimited” I could not wait to see this new railroad show and thought many other train enthusiasts would also like it. Lets face it you can’t turn on your TV ever night and see a train show.
Recently I watched a series of videos about “Trains That Won The West “ or something like that, which showed trains in various states. I really liked the videos and thought they did a good job of describing horsepower, locomotive weight, railroad procedures, etc and great scenery.
I was very surprised how badly the viewer comments were about the video series. People generally hated all the technical railroad information provided and wanted more information about locations the trains past through. They were bored to death.
My point is that no TV show will please everyone. If you are looking for technical railroad information there are plenty of railroad videos out there to satisfy you. If you want entertainment without the details turn on your TV.
As far as the guy on the show he is an example of what TV viewers love to watch today on many of the popular TV shows. He is loud, funny and makes outrageous comments. Most people enjoy this on a TV program so the ratings say. It just so happens when this occurs on a show “train people” watch we get insulted.
Well for me I am happy even to watch a Hollywood movie that has a train scene in it. I love trains and will continue to watch the show and hope that it gets better and for those who don’t like it CBS, NBC and ABC have plenty of TV shows to entertain you every night with funny, loud and outrageous comments.
Doc
Try to think of Extreme Trains in the perspective of a wider audience, not just railfans. I bet anyone watching the History Channel's Extreme Trains program last night learned something about trains they did not know. That is what I think is important and awesome about this program. It helps inform the general public about what trains do to help in their everyday lives. This will strengthen the railroad industry, coal mining industry and electric utility companies. I hope the next editions of this program are equally as informative as this first edition was. Ed
Doc,
There's one thing you didn't mention here...
See, the railroads are trying to drum up more business and improve their public perception. Now that fuel prices are high enough to make highway transport look a lot less attractive to some businesses, that's even more important. The show was definitely not aimed at people like us who already like trains, it was aimed at the average joe who doesn't realize just how much of his everyday life depends on rail transport.
Now if they can just convince more people to take the train instead of flying...but that's a bit of a pipe dream at this point.
Just my , take it for what it's worth.
Robert Beaty
The Laughing Hippie
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The CF-7...a waste of a perfectly good F-unit!
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the
end of your tunnel, Was just a freight train coming
your way. -Metallica, No Leaf Clover