Scarpia decent enough show, but the host is a bit much, due no doubt to the "extreme" nature of the show's title. I had the benefit to read all of these posts before watching it this evening, and I have to say he didnt' seem any different. Blame the editors if you wish, but he's the one moving his hands in a "wham - pow" fashion all of the time (and I don't mind hands moving while you speak - I'm Italian), it was clearly more than just an editing slip. If that's the TV persona they've chosen for him, well fine, but it would be foolish to think that he hasn't signed on to it.
After looking over the complaint on this thread and noting the people who claim this whacked-out, goofy talent, camera work, and editing is needed for such a non-mainstream topic, I have three words for you:
The Military Channel.
It runs dozens, even hundreds of documentaries about the abilities and failings of various types of tanks, or the merits of the Avenger fighter-bomber vs. the Dauntless, or the history of obscure WWII battles,but on none of these shows do I hear a crazy, goofy host. (Or see weird camera angles, for that matter.) The docs are well shot, packed with interesting information, and appeal to grown-ups. Just because the subject has a limited appeal and requires some background to understand, doesn't mean they dumb it down.
Perhaps selling the show as being about "extreme" trains is the problem. "Extreme" in this context, has no clear definition except, possibly, "exciting."
But it is a little insulting that the subject we love so much is seen as being so boring by these poducers that they have to liven it up like this, just to make it palatble enough for TV.
davefinger YA I'LL PROBABLY WATCH THE NEXT ONE AND: GRIT MY TEETH... HAVE A COUPLE OF MOLSONS ICED TO: CALM ME DOWN.
Speaking of gritting my teeth, this ain't a TV news script. Unlatch that CAPS LOCK!
All 3 are on saturday afternoon back to back.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
ns3010When is the show on?
When is the show on?
10PM EST Tuesday evenings. Rerun later that night.
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
Yes Indeed Larry! The same here when I went to work for NS back in 96............ Kevin
Ibflattop I really think that all of you wantabee Railroaders should tune in to thses shows and watch them. Ya might learn something that you can really pass off to the rest of us. Kevin
I really think that all of you wantabee Railroaders should tune in to thses shows and watch them. Ya might learn something that you can really pass off to the rest of us. Kevin
Ah,there lays the trap..
If these folk went railroadin' they would find out in a hurry how very little they really know..It was a real eye opener for a certain hot shot modeler/railfan back in '66 when he went to work on the PRR...Oh how he was humbled on his first training day..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
I really liked this chapter of Extreme Trains, which covered the Acela. I learned a lot about the Boston to Washington route and some surprising technical details about the train itself. I probably will video the Acela since the Northeast Corridor, Menlo Park station is not too far from my home. It should be a very short tape.
The programs are certainly getting better. I am glad that I am recording each episode the same as I did with “Trains Unlimited”. The only one I missed of “Trains Unlimited” was the “Circus Train”.
It is almost impossible to get all the “Trains Unlimited” series now since the History Channel does not offer all of them for sale and what they do offer costs $24.95 a program. At least the last time I checked this was true.
History Channel is already selling the DVD of “Extreme Trains” for $24.95.
I am looking forward to seeing and recording the whole series.
Doc
I liked this episode.
SInce I grew up along the NEC and haven't been back there is about 20 years, it brought back a lot of memories.
Matt seems to have calmed down a little (or maybe I just didn't notice him being "over the top" so much because my wife kept say things like "Oohhh! Remember when we took the train to Philly?" or "Ohhh! There's Union Station in D.C.!")
Can't wait till next week!
-George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
Artrek- Pan Am- ConductorWell lets see I may have a biased opinion buuuut here it goes anyways. 1. The 79mph downeaster as you say only applies to passenger trains not the freight trains he is the conductor of. The freight trains can only operate at the most of 40mph with a telematry receiver (which is rare enough) and thats only down past Portland Maine. And an afterthought is that he and I both operate where 25mph is fast for the condition of the tracks and the engines. 2. I head multiple times that he is loud and blah blah blah... Well you kinda have to be when all they have is that stupid mike hovering over your head and not the mike that is hidden under the collar of your shirt. If any of the brainiacs that are complaining about it noticed when he was inside he was normal voiced not yelling over the engines. 3. I heard alot of guff about the dialog... Have any of you people heard of editing? You say something infront of the camera (Kidding or not) and the editors can and will put it in whether you were joking or not. Not only that they can put it in wherever they want to. So if he said "choo-choo" once in a cut to make people laugh (Which I know is beyond most people, but he is really funny in real life) then they would put in the show to attract a audience that know nothing of railroading. And in conclusion you can slam me if you want but I needed you all to know those little fact that you either overlooked or were to bent on flaming something to investigate. Oh and in all the engines it says "Dynamic brake disabled" even though there wern't any in them when the company bought them before I was born.
Per the third episode, to me it was as I've said before - a decent enough show, but the host is a bit much, due no doubt to the "extreme" nature of the show's title. I had the benefit to read all of these posts before watching it this evening, and I have to say he didnt' seem any different. Blame the editors if you wish, but he's the one moving his hands in a "wham - pow" fashion all of the time (and I don't mind hands moving while you speak - I'm Italian), it was clearly more than just an editing slip. If that's the TV persona they've chosen for him, well fine, but it would be foolish to think that he hasn't signed on to it.
I'm not looking to flame or out research the show. I'm 79% satisfied with the content so far, I just wish that the camera angles, cuts, speed, and the host himself as he's portrayed were backed off a notch or two.
Per the High Speed Trains of North America, I appreciated how they described the limitations to real speed. I've always wondered why the trains were not faster.
Hell, I live two hours North of Boston, and I can get to Baltimore in 8 hours by car. 7 hours from Boston to DC by train is not as high speed as I'd like to see.
Cheers
I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.
Last nights episode was very good. I live along the northeast corridor so there are many opportunities to see the Acela. Guess I should do some photo's as it crosses the Delaware river from Morrisvile Pa. to Trenton N.J. (or vica versa).
cooltech
Dan The Man That is such a great show, to bad I missed the first one about coal trains.
That is such a great show, to bad I missed the first one about coal trains.
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
dirtyd79 To be honest I really don't find the host all that annoying. In his defense there's a good chance he acts the way he does because he probably has some producer or something in his ear feeding him directions and in the biz when the producer tells you to jump you don't say "How high?" you make like a kangaroo and be the bouncinest sonofagun that ever bounced.
To be honest I really don't find the host all that annoying. In his defense there's a good chance he acts the way he does because he probably has some producer or something in his ear feeding him directions and in the biz when the producer tells you to jump you don't say "How high?" you make like a kangaroo and be the bouncinest sonofagun that ever bounced.
Matt's good when he's "on script". He explains things well. It's the Batman like BOOM! SPLAT! BAMS! that get annoying. But this latest show seemed to have a lot less of that.I WILL say I have definitely learned a few new things from each episode.
Missed it this week. Maybe I can catch a rerun someday. I think I would have enjoyed it.
I loved this week. The cabrides were fun, and the sidebars were great. I wondered about how they serviced the Acelas, and how rivetting worked. But I would like to see another museum than Steamtown.
Oh, ad some footage on the HHP and how it differed from the Power car. Possibly the "joys" of fighting acela and freight.
-Morgan
Personally I do find it alot more entertaining than listening to some Ben Stein monotone spouting off longwinded techincal tomes and stats. The show isn't geared toward the hardcore traingeeks it's geared toward the general public and probably kids.
I think that I would rather have a series on the History channel about trains than no series at all which is the case with me.
We receive our History Channel beamed out by satellite from Australia - so we get what they want to see in their country. So far no Trains programes have been advised but I am hoping to see it soon as I'm sure there are hundreds of Austrailian viewers who would like to see this show.
I know it can be a disapointing experience watching a show made for the general public with little or no railroad interest other than taking the train to work each morning - it's kind of like drinking low cal beer - the taste is there but not the flavour. In the case of a TV show it leaves you wanting a more technical version with not so much fluff. But then a TV show about a special interest that dosen't come up to expectations is better than no show at all.
Bruce
New Haven I-5Matt was finally not over the top!
Matt was finally not over the top!
- Luke
Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's
I watched about 5 minutes of the show last night before my sister called and rescued me....... By that time I was having serious vertigo from the silly camera angles and had had my fill for the evening of the host.............
I think I will pass on the rest of the series. There are a lot of great train videos out there that don't don't make me sick to my stomach when I watch them.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Brakie,Most of the "old heads" that I've met don't even care if it's a GP38-whatever. They just called 'em by the number class. Old head: "Yeah, those 1200's were so nice riding, we called 'em Cadillacs. But the 2550's were real rough on the tailbone." Me: "You mean the GP9's & C-425's?" Old head: "Is that what they were called?" (or words to that effect)
Paul A. Cutler III*******************Weather Or No Go New Haven*******************
jacon12 Well darn, I missed episode 3. Does the History channel have a second showing, maybe later in the week?Jarrell
Well darn, I missed episode 3. Does the History channel have a second showing, maybe later in the week?
Jarrell
Yeah, they repeat the showing at 2am EST. I don't get home from work until about 10:45 - so we DVR it.
I did see (during a Commercial-Skip) the season of DVD's for sale already!
jacon12 Well darn, I missed episode 3. Does the History channel have a second showing, maybe later in the week? Jarrell
They actually ran the show again at 2AM this morning - I missed the first half last night but wasn't inclined to get up at o-dark-hundred to watch it. The host seemed a little less animated - at least the 2nd half of the show that I saw. I'll keep watching - if I remember it's on.
jeffrey-wimberly Keep in mind that the show isn't aimed at railfans and model railroaders but at the general public, most of whom know next to nothing about railroad practices and safety. How many people on the street would have any idea how the seperation of the cantenary lines on the drawbridge worked? Not many. Overall I thought this third show was a lot better than than the previous two. If you have a gripe about how the show is done address it on the History Channel's site where it will do some good.
Keep in mind that the show isn't aimed at railfans and model railroaders but at the general public, most of whom know next to nothing about railroad practices and safety. How many people on the street would have any idea how the seperation of the cantenary lines on the drawbridge worked? Not many. Overall I thought this third show was a lot better than than the previous two. If you have a gripe about how the show is done address it on the History Channel's site where it will do some good.
I suspect they were expecting steam locomotives and rivet counting details instead of a show meant for the general public who knows very little about railroads.
Guys,As I mention before those that lack railroad experience doesn't understand to railroad men there isn't a GP38-2 early or late phase or who cares if CSX 136007 is a ACF boxcar that measures 50'6"? To railroad men its a GP38-2 locomotive(says so on the cab ) and CSXT 136007 is a loaded boxcar cosigned to Patterson Box Company in Delaware according to the paper work and needs switch out there..
"JOE,DID YOU CATCH THE OHIO -MICHIGAN GAME" asks the conductor over the noise of the GP40-2.
"NAW.ME AND THE OLD WOMEN WENT SHOPPING." replies the engineer.
ADVANCE APPROACH! Says the engineer
ADVANCE APPROACH! confirms the conductor.
WOW! How exciting!
I dunno, I think this was the best of the 3 shows so far and this weeks comments are fairly positive. I vote we dredge this thread up every week and comment on the show.(all in favor??)
We have 9 pages about all that's wrong with the show and the host and whatnot... I think its time to give it a rest... On the railroad he's not a bad person, and he's just catering to the none railfan audience, and shouting over the roar of a locomotive at full throttle... >_<
Alex