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History Channel "Extreme Trains"

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:14 AM
Note in the beginning he says "Railway in Maine." I guess Pan Am was too embarrassed by him! Big Smile

Alex

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Posted by n2mopac on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:30 AM

Great Western Rwy fan

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!!

 

I couldn't have said it better myself. People on here like to be critical of EVERYTHING! I have been a railfan all my life and a model railroader for 20 years, and I thouroughly enjoyed the show. Yes, the guy is over the top--it is television aimed at people who know nothing about railroading and who like to be entertained. It was overall informative and showed some good stuff that is rarely seen--like how a rotary dump operates. I'm looking forward to therest of the series personally.

Ron

Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado. 

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Posted by wm3798 on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 12:02 PM

 Okay, I was pretty blunt with my comments made during the program.  Here's the morning after notes...

What I liked:

The locale.  You could make a video about using the Coke Machine at Horseshoe Curve, and it will be better than any other Coke Machine video...   The aerial shots of the curve were awesome, especially since they were shot in late winter (my guess being as there weren't many leaves on the trees). 

The operational aspect.  As a coal modeler, albeit from a different era, I was fascinated to see the loading and how that works.  I never liked the way the model coal loads come out so uniform, but now I know why.  It's interesting how much technology has reduced so many jobs to playing what seems like a video game.   It was also nice to see something about trains in the context of what service they actually provide.  I thought it was a good idea to follow the coal from source to consumer.  It was a good way to illustrate to the average viewer that trains do more than block your way at a crossing.

The Side Bars:  I actually thought the side bar stories were well organized, and well placed.  It was a tad jarring to go from Altoona to Bailey Yard, (Don't they change wheels at Altoona, too?) but the scenes shot elsewhere tell me that there will be future episodes that offer more detail on Steamtown, Bailey Yard, and wherever else they shot stuff.  I expect we'll see some NS Pittsburgh Line sidebars in those stories.  Not a bad thing.

What I didn't like...

We've pretty much exhausted the topic of the host.  Nothing to add there.

The fact checking... Clearly dynamic braking was condensed for the general audience, but just as we complain when Micro Trains blows it with a paint scheme, how much extra would it cost to get it right?

The speed of the video.  This was irritating as much from a production value issue as it was from an accuracy issue.  I was exhausted by the time the show was over.  Even the static image of the power generating plant was speeded up, just so you could chuckle at the hard hats zipping around.

Mountain railroading is dramatic because of the forces of nature at work against the ingenuity of man.  What they should have done is had the guy just shut up, and let the howling of the diesels tell the story.  Some good on the ground photography of the heavy train being heaved over the Allegheny front would have been far more impressive to the average joe than the thrill ride aspect that the host was trying to sell.

The unloading end wasn't covered with the same detail that the loading end was.  The passage that the cars go through prior to being dumped is an interesting stretch of railroad... infrared or other systems are used to thaw frozen coal in the winter, and there was a lot of other equipment in there that they showed, again regrettably at double time, that got no explanation at all.

The title.  "Extreme" would have been more appropriate applied to the High Speed Trains show that followed.  These are uniquely bred trains that do what they do in a very extreme way.

An NS coal train is about as extreme as the sun coming up in the morning.  It looks a lot cooler than it really is.  But then again, calling the show "Stuff that Happens 100 times Every Day" probably wouldn't draw much attention.

I'll definitely give it another look.  I don't think our commentary here will have much effect.  I'm sure the entire series is already in the can, so the best we can hope for is to support it now, and hope if it continues, that it gets better.

Lee

 

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Posted by twhite on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 12:20 PM

Well I watched it last night after DVR'ing it.  It was pretty interesting, but all I can really say is that the History Channel somehow got the word 'Exciting' mixed up with 'Frantic.'  It will be interesting to see if the series calms down a little--right now I'm thinking Mike Rowe, only without the clever humor. 

Tom

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Posted by Pruitt on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 12:35 PM

I watched about 15 minutes and turned it off. Poor quality hosting, annoying video effects, technical errors and bad quality directing / videography (sped-up replays, different trains in different shots, etc.) all added up to WHY WASTE MY TIME?

I'll make it a point to miss the next one.

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Posted by davefinger on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 1:01 PM

IN A NUTSHELL:

NOT A BAD SHOW. MOST IMPORTANTLY:   INFORMATIVE... VID(PICTURES): NOT BAD FOR SMALL SONY HD "DISC" CAMERA'S. AUDIO: GOOD.  INTERVIEWS: VERY GOOD. AS ONE WHO IS IN THE "TV BIDNESS"...PRODUCER/REPORTER-PHOTOGRAPHER IN 40th MARKET: I FOUND THE EDITING: SLOPPY. EDITOR ISN'T/WASN'T A RR PERSON. CONTINUETY WASN'T THERE. THE REPORTER?HOST STARTED OUT ON WHAT LOOKED LIKE EMD SD-70M... SHOTS OF GE'S KEPT POPPING UP ALONG WITH DIFFERENT TRAINS JUDGING BY THE CARS & OWNERS. THE RIDE IN THE HELPERS:NEAT. BUT:HERE AGAIN:SD40-2'S??? AUDIO WEAK HERE... OH AND GOD FORBID: "THE JUMP CUTS"(A TV NOOZ TERM FOR) HOW IN HELL DID HE GET FROM HERE TO THERE? ALL IN ALL THO, N.S. SHOULD BE HAPPY. DIDN'T SEE TOO MANY SAFETY VIOLATIONS. IF THIS GUY'S COMING BACK, HOPE SOMEONE TAKES HIS DRUGS AWAY...AND: EDITS A LITTLE TIGHTER COVERING HIM UP MAYBE SOMEONE WILL THINK OF USING A "SCRIPT"???. LESS BOZO MORE RAIL ROAD PICTURES. TALK ABOUT A "FOAMER"...    CHALK IT UP TO THE HISTORY CHANNEL I GUESS. CURIOUS TO SEE THE "NUMBERS" FROM ARBITRON OR WHOMEVER TRACKS THEIR VIEWERS.  

AND WHERE DID THIS BOZO COME FROM? THE GREAT RACE??? OR SOME OTHER CBS/FOX "REALITY??? SHOW. UGH....BUT:

YA I'LL PROBABLY WATCH THE NEXT ONE AND: GRIT MY TEETH... HAVE A COUPLE OF MOLSONS ICED TO: CALM ME DOWN.

Das Adler
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Posted by Tjsingle on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 2:24 PM

I liked the show, but Since my family is from That Area It was a lot of stuff I already knew about helpers, Horseshoe Cruve, etc. One thing that I didn't like was how It skipped from place to place, Like It talks about Johnstown and the flood and then your in Horseshoe cruve? I doesn't work like that, where was Cresson? Other important stops along the route? They could have spent more time in Johnstown, and Cresson, etc. Then again its a new show you learn from it.

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Posted by Scarpia on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 2:53 PM

davefinger

IN A NUTSHELL:

NOT A BAD SHOW. MOST IMPORTANTLY:   INFORMATIVE... VID(PICTURES): NOT BAD FOR SMALL SONY HD "DISC" CAMERA'S. AUDIO: GOOD.  INTERVIEWS: VERY GOOD. AS ONE WHO IS IN THE "TV BIDNESS"...PRODUCER/REPORTER-PHOTOGRAPHER IN 40th MARKET: I FOUND THE EDITING: SLOPPY. EDITOR ISN'T/WASN'T A RR PERSON. CONTINUETY WASN'T THERE. THE REPORTER?HOST STARTED OUT ON WHAT LOOKED LIKE EMD SD-70M... SHOTS OF GE'S KEPT POPPING UP ALONG WITH DIFFERENT TRAINS JUDGING BY THE CARS & OWNERS. THE RIDE IN THE HELPERS:NEAT. BUT:HERE AGAIN:SD40-2'S??? AUDIO WEAK HERE... OH AND GOD FORBID: "THE JUMP CUTS"(A TV NOOZ TERM FOR) HOW IN HELL DID HE GET FROM HERE TO THERE? ALL IN ALL THO, N.S. SHOULD BE HAPPY. DIDN'T SEE TOO MANY SAFETY VIOLATIONS. IF THIS GUY'S COMING BACK, HOPE SOMEONE TAKES HIS DRUGS AWAY...AND: EDITS A LITTLE TIGHTER COVERING HIM UP MAYBE SOMEONE WILL THINK OF USING A "SCRIPT"???. LESS BOZO MORE RAIL ROAD PICTURES. TALK ABOUT A "FOAMER"...    CHALK IT UP TO THE HISTORY CHANNEL I GUESS. CURIOUS TO SEE THE "NUMBERS" FROM ARBITRON OR WHOMEVER TRACKS THEIR VIEWERS.  

AND WHERE DID THIS BOZO COME FROM? THE GREAT RACE??? OR SOME OTHER CBS/FOX "REALITY??? SHOW. UGH....BUT:

YA I'LL PROBABLY WATCH THE NEXT ONE AND: GRIT MY TEETH... HAVE A COUPLE OF MOLSONS ICED TO: CALM ME DOWN.

 

Thanks for your input, but in all honesty, your text is annoying and horrible to read. All caps is considered to be shouting, and is generally not considered good net etiquette. Also,the font, color, and background color you have selected don't encourage the reader to go through your thoughts and respond.

Just thought you might like to know.

 
I DVR'd the program, I'm looking forward to watching it later this week. 

Cheers 

I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.

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Posted by Milepost 266.2 on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 6:10 PM

Well, I ended up missing it, but it sounds like it lived up to my somewhat shallow expectations.  I really hate the speeded up footage thing, and it's especially unnerving for trains, because there's no real frame of reference, like there is with people walking, etc.

 I did have lunch with a good friend at work who saw the show.  He's a non-railroader, although he's starting to get hooked, thanks to his wife's enjoyment of scenic railroads.  He thought it was very informative, and he learned quite a bit.  He made note of the helper engines and was impressed by the rotary dumper.  He did find the host annoying, too.

 

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Posted by Flashwave on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 7:18 PM

Well, if you don't mind them beign 1:87, Sergent Engineering makes them in HO and does a neat job of illustrating the principle.

http://sergentengineering.com/ 

Click on Product>Rotary

-Morgan

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Posted by Kenfolk on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 7:38 PM

Some interesting footage, and since I grew up in coal country, that aspect of the show I found interesting to see.

The host was too over-the-top for my tastes, and the videography was annoying when speeded up, but I guess I'll still try to watch the next in the series and see if it is any better.

Uh...I feel asleep about 3/4 of the way through it... 

 

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Posted by Been Nothing Since Frisco (BNSF) on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:01 PM

secondhandmodeler

BRAKIE

secondhandmodeler

"So, how do you know which hole to fill?"  Laugh

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!Whistling  The show was quite informative, with or without Tom Arnold!

 

Without, defendantly without.Disapprove

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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:02 PM

 In spite of everything, I'll still watch the next episode. Sure they guy's way over the top, but if they do some cool scenes like Horsehoe in the other episodes it'll be worth it.

 Horseshoe is simply amazing. I went there with a non-train coworker and he was thoroughly amazed. I had at least some clue as to what to expect, but as we were leaving he was like "I thought we would see like one train or so". I don't know what's more interesting, the ones grinding uphill with the snappers (hey, it's former PRR....) or the ones going down with dynamics screaming and a haze of brake smoke. Sure there are other horsehshoe-shaped curves in North America..but at least around here, when you capitalize it, it means but one place- Altoona PA.

                      --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by lvanhen on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:55 PM

Scarpia

davefinger

 

Thanks for your input, but in all honesty, your text is annoying and horrible to read. All caps is considered to be shouting, and is generally not considered good net etiquette. Also,the font, color, and background color you have selected don't encourage the reader to go through your thoughts and respond.

Caps can also be used to emphasize a point.  This "politically correct" B S makes me sick!!Mischief 

Lou V H Photo by John
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:06 PM

lvanhen
This "politically correct" B S makes me sick!!Mischief 

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
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Running Bear Enterprises
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beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by cooltech on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:09 PM

Loved the show and I enjoyed the host! He was totally into all that made the train for that type of hauling work!!  Must make a trip to Horseshoe Curve.

Did any one watch the bullet train episode afterwards?

cooltechCool

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:13 PM

cooltech
Did any one watch the bullet train episode afterwards?

Yes. I had seen it before several times but it's always enjoyable.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by ModelTrainman on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:06 PM

I liked Extreme Trains alot, because I love railroads, and model railroading, and have all my life! 

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Posted by New Haven I-5 on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:09 PM

cooltech

Loved the show and I enjoyed the host! He was totally into all that made the train for that type of hauling work!!  Must make a trip to Horseshoe Curve.

Did any one watch the bullet train episode afterwards?

cooltechCool

I have to agree with you 100 percent.

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

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Posted by markpierce on Thursday, November 13, 2008 2:22 AM

I found the show interesting.  My girlfriend was a bit irritated on the harping on Horseshoe Curve.  "It doesn't come close to Tehachapi," she exclaimed.   I said "now, now, you've got to remember that Horseshoe Curve was constructed decades before the Tehachapi loop, and Easterners have little comprehension of mountains (as if one could compare the Appalachians to the Rockires, Sierras, or Cascades.")

Mark

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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, November 13, 2008 6:58 AM

 Hey now - at least we have a FOUR track mainline (ok, now it's down to 3), vs single track and a siding!

Big Smile Big Smile

 

                         --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

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Posted by Arjay1969 on Thursday, November 13, 2008 8:16 AM

jeffrey-wimberly

lvanhen
This "politically correct" B S makes me sick!!Mischief 

 

 

Political Correctness is for the Differently Brained. Big Smile

Robert Beaty

The Laughing Hippie

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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, November 13, 2008 10:50 AM

lvanhen

Scarpia

davefinger

 

Thanks for your input, but in all honesty, your text is annoying and horrible to read. All caps is considered to be shouting, and is generally not considered good net etiquette. Also,the font, color, and background color you have selected don't encourage the reader to go through your thoughts and respond.

Caps can also be used to emphasize a point.  This "politically correct" B S makes me sick!!Mischief 

Actually this has nothing to do with Political Correctness. The points he made or the words he used weren't being put down, it was simply noted that choosing a huge font - and then putting the entire entry in caps (which indeed is shouting - use bold or underline or italics to emphasize a point) isn't a good choice.

Stix
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Posted by Scarpia on Thursday, November 13, 2008 11:12 AM

Is it political correctness to let someone know that folks may not read their post because of a poor choice of fonts and colors that makes reading difficult? I find that it is more polite when posting to avoid all caps, colors, and funny fonts, as they are harder to read.

So by your definition, when I hold a door open for someone, is that being politically correct, or simply polite?

Based on your comments, I'll be sure to not hold a door open for you if we get the chance to meet in person (and odds are you'll call me rude). Ca la vie, you only get one chance to make a first impression.

 
Per the show, I was able to watch it as well last night on DVR. It was worth watching from my perspective, although I have to agree with the comments on the camera speed and the host. Overall though, for a "free" tv show, I'm looking forward to more editions.

Cheers
 

I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.

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Posted by shawnee on Thursday, November 13, 2008 11:37 AM

markpierce

Easterners have little comprehension of mountains (as if one could compare the Appalachians to the Rockires, Sierras, or Cascades.")

Mark

Ah, yes, but westerners can't ski on ice.  Wink

Shawnee
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Posted by carnej1 on Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:09 PM

markpierce

I found the show interesting.  My girlfriend was a bit irritated on the harping on Horseshoe Curve.  "It doesn't come close to Tehachapi," she exclaimed.   I said "now, now, you've got to remember that Horseshoe Curve was constructed decades before the Tehachapi loop, and Easterners have little comprehension of mountains (as if one could compare the Appalachians to the Rockires, Sierras, or Cascades.")

Mark

 ...not to mention that it would be a little strange to feature Tehachapi on a program about Norfolk Southern's coal operations in the Appalachians!

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Posted by carnej1 on Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:12 PM

Arjay1969

jeffrey-wimberly

lvanhen
This "politically correct" B S makes me sick!!Mischief 

 

 

Political Correctness is for the Differently Brained. Big Smile

 And accusing everyone one disagrees with of being "polically correct" is the new face of political correctness!

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

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Posted by West Penn Nscale on Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:30 PM

If I could give it a grade I would give it a C- ... I like the show idea,,,, I did not like the Host ,,,, I thought the show was way to chopped up ,,,, Same overhead shot over and over again ,,,, I thought he could of interviewed more NS staff to give a little history of NS and how they took over the Conrail line ,,,,

I did miss the first few minutes of the show ,,, I will watch again next week ,,,,just my review ,,,,

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Posted by Geared Steam on Thursday, November 13, 2008 5:28 PM

Like most, I enjoyed the show, and the host was irritating, but I'm happy to see a show about trains period. Heck if I can watch those old videos every Saturday morning on RFDTV with no narration and 1940's big band music for an hour I guess I can watch anything.

The bottom line, any train show is a good train show, and some of you guys are too darn finicky. Wink

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

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Posted by Geared Steam on Thursday, November 13, 2008 5:32 PM

lvanhen
Caps can also be used to emphasize a point.  This "politically correct" B S makes me sick!!Mischief 

 

Take your own advice Lou, if you don't like the post, don't read it.  Smile,Wink, & Grin

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

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