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.
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!!
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.
secondhandmodelerBRAKIE 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!
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.
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.
Without, defendantly without.
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...
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
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.
davefingerIN 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
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
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
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
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
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!!
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.
Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy
Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings
Alex
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
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
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
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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)
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?
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.
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...
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...
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.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
Now I'll go back to my USAF job generating sorties.
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.
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?
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
BRAKIE I thought it was funny to even though I knew each plate has 4 holes-2 to each side.
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
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!
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 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!
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
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.