Yeah, I was cringing again watching this episode. If he tells me that the boiler could explode just one more time... I mean, c'mon. I know it's not always the host's fault because sometimes that's editing. But someone's got to realize that you don't have to shout "Boom!" after telling us the boiler could explode (gee, really? Explosions go "Boom!"? I didn't know that!). I swear, I kept expecting to see old "Batman"-type exclamations to appear at any second: BIFF! BAM! BOOM!
And that live music troupe...they weren't railfans (I don't care if they call themselves "Flatcar", "Covered Hopper" or whatever). I've never seen a railfan play guitar and sing "She'll be comin' round the mountain..." while on a steam excursion. Any railfan worth his salt would be vestibuling or at the very least looking out the windows, not playing nursery songs.
His cracks about the railfan community are ironic. The host is one of "those" railfans that even I would call a "foamer", and yet he's mocking these old guys in the vestibule recording sound effects? Oh, and don't forget, our railfan uniform is a ball cap with a RR logo on it, an 844 T-shirt, and the nastiest sneakers he's ever seen. Nice talk. And to think I was feeling sorry for the guy for getting slammed all over the railfan internet.
Paul A. Cutler III*******************Weather Or No Go New Haven*******************
Paul3His cracks about the railfan community are ironic. The host is one of "those" railfans that even I would call a "foamer", and yet he's mocking these old guys in the vestibule recording sound effects? Oh, and don't forget, our railfan uniform is a ball cap with a RR logo on it, an 844 T-shirt, and the nastiest sneakers he's ever seen. Nice talk. And to think I was feeling sorry for the guy for getting slammed all over the railfan internet.
Maybe this was his idea of payback for our less than favorable critiques of his hosting style. I've been around a lot of railfans, but I've never seen a grown man spaz out over a train like this guy, much less a railroad employee. He's improved since the first installment, but he still needs to dial it down and stop embarrassing himself. Ty Pennington with a bullhorn is easier to take than this guy.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
All the whining and complaining about this show is rather silly. I'll bet this show will do more than any other event to gain new model railroaders. Anyone who disagrees is a certified sour****, and I'm sorry for them.
Mark, a happy child
Paul3And that live music troupe...they weren't railfans (I don't care if they call themselves "Flatcar", "Covered Hopper" or whatever). I've never seen a railfan play guitar and sing "She'll be comin' round the mountain..." while on a steam excursion. Any railfan worth his salt would be vestibuling or at the very least looking out the windows, not playing nursery songs.
I really enjoyed this episode. It doesn't upset me any that no mention was made of the Centennial DDA40X. The show wasn't about it, it was about the 844.
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
Paul III said:His cracks about the railfan community are ironic. The host is one of "those" railfans that even I would call a "foamer", and yet he's mocking these old guys in the vestibule recording sound effects? Oh, and don't forget, our railfan uniform is a ball cap with a RR logo on it,
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Where are you been?
He isn't to far off from my observations at Marion,Fostoria,Bellevue and Willard..Where else would a gang of railroader wanna bes be hanging all year round in all kinds of weather? Some of those guys that's been there the weekend certainly needs a long hot shower and a toothbrush.Their railroad logo T Shirts has food stains and smells of sweat.. As far as railroad hats yeah the majority wears 'em-its a badge of honor.
And yes I have witness sing alongs on fan trips..
How do I know this?
That isn't fog in this picture..Its a light rain..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIEPaul III said:His cracks about the railfan community are ironic. The host is one of "those" railfans that even I would call a "foamer", and yet he's mocking these old guys in the vestibule recording sound effects? Oh, and don't forget, our railfan uniform is a ball cap with a RR logo on it, ------------------------------------------ Where are you been? He isn't to far off from my observations at Marion,Fostoria,Bellevue and Willard..Where else would a gang of railroader wanna bes be hanging all year round in all kinds of weather? Some of those guys that's been there the weekend certainly needs a long hot shower and a toothbrush.Their railroad logo T Shirts has food stains and smells of sweat.. As far as railroad hats yeah the majority wears 'em-its a badge of honor. And yes I have witness sing alongs on fan trips..
If the show was not on what would most of you complain about. Just shut up and appreciate that there is such a show. If there wasn't then some of you would complain about the lack of such show.
Well, I have to say I'm loving the series. Yes, if I met Matt and he acted like that on the street, I'd think him odd, but here's a news flash--its PRIME TIME TV! I think the things they have shown have been great. The expanations are simplistic, yes, but they're aimed at a general audience. I loved last night's show al the way around. I loved the rotary dump section of the coal train show. I enjoyed the maintenance section on the freight train shows. I think they're great and they show some aspects of railroading that even we don't get to see every day.
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
SteamFreak,Well, I think it's a safe bet that all these shows were recorded months ago. He'd have to be able to predict the future...or perhaps he expected it? After all, he has to know he's playing it "over the top" like William Shatner (for pete's sake). As an employee, he has to know what a lot of railroaders think of people that behave like him ("Wow! Gee! Awesome!"). Perhaps his little shots at our community were his way of saying, "See, I'm not like them!" to his fellow employees? (shrug) BTW, totally agree on the Ty Pennington comparison. Where's Mike Rowe when you need him?
markpierce,This guys is making us all look like kooks, and you want us to be happy about it?
jeffrey-wimberly,Railroad employees playing instruments, yes. Railfans, no. I suspect that the singing trio weren't really railfans, but were hired to provide (painful) entertainment to the masses of non-railfans on the train.
Brakie,I'm not saying the railfans he describes aren't real. I've seen them, too. But it would be like doing a piece on Fenway Park and only talking about the oddballs and misfits who throw things on the field, get drunk, spew obscenities, etc. There are a lot of well-adjusted railfans that are professionals, take showers daily, and are successful in life. But it's much easier to label us all as "strange".
D&HRR,So if one doesn't like something, one must "shut up" about it? Yeah, that's always worked in the past, hasn't it? I guess you've never complained about anything...like P2K? You said, "...I hate Life-Like." back on Sept. 3rd. Using your logic, shouldn't you "shut up" about P2K and just appreciate that they are made at all? My point is that everyone complains about something. Telling them to "shut up" is not the way to go.
n2mopac,Yeah, it's "Prime Time". So what? I don't mind the simplistic explanations. What bothers me are the over-the-top antics of the host and the "extreme" camera angles and movements. For examples of shows in a simular format that aren't as annoying, see: Dirty Jobs, Wild West Tech, and MythBusters.BTW, I don't really blame the host for all this. The producers are the ones calling the shots and telling him to play it like that.
I've missed all the previous episodes, but was able to catch the 844 show last night. I had already been primed for the host's behavior and funky camera angles by this forum, so I began watching it with a grain of salt.
Now that it's over, I must say, it really wasn't that bad. It was pretty typical production for what I'd expect from a History Channel prime time show (read: yeah, they tried to jazz it up a little to appeal to the people who would otherwise be watching NCIS, Cold Case, or any of the other CSI clones out there). I thought the host's mannerisms were sometimes a little annoying and over the top, but I could easily look past it. One thing that bothered me was the quick camera shots from one thing to the next, especially in the shop scenes. It made it hard to focus on what they were showing you, and follow the process (i.e. what's up with the steam generator again, and how does it get to the loco?)
Overall, I thought it was very informative, and I'm looking forward to next week's installment. I just wish it came on earlier than 10PM on the west coast!
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
Paul III said:I'm not saying the railfans he describes aren't real. I've seen them, too. But it would be like doing a piece on Fenway Park and only talking about the oddballs and misfits who throw things on the field, get drunk, spew obscenities, etc. There are a lot of well-adjusted railfans that are professionals, take showers daily, and are successful in life. But it's much easier to label us all as "strange".
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Paul,Strange? I believe we are a strange lot..Think of it..A gang of men(and some times women) standing around the tracks waiting on the next train to roll by with yet another Dash40CW or SD60 on point at which we point our cameras...That's normal behavior? I find it questionable at best.LOL!
I guess I am strange because I been doing just that for years and enjoy every mintue I am trackside not to mention the many trackside friendships made over the years...
All in all not a bad installment. I don't think he was "mocking" the railfans - at least not in a "mean" way. You have to admit, we are a breed apart, no?
I was a little disappointed that he didn't mention the Centenial in the consist. After all, he took time to point out other non 844 items - such as the railfans!
-George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."