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Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: RAM on October 21, 2008, 08:34:21 PM

Title: extreme trains
Post by: RAM on October 21, 2008, 08:34:21 PM
Coming soon to The History Channel: "Extreme Trains," an eight-part
series about the "biggest, most powerful and most awesome trains in
history."
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: ajp3751 on October 21, 2008, 09:30:42 PM
when does it coes out and how often do the episodes debue
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on October 22, 2008, 12:35:23 AM
http://www.history.com/genericContent.do?id=60696
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: pdlethbridge on October 22, 2008, 02:25:10 AM
sponsor, Who?
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Jake on October 22, 2008, 07:19:01 AM
Its also at the top right, just below "History Made Every Day."

I will have to try and watch this series. Hopefully I can get the DVD also.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: pdlethbridge on October 22, 2008, 09:09:31 AM
totally blind!
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: grumpy on October 23, 2008, 12:06:36 AM
The show starts on Nov. 11 on the History Channel
Don :)
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: mudhen on October 23, 2008, 05:29:30 AM
Thanks Ram and Grumpy
Now that was'nt to hard , now I can plan to watch it in november.
Thanks Mudhen
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: WoundedBear on October 23, 2008, 11:30:16 AM
Quote from: grumpy on October 23, 2008, 12:06:36 AM
The show starts on Nov. 11 on the History Channel
Don :)

Hope you're not holding your breath waiting, Don. I think it's going to be shown on the yankee version of History Channel, but if you look at our, watered down, version's site, there is no mention of that show. CRTC may allow us to view it in 2014....lol.

http://www.history.ca/ (http://www.history.ca/)

Sid
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: grumpy on October 24, 2008, 12:05:34 AM
I read the announcement in  the Edmonton Journal.
Don
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Guilford Guy on November 10, 2008, 07:35:39 AM
The host is a conductor for Pan Am Railways... You don't want to know what they do on that railroad...
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Guilford Guy on November 10, 2008, 05:57:44 PM
Don't look too far down the page...
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Sjack on November 11, 2008, 06:14:47 AM
What's on second. I Don't Know's third. Who's on first.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Guilford Guy on November 11, 2008, 09:56:24 PM
Sounds like Matt Bown will be riding a Coal Train tonight... Let us hope that after a Guilford Employee has told NS employee's about all the things they've done, NS doesn't throw crew trash bags at neighboring crews on passing sidings, or smoking out college students by putting the loks in Run 8 when they are underneath overpasses... There the secret is out... What remains on the railroad.net site should not be seen... I swear... I did not intentionally shut down Vermont Railway!
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: richG on November 12, 2008, 12:32:26 AM
My stepson and I watch TV with audio Mute and on screen text. Makes it bearable.
Stepson went to bed after 20 minutes. I tuned out after 35 minutes. The History Channel must thinl they are showing this to six year olds with A.D.D. Good info but Ugh. I will go back to the 'Net and books.
Makes me appreciate Mike Lowe.

Rich
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: WGL on November 12, 2008, 02:29:28 AM
 After Extreme Trains, I noticed that the Modern Marvels program was featuring high-speed trains, so I recorded that, too.  Our DVD recorder has a hard drive, so I can edit out commercial breaks after recording the program.  With a VCR, I tried to be quick on the trigger to hit Pause when a commercial interruption began.  However, many of the breaks were so long that Pause turned to Stop.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: jayl1 on November 12, 2008, 10:06:05 AM
Quote from: richG on November 12, 2008, 12:32:26 AM

Makes me appreciate Mike Lowe.

Rich

I know a host is supposed to show ethusiasm - BUT!!!!this guy was "flying"!!
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Craig on November 12, 2008, 05:13:23 PM
That was fairly cool show. I learned a few things, like about rotating couplers on coal cars. My sons are watching the recording right now. I'd already seen the high speed  thing on Modern Marvels
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: grumpy on November 13, 2008, 12:10:51 AM
We didn't get the show on our version of the History Channel in Canada. Is it worth buying the DVD .
Don
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on November 13, 2008, 02:44:07 AM
I'm not sure yet.

Coal cars are loaded, train goes around horseshoe turn and cars are unloaded.  I thought the segment on dumping the cars was interesting. 

Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: lirrman on November 13, 2008, 02:57:38 PM
Interesting show but I'm not hard of hearing.  My ears are still ringing.  That guy sounds like a used car salesman.
LIRRMAN
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on November 13, 2008, 04:25:37 PM
Reminds me of Billy May selling weed augers, but he does add excitement to the show.

Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: PRRThomas11 on November 13, 2008, 05:03:37 PM
Hes entertaining but he should probably try decaf.
That's probably how I would be acting if I was taking a train around the Horseshoe Curve.
Great show!
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Santa Fe buff on November 13, 2008, 06:10:28 PM
I meant to post already, but I watched it. It was awesome! I believe it was "Coal Trains", on the Norfolk Southern line with Horseshoe Curve on it. He told quite a bit of history along the way.

WGL,

After Extreme Trains, I too, watched Modern Marvels, "Bullet Trains". They talked about the TGV, Japanese bullets, MegLevs, and (The one I really loved), the Amtrak Acela.

Can't wait until the next episode! ;D
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: WGL on November 14, 2008, 01:52:15 AM
  Meeting the challenges of pulling such a long train was interesting.
I didn't like the loud music accompanying the hyperactive narrator.  His cameraman must have been short, because he kept bending down to talk to the camera.  It almost made me feel very short.
I wondered why they didn't say what the next installment of Extreme Trains would be.  Maybe I'll look up the History Channel's website.
  I haven't watched the program on bullet trains yet.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Tom Lapointe on November 17, 2008, 04:08:45 AM
QuoteHes entertaining but he should probably try decaf.

I agree - I think he must've drank a gallon of expresso :o :D while they were taping this.  The dyanmic braking diagram was also a bit inaccurate as well :-\ (feeding power back into the diesel prime mover instead of resistor grids ???).

Overall, though, it was enjoyable. :)  - And credit to the producers for also showing some historic photos, brake shoe replacement on a steam loco at Steamtown, UP's method of changing out bad wheelsets, and some fantastic helicopter shots ;D of the train descending Horseshoe Curve. :)   I will probably try to catch some of the future shows.   (But can someone on the producer's staff "spike" the host's expresso with "Lunesta"  ;) please ??? ):D 

                                                                                             ;)  Tom
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: pdlethbridge on November 17, 2008, 09:17:17 AM
My attention span is short so I haven't watched the show yet. With all the negative stuff listed about the show, loud music and yucky host, I probably  won't was my time.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Guilford Guy on November 17, 2008, 04:11:44 PM
Tomorrow's episode sounds cool, but I'm biased because I know one of the engineers that was switching out the circus train at the B&O Museum...
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Paul M. on November 17, 2008, 07:44:15 PM
Eh, in times like thesde I wish our family had cable...
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: kevin2083 on November 18, 2008, 01:26:53 AM
You're not alone Paul.....
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: CNE Runner on November 19, 2008, 04:05:29 PM
Wow...and I thought it was just me! Extreme Trains (Show #1) was OK...not great, just OK. Where did they get that host? He [supposedly] was a conductor on a 1:1 railroad. If he were my conductor I would request a drug test. Really: is he the most appropriate host History could find? There were some great train shots (let's face it...trains aren't all that common on TV). I will force myself to endure the rest of the series I guess. Ditto on the amount of commercials. Has anyone timed how many minutes the show ran (excluding the commercials)...was it over a half-hour? Maybe this will lead to more train-related shows (like a remake of the Saturday morning classic Casey Jones). Keep the faith.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: ajp3751 on November 19, 2008, 04:39:03 PM
I watched both episodes and do argee, horseshoe cure is great, but not so great you have to scream it. the engineer had a look on his face like, "buddy, it is just a  curve, so what..." The BNSF track laying part was nice. It was interesting to see them completely remove a tunnel instead of building another one next to it. The host also seemed happy to go 70mph in a train. I wanted to say, it is no different than a car really, except to 7,000ft of cars behind you. Overall it wasn't bad, and I hope they go back to steamtown and other places to show the glory days of railroading.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: richG on November 19, 2008, 05:46:55 PM
I lasted twenty seconds with the second episode. The series will at least get children interested in railroads and maybe model railroading so all is not wasted by the History Channel.

Rich
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on November 20, 2008, 01:18:09 AM
Well, I must be entering my second childhood, I enjoyed the show very much.  I think Matt adds a lot of excitement to the show, that would otherwise be just another documentary.

Let's see now, so far we've criticized the producer, director, host and narrator, music, commercials, graphics, cinematography, script, have we missed anything? But then I'm the type that always sees the glass as half full.

I venture to say that anyone here would be going bananas in Matt's place.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: WGL on November 20, 2008, 02:21:45 AM
 CNE Runner,
After editing out the commercial interruptions, I had 45 minutes of the BNSF program.
  I've ordered a semi with a detachable box trailer to load onto a flatcar.  Now, I've just watched a 7000' long train of all well cars carrying containers.  I have no well cars, no containers & no container trucks.   :(  I guess I'm a few decades behind.
  I wish Matt had told us how long the well cars & the containers are.  I noticed that the train kept changing from 2 locomotives to 3 & back without mention by the narrator.  I did find the program informative.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on November 20, 2008, 03:17:19 AM
Caboose Hobbies has a large selection of 20' and 40' containers for intermodal, and special flat beds for semis. I plan on building a few 40' well cars this winter.

Though not seen in the show, most well cars are built as "unit trains", with each car sharing common trucks.  I'll send you a picture of one unit setup.

The reason for the difference in number of locomotives is probably because the sequences were filmed on different days.  If you notice, several times Matt was on the dock as the train pulled out or went by.  I neglected to note the loco road numbers. It probably took several weeks of filming to make up a 6 hour show, excluding commercial breaks.

When Matt was loading a container, it was possibly during a slack time and specially staged.  I'm also thinking that all the major class I railroads helped finance the show.  I will be disappointed if they don't have a segment on Union Pacific, the Moffat Tunnel, and the grueling Tennessee Pass climb which requires up to 9 helpers.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Santa Fe buff on November 20, 2008, 08:45:31 AM
Also, KATO makes some good MAXI-IV well cars for both N and HO scale.

HO Scale KATO Gunderson MAXI-IV Well Cars. (http://www.katousa.com/HO/MAXI-IV/index.html)

N Scale KATO Gunderson MAXI-IV Well Cars. (http://www.katousa.com/N/MAXI-IV/index.html)

I have yet to try them, but they look very nice, I believe they have high quality.

Intermodal:  being or involving transportation by more than one form of carrier during a single journey.

You can have a container from a ship transported across the sea, then on a truck, then to an Intermodal station, where a special crane puts it on a train, and so forth.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: NewYorkCentralgirl on November 20, 2008, 05:29:05 PM
i am a huge train fan, and was looking foward to this show,
but the guy is so annoying the engineers on both the bnsf and ns trains looked like they wanted to shoot him. also the mtv camera thing is annoying. it is a cool show its just needs a better narrator/host
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Santa Fe buff on November 20, 2008, 06:16:22 PM
Why not? You sitting inside this thing, listening to radios, signals, trains, and trying to watch your gauges while someone is jabbing on and on about trains... I admire his spirit, but I think he like trains a tad too much. If I was the engineer, I would talk nice and tell him everything he asked, and as soon as he's done filming and leaves, I'll remember NOT to allow HIM inside or near the locomotive again! But overall, I can't get up from the couch until the commercial break is over. I suppose I'm kind of like him, but I'm shooting at being the engineer.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: mtlatc on November 20, 2008, 10:36:55 PM
Yampa Bob here is a link to the remaining episodes. They are doing UP steam and the last show is UP Omaha to CA.

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=60922&display_order=4&mini_id=60798
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: RAM on November 20, 2008, 10:48:17 PM
You must remember that they are making this film all people.  Most of them the only thing they know about trains is that they run on tracks.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on November 21, 2008, 12:53:07 AM
Hey Thanks Matt,
Looks like they have the episodes I want to see, have marked the sattelite times.

Thanks again RAM, for alerting me about the show, otherwise I might have missed it. 
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: WGL on December 02, 2008, 02:53:14 AM
  Tonight, while the wife was at a meeting, I watched my recording of Extreme Trains:  Amtrak's Acela Express.  I wish the narrator would have said how many passengers the train can carry.  There were only 6 cars, I think (They went by so fast!) He went off on a tangent talking about riveting steam locomotives.  That would have fit better into the coming episode on steam.  It was interesting to learn that the cars tilt & that they are permanently connected for a smoother ride.

  I was amused when he said that Amtrak uses snap-on track, because it is faster to install on a very busy railroad.   I'll use that excuse now.  :D
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Santa Fe buff on December 02, 2008, 08:42:02 AM
Well, looks like tonight's episode is about Union Pacific reefers...
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Frisco on December 02, 2008, 11:20:58 PM
My thoughts on the show......  1. You can tell the host is just really excited....nothing rong with that but it can get to be a little much. 2.There is not much I have learned from (it is mostly basic info). 3. Good to see some trains on TV.      To sum it up although it's not my favorite I think that the show fits what it probaly ment to do... teach people who don't know much of anything about trains the basics while still having some appeal to railfans.                                                   


I just finished watching tonights episode prety much the same as the others. I was however very unhappy to see the 1960's refers getting scraped :'(. The guy seemed happy about it >:(! Sorry to any-one over 40 but I consider a freight car from the 60's a historical artifact. I hope a museum saves at least a couple before UP gets rid of them all.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: WGL on December 04, 2008, 03:58:45 AM
  I ordered 2 53' well cars on sale from Walthers for $14 each.  Was I shocked to find that they are actually 75' long!  53' must refer to the length of their wells.  They are all metal, heavy & made well.  I tested them on 18" & 22" curves:  they work on both but suit 22" better.

  Bob or other UP modellers, car you tell which model of UP locomotives pull that Produce Express?

Bill
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Santa Fe buff on December 04, 2008, 08:19:08 AM
I'd like to say Dash-9, but it appeared to be a possible AC series by the trucks...

Frisco,
He wasn't just happy about it, he was SUPER happy. I'm surprised he wasn't jumping up and down. They use that machine for scraping poor old F units, GPs, SDs, and etc. They just remove the engine, un-install certain parts, and let the "Evil Jaws of Life" scrap the rest. I too was crushed when I hear it was from the 1960s. Also, what was with him and those cherries?! He ate them off the ground when picking exclaiming, "10-second rule.". Also, he kept talking about how much he wanted to bust open a reefer car for some 'snacks' to eat. Then the first thing he does when they open the reefer car, is looking inside, finds the cherries, and litterly opens the box, and packaging and eats one... Oh boy, I think they might of had to already pre-paid for those cherries - I hope.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Guilford Guy on December 04, 2008, 10:44:33 AM
I think any combination of SD70ACe's, AC4400's, C44-9W's, or ES44DC's would be suitable (with emphasis on SD70ACe's and AC4400's.)
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: WGL on December 11, 2008, 01:31:14 AM
GG,
  However, you couldn't identify the locomotive from the film.  I suspect that railfans would film the Extreme Trains with more attention to details.

I was interested to learn that the UP 844 began the year I was born.  Also, I counted a 4-8-4 wheel configuration.  Did the 844 get its name from the wheels?  Why does it have those (ugly to me) blinders?  Did they cheat & have a diesel locomotive behind it?

  Bob, that's your territory.  Have you ridden the UP 844?
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on December 11, 2008, 02:23:48 AM
Unfortunately I have not had the pleasure of riding 844. I believe it is called an "FEF" for 4-8-4.  There is a similar locomotive in the barn at Cheyenne that is used for parts scavenging, I forget the number.

I was told the "blinders" are called "elephant ears" and are smoke lifters or smoke deflectors so as not to hinder engineer visibility.

Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: mtlatc on December 11, 2008, 11:41:15 PM
As of...well..I forget...It always has modern power behind it. Got to love it, but the PAX will not accept 4-8 MPH....lol
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Frisco on December 12, 2008, 06:57:38 PM
Quote from: Yampa Bob on December 11, 2008, 02:23:48 AMThere is a similar locomotive in the barn at Cheyenne that is used for parts scavenging, I forget the number.
It is #838 here is a picture I took of it while in Cheyenne in June. It is in pretty bad shape but at least one of the 800's still get to run.    (http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/RyanMarrs/DSCN1664.jpg)
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Frisco on December 12, 2008, 07:06:35 PM
The one time I saw it was near Cheyenne. I can't tell what kind of locomotives are pulling it but it gives you the idea. (http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/RyanMarrs/DSCN1737.jpg)
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Woody Elmore on December 13, 2008, 08:51:01 AM
The engine's original number was 8444 but was reassigned a lower number to allow for a block of numbers to be assigned to (ugh) diesels.

Is it me or is "Extreme Trains" extremely awful?
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: RAM on December 13, 2008, 05:18:01 PM
The engine's original number was 844 but was reassigned a higher number 8444 to allow for a block of numbers to be assigned to (ugh) diesels.  When those diesels units were sold the U.P. renumber it to the original number of 844.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: WGL on December 18, 2008, 02:35:56 AM
 Since I have a Great Northern Empire Builder train, I particularly appreciated the latest episode of Extreme Trains.  This time, Matt did specify the type of locomotives, 2 GE Genesis.  The 12 cars are too many for my railroad.  The maximum legal speed of 79 mph is about what my GN F7A-B gets, but mine can't do the 110 top speed Amtrak can reach.  Matt went on another tangent to show cleaning the ashes out of a steamer, when he might have relaxed a while to chat with other passengers.  I liked that he did show a lot of what goes on inside the train.  It's fortunate that the bi-level cars clear the 7.8 mile long tunnel!
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Craig on December 21, 2008, 12:09:53 PM
Quote from: Woody Elmore on December 13, 2008, 08:51:01 AM

Is it me or is "Extreme Trains" extremely awful?

Were it not for the fact that I watch the show with my kids, I would have a tough time sitting through 60 minutes of it. It just isn't interesting enough. Why don't they show us how and when (and tell us why) the train swaps engines here and there, or why there are two now when there were three a minute ago. I know the answers to those questions but I'd be more interested in the series if they focused more on the consists instead of the route and cargo.

There's nothing extreme about any of the trains they've featured, in my less than humble opinion.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on December 24, 2008, 12:19:47 AM
In this area, UP uses mostly AC4400TE, they work well on tight mountain curves. I have 2 of them, one with sound. They look and run great on my 18" layout.

Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Mr.Train on December 24, 2008, 12:51:28 PM
 In my novice opinion Extreme Trains is more for the people who know absolutely nothing about the railroad and how it works. I can barely stand the entire show. also you never learn anything from it.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Santa Fe buff on December 24, 2008, 03:37:26 PM
Me and my friend were getting irritated with the show too. We kept saying, "Naw, REALLY?!" It was nice to see the action and trains, but seeing things for the 100th time is annoying.

Overall, I'm glad there's a train show, unfortunately, it isn't for the experienced rail-fans.  :-\

Josh
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on December 24, 2008, 03:59:46 PM
Well, I spent thousands of hours this year researching railroads, and consider myself well versed in railroad operations, but I found the program to be very interesting and enlightening.

Of course, if one is already a fully trained and certified railroad engineer, MOW specialist, freight and passenger operations manager, circus owner, etc,  with 20 years of experience, then I suppose one would find the show boring.  :D
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Woody Elmore on December 26, 2008, 09:18:40 AM
I watched the Ringling Brothers commercial that was disguised as an episode of "Extreme Trains."  The RBBB was the first company to go after companies that used the name and logos without their permission. Walthers was almost sued back in the late Seventies by them (They produced a model of one of the RBBB cars.)

I did find parts of the show interesting because I've long had an interest in circus trains. The host has to stifle his enthusiam over some of the more mundane activities of regular day to day railroading.

Did anyone notice that he climbed down from a locomotive facing out? I thought that it was an unwritten rule to enter or leave a locomotive by facing the engine? Some kind of safety thing.
Title: Re: extreme trains
Post by: Yampa Bob on December 26, 2008, 01:20:27 PM
Remember P.T. Barnum's famous slogan?

I run large tractors on the ranch, you never exit equipment or large trucks facing out.  Same goes for the running board on smaller pickups.

As they say, "that's show biz", they edited out the face plants and butt busters.

If you like train videos, check out my thread "Scenic Railroads".