So guys, What did you all think about the new series Extreme Trains? I thought it was pretty good myself! Can't wait to watch the whole series of this!
Not Bad. It is nice to have programs like that. RFDTV has a program on Saturday Mornings called Trains & Locomotives
Not too bad at all. DVR'd the episode on the NS and the Horseshoe Curve this evening. I even managed to watch the whole thing laying down and didn't fall asleep; THAT is a miracle.
Ditto! Unfortunately, I couldn't get my DVR setup until after the 1st showing. I'll have to record the second airing at 1:00 am. I've only had the recorder for about 2 years! LOL!! I liked the content. For the normal viewer, it probably had a decent WOW factor. I felt the host had a lot to do with that. For me, I thing they will be a valuable asset for layout ideas. It was interesting to see the Horse Shoe Curve compared to historical pics of the steam days. I'll watch all the series.:thumbs_up:
Extreme Trains Great programme. I watched it last night too. Did you watch "Bullet Trains" that followed it? Two hours of RR stuff:thumbs_up:
I thought the show was pretty good. I wasn't impressed with the host and I'm not sure why, just something about him. The first thing I did this morning is google the "Horseshoe Curve". On a scale of 1 to 5, I gave it a 4. I won't complain to much though, because I wish there were more programes like this.
I watched and enjoyed the program, but when I compare it to other programs (Dirty Jobs, American Chopper, Ax Men, Ice Road Truckers, Extreme Engineering, Worlds Toughest Fixes) I think it fell short of the mark. Of course it is only the first episode, so it may get better with time. I think they need to work on: The host. Too much yelling. I know he was close to loud equipment, but the other shows have found ways of dealing with that problem and almost never have it. The host. He was a little too excited. The best comparisons are Extreme Engineering and Worlds Toughest Fixes; both shows where the host worked in the industry before making a TV show about it. Both are much more low key, and to me it provides more credibility. You could even see it in the faces of the other engineers in the cab, they seem bemused he was acting like an excited 10 year old. Continuity. I realize when showing general shots of trains they won't always be in chronological order, or even of the same train. But man, there were some major errors: They show an empty train going up the track after making a big deal his train was fully loaded, then they show a pair of pushers chasing the empty train. Next scene his the pushers hooking onto his train. Right after they show him getting into four pushers they cut to what is clearly a different coal train with four pushers. Most of the shots "driving by" the train were of a totally different gondola style. Accurate Descriptions. The dynamic braking graphic greatly annoyed me. The traction motors do not feed power back into the diesel engine. I don't expect them to get too accurate, but the detail that it goes into large heater coils and gets blown out as heat is actually fairly interesting. The host didn't do enough. He's a conductor on a railroad, but they didn't give him a shot at "running the train", even for a minute or two. He did get to load and unload coal. Isn't the whole point the host doing things? The diversion to the Steam engine made no sense. If they wanted to show of brake shoes couldn't they have done that on a Diesel, and saved the steam footage for a Steam episode? For now, I'll attribute all of this to first episode kinks and hope they work it out. It is good to see a show about real trains on TV, and at a time when I think the public is receptive to hearing about the benefits of how trains can move freight cheaply and quickly. They need to improve some things quick though if it is going to stick around.
I found the show to be too hyper-kinetic, both in the performance of the host (he acted like he was on some extreme drugs!) and the director/editor (who tended to jump cut way too fast to follow any detail). Continuity errors were prevalent throughout; some trains had four (4) leading engines, then two (2); then four (4) trailing engines, then two (2). Alternate scenes showing a full outbound train juxtaposed with an empty train (also outbound? - it was difficult to tell). All in all it was an hour of railroad sound bites rather than a detailed examination of the importance and operation of coal drags. (I was almost expecting the clip regarding the rotary unloader to cut away before they explained that the cars were not uncoupled but had rotary coupler boxes. It was the first in-depth detail that was factually correct that I noticed.) I doubt that this will stay on my DVR much longer, and seeing this trend of targeting an audience with an all too short attention span, I hold out little hope for the follow-on episodes. Doesn't anyone know how to make a documentary anymore? (Besides Al Gore, that is!) David Martin, Ph.D.
Alex you probably saw this reply on Proboards. My take on this show is that it is not for railfans, though they will watch it with a critical eye for the obvious errors. 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. A show like this can help bring others to our hobby. Ed
I agree with ya! That is what the target audience is. Hopefully more people will be aware of trains and that they are more than a annoyance blocking crossings and creating noise pollution.
Oh fellers !! Lets not be to picky. Sure all you say is true. The host was a little over the top but a lot of 10 year olds most likely watched the show. Heck I'm an 8 year old at heart and enjoyed it a whole lot. And Leo remember the old addage "People who live in glass houses.":tb-wink::tb-biggrin: I'm glad it's on and will just enjoy the videos of the different trains, locomotives, trackwork (Wow ! that horseshoe curve was stupendous. How's that for an 8/10 year old:tb-biggrin and the scenery. I'm just glad we've got a show like it on the TV, It beats politics by a few light years :tb-rolleyes: I'll watch it a ll and I'm wating for it to come out on a DVD See ya Ron
You know I'm just thinking about what I could do with their budget and a cooperative railroad. :tb-tongue:
Leo, You're doing pretty well without that budget and with a 1:160 railroad! I usually avoid programs with the word "EXTREME" in the title. I find that announcers for those usually spend too much time creating drama where there isn't any and I can only take so much shouting in a day, despite a career in the building industry. Adam
extreme trains I liked it quite a lot. but the host was somewhat annoying. I was a conducter and track inspector for G an O for a good while so i really enjoyed the track crew.:tb-wink::thumbs_up:
I liked the show, but the host on the other hand, seems a little dumb considering he is a so called Railroad Employee.:tb-biggrin:
Leo, you and me both but could I spend mine on model trains instead ? BTW: I've enjoyed all of your Reality Reduced shows. See ya Ron
Thanks to DVR I am on the road so my sweetie back home set up the DVR to save the shows till I get home.
