Hot Water,
I don't know if you were involved with this particular excursion, but at one time, the show "Extreme Trains" filmed an episode called Steam Train, which was about UP 844. I don't know what year, but they do talk to engineer Steve Lee in the episode. Let me know if you saw the film crew, or if you were in this.
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Yes, I did watch it, when it was on the History Channel, some years ago. It was ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE!!!!!!! Not to mention, a number of "stupid scenes" were never included in the final program that showed on TV. There production technics and scripts were so bad, that after just one season, not a single railroad in North America would allow them back on their properties!
I can agree with that statement. I'm still surprised that they made the act of passing another train sound like such a dramatic and dangerous task. They also made it sound like the risk of a boiler explosion seem almost constant. And if YOU can't see where the train is going, Steve Lee can, and he knows what he's doing.
By the way, whose idea was it to put the "Toxic Chemicals" sign on the bathroom door in the tool car?
what would you expect from any show with the word 'extreme' in it's title?
an accurate depiction of how a railroad operates, or some amped-up display that bends reality for effect?
Hot Water posted:after just one season, not a single railroad in North America would allow them back on their properties!
Yep, I know a guy who does PR work for NS and he said once that show got out there, there was a mandate that they'd not allow segments from that show to be filmed with them.
You could have made a drinking game of the show, by taking a shot every time the ADD-addled host would say, "This is what it's all about," as I recall he said that lots of times in each episode.
So odd that for a train show, but among people in the RR industry and even among train fans, many seemed happy it got cancelled.
This was, without a doubt, the WORST television series about railroading ever produced in the history of television. As Hot Water said, after just ONE SEASON, no railroad in the country would allow them back on the property. After the first season, I talked with some of my NS contacts about this show. They had nothing good to say about the production crews involved in this. I haven't seen any reruns, either. Absolutely awful.
It's a great example of what happens when a young video producer who only knows how to "hype" his productions gets involved in trying to tell a story about an industry he knows absolutely NOTHING about...and made no attempt to learn anything about it either. I struggled to watch two full episodes so I could make a fair judgement. That was enough.
I saw another episode where the host rode in the cab of a BNSF stack train leaving LA. At one point, the train was going down the other side of Cajon Pass, and the film crew made it seem like they were this close to derailing, which I know is not true. I kind of enjoyed the cab shots in UP 844, but they depicted a steam locomotive as a polluting, track destroying, dangerous contraption that belongs in a scrap heap. Maybe CSX was involved. 
I mean the show was made after the last New River Train.
OGR Webmaster posted:This was, without a doubt, the WORST television series about railroading ever produced in the history of television. As Hot Water said, after just ONE SEASON, no railroad in the country would allow them back on the property. After the first season, I talked with some of my NS contacts about this show. They had nothing good to say about the production crews involved in this. I haven't seen any reruns, either. Absolutely awful.
It's a great example of what happens when a young video producer who only knows how to "hype" his productions gets involved in trying to tell a story about an industry he knows absolutely NOTHING about...and made no attempt to learn anything about it either. I struggled to watch two full episodes so I could make a fair judgement. That was enough.
Agreed.
I think that even the TOP GEAR episode where the host rode in 60163 Tornado from London to Edinburgh was better than Extreme Trains.
I don't really believe it myself, but does anyone else believe that the host actually works for a railroad in Maine?
Railfan Brody posted:I saw another episode where the host rode in the cab of a BNSF stack train leaving LA. At one point, the train was going down the other side of Cajon Pass, and the film crew made it seem like they were this close to derailing, which I know is not true. I kind of enjoyed the cab shots in UP 844, but they depicted a steam locomotive as a polluting, track destroying, dangerous contraption that belongs in a scrap heap. Maybe CSX was involved.
you admit to watching this after Rich's comment?
I was typing when Rich commented.
Well....after all...firing up a steam locomotive is a VERY dangerous thing to do. Just ask the host of this show. Why, if you heat up the boiler too fast, "...rivets are going to come shooting out..." (that's an actual quote from the host of this contrived show.) 
What a load of total BS. Nothing like showing the whole world that you know absolutely NOTHING about what you are talking about.
Worse, indoctrinating a clueless world with BS that could somehow sometime somewhere end up influencing some official policy.
palallin posted:Worse, indoctrinating a clueless world with BS that could somehow sometime somewhere end up influencing some official policy.
Like the Risk Management Dept. at CSX!
Hands down the worst program on railroading ever produced! According to that show it's a miracle any train successfully makes it to it's destination. Dumbest moment to me....when he was asking the engineer in pusher service on NS I believe if he was scared....the look on the guys face said it all.
Sometimes I'm really glad I've never paid for TV. 
OGR Webmaster posted:Well....after all...firing up a steam locomotive is a VERY dangerous thing to do. Just ask the host of this show. Why, if you heat up the boiler too fast, "...rivets are going to come shooting out..." (that's an actual quote from the host of this contrived show.)
What a load of total BS. Nothing like showing the whole world that you know absolutely NOTHING about what you are talking about.
I saw some of those shows.And for some reason it just did not seem all that good to me.Now trains unlimited was a good show.Even had up 844 helping a stalled freight train.I might get the dvd of that show.
Agreed. I watched one episode of that show and the host just made me sick to my stomach. It wasn't the one with the 844. That was it I never watched another episode. I am glad it is off the air. I believe all reality shows are scripted. The only one I watch regularly is Graveyard Carz and a few other ones about cars. The antics are all director inspired but a few things are real like the cars and customers reactions.
I saw something a long time ago that made me really mad. You just have to see it for yourself, because apparently, "If there's a fatality at a crossing without lights, it's Union Pacific's fault, NOT the person who didn't stop." Their words, not mine!
The comment section on YouTube was crazy.
A family member got me the DVD of the first season and something I found odd was 1225 being on the cover. Despite to my knowledge never being on the show
The Bellcaptain posted:
A family member got me the DVD of the first season and something I found odd was 1225 being on the cover. Despite to my knowledge never being on the show
Interesting! I wonder if that cheap*** production company paid the 1225 group anything for the use of their locomotive image?
Doubtful at best.
I recently got this as a Christmas gift. I feel like I've been jipped now reading these comments. I saw the 844 episode and thought it was a bit goofy. Now I'll ask a serious question. What railroad show would/did you guys prefer or recommend? I enjoyed trains unlimited alot when it was on but that was 20 years ago.
MJV1988 posted:Now I'll ask a serious question. What railroad show would/did you guys prefer or recommend? I enjoyed trains unlimited alot when it was on but that was 20 years ago.
The Trains Unlimited series is the ONLY factual series of programs on railroads and railroad history that the History Channel has ever offered, in my opinion.
Hot Water posted:Interesting! I wonder if that cheap*** production company paid the 1225 group anything for the use of their locomotive image?
Why would anyone have to pay the 1225 group? If anything, they would have to pay the photographer for use of the image.
I've said this many times on many forums, "factual" is boring to the average person. If you're bored, you're not going to watch, and if nobody watches, the show gets cancelled.
Of course if you go too far with the hype, you get cancelled too, but you may make it an entire season.
You guys are bein a little harsh about that video. They just needed Hotwater there to bust that guys b@!!s at every opportunity........ then it would have been great!
Kinda of funny that a "railroad employee and fan" from Maine thinks the 844 is the "finest steam locomotive ever built".
RickO posted:You guys are bein a little harsh about that video. They just needed Hotwater there to bust that guys b@!!s at every opportunity........ then it would have been great!
The facts of the matter are, there was indeed a LOT of "b@!! busting" going on from my late buddy, Fireman Lynn Nystrom, as well as other crew members. Naturally, none of THAT appeared in the segment shown on TV.
Kinda of funny that a "railroad employee and fan" from Maine thinks the 844 is the "finest steam locomotive ever built".
I seem to recall that THAT information was drummed into him by various members of the Steam Crew, and they were more than pleased that it made it into the TV program.
Hot Water posted:The facts of the matter are, there was indeed a LOT of "b@!! busting" going on from my late buddy, Fireman Lynn Nystrom, as well as other crew members. Naturally, none of THAT appeared in the segment shown on TV.
See now that I would have watched....over and over and over again.
Absolutely awful presentation.
So glad to know the 'show' was canceled after the first season.
Absolutely no doubt about it the presenter is a real horses ***!
MJV1988 posted:I recently got this as a Christmas gift. I feel like I've been jipped now reading these comments. I saw the 844 episode and thought it was a bit goofy. Now I'll ask a serious question. What railroad show would/did you guys prefer or recommend? I enjoyed trains unlimited alot when it was on but that was 20 years ago.
Tracks Ahead was good. But if you want classics take a look at discount stores (Big Lots, Ollie's, etc) that sell dvd's cheap. I've picked up several sets of promotional films done by the railroads back in the 50's.
I didn't mind the video.. Matt is a little over enthused but I've watched worse.
Any way Brody, isn't tomorrow the big day?? , Get to bed and get some rest... That's where I'm heading .
Pan Am Railways brought Matt Bown, the host of that show, to a Southwest Rail Shippers Association meeting in San Antonio the year after the show's first and only season. I had a chance to visit with Bown for a few minutes after lunch. He actually came across as a pretty down to earth kind of guy.
He was (and presumably still is) a Pan Am conductor in Maine. He wasn't at all hyper and "over the top" in person as he appeared in the show. When talking to him he said it was the producers idea to hype everything the way they did as it was thought this would make it more interesting for the average viewer.
If you've ever watched Railroad Alaska they have the same tendency to oversell certain things like ice jammed flangeways, an out of service switch or some of the products being hauled. In other words, a normal day on the railroad is turned into a suspenseful, nail biting experience.
For a rail fan or people knowledgeable about railroads, this kind of production is akin to fingernails on a blackboard but, to the average tv viewer, making a normal day on the railroad full of suspense is the only way to hold their attention and keep them watching.
Curt
juniata guy posted:...For a rail fan or people knowledgeable about railroads, this kind of production is akin to fingernails on a blackboard but, to the average tv viewer, making a normal day on the railroad full of suspense is the only way to hold their attention and keep them watching.
My wife, the Lovely and Gracious Linda, is definitely not a rail fan. She has the same opinion of this show that I do. How anyone could watch that hyped up, fast-motion, shaky camera crap is beyond me.
If Matt Brown is indeed the nice guy you said he is, I feel sorry for him. The producers of this load of crap made him look like a fool.
If junk TV like this is the only way to hold an audience's attention, we are in more trouble than I thought. 
pennytrains posted:MJV1988 posted:I recently got this as a Christmas gift. I feel like I've been jipped now reading these comments. I saw the 844 episode and thought it was a bit goofy. Now I'll ask a serious question. What railroad show would/did you guys prefer or recommend? I enjoyed trains unlimited alot when it was on but that was 20 years ago.
Tracks Ahead was good. But if you want classics take a look at discount stores (Big Lots, Ollie's, etc) that sell dvd's cheap. I've picked up several sets of promotional films done by the railroads back in the 50's.
Tracks Ahead....was that the one with Spencer Christian? I believe he's a weatherman out here in the bay area on one of the local stations. There was also a decent program on restored passenger cars that were owned by private parties. That only lasted about 3 or 4 episodes.
OGR Webmaster posted:Well....after all...firing up a steam locomotive is a VERY dangerous thing to do. Just ask the host of this show. Why, if you heat up the boiler too fast, "...rivets are going to come shooting out..." (that's an actual quote from the host of this contrived show.)
What a load of total BS. Nothing like showing the whole world that you know absolutely NOTHING about what you are talking about.
Rich, this happens every day. Just turn on the idiot box.
Larry
Railfan Brody posted:I saw something a long time ago that made me really mad. You just have to see it for yourself, because apparently, "If there's a fatality at a crossing without lights, it's Union Pacific's fault, NOT the person who didn't stop." Their words, not mine!
The comment section on YouTube was crazy.
I agree with you to a point, but why should the full safety onus (cost and actions) be on me so someone else can make money?
Brendan
Brendan posted:Railfan Brody posted:I saw something a long time ago that made me really mad. You just have to see it for yourself, because apparently, "If there's a fatality at a crossing without lights, it's Union Pacific's fault, NOT the person who didn't stop." Their words, not mine!
The comment section on YouTube was crazy.
I agree with you to a point, but why should the full safety onus (cost and actions) be on me so someone else can make money?
Brendan
Because as a tax paying U.S. citizen, THAT is part of your responsibility.
OGR Webmaster posted:juniata guy posted:...For a rail fan or people knowledgeable about railroads, this kind of production is akin to fingernails on a blackboard but, to the average tv viewer, making a normal day on the railroad full of suspense is the only way to hold their attention and keep them watching.
My wife, the Lovely and Gracious Linda, is definitely not a rail fan. She has the same opinion of this show that I do. How anyone could watch that hyped up, fast-motion, shaky camera crap is beyond me.
If Matt Brown is indeed the nice guy you said he is, I feel sorry for him. The producers of this load of crap made him look like a fool.
If junk TV like this is the only way to hold an audience's attention, we are in more trouble than I thought.
You guys sure are tough on a show called "Extreme Trains." LOL. It is .... what it is. It had a targeted audience.
Some months back, someone here posted a older video with Hot Water in it. I listened to him say that train enthusiasts have ugly wives, and his steam crew/shop buddy was laughing literally uncontrollably about stealing fruit from an orange grove. And, other such things.
That video sure wasn't what I thought it was going to be, but ..... it's all good.
Jim
EBT Jim posted:OGR Webmaster posted:juniata guy posted:...For a rail fan or people knowledgeable about railroads, this kind of production is akin to fingernails on a blackboard but, to the average tv viewer, making a normal day on the railroad full of suspense is the only way to hold their attention and keep them watching.
My wife, the Lovely and Gracious Linda, is definitely not a rail fan. She has the same opinion of this show that I do. How anyone could watch that hyped up, fast-motion, shaky camera crap is beyond me.
If Matt Brown is indeed the nice guy you said he is, I feel sorry for him. The producers of this load of crap made him look like a fool.
If junk TV like this is the only way to hold an audience's attention, we are in more trouble than I thought.
You guys sure are tough on a show called "Extreme Trains." LOL. It is .... what it is. It had a targeted audience.
Obviously NOT, i.e. "had a targeted audience."! The History Channel did NOT contract for anymore episodes, as they received so many complaints from the public and industry representatives.
Jim
Hot Water posted:Brendan posted:Railfan Brody posted:I saw something a long time ago that made me really mad. You just have to see it for yourself, because apparently, "If there's a fatality at a crossing without lights, it's Union Pacific's fault, NOT the person who didn't stop." Their words, not mine!
The comment section on YouTube was crazy.
I agree with you to a point, but why should the full safety onus (cost and actions) be on me so someone else can make money?
Brendan
Because as a tax paying U.S. citizen, THAT is part of your responsibility.
So you are saying it is my responsibility to pay taxes to help a railroad save money?
Brendan
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