RAILROAD ALASKA REALITY TV SERIES

I posted the same darn thing but didn't see your post.  Looks good and I have my DVR set to record

I just watched about 30 minutes of the show. I'm recording the rerun of this Episode 1 at 1AM. Question, how many railroads still use jointed rail on mainlines that's not welded as they show in this show? I know NS, CSX, BNSF, & UP do, but I just ask. Also never seen a flatbed semi trailer with backhoe with railroad wheels motorized before. This show looks better then Extreme Trains. But Extreme Trains was good, but fast pase. I guess Railroad Alaska is 5 episodes, every episode on Saturday till December 14th.

I just found this show this past weekend. I really enjoyed the episodes & now I am in love with the Alaska colors. Never paid attention to them before. Looks like I know what my next purchases will be.

The Alaska Railroad show is worth watching, and I rate highly. I had no idea that the Alaska Railroad gave personal service to people along the right-of-way in the outback.

Beautiful scenery (filmed on a clear day) but I certainly cannot understand anyone wanting to live there in the outback away from any town as one of the fellas does. His mom came for a visit and requested a handle on the door of the outhouse…  OUTHOUSE?

Yes sir - and it's 20' or so from the 'regular house'!

Nuts….

There's probably no bigger Alaska RR fan on this forum than I am (about 30 ARR locomotives and still growing), but I don't have access to that TV channel.  If they make the series available on DVD, now or later on, I would appreciate it if someone would provide a link to the ordering address.

I've managed to see the first two programs, and I've enjoyed them very much. I think that Alaska livery on the locos is very attractive, and the program offers a lot of action shots and cab views, including MOW scenes. The folks that live along the ROW in the back country (where the RR is the only access to civilization) are truly a different breed, as are the railroaders that keep everything flowing in all kinds of weather. Missing a delivery of propane or generator gas can mean the difference between life and death. All in all, its a surprisingly excellent program, "surprisingly" because commercial television often misses the mark on railroad programs.

So far I think the show is ok... I wish they would spend more time talking about the trains themselves. Allan the possibilities are endless when it comes to modeling Alaska. Im surprised no one else on OGR models Alaska.

Watching the show sure gave me the bug to incorporate some Alaska RR into my layout. The show was even on in the hospital I've been in ... my roommate and I were kinda fascinated by it.

 

I never gave the ARR much notice, either. If Lionel does those big EMD units in Legacy, I'll sure be interested.

 

I wish the ARR had an interchange with CP to make it kinda prototypical for me, but what the heck. Some handsome engines for sure.

 

Jim

Here are some of the promo videos:

 

http://america.discovery.com/t...alaskan-railroad.htm

I really like it. There's a lot more to railroads than trains. I have met a lot of the

CSX track gang back here, a hard workin' bunch of guys. So I got a kick out of the

AAR's guys, with the avalance howizer, and bolting in a new section of rail.

 

E

ANYTHING would be better than Extreme Trains! That was without a doubt the worst show about railroading ever produced. A host on uppers, writers who had no clue what they were writing about and a frenetic producer that insisted on speeding up almost everything they shot on video.  Frankly I thought that show was an embarrassment to the industry and I'm glad it's gone.

 

Having said that, did anyone notice the factual error that crept into the script on this most recent episode? Here's a hint...it had to do with the fuel-laden tanker train.

The teasers look good but not had a chance to watch actual show.

 

I just hope that it doesn't take on the drama of most reality TV shows!

 

Dave

 

I enjoy the show.  You have to ignore their manufactured drama.  I also learned a new word: "offgridders."

I enjoyed it as well.   

I enjoyed the show. I thought they showed a lot about both the people living along thre track and the work being done on the RR.

Rich I am not sure what the error was but I heard them say that the tankers had come by barge and were 10 tons each. I though the 10 tons was not a correct weight for the suel. Maybe they ment 10K Gal per car?

Bobby I did not realize the individual service they offered the people along this route.

They sure carried all kind of supplies and parts to the people along the route. It seemed to me that the train crew knew the passengers so they must use it a lot just like a regular commuter.

 

C. SAM, Did you notice the son had the moms work list to get done before she got there lol. I wondered about the large pile of snow on top of the outhose naybe bring it down. lol Bill

I thought that it had some real life things that we don't get to see. Like the snow build up on the slope of the hills and firing the shell into the snow to cause it to all come down and then the amount of clean up that they were left with.

 

I also thought the ride with the large snow plow with the hydralic wings was really cool. Also thought them going thru the tunnel with the wings retracred and double checking them as they approached the entrance was real life.

 

I also like seeing the cracked rail and how that went about fixing it. Now that was really a COOL PIECE OF WORK THEY DID.

Interesting show.

 

You're on the right track...pun intended.

 

The narrator said the tank train carried 1,600 tons of fuel in the train. They left off a zero. 16,000 tons would be more like it. 1,600 tons is only about 20 cars. That train had a lot more than 20 cars!

 

Admittedly 16,000 tons is a BIG train, but 1,600 tons was way too small for that train.

Rich, Thanks.

I also thought the method they used for replacing a section of rail was intresting.

The scenery along the Alaska Railroad is awesome.

Bobby I agree but don't think I could hanfel all the snow and darkness.

boy its a struggle living the way they do up there.  the last episode with the people and the propane.  Run out and its a life death issue!  wow.  and the use of the Howitzer cannon!  to blow up a snow bank to avalanche!  and then hurry to clean up the snow 30 feet deep!  those guys work hard there!  the repair of the track was cool too.  great show!

 

Jointed rail?  Extream cold?  Easier to replace?

Dominic they had a crack in a rail that needed attention. It looked like they cut out about a 10 or 12 foot section and droped in a new section that they heated up to get it to expand amd then let it cool just in time as the regular run of trains were right on their heels. When the train crossed it the first time they knew it was a replaced rail and ran very slow across it. Those guys on the ARR really earn their money.

BillPas thanks for starting this thread. It is a very intresting new program with normal everyday events here in the lower 48 that can be a matter of life and death in Alask.

I have a question for the forum.Did alaska rr ever have standard steam locomotives?I am not thinking about white pass locomotives.

All,

The scenery on the Alaska Railroad is awesome.

Does anyone model the Alaska Railroad?

Bill

I think the railroad was started in 1909 and not sure think they are restoring a 2-8-0. 

I model the Alaska RR (or will be doing so if I ever get back to working on my layout), and here is their all-time locomotive roster.

You know, with the way these programs get edited, it is hard to say just what is going on. The passenger train has two engines on the head end here and next it only has one in the lead with another on the rear??? I don't think the freight was a solid tank train either from what I saw, so, 11-12 tank cars would be about 1,600 tons. Figure about 25-30 tons for the light weight of each car. 

 

From the way producers have to interject drama into these stories the way they do to make them the least bit interesting, it is easy to see why railroading has not yet turned into a major spectator sport. 

Allan,

Wow! The Alaska Railroad has over the last century,

employed an impressive roster of both steam and diesel

loco's.

Looks like a great opportunity for model railroaders.

Bill

I, too, enjoy the Alaska RR. The history, the geography, all of it. When I thought about modeling it, the sheer size of the proportions make it difficult. The Hurricane Gulch Bridge, built around 1908, I believe, crosses over a nearly 800ft gulch. That's the arch-under bridge that you see in the intro shots. The mountains dwarf everything. The Port of Whittier, which has been in the show, is what connects Alaska to Canada and the lower 48. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is 13,300 feet long. It's the only land connection.

Then there's the trees. You think that you never have enough trees on your layout, well...

 

There will be no scale modeling for me. An O scale Hurricane Gulch would be nearly 200ft with a scale Denali (Mt. McKinley) at 5000ft.

 

Canada and the US Rockies must be just as tough.

 

I am enjoying the show, even though it took the second episode for the editing to grow on me. I want more trains and railroaders and less locals.

 

John's Alaska Railroad Page has been a lot of fun for me.

 

Check out Million Dollar Curve.

 

The crew was with the ARR for nearly a year and they're still making mistakes as pointed out by Big Jim. The ARR staff are obviously on their good behavior.

 

They are leaving out the military bases. There's more track from Fairbanks, sort of S or SSW to a mining area and a joint Army\Air Force base.

 

All considered, I am glad it's being aired.  

Thanks allan.Man they had a lot of locomotives through the years.They must have really liked the mikes.Then again you could run freight and passnger trains.I like the look of there sd70s.

FWIW, that big machine they used to plow snow is called a "Jordan Spreader". It can be used for a lot of things including shaping ballast along the RofW. As they said back in those old WWII sub movies..."and she's got a bone in her teeth!"

Jordan Spreader

I wish the show, would not focus on just a few employees.  The ARR has more than 3 guys in train service.  Some of situations seem staged too.

I wish they would stop referring to it (on their promo pages) as the "Alaskan Railroad."  It's the Alaska Railroad.  Having seen only a few of the short promo videos, I can pretty much tell that it's more or less a somewhat upscale "Extreme Trains" type of program rather than a documentary.

Bought an Alaska Railroad hat! 

Saw tonights ARR show and saw all the ice issues along the right a way. Intresting how they cooled down the "HOT WHEEL" so they could release the brak shoes.

I enjoyed last night's episode, and for a "reality show" about people "living off the grid", I find it very interesting. Also, for a show focusing on a railroad, they do a fairly good job....we've seen much worse. I think the blue/yellow livery of the locomotives looks great against the snow, and I'm sorry I missed the K-Line SD-70's now. In fact we are planning a trip there with another couple next summer, and the railroad's website is our starting point. The shots of the trains in scenery are breathtaking.

 

All that being said, I thought the story about the young mother visiting her heavily pregnant girlfriend in the bush, "forgetting" formula for her month-old infant, and needing to walk two miles through snow to the flagstop (with baby) to take an all-day trip to Talkeetna, and back....I thought that was a bit contrived. 

 

However, I look forward to future shows.

 

(P.S. Allan....I listened for references to the "Alaskan" Railroad, but I'm pretty sure the narrator and employees all referred to it by its correct name.)

I was actually referring to some of the subtitles used on their online promo site.

Last nights episode was pretty good...some beautiful country for sure.

My Dad, Stanley Gray, worked on the ARR in the late 1940s-early 50s as a fireman on steam work trains, which from his old photos seemed to always have a steam wrecker type crane on it.  From what I remember it had something to do with bridge and track maintenance.

Don't remember if it was still run by the government back then.

We used to meet him at the Boeing Field when he flew back from time-to-time for a week or two at home before flying back.

There wasn't any family housing then available around where he worked, so we stayed in Seattle.

Finally he gave up on moving us up there, quit, and came back home. 

He must have been up there two-three years.

I think they are spending too much time talking about off gridders, but maybe that's what the show was about.  The SBS guy meeting the train crew, that seems staged.  Usually the crew hauler with a suburban meets the train crews.

 

The show is staying on the South end of the Railroad.  There's more to the Railroad.  Fuel & Coal starts up north.  There's a nightly Piggyback trains - north & south - hauling food & freight - between Anchorage & Fairbanks.

 

RK,

i would guess that the show uses a foot print like many of these shows do like "Gold Ruxh" or "Bearing Sea Gold" where they bounce between several groups in each show. I think probably the running trains make up a group, the crew maintaining the right of way makes up a group and the folks living off grid make up a group. So I think we will only see rail operations as we already have and the non rail ops (off grid people). I like it enough to try and catch it on Sundays.

Back in the late 90's I visited Alaska and rode "the last flagdown train" out of Talkeetna. It was an old RDC originally owned by the B&O. Had to wait for the passenger train from Anchorage to Denali to pass before the RDC left Talkeetna. Remember the Denali train having open viewing sides on many of the cars. The RDC only ventured about 15 miles north and back carrying and dropping off passengers along the way. Wonder if it's still active?

 

Rich

Curious if there are any expansion plans for the rr?

The ARR is currently expanding.  Port MacKenzie spur, by Wasilla has started & the Northern Spur to access military bases & military training grounds is being built.

 

http://www.alaskarails.org/pix.../index.html#20131020

http://www.alaskarailroad.com/...E_FactSheet_PROJ.pdf

 

RK,

Looking at those airal pictures wow....Those areas look tuff tobuild a roadbed through. I bet it is expensive to build rail lines in AK especially across that type of land. The mountains with tunnels and ledge roadbeds probably are even a lot more. What a railroad.

Wonder how the cost of rail fare on the ARR compairs with the cost in the lower 48? Wonder what thre average cost for a mile of railbed on the ARR is compairted to the lower 48? Does the ARR receive any Federal dollars or State Dollars?

Did anyone see what the next issue is going to be about?

I just purchased the season on iTunes for $8.97 in high def.  Haven't watched it yet.  Just do a search on iTunes.  Can watch on computer, iPad, or Apple TV.

 

Tom

 

RK,

Thanks for the info. I probably will watch it also. Thanks again.

The show is a bit corny and contrived but I think it has to be to make it interesting.

I agree that this show is as much about the people living off-grid as it is about the railroad, but I can overlook the corny or contrived stuff. The rail operations are interesting and the scenery is terrific.

 

1 more show left of this series.

Last nights show was a little goofy again.  The show used some footage left over from the 1st show.  They also goofed on the units - just like the 1st show.  They talk about leaving Whittier - show them getting on GP units - then the rest of shots to anchorage are of MACs.

RK I saw some of that show last night. The guys that ordered out the material to fix the roof were off quite a bit. Wonder why they did't over order a bit and just store an left over sheets of plywood.

I am now "3 and out" on this show. I've watched three episodes and can't watch any more. Too much hype ("If the train doesn't get through the world is going to end!!!!!") and too many obviously contrived situations. My "BS" meter has gone off the scale.

 

I'm all done with this one.

The show is scripted like AMERICAN PICKERS, those auction shows and pawn shop shows.....I watch but not everything everyday on the ALASKA RAILROAD is a matter of life and death.  My wife records it and we fast forward through the tripe.

 

 

I was "riveted" by their stuck backhoe with a "train on the way".  A real backhoe operator would have walked that thing out of there in just a few minutes using the outriggers and the bucket. Instead, they finally pulled it out with a snow plow that had been sitting there waiting for them for over an hour. Just stupid TV.

 

The scenery is pretty and the dual use train/car tunnel was interesting.

 

Gilly 

watched first half of that episode Gilly, and could not understand why he would listen to the foreman / moron, and why it took so long for the other piece of equipment to be brought into play to pull him out.  oh and yes Rich, it is staged for DRAMA!!!!  Won't bother with this one again.

Drama...you betcha!

 

Why...the tension in my den was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The Lovely and Gracious Linda was concerned for my health!  I almost got a nosebleed!!!!! 

 

What a crock... 

Would be more interesting showing the operation instead of fake drama.

 

"Would be more interesting showing the operation instead of fake drama."

 

I believe if there were truly any drama in the operation...they would not need to "fake" the drama.  I lived up there only 4 years and did not really have the time or interest in chasing the ARR.  I used to ride by the yard every now and again...usually seemed like sleepy hollow to me.  The Anchorage paper did not seem to run many stories concerning the drama on the ARR.  They did mention the many Moose killed by trains in the winter time...when it is easier to walk on the tracks than not.

 

All that said...fantastically beautiful country...especially with the snow...and one of the most attractive railroad paint schemes in the world. This is an interesting show if you watch with your tongue firmly planted in your cheek.

 

Someone asked if the ARR gets any federal or state money...well, that's how they survive.  Building the line from Fairbanks beyond Eielson Air Force Base toward Delta Junction has little to do with "National Defense" and everything to do with keeping Alaska "alive."

 

There is nothing in Alaska that does not "survive" without Federal money.  The worst thing to happen to Alaska was not that Earthquake back in the 60s...it was the death of Senator Ted Stevens...there's a reason so many things are named after him.

 

By the way...in case you folks haven't noticed...all reality type shows are "produced."  Yes, all of them...hard to believe I know.  It is pretty difficult to cram that much drama or excitement into one hour...and just "let things happen."  Think about it.

 

Another by the way...the ARR must be pretty darned boring in the summer time...no snow to battle...the off-gridders don't even need to depend on the train then.

Thank you, for posting Alan. An amazing roster!! I too like the ARR. Tom

I have been enjoying the show so far.  I can tolerate the staged or exaggerated "drama" as a necessary evil to keep the non-train crowd interested.

 

I hope they don't just confine the show to cover the winter months.  I'm sure they can find some "drama" for the warmer months...

 

Almost makes me want to buy a model of an ARR engine.

 

Andy

I have to agree with Rich. I quit on this series 2 weeks ago. It reminds me of Ice Road Truckers. Just before a commercial, "were gonna crash". After the commercial break; "whew, that was close"

I haven't watched the series, and from what I've read and heard thus far, I haven't missed anything aside from some nice Alaska scenery from time to time.  I MUCH prefer true documentary presentations of railroading and already have a number of Alaska RR videos (Pentrex and others).  Reality TV, popular as it may be, is most definitely NOT for me in any way, shape, or form ("Antiques Roadshow" or "This Old House" is about as far as I'm willing to venture into that sort of programming).

 

As for O gauge models:  A surprising number have been produced by MTH (largest variety), Lionel, Williams by Bachmann, and RMT.  I have about 30 distinctive Alaska RR models now, most of which are diesels, and more on the way.  Would love to see some more steam at some point.

Where else would you learn how to re-rail a car with a big chain?

 

 

And it took them 40 minutes to re-rail that car? That simple derailment was a 10-15 minute job at best.

 

I've re-railed cars like that a hundred times. We usually used wood blocks, but a chain would work, too. Anything that will lift the flange of the wheel over the railhead and apply a little bit of lateral pressure to move the wheels back towards the rail.

But have you done it in sub-zero temps?

While I prefer a good documentary to this format, I have to say I love the show. What's not to love? Trains and beautiful scenery...

 

People on here are too critical. Reality TV is here to stay regardless of what we say. Wouldn't you rather have one about trains than some other topic that you don't care about. When they let us make the shows then we will get exactly what we want. Until then, relax and just enjoy the eye candy. Personally, I am now very likely to purchase some Alaska RR equipment just because it looks so good in the snow  

I feel the same way.  Unfortunately, if this show were a strict documentary, it probably would never see the light of day.  That is the reality of this type of "reality" show.  I'm happy to get what I get and not look this gift (iron) horse in the mouth...

 

Andy

I wouldn't take this too seriously, I enjoy it for the scenery and a glimpse at winter operations up north.

quote:

But have you done it in sub-zero temps? 

That is the best time to do it. Sometimes cars will make their own track in the ice and all that is needed is to pull the car right back up on the rail.

Not really.  It's just a matter of different strokes for different folks.

 

I don't mind the TV being jam packed full of reality shows; I just choose not to watch them.

 

And big Alaska RR fan that I am, I have a pretty good hunch that I haven't missed much about the ARR by not being able to view this series.

Well Allan, then you are missing out IMHO. If for no other reason than the eye candy that is watching the Alaska RR run in the snow in Alaska in HD. I would certainly never turn down an opportunity to watch my favorite RR in HD. How many other opportunities do you have to watch the Alaska in HD?

 

You can also purchase episodes via various streaming outlets. I use VUDU personally.

Allan hasn't missed a thing. More is shown about the "Off-griders" than any actual train footage. Which, by the way, is a jumbled up mess.

That's your opinion which you are entitled to. I respectfully, but absolutely disagree with you.

There will be no scale modeling for me. An O scale Hurricane Gulch would be nearly 200ft with a scale Denali (Mt. McKinley) at 5000ft

 

 

Moonman,

 

 your math is a bit off, O Scale is 48:1 or 1/4 INCH to the foot, not 1/4 SCALE.

 

Denali (Mt Mckinley) at 20,237' (according to wikipedia) would be 421.6' tall assuming your floor is at your "scale Sealevel" so it is still not practical to model "in Scale"

 

Hurricane Gulch at 800' long would scale out to 16.6' in length, doable for a few, but not many would want to dedicate that much layout real estate to one feature.

 

Doug

Sone parts are ok. I will still watch the last one.

Hey Popsrr, don't be embarrased about watching it.  I lived and worked in Alaska for several years and I have still a lot of interest in both the ARR and the Bush people.  The show certainly isn't perfect but so what.  There are a lot of stupid shows set in Alaska but this one is interesting.  I just ignore the annoying bits.  Allan should open his mind a bit and watch - he might see something that wasn't in the Pentrex videos.

Don't worry too much about me.  Last I checked, I had a mind that was as open as many and perhaps more open than most.  But it is my own mind and it performs fairly independently based on my own tastes and life experiences.

 

Besides, I don't "do" cable TV since I'm not a regular viewer and would rather spend the $ on other things…trains, for example.

 

I have Alaska RR videos from Pentrex and and a number of other sources, and buy new ones when they are released.  May even buy this program if/when it becomes available in DVD form.  For now, though, I'm quite content just to read the comments posted here. 

I fail to see why this matters, some like it and some don't.  If you like it then watch it, and if not...then don't.

Gotcha Allan.  No problem. 

I think Chris has it right.

Thinking about the 2 threads running here, O might guess not enough people like the program and this weeks run might make it history.

That approach pretty much works for me!  

I'll watch the last show & have a laugh.

Just hang in there Allan.  Won't be too long before Kambach will be sending you their "free" DVDs.

 

Tony

Saw a rerun last night of the crew making the snow com down the mountain but shooting the shells into the hill side. I liked watching the rail section being replaced.

For what its worth...I think those of us who have not been around the real railroads like to see even little things like the rail replacement and the snow plowing on the rails. While those of you who have worked on and around the railroad it is pretty boring. SO bear with us you ole raikroad toots while we get our little view of what some folks go through to earn a living, lol

I have seen that episode as well.  Snow dangerously close...nothing a Howitzer won't fix.   

I enjoy the show since it has to do with trains.  My wife found the show for me and set up the DVR to record it.  I've seen two shows so far.  When I saw it was about the Alaska Railroad I immediately thought of Allan.  

 

Larry