RAILROAD ALASKA REALITY TV SERIES

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