I don't take the show too serious. When watching some episodes They don't seem to cut the right footage in at times. But I just enjoy the show for the scenery, moving trains and the people on the trains and the ones living off grid.................Paul
I doubt that anyone could live on this alone, but everyone that lives in Alaska for a year gets a check from the state from their oil revenue. I think it's currently around a couple grand (I think it varies yearly?), but not bad for doing nothing. However, everything is quite expensive there so the check doesn't go too far. My brother-in-law has lived up there for close to 20 years or so now and he is not off grid. Lives in a city, in a regular old house, just like we have down here in the lower 48.
I would love to visit there one day! I understand it is spectacular! You wouldn't catch me dead anywhere north of the southern coast where 98% live. People don't realize Alaska is 50% the size of the continental mainland!!! It's HUGE!!!! and 99% is a true vast cold barren wasteland wilderness absolutely frozen.
quote:Same old made up drama
I think that just about every "reality" TV show has made up drama.
The ARR usually shuts down for Thanksgiving. It will be interesting to see this "live camera event" tomorrow. Sunrise is after 8am - 3-4 hours of this should be in the dark - headlight only.
Off grid suits me just fine - Oregon style. Lots of space and freedom. And there used to be an impressive logging railroad operation nearby, with switchbacks.
Attachments
The other night they had someone shoot the rail with a high powered rifle. The track crew cut a three foot piece out of the rail. Then they hooked a cable into the rail and stretched it to fill the gap.
jmiller,
I watched that and wondered what kind of ammo-armor piercing? I don't think even a 7mm remington mag would do that. maybe a 50, but the hole wasn't that big.
I think that the show is aimed at an audience that is not knowing anything about trains and railroading. I watched the new season the other night and I'm not sure if I will continue to watch. Its the same story every show!.
Guys, it's not a live feed.
It's advertised as a "Real Time Ride"
Live feed=Happening at the moment you're watching it
Real time=can be live or recorded but contains no edits. Foot by foot, mile by mile, just as the train crew would see it.
The Macy's Parade is a "live feed" (except for satellite delay, etc.).
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all....
Many years ago the Alaska was having trouble filling railroad vacancies. I had an opportunity to contract out to them as an Engineer. At the time, the signing bonus was significant. I can't remember if it was a 1 or 2 year contract. Wife and I discussed the deal, and I seriously considered it. However, the deal breaker for me was having to move up there for two years (or one?), and the wife staying behind. (Our daughter had just married.) Yes, she could have come up for an extended visit (a week or two using PTO) once/twice a year (her job was too lucrative to quit), but that would be a sucky way of living.
So... I continued to railroad regionally!
Sometimes I wonder "what if" on the Alaska deal... but I have no regrets. The right decision was made.
Had we been younger/newly married w/no children: No brainer. Alaska here we come.
I like the show, even though it's all filmed on Universal's lot in Hollywood. There is no real Alaska.
My family lived in Alaska for a while when I was a kid, back in the 50's. I went back as an adult and worked for 5 years, traveling throughout Alaska, including the high Arctic. I love it up there, absolutely awesome! If it wasn't for family I would be back there for good.
This weeks not too bad. They digitally blanked out cab numbers on some of the locos. Whoever edits this stuff still needs to quit mixing up the train shots. Sometimes MACs - sometimes GPs. They showed the MAC desktop controls - but GPs were leading train.