TV series to spotlight 'awesome' trains — and 'gritty' rail workers

Posted by: Jeff Stagl | Date posted: 10/17/2008

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Comments

Posted by Vincent Terrill on 10/17/2008 8:27:33 PM

"Gritty" Re: "demonstrating resolution and fortitude" from Webster II New college dictionary-2001. I''ve been working on the railroad for almost 61 years. In that time my concentration has been on maintenance and constuction of the track and the bulk of my friends are others who have worked with me with the resolution and fortitude to keep the "Awesome Trains" that we will be seeing on the History Channel on the track. Without knowing for sure, a single thing that we will be seeing in this series entitled, "Awesome Trains" let me take an educated guess: Freight and Passenger trains running through horrific conditions requiring skill, "resolution and fortitude", from their operators and crews to do their job. I much suspect that there will be heroes emerge from the ordeals and much will be said about the "awesome trains" that had the power to make all this happen. Here is what I don''t expect to see: The "gritty", hard working people who cleared the snow and mudslide debris, filled in the washouts, cleaned up the derailments and restored the track. "Gritty" has a slang meaning of getting dirty/soiled from hard work and the trackmen that I have worked with all of my railroad life have done just that all day, every work day for however hours it took to keep the "Awesome Trains" on the track in good weather as well as bad. We should include the Mechanical guys, the mechanics, car knockers, car shop/engine house repair people who were proud and willing to get "gritty/grease stained to keep these "Awesome Engines" in superior repair to pull their consists up the steep vertical grades and the braking systems working that allow the locomotive engineers to keep their trains stretched out or bunched up tight, whichever is necessary to deliver people or freight safely and efficiently to the destination. These, and other true grit, grounded, every day railroad workmen are always on call in the event that the "Awesome Engines" need a helping "gritty" hand to keep them on the rails and able to "deliver the mail". Like many other railroad men and women, I don''t like being wrong but I truly hope that I am and the "History Channel" does actually show the resolute, determined, gritty men and women who serve the "Awesome Engines" and possess the skills that provide these special engines with the conditioning, power and care that all railroad locomotives require. The History Channel is a leader in providing information to the watching public, I sure hope that their series reveals, indeed, shows off, the sometime heroic and all time efforts of the "gritty" individuals tht keep these awesome engines in top repair and always on the iron. Vincent Terrill

Posted by George on 10/18/2008 4:46:09 AM

Now there's a non-review for you. How about looking at the DVD before opining? Change "extreme" to "impressive" and let's see what they've come up with, ok?

Posted by Chris Burger on 10/20/2008 2:35:13 PM

Here's hoping the History Channel series doesn't get sidetracked into making hoboes look more heroic than railroaders as so many other railroad related TV series have.

Posted by MICHAEL WILLIS on 10/20/2008 11:26:33 PM

Does anyone remember ''The Great Train Store''? The one located in Troy, Michigan in the Somerset Collection Mall was closed in 2000. Somerset Mall has a distant similarity to Londons'' Victoria Railway Station.I used to spend a lot of time there and recall the wealth of videos(principally VHS format).If you added at least 2hours/video x at least 300 tapes you know that there is lots to see! Add up railroad at least 100 years of company films, video & photo archives & private videos & photos by amateur trainspotters and you have enough there to launch: ''THE TRANSPORTATION CHANNEL'' The transportation channel would have to be all inclusive with the other modes of transport to have a larger viewing audience-including people who know very little about railway history-and could generate new interest because all of the modes-for the sake of efficiency need to eventually tie together in a seamless manner.

Posted by Ted on 10/22/2008 9:52:02 AM

I would hope they would go to Bill WY and show the awesome three and four track coal line with coal trains running with the frequency of street cars. Not some pokey trains.

Posted by n.c.halden on 10/22/2008 10:33:49 AM

Please allow me to correct one of the awesome train claims. the Acela train is a slow apology for a high speed train and weighs far too much to ever be such. The ALSTOM Duplex TGV and AGV is a really awesome train, you should experience it then you will know the difference. America is 30 years away from ever having a decent HST.

Posted by marv on 10/22/2008 11:32:42 AM

On TO, it was listed as a 1,400 ton coal train in Penn. That is a small train and no biug deal.

Posted by David Smith on 10/22/2008 6:46:02 PM

Let's just hope they didn't turn it into a soap opera like they did the "Ice Road Truckers".

Posted by michael willis on 10/22/2008 11:05:39 PM

I just had to quote the famous railway book author S. KIP FARRINGRTON, JR. from the forward of his 1951 edition of "RAILROADING The Modern Way". Published by Coward-McCann inc. New York- the 1st paragraph : this is very awesome to read! "FORWARD" "During the last two years it has been my good fortune to travel and inspect the railraods of sixteen foreign countries. Some years before I did the same thing in six other countries. After having the oppotunity of viewing all of their very fine railroads and territories plus the tremendous job they accomplish with their tedious and tough operations, I am even more thotoughly concinced that that UNITED STATES RAIL TRANSPORTATION IS THE BEST AND MOST LUXURIOUS IN THE WORLD. NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH AREA THERE SO MANY PASSENGERS AND SO MUCH FREIGHT ON THE MOVE WITH SPEED, SUCH REGULARITY,SUCH SAFETY, AND SUCH PUNCTUALITY AS IN THE STATES". S. Kip Farrington, Jr. Montauk, New York February 1, 1951

Posted by Tom Price on 10/23/2008 12:10:47 PM

I am puzzled about the all American content. I suppose the History Channel people feel rest of the world just operates wayfreights. Not much interest here.

Posted by James Mancuso on 10/23/2008 12:52:01 PM

If one wanted to see some really impressive trains, for one example, try the 4 mile long monster operated by Norfolk and Western in November of 1967 using six SD45s, three up front and three buried in the middle, or the three mile long monsters operated out of Buffalo,NY for a time by the same railroad. I am sure that, even with radio control of the midtrain diesels, these trains were quite a challenge for the engineer to operate safely, let alone get over the road at all.

Posted by Bruce on 10/23/2008 3:14:46 PM

Awesome would be well portrayed by the 10,000 foot double stack trains we take from San Bernardino to Needles (and on to Chicago). Three 4,400 hp units up front and two 4,400 DP units on the rear. We run these 7000 ton monsters at least 3 times a week safely and efficiently at 70mph.

Posted by Larry Kaufman on 10/23/2008 3:44:04 PM

These increasingly lengthy comments began with what one reader referred to as a "non-review," and have moved on to criticisms and suggested trains that should have been covered -- all by people who haven't seen the History Channel special. Come on, folks, at least wait until the producers have shown their work before skewering them. And remember, "awesome" is in the eye of the beholder - and the producer.

Posted by Peter Sexton on 10/23/2008 3:49:38 PM

Why would you comment on the Extreme Trains show without viewing the DVD?

Posted by James Swidergal on 10/23/2008 3:58:14 PM

It's a pity that so much goes into this blog site,and the program didn't even air yet. The History Channel usually get's it right,most of the time,(ie as previously mentioned Ice Road Truckers...hiccup...puke...zzzzz! But quite honestly I'd rather see all the gritty being depicted as the burn and turn hours of service,the greasy,dirty,knuckle bustin of a grinder crew, or track crew repairin switches after a knuclehead new hire ran threw in the dead of winter. Instead, I'm sure, it'll be some mediocre,glitz,whizbang episode, that'll make the Carriers' look like some great marvel,instead of the on the backs of rails kinda show.

Posted by Gary on 10/24/2008 11:28:17 AM

I worked in the Railroad Industry 43 years with 30 years as a Dispatcher for Soo Line and last 17 years with BN/BNSF I am looking forward to watching this program can remember some very large trains that moved some huge loads also fighting the Northern Blizzards could go on all day talking of my RR days Thank You

Posted by Amy Plummer on 10/24/2008 1:03:15 PM

I have been working in the real estate industry since 1990, early in my career I sold residential property and have since turned to Industrial Development years ago. I currently contract with a short line in South Carolina. I think shows like this are a very exciting and a positive addition to the rail industry. Were it not for the tireless and continual dedication of the railroad employees and workers, many Americans would not have jobs, commodities, retail goods, energy for their homes and cars, and the list goes on. It�s about time, in my opinion that Railroader�s received some intense recognition for their contribution to our personal, professional, commercial and industrial prosperity and success. I grow tired of public meetings where people ask for jobs from the industry rail brings while all the time trashing and degrading the railroad as being tyrants and bully�s. It is about time that all Americans realized that the rail industry is and will continue to be the backbone of our economy. I say thank you to all of you railroaders out there that do everything from keep up tracks to running trains and beyond. Were it not for you a staggering percentage of Americans could not live the lifestyle the live. Keep up the good work, and thank you from this developer, my family, and community for all you do. I hope this show will allow all of America to see the incredible part of our economy that all of you play.

Posted by michael willis on 10/24/2008 3:56:42 PM

GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO GET BACK ON THE RAILROAD TRACK! The following taken from "The WONDER BOOK OF TRAINS" new & revised edition by Norman Carlisle published by John.C.Winston co.1957 Chapter 24 features the "GM AEROTRAIN-pattern for future rail travel" "A group of railroad presidents asked GM for any suggestions that they might have for new hauling equipment would reduce operating and maintenence costs, lower center of gravity, increase average speed, improve riding comfort and make lower passenger fares possible. This request seemed like quite a proposition, but General Motors took it as an inspiting challange and eventually produced the AEROTRAIN" "The train gets its name ''Aerotrain'' from the fact that its suspension is on compressed air in rubber bellows instead of on conventional springs." "The train''s low center of gravity and lighter weight permit much faster speeds than are attained by present equipment. The 10-car unit, seating 400 passemgers, can travel at the rate of 100 miles per hour." " A taxi driver, passing the AEROTRAIN on display in Chicago, was heard to exclaim with enthusiasm, "Boy, you just know that thing will get you there in a hurry!" "SO fast does experimentation become reality in this day and age of mechanical miracles, that MANY OF THE NEWER TRAINS MAY BE IN ACTUAL OPERATION BY THE TIME THIS BOOK IS OFF THE PRESS" What I getting at is this-- The GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan is a massive and impressive sight, filled with some of the best engineering and design talent in the world, but in order for GM to survive it must re-embrace the railroad industry as one of its vital components.

Posted by KKasten on 10/24/2008 7:04:32 PM

Im a firefighter and any show about firefighters always gets me going but I would rather watch a show like this on the History Channel. I know one thing me and my eight-year old will be waiting to enjoy this series.

Posted by william cormeny on 10/27/2008 10:49:22 PM

There's no question US railroads,like Australian,Indian,Chinese,Russian,Brazilian,and Argentinian railroads must cover enormous areas of difficult terrain. However,given this similarity one wonders how these railroads were financed and how they manage to run systems where 97% of the workers do not suffer from disabling injuries.Either they have different insurance companies,or someone in the US is taking advantage of the system and the American taxpayers who foot the bill. Frankly,these other systems subsidize their railroads and ours seems to be run on a muddling through basis of accountants, management,union leaders,and attorneys.Only the health care system is morely poorly run.

Posted by Michael Willis on 10/27/2008 10:55:40 PM

"WESTWARD THE COURSE OF EMPIRE" by photographer Mark Ruwedel The ATLANTIC magazine of November 2008 on pg. 140 'COVER TO COVER A Guide to Additional Releases' just posted this from YALE press: "A veteran photographer of the American West, Ruwedel here takes as his abtruse but evocative subject the additions to the landscape made by the great expanding U.S. and Canadian railroads of the 19th and 20th centuries. The cuts and grades, tunnels and trestles that mark the terrain in in these starkly beautiful photographs seem like the North American equivalent of ruined Greek temples and Roman viaducts. For ruins many now are, testament to a burst of once-triumphant engineering swept aside by highways. Yet they seem oddly natural, such is the topography''s power to sublime human attempts to scratch away at something so grand and forbidding".

Posted by Larry Kaufman on 10/28/2008 11:49:12 AM

William Cormany injects a public policy issue into the discussion of "awesome" trains. That's OK, there are answers to his questions. They begin with the response that no one with the exception of some rail union leaders, has defended the high rate of disabilities that retiring Long Island Rail Road workers have been able to get. I wonder how long they will continue to receive those payments, now that the light of the New York Times is shining on the sleazy practice. I'm not aware of any "awesome" trains operated by the LIRR. As for how railroads were constructed, U.S. railroads were 92% financed by private - often foreign - capital, and 8% of system miles were built with the aid of public land grants. I claim no expertise on the foreign rail systems that Mr. Cormeny cites, but I suspect many of them were built with direct government funding, as they are public entities to this day. I'm not sure what, if anything, this has to do with "awesome" trains.

Posted by MICHAEL WILLIS on 10/29/2008 11:21:08 AM

"LIONEL TRAINS" represent North American railroad history in the most incredible way! The LIONEL Visitor''s Center in Chesterfield, Michigan(586-949-4100) was temporarily closed in June of 2008, supposedly for a remodeling. I checked back today, October 29th and found out that it is now permanently closed. The only good news is that the extensive ''LIONEL TRAINS'' layout will remain intact, but who is going to ever see it again? Quoting the LIONEL Visitor''s Center flyer: "LIONEL HISTORY" "The Lionel Visitor''s Center was constructed between September of 1991 & January of 1992 by employees and their families who volunteered their time after work hours. The layout is 14'' X 40'' and has over 30 push buttons that allow you to control the operating accessories. At any given time, between 10 & 15 trains are running on the layout which is updated continually to display the latest LIONEL product. Little stools are provided for the younger children. There''s also a train layout just for kids, so they can join in the fun too. JOSHUA LIONEL COWEN opened a small a small shoip in New York City in 1900 & established the LIONEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY. He created a motorized toy train car for window displays. It turned out that customers were more interested in the little train than what it carried, and with that, LIONEL TRAINS were born.For over a century, LIONEL has grown from a little toy company to the best loved name in model trains throughout the world. The company has crossed bridges from the Great Depression through two World Wars.Through many times of economic uncertainty LIONAL TRAINS HAVE LED THE MODEL TRAIN INDUSTRY WITH PROGRESSIVE ENGINEERING & TOUGH, RELIABLE OPERATION. LIONEL remains an AMERICAN ICON that designs and markets train sets for children, and limited-edition trains and accessories for hobbyists and collectors. LIONEL TRAINS are the most valued model trains in America today, being collected or operated by over 100,000 model train hobbyists. The success of LIONEL is the result of a 100-year tradition of painstaking attention to quality and innovation." "LIONEL-SINCE 1900"

Posted by Terry on 10/29/2008 12:00:54 PM

Appreciate their effort, but as with any of these shows there are a number of inaccuracies (which drives all of us nuts) so we can only hope they seek guidance from someone with industry knowledge when editing.

Posted by A Railroader Who Remembers Things on 10/29/2008 1:03:29 PM

While I am a little uncertain exactly what the subject of this blog is supposed to be, it appears that several comments have drifted severely off-subject. Most trains operated today are awsome when one observes them from trackside as they pass at speed. Today most of the workers on those trains do not get "gritty" until something goes wrong. But that does not mean that their life is particularly easy, either. I have been fortunate enough to ride the cab of a locomotive on a unit train decending the eastern slope of the Allegheny Mountains into Altoona. It does not take brute strength or an ability to survive in the dirt to do so, it takes skill to control 16,000 tons of train down such a grade. What is amazing is that it happens as many as twenty times every day, and literally hundreds of individuals have shown that they are capable of doing so. But, the real point of this blog is to review an idea for a television show, a show that none of the individuals commenting have yet had an opportunity to view. It sounds like it could be very interesting, and if told correctly, it could make the engineer in the locomotive cab once again the hero of young boys across the country. Concerning some of the other points made, I will just point out that the Aerotrain was considered a failure. The bus bodies that were adapted to the rails did not hold up well in rail service. The interiors were not considered roomy. The overall comfort level was not high enough to do the job desired, attract passengers. The four train set prototypes finished out their abbreviated lives in commuter service on the Rock Island out of Chicago. They were cheap equipment for the financially strapped Rock to use for the services that they were required to provide. Incidentally, they did not meet the current safety requirements for passenger equipment even as closely as the several diesel "light rail" cars that need FRA exemptions and special operating protections do today. Which brings up another passenger failure, the United Aircraft Turbo Trains that were operated between Boston and New York in the early days of Amtrak and in Canada between Montreal and Toronto for a few years longer. The turbos died because they used too much fuel (even back when it was cheap) and needed too much maintenance to provide reliable serveice. They did not meet the current FRA requirements, either. Both sets of equipment did teach the industry something, though, about what is and what is not durable and pleasing enough to sell in rail passenger service. However, as good engineers learn from their mistakes, both contributed a bit to the design of the Amtrak Superliners which are definitely big and sturdy, which taken together make a long train of them "awsome".

Posted by Larry Kaufman on 10/29/2008 2:48:00 PM

A Railroader Who Remembers Things has an excellent memory. If his is based on personal experience and observation, he's about as old as I am. He's basically right. I still find it kind of amusing that so many have so much to say - mostly negative - about a TV documentary that they have not even seen. The producers may or may not have used a railroad expert as a consultant to ensure accuracy. Some do, others do not. The program, I am confident, will meet the standards of the History Channel. And don't forget, the real objective of the cable channel is to draw eyeballs to the screen so they will be exposed to the commercials. Nothing at all wrong with that, but it's a bit of perspective some 'critics' might want to consider.

Posted by James Swidergal on 10/31/2008 1:26:39 PM

So Much said...by Larry who seems to think this is his own blog site,and the other long winded types who must have more time then anything else. Perhaps it's time to relinquish this site to the blowhards and otherwise old heads of yesteryear,withtheir hub-bub of "when I was a has been". Considering, this is Progressive Railroading, not degenerative railroading.

Posted by Larry Kaufman on 11/3/2008 11:21:47 AM

James Swidergal must have gotten out on the wrong side of the bed. His personal attack on me is annoying, but it will have no effect. I shall continue to comment here whenever I read something that I think justifies a comment. Mr. Swidergal is free to ignore my comments; that's his business. Are you sure you're not Dave Smith using James Swidergal as a nom de plume? If you are a real person, perhaps we now know why NS didn't hire you.

Posted by RSB on 11/3/2008 12:17:17 PM

Great response Larry but in your last paragraph your claws are out a liiiittle bit too far. In my 31+ year railroad experience (must be a has-been by now) I've seen many times where we return to doing something we used to do. To me the term progressive also means avoiding the mistakes of the past so it's never a bad thing to know the history of something so you can move forward rather than in a circle.

Posted by Robert Mann on 11/8/2008 12:47:03 AM

"Awesome?" Maybe. I guess it's in the eyes of the beholder. For a great paycheck I'd rather be working in the offices of one of those "Awesome Train Companies." But if I want something that REALLY gets at the romance and human side of railroading, give me an old and tattered shortline anyday. The Pecos Valley Southern, Florida Central, Mason City and Clear Lake etc. Railroading on a wing and a prayer, low joints, weeds and odd motive power somehow speaks to the soul.

Posted by James Swidergal on 11/17/2008 3:15:43 PM

Ok..let's put on the critics cap Managed to watch the first installment of Extreme Trains,although I must say the film taking and the technical side of this show was right up there with History Channels' great standards. But who is this guy,the host,a veteran conductor... "I'm scared","hey engineer you mean to mtell me your not scared" Jump around and act all silly like you're twelve years old, and not one shred of professionalism on this hosts part. Impart knowledge you fool, maybe you need to return to your job as a...(clear my throat..) as a (almost can't say it) as a conductor because you certainly aren't a TV host either. I could see and understand trying to sell excitement to the viewer,but not with this buffune waving his arms willynilly,and screaming and acting utterly ridiculous. History Channel you owe this Industry and all who work, and have worked and are in association with this great industry known as railroading either a re-make or one big apology....and this was just the first episode..lordy lordy!

Posted by eugene gleason on 11/19/2008 12:35:49 PM

please somebody calm this looney moderator down. he is embarrasing the crews he is filming.

Posted by Jack Fuller on 11/20/2008 1:49:40 PM

Would certainly agree with the comments about the series narrator. Is he really a Conductor?