This show was SPF 20, higher than most of them. That’s not good.
SPF = Shaver “Pffft” Factor. That’s how many times I went “Pffft” at something he said, or did.
He also said something like “Amtrak’s Empire Builder has been hauling passengers for 100 years”.
I didn’t know Amtrak was founded in 1908. LOL
Agree, but it might be “continuous on one railroad”. There must be lots of locomotives that went from major railroads directly to branch lines before ending up on Tourist Railroads.
I watched the Empire Builder episode, and I have to say it was pretty good, even better than last week’s. I was glad that they mentioned Marias Pass, I thought they might not mention them at all. Since they were going west, they couldn’t show much, since I think a lot of the actual pass is in darkness. And, for once, Matt actually knows what type of diesel engine is pulling the train, and he even got their horsepower precisely right (4250 horsepower). In some of the shots, they showed Genesis #10, which I kind of got a kick out of since I had seen #10 in Quincy IL last Friday.
But, as always, they had to cram one of those steam engine segments in the show, and it’s interesting, but it usually doesn’t have much (or anything) to do with the topic of the show. And, apart from showing the train departing Chicago, going through the beginning of Marias Pass, the Cascades, and arriving in Seattle (which was shown for only a few brief seconds before the show abruptly ended), not much else of the train’s actual route was featured (is North Dakota really that boring?). I liked the segment about the Cascade Tunnel and the mountain switchbacks, but IMO it seemed like it went on a little too long. And nothing was mentioned about the extra cars being split off in Spokane for the Portland section of the Empire Builder.
I liked the episode, but, like always, they left out a number of interesting subjects. Oh well, I guess.
Speaking of North Dakota, the fool also said “There are towns along here that are dependent on the railroad in order to reach the outside world. Some of these towns are as far as 200 miles from the nearest Interstate Highway.”
How dumb is this guy??? DON’T THEY HAVE TWO LANE HIGHWAYS IN MAINE? If you don’t live on an Interstate, you drive on the two lanes to get there. I live in SOUTH Dakota, and that’s what we do.
I think they put the steam segments because the host is a huge steam fan and they have so much footage of him getting his butt kicked working on steam locomotives.
This week’s / tomorrow night’s - Tuesday, 23 Dec. 2008 - episode, at 10:00 PM Eastern (& 2:00 AM Weds. 24 Dec. 2008 - also 3:00 PM Sat. 03 Jan. 2009) from the History Channel’s website:
http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=389244
“Hop aboard the longest privately owned train in the world, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s circus train. PT Barnum’s circus train started in the 1870s; and the US military used circus loading techniques in World War I. Host Matt Bown and the circus must race against the clock to dismantle tons of equipment and get it on the rails. As they travel from Baltimore to the Washington, DC corridor in the dead of night, Matt discovers the less glamorous side to the greatest show on earth.”
Brace yourself ! [sigh]
- Paul North.
Somebody please clue me in: what does it mean to “travel from Baltimore to the Washington, DC corridor”?
I’ll bet it’s (a) awesome, (b) insane, and/or (c) scary!
If they laugh this guy off the railroad, he may have a career selling caulking tools or “Magic Mend-it”.
Baltimore to Washington DC is the most southern section of the “Northeast Corridor”. Two and three tracked, posted 135 mph. Is this what was ment?
Circus train is stored at CSX Mt.Clare yard in Baltimore for the shows there and at CSX Benning Yard in DC. The NEC is not involved.
So, the “Washington corridor” is Benning Yard?
I at last watched an episode tonight, and I agree that the program is written by and for people who know very little about railroading.
Johnny
Actually thought The Circus Train was rather well done. The train moved from Baltimore to DC at night and so limited lighting didn’t allow good views of the train moving. As an added feature they used footage of the train enroute somewhere out west on the BNSF. With four BNSF units on the point and the train shown moving around curves, that footage illustrated the majesty of the train.
The show followed the sequence of operations from the breaking down the set at the Baltimore venue, loading equipment into the wagons and loading the wagons on the train. Some history, views of the insides of the stockcars and crew and performer sleepers, and loading the horses and elephants. Also shown are views of CSX engines arriving at the yard in Baltimore and doubling the train and the train arriving in DC.
Interesting side note, the large cats travel separately via highway truck.
Caught about 2/3rds of the circus train presentation last evening…Enjoyed the sights of loading onto the circus train…Showed a lot of hard work envolved to do so, and skill in getting all properly loaded and secured. Showed some good shots of the actual connecting of the rail cars. {Coupler action}.
Thought the host was a bit subdued compared to some of the earlier presentations. Why they keep inserting the steam sections in a program like this last one, I don’t understand.
Overall, it was somewhat interesting to me.
Have witnessed a circus train travel through Muncie here several times on CSX mostly west bound on our double track main. Remember counting up to 35 cars on it as it passed…Quite a sight.
I have always wanted to see that thing for myself. I enjoyed seeing how they build the cars and the work that goes into loading in and loading out the entire production. Kinda makes me glade I don’t do Tech Theater anymore…
So,
I take it this was the week for the circus train? I missed it completly…WE were doing Christmas stuff…Ol Matt probly had to work harder than usual getting everything loaded and that took the breath out of him so he was not quite so excited ! LOL
Well, I hope I can get the last one, I think theres one more ?
Happy New Year to all of yall !
I noticed in several of the shots during the Circus Train episode, the production crew took some liberties in making some ‘right handed’ shots into ‘left handed’ shots or vice versa. While ol’Matt is walking past a cut of cars - the car initials and numbers are bass ackwards.
HI everyone I also have been watching this show on the history channel and it to me is a pretty good show but to some people think it is not but any who my question is on the episode of the empire builder was that shot during the floods of 08 or what because when. The train left chicago it headed west instead of north like it normally would. Because it makes stops in Milwaukee and other wisconsin cities like the Dells but in the show it only made one stop in wisconsin and that was before it crossed in to Minnesota. So I was wondering that or did amtrak make some big change in that train that it does not come up north anymore or what. Thanks for any input into this reply.
I worked the circus train once during my NS conductor days. The animal cars had to be set out at a location near the coliseum in Columbia, S.C. so the elephant walk could be carried out with a minimum of hassle. The passenger cars for humans had to be placed on one of the engine leads at Andrews Yard to be near a water source. The equipment cars were set out in the west yard within comfortable walking distance of the passenger cars. The circus train crew set the handbrakes and made all the cuts where they wanted them. My crew only had to move the cars and throw the appropriate switches. It was kind of a pain in the butt knowing that non-railroad people could wander about that part of the rail yard but I don’t recall any accidents or close calls- our crews just had to be on their toes moreso than usual. I guess when the performers weren’t doing their thing at the coliseum they stayed in their “homes”. I’m glad I didn’t have to be responsible for the safety of some loose cannon like Matt!
Is anyone recording all those episodes? I got a paper yesterday that showed the schedule, and my grandparents have cable, so I rigged the VCR to try to record the ones shown for the week. Knowing my luck, something won’t work, or the power will go out, and it won’t record, just like my Good Morning America attempt. Still, how is the series? Does it run on regular times, or just when the History Channel feels like showing them?