Review: Boneyard - Railroads

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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OK, as the History channel schedule said, Boneyard Railroads was on (and will be on again in a few weeks - Thu 26 July 2007, 8:00AM & 2:00PM). Since I mentioned this show in a previous thread, I might as well encapsulate it - basically whenever you actually got to see the workers do something, it was interesting, otherwise not that exciting.

First, you saw a gang salvaging abandoned track - the ties were eventually ground up into wood fiber, for use in a biomass power plant, the rails were re-rolled (not melted, just re-rolled) into items like temporary fence posts, traffic sign posts, & bed frames.

Next, salvaging some Montana Rail Link SD’s that were involved in a train wreck - they basically used a big shear on the locos, with cutting torches here and there. Amusingly, when they knocked the EMD prime move out of the frame (I guess a 645), there was only a soft thump as it hit the ground, although it took 2 front end loaders to move it out of the way.

Next, rebuilding Amtrak equipment at Beech Grove (the cranes were pretty cool).

Next, Hazmat training at Pueblo’s training facility (also testing of rails/car parts/locos on the Heavy Axle Load freight test track)

Next, an active mining railroad in Montana, using older equipment (I suppose too old [40 or 50 years] for interchange). The show made a big deal about their fleet of (unstated chop nose) GP7s, which lead to the big show fact blopper - Diesel Electrics were first introduced in 1949 (I’m pretty sure they meant the GP7 was introduced in 1949, not diesel electrics loco themselves …actually, I’m not all that sure if the show producers do know that).

Finally, a 15 minute commercial for Colorado Rail car - well, not exactly, but close enough - and yes, they even got to mention the DMUs, which are the first since the late 1950s (because the SPV2000’s only existed in Budd imagination). No

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It is called reality Now get back to work on your layout.

Rich

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I really enjoyed it. In fact it has been on again and I taped it this time. And watched it a few times more while doing MRR projects. I wouldn’t care if a Gorilla was pounding on an old DD40 Traction Motor with a hammer, if it has to do with trains, I highly enjoy it. [:D]

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I thought it was an excellent show that for the greater part did exactly what it was intended to do. The first segment on tie reclaimation was very interesting and that particular prototype could make someone an excellent modeling project.

5

I found it very interesting and educational. I already knew about the haz-mat training segment. As a firefighter involved with railroad and aircraft crashes, it’s required training, and it’s not easy by any stretch of the imagination.

I don’t envy the salvage crews their job. I helped disassemble a fire dept pumper truck one time. It was heavy dirty and dangerous work.

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Interesting, within its limits. I, too, howled at the 1949 date for ‘diesel-electrics.’

Granted that in the US there have been no DMUs put into revenue service since the Budd RDC’s. In other countries entire generations of DMUs have come and gone in the last half-century - everything from commuter-service models with multiple automatic double doors to limited expresses with chair cars and full diners. But, then again, there are countries where the government isn’t married to the road building industry, and where the popular culture still favors trains over private cars (and not just as transportation for the Astors and the Rockefellers.)

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with several classes of DMU)

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i liked the part where the claw ripped the prime mover right out of the frame of that sd40. i always catch the program in the middle i wish i knew when it was coming on again ?

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In My OP: Thu 26 July 2007, 8:00AM & 2:00PM

As I mentioned in the OP, I like the way it made just a soft ‘Thud’ when it fell on the ground, even though it’s extremely heavy. Possibly post-production audio filtering, but still…

And even though there were only 24 SPV2000, some did see regular rail service for a number of years in the late 1970s/early 1980s (as powered DMUs - I think some converted SPV2000 still are around as ‘unpowered’ coaches) - so we have at least 2 bloopers - can anyone remember more?

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Most of the time we only see the productive side of things, like new cars rolling out of the factory, the introduction of new types of aircraft and so forth. But we rarely ever see what happens to these items when they’ve become old and worn out or obsolete. Kind of sad in a way, and kind of interesting in another…

Tracklayer

10

Yeah, I saw this one and I wasn’t real impressed, I would love to walk around the shop with a camera and ask those guys really important questions… like, where can I get a factory tech and spec sheet, and … “Why do you suppose you guys don’t play with trains at home”…LOL…

In all seriousness, The History Channel Steam Program When Giants Roamed was much better done than this last…

One of thse days I am going to have to sneak into the facilities at one of the scenic railroads here close and 20 questions some poor mechanic to death.