Just discovered this show on Destination America channel. Pretty neat to see the different aspects of this railroad. Has anyone else seen this show before? They are having a marathon on the channel right now.
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Yes, I like it. Besides the operations stuff, it shows a lot about people living "off the grid" and depending on the railroad for just about everything. Don't think I could live so isolated like that.
watching it now 
i've watched the show several times. it gives a different view of railroading not seen in the lower 48.
The show started in October I think. Ran like 8 shows. Supposedly they filmed a 2nd season.
Forum Search is your friend. It has been well discussed here. The thread starts in November 2013 and is up to five pages now.
i saw it for the first time last night. dish has the channel for free this month[194] since i dont normally get dest. amrica. the off the grid" people dont make much money since they dont have to spend much.they also get to keep more of it since they dont pay taxes on most of it. i didnt see anyone heating with propane, its good -old-fashion firewood. in fact i heat about 90% with wood.its about the only thing iam not taxed on. some of those railroad guys on the show were a joke- that kid on the case backhoe didnt really try to move any snow.i think he would get stuck on dry pavement. one thing talked about was the rr running out of money........i saw countless scenes that had groups of guys standing around just to clean a switch or watch a runby.....no surprise the rr is losing money. it is a pretty good show overall.-jim
What annoys me about the show is the constant horn-blowing they mix into
the audio at every opportunity. Undoubtedly, the producers must think a train in Alaska can't go more than 1/2 mile without blaring its horn, and that that makes the show more exciting. It's one of those things that you don't notice UNTIL you do, and then you can never forget it. Otherwise, awesome show. I like the show about the crew that used guns to shoot down icicles hanging over the tracks.
Most videos of real trains have excessive whistle blowing because the cameras are at road crossings.
What I find most annoying is the heavy black smoke from steam engines running these days purposely done because some think it looks good and was prototypical. Heavy black smoke is a turnoff to the viewing public today because of its pollution. In the hey days of steam locomotives, many railroads had supervisors out watching for train crews making too much smoke. Black smoke is clearly a sign of inefficiency and a waste of fuel. In my opinion, a good steam train crew was interested in a good firing locomotive they could run clean and and make the power necessary to stay on schedule.
Yes. For me, in the Pittsburgh area, it is on channel 67(Animal Planet) or channel 61 (Discovery channel). I like to see how the "off the grid" people live. That's something I would like to try. But, I don't hunt so that may not work out for me. But, I like all the other aspects of it. The trains are cool too. I don't think I would like to work in that cold all day though.
Rick
In my 44 years on the planet...never heard of these "off the grid" people. Takes some big you know what to live like that!
During steam power times laying a coat of soot on Mama's washday clothesline along the route was a no-no, the Firemen knew it and responded accordingly. Our small town Depot and facility was uphill both ways and required considerable shovel expertise by the Fireman on the non-stokered 2-8-0s approaching town along the farms and neighborhoods.
Coal dust flying off open hoppers was another local troublemaker[see N &W tales].
Originally Posted by ChessieMD:
In my 44 years on the planet...never heard of these "off the grid" people. Takes some big you know what to live like that!
I guess they've been doing it pretty well then.
