| Extreme Trains | |
|---|---|
 DVD Cover forExtreme Trains with Matt Bown | |
| Starring | Matt Bown – Host |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 45 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | History Channel |
| Release | November 11 (2008-11-11) – December 30, 2008 (2008-12-30) |
Extreme Trains is a television program on theHistory Channel that describes the daily operations ofrailroads in the United States, from coal trains to passenger trains and famous routes. It is hosted by Matt Bown, a train conductor forPan Am Railways inMaine, whose interest is railways and the technology of them. In the show Matt is living his lifelong dream.
The series was first aired in the United States on November 11, 2008 and ran until December 30, 2008. The show has since been shown in the United Kingdom in April 2009.
History Channel program executive said the show was developed to appeal to the channels core audience, who "love to be wowed by big machinery and fun facts". Bown was chosen to host the show after responding to an open-call audition. McKillop said Bown "has a sense of authenticity and a wonderful, boyish enthusiasm...when the camera's on him, he's infectious."[1]
The show's producers occasionally had difficulty convincing railroads to participate in the show, due to the possibility of film crews disrupting crews and workers. The show's crew was required to take a special safety course before filming withAmtrak.[1]
| Episode Number | Episode Name | Original Air Date | Description | Featured train |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coal Train | November 11, 2008 | Journey of aNorfolk Southern coal train from acoal mine to aPPL Electric power station inPennsylvania | Norfolk Southern coal train |
| 2 | Freight Train | November 18, 2008 | High priority freight train fromLos Angeles toDallas/Fort Worth | BNSF double container stack train |
| 3 | High Speed Train | November 25, 2008 | Riding theAcela train fromWashington Union Station toSouth Station (Boston) | Acela Express |
| 4 | Ice Cold Express | December 2, 2008 | A look intorefrigeration trains | Union Pacific Produce Express |
| 5 | Steam Train | December 9, 2008 | A journey with theUnion Pacific 844steam locomotive | Union Pacific 844 |
| 6 | Overnight Traveler | December 16, 2008 | RidingAmtrak'sEmpire Builder train fromChicago toSeattle | Empire Builder |
| 7 | Circus Train | December 23, 2008 | Thecircus train fromRingling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus train |
| 8 | Transcontinental | December 30, 2008 | TheUnion PacificTranscontinental line from Omaha to Sacramento | Union Pacific Transcontinental |
Extreme Trains received mixed reviews from critics.Library Journal recommended the DVD set, with reviewer Lawrence Maxted commending Matt Bown's enthusiasm and "solid job of explaining rail operations." Maxted said the show featured "superb camerawork" and "dramatic background music", adding that the show would be "coveted by rail fans and of interest to general viewers".[2]The Times called the show "trainspotting for adrenaline junkies" giving railroading a "full-on, hyperbolic treatment".[3] Writing for theDaily News (New York), David Hinckley saidExtreme Trains was "not a bad show", but he criticized Bown's hosting style and the focus on technical details. Hinckley said that Bown "borders on self-parody" with his "dramatic inflection" describing "every move to the camera lens". He said the show would be better if Bown would "trust the trains" and not "frame a routine daily coal train run as a life-or-death drama", saying that Bown's tone makes it seem "a miracle any train completes its run at all".[4]