- EXTREME TRAINS
Your ticket to some of the most thrilling, high-octane train rides in history is here! Extreme Trains host Matt Brown, a real-life railroad conductor from New England, brings his infectious passion for these monster machines to rail journeys across the United States. Feel the force of railroads in history, and see how railroading is about more than machines, cargo and challenging terrain. From the demolition of Penn Station, to the first train robbers and how the Nazis tried to blow up the rails in World War II, to the human blood, sweat and tears of the stokers, engineers, and bathroom cleaners that keep the industry moving, tag along with Matt on one of history’s most exciting rides. Episodes include Amtrak’s Empire Builder, The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Freight Train, The Norfolk Southern Coal Train, The Ringling Bros. Circus Train, and The Union Pacific Refrigeration Train.
Stills from Extreme Trains (Click for larger image)
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Rating: 
(out of 21 reviews)
List Price: $ 19.95
Price: $ 7.59
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October 27, 2010
#1
Review by S. Vasquez
Rating:
“We” are watching this series as it comes on TV now and have seen all the episodes to date (not in order): high speed Acela, Ice cold produce train, Coal train, Amtrak sleeper train, steam train… did I miss any?
We have a train crazed 5 year old who makes us watch them over and over on our DVR until the next new episode runs and he then fixates on that one… We like the host Matt – I describe him as an adorable train geek – and as a parent I dont find him annoying like some video narrator/hosts can be (after you have to listen to the same video 100 times with you child) and the sound bites my 5 year old are picking up from him are more funny than anything (“full speed and full throttle” is one…)
The series is a good blend of info on the featured train and tangents into related subjects (how do you clean out a steam engines boiler? where do old freezer car box cars go to die and be recycled?…) If this video set was out now we would immeadiatley have bought it for Christmas (and to free up the space on our DVR) or told our childs uncles and such to get it for him for a present!
October 27, 2010
#2
Review by D. Taylor
Rating:
I stumbled upon this series while looking for train shows for my 6 year old son…he loves the show so much we have almost every show to date and will definitely buy this dvd. He has even begun to say “Hello, my name is Kieran and ever since I was little I have loved trains.”
I have to agree Matt is awesome…he is grown kid playing with real life trains….I learned so much about trains and the history about them that I can’t wait til next season….Trains rule at our house! We are train hunters…no matter where trains are we will find them.
October 27, 2010
#3
Review by Michael N. Wilmot
Rating:
This documentary about massive trains and their destinations has been one of the most interesting series on the TV since Tony Robinson’s Worst Jobs in History. Matt Brown is a train man: a conductor on a state of Maine rail line . He talks to the camera like he is talking to all of us as he rides the train or performs the many jobs that are needed to get the train to the Job.
I have seen all of the shows to date and I can’t wait to collect all of these on DVD . Well worth the wait .Coming is the Ringling Brothers Circus Train .Tonight is the Steam Train episode.
Also what about the blue CSX Passenger train that pulls through Atlanta ? It must have at least 17 coaches . Is it a passenger train or a moving university ? I don’t know . It might be an idea for a future episode.
October 27, 2010
#4
Review by Jagadeesh K. Venugopal
Rating:
My son and I watched this over and over again when it was playing on TV — and yes I do have it on order.
This is a nice set of DVDs on trains for the common person. Some people comment that Matt Brown appears obnoxious… I think his enthusiasm shows through.
Many other train shows only depict old, grainy outdoor images of trains going past on the screen. What I liked about this show was that it took the viewer behind the scenes, and put the trains in context of something bigger. And they have a good selection, including “steamies” and the Acela express that travels from Washington DC to Boston. There’s even a circus train.
If you or your kid like trains, this is a great buy. If you’re a very serious train enthusiast looking for detailed specifics of locomotive make and model, this show is probably not for you.
October 28, 2010
#5
Review by Luigi Facotti
Rating:
The topic of trains is one of great interest despite the poor state of US railroads with the legend and the logic of railroads is a permanent part of US history. What would DC be without the Metro or Chicago without the ‘L”? This series while well intended and at times interesting is nothing if not reminiscent of the faux sports competition of various Gordon Ramsey kitchen projects or the numerous team sports on the Food Channel. The most positive to be said about the presenter is that at least he is confined to Maine and will not be sitting next to me on a flight.
The topic has great potential but its presentation as “We’ve got to get this train of produce to Schenectady by x hours” as if the train were not running on a 365/24/7 schedule is inane – as if “We” including the presenter were a help and not a hinderance. A richness of subject matter and scenery is subsumed by moronic chit chat (or is that chit chat by a moron?) and superficiality. Amtrak’s Acela is not even close to being among the world’s fastest (or reliable) trains given the poor infrastructure, the freight trains are par for the course with France and Germany equal in every respect except the latter don’t derail as often. The program ignores the rich history of the stations (hey let’s go to the rodeo in Cheyenne instead!!), the scenery, the fascinating history and technology of the infrastructure support (yes there is some but the commentary is by the idiot commentator – “isn’t this great” not by the experts who as one reviewer noted appear to either cringe or ignore Mr. Matt). the future role of the railroad in the US – if the funding doesn’t end up with the vampire squids in NYC etc. etc. Imagine the BBC or PBS doing this series – it would be sublime. There’s still room.