12-16-2013, 09:33 AM
I've watched several Railroad Alaska episodes. In 2012 my wife and I rode Fairbanks-Seward, so naturally we were interested. There are a few interesting segments -- in one, a crew is using a backhoe on a flat to remove ice that's threatening to build up over the rails. However, most of the episodes aren't as good, and in fact they're often silly and condescending toward the off-gridders the line supposedly supports.
In one, a lady takes the (monthly) flag-stop train to visit a friend who's due to have a baby. The lady has her own 6-month baby along. OH, NO!!! She's forgotten BABY FORMULA, and the monthly flag stop train is due in an HOUR!! That's the only way she can get her baby formula, take the monthly train to Talkeetna! Will she make the train???? Oh, be still my heart!!!!! But when she gets to Talkeetna, she buys like two bottles and takes em home in a little paper bag!
Another episode: A 76 year old woman is living off grid with her 84 year old husband. The lady had a stroke last year. OH, NO!!!! She's running out of blood pressure meds!!! The monthly flag stop train is due in an hour!!! Will she make the train to get to Talkeetna to get her meds???? Oh, be still my heart!!!!
You'd think that serious off-gridders wouldn't suddenly run out of baby formula and meds and have to run to Talkeetna to pick up a couple bottles, huh?
There are occasional interesting tidbits of M of W activity, including a segment inside a Jordan spreader in operation.
In one, a lady takes the (monthly) flag-stop train to visit a friend who's due to have a baby. The lady has her own 6-month baby along. OH, NO!!! She's forgotten BABY FORMULA, and the monthly flag stop train is due in an HOUR!! That's the only way she can get her baby formula, take the monthly train to Talkeetna! Will she make the train???? Oh, be still my heart!!!!! But when she gets to Talkeetna, she buys like two bottles and takes em home in a little paper bag!
Another episode: A 76 year old woman is living off grid with her 84 year old husband. The lady had a stroke last year. OH, NO!!!! She's running out of blood pressure meds!!! The monthly flag stop train is due in an hour!!! Will she make the train to get to Talkeetna to get her meds???? Oh, be still my heart!!!!
You'd think that serious off-gridders wouldn't suddenly run out of baby formula and meds and have to run to Talkeetna to pick up a couple bottles, huh?
There are occasional interesting tidbits of M of W activity, including a segment inside a Jordan spreader in operation.