Discovery’s Destination America will air the real-time journey of an Alaska Railroad train traversing the frozen white landscape of the U.S.’ largest state on Thanksgiving — a five-hour trip. The train will be equipped with cameras as it rolls on from Talkeetna to Healy and through Denali National Park.
“Most networks compete to produce the most exciting show, which we already accomplished with our first, ever, live televised exorcism last month,” says Henry Schleiff, group president at Discovery. “We also want to own the other end of the spectrum, providing viewers with the single most boring program ever to appear on television during Thanksgiving… even more boring than the Detroit Lions football game.”
Though billed by Discovery as a snoozefest, Trains editors and railfans will be sure to tune in.
The real-time journey will air Thanksgiving Day from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern time and will repeat after it. The trip is a promotion for the channel’s “Railroad Alaska” show that depicts both life along the line and the railroaders who keep it running.
This isn’t the first time in the world that a complete train journey has been shown on national television. The Week reported that in 2009, the Norwegian public broadcasting company televised the complete seven hour and 16-minute trip of a train traveling from Bergen to Oslo. The documentary was a hit to Norwegians with 1.2 million viewers and 172,000 watching the entire trip.
More information is available on the cable channel’s website.
I kept waiting for something exciting to happen. There was some poor train handling. Improper blowing for crossings and sliding the wheels while stopping. At least there wasn't the usual phony last second saves. It did explain to me how easy it is for a train crew to fall asleep. I know I did.
Well, that was…. less than exciting. I'm glad I DVR'd it, because I ended up fast forwarding at 8x or 16x for most of it. Also, way too many commercials. If you missed, you didn't miss much.
Wait, "Discovery" Communications who is directly responsible for such "gems" as "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" and "19 Kids and Counting" doesn't realize that 5 hours of a train traveling through Alaska is about 500 quadrillion times better than the garbage they have foisted on the American public???
I've watch youtube videos that were 2 hours long of cab rides but 5 hours is a bit much. DVR time. 🙂
I have access to about 200 channels and still don't watch much TV as much of its boring. Endless sitcoms, guys choppin down trees, aliens aliens aliens everywhere, more and more scripted so called reality shows. They've done reality shows about most everything but mowing grass and delivering pizza. Remember the writers strike in the last decade? Most of the reality shows had to stop because they had "writers". I hope it re re repeat so I can watch it in the evening that day.
Tell the crews to mount a microphone near the stack on the lead SD70MAC, so we can all hear the 16-710G3 engine doing its job and making sweet music!
If you know anything abour railroad operations, this show is hilarious and embarrassing.
If Alaska RR really operates this way, they should have an accident a day.
The railroaders are real railroaders, but they're awful actors.
I have watch this series off and on for the past two seasons. It may be an improvement if shown without showing some of the obviously scripted / directed scenarios that are the usual bill of fare.
There's nothing saying this will be a live telecast. It will be a taped presentation, but not edited. So a five hour trip will be a five hour show.
The footage might be unedited and in real time as one would experience the ride, but this cannot be a simulcast–9 am EST is 5am here in Alaska– middle of the night as we approach the shortest days of the year. This article is incomplete in some fashion.
I beg to differ that this presentation of a train journey will be boring. It will be an adventure and a thrill. That is what rail aficionados love to do.
What is really boring for a non-sports fan like me are those football games that are as colourful as a soiled pair of gym socks.
I watch "Railroad Alaska" because I like railroads but it seems somewhat scripted and forced to me. Nevertheless, I'll be watching this too.
I looked up the sunrise times in Talkeetna for Turkey day. It's 9:45 AM Alaska time, which is 1:45 PM EST, so yeah, this will be mostly in the dark.
Won't this be mostly at night?
I had rather watch this and Alaska's beautiful scenery than anything else that day. I like Railroad Alaska t.v. show so this could be interesting. Never know what can happen in real time!!
So a train ride is boring? Granted, actually being on the train would be much better.
That is a interesting question. There are moose crossing the tracks on just about every show. Like I said earlier this will be better than watching the Lions get beat. No offence Detroit. (no pun intended).
whats the over/under on how many Moose they are going to take out?
Mr. Deveau, The route is entirely below the Arctic circle. There should be (mostly) daylight for the trip.