They're the biggest, the most powerful, the most awesome trains in history... EXTREME TRAINS

New 8-part series premieres on HISTORY� on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10pm ET

NEW YORK, OCT. 22, 2008 � It's an immersive, high-octane ride on the rails of history.... The new eight-part History� series EXTREME TRAINS, hosted by train conductor Matt Bown, reveals the incredible inner workings and past lives of the amazing locomotives that haul huge loads across the nation and deliver passengers to their destinations. With unparalleled access to the trains, and shot in gorgeous High Definition, the series shows the huge part they have played in shaping American history � and how trains are vital to American life today. EXTREME TRAINS airs Tuesdays on History, starting November 11 at 10pm ET.

Each episode of EXTREME TRAINS tells the story of one amazing train, and host Matt Bown rides along and often works alongside of the crew. A genuine insider with an infectious enthusiasm for trains, Matt explains with delight how things work. As he does, Matt meets all the workers who keep the trains running, from the engineers who run the train to the track crews that shovel ice and snow off the tracks.

Packed with cool technology, the series shows how the super-fast passenger trains get up to speeds of 150 mph. It celebrates the work of the men and women who work on the railroads, often doing tough gritty jobs in extreme conditions just to keep America moving. And it's packed with great history, from circus trains to holdups to train wrecks to coal trains to high-speed passenger trains.

Upcoming episodes of EXTREME TRAINS:

Coal Train. Matt joins the coal train hauling a priceless cargo of coal through Pennsylvania from mine to power plant. Getting the train, which weighs more than 15,000 tons when full, over the Allegheny mountains can be quite a challenge. Matt pitches in with the crew as they load up the train and learns how the Nazis tried to blow the tracks during World War II. (November 11 � SERIES PREMIERE!)

Freight Train. Going from the port of Los Angeles to Dallas/Fort Worth, this high-priority freight train, one of Matt's longtime favorites, brings goods from the Far East to stores across the US. In this episode Matt endures the searing heat of the Mojave desert, gets drenched in New Mexico rainstorms and rides through an earthquake-proof trench that runs the length of downtown LA. The episode also covers the first train robbers in the US. (November 18)

High Speed Train. The Amtrak Acela is the fastest train in America, with speeds reaching 150 mph. Running from Washington, DC to Boston, this passenger train is a high-tech wonder that runs on lines dating to the Great Depression. The train is powered by high-voltage overhead electrical wires. Matt meets the workers who are just inches from possible electrocution on a daily basis. The production team for EXTREME TRAINS had to pass a special training course before they were allowed to film there. This episode also looks at historic Penn Station and why it had to be demolished in order to save the railroads. (November 25)

Future episodes will cover the Union Pacific refrigeration train ... the Steam Train ... Amtrak's Empire Builder ... the Ringling Brothers Circus Train ... and the Transcontinental.

The official minisite, http://www.history.com/extreme-trains, will include short-form video, bio of the host Matt Bown, an episode guide, image gallery and discussion boards.

EXTREME TRAINS is produced by Tiger Aspect Productions for History�. Executive Producers are Christine Connor, Adam Steinman, Jamie Munro, and Charles Brand. Executive Producer for History is Dirk Hoogstra.

History� and History HD� are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning, original non-fiction series and event-driven specials that connects history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the networks' program offerings are hit series such as Ax Men, Battle 360, The Universe, Cities of The Underworld and Ice Road Truckers, as well as acclaimed specials including King, Life After People, 1968 With Tom Brokaw, Lost Book of Nostradamus, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed and Sherman's March. History has earned four Peabody Awards, four Primetime Emmy� Awards, 12 News & Documentary Emmy� Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's Save Our History� campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take A Veteran to School Day is the network's latest initiative connecting America's schools and communities with veterans from all wars. History's website, located at www.History.com, is the definitive historical online source that delivers entertaining and informative content featuring broadband video, interactive timelines, maps, games podcasts and more.