Excellent video Paul, anther home run! I'm so glad I found your channel, I enjoy each and everyone of your videos, I especially like that you let the video/pictures do the talking! Great job my friend, keep up the good work!
I enjoy the Amtrak cross country trains. They're quiet (no roaring jet engines), they travel through interesting routes, and the crew all give excellent service. .An Amtrak Roomette is more "ette" than room. I recommend carrying on board only the barest essentials, doing everything to minimize size and volume. Just outside the room there is a luggage rack to get more space in the room. And I do love that shower. I learned to check the schedule and go into the shower at a station with an extended stop so I wasn't bouncing around the shower stall. Knowing that there is only one outlet, I brought a small multi so that I could plug in all of my electronics. And the people. All the staff were great. And it was fun to chat with my fellow travellers. And I also apreciated the privacy of the roomette.
Have now enjoyed a bunch of your videos. My grandfather was an Engineer then a Conductor on the Sante Fe Railroad, stationed in Needles, CA. He started just after WW1 and worked until the 1950's. I have traveled on many of these train journeys and hope to do many more before i depart this earth. Keep up the good work. I bet you have my 93 countries traveled beat.
My husband and I are taking the Empire Builder (roomette) in 2 weeks from Vancouver, Washington to Chicago roundtrip to visit new granddaughter. We are retired and the price we paid was just under $1200. Meals are included. We flew to Chicago from Portland in Dec. and paid almost that much when you add seats with extra legroom and checking one bag. We just flew to see relatives in Tennessee and Oklahoma and in total boarded 6 planes as few flights are nonstop. We hate airport congestion and cramped airline seats and since we have the time are looking forward to a relaxing experience filled with beautiful scenery. Especially after your beautiful video. Thank you.
Brings back so much memory. I was an attendant during my summer and winter breaks while I was in college. Met wonderful people from all over the world and I would never forget these experiences. A big portion of my tuition came from working for Amtrak. Thank you. It’s been 20 years since I set foot on the train. Can’t wait to take the train as a passenger for the first time.
Guys this was a real beast to edit...I hope you enjoy this video. Leave me some feedback - my first proper long form video I've done. Anyway, this was an EPIC trip and my favourite of all my trips so far. 😍
I rode on this train back in 1992 when I had to travel to Seattle, Washington from New York ( connected in Chicago) It was a WONDERFUL Journey. When going through the Cascades you see snow-capped mountains and a beautiful stream right next to the tracks. I took this on a business trip where I was able to work on my presentation undisturbed by people in my office. It was a very productive use of my time as I got the presentation completed in just one day (It would have taken three days to do it in my office with all of the interruptions I would have had). I got a full bedroom which had a PRIVATE Shower and bathroom. It was well worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat! I don't know how the food is now, but back then I had a wonderful steak dinner in the dining car.
Imagine what the impact that this beautiful country must have had on Lewis and Clark! I am from Australia and we specialise in deserts. This is so nice.
That’s what’s so great about train travel, the chance to unplug from everything, at least driving! I’m glad to hear that United travelers and senior citizens get early boarding.
Very nicely done. Most people are in such a hurry, they just fly from city to city. Going by train it's amazing. You get to see the world through a very different perspective.
The Western US is really beautiful. Train is probably the best way to see it because driving all that vast expanse of openness can become overwhelming.
Vic Saul The US is relatively unpopulated. We’ve only got European population density in the BosWash corridor. Amtrak actually makes money there. Especially since we love our cars and planes, trains have a hard time. But there’s not enough traffic on most routes to justify high speed rail. And non high speed rail takes forever on American distances.
Get a cheap tent and an air mattress, stock a cooler, and get off the interstates once you get west of Iowa, Missouri ,and Arkansas, where the speed limits jump to 65 on the 2-lanes. At 70 on US14 from Pierre to i90, i got passed by a couple cars and passed one grain truck. On Nebraska 71 south of Crawford, I caught one minivan doing 65, and after a few minutes realized I was missing the scenery having to not run them over, and passed them. If you can be flexible on your schedule, you can take in a lot on the road. And not paying for a hotel cuts a lot of costs. I think a campsite with an electric outlet for my fan and phone charger, and free access ho showers, ran $45 at the SD state fairgrounds for three nights, and $18 for a night at Fort Robinson (Crawford, NE) with showers that took quarters. I'd like to do Moab and Yellowstone, but seeing how crowded they're getting, I may just pass on them.
Thanks for this fine video. I rode the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle in December, 1982, to see the Chicago Bears play the Seattle Seahawks in the Kingdome. I splurged on a bedroom so I could have a private bathroom and shower. I really enjoyed the trip despite a severe earache I developed soon after we left Chicago. (I took a couple of aspirin when I finally got to my hotel in Seattle and it went away in 20 minutes. Argh! Always pack aspirin!) It is difficult to convey how incredibly flat and huge the midsection of the United States is. You have to see it to understand. I'd love to take the trip again now that I'm retired, but my wife can't stand the thought of being on a train for two and a half days. (Sigh.) I also enjoyed my time in Seattle, even though the Bears lost. As an extra treat for myself, I flew back to Chicago first class, something I've never done since. My salary was peanuts back then. It was an insanely expensive trip for me, but I was 27 and single, so I indulged myself without thought to the cost, and that attitude, I'm sure, contributed to the joy of the trip.
For a one-man production, you do a great job. A few clarifications. You did get it right at the end of the report, Amtrak on-board employees are generally not called Stewards. That is a specific job title for someone in charge of a dining car that has virtually disappeared on Amtrak. I think all of the true Stewards are retired by now. Stewards earned more than other dining car employees, so getting rid of the category was important to Amtrak. The employees you dealt with or saw on that train were: Train Attendant, sleeper; Train Attendant Coach; Lead Service Attendant, diner; Service Attendants, diner; Lead Service Attendant, lounge; Conductor; Assistant Conductor; and Locomotive Engineer (a very American term). I was an Amtrak Lead Service Attendant for 14 years out of Washington, DC. The room you had was a Superliner Economy Bedroom. The "observation" car is called a Superliner Sightseeer Lounge. The food service station in the lower lever of the lounge is a cafe. The private cars attached to the train are/were owned by a company called Iowa Pacific, and the full-length dome appeared to be ex-Santa Fe. I could not tell much about the last car on the train from the couple of seconds it was shown. Ed Ellis, the president of Iowa Pacific really liked the Illinois Central, and paints most of his cars in their old passenger colors. Iowa Pacific operates charter cars on Amtrak trains, as well as operating a few tourist railroads in the U. S. They have been having numerous financial problems, so by the time anyone else reads this, they may or may not still be in business. The private cars you saw in Milwaukee were not cars for charter. I understand the confusion, but they are owned by a company called Charter Wire, a steel company, and they are used for the company's business and travel. They are painted in a scheme similar to the old New York Central colors.
If you would love to go slow and see as much of the country as possible, do this. If you would love to chat with fellow passengers, dine with them and talk about what you are seeing, or anything else, do this. If you would love to spend the night in a snug, comfortable compartment, do this. If you would love to wake up in the middle of the night, stopped on a siding, and rise to the windows to a sight that will stay with you for the rest of your life, do this. If you would love to sightsee on the upper level of Amtrak's bi-level cars before they go away, do this. If you would love to arrive at your distant destination, quite tired out, but supremely happy, do this. If you want to save a considerable sum, make your accommodation reservations (sleeping car) the moment you know your date of travel, do that. It's America as it used to be, combined with America as it is now. Don't miss it. You will never be sorry. The money you spent to do it will soon be forgotten. The memories will remain.
Amtrak Superliner bi-level cars aren't going away anytime soon. A Superliner car refurbishment program is slated to start in a couple of years. Amtrak doesn't use bi-level cars on some eastern routes because some of the older tunnels aren't high enough for bi- level cars.
Darn right. With the world going fast you need to slow down so you can enjoy our beautiful country and everything that is in it. I'll always prefer to take the train over the plane any day.
100% right!' My wife and I will spend two weeks on Amtrak to celebrate our 50th anniversary: From Wilmington DL Crescent to NOLA; Sunset to LA; Starlight to Seattle; Empire to Chi with a full day stop-over at the Izaak Walton in Essex MT; Chi to DC on Capitol; NEC back to Wilmington. We've already done NEC - Capitol - Zephyr to Sacramento and back. Sad to learn that food service has been reduced to airline food on the Capitol. That's what we get from having a former airline exec now running Amtrak. Trumpism I fear.
In 1990 after completing my studies in Baltimore, I criss crossed US on a 1 month US Rail pass before returning to my country. It included Chicago-Seattle-Chicago on Empire Builder. Your video has rekindled my fading memories. Thanks very much.
Really enjoyed this comprehensive look at one of the great American rail journeys. Be sure to plan future travel on the California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief (my favorite since it stops at my local station, Lamy New Mexico). One sees many Amish people on the Chief, too. I love the pace of the long Amtrak trips, meeting people in the dining car, and the lovely solitude traveling in a roomette as you did. This was a worthy effort, I know you've mentioned the formidable editing required for this video. Thank you.
+Dianne Williamson Thanks Dianne. I've done the Texas Eagle and the California Zephyr before - though that was before I was making videos for TH-cam. If this video does well I'll definitely be back next summer for another trip on the Zephyr!
Dianne Williamson+ I have also ridden the Southwest Chief many times--and believe it or not, my stop if also Lamy! I don't live in New Mexico, but I visit a friend of mine in Santa Fe often and she picks me up in Lamy. I love that part of the country. And yes, I did notice a lot of Amish people on the train on that route. Love cross-country train travel!
Private car is Iowa Pacific Sky View car from the mid-1950s. Club seating in the dome and full kitchen and dining room in the lower level. People can purchase seats or charter this car and others for various excursions either attached to an Amtrak consist or an altogether separate train, particularly a steam one. The company that does it is High Iron Travel.
Note that there was actually a second private car behind the dome...Looked like it was painted in the colors/colours of the old Great Northern, the original operator of the Empire Builder before Amtrak.
It’s painted in Illinois Central Railroad colors. Iowa Pacific ran some cars in those colors when they were contracted to run Amtrak’s Hoosier State for like 18 months in 2015. I always thought the Panama Orange was a nice color.
tha vvolf The current CEO of Amtrak is the former head of Delta Airlines, and he’s a numbers man supposedly. Thing is, some of the private cars actually can make money for Amtrak. I hope Amtrak’s board will reconsider after a more thorough review of the situation.
As someone who loves Amtrak despite its numerous shortcomings, I'm so glad you enjoyed the journey. Make sure to do Coast Starlight from LA - SEA or the Southwest Chief from LA - CHI sometime
Nothing is as beautiful as the California Zephyr west of Denver... But the Empire Builder, Pacific Coast Starlight, and Southwest Chief have some wonderful views. Frankly I like the desert views of West Texas through Cactus Jack country on the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle too.
It's a shame that Amtrak lost the Pacific Parlor Cars on the Starlight before he had a chance to experience it. As far as first-class amenities go for trains in the US, it didn't and doesn't get much better than the PPC.
*I've done the Coast Starlight LAX - SEA 11 times Southwest Chief LAX - CHI 3 times …. and since I always get the private bedroom / bath … my bank account is drained~LOL*
I wholeheartedly second Jonathan's recommendations. My son and I rode the Southwest Chief from Chicago to Albuquerque, NM and back last summer and absolutely loved every second of it, both on the train and in ABQ. You get an outstanding feel for what most of us think of as the Wild West when you're on the Chief. Also note that the Chief's existence has been somewhat imperiled by bureaucrats, so go sooner rather than later.
I had to watch this one of yours again. I have ridden the empire builder many times and have loved every trip. My family all live in Minot North Dakota and I was there going through cancer treatments I'm Minot. I had finished my treatment and was meeting my ex fiancee in Michigan. I could only afford a coach ticket so spent most of the night tossing and turning in my seat because in was so sick from the chemotherapy and burned from the radiation treatments. I tried to see if I could upgrade to even just a roomette to try and get some rest. When I found out I couldn't afford the upgrade it left me in tears in my seat. The attendant of the sleeper car was a true blessing. He found out about me and came and got me and escorted me to a deluxe room with its own ensuite and shower. I spent the rest of the trip there resting and was even able to take a short shower to clean my burns. He brought me food to my room and even a few bits for my service Chihuahua! I was able to see the attendant a year later heading to Portland this time and thank him for his kindness. The Amtrak staff are first rate. If you ever get a chance to go from Seattle to Chicago you should do it. The "Alps" of Washington state are a fabulous sight!
When my wife was still alive we enjoyed train travel. We discussed the perfect train trip. Starting in the New York area, going down the east coast, then west to California and north toward Portland and from there east to New York. BUT the train would only travel during daylight hours at no more 40 mph. Passengers could sleep on the train or get a room locally during the night time stops. BUT THERE IS MORE. When it got back to New York it would make the trip again starting in New York going west. That way I could see what I missed on the other side of the tracks. Yeah I know...but fantasizing is the only way it's going to happen. Oh I almost forgot the last thing. It would be pulled by a "Big Boy". That last item was thought of before they restored 4014. We saw a Big Boy in Green Bay, Wi and were impressed.
Great video. As soon as I survive Corona virus I won't vacation virtual, but adventure in real time. This trip has been a life long dream. Im a lung cancer survivor and work in a hospital. When virus has run it's course I'm running to the closest train depot. I WILL see Chicago to Portland through bleary eyes in real time. God bless everyone and please distance and sanitize....for one another.
I live in a suburb of Chicago, and have travelled on the Empire Builder a couple times between Seattle and Chicago, both ways, and have always enjoyed it. Its a great way to see the beauty and geological diversity of our country. AMTRAK does a great job, given that Congress consistently is penurious on funding. I enjoyed your production, including editing and musical score. Subscribed....cheers!
I would love to take several weeks off from work and travel on AMTRAK in a big loop from my home in Seattle, to New York, to Miami, to L.A. and then back to Seattle. this seems like such a wonderful journey, and an opportunity to meet and talk with other passengers and make new friends.
You could do: Seattle - LA on the Coast Starlight, LA - New Orleans on the Sunset Limited, New Orleans - Washington DC on the Crescent, Washington DC - Miami on the Silver Meteor (Silver Star if you want to go to Tampa, FL, but there's no dining car on this train), Miami - New York on the Silver Meteor/Silver Star, New York - Chicago on the Lake Shore Limited, Chicago - Seattle on the Empire Builder. Voila: A rail tour of the US
Great job Paul. With a USA Rail Pass, we're actually taking this train from Chicago to Seattle in October (actually starting off on the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago.) Getting off in St Paul MN, Minot ND and White Fish MT. This will be our second long-distance Amtrak trip, after a journey to New Orleans on the Crescent followed by The Texas Eagle through Texas. It's a great way to travel..
I have been on this trip 6 times rt from SEA to CHI. It's a beautiful trip. There's a lot of train to walk around on. Meals have always been great, but Amtrak works on its own time, and I have been delayed several times both into CHI and SEA. I have had a sleeper (the same one shown in this video) about 4 times out of all my trips, and while it is very convenient, I did miss the rest of the travelers on the trip. It is very nice to take a long nap on a real bed while going through Eastern Montana and Northern North Dakota. Have fun if you go on this route! I haven't been in years and I am happy to see that they updated everything from brown and orange to blue. And the shower has a glass door now! Yay!
Another wonderful video. There's nothing quite like crossing North America by train. I especially liked your shots of Portland Union Station. I love its old time marble interior and "echo". I was actually there last month when I took my 10 year old granddaughter on her first "real" train ride. (We're from Hawai'i.) While on our summer trip, we were headed to Tacoma to torment more of our transplanted relatives! Little one got to throw her first snow ball, at her uncle, not me. But maybe the train ride was most memorable, especially where the tracks wind around Puget Sound.
+manu bird I really love Portland station. It's incredibly charming and very American. In fact, Portland is my favourite American city. I hope your granddaughter is hooked on trains now!
My British mind has been blown by the arrangement of that station. With tracks at platform level and just walking across all of them, I just.....can’t wrap my head around that.
Glad you got to see The Columbia River Gorge! Wishram used to be a MAJOR Rail yard. At 8:33 you got to see the Fire Suppression Train cars. An old caboose that serves as the Command Car, tank cars for for fire suppression liquids and flat cars with water cannons.
We have no idea of how absolutely HUGE our country is. I dare say there are 99% of us. Most of us live in our own little world. Love your trips, it is an education about how astounding of a country we live in. Please folks...don't lose it !
Clean windows! Another video I watched previously made me that if I was a passenger I would want to get out and clean them at the first stop. Thank you for providing this video. It seems to be the best kept secret for relaxing travel in the US. After a trip by car or plane I am always exhausted but this looks relaxing.
I take Empire Builder from Sandpoint, Idaho to Portland, Oregon all the time -- I love this travel mode, totally unplug and relax. I have never had a bad trip, even when it snows and we are delayed.
I travelled the 'Empire Builder' the other way, Chicago to Seattle. What a fantastic journey!!! I would recommend this journey to anyone, also the 'Coast Starlight' Seattle down to LA (with a stop over in SF) ..this brought back memories for me....thank you Paul.
@@deborahselincourt8060 we had the disabled room on both journeys, with the meals brought to us, our 2 boys had the double bunk room. Fantastic journey!
I took this train from Chicago to Seattle in 2015. Unbelievable journey, with great food (especially the famous steak). 1st class seating was great, and perfectly acceptable. Great experience for sure.
Really enjoyed this video!!!! We never knew that there was such beautiful train rides here in our own country!!! Thank you for opening our eyes to the possibilities of a different kind of trip! ~ Mrs K
I took the California Zephyr (2018) from Martinez CA. (Bay Area) all the way to Chicago. I was onboard for around 56 hours and had my own "roomette." I could not imagine "NOT" having my own room for privacy, sleeping, and changing clothes. I was on the bottom level of the car. Three bathrooms and shower were 20 ft. away. My big travel bag was 10 ft. away. I loved every minute of the trip. I would someday like to take this trip on the Empire Builder. Great video!
A beautiful video. Everything was nice - the interior of the train, the food, the observation car and the scenery outside. The presentation in this video was very nice. Loved watching it.
I've just came back to this video bc I had forgotten all about the empire builder, and it's amazing how much higher quality the videos have gotten recently! I almost wish you'd go do this one again - there's 3-5 minute sequences in this video with no dialogue!
My family and I took the Empire Builder from Spokane to Chicago 35 years ago. I highly recommend going in winter, we went in Feb., to see Glacier National Park in winter. Trains go where cars don’t.
I took part of the trip from glacier park to Minneapolis a few summer ago it was the best train ride I ever had. The train is very spacious and clean. The bed is comfortable. The view, no need to say. Most surprisedly, food is not bad at all.
I’ve always wanted to go on the Amtrak. I’m from the UK and my son who now works in New York tells me they don’t go very fast but I guess when you’re taking in all that gorgeous scenery it doesn’t matter!
This trip looks amazing! My husband and I will be taking this same one round trip next year, and we'll be in an accessible bedroom due to my having a neuromuscular disorder. He and I feel that the travel should be just as enjoyable as the vacation. Thank you for sharing this, because now, I'm sure we'll have a fantastic adventure!
Fantastic trip Paul. Being a railway enthusiast Thougherly enjoyed the ride. beautiful scenery. Its nice seeing it from the air. but cant beat being there in the heart of it. Hope you can do some more like this one.
Although I grew up in Portland, I haven’t been there in 50 years. What a kick to see the Union Station again, and the bridges and the rivers. So glad you enjoyed the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We think it’s the most beautiful part of the USA.
What a wonderful way to travel (virtually) in my adoptive country. Thanks, Paul, for your very insightful tips. I appreciate your sensible comments. You are not only an excellent companion for European train trips, but, as I discovered today, of American ones, too -- of all places, having discovered that you have started your voyage from Portland, Oregon, which I had left many years ago with my family, when I moved to the East Coast, to start working at the Voice of America. Now that I am retired, I can definitely watch some more videos. Keep them coming.
Thanks so much for this report, Paul. My family will be taking this train out to rendezvous with the Norwegian Bliss next Fall as part of an Amtrak package. Also, I agree, the observation car is a must, and the diner is optional. Light meal fare is still available from the shop at the lower level cafe'. I'm working on my "return to flying" enthusiasm, it's a work in progress.
This is a great video and makes me want to take a great train ride once again. In 2013 I took the Lake Shore Limited from Worcester, MA to Chicago, and then the Empire Builder to Seattle in coach and then down the West Coast on the Coast Starlight in stages, stopping in Olympia, Portland, the Bay Area and LA to visit West Coast friends and family. Then took the Southwest Chief to New Mexico for a week and flew home from there. Even if you don't have money for a roomette, Amtrak is an amazing way to see the country and is fairly comfortable. Just be prepared to stink as coach seats have no access to showers!
Fantastic video as usual. If you ever do get to Australia, then the Indian Pacific train must be on your list. You can have your own private coach attached onto that too!
Oh my god! I took this trip with my family when I was around 10 I think, and the minute you showed the portland union station all the memories came flooding back! Wow! I still remember that beautiful scenery and that wonderful train, thank you!
When I lived near NYC I had to give a lecture in Toronto. I flew. Terrible flight and rushing around on both ends of the trip. Tired and harried by lecture time. Two years later asked for several lectures over a weekend. Decided to take the train up and back. Relaxed and worked on lecture while going up the Hudson, along the Mohawk and the canals, over the Niagara River, and along Lake Ontario. No hassle, totally prepared for lectures, rested. Went home now really watching the great scenery. Both train trips vacation-like. I just decided that I would make the time.
its just breath-taking when you are going thru MT. Reminds me of the beautiful scenery in Montana and Wyoming when I visited yellowstone 4 years back. Many thx!
Excellent job on all your videos, Paul! Superb visual quality and also the lack of constant commentary. It is a welcome treat to see that you let the images do the talking, with informative screen graphics. Keep up the excellent work - looking forward to more in the future! This Saturday of the 4th of July weekend we have been binge-watching all your videos. Every one first-rate! Cheers!
Paul, I'm a first time viewer to your youtube site. Truly enjoyed this video. I'm so happy for you to have explored so much of small town Americana while riding in your Amtrak roomette. Yes, I've also subscribed and am looking forward to your further journey's. Also, a great job on the video editing.
Trump's a businessman from New York City, what did you expect? Trump wants to improve Amtrak's corridor and commuter services, the bulk of Amtrak's business. Unfortunately you chose to do a partisan spin ignoring this. Considering Amtrak's less than ideal long distance services, concentrating and improving on regional short distances services may not be a bad idea... Private tourist railroads could provide the long distance services for the hotel trains better than Amtrak.
The scenery is beautiful. I've never been on a long distance train before, but I am an over-the-road truck driver... the only sad part is, it's hard to get a feeling for how wonderful the views and scenery really is from watching on a small smart phone screen. Those observation cars are wonderful inventions and help make the most of the trip. That's the reason for the trip!
Amtrak is slow and cumbersome compared to flying but the trip I took from Newport News VA to Chicago is still a real highlight of my life. This is coming from a guy who drives a truck. I’ve seen every corner of the country but you get a different perspective on things when you travel the rails. Thanks for making this video I never got bored watching it.
+Paul's Trip Reports You are welcome. Its only my opinion about private car in public train, because in my country there are tour train in public train. Its named Kereta Wisata
Anywhere in Java Island, especially goes to citiy where its has bigger rail station. Usually, Kereta Wisata is used by corporation, regional goverment, even the President or Vice President using these train. If President or Vice President use Kereta Wisata, the name of the train is Presidential Train.
Really nice video. I live in Minneapolis/St. Paul and have taken the Empire Builder a number of times to Whitefish on skiing holiday. A really great way to unwind...before you unwind. St. Paul's Union Depot is the "newer" station at St. Paul, actually the original station that has been beautifully refurbished and put back into service after decades of neglect. And also, I do believe Havre is pronounced "HAVE-er." Superb - enjoying your journeys.
Thank you Paul. What a great big and beautiful country. Never been, but I enjoy this and all your tours, brought for me from my bottle of wine!! This must rank as an unsuitable comment!!
I took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland first class. i loved it. The only set back was when we got to Glacier National Park it got dark after only an hour. And that was one of the things i really wanted to see. The food was very good compared to airline food.
An idea could be Qantas 789 on the London to Perth route when it starts, if you still have some avois to burn, then touch Air nz, Qantas and Jetstar while you'll down there
When I saw him using the word "Splendid" along with his collection of short-sleeved checkered shirts I could just tell he was from the UK without even hearing that funny accent. Seriously, I don't watch train videos or travel videos but I heard about the Empire Builder and so I'm glad to have seen this. Great job on the video, thanks for posting.
Pat L I like seeing someone from the UK (or anywhere else) admire the scenery. For all the bickering over politics and such, I think we often forget what a beautiful country we have, and should keep it that way. These videos are wonderfully done.
Too bad you didn't depart from Seattle. A few yrs ago I did what's called "the little circle". Chicago to Sacramento (via California Zephyr), then Sacramento to Seattle (via Coast Starlight), and finally Seattle back to Chicago (via the Empire Builder which adds the cars from Portland). It was marvelous. Each route had its delights. There is none more stunning in the US than the California Zephyr as it pulls out of Denver at 8AM and continues the climb up the Rockies over the Continental Divide then into the Sierra Nevada Mountains through Donner's Pass and down toward the Pacific. On that train you see the wilderness in a manner only the big horn sheep and eagles know. There are no roads or trails over long stretches of track. In the mountains, as the train travels along the Colorado River, which starts as little more than a high mountain stream, at the right time of year, one can often see kayakers "stand up and present the moon" to passing trains. Always causes a bit of a stir in the Observation Car. :-) Perhaps next time you can take the California Zephyr; winter with the fabulous snows is a marvelous sight...especially if you happen across the various snow plows, and the monster "rotary". Here's a little look at the Rotary: th-cam.com/video/RjBQ3MaBYiU/w-d-xo.html Happy travels, and thank you. I really do enjoy your trip reports. All the best from Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
I'm riding the Zephyr in February 2019. I am so excited. I have never been farther west than St. Louis. I always wanted to go to California and I always assumed it would be by car and instead I am doing it by train! I know this is going to be really something.
Very true about the Zephyr as it leaves Denver. Every tour/travel book I ever read about that route used the same word to describe it- ASSAULT - as in '...upon leaving Denver, you assault the Rockies...". This seemed a rather severe, harsh word...until I rode it westbound from Denver. 28 tunnels in 30 minutes, and before you know it, you've left the Mile High City and are now much, MUCH higher....even without legalized pot. LOL
@@daniellilly7591 The single best Amtrak trip, with Coast Starlight second place. The rumor has it that the food service on the Zephyr is to be downgraded to box-lunch level come fall or December, 2019. We were subjected to this horror on the Capitol Ltd. in May. If so, it will be a criminal act!
@@paulsomers6048 I've heard there have been many cut backs and "productivity gains" and that is a shame. Travel via rail should be the norm as it is in Europe, Japan and nearly all of Asia, etc. Perhaps it is the result of the general feeling of American's lowering of standards. Cars are fine, but for a real relaxing vaca, trains and ships are the way to go. Flying is such a hassle and whether we like it or not, American standards are really low compared to the European. too much concern for profit and too little concern for quality.
This brings back some happy memories...! I did this journey in 2005 as part of my backpacking trip around the US. I started in NY, on to Chicago, then to Seattle, then down to San Francisco, then back to Chicago (I was supposed to go across through and New Orleans and along the Gulf of Mexico, but Hurricane Katrina has not long happened...) and then back to New York, then Washington before finishing up in Miami. Had amazing journeys on Amtrak, all in sleepers and it was such an amazing way to travel... :)
I enjoy your trips. It's best to watch when your telling us where you are at. Most people don't let you know where there at. I just stop watching if I don't know where I'm at. I watch them on my 65 inch tv which makes the trips really good!!
Just joined your channel Paul. You are inspiring me to get out and travel much more. Great channel. I'm a fellow brit myself, not living in the States.
Very enjoyable Paul. In 1968 l traveled from Halifax, Nova Scotia across Canada on a sleeper train. It was my honeymoon. Our room had a toilet and sink. There were no showers on board so l paid 50 cents to have a bath in Montreal where we boarded our second train to proceed across Canada to Vancouver. Our total fare was 250 dollars and food was included. The dining car was very nice with linen and silver plate cutlery. Excellent food beautifully served and a good variety of menu choices. The scenery you showed was very reminiscent of my trip 50 years ago.
Excellent video Paul, anther home run! I'm so glad I found your channel, I enjoy each and everyone of your videos, I especially like that you let the video/pictures do the talking! Great job my friend, keep up the good work!
+Michael Meltzer Thanks Michael! Comments like this are why I keep posting!
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Paul's Trip Reports Ç
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I enjoy the Amtrak cross country trains. They're quiet (no roaring jet engines), they travel through interesting routes, and the crew all give excellent service. .An Amtrak Roomette is more "ette" than room. I recommend carrying on board only the barest essentials, doing everything to minimize size and volume. Just outside the room there is a luggage rack to get more space in the room. And I do love that shower. I learned to check the schedule and go into the shower at a station with an extended stop so I wasn't bouncing around the shower stall. Knowing that there is only one outlet, I brought a small multi so that I could plug in all of my electronics. And the people. All the staff were great. And it was fun to chat with my fellow travellers. And I also apreciated the privacy of the roomette.
You and me both.
BTW, did you know that Donald Trump, that pathetic excuse for our president, tried to take away our long-distance trains this year?
Go be a globalist elsewhere.
I'm not a globalist. I just don't like politicians w/ no experience. I say what I feel.
The roaring noise you hear on a airliner isn't the engines. It's the noise made by moving through the air at 600 mph.
Well you are an idiot, Christopher Howell
Have now enjoyed a bunch of your videos. My grandfather was an Engineer then a Conductor on the Sante Fe Railroad, stationed in Needles, CA. He started just after WW1 and worked until the 1950's. I have traveled on many of these train journeys and hope to do many more before i depart this earth. Keep up the good work. I bet you have my 93 countries traveled beat.
My husband and I are taking the Empire Builder (roomette) in 2 weeks from Vancouver, Washington to Chicago roundtrip to visit new granddaughter. We are retired and the price we paid was just under $1200. Meals are included. We flew to Chicago from Portland in Dec. and paid almost that much when you add seats with extra legroom and checking one bag. We just flew to see relatives in Tennessee and Oklahoma and in total boarded 6 planes as few flights are nonstop. We hate airport congestion and cramped airline seats and since we have the time are looking forward to a relaxing experience filled with beautiful scenery. Especially after your beautiful video. Thank you.
Sherrie Webber how was the trip?
Brings back so much memory. I was an attendant during my summer and winter breaks while I was in college. Met wonderful people from all over the world and I would never forget these experiences. A big portion of my tuition came from working for Amtrak. Thank you. It’s been 20 years since I set foot on the train. Can’t wait to take the train as a passenger for the first time.
Guys this was a real beast to edit...I hope you enjoy this video. Leave me some feedback - my first proper long form video I've done. Anyway, this was an EPIC trip and my favourite of all my trips so far. 😍
+shelby3024 Done it before! Just before I was on TH-cam...
Love it, Paul, then again, I love all your videos :)
+Em Louise Fairley Thank you Em!
Paul's Trip Reports I Love To Ask You A Question Since I Am Train Fan: You Think Trains In The US Suck Compared To The UK
Amy Sternheim I Know
I rode on this train back in 1992 when I had to travel to Seattle, Washington from New York ( connected in Chicago) It was a WONDERFUL Journey. When going through the Cascades you see snow-capped mountains and a beautiful stream right next to the tracks. I took this on a business trip where I was able to work on my presentation undisturbed by people in my office. It was a very productive use of my time as I got the presentation completed in just one day (It would have taken three days to do it in my office with all of the interruptions I would have had). I got a full bedroom which had a PRIVATE Shower and bathroom. It was well worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat! I don't know how the food is now, but back then I had a wonderful steak dinner in the dining car.
Imagine what the impact that this beautiful country must have had on Lewis and Clark! I am from Australia and we specialise in deserts. This is so nice.
That’s what’s so great about train travel, the chance to unplug from everything, at least driving! I’m glad to hear that United travelers and senior citizens get early boarding.
Very nicely done. Most people are in such a hurry, they just fly from city to city. Going by train it's amazing. You get to see the world through a very different perspective.
The Western US is really beautiful. Train is probably the best way to see it because driving all that vast expanse of openness can become overwhelming.
Plus you'll burn a lot of gas.
Unforunately there aren't train connections to lots of the great spots anymore, although many of them were originally opened up by the railroads.
@@glypnir amen, no train from new orleans to jax fl???? why,. also nashvill union station tn, doesnt go anywhere, ???mmm , progress?
Vic Saul The US is relatively unpopulated. We’ve only got European population density in the BosWash corridor. Amtrak actually makes money there. Especially since we love our cars and planes, trains have a hard time. But there’s not enough traffic on most routes to justify high speed rail. And non high speed rail takes forever on American distances.
Get a cheap tent and an air mattress, stock a cooler, and get off the interstates once you get west of Iowa, Missouri ,and Arkansas, where the speed limits jump to 65 on the 2-lanes.
At 70 on US14 from Pierre to i90, i got passed by a couple cars and passed one grain truck.
On Nebraska 71 south of Crawford, I caught one minivan doing 65, and after a few minutes realized I was missing the scenery having to not run them over, and passed them.
If you can be flexible on your schedule, you can take in a lot on the road. And not paying for a hotel cuts a lot of costs. I think a campsite with an electric outlet for my fan and phone charger, and free access ho showers, ran $45 at the SD state fairgrounds for three nights, and $18 for a night at Fort Robinson (Crawford, NE) with showers that took quarters.
I'd like to do Moab and Yellowstone, but seeing how crowded they're getting, I may just pass on them.
Thanks for this fine video. I rode the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle in December, 1982, to see the Chicago Bears play the Seattle Seahawks in the Kingdome. I splurged on a bedroom so I could have a private bathroom and shower. I really enjoyed the trip despite a severe earache I developed soon after we left Chicago. (I took a couple of aspirin when I finally got to my hotel in Seattle and it went away in 20 minutes. Argh! Always pack aspirin!) It is difficult to convey how incredibly flat and huge the midsection of the United States is. You have to see it to understand. I'd love to take the trip again now that I'm retired, but my wife can't stand the thought of being on a train for two and a half days. (Sigh.)
I also enjoyed my time in Seattle, even though the Bears lost. As an extra treat for myself, I flew back to Chicago first class, something I've never done since. My salary was peanuts back then. It was an insanely expensive trip for me, but I was 27 and single, so I indulged myself without thought to the cost, and that attitude, I'm sure, contributed to the joy of the trip.
You are a wonderful host! Your honesty and hospitality was complimented by your beautiful photography.
Thank you for letting me join you.
Steve
I particularly enjoyed the two llama hanging out under the billboard at 18:53.
I had to go back and SEE THAT!!!
For a one-man production, you do a great job. A few clarifications. You did get it right at the end of the report, Amtrak on-board employees are generally not called Stewards. That is a specific job title for someone in charge of a dining car that has virtually disappeared on Amtrak. I think all of the true Stewards are retired by now. Stewards earned more than other dining car employees, so getting rid of the category was important to Amtrak. The employees you dealt with or saw on that train were: Train Attendant, sleeper; Train Attendant Coach; Lead Service Attendant, diner; Service Attendants, diner; Lead Service Attendant, lounge; Conductor; Assistant Conductor; and Locomotive Engineer (a very American term). I was an Amtrak Lead Service Attendant for 14 years out of Washington, DC. The room you had was a Superliner Economy Bedroom. The "observation" car is called a Superliner Sightseeer Lounge. The food service station in the lower lever of the lounge is a cafe.
The private cars attached to the train are/were owned by a company called Iowa Pacific, and the full-length dome appeared to be ex-Santa Fe. I could not tell much about the last car on the train from the couple of seconds it was shown. Ed Ellis, the president of Iowa Pacific really liked the Illinois Central, and paints most of his cars in their old passenger colors. Iowa Pacific operates charter cars on Amtrak trains, as well as operating a few tourist railroads in the U. S. They have been having numerous financial problems, so by the time anyone else reads this, they may or may not still be in business. The private cars you saw in Milwaukee were not cars for charter. I understand the confusion, but they are owned by a company called Charter Wire, a steel company, and they are used for the company's business and travel. They are painted in a scheme similar to the old New York Central colors.
How much do you tip your sleeper attendant? And is there anyone else I should tip?
Glad to see you know your trains. We have models only here in East Tennessee Southwest Virginia. CSX
Good, nice-to-know information on sleeper cars is Alfred Hitchcock's great move "North By Nortwest". Excellent movie and lots of railroad action.
@@golden50snomad52 Dining car attendant, typically $10-20. For the dining car attendant, you can tip for each meal or at the end.
If you would love to go slow and see as much of the country as possible, do this. If you would love to chat with fellow passengers, dine with them and talk about what you are seeing, or anything else, do this. If you would love to spend the night in a snug, comfortable compartment, do this. If you would love to wake up in the middle of the night, stopped on a siding, and rise to the windows to a sight that will stay with you for the rest of your life, do this. If you would love to sightsee on the upper level of Amtrak's bi-level cars before they go away, do this. If you would love to arrive at your distant destination, quite tired out, but supremely happy, do this.
If you want to save a considerable sum, make your accommodation reservations (sleeping car) the moment you know your date of travel, do that. It's America as it used to be, combined with America as it is now. Don't miss it. You will never be sorry. The money you spent to do it will soon be forgotten. The memories will remain.
James Idso An excellent post and I could not agree with you more.
Amtrak Superliner bi-level cars aren't going away anytime soon. A Superliner car refurbishment program is slated to start in a couple of years.
Amtrak doesn't use bi-level cars on some eastern routes because some of the older tunnels aren't high enough for bi- level cars.
Darn right. With the world going fast you need to slow down so you can enjoy our beautiful country and everything that is in it. I'll always prefer to take the train over the plane any day.
100% right!' My wife and I will spend two weeks on Amtrak to celebrate our 50th anniversary: From Wilmington DL Crescent to NOLA; Sunset to LA; Starlight to Seattle; Empire to Chi with a full day stop-over at the Izaak Walton in Essex MT; Chi to DC on Capitol; NEC back to Wilmington. We've already done NEC - Capitol - Zephyr to Sacramento and back. Sad to learn that food service has been reduced to airline food on the Capitol. That's what we get from having a former airline exec now running Amtrak. Trumpism I fear.
@@paulsomers6048 What is "Trumpism?"
I'm a 68 year old American, and you have my eyes popping out of my head.
Book the train! Lets go!
That storm was beautiful. I miss that about the US. Just drizzle now in the UK.
23:32
And Hail stones as big as Golf balls
look on the bright side , you dont get hurricanes , tornadoes, etc etc, not extremes anyway
In 1990 after completing my studies in Baltimore, I criss crossed US on a 1 month US Rail pass before returning to my country. It included Chicago-Seattle-Chicago on Empire Builder. Your video has rekindled my fading memories. Thanks very much.
Really enjoyed this comprehensive look at one of the great American rail journeys. Be sure to plan future travel on the California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief (my favorite since it stops at my local station, Lamy New Mexico). One sees many Amish people on the Chief, too. I love the pace of the long Amtrak trips, meeting people in the dining car, and the lovely solitude traveling in a roomette as you did. This was a worthy effort, I know you've mentioned the formidable editing required for this video. Thank you.
+Dianne Williamson Thanks Dianne. I've done the Texas Eagle and the California Zephyr before - though that was before I was making videos for TH-cam. If this video does well I'll definitely be back next summer for another trip on the Zephyr!
Nothing wrong with the beauty of the West Texas desert in Cactus Jack country either on the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle.
Dianne Williamson+ I have also ridden the Southwest Chief many times--and believe it or not, my stop if also Lamy! I don't live in New Mexico, but I visit a friend of mine in Santa Fe often and she picks me up in Lamy. I love that part of the country. And yes, I did notice a lot of Amish people on the train on that route. Love cross-country train travel!
Private car is Iowa Pacific Sky View car from the mid-1950s. Club seating in the dome and full kitchen and dining room in the lower level. People can purchase seats or charter this car and others for various excursions either attached to an Amtrak consist or an altogether separate train, particularly a steam one. The company that does it is High Iron Travel.
Note that there was actually a second private car behind the dome...Looked like it was painted in the colors/colours of the old Great Northern, the original operator of the Empire Builder before Amtrak.
According to their website the last time they scheduled any excursions was in 2017.
It’s painted in Illinois Central Railroad colors. Iowa Pacific ran some cars in those colors when they were contracted to run Amtrak’s Hoosier State for like 18 months in 2015. I always thought the Panama Orange was a nice color.
Justin H the reason for that is Amtrak has created a new policy of not allowing any private cars or steam excursions for “insurance reasons”.
tha vvolf The current CEO of Amtrak is the former head of Delta Airlines, and he’s a numbers man supposedly. Thing is, some of the private cars actually can make money for Amtrak. I hope Amtrak’s board will reconsider after a more thorough review of the situation.
This is by far the best on you tube. If you tube handed out EMMYS you would get one for this..
Thanks for the memories - I fell in love with trains riding on The Empire Builder as a 10 year old kid in 1971.
As someone who loves Amtrak despite its numerous shortcomings, I'm so glad you enjoyed the journey. Make sure to do Coast Starlight from LA - SEA or the Southwest Chief from LA - CHI sometime
Nothing is as beautiful as the California Zephyr west of Denver... But the Empire Builder, Pacific Coast Starlight, and Southwest Chief have some wonderful views. Frankly I like the desert views of West Texas through Cactus Jack country on the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle too.
You get to see some pretty awesome sights on the Southwest Chief.
It's a shame that Amtrak lost the Pacific Parlor Cars on the Starlight before he had a chance to experience it. As far as first-class amenities go for trains in the US, it didn't and doesn't get much better than the PPC.
*I've done the Coast Starlight LAX - SEA 11 times Southwest Chief LAX - CHI 3 times …. and since I always get the private bedroom / bath … my bank account is drained~LOL*
I wholeheartedly second Jonathan's recommendations. My son and I rode the Southwest Chief from Chicago to Albuquerque, NM and back last summer and absolutely loved every second of it, both on the train and in ABQ. You get an outstanding feel for what most of us think of as the Wild West when you're on the Chief. Also note that the Chief's existence has been somewhat imperiled by bureaucrats, so go sooner rather than later.
I had to watch this one of yours again. I have ridden the empire builder many times and have loved every trip. My family all live in Minot North Dakota and I was there going through cancer treatments I'm Minot. I had finished my treatment and was meeting my ex fiancee in Michigan. I could only afford a coach ticket so spent most of the night tossing and turning in my seat because in was so sick from the chemotherapy and burned from the radiation treatments. I tried to see if I could upgrade to even just a roomette to try and get some rest. When I found out I couldn't afford the upgrade it left me in tears in my seat. The attendant of the sleeper car was a true blessing. He found out about me and came and got me and escorted me to a deluxe room with its own ensuite and shower. I spent the rest of the trip there resting and was even able to take a short shower to clean my burns. He brought me food to my room and even a few bits for my service Chihuahua! I was able to see the attendant a year later heading to Portland this time and thank him for his kindness. The Amtrak staff are first rate. If you ever get a chance to go from Seattle to Chicago you should do it. The "Alps" of Washington state are a fabulous sight!
When my wife was still alive we enjoyed train travel. We discussed the perfect train trip. Starting in the New York area, going down the east coast, then west to California and north toward Portland and from there east to New York. BUT the train would only travel during daylight hours at no more 40 mph. Passengers could sleep on the train or get a room locally during the night time stops. BUT THERE IS MORE. When it got back to New York it would make the trip again starting in New York going west. That way I could see what I missed on the other side of the tracks. Yeah I know...but fantasizing is the only way it's going to happen. Oh I almost forgot the last thing. It would be pulled by a "Big Boy". That last item was thought of before they restored 4014. We saw a Big Boy in Green Bay, Wi and were impressed.
Sounds lovely Arnold
That’s subway train slow not suitable for Long distance
Great video. As soon as I survive Corona virus I won't vacation virtual, but adventure in real time. This trip has been a life long dream. Im a lung cancer survivor and work in a hospital. When virus has run it's course I'm running to the closest train depot. I WILL see Chicago to Portland through bleary eyes in real time. God bless everyone and please distance and sanitize....for one another.
Love the deep rumbling of those diesel electric locos. Still my favorite type of loco.
I live in a suburb of Chicago, and have travelled on the Empire Builder a couple times between Seattle and Chicago, both ways, and have always enjoyed it. Its a great way to see the beauty and geological diversity of our country. AMTRAK does a great job, given that Congress consistently is penurious on funding. I enjoyed your production, including editing and musical score. Subscribed....cheers!
I would love to take several weeks off from work and travel on AMTRAK in a big loop from my home in Seattle, to New York, to Miami, to L.A. and then back to Seattle. this seems like such a wonderful journey, and an opportunity to meet and talk with other passengers and make new friends.
good luck with new orleans la , to jax fl, missing link??
You could do: Seattle - LA on the Coast Starlight, LA - New Orleans on the Sunset Limited, New Orleans - Washington DC on the Crescent, Washington DC - Miami on the Silver Meteor (Silver Star if you want to go to Tampa, FL, but there's no dining car on this train), Miami - New York on the Silver Meteor/Silver Star, New York - Chicago on the Lake Shore Limited, Chicago - Seattle on the Empire Builder. Voila: A rail tour of the US
Do it! 👍🏻
Am from Chennai (India), every time I watches your videos I feel am travelling next to you.. super 👌🏽👏🏽💐
Great job Paul. With a USA Rail Pass, we're actually taking this train from Chicago to Seattle in October (actually starting off on the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago.) Getting off in St Paul MN, Minot ND and White Fish MT. This will be our second long-distance Amtrak trip, after a journey to New Orleans on the Crescent followed by The Texas Eagle through Texas. It's a great way to travel..
I have been on this trip 6 times rt from SEA to CHI. It's a beautiful trip. There's a lot of train to walk around on. Meals have always been great, but Amtrak works on its own time, and I have been delayed several times both into CHI and SEA. I have had a sleeper (the same one shown in this video) about 4 times out of all my trips, and while it is very convenient, I did miss the rest of the travelers on the trip. It is very nice to take a long nap on a real bed while going through Eastern Montana and Northern North Dakota. Have fun if you go on this route! I haven't been in years and I am happy to see that they updated everything from brown and orange to blue. And the shower has a glass door now! Yay!
Another wonderful video. There's nothing quite like crossing North America by train. I especially liked your shots of Portland Union Station. I love its old time marble interior and "echo". I was actually there last month when I took my 10 year old granddaughter on her first "real" train ride. (We're from Hawai'i.) While on our summer trip, we were headed to Tacoma to torment more of our transplanted relatives! Little one got to throw her first snow ball, at her uncle, not me. But maybe the train ride was most memorable, especially where the tracks wind around Puget Sound.
+manu bird I really love Portland station. It's incredibly charming and very American. In fact, Portland is my favourite American city. I hope your granddaughter is hooked on trains now!
My British mind has been blown by the arrangement of that station. With tracks at platform level and just walking across all of them, I just.....can’t wrap my head around that.
Great reminder of the many times we took the Empire Builder in Sleeper Class!
Glad you got to see The Columbia River Gorge! Wishram used to be a MAJOR Rail yard. At 8:33 you got to see the Fire Suppression Train cars. An old caboose that serves as the Command Car, tank cars for for fire suppression liquids and flat cars with water cannons.
Very fine video. That footage of the storms was great. Reminds me of the ones we get in Kansas. Thank you for your work at this.
We have no idea of how absolutely HUGE our country is. I dare say there are 99% of us. Most of us live in our own little world. Love your trips, it is an education about how astounding of a country we live in. Please folks...don't lose it !
Clean windows! Another video I watched previously made me that if I was a passenger I would want to get out and clean them at the first stop.
Thank you for providing this video. It seems to be the best kept secret for relaxing travel in the US. After a trip by car or plane I am always exhausted but this looks relaxing.
I take Empire Builder from Sandpoint, Idaho to Portland, Oregon all the time -- I love this travel mode, totally unplug and relax. I have never had a bad trip, even when it snows and we are delayed.
I travelled the 'Empire Builder' the other way, Chicago to Seattle. What a fantastic journey!!! I would recommend this journey to anyone, also the 'Coast Starlight' Seattle down to LA (with a stop over in SF) ..this brought back memories for me....thank you Paul.
Hi, we r hoping to do the same trip. What accommodations did you get?
@@deborahselincourt8060 do you mean on the train or hotels?
@@deborahselincourt8060 we had the disabled room on both journeys, with the meals brought to us, our 2 boys had the double bunk room. Fantastic journey!
@@happy2meetu34 Trains
Really hilarious! Without patrons and supports, these expeditions can't be fulfilled; so kudos to those patrons and supporters!
I did the Southwest Chief route ten years ago and really enjoyed it. Please do more train reports.😀
+Charles Bower Thanks Charles. I have several more train trips to come this year!
i did the energy saver from NYC TO LAX
I took this train from Chicago to Seattle in 2015. Unbelievable journey, with great food (especially the famous steak). 1st class seating was great, and perfectly acceptable. Great experience for sure.
Really enjoyed this video!!!! We never knew that there was such beautiful train rides here in our own country!!! Thank you for opening our eyes to the possibilities of a different kind of trip! ~ Mrs K
I took the California Zephyr (2018) from Martinez CA. (Bay Area) all the way to Chicago. I was onboard for around 56 hours and had my own "roomette." I could not imagine "NOT" having my own room for privacy, sleeping, and changing clothes. I was on the bottom level of the car. Three bathrooms and shower were 20 ft. away. My big travel bag was 10 ft. away. I loved every minute of the trip. I would someday like to take this trip on the Empire Builder. Great video!
A beautiful video. Everything was nice - the interior of the train, the food, the observation car and the scenery outside. The presentation in this video was very nice. Loved watching it.
I've just came back to this video bc I had forgotten all about the empire builder, and it's amazing how much higher quality the videos have gotten recently! I almost wish you'd go do this one again - there's 3-5 minute sequences in this video with no dialogue!
best trip report on youtube and definitely the best you have done this year keep up the amazing work
My family and I took the Empire Builder from Spokane to Chicago 35 years ago. I highly recommend going in winter, we went in Feb., to see Glacier National Park in winter. Trains go where cars don’t.
This is by far my favourite of your trips. I will do this one!
It’s my favourite too! 👍🏻👍🏻
I took part of the trip from glacier park to Minneapolis a few summer ago it was the best train ride I ever had. The train is very spacious and clean. The bed is comfortable. The view, no need to say. Most surprisedly, food is not bad at all.
I’ve always wanted to go on the Amtrak. I’m from the UK and my son who now works in New York tells me they don’t go very fast but I guess when you’re taking in all that gorgeous scenery it doesn’t matter!
The Southwest Chief gets up to 90 mph in certain stretches. However, most other western routes are limited to 79 mph at best.
This trip looks amazing! My husband and I will be taking this same one round trip next year, and we'll be in an accessible bedroom due to my having a neuromuscular disorder. He and I feel that the travel should be just as enjoyable as the vacation. Thank you for sharing this, because now, I'm sure we'll have a fantastic adventure!
Fantastic trip Paul. Being a railway enthusiast Thougherly enjoyed the ride. beautiful scenery. Its nice seeing it from the air. but cant beat being there in the heart of it. Hope you can do some more like this one.
Although I grew up in Portland, I haven’t been there in 50 years. What a kick to see the Union Station again, and the bridges and the rivers. So glad you enjoyed the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We think it’s the most beautiful part of the USA.
At 8:53 the train with the caboose is actually Very very rare it’s the BNSF firetrain
What a wonderful way to travel (virtually) in my adoptive country. Thanks, Paul, for your very insightful tips. I appreciate your sensible comments. You are not only an excellent companion for European train trips, but, as I discovered today, of American ones, too -- of all places, having discovered that you have started your voyage from Portland, Oregon, which I had left many years ago with my family, when I moved to the East Coast, to start working at the Voice of America. Now that I am retired, I can definitely watch some more videos. Keep them coming.
Thanks so much for this report, Paul. My family will be taking this train out to rendezvous with the Norwegian Bliss next Fall as part of an Amtrak package. Also, I agree, the observation car is a must, and the diner is optional. Light meal fare is still available from the shop at the lower level cafe'. I'm working on my "return to flying" enthusiasm, it's a work in progress.
It should be pointed out that if you travel in a roomette or a bedroom, all of your meals in the dining car are included in the ticket price.
This is a great video and makes me want to take a great train ride once again. In 2013 I took the Lake Shore Limited from Worcester, MA to Chicago, and then the Empire Builder to Seattle in coach and then down the West Coast on the Coast Starlight in stages, stopping in Olympia, Portland, the Bay Area and LA to visit West Coast friends and family. Then took the Southwest Chief to New Mexico for a week and flew home from there. Even if you don't have money for a roomette, Amtrak is an amazing way to see the country and is fairly comfortable. Just be prepared to stink as coach seats have no access to showers!
Fantastic video as usual. If you ever do get to Australia, then the Indian Pacific train must be on your list. You can have your own private coach attached onto that too!
+Jeremy Williams Sounds awesome - one day I hope to be able to afford a trip in a private car.
I've seen many train videos and I have to say you are the only one I like watching, when it comes too train videos ❤️❤️❤️ keep them coming.
Thanks for the ride!
Oh my god! I took this trip with my family when I was around 10 I think, and the minute you showed the portland union station all the memories came flooding back! Wow! I still remember that beautiful scenery and that wonderful train, thank you!
27:45 our son’s favorite place in the world, Miller Park! We’ll take you to a Brewers game next time you’re in town. An experience!
Around 16:50...those two minutes are just absolutely exquisite. The rivers, the trees, the music. Perfect editing. Well done!
Nice job, Paul! Hope you enjoyed my neck of the woods!
Your travel reviews, vids, commentary, it feels like I’m traveling the world!!!😁
Whenever I get a choice to travel by rail, I always choose the rail. Even if it's a 10 hours train versus an 1,5 hour flight.
Same here. I HATE flying.
When I lived near NYC I had to give a lecture in Toronto. I flew. Terrible flight and rushing around on both ends of the trip. Tired and harried by lecture time.
Two years later asked for several lectures over a weekend. Decided to take the train up and back. Relaxed and worked on lecture while going up the Hudson, along the Mohawk and the canals, over the Niagara River, and along Lake Ontario. No hassle, totally prepared for lectures, rested. Went home now really watching the great scenery. Both train trips vacation-like. I just decided that I would make the time.
Great video!! I took this train as a child with my mother to Whitefish, MT. Great memories. Thanks for posting.
Great video
its just breath-taking when you are going thru MT. Reminds me of the beautiful scenery in Montana and Wyoming when I visited yellowstone 4 years back. Many thx!
Excellent job on all your videos, Paul! Superb visual quality and also the lack of constant commentary. It is a welcome treat to see that you let the images do the talking, with informative screen graphics. Keep up the excellent work - looking forward to more in the future! This Saturday of the 4th of July weekend we have been binge-watching all your videos. Every one first-rate! Cheers!
Loved it, mate! Really enjoyed the video- must've been fun riding :) Keep it up!
+JustAnAverageTraveler Cheers!
What a beautiful video. Makes me feel like I went on vacation, too. Very relaxing.
Paul, I'm a first time viewer to your youtube site. Truly enjoyed this video. I'm so happy for you to have explored so much of small town Americana while riding in your Amtrak roomette. Yes, I've also subscribed and am looking forward to your further journey's. Also, a great job on the video editing.
+David Wolf Thanks David! There's no other way to see America than by Amtrak. 👍🏻
This is taking a cruise without the danger of getting your feet wet...and the views are many, many more times more exciting !
That is one epic railway journey. Excellent video and very informative. Thanks for sharing Paul.
+When I Travel The World Cheers James!
Yes this is an epic railway journey. Everyone should try Amtrak's Empire Builder train!
I'm a fan of Amtrak and I love those long-distance trains. And Donald Trump was not about to take 'em all away.
Christopher Howell trump ain’t doing shit to Amtrak. Don’t bring politics into this my guy
Trump's a businessman from New York City, what did you expect? Trump wants to improve Amtrak's corridor and commuter services, the bulk of Amtrak's business. Unfortunately you chose to do a partisan spin ignoring this. Considering Amtrak's less than ideal long distance services, concentrating and improving on regional short distances services may not be a bad idea... Private tourist railroads could provide the long distance services for the hotel trains better than Amtrak.
The scenery is beautiful. I've never been on a long distance train before, but I am an over-the-road truck driver... the only sad part is, it's hard to get a feeling for how wonderful the views and scenery really is from watching on a small smart phone screen. Those observation cars are wonderful inventions and help make the most of the trip. That's the reason for the trip!
This rout goes right through the stretch of track I maintain in Stevenson wa for the BNSF.
Amtrak is slow and cumbersome compared to flying but the trip I took from Newport News VA to Chicago is still a real highlight of my life. This is coming from a guy who drives a truck. I’ve seen every corner of the country but you get a different perspective on things when you travel the rails. Thanks for making this video I never got bored watching it.
Finally. trip report using train, and maybe its longest video have you made. Awesome scenery for 3 days trip using train. Thanks for uploading.
+Reza Alan Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
+Paul's Trip Reports You are welcome. Its only my opinion about private car in public train, because in my country there are tour train in public train. Its named Kereta Wisata
+Reza Alan I have just Googled that and it looks amazing! Where does the Kereta Wisata go?
Anywhere in Java Island, especially goes to citiy where its has bigger rail station. Usually, Kereta Wisata is used by corporation, regional goverment, even the President or Vice President using these train. If President or Vice President use Kereta Wisata, the name of the train is Presidential Train.
Really nice video. I live in Minneapolis/St. Paul and have taken the Empire Builder a number of times to Whitefish on skiing holiday. A really great way to unwind...before you unwind. St. Paul's Union Depot is the "newer" station at St. Paul, actually the original station that has been beautifully refurbished and put back into service after decades of neglect. And also, I do believe Havre is pronounced "HAVE-er." Superb - enjoying your journeys.
Love your videos. A request: regularize audio level. Incidental music on this one way too loud; much louder than dialogue.
Beautiful, scenic, relaxing trip! Thanx for taking us along.
I hope you do the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver! It's an epic trip too!
Thank you Paul. What a great big and beautiful country. Never been, but I enjoy this and all your tours, brought for me from my bottle of wine!! This must rank as an unsuitable comment!!
Sounds perfectly fine 😃
Excellent video, that steak dinner looked so good...
@@Fliegermann777- that's how I felt about it on the Capitol Ltd., back when they had real food service on that route.
I took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland first class. i loved it. The only set back was when we got to Glacier National Park it got dark after only an hour. And that was one of the things i really wanted to see. The food was very good compared to airline food.
An idea could be Qantas 789 on the London to Perth route when it starts, if you still have some avois to burn, then touch Air nz, Qantas and Jetstar while you'll down there
+matt787747 I think that journey might kill me - but I am going to try and get to Oz somehow!
Paul's Trip Reports come to Melbourne! It is cold but absolutely beautiful!
When I saw him using the word "Splendid" along with his collection of short-sleeved checkered shirts I could just tell he was from the UK without even hearing that funny accent. Seriously, I don't watch train videos or travel videos but I heard about the Empire Builder and so I'm glad to have seen this. Great job on the video, thanks for posting.
Pat L I like seeing someone from the UK (or anywhere else) admire the scenery. For all the bickering over politics and such, I think we often forget what a beautiful country we have, and should keep it that way. These videos are wonderfully done.
I'm watching this in 2020👍
Me too
Me too
Im watching this in 2021
Beautiful train station in Portland. I've travelled Amtrak many times. Love them. Love the U.S. Another great video. Thank you.
Too bad you didn't depart from Seattle. A few yrs ago I did what's called "the little circle". Chicago to Sacramento (via California Zephyr), then Sacramento to Seattle (via Coast Starlight), and finally Seattle back to Chicago (via the Empire Builder which adds the cars from Portland). It was marvelous. Each route had its delights.
There is none more stunning in the US than the California Zephyr as it pulls out of Denver at 8AM and continues the climb up the Rockies over the Continental Divide then into the Sierra Nevada Mountains through Donner's Pass and down toward the Pacific. On that train you see the wilderness in a manner only the big horn sheep and eagles know. There are no roads or trails over long stretches of track. In the mountains, as the train travels along the Colorado River, which starts as little more than a high mountain stream, at the right time of year, one can often see kayakers "stand up and present the moon" to passing trains. Always causes a bit of a stir in the Observation Car. :-)
Perhaps next time you can take the California Zephyr; winter with the fabulous snows is a marvelous sight...especially if you happen across the various snow plows, and the monster "rotary". Here's a little look at the Rotary: th-cam.com/video/RjBQ3MaBYiU/w-d-xo.html
Happy travels, and thank you. I really do enjoy your trip reports. All the best from Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
I'm riding the Zephyr in February 2019. I am so excited. I have never been farther west than St. Louis. I always wanted to go to California and I always assumed it would be by car and instead I am doing it by train! I know this is going to be really something.
Very true about the Zephyr as it leaves Denver. Every tour/travel book I ever read about that route used the same word to describe it- ASSAULT - as in '...upon leaving Denver, you assault the Rockies...". This seemed a rather severe, harsh word...until I rode it westbound from Denver. 28 tunnels in 30 minutes, and before you know it, you've left the Mile High City and are now much, MUCH higher....even without legalized pot. LOL
@@daniellilly7591 The single best Amtrak trip, with Coast Starlight second place. The rumor has it that the food service on the Zephyr is to be downgraded to box-lunch level come fall or December, 2019. We were subjected to this horror on the Capitol Ltd. in May. If so, it will be a criminal act!
@@paulsomers6048 I've heard there have been many cut backs and "productivity gains" and that is a shame. Travel via rail should be the norm as it is in Europe, Japan and nearly all of Asia, etc. Perhaps it is the result of the general feeling of American's lowering of standards.
Cars are fine, but for a real relaxing vaca, trains and ships are the way to go. Flying is such a hassle and whether we like it or not, American standards are really low compared to the European. too much concern for profit and too little concern for quality.
This brings back some happy memories...! I did this journey in 2005 as part of my backpacking trip around the US. I started in NY, on to Chicago, then to Seattle, then down to San Francisco, then back to Chicago (I was supposed to go across through and New Orleans and along the Gulf of Mexico, but Hurricane Katrina has not long happened...) and then back to New York, then Washington before finishing up in Miami. Had amazing journeys on Amtrak, all in sleepers and it was such an amazing way to travel... :)
Very elegant Paul, nicely done.
I enjoy your trips. It's best to watch when your telling us where you are at. Most people don't let you know where there at. I just stop watching if I don't know where I'm at. I watch them on my 65 inch tv which makes the trips really good!!
Just joined your channel Paul. You are inspiring me to get out and travel much more. Great channel. I'm a fellow brit myself, not living in the States.
Very enjoyable Paul. In 1968 l traveled from Halifax, Nova Scotia across Canada on a sleeper train. It was my honeymoon. Our room had a toilet and sink. There were no showers on board so l paid 50 cents to have a bath in Montreal where we boarded our second train to proceed across Canada to Vancouver. Our total fare was 250 dollars and food was included. The dining car was very nice with linen and silver plate cutlery. Excellent food beautifully served and a good variety of menu choices. The scenery you showed was very reminiscent of my trip 50 years ago.