Music is awesome !. Have been living in Hawaii 31 yrs & have taken zephyr 2x. Moving back to pa in 3 weeks. Taking zephyr ! Just can't wait. Thanks for the reminder! Stunnj by video😎
I've travelled on Amtrak train (even former private RR Company before Amtrak merged) for 50 years. So, I go once (sometime twice) a year in any part of USA as I love it and no matter if on time or delays. Train travel is a blast and amazing trips.
I am sure you will have a great adventure on the California Zephyr. You probably will encounter snow in the Rocky Mountains. Coincidentally, we just returned from a two-week holiday in Australia, visiting Sydney and Cairns. And we shot a video that is now posted on our TH-cam channel.
we took this train from Chicago to Emeryville and it was the best trip ever. We had a roomette and we met some wonderful people and got some very good pictures. The views are much better if you sit on the right side of the train leaving from Chicago.
Thanks for your comments. I watched your excellent video and especially enjoyed seeing the parts I missed on my trip. Train travel is terrific. I just wish Amtrak had open cars where you could ride outside, as many tourist trains have.
For one trip, we flew from Las Vegas to Grand Junction, CO, on Allegiant Air and rode the Zephyr from Grand Junction to Denver, returning on westbound train a couple of days later. We then returned to Las Vegas via Allegiant. The next trip only included the eastbound Zephyr from Grand Junction and we flew back to Vegas from Denver on another airline.
Hi, beautiful video. Did the trip from San Francisco to Chicago in April 2012. You had a lot more snow bur very nice weather. We were riding while snowing at some places. It was a great trip!!!!
I have traveled the Empire Builder twice between Portland and Chicago. The scenery is great. I stopped at Glacier NP once. The trip up the Columbia River Gorge is spectacular! It even follows the Columbia River to the point where the Snake River connects.
shirtshine73blitz, .......and YOU never have to worry about falling asleep at the wheel (like people in rubber tired motor vehicles do). You can just sit back and stare out the window for 6 hours straight never once needing to worry about oncoming traffic or not seeing something because there's no place to pull over and get an extended look. Also since trains travel in "physically restricted" areas that rubber tired vehicles simply CAN'T traverse. you get a perspective that other people don't. You get to see the "belly of the beast" from inside the belly itself.
Thanks! I'm glad you liked the video and music. I have a lot of fun creating custom music tracks for my videos using Sony ACID Movie Studio software. I don't play an instrument or read music and can't even carry a tune, but that program makes it easy to "compose" music. It's like having musical Lego blocks to build whatever tune you want. And I don't have to worry about copyright issues.
My coach ticket did not have a seat assignment. I just picked a window seat on the side away from the sun. During the trip, the train was not full, so I could move from side-to-side depending on where the view and/or lighting was best for shooting video. I also picked the rear coach so I could shoot the head end as the locomotives rounded a curve. Your coach ticket allows you to move throughout the train, including the dinning car and the observation car with its snack bar. I have heard, however, that when the train is crowded, the conductor may assign seats as you board. Note that the windows on the bottom level doors can be opened for glare-free photos or video shots.
I have also taken the Zephyr several times from Chicago to the west coast and back. It's great that Amtrak schedules the run so that the train is travelling through the most scenic areas during the day. I do have one question though. You said that you did some of your recording from the open window on the lower level. I have read that Amtrak's policy is that passengers are not allowed to open those windows or you are subject to being asked to detrain at the next stop. Did you ask permission to do that?
I have not yet traveled on the Empire Builder and have only ridden the Zephyr between Sacramento and Reno and between Green River and Denver. But in planning my trips, I looked for routes that would traverse the best scenery during daylight hours. I knew the Zephyr crossed both the Rockies and Sierras during daytime. Apply that test to the Empire Builder schedule.
Thanks. The shots outside the train were taken on different days. I went to the station on the day before my train ride and after my train ride to capture arrival and departure shots.
Does any one know when this railroad was made? I suppose back in the 1880's or so. I'm in awe at the amount of ties it takes to make a road bed. I will have to measure it out some time when I go past a rail road track. It was really a project to cut a channel through those mountains. I lived in Denver for a year so I was always impressed at the roads that were cut through the mountains, but in the days when all the lifting was done by hand, laying track for 3000 miles was quite the feat.
+Ric Trexell> Just after the U.S. Civil War. The first transcontinental railroad was to have started in the early 1860s after president Lincoln had signed the bill, but with the U. S. civil war was already raging and the work didn't began in earnest until around 1866. The line was completed in 1869. The transcontinental line did not include Denver, but Cheyenne, Wyoming instead. The citizens of Denver who had their own local lines connected to the Central Pacific RR of the transcontinental line near the time of completion around 1869. Who did the work? Ever wonder what brought the Chinese to America? We know what brought the English, the French, and the Spaniards, but very little about the Chinese who settled in North America. Yes it was cheap labor from China to build U.S. railroads is what brought the first wave. The Chinese did the heavy lifting, the grimey, and much of the dangerous work like blasting through mountains. A lot of them died too. Ever wonder what the Irish did when their potato crops failed? Well, many came to America. Just in time for Scarlett O'Hara to be born I suppose, and just in time to get involved in the civil war a generation later. Many Irishmen fought on both sides. After the war? Yep, like the Chinese who were the chief labor source for building railroads out west, it was the Irish who also got their hands dirty in building U.S. railroads. Because the Irish were white they got paid a higher wage than the people from China. So there you have it, the dangerous and labor intensive railroad building for the transcontinental railroad (with spurs into CO) were initially built on the backs of the Chinese and the Irish in the late 1860s.
My Mother is taking the Zephyr as I write this. She left East Lansing Michigan Yesterday and was in Colorado Today on Her way to California. I love Colorado!
I have rode both the Zephyr and the Empire Builder. Both are great and both have nice scenery. However the Zephyr has the best scenery but the Empire Builder isn't far behind.
Yeah, I actually did some research on this back in November and December. I was just trying to give a general advertizement. You can do all these things on a train that you can't do on a bus or plane or ship (even though those modes of transportation have their benefits as well.).
The California Zephyr began operating in March of 1949. Wikipedia has a detailed account of the train's history. BTW, I have enjoyed riding the trains and trams of NZ.
Hello from NZ, very nice, I was trying to imagine what it would have been like back in the days of steam. Correct me if I am wrong this journey has been running for many years? Recall seeing a video I think of the journey back in the 70's may be put out by PENTREX?
Advertizing the rail passes (especially the 15 day 8 segment pass) will do that nicely. If yens of thousands more people REALLY KNEW that a "2 week pass" costs only $440 per adult and only $220 per child under 15 they'd surely get more business. Indoors the entire time, seeing all the scenery that you want to see, while also being able to sleep on the train and use the shower when you get dirty...... It's a shame I haven't done this yet. At some point in the next 2 years I will though.
Noticing the strong red colour of certain parts of the american rockies, it would seem there is a very rich iron resoucce there. This is not surprising as so much of the earth's core is iron rich. This is a bit similar to Northern Quebec, canada, where the land is iron-rich also, all the way up into the arctic.
fantastic video, just curious, I have never ridden on Amtrak before, and just curious to know does the ticket you purchase, can walk the whole length of the train and pretty much sit on it wherever you want to or or you just allowed in just certain sections?????
I think you better check on your pricing...I am not sure if your "rail pass" includes a roomette or full bedroom, and only passengers that have tickets for sleeper accomodations can use the showers...
I believe the segment between Denver and Grand Junction in Colorado is the best, but the only other segment I traveled was between Sacramento and Reno. Both of these are in daylight, a big advantage. A big advantage of the Denver to Grand Junction segment is that you can ride the returning train the next day.
John McKelvie Hi John, my husband and I are thinking of taking the Zephyr from Denver to Sacramento or from Denver to Reno, NV. And we will take a few days break and do the return. Which one? And is the return a good idea? Thanks so much, Sandy
I would stay on the train until you reach Sacramento. The trip between Reno and Sacramento is in daylight and fairly scenic. Much of the trip between Salt Lake City and Reno is in darkness. See the Day/Night map of Amtrak routes: trn.trains.com/~/media/files/pdf/map-of-the-month/tm1103-amtrak-day-night.pdf Also, if you like trains, and you must, Sacramento is home to the California State Railroad Museum, one of the world's best train museum that you would not want to miss. You can walk there from the train. Look into staying on the Delta King, a historic stern wheel riverboat now permanently moored as a hotel on the Sacramento Riverfront. It's also walking distance from the train. You can save by not renting a car. I normally book my long distance train travel as a round-trip. You always see different things during the return journey.
Great! You are a wealth of information. I will add the museum and hotel to our list. This train trip has been on our bucket list for awhile. Thank you!
I have taken two round trippers in the West. One was the Eagle from Dallas to San Antonio. The Sunset Limited to LA. Then the Coast Starlight to Portland. Then the Empire Builder to Chicago. Then the Eagle to Dallas. Great Ride. The second round tripper was Dallas to Chicago on the Eagle. Then to Portland on the Empire Builder. Then to San Francisco (where we spent three days) on the Coast Starlight. Then the Zephyr to Chicago. Then the Eagle to Dallas.
Your trip brought back great memories. My family and I traveled on the Zephyr from Denver to Emeryville last June and thoroughly enjoyed it. Am starting to upload videos. Do check them out :-)
Best leg of the trip, especially in winter. Thanks. We ar headed back East on the 8th of Dec. 2020 on the Zephy. Can't wait.
Music is awesome !. Have been living in Hawaii 31 yrs & have taken zephyr 2x. Moving back to pa in 3 weeks. Taking zephyr ! Just can't wait. Thanks for the reminder! Stunnj by video😎
I've travelled on Amtrak train (even former private RR Company before Amtrak merged) for 50 years. So, I go once (sometime twice) a year in any part of USA as I love it and no matter if on time or delays. Train travel is a blast and amazing trips.
Beautiful. What a great country we live in!
I will never forget my first trip there from Ohio. I plan to take trip once a year. Nothing like Amtrak. Thanks for the video.....made my heart smile!
My next trip happens in 4 months. Living for the day!! You got such amazing and clear footage. Checking the description box for links if any.
Excellent Effort by John. Found video captivating and motivated me to undertake the trip
We're coming over from Australia to do the full trip West to East in March 2019. Can't wait!
I am sure you will have a great adventure on the California Zephyr. You probably will encounter snow in the Rocky Mountains. Coincidentally, we just returned from a two-week holiday in Australia, visiting Sydney and Cairns. And we shot a video that is now posted on our TH-cam channel.
@@JohnMcKelvieLV I will check out the Aust video. I hope there is snow
Thank you for such beautiful videos! I'll probably never get that far west so it was great viewing the videos.
save for it, no matter how long it takes. it's worth it
we took this train from Chicago to Emeryville and it was the best trip ever. We had a roomette and we met some wonderful people and got some very good pictures. The views are much better if you sit on the right side of the train leaving from Chicago.
Well done video, John. Very appropriate music which adds a lot.
Thanks for your comments. I watched your excellent video and especially enjoyed seeing the parts I missed on my trip. Train travel is terrific. I just wish Amtrak had open cars where you could ride outside, as many tourist trains have.
For one trip, we flew from Las Vegas to Grand Junction, CO, on Allegiant Air and rode the Zephyr from Grand Junction to Denver, returning on westbound train a couple of days later. We then returned to Las Vegas via Allegiant. The next trip only included the eastbound Zephyr from Grand Junction and we flew back to Vegas from Denver on another airline.
Hi, beautiful video. Did the trip from San Francisco to Chicago in April 2012. You had a lot more snow bur very nice weather. We were riding while snowing at some places. It was a great trip!!!!
I have traveled the Empire Builder twice between Portland and Chicago. The scenery is great. I stopped at Glacier NP once. The trip up the Columbia River Gorge is spectacular! It even follows the Columbia River to the point where the Snake River connects.
We are taking the CZ in two weeks from Reno to Chicago. This looks wonderful. Its been a life time dream to ride the train.
shirtshine73blitz,
.......and YOU never have to worry about falling asleep at the wheel (like people in rubber tired motor vehicles do).
You can just sit back and stare out the window for 6 hours straight never once needing to worry about oncoming traffic or not seeing something because there's no place to pull over and get an extended look.
Also since trains travel in "physically restricted" areas that rubber tired vehicles simply CAN'T traverse. you get a perspective that other people don't.
You get to see the "belly of the beast" from inside the belly itself.
Thanks! I'm glad you liked the video and music. I have a lot of fun creating custom music tracks for my videos using Sony ACID Movie Studio software. I don't play an instrument or read music and can't even carry a tune, but that program makes it easy to "compose" music. It's like having musical Lego blocks to build whatever tune you want. And I don't have to worry about copyright issues.
I've been toying with the idea of doing this trip in 2013, but this video has me sold!
Grand merci pour ce merveilleux voyages.
I took this trip from Chicago to Emeryville in July 2016 in a bedroom..wonderful trip!
My coach ticket did not have a seat assignment. I just picked a window seat on the side away from the sun. During the trip, the train was not full, so I could move from side-to-side depending on where the view and/or lighting was best for shooting video. I also picked the rear coach so I could shoot the head end as the locomotives rounded a curve. Your coach ticket allows you to move throughout the train, including the dinning car and the observation car with its snack bar. I have heard, however, that when the train is crowded, the conductor may assign seats as you board. Note that the windows on the bottom level doors can be opened for glare-free photos or video shots.
I have also taken the Zephyr several times from Chicago to the west coast and back. It's great that Amtrak schedules the run so that the train is travelling through the most scenic areas during the day.
I do have one question though. You said that you did some of your recording from the open window on the lower level. I have read that Amtrak's policy is that passengers are not allowed to open those windows or you are subject to being asked to detrain at the next stop.
Did you ask permission to do that?
John Bargo The door windows must be opened only by the train crew.
John McKelvie Does the train crew willing to open the windows for passages?
shang baiyu I can't speak for the train crew. You will have to ask in each situation.
John McKelvie got it, appreciate!
america has the most beautiful scenery and great trains to ride it in
I have not yet traveled on the Empire Builder and have only ridden the Zephyr between Sacramento and Reno and between Green River and Denver. But in planning my trips, I looked for routes that would traverse the best scenery during daylight hours. I knew the Zephyr crossed both the Rockies and Sierras during daytime. Apply that test to the Empire Builder schedule.
Thanks. The shots outside the train were taken on different days. I went to the station on the day before my train ride and after my train ride to capture arrival and departure shots.
Thank you very much for your beautiful trip ! :-)
Does any one know when this railroad was made? I suppose back in the 1880's or so. I'm in awe at the amount of ties it takes to make a road bed. I will have to measure it out some time when I go past a rail road track. It was really a project to cut a channel through those mountains. I lived in Denver for a year so I was always impressed at the roads that were cut through the mountains, but in the days when all the lifting was done by hand, laying track for 3000 miles was quite the feat.
+Ric Trexell> Just after the U.S. Civil War. The first transcontinental railroad was to have started in the early 1860s after president Lincoln had signed the bill, but with the U. S. civil war was already raging and the work didn't began in earnest until around 1866. The line was completed in 1869. The transcontinental line did not include Denver, but Cheyenne, Wyoming instead. The citizens of Denver who had their own local lines connected to the Central Pacific RR of the transcontinental line near the time of completion around 1869.
Who did the work? Ever wonder what brought the Chinese to America? We know what brought the English, the French, and the Spaniards, but very little about the Chinese who settled in North America. Yes it was cheap labor from China to build U.S. railroads is what brought the first wave. The Chinese did the heavy lifting, the grimey, and much of the dangerous work like blasting through mountains. A lot of them died too.
Ever wonder what the Irish did when their potato crops failed? Well, many came to America. Just in time for Scarlett O'Hara to be born I suppose, and just in time to get involved in the civil war a generation later. Many Irishmen fought on both sides. After the war? Yep, like the Chinese who were the chief labor source for building railroads out west, it was the Irish who also got their hands dirty in building U.S. railroads. Because the Irish were white they got paid a higher wage than the people from China. So there you have it, the dangerous and labor intensive railroad building for the transcontinental railroad (with spurs into CO) were initially built on the backs of the Chinese and the Irish in the late 1860s.
Yes I do. The route from Denver to Orestod was built by the Denver Northwestern and Pacific railway a.k.a. The Moffat Road in 1902-1907
My Mother is taking the Zephyr as I write this. She left East Lansing Michigan Yesterday and was in Colorado Today on Her way to California. I love Colorado!
I bet she is enjoying her trip. It is one of the world's great train rides!
I have rode both the Zephyr and the Empire Builder. Both are great and both have nice scenery. However the Zephyr has the best scenery but the Empire Builder isn't far behind.
I wish you had shown some film of the narrow canyon just east of Grand Junction.
What an amazing ride
Yeah, I actually did some research on this back in November and December. I was just trying to give a general advertizement. You can do all these things on a train that you can't do on a bus or plane or ship (even though those modes of transportation have their benefits as well.).
@hayfire2 I am happy that you enjoyed the video and took the time to make a comment. Thanks.
Was für ein schönes Land und der amtrack erst😍🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
The California Zephyr began operating in March of 1949. Wikipedia has a detailed account of the train's history. BTW, I have enjoyed riding the trains and trams of NZ.
How funny, that is the month and year I was born. Guess it means I have to ride it. LOL
Denver, Northwestern and Pacific was formed in Dec, 1902 by David Moffet. More info under his name.
Hello from NZ, very nice, I was trying to imagine what it would have been like back in the days of steam. Correct me if I am wrong this journey has been running for many years? Recall seeing a video I think of the journey back in the 70's may be put out by PENTREX?
Going on CZ in April 2020. Love the vid 1 and 2
Advertizing the rail passes (especially the 15 day 8 segment pass) will do that nicely.
If yens of thousands more people REALLY KNEW that a "2 week pass" costs only $440 per adult and only $220 per child under 15 they'd surely get more business.
Indoors the entire time, seeing all the scenery that you want to see, while also being able to sleep on the train and use the shower when you get dirty......
It's a shame I haven't done this yet. At some point in the next 2 years I will though.
Any idea why a UP SD70M was piloting the EB Zephyr?
I believe there had been a locomotive breakdown on the eastbound Zephyr and the UP SD70M had been pressed into service to keep the Zephyr moving.
Are you riding and filming Eastwards or Westwards ?
This video was shot from the westbound train. Part 1 of the video, posted separately, covered the eastbound trip. Both trips were shot in daylight.
Part 1 of the video includes the canyon just east of Grand Junction.
Love it! How were you able to shot outside?
Did you fly into Denver then take the train from Denver to Grand Junction and back again, and fly home? If so, sounds like my kind of trip.
Noticing the strong red colour of certain parts of the american rockies, it would seem there is a very rich iron resoucce there. This is not surprising as so much of the earth's core is iron rich.
This is a bit similar to Northern Quebec, canada, where the land is iron-rich also, all the way up into the arctic.
You are absolutely correct. The red color in the rocks is due to presence of iron oxide or hematite.
I'm wanting to take a cross country train trip. I can't decide if I want to take this train or the Empire Builder. Any insight?
fantastic video, just curious, I have never ridden on Amtrak before, and just curious to know does the ticket you purchase, can walk the whole length of the train and pretty much sit on it wherever you want to or or you just allowed in just certain sections?????
Andrew Silva , you need a ticket for the coaches
cannot wait till my trip to the UPHS convention.
I think you better check on your pricing...I am not sure if your "rail pass" includes a roomette or full bedroom, and only passengers that have tickets for sleeper accomodations can use the showers...
If you were going to only take part of the trip, which part is the best?
I believe the segment between Denver and Grand Junction in Colorado is the best, but the only other segment I traveled was between Sacramento and Reno. Both of these are in daylight, a big advantage. A big advantage of the Denver to Grand Junction segment is that you can ride the returning train the next day.
John McKelvie Hi John, my husband and I are thinking of taking the Zephyr from Denver to Sacramento or from Denver to Reno, NV. And we will take a few days break and do the return. Which one? And is the return a good idea? Thanks so much, Sandy
I would stay on the train until you reach Sacramento. The trip between Reno and Sacramento is in daylight and fairly scenic. Much of the trip between Salt Lake City and Reno is in darkness. See the Day/Night map of Amtrak routes: trn.trains.com/~/media/files/pdf/map-of-the-month/tm1103-amtrak-day-night.pdf Also, if you like trains, and you must, Sacramento is home to the California State Railroad Museum, one of the world's best train museum that you would not want to miss. You can walk there from the train. Look into staying on the Delta King, a historic stern wheel riverboat now permanently moored as a hotel on the Sacramento Riverfront. It's also walking distance from the train. You can save by not renting a car. I normally book my long distance train travel as a round-trip. You always see different things during the return journey.
Great! You are a wealth of information. I will add the museum and hotel to our list. This train trip has been on our bucket list for awhile. Thank you!
One more question, what was the date you shot those beautiful Aspens? We would love to go that time of year.
😍
We just need to keep spreading the word so Amtrak gets more riders and people push congress to keep the trains running.
they don't need to stop the long distance runs, just go twice a week instead of every day.
I have taken two round trippers in the West. One was the Eagle from Dallas to San Antonio. The Sunset Limited to LA. Then the Coast Starlight to Portland. Then the Empire Builder to Chicago. Then the Eagle to Dallas. Great Ride. The second round tripper was Dallas to Chicago on the Eagle. Then to Portland on the Empire Builder. Then to San Francisco (where we spent three days) on the Coast Starlight. Then the
Zephyr to Chicago. Then the Eagle to Dallas.
love the CZ
Great thank you
My video is on hammanh.
how did you illegaly open the window/ door and not get caught.. smh you could of gotten hurt.... stupid move..
Your trip brought back great memories. My family and I traveled on the Zephyr from Denver to Emeryville last June and thoroughly enjoyed it. Am starting to upload videos. Do check them out :-)
Very interesting video showing a beautiful part of our country. Really annoying repetitive music soundtrack.