Stayed at the Izaak Walton Inn a few years ago in Essex, MT. I was thrilled to be that close to the switch yard and wave to the folks on the passenger train in the morning. Lucky you got to ride up front. Great video.
I work for Amtrak now. This is just beautiful footage. Well done. Wish it was easier for buffs and family and friends to ride in the head end these days; but it’s not allowed anymore :/
The main illumination was the loco's head light. There were also little alcoves every half mile or so with lights to mark them and presumably some emergency equipment was in them.
This is so awesome. The most I ever got to do was when I was volunteering out at Illinois Railway Museum, I was the third wheel in BN-1 and BN-2 and monitored the radio.
Great video! That is the kind of scenery I want to have on my layout, but I have quite some work to go! Thanks for the inspiration and motivation! Rated 5***** and favourited. Subscribed too!
Yikes! Positively seasick--too used to enjoying cab cams of them rock-solid German roadbeds. But many thanks for sharing this nifty cab view of railroading out West.
I wish this Footage could be re uploaded, back in 2007 there was a 100 MB limit, so i can imagine that can take away some quality. Very nice video none the less!
@BeeRich33 That is a sensor on the tracks that detects overheating bearings and perhaps some other stuff. It radios the verbal message right after the train passes. We we getting these messages constantly. They must have them stationed every 10 miles or even more frequently.
@TallNBlack It has been a couple of years, but as I recall the engineer had to read trackside signals all the way. Those locomotives may have in-cab signaling on other routes.
@hawktb9 I was only on the leg between Spokane, WA and Whitefish, MT. I don't know how often they switch operating crews, but I think it is probably more than four times. The one I rode was the third in from Seattle.
Gonna see some more of that as the SD70ACe`s are gonna outnumber the MACs,don`t forget about the ES44ACs. I heard the 60Ms are gonna go to Chicago,the MACs to ND for their new assignments. That leaves the ES44 and 70ACe`s for Alliance.
vassili osipov hey don't put down American trains. I would like to see your trains pull a mile of cars up a 2% grade at 9,000 feet above sea level. We actually have the best freight rail roads in the world
Stayed at the Izaak Walton Inn a few years ago in Essex, MT. I was thrilled to be that close to the switch yard and wave to the folks on the passenger train in the morning. Lucky you got to ride up front. Great video.
I work for Amtrak now. This is just beautiful footage. Well done. Wish it was easier for buffs and family and friends to ride in the head end these days; but it’s not allowed anymore :/
The main illumination was the loco's head light. There were also little alcoves every half mile or so with lights to mark them and presumably some emergency equipment was in them.
This is so awesome. The most I ever got to do was when I was volunteering out at Illinois Railway Museum, I was the third wheel in BN-1 and BN-2 and monitored the radio.
Interesting to see 3 SD70MAC's on that intermodal. Very nice video also.
Wow what a great stretch of track and scenery! Awesome vid!
Great video! That is the kind of scenery I want to have on my layout, but I have quite some work to go! Thanks for the inspiration and motivation! Rated 5***** and favourited. Subscribed too!
Yikes! Positively seasick--too used to enjoying cab cams of them rock-solid German roadbeds. But many thanks for sharing this nifty cab view of railroading out West.
I wish this Footage could be re uploaded, back in 2007 there was a 100 MB limit, so i can imagine that can take away some quality. Very nice video none the less!
wow, amazing video, horn, everything! My dream ride
@BeeRich33 That is a sensor on the tracks that detects overheating bearings and perhaps some other stuff. It radios the verbal message right after the train passes. We we getting these messages constantly. They must have them stationed every 10 miles or even more frequently.
Become friends with the engineer!
That engineer put his job on the line by letting you ride-it's an FRA violation. Great footage, though!
5 stars and favorited. This is amazing. I want to go on that train so bad! =]
Great video !
Cool! Thanks for sharing! I have never been on the Empire Builder,but now at least I know!
You're right. I think the only NEC P42's are #100-110 because they are equipped with the ASCES technology.
Love the detector.
Looks awesome guys....I don't miss working for Amtrak, but I certainly miss my coworkers. In fact, I hear some voices that sound familiar
I had the chance to ride the front end on Amtrak also. Very fun ride.
@TallNBlack It has been a couple of years, but as I recall the engineer had to read trackside signals all the way. Those locomotives may have in-cab signaling on other routes.
nice.. i live in St Cloud mn.. the Empire builder usually goes though at 2 am west bound and about 6 to 8 am eastbound.. :-D
Very true. If someone from the FRA saw that the engineer would have been out of service.
The chance will come again. I just got a membership at the railroad museum, so I might be able to pull some strings.
couple years ago i rode a zptlchc from whitefish to cut bank,i work for bnsf that`s some nice track up there!
Great job. Five stars! Just wondering: What time was this shot at?
Awesome video! 5***** and Favorite! Wasn't that from the conductors side? Left side of the engine?
You've never seen North By Northwest? *L* Great clip!
An oldie but a goodie :)
Cool job!
wow, very cool, I'd like to do that too. :)
I live along the NEC near MP 220.3 (Hyde Park, MA). I get MBCR trains and Amtrak trains constantly. Yet, I get almost no freight.
I don't know when it was scheduled to get to Minnesota. I only rode the cab between Spokane, WA and Whitefish, MT.
What does the signal green over red mean? Unable to find literature on signals.
@hawktb9 I was only on the leg between Spokane, WA and Whitefish, MT. I don't know how often they switch operating crews, but I think it is probably more than four times. The one I rode was the third in from Seattle.
@Steve2223 there is no cab signals on the high line sub division, how ever its all CTC so the signals govern the train movement.
Do the P42DC's have in cab signaling, or does the engineer have to manually look for them.
@Canesfan7012 No, it was the Flathead tunnel, 7 miles in the dark.
Was that the Cascade tunnel at the end
No ditch lights (or any lights) in the tunnel?
how did you arange to do that?!?! that musta been kinda cool to see it from the cab......
how did you pull that off or do you work on that train
The engineer was a friend.
That has got to be a LONG ride... How often do they switch engineers? I'm guessing 4 times...
Thank you
Who did the editing on this?
Very beautiful video!! About what time did you make it into Minnesota?
Here's a suggestion for another video: Empire Builder eastbound cab ride from MSP to LSE! Try that for another video.
St. Louis county railroad museum in Duluth, MN. oh, and actually it wasn't an SD40-2, it was an SD18. check out my channel for more of it.
cool. My 12 year old want's to drive a trin when he's old enough
Is that Flathead at the very end?
The engineer is an old friend.
Flathead Tunnel baby!
Right. Thanks.
Oh ok Thank you!! Very good video
Gonna see some more of that as the SD70ACe`s are gonna outnumber the MACs,don`t forget about the ES44ACs. I heard the 60Ms are gonna go to Chicago,the MACs to ND for their new assignments. That leaves the ES44 and 70ACe`s for Alliance.
Thanks man
How mph are faster?
How'd you score a ride in the locomotive?
@ohiofoamer7612 No, the engineer was an old friend.
The engineer was an old friend.
I think it said 42 degrees. Remember it was July.
@Steve2223 oh ok thanks
Did you notice the vomit bonet on that BNSF?
Yes, it definitely was done on a low budget.
Going to be doing this in june. Round trip sea-chi-sea
Early morning. July 2007.
Awesome! 5*****
i was offered a cab ride in an SD40-2. i declined. worst mistake of my life.
Yes, it is/
Maximum speed is 80 mph.
61 mph and on the ancient rails of freight lines. the U.S. is 50 years behind the times. it should have high speed rail everywhere.
vassili osipov hey don't put down American trains. I would like to see your trains pull a mile of cars up a 2% grade at 9,000 feet above sea level. We actually have the best freight rail roads in the world
Unlike the countries in Europe, we don't have the luxury of being a country with a small area that the government can afford to fund it's rail system.
Doing the builder this Wednesday the 12th
who drive the Amtrak
An engineer friend of mine.
what's up with the ending? Low budget movie.
cool
proced prapare for car crossing
Well C-
@railgeek404 ur Mean! LOL