2 THINGS: 1. I could watch this for DAYS... 2. I love beej more than ever for the "You have zip ties?" "What do you think?" exchange. Always bring zip ties!
As a Transit-Oriented Twenty-Something this makes me love trains even more and I wish the USA would invest more heavily in mass public rail systems. Trains are cool and Cars just stink!!
Graham: Union Station wasn't built by Amtrak. It was built by Chicago for the railroads almost a century ago. Amtrak only came into being in 1971 to take over all of the passenger rail service that the railroads were dropping. (Flight cut into their profits, so the railroads decided that freight was more lucrative than people.) That's why Union Station (and a few others like it around the country) are so nice. Also, riding coast to coast on Amtrak is one of my bucket list items. So, this demented rail fan hasn't ridden Amtrak. (I rode a train in Italy a few times. This was in the early 80's, when I was a kid.)
@@GrahamStarkVlogs There were all sorts of cool statins from the 1890's to the 1940's and 1950's. But, as air travel became cheaper and more popular a lot of cities didn't bother keeping up their rail statins. So, there are few like the ones at Chicago, NYC, Penn Station, and Union Station in LA. I'm glad you got to enjoy Chicago's station. And I'm super jealous that you got to ride Amtrak. ;) Airlines also accidentally killed the Borscht Belt resorts (like the one in Dirty Dancing) because it make going to Europe more affordable, so a lot of tourist destinations accessible by car lost out. I still like air travel as well.
My sweetie, having recently traveled through Chicago, knows the answer to why you were dropped off across the street from the Main Entrance(TM). When you finally entered the main concourse to Union Station, you may have noticed a grand staircase off to the "left." That's the staircase that leads to the Main Entrance(TM). (This is also the location of the famous "baby carriage" scene from the film "The Untouchables."). That staircase is the _only_ access to the station from the Main Entrance(TM); there is no elevator or escalator. Passengers with luggage are encouraged to use the escalator/elevator facilities at the newer entrance located across the street. Ergo, your Lyftber driver, observing your luggage, was very clueful to drop you off at the other entrance. Elsewise you would have been schlepping seven bags down two flights of stairs.
I went to college and grad school in Rochester, NY, and since I was born and raised in Chicago, I took that exact train to get between home and school for breaks and holidays. It remains such a treat to see you capture with awe, attentiveness, and sincerity things that I had taken for granted. Thank you for helping me see some very familiar sights through fresh eyes. Looking forward to seeing the next one!
This was really fun to watch. I really liked the reactions to Chicago Union Station. A note about the in-room toilets: Amtrak currently has on order new sleeping cars that don't have toilets in the roomettes. Once those eventually arrive, the plan has been to have the older ones refitted which includes removing the toilets from the roomettes so the both sets of cars are standardized.
Graham, As a further comment on how people in Chicago drive, people in Milwaukee hate it when people from Chicago and northern Illinois drive into the city for Cubs/Brewers games or through town to cabins in northern Wisconsin or to Green Bay for Bears/Packers football games. The nickname we have for them is more an acronym: FIBs. The I is for Illinois. The B is the word for fatherless children. You can probably guess what the F stands for.
amythistxue1 Amtrak has 2 styles of sleeper cars at the moment. I believe one is used mostly in the west (Chicago to the West Coast) and one in the east. The west ones don’t have a toilet in the roomette, but the upper bunk is slightly smaller. I’ve ridden from Sacramento to Washington DC twice and have loved every minute of it.
I think this gvlog has my favourite instance yet of Graham goes into the hotel room, places the camera then exits to film his entry. Where at 15:55 they enter the sleeper cabin. Its so squishy and while carrying all that baggage must have been at least a touch awkward. As always, great vlog. Loved it. I really appreciate the stuff Graham chooses to film and how he does it.
Thank you for this foreigner's tour of a segment of Amtrak that, as a resident of the US's Northeastern Corridor, feels both familiar and alien to me at the same time.
honestly train is superior to plane in every respect save for speed, both in that it is slower and that Amtrak trains are notoriously late to their destinations
I love these videos honestly. Before you started this channel the only way for me to watch something this in line with my ascetic was to watch the japan logs over and over.
I live in Syracuse! Didn't think you'd have heard of it. You guys were definitely on one of the better Amtrak corridors. I do like taking Amtrak, I've gone to NYC on it a number of times. Never taken a sleeper anywhere, but after this video, I might have to!
So I think the more terrifying thing about that toilet is that if you look closely, the seat is angled. I can only imagine to face more directly into the roomette for a more polite conversation.
I've ridden Amtraks to work, and kept seeing the Sleeper Car Trains but never got to stay in one. That was fascinating! I absolutely share your opinion on that very cool little room! This is making me want to do a train trip in one of those.
I've been in that Amtrak Lounge; one of the best travel experiences I've ever had. Great service, good snacks, comfy chairs. Also... the place they filmed a scene in The Untouchables.
I laughed so hard at the "Free Smells" joke, even knowing it was coming. Also: most train stations are *not* that nice. Union Station at Chicago is one of the rare good ones, because they're well-maintained relics when trains were more widely used. Other good ones include Grand Central Terminal in NYC, and the other Union Station in Washington D.C.. For an example of another old one that *hasn't* been as well maintained, look up the Michigan Central Station in Detroit (mostly used now as a movie prop).
“Everyone in Chicago drives like they don’t want to live.” Ask Beej how it compared to Edmonton’s drivers as they are the worst I’ve seen outside of Paris. Excited for the next part. Love vlogs from long train journeys, how about you and Beej try and get them to set up Pax in Russia so you can do the Trans Siberian! ;)
You having heard of Schenectady brings joy to someone who lives there. I hope the new Union Station was finished when you came through! I forget when about it was actually completed.
I am excited for you two to get to ride the train! Amtrak is a well-kept secret even among Americans. The trains are awesome and comfy (even in coach), the menu in the dining car is way more delicious than you might think, and there's an observation car where you can just go and sit and watch the countryside roll by. But far and away the best part of the experience is meeting other people. In the US, nobody rides the train long-distance unless they deliberately want to: Flying is faster and the bus is cheaper. So you end up with a motley assortment of students, artists, philosophers, voyagers, foreign visitors, and retired folks, and most people are just so much nicer and more friendly than you'll find on trains or buses. I hope you got to have some good chats--I guess I'll find out in the next installment!
I just had my first train adventure a couple weeks ago going to Maker Faire on an 18 hour ride. I thoroughly enjoyed it and got to relive it a little with you guys.
Just got into these when I heard Graham mention his vlogs in some other LRR content. Really enjoying them enormously, a terrific thing to put on in the background while, say, playing endless mindless diablo 3. Anyway, 13:10 - making doors with handles like this that open this way is the act of a diseased mind.
24 hours train trip vs. 15 hours by car... Not a bad trade-off considering. For a one-way trip it would be cheaper since you'd have to rent a car with one-way drop-off..
I know this train! I moved from Ohio to Boston in 2011 and I've had several trips back and forth on this line. I've always wondered what the sleepers were like, so this is extra fun for me. Oh, and South Station will be in the next episode! It's so fun seeing stuff you recognize. :)
Excellent, you survived the Jimmy John's sandwich delivery zone. Too many good people never make it out, and many that do leave only with harrowing tales of the rain of pastrami and torrents of black forest ham.
In my (very) limited experience, American train stations run the gamut. The one in Portland, Oregon is a normal, reasonable modern station. The one in Everett, Washington is a _hole_
I'm a subscriber to the DBF patreon and totally missed that Graham and Beej were on an aftershow and now i have to absolutely give that a listen. Also this makes me want to take a sleeper train trip
In case you didn't know, South Bend (which you passed through) is where the University of Notre Dame is located. Also immediately had to put on "Night Train" by The Bouncing Souls after finishing this episde.
Additional information for your adventure: Elkhart IN is where most US RV are manufactured. Also your train went through my town, the closest I'll ever be to meeting you 🤷♂️
Chicago has, within the past year, has usurped the throne of "most breweries in a city," taking it from Portland I think? Or maybe Denver. Amazing that you uploaded these videos on the EXACT weekend I took Amtrak for the first time. I only took my first baby steps into the experience, though, with a mere 4 hour trip from Chicago to St Louis. Union Station is totally huge, but I don't even think you explored the whole separate underground station home to 6 or more commuter lines that extend out into suburbia. Also 4820 bl8ze it
The single-level Viewliner cars like the one you were in are somewhat unique in that they have an 2nd upper level window for the top bunk. You don't get on the bilevel Superliner cars you'll find on trains that don't have to go through the Northeast Corridor, the upper bunk just gets a wall.
Chicago traffic is insane. but next time you head there and have free time, definitely go and try out DMK. its a very cool burger bar. Also, get some dang deep dish pizza! lol
Nick Hunley yeah but we are east enough to be considered in EST time.... so weird. And then there is the “Ohio Valley” which includes all of Ohio even though the great valley only encompasses the very southern tip.... that never made any sense to me
Take the train to (or from) Seattle some time. King Street Station was renovated not too long ago. It's not as gilded-age OMG as Chicago or NYC, but it's nice that it's beautiful again.
![Meat Pies & PENGUINS [PAX Aus 9]](/img/n.gif)
"Graham and Beej being stoked about a train" is my new favorite genre.
2 THINGS:
1. I could watch this for DAYS...
2. I love beej more than ever for the "You have zip ties?" "What do you think?" exchange. Always bring zip ties!
^this
Your vlogs are the best kept secret on the internet--this content is consistently phenomenal.
Honestly that's a good description of LRR as a whole
As a Transit-Oriented Twenty-Something this makes me love trains even more and I wish the USA would invest more heavily in mass public rail systems. Trains are cool and Cars just stink!!
This is the best commercial for Amtrak. Now I want to take a train trip.
Totally worth it! Great food, great scenery, and the other travelers are usually awesome.
"Everyone in Chicago drives like they don't want to live"
Can confirm.
Same.
I love that Graham recognized Utica from steamed hams.
I also only recognize it from steamed hams tbh
I can't tell if it's bad that when I saw the sign with Beej's actual, real human name in it, I instinctually went "Don't you call him that!" lrrBEEJ
agreed it does feels odd to hear someone actually use Beej's real name.
Jesper Henriksson I didn’t even know he had a name that’s not Beej
"I need some free smells. Aw, they're closed." is a thing that has lived rent free in my head for three years now.
As an Ohioan, I think it's completely understandable not knowing where Ohio is.
Only for people who are completely unaware of sports.
I'm an ohioan with no idea where ohio is
Graham: Union Station wasn't built by Amtrak. It was built by Chicago for the railroads almost a century ago. Amtrak only came into being in 1971 to take over all of the passenger rail service that the railroads were dropping. (Flight cut into their profits, so the railroads decided that freight was more lucrative than people.) That's why Union Station (and a few others like it around the country) are so nice.
Also, riding coast to coast on Amtrak is one of my bucket list items. So, this demented rail fan hasn't ridden Amtrak. (I rode a train in Italy a few times. This was in the early 80's, when I was a kid.)
I didn’t assume it was built by Amtrak, but that’s super cool trivia!
@@GrahamStarkVlogs There were all sorts of cool statins from the 1890's to the 1940's and 1950's. But, as air travel became cheaper and more popular a lot of cities didn't bother keeping up their rail statins. So, there are few like the ones at Chicago, NYC, Penn Station, and Union Station in LA. I'm glad you got to enjoy Chicago's station. And I'm super jealous that you got to ride Amtrak. ;)
Airlines also accidentally killed the Borscht Belt resorts (like the one in Dirty Dancing) because it make going to Europe more affordable, so a lot of tourist destinations accessible by car lost out. I still like air travel as well.
My sweetie, having recently traveled through Chicago, knows the answer to why you were dropped off across the street from the Main Entrance(TM).
When you finally entered the main concourse to Union Station, you may have noticed a grand staircase off to the "left." That's the staircase that leads to the Main Entrance(TM). (This is also the location of the famous "baby carriage" scene from the film "The Untouchables."). That staircase is the _only_ access to the station from the Main Entrance(TM); there is no elevator or escalator. Passengers with luggage are encouraged to use the escalator/elevator facilities at the newer entrance located across the street.
Ergo, your Lyftber driver, observing your luggage, was very clueful to drop you off at the other entrance. Elsewise you would have been schlepping seven bags down two flights of stairs.
Oh Dammit Graham. You are living all of our best lives.
I'm torn. It's incredibly cool to see and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy, but travel envy is a bitch.
I've been rewatching all these recently for some reason, and Veronica just adds a little extra serotonin for this one
I went to college and grad school in Rochester, NY, and since I was born and raised in Chicago, I took that exact train to get between home and school for breaks and holidays. It remains such a treat to see you capture with awe, attentiveness, and sincerity things that I had taken for granted. Thank you for helping me see some very familiar sights through fresh eyes. Looking forward to seeing the next one!
Graham those transitions/cuts at 16:19 to 16:22 were so good.
I sort of reminds me of Edgar Wrights work in Hot Fuzz.
I just spent the past 8 hours since I got up at midnight watching Graham vlogs, and just as I'm about to go to bed this happens.
Cheers Graham
Jun Limiter I am also just now going to sleep. Glad to know I’m not the only one who finds GVlogs to be soothing.
This was really fun to watch. I really liked the reactions to Chicago Union Station.
A note about the in-room toilets: Amtrak currently has on order new sleeping cars that don't have toilets in the roomettes. Once those eventually arrive, the plan has been to have the older ones refitted which includes removing the toilets from the roomettes so the both sets of cars are standardized.
Given your username I am going to trust you have insider info.
@@trident042 No, I just try to keep up with train news.
13:12 "All their signage uses Futura". And once again, Graham's graphic design/typeface nerdery shines through. :D
I'm an avid rail and Amtrak advocate (and chicago Fan) I really enjoy your coverage of the train trip, I hope you enjoy it!
Graham,
As a further comment on how people in Chicago drive, people in Milwaukee hate it when people from Chicago and northern Illinois drive into the city for Cubs/Brewers games or through town to cabins in northern Wisconsin or to Green Bay for Bears/Packers football games. The nickname we have for them is more an acronym: FIBs. The I is for Illinois. The B is the word for fatherless children. You can probably guess what the F stands for.
As a fan of Amtrak Sleeping Car travel, I have been looking forward to this video and was not disappointed.
seeing that sleeper car has very much made me add that as an option for any future trips I might take
amythistxue1 Amtrak has 2 styles of sleeper cars at the moment. I believe one is used mostly in the west (Chicago to the West Coast) and one in the east. The west ones don’t have a toilet in the roomette, but the upper bunk is slightly smaller. I’ve ridden from Sacramento to Washington DC twice and have loved every minute of it.
I think this gvlog has my favourite instance yet of Graham goes into the hotel room, places the camera then exits to film his entry. Where at 15:55 they enter the sleeper cabin. Its so squishy and while carrying all that baggage must have been at least a touch awkward.
As always, great vlog. Loved it. I really appreciate the stuff Graham chooses to film and how he does it.
Watching this again while at home during pandemic. Missing travel with a good buddy, and wondering when we'll be able to travel like this again.
Whoa, I grew up near Elkhart, Indiana! Didn't expect to hear that place's name in one of these.
Thank you for this foreigner's tour of a segment of Amtrak that, as a resident of the US's Northeastern Corridor, feels both familiar and alien to me at the same time.
still can't get over how insanely killer the cards office is.
If Union Station blew you away, you have to visit Grand Central whenever you make it to NYC.
what a wonderful intersection of two things I love: LRR vlogs and train vlogs
"Hope to see you next year..." If only we all knew...
This is hard core making me want to travel by train over plane.
honestly train is superior to plane in every respect save for speed, both in that it is slower and that Amtrak trains are notoriously late to their destinations
Thank you Graham for taking so much time to share your life with us. I really do enjoy your gvlogs, as I am certain many people do.
I love these videos honestly. Before you started this channel the only way for me to watch something this in line with my ascetic was to watch the japan logs over and over.
I live in Syracuse! Didn't think you'd have heard of it. You guys were definitely on one of the better Amtrak corridors. I do like taking Amtrak, I've gone to NYC on it a number of times. Never taken a sleeper anywhere, but after this video, I might have to!
20:04 the steamed hams reference makes me happy ☺️
So I think the more terrifying thing about that toilet is that if you look closely, the seat is angled. I can only imagine to face more directly into the roomette for a more polite conversation.
It would not surprise me at all to learn Beej always has a pack of zippity whiz-bangs on him.
That call back caught me off guard and almost had me spit take. Thank you.
I've ridden Amtraks to work, and kept seeing the Sleeper Car Trains but never got to stay in one. That was fascinating! I absolutely share your opinion on that very cool little room! This is making me want to do a train trip in one of those.
I've been in that Amtrak Lounge; one of the best travel experiences I've ever had. Great service, good snacks, comfy chairs. Also... the place they filmed a scene in The Untouchables.
The roomette on that sleeper car looks downright pleasant.
00:14
06:49
06:59
11:26 (Graham that's down)
14:28
14:35
20:46
23:19
and 23:22
Doing God's work. Thank you.
I’m subbed to this guys channel lol
...why? Not that I'm not thankful! ...but why?!
Andrew Sparkes for the memes
Please keep doing it
As an engineer I really love the design of the little sleeping room, so neat and compact.
I was eagerly waiting for your reaction to the Great Hall at Union Station and was NOT disappointed.
I absolutely love these style of blogs. Graham I can't wait to watch the rest of this series and the great train escapades
I laughed so hard at the "Free Smells" joke, even knowing it was coming.
Also: most train stations are *not* that nice. Union Station at Chicago is one of the rare good ones, because they're well-maintained relics when trains were more widely used. Other good ones include Grand Central Terminal in NYC, and the other Union Station in Washington D.C.. For an example of another old one that *hasn't* been as well maintained, look up the Michigan Central Station in Detroit (mostly used now as a movie prop).
Beej talking about childhood RV experience while passing through the home of all RVs -- amusing.
“Everyone in Chicago drives like they don’t want to live.” Ask Beej how it compared to Edmonton’s drivers as they are the worst I’ve seen outside of Paris. Excited for the next part. Love vlogs from long train journeys, how about you and Beej try and get them to set up Pax in Russia so you can do the Trans Siberian! ;)
You having heard of Schenectady brings joy to someone who lives there. I hope the new Union Station was finished when you came through! I forget when about it was actually completed.
This made me really nostalgic, reminded me I so rarely have reason to take train trips.
This was fascinating, the train looked really interesting!
I am excited for you two to get to ride the train! Amtrak is a well-kept secret even among Americans. The trains are awesome and comfy (even in coach), the menu in the dining car is way more delicious than you might think, and there's an observation car where you can just go and sit and watch the countryside roll by. But far and away the best part of the experience is meeting other people. In the US, nobody rides the train long-distance unless they deliberately want to: Flying is faster and the bus is cheaper. So you end up with a motley assortment of students, artists, philosophers, voyagers, foreign visitors, and retired folks, and most people are just so much nicer and more friendly than you'll find on trains or buses. I hope you got to have some good chats--I guess I'll find out in the next installment!
I love your vlogs, Graham. Thanks so much for sharing! It's fascinating seeing all that you've done and where you've stayed.
Traveling in a sleeper car compartment is a lovely way to go. I'm looking forward the next part of your journey
I just had my first train adventure a couple weeks ago going to Maker Faire on an 18 hour ride. I thoroughly enjoyed it and got to relive it a little with you guys.
Just got into these when I heard Graham mention his vlogs in some other LRR content. Really enjoying them enormously, a terrific thing to put on in the background while, say, playing endless mindless diablo 3.
Anyway, 13:10 - making doors with handles like this that open this way is the act of a diseased mind.
24 hours train trip vs. 15 hours by car... Not a bad trade-off considering. For a one-way trip it would be cheaper since you'd have to rent a car with one-way drop-off..
I know this train! I moved from Ohio to Boston in 2011 and I've had several trips back and forth on this line. I've always wondered what the sleepers were like, so this is extra fun for me. Oh, and South Station will be in the next episode! It's so fun seeing stuff you recognize. :)
We did an overnight Amtrak from Portland, OR to Chicago. It was very nice!
Excellent, you survived the Jimmy John's sandwich delivery zone. Too many good people never make it out, and many that do leave only with harrowing tales of the rain of pastrami and torrents of black forest ham.
In my (very) limited experience, American train stations run the gamut. The one in Portland, Oregon is a normal, reasonable modern station. The one in Everett, Washington is a _hole_
Idk why but Graham’s free smells but then ending with oh they’re closed killed me😂
Man, I hope there's more train stuff in the next vid; it's super interesting. Also, another stellar vid Graham! Can't wait for the next one.
I loved your guys’ DBF appearance and cannot wait for if/when you guys return
I'm a subscriber to the DBF patreon and totally missed that Graham and Beej were on an aftershow and now i have to absolutely give that a listen. Also this makes me want to take a sleeper train trip
"Later Chicago, hope to see you next year."
ABOUT THAT
These vlogs deserve more views.
Wish I had the money for the sleeper car when I took the train to PAX East 2015/17. Now I get to see LRR live it up. Thanks.
Shout out from utica! You were briefly in my home town
In case you didn't know, South Bend (which you passed through) is where the University of Notre Dame is located.
Also immediately had to put on "Night Train" by The Bouncing Souls after finishing this episde.
Additional information for your adventure: Elkhart IN is where most US RV are manufactured. Also your train went through my town, the closest I'll ever be to meeting you 🤷♂️
Chicago has, within the past year, has usurped the throne of "most breweries in a city," taking it from Portland I think? Or maybe Denver. Amazing that you uploaded these videos on the EXACT weekend I took Amtrak for the first time. I only took my first baby steps into the experience, though, with a mere 4 hour trip from Chicago to St Louis.
Union Station is totally huge, but I don't even think you explored the whole separate underground station home to 6 or more commuter lines that extend out into suburbia.
Also 4820 bl8ze it
This is like live action Ticket to Ride
The single-level Viewliner cars like the one you were in are somewhat unique in that they have an 2nd upper level window for the top bunk. You don't get on the bilevel Superliner cars you'll find on trains that don't have to go through the Northeast Corridor, the upper bunk just gets a wall.
Chicago traffic is insane. but next time you head there and have free time, definitely go and try out DMK. its a very cool burger bar. Also, get some dang deep dish pizza! lol
NGL the whole train thing looks badass.
Hey, the 448! I take that one all the time!
I got way too happy when I saw Depew on the list of towns being passed through.
The Free Smells bit needs so much love
Loved the intro "elevator" bit, it was real sterling editing ^.^
I wonder if your plugs in that car work better than the ones on the Coastal Starlight.I guess we'll know next episode!
"I'm Brendan." - Beej
NOPE!
I cannot wait to see this timelapse.
In denmark we have polar bear and fire truck. One is blue, the other is red.
Coloration of your tounge will depend on which you drink.
Don't worry Graham, as an Ohioan, I understand your confusion, especially since the consider us to be in the "Mid-West"
Nick Hunley yeah but we are east enough to be considered in EST time.... so weird. And then there is the “Ohio Valley” which includes all of Ohio even though the great valley only encompasses the very southern tip.... that never made any sense to me
If you think Union station is pretty you should see Grand Central in NYC.
Church Seconded. And definitely do not confuse that with Penn Station, whose name I almost forgot.
that beer flight sounds exactly up my alley...
Don't feel too bad, Graham. I counted the ones I'd heard of off Beej's phone and only got 12, and I live here in the States.
Not even a hyperbole ... I would like to live on that train for a while ... I just love environments like that train interior for some reason .
It seems absolutely lovely.
Take the train to (or from) Seattle some time. King Street Station was renovated not too long ago. It's not as gilded-age OMG as Chicago or NYC, but it's nice that it's beautiful again.
This actually looks like fun
Bloody Caesars! So good! Don’t knock Clamato juice before you try it
After you try it, feel free to knock it quite a lot XD Or knock it back I suppose, if an alcoholic fish and tomato salad appeals!
That folding sink is all the best things about american engineering.
Man.... I really want to take a train journey.
Blue Drink is just the Football Milk from that one video.
Or the bucket of beautiful blue syrup, I can't decide.
11:50 - 12:20; is that a sniper with some sort of blue-dot sight taking aim at G, or does he have a Tinkerbell that follows him?
I noticed that, too, in this and the previous video. I'm now fairly certain that's what passes for lens flare on phone cameras.
Yay time for another adventure with Graham 😁
Ben plz don't become the Blue Drink Centurion
Beej strikes me as that friend who always has a flashlight or a pocket knife on him. Wait...now I'm suspicious that Beej has some dark secrets XD
Everytime they passed through the cars and opened the door I physically felt cold when the wind blew through
Yeah, I don't know why, but this is honestly one of my favorite videos of all time.