I remember the dining car on the Silver Meteor back in the late 1950s ... luxurious layout and fresh flowers at every table. Memory has stayed with me all these years.
6:36 The Amfleet café car appears smooth and controlled. Having the vestibule door open adds a lot of loud track noise. Stainless steel Amfleet cars are derived from the 1960s Metroliner designed for 165 mph operation on an upgraded NEC using adjustable air bags for springs in their suspension. The MTU Metroliner cars proved to be troublesome with their propulsion, but their passenger train car dynamics were very good. The stainless steel technology was licensed by the Japanese Shijncasen bullet train manufacture with technology exchange for the Metroliner. It was later discovered that Metroliner type service could be provided with Amfleet cars being pulled at 125 mph with much more reliable AEM7 electric locomotives on the NEC than the original MTU Metroliner cars. I rode on the original MTU Metroliner when I was 13 and it was so smooth at 120 mph looking out the front without looking at the speedometer I wouldn't of believed it was that fast. I thought it might be kph, but the engineer announced very clearly 120, 90, 60, 30 miles per hour when pointing at the speedometer with listings of 15, 12, 9, 6, 3, 0 with tick marks filling in between. It appeared less than half 120 mph.
I have a love/hate relationship with these Venture Cars. I love their roominess and big windows. I hate, hate, hate their seats, which are no more comfort than Metra's new seats. The Amfleet and Horizon seats are much more comfortable. And don't get me started on the so-called "Business Class" seating on the Ventures.
Thanks for the video. We have Ventures out here in the Central Valley of California, but no Cafe Cars yet. I have been wanting to see the inside of them, so thanks for sharing.
i do like that they give complimentary snacks on those trainsets. once they have two more venture trainsets in revenue service, 701/704 will be returning.
Sad to see this lackluster design. Thankfully the ventures are only in use on the state supported routes, where the state and Amtrak are probably trying to save as much as they can. There is a chance that the venture coaches/cafe used for 100% Amtrak routes will be better.
Thanks for sharing. I don't like the sterile interiors and rock hard narrow searts in these venture cars. Brightline has done a much bettrer job outfitting its venture cars.
I'm a little disappointed, you didn't show the counter area on the new cafe cars, which as a former Amtrak LSA I'm curious to see. It kind of blows my mind that Amtrak removed the counter doors on the Amcafes, that means that pretty much anyone can go behind your counter. How is that secure? That's going to make it really hard to properly represent one "as delivered" in preservation someday if all the counter doors have been scrapped. Of course you'd have to recreate the psychedelic '70s wall and seat coverings, as well as recreating the original security shields that were supposed to allow the attendant to close up the cafe while leaving the display set up. They forgot skinny thieves who could climb over them at the top. Also, originally there were only coach seats on either side of the counter. I believe an Amcafe could seat 52. Eventually they replaced the shields with a security bar system that worked much better. Also the prices are mind blowing. When I started in 1985, they didn't sell a "combo", but a sandwich, like the turkey and cheese, chips and a drink was $3.60. I will go to my grave remembering that price combo, and I left 25 years ago. Oh, and a shot of liquor was $2.25 when I left, and Amtrak only paid about 90 cents per shot bottle. I remember when coffee hit a dollar a cup in the mid-'90s, but to soften the blow they sold a slightly larger cup and offered free refills.
@@kzooaviation I understand. You might have asked her if she could stand aside when she wasn't busy so you could show just the work area. I wouldn't have minded that when I was there.
unimpressed. At least the Amfleet I had tables with seats to eat meal in. Surprised it took so long to "debug" those cars so they could be put in service. Fixed consists make it hard to swap out cars, so suspect the cafés remain at end of train till they have proven themselves at which point they may go in the shop to get moved to middle of train.
Yeah, I thought these were delivered as either married pairs or singletons. It looks like it was a 6 car train, which would mean it was likely 2 coach couplets and one couplet with a coach car and cafe car. They could've put the cafe car couplet in the middle of the consist.
These cars are an anomaly in serialized production. Much cheaper to do it this way and also more future proof (if they ever want to change the layout of these train cars in the future). To not cut in windows would actually just cost more time and effort instead.
If you look at Superliners & the old Amfleet cars you’ll see the same blanked windows. Easier to produce one shell & window configuration vs multiples. Old Pullman heritage diners were purpose built as diners, different times.
@@jaysmith1408 I miss the real China, early days of Amtrak they carried over the China service. Today only the long distance trains have diner service but it’s definitely not what it used to be. In the 1990s. I recall riding the CZ from Chicago to Denver in the 80s, actual dinner service vs today’s prepackaged & heat & eat fare.
A very lackluster design, really looks like it had to cost as little as possible to produce. No design elements whatsoever, tables as plain as can be, no nice little table lamps or something to break up the scene, no nice materials like wood used either. The condiment box on the row of bins looks really cheap too, and that cardboard bin is just straight up trashy. I wouldn't wanna spend a single minute more in there than I had to. This isn't how you design a dining area.
Not an inspiring place for a break. Nowhere as classy as a European or Canadian train. Sad for the millions of bucks spent on these. Yes - the crew needs space to work from but folks want to be able to sit and talk and eat.
Your videos are too short and the descriptions at the bottom of the screen appear and disappear too fast. A narrative is much better than listening to music. The pictures are great and crisp😊
Not sure who to blame here for the interior fittings - Amtrak (corporate or Midwest) for specifying it or Siemens for offering it... The floor material is ugly and worse than looking like fake grey marble, it looks like it's just dirty. Looks like it's literally the same floor in the vestibule areas on the San Joaquins. The seats are even uncomfortable for commuter service and they suck on ALL the Ventures because they're literally the same, just different colors - from Brightline to Amtrak San Joaquin. I feel just as bad for the crews. It looks like they continue to not have enough or appropriate pantry space for the cafe car, so everything is in boxes because they need to come off the train with the LSAs at the end of service. How do they still not have roll-on/roll-off catering carts like airlines or Acela?
It's all about budget constraints. Amtrak and Amtrak Midwest simply don't receive enough money to buy nicer and better quality equipment. Siemens is also a profit motivated business whose goal is to make money. Combined it leads to these situations.
New York and Connecticut stations have high-level platforms unlike Michigan stations. Conductors can open ALL doors at high-level platforms if the entire train fits.
If you're going to publish videos, using correct terms is essential. The correct terminology in today's society is "accessible", not "handicap ". Many people in that community find the latter extremely derogatory and offensive.
This bland and sterile cafe car is a big disappointment and the floor looks rough and unfinished. There is nothing here that would invite me to linger and socialize with other passengers. It looks more like a regular coach than a cafe and It is sooo UGLY
Loved the “Miles in Transit” homage in there!
Good on the conductor for telling passengers to keep their shoes of the seats!
I remember the dining car on the Silver Meteor back in the late 1950s ... luxurious layout and fresh flowers at every table. Memory has stayed with me all these years.
@@WMGIII most dining cars are still like that, cafes, not so much
You had Danny and Kyle as your conductors on 364, and Keesha on 355. Fantastic crew!
@@RobertKrebill neat
6:36 The Amfleet café car appears smooth and controlled. Having the vestibule door open adds a lot of loud track noise. Stainless steel Amfleet cars are derived from the 1960s Metroliner designed for 165 mph operation on an upgraded NEC using adjustable air bags for springs in their suspension.
The MTU Metroliner cars proved to be troublesome with their propulsion, but their passenger train car dynamics were very good. The stainless steel technology was licensed by the Japanese Shijncasen bullet train manufacture with technology exchange for the Metroliner.
It was later discovered that Metroliner type service could be provided with Amfleet cars being pulled at 125 mph with much more reliable AEM7 electric locomotives on the NEC than the original MTU Metroliner cars. I rode on the original MTU Metroliner when I was 13 and it was so smooth at 120 mph looking out the front without looking at the speedometer I wouldn't of believed it was that fast. I thought it might be kph, but the engineer announced very clearly 120, 90, 60, 30 miles per hour when pointing at the speedometer with listings of 15, 12, 9, 6, 3, 0 with tick marks filling in between. It appeared less than half 120 mph.
2:10 didn’t know Miles in Transit was exporting his beautiful vocals
Cafe Car should be in the middle of the train for easy access to all.
@@cats0182 apparently it was on a few trains recently.
Yep. Looks like Amtrak addressed the complaints from business class passengers having to walk all the way to the other end of the train.
I have a love/hate relationship with these Venture Cars. I love their roominess and big windows. I hate, hate, hate their seats, which are no more comfort than Metra's new seats. The Amfleet and Horizon seats are much more comfortable. And don't get me started on the so-called "Business Class" seating on the Ventures.
The business class is an absolute joke.
😢so the old recliners are gone? I was lucky on 4th of July to had the business class seats. Guess not upgrading anymore
Your panning the camera too fast.
I agree. Nearly made me dizzy trying to watch it.
Sorry about that, was trying to get footage quickly as not to disturb anyone
Thanks for the video. We have Ventures out here in the Central Valley of California, but no Cafe Cars yet.
I have been wanting to see the inside of them, so thanks for sharing.
i do like that they give complimentary snacks on those trainsets. once they have two more venture trainsets in revenue service, 701/704 will be returning.
What a perfect 6 car all Siemens train
@@Silvercat2343 yep!
Sad to see this lackluster design.
Thankfully the ventures are only in use on the state supported routes, where the state and Amtrak are probably trying to save as much as they can. There is a chance that the venture coaches/cafe used for 100% Amtrak routes will be better.
@@Cptn.Viridian hopefully
2:00 unexpected miles in transit
Thanks for sharing. I don't like the sterile interiors and rock hard narrow searts in these venture cars. Brightline has done a much bettrer job outfitting its venture cars.
The 2 seats on one side an 1 on the other is very similar to the Korean KTX. I like it!
2:00 Hey thats the menu shot music from Miles in Transit lol
@@derekonxbox yes it is!
Lmao nice
Now don't go copying his bathroom review woo
@@counterfit5 I might use the ferry noise though
love riding Amtrak - we need more local routes to make it a commuter train
Ever heard of regional rail? Somewhat comfortable, stopping frequently, simple. That's basically it.
I'm a little disappointed, you didn't show the counter area on the new cafe cars, which as a former Amtrak LSA I'm curious to see. It kind of blows my mind that Amtrak removed the counter doors on the Amcafes, that means that pretty much anyone can go behind your counter. How is that secure? That's going to make it really hard to properly represent one "as delivered" in preservation someday if all the counter doors have been scrapped. Of course you'd have to recreate the psychedelic '70s wall and seat coverings, as well as recreating the original security shields that were supposed to allow the attendant to close up the cafe while leaving the display set up. They forgot skinny thieves who could climb over them at the top. Also, originally there were only coach seats on either side of the counter. I believe an Amcafe could seat 52. Eventually they replaced the shields with a security bar system that worked much better. Also the prices are mind blowing. When I started in 1985, they didn't sell a "combo", but a sandwich, like the turkey and cheese, chips and a drink was $3.60. I will go to my grave remembering that price combo, and I left 25 years ago. Oh, and a shot of liquor was $2.25 when I left, and Amtrak only paid about 90 cents per shot bottle. I remember when coffee hit a dollar a cup in the mid-'90s, but to soften the blow they sold a slightly larger cup and offered free refills.
@@paulw.woodring7304 I didn't want to film the counter because the worker was there and I wanted to avoid filming her.
@@kzooaviation I understand. You might have asked her if she could stand aside when she wasn't busy so you could show just the work area. I wouldn't have minded that when I was there.
Is the seating area you showed IN the cafe car? Is there no designated seating area with tables as there is in the old cafe care in the superliners??
@@ggreg2258 that is correct
my question is from battle creek- kalamazoo, does it go a steady 110 or slow down in some areas
It goes 110 pretty much right out of Kalamazoo but it needs to slow down as it approaches Battle Creek and merges with CN trackage
unimpressed. At least the Amfleet I had tables with seats to eat meal in. Surprised it took so long to "debug" those cars so they could be put in service. Fixed consists make it hard to swap out cars, so suspect the cafés remain at end of train till they have proven themselves at which point they may go in the shop to get moved to middle of train.
I agree, apparently now there are a few located in the middle of sets already
Yeah, I thought these were delivered as either married pairs or singletons. It looks like it was a 6 car train, which would mean it was likely 2 coach couplets and one couplet with a coach car and cafe car. They could've put the cafe car couplet in the middle of the consist.
So, let me get this straight: There is no window in the service area on the back wall of the cafe car, but they cut a hole for the window anyway?
These cars are an anomaly in serialized production. Much cheaper to do it this way and also more future proof (if they ever want to change the layout of these train cars in the future). To not cut in windows would actually just cost more time and effort instead.
@@MrAronymous this is the right answer
If you look at Superliners & the old Amfleet cars you’ll see the same blanked windows. Easier to produce one shell & window configuration vs multiples. Old Pullman heritage diners were purpose built as diners, different times.
@@dgrenier4908oh i miss the Heritage diners. Last decent chow i can remember. The superliners aren’t bad, but not the same.
@@jaysmith1408 I miss the real China, early days of Amtrak they carried over the China service. Today only the long distance trains have diner service but it’s definitely not what it used to be. In the 1990s. I recall riding the CZ from Chicago to Denver in the 80s, actual dinner service vs today’s prepackaged & heat & eat fare.
I think Amtrak could do better. Nice video. Greetings from Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
A very lackluster design, really looks like it had to cost as little as possible to produce. No design elements whatsoever, tables as plain as can be, no nice little table lamps or something to break up the scene, no nice materials like wood used either. The condiment box on the row of bins looks really cheap too, and that cardboard bin is just straight up trashy. I wouldn't wanna spend a single minute more in there than I had to. This isn't how you design a dining area.
Yeah, hopefully the cardboard bin is just temporary
Not an inspiring place for a break.
Nowhere as classy as a European or Canadian train.
Sad for the millions of bucks spent on these.
Yes - the crew needs space to work from but folks want to be able to sit and talk and eat.
I really just can’t bring myself to like these Venture Cars. Especially the seats
still can't believe they believe they got rid of the tables. This plus the awful new seats is making me start to dislike the ventures in general
I see they just stuffed an Amfleet car into VIA’s LRC’s. Finally expecting Amtrak to jump to Canadian standards….noope, doesn’t look like it.
Where do you order the food???
@@bradlybradshaw5972 there is a counter in the narrow hallway, I didn't want to film the cafe car staff so I wasn't able to get a great shot.
@@kzooaviation oh ok, got it! Love eating on the train!
If I am correct, I am standing on the other side of the battle creek platform. I HAVE FOOTAGE OF 4633 PULLING IN!
4633 was leading and 3619 was trailing on my footage! Bro I think I have have seen you get off!
Cool did you post the footage anywhere
On my channel!
@@NYC563 when did you shoot it
Uhhhh
Your videos are too short and the descriptions at the bottom of the screen appear and disappear too fast. A narrative is much better than listening to music. The pictures are great and crisp😊
@@awJ1776 I keep them short because a lot of people don't have 20 minutes to sit down and watch a video but they might have 10 minutes to.
Really tacky looking. Designed more for the cleaners than the passengers. Grim.
Hey did you talk to miles first before using the menu shot song? Just giving you a hard time,good vid!
@@NotAJosh I got access to it by joining his Patreon.
Café is even more disappointing than the bland coaches.
Not sure who to blame here for the interior fittings - Amtrak (corporate or Midwest) for specifying it or Siemens for offering it... The floor material is ugly and worse than looking like fake grey marble, it looks like it's just dirty. Looks like it's literally the same floor in the vestibule areas on the San Joaquins. The seats are even uncomfortable for commuter service and they suck on ALL the Ventures because they're literally the same, just different colors - from Brightline to Amtrak San Joaquin.
I feel just as bad for the crews. It looks like they continue to not have enough or appropriate pantry space for the cafe car, so everything is in boxes because they need to come off the train with the LSAs at the end of service. How do they still not have roll-on/roll-off catering carts like airlines or Acela?
It's all about budget constraints. Amtrak and Amtrak Midwest simply don't receive enough money to buy nicer and better quality equipment. Siemens is also a profit motivated business whose goal is to make money. Combined it leads to these situations.
Cafe car is uninviting, even downright ugly. Video’s music is too loud and abrasive. Awful.
@@williammcneill5879 what was abrasive about the music?
Why do all the cars have doors? They only use one. wouldn't it be cheaper to only have doors on on car?
If one of the cars is on the end of a train they want to be able to lock that door
@@kzooaviation Why don't they use the doors? It makes stops so much longer.
@@Matthew-p2h they need a conductor at each door, they don't have enough conductors for that to be reasonable
@@kzooaviation Why? All the doors work on the trains I use in Connecticut and New York. No conductor is at the door.
New York and Connecticut stations have high-level platforms unlike Michigan stations. Conductors can open ALL doors at high-level platforms if the entire train fits.
Ugly, feels like a hospital.
Why awful "seasick" automated music?
@@phylliselizahb1041 I'm confused. Are you asking about the music I added into the video?
If you're going to publish videos, using correct terms is essential. The correct terminology in today's society is "accessible", not "handicap ". Many people in that community find the latter extremely derogatory and offensive.
@@TrainMike2013 I'm sorry, I will do better next time.
2:00 you deserve packing peanuts for including that; well done
Thanks
Uncredited note: @MilesinTransit Harmonies surrounding the food options.
@@nedj10 I think most people watching this understand the reference. Probably should have credited him though.
This bland and sterile cafe car is a big disappointment and the floor looks rough and unfinished. There is nothing here that would invite me to linger and socialize with other passengers. It looks more like a regular coach than a cafe and It is sooo UGLY
@@samtrak1204 yeah, I hope the Airos are better
@@kzooaviation Me2👊🏾👴🏾✌🏾
Menu Shot 2:01 !
6:40 did you get a talking to?? 😅
Yeah, she asked if I needed anything