Did they put the toys in the lower level of the Parlour car? I was on the Starlight back when they had a video game mini arcade down there, and when they had a mini movie theater.
@@scooterxx6094 May have been. It was lower level. They also would have entertainers board. One time it was a lady dressed as a fairy. Another time a clown did balloon animals. I think they boarded around Oxnard
The guy throwing a tantrum over an accidental touch is the same energy as the police officer chasing Patrick to not touch everything at the jellyfish convention on SpongeBob 😂. On the causeway outside San Jose, you were crossing the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge! There is a former settlement that was built along the tracks called Drawbridge. The South Pacific Coast Railroad were the ones that built the tracks there, and there were once two drawbridges, crossing Mud Slough and Coyote Creek to connect Newark with Alviso and San Jose. So to operate the drawbridges, they created a settlement called Drawbridge in 1876. Ten passenger trains stopped there per day at one point, five going north and five going south. By the 1920s, although the town had no roads, it did have 90 buildings, and was divided into two neighborhoods, the Roman Catholic South Drawbridge and the Protestant North Drawbridge. After the drawbridges were removed, the residents left, and Drawbridge became a ghost town!
You can thank the Rail Passenger Association for working to get Amtrak to let coach passengers eat in the dinning car. Next, the trains that run east from Chicago. And yes, I'm a member.
I rode this when the Pacific Parlor Cars were still part of the consist... as was wine and cheese from each of the 3 states as we passed through them. It was a nice touch. We've been back aboard the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle in 2021... always memorable and incredible scenery start to finish.
Nice catch of the Budd SPV-2000 at 6:15! They were built between 1978 and 1981 but only thirty-one of them were actually built (on top of fourteen unassembled shells) because they were proven to be very unreliable mechanically. The track geometry one that you saw, T-10, was purchased by the FRA in 1981 and remained in service until 2000 when it was replaced and sold to CalTrain. The craziest thing about the SPV-2000s is that six of them were sold to ONCF in Morocco for King Hassan II to use on his royal train! However after Hassan II died in 1999, King Mohammed VI opted not to use it. The street-running bit of Oakland's Jack London Square is such a neat operation! And yup, that was a former NJT Comet car at 8:31! Definitely wild to see NJT rolling stock in California! Due to increasing ridership on the San Joaquin, they purchased fourteen Comet IBs from NJ Transit in 2008, and then they were refurbished and reconfigured to serve as intercity coaches at Amtrak's Beech Grove Shops.
Odd fact for you: I’ve been told by a number of Amtrak conductors and coach attendants that the Eugene station has the greatest number of passengers who get out for the smoke break and then miss the call for All Aboard and get left behind in Eugene. (Perhaps because there’s a convenience store across the street where they run in to buy cigarettes or sodas, and then get delayed by the street traffic signal…)
I do the exact same thing as Ron in San Jose (Volunteer Station host)except I’m there Mondays and Thursdays he’s volunteered for the airport and other stuff as well. Plus I’ve had that happen where the consist switches without notice.
Before the pandemic, the menu showed the ala carte prices. Coach passengers could order toast and coffee and not pay for the full meal. At the height of the pandemic, the dining car had half the seats blocked off, and traveling parties did not share tables with others. Thus, there was no room for coach passengers. Fortunately, west coast trains brought back Traditional Dining. "Flexible Dining" (a/k/a Flexible Indigestion) still persists on eastern routes. Nice review.
You had mentioned that this route has a street running segment. I know from experience that there is at least one other long distance route that has a street running segment, the Texas Eagle immediately south of the station stop in Springfield, Illinois. I've ridden this route a few times between Chicago and Saint Louis.
I was delayed over 11 hours on the Coast Starlight from Portland to LA in 1999! Our train had to keep letting freight trains go ahead of us because they had to share the tracks. I'm guessing it's not any better these days.
The French toast was super good. I wish the dining car use regular chair rather than venture like McDonald. I’m glad you shared this video because I enjoy every minute of it.
Love your take on the Amtrak adventure, last year for my retirement i was on the Coast Starlight July 24 2023 on my way to Seattle from LA. Our train was terminated in San Jose but were allowed to ride on up to Sacramento, which all the Coach passengers did. We were unsure if everyone was getting kicked off at the station, but after a while we were told we could stay aboard. We rambled around the yard unhooking and hooking up other cars, most of us tried to get some shut eye as it was very late. The next day we were told they would take everyone who stayed aboard, all coach lol, and they feed us breakfast lunch and dinner free. It was a nice ride back to LA, but what a bummer we did not make it to Klamath Falls Oregon due to a fire in the area. This year i plan to do a 30 day travel trip from LA to Seattle, Seattle to Chicago, Chicago to KC, KC to Chicago then take the Zepher to San Francisco area then to LA.
There was a train between Bostin/Springfield and Washington called the Fast Mail whivh made use of the !2 and 13 numbers (for Washington to Boston Service with traibs 412 and 413 being the Springfield Through Cars which split off in New Haven.
Another great ride! You really do the best videos about train trips and transit systems. I'm so glad I subscribed and can't wait to see each new video you make! 😃
The capital corridor is going to be rerouted on to the coast sub which will help shave some time of the trip but also allow better separation of freight and passenger traffic south of Oakland. South bay connect is the plan. The Alvios wetlands you crossed though is also going to get work but that is a mid to longer term plan which will result in double or tipple track though the wetlands and adjustments to make the curves faster.
@@Thom-TRA Its such a weird choice instead of just pushing for Alvios wetland to happen faster and or double tracking between Great America Way and Reed street to increase capacity there
That’s awesome that you were able to eat breakfast in the dining car!!! The scenery along the way to Portland was awesome too. I always enjoy your history lesson of the train you are riding. The gentleman volunteering at the San Jose train station was just absolutely awesome too!!!
The Amtrak pass sounds like a great deal! I rode the California Zephyr from Chicago to Denver (to see the UP Big Boy 4014) a couple of years ago. Next time, I'm taking it all the way to Cali.
I ride a few times a year between Olympia and Sacramento. Having breakfast in the diner along the lake after we leave Klamath Falls is always a highlight for me! I always enjoy the trip over the Cascades. I have ridden the whole route several times, and the oceanside running between Ventura and Narlon isn't the only scenic part of the route! Southern Pacific used all four train numbers for the Starlight long after Amtrak stopped using them publicly. It was trains 11/14 north of Oakland, and 12/13 south of Oakland. This is because all trains headed away from San Francisco were "eastward" and all trains headed towards San Francisco were "westward". As such, the southbound Starlight would change timetable direction (but not physically) at Oakland on it's trip, running as 11 from Portland to Oakland and 12 from Oakland to Los Angeles, with the northbound train running as 13/14. They are still shown that way in the April 1984 SP Western Division timetable. I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted until the end in 1996, but I don't know for sure.
I was on the Coast Starlight on the 16th- 17th November 2023. Traveling in coach from Grand Junction, CO (California Zephyr) to Tacoma, WA was kind of a bucket list thing for me. I traveled on trains with my mother in the 1950's and to and from college in the mid 60's. The dining car is my best memory from all my trips. I also had breakfast on the Coast Starlight and it was better than I expected and made me think about my train trips when I was younger. The 9 hour layover in Sacramento was not my favorite. Overall, I loved the trip and would do it again if I get the chance. Thanks Amtrak!!!
@@Thom-TRA TH-cam ate my first long reply... sigh. The short answer is no. "Old Sacramento" closed down not long after the Zephyr arrived as did the railroad museum there. Bummer.
This brought back fond memories of my September 1989 trip north on the Coast Starlight. Upper Klamath Lake and the Cascades were highlights. I stayed in Eugene Oregon for two nights right on the return weekend of Students returning to the local Colleges and participated in a picnic afternoon with a friendly group. This video was watched while digesting Christmas Lunch. Thanks for the memories.🙂🙂🙂
Did a double take when I saw Ron! I've met him on the bus, at Diridon and a Caltrain event before, he's a great guy! Next time I see him I'll mention this video!
I met him just now on the bus today! Another volunteer already told him about the video so I was the second person to mention the video to him, he was happy about it!
I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak became nationwide (formerly individual railroad passengers companies became no longer confused with many transfers) for over 55 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because train travellings are blasting with wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car that is including no extra cost eating in dining car is the best! And their real foods are great! Able to walk entire each cars or standing out of train car on platform if stop for 10 or more minutes (don't wonder away from platform then the train will left by catch up on schedule or be on-time a minute or two before). While monitoring the completely refueling in locomotives, done by exchanging suitcases in baggage car, finishing filling up water each car and less passengers hopping in or hopping out will be leaving early as a schedule. I used took Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose, now called Caltrain extended to Gilroy (south of San Jose). For you guys are taking a short trip on any long distance Amtrak to see if you like the train before taking longer trip. Also, check train status (keeping repeating if a train is catch up) for the arrival to save your waiting. Enjoy!
I’m planning to ride Amtrak from Sacramento to Albany OR station this summer so your excellent video is a preview of what I might encounter. Your narration reminds me a lot of my nephew. I also subscribed.
When I go to London, I’m leaving out of Baltimore Washington international Thurgood Marshal airport. But wait! There’s more! Me, my parents, and my sister are taking the Amtrak northeast regional to BWI! But there’s one more thing… the train ride only takes about 26 minutes! And my train ride there only has one stop between BWI and Washington Union Station, the train station is New Carrollton Maryland.
And just an fyi, I don’t live in D.C and I’m just visiting my family in Virginia for Christmas. And after that, I’m going to London and it’ll be my first time out of this country and if you’re wondering, I will ride the London underground and the reason why I’m riding the Amtrak to go to the airport is because it’s really fast and it’s 26 minutes.
This was very detailed, which along with your kind demeanor makes another excellent video! I haven't seen Upper Klamath Lake since 1993, so thanks for bringing back some good memories. Thank you for your hard work.
The Pacific Parlor cars were actually remodeled old ATSF Hi-Level lounge cars from the El Capitan, they were in service for over 50 years before being retired in 2018, a couple are now in Michigan at the SRI, one’s in Wisconsin at a local excursion train, and one’s here in Arizona at the Arizona Railway Museum, where the other 2 are I don’t know, 6 were built total.
I loved those cars too. They were showing “Cowboys and Aliens” downstairs one time that I was on the Starlight. As the weather outside wasn’t great for viewing scenery, the theater was packed.
Thanks for another great video. This is maybe my favourite train, since there is no longer The Panama Limited. If you take tis trip again, may I recommend getting up at 0500 to see Mount Shasta early in the morning?
OMG somebody touched me! Settle down people! Another great train vlog. Love watching your adventures. Hopefully I will get to hit the rails like this sometime in 2024 or 2025. We love trains on our channel too and travel on them from time to time and we are trying to tour all of the stations on the system. We are getting there slowly.
Every morning over coffee I watch a trainspotter video of the Zephyr stopping at Ft. Morgan, CO. Two times recently, including this morning, they have needed the local cops to remove a disruptive passenger. Is it “holiday stress”?
That’s an absolute nice trip and that you could have breakfast while on board. Those are some really nice views throughout that train trip! Today I went to both Nashville and Atlanta in one day, something I always wanted to do while I live two hours away from both those cities. I flew one way from Nashville and spent a few hours in Atlanta getting to ride two different airport trains and the MARTA subway again. Then I took a greyhound bus back to my hometown in Chattanooga. What a good way to spend the day of traveling with all those interesting ideas.
Saw this video and I'm buying a hoodie So you and Lindsay watch out for the shot out on my train home I'm taking the California Zephyr also planning on riding the Pacific surfliner when I go to San Diego and part of the coast starlight as well
Just started watching but excited to see you go North! I’ve taken the CS many times but mostly to visit family who live in small towns in SB and Ventura County. I feel like most people don’t go North. Thanks for sharing this with us! I’m planning this trip in May on a rail pass. This gives me a good idea on what to expect. Now plan on San Jose departure. Well done!
@@Thom-TRA I’m now considering leaving a day early for a day in Portland -Coast Starlight to Seattle. Check out their transit system and do the Pop Art Museum -Empire Builder to Whitefish. Hiking and small town activities -Empire Builder to Chicago. River boat and transit. EAT! -City of New Orleans to Memphis. Visit brother/ blues music/ BBQ festival and Civil Rights Museum -City of New Orleans to NOLA. Visit cousins (the Brennens), EAT, music and their transit system -Sunset Limited to El Paso. I lived there and miss the amazing Mexican food. Fly to Denver -CA Zephyr to Helper Utah. My great grandfather lived here in the 1800’s and worked for the RR. Meet my sister and rent a house and enjoy each other. Hiking -CA Zephyr Helper to Emeryville
I'm glad you liked your meal in the dining car! I understand that Amtrak food has improved a lot over the years. When they first started, Amtrak food was pretty bad, honestly. The old private railroad food was legendary, especially for dinner. As a kid, I was privileged to eat in dining cars on the Baltimore and Ohio and the Rock Island. The food was cooked on a wood stove in a tiny little kitchen, and then served on railroad china. B & O china featured a depiction of the Point of Rocks bridge. I ate in the diner on Amtrak's Sunset Limited, going from L A to Arizona. The engineer went around a curve a little too fast while we were eating, and the tablecloths and all the china and food slid off the tables onto the floor. The dining car steward (the manager of the car) and all the waiters were pissed! They had to reset all the tables, and the cooks had to replace all the food. Nobody dared laugh of course, but looking back it was hilarious! 😅
I rode in business class from Emeryville to LA, unless it’s almost the same price as coach, totally not worth it. I think you got one meal voucher or something like that, seats were basically the same as coach but leather, no more comfortable. We lost some stuff on Amtrak, but business class will probably not be missed.
Interesting and beautiful views on your journey. Ate once in the dinning car from Reno to Oakland, breakfast was delicious and views along the Truckee River were spectacular.
Earliest train memory was having 2 inch thick French Toast with maple syrup while seeing Mr. Shasta out of the window. Southern Pacific Shasta Daylight from Portland to Oakland pre Amtrak.
Great job on this, Thom and Lindsey! I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the SSL again as well. Yay for Amtrak volunteers! People who are not paid by Amtrak but just love helping out and love sharing their knowledge about trains to visitors. I've never been at a station where there's been one, but that was so cool that you encountered one! I'm also glad you were able to get a long-distance train with chargers. I do appreciate you giving them a few moments in the video as well.
Jack London Square is a place I've wanted to railfan for almost all my life. I first learned about it in the Pentrex Street Running DVD. I've never actually railfanned at a street running location before. I went to Augusta once in 2015 but didn't catch anything unfortunately. Street running is getting rarer and rarer as it heavily interrupts traffic and is a huge safety hazard but as a railfan it's sad to see them going away. I do hope to catch something at least once before they're all gone.
That’s unfortunate news about the Pacific Lounge car. My fondest memories on the starlight were there when they used to screen movies on the lower level. I hope when you guys return to the Bay Area (Hopefully next fall for the launch of the Stadler Kisses) you guys check out the Capitol Corridor with our version of the California Cars.
I first started riding portions of this route as a kid in the 1950s (San Francisco to LA along the coast) and then back and forth to college in the 1960s. I really liked the overall experience, other than one thing…u Southern Pacific ran the passengers heading all the way north through a very uncomfortable gauntlet at Martinez. The night train from LA (I think is was called “The Owl”) went over the Cajon Pass, through the Mojave , over the Tehachapi Pass to the San Joaquin Valley and north to Oakland. The passengers going further north had to change trains in Martinez. In those days the Martinez connection heading north was very early in the morning; very dark, only one light shining on the cement platform, no benches, and the building was locked so no bathroom access. The checked luggage was piled at one end, and passengers of all ages had to stand or sit on the cement until the “Shasta Daylight” arrived from Oakland. Why didn’t we change in Oakland? Well, our train was always too late to make that connection. The Shasta was wonderful, though, as it went by Mt. Shasta in the morning light and got to Portland in the evening. The counterpart to the Shasta, which I would take southbound, was the “Cascades” night train. It dumped us out at Martinez in the early morning too, but not quite so early as the train north, and then the ride to LA was the “San Joaquin Daylight.” It was obvious that Southern Pacific wanted to dump their passenger service just as they did us passengers at Martinez.
I agree, the Vegan Asian Noodle salad is the best thing you can buy in the snack bar. It is a welcome change from the inedible stuff which is most of the rest of their offerings. It’s nice the diner is open to coach passengers again, even at exorbitant rates.
Glad you got to try the dining car! I always enjoy that part of my Amtrak rides wherever I can do it. I did the boxed meal era and the dinners were ok but the breakfasts were pretty meh, so I'm glad proper sit down meals are returning systemwide.
The VTA tram isn't the best if you compare it other systems but I have grown a great interest in it during my 14 years with the organization. I haven't ridding the Coast Starlight for quite a long time. First saw it when I was 7 but didn't ride it until age 12. As of I got into my college years I started riding it by myself. Sleeper twice, Coach once. I did make it to the Pacific Parlour car in 2013.
I miss those Pacific Parlor cars on the Coast Starlight. BTW let me know if you’re interested in a sleeper car on your next Amtrak long distance train. But I would have been ok myself if I had to spend 1 night in coach class.
45 minutes ahead of schedule into PDX, that’s early and great! Also it’s interesting at the end you mentioned that you got an Amtrak shirt in the gift shop at Portland Union Station because I got one from there too and I also happen to be wearing it right now and it might be the same kind! Is the one you have the one that has a the Amtrak P42s pulling lots of superliner cars including a baggage car somewhere where there is seemingly snow? That’s the one I have and it would be amazing if we ran into each other with the identical shirt! Also, with all the long distance trains in the west, the Coast Starlight is the one to ride because all the others such as the Southwest Chief, California Zephry, Empire Builder and the tri weekly Sunset Limited are with what I’ve heard experiencing long 6 hour delays for some reason. Luckily the Coast Starlight is exempt from that for some reason
Also, train numbers 12/13 were used on the Northeast Regional as their Fast Mail service and 99 is still used for its Southbound Northeast Regional from Boston to Newport News VA
Yeah I know in fact, I also remembered when 12 & 13 before the NE Regional Fast Mail were used for the shadow Coast Starlight. I also rode the Capitol Corridor to San Jose but way back in 1995@@Thom-TRA
Thank you for this great video ! Glad you started your journey at St.Jose, for you certainly enjoyed a good start to your journey. As you say, the scenery throughout is wonderful, and I look forward to hearing about your next ride on the Cascades !
Great video sir, and of course, Lyndsey, do you think intercity rail in the US could be improved if they had the frequency of European style intercity trains?
I was just in Portland attending KumoriCon the weekend before Thanksgiving. That Sunday I had planned to take the Cascades train, expecting a Talgo since southbound 505 typically runs with a Talgo set. I have to say the Cascades Talgo makes for a great ride, especially in Business Class. I took it as far as Salem, then got a Thruway bus back to Portland. Here's hoping the Airo sets will be just as great when they arrive in 2026.
It's an anime convention that ran the weekend before Thanksgiving Day, and has run yearly since the early 2000s, as early as August and as late as November throughout its history.
Interesting how the San Diegan became the Pacific Surfliner and now plans want the train to go to San Francisco-which is basically the original run of the Coast Daylight. I wonder if a second train running through Bend and Fresno using the 12/13 numbers and giving both a special title akin to the Silver Service on the East Coast (Sierra Service came to my mind)
I don't think that I have ever sat in a dining car on a train and I have been on tons and tons of them over the years! Obviously I never went on a sleeper which included food in the price!As the prices you quoted for Amtrak prove on train grub is sold at a high premium!I always took it with me . Dutch is pretty easy to learn for English speaking folk but Afrikaans is easier.Frisian might be the easiest West Germanic language for Anglophones but the problem is English is also very heavily, and I mean heavily!!, influenced by French whereas the other West Germanic languages aren't .
They should revive the Coast Starlight to San Diego as I would love to have a long distance train in San Diego. We only have the Surfliner and I think a long distance train would be cool
@@Thom-TRAThey are adding through tracks at LA Union Station so maybe after that project is finished they can connect a Pacific Surfliner to the Coast Starlight.
Re: Street running LD Amtrak trains…At the risk of duplicating someone else’s comment I’ll mention that LD trains pass through Ashland, Virginia on its streets every day. The Virtual Railfan TH-cam channel shows live views of passenger trains passing thru Ashland, Virginia 24/7. This was a great episode and the Coast Starlight is on our bucket list. Thanks.
What route were you on? Coach passengers can only go into the diner on the Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, and Sunset Limited right now.
I was the engineer of this train between Klamath Falls and Portland. Glad you enjoyed your trip.
Thanks for a great ride!!
Can coach passengers eat in the diner car still?
@Macmike510 yes on some long haul trains it is availabe but very expensive $25 for Breakfast, $35 for Lunch, $45 for dinner and does not include tip.
Nobody seems to remember but the Coast Starlight had a children’s car with toys to play with. The Southwest Chief had a smoking car
I never realized this! There are several trains in Japan and in places like Austria/Czech Republic that still have these
I remember the Smoking Lounges on the Chief and Zephyr on the lower levels
Did they put the toys in the lower level of the Parlour car? I was on the Starlight back when they had a video game mini arcade down there, and when they had a mini movie theater.
@@scooterxx6094 May have been. It was lower level. They also would have entertainers board. One time it was a lady dressed as a fairy. Another time a clown did balloon animals. I think they boarded around Oxnard
@@Thom-TRAWe still have those in Finland! And until 2006 the play area was half of the car, while now it's sadly much smaller.
The guy throwing a tantrum over an accidental touch is the same energy as the police officer chasing Patrick to not touch everything at the jellyfish convention on SpongeBob 😂. On the causeway outside San Jose, you were crossing the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge! There is a former settlement that was built along the tracks called Drawbridge. The South Pacific Coast Railroad were the ones that built the tracks there, and there were once two drawbridges, crossing Mud Slough and Coyote Creek to connect Newark with Alviso and San Jose. So to operate the drawbridges, they created a settlement called Drawbridge in 1876.
Ten passenger trains stopped there per day at one point, five going north and five going south. By the 1920s, although the town had no roads, it did have 90 buildings, and was divided into two neighborhoods, the Roman Catholic South Drawbridge and the Protestant North Drawbridge. After the drawbridges were removed, the residents left, and Drawbridge became a ghost town!
You can thank the Rail Passenger Association for working to get Amtrak to let coach passengers eat in the dinning car. Next, the trains that run east from Chicago. And yes, I'm a member.
Well I guess I owe you my thanks then!
Ashland, VA is another place where long distance trains run down the middle of the street.
I rode this when the Pacific Parlor Cars were still part of the consist... as was wine and cheese from each of the 3 states as we passed through them. It was a nice touch.
We've been back aboard the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle in 2021... always memorable and incredible scenery start to finish.
I would always book business because you got coffee and the newspaper. Access to the parlor car was a perk
I love trains
Me too
I’m from NYC. I ride the trains a lot. But I’m in Wisconsin for now. Imma go home and start railfanning soon
Thank you. Love your videos
Nice catch of the Budd SPV-2000 at 6:15! They were built between 1978 and 1981 but only thirty-one of them were actually built (on top of fourteen unassembled shells) because they were proven to be very unreliable mechanically. The track geometry one that you saw, T-10, was purchased by the FRA in 1981 and remained in service until 2000 when it was replaced and sold to CalTrain. The craziest thing about the SPV-2000s is that six of them were sold to ONCF in Morocco for King Hassan II to use on his royal train! However after Hassan II died in 1999, King Mohammed VI opted not to use it.
The street-running bit of Oakland's Jack London Square is such a neat operation! And yup, that was a former NJT Comet car at 8:31! Definitely wild to see NJT rolling stock in California! Due to increasing ridership on the San Joaquin, they purchased fourteen Comet IBs from NJ Transit in 2008, and then they were refurbished and reconfigured to serve as intercity coaches at Amtrak's Beech Grove Shops.
The Dutch king sadly got rid of his royal train just this past year…
Odd fact for you: I’ve been told by a number of Amtrak conductors and coach attendants that the Eugene station has the greatest number of passengers who get out for the smoke break and then miss the call for All Aboard and get left behind in Eugene. (Perhaps because there’s a convenience store across the street where they run in to buy cigarettes or sodas, and then get delayed by the street traffic signal…)
That is an interesting fact! I saw one couple miss the train in Albuquerque once. I could never, the thought alone scares me!
As a student in Eugene, I totally see how that could happen, our traffic signal system here is a mess!
Was not expecting the surprise NJT car. Very cool!
We’ve got a ton of them on San Joaquin’s until the ventures enter service
I hope the seats are a little more comfortable considering how long the San Joaquins route is…
we used to have quite a few on frontrunner until they were retired last year
I do the exact same thing as Ron in San Jose (Volunteer Station host)except I’m there Mondays and Thursdays he’s volunteered for the airport and other stuff as well. Plus I’ve had that happen where the consist switches without notice.
Nice! Had it been a different day we would have run into you!
Before the pandemic, the menu showed the ala carte prices. Coach passengers could order toast and coffee and not pay for the full meal. At the height of the pandemic, the dining car had half the seats blocked off, and traveling parties did not share tables with others. Thus, there was no room for coach passengers. Fortunately, west coast trains brought back Traditional Dining. "Flexible Dining" (a/k/a Flexible Indigestion) still persists on eastern routes. Nice review.
Having the a la carte option would be nice
So glad you finally got to try the dining car! It’s one of my fave things about getting a private room.
You had mentioned that this route has a street running segment. I know from experience that there is at least one other long distance route that has a street running segment, the Texas Eagle immediately south of the station stop in Springfield, Illinois. I've ridden this route a few times between Chicago and Saint Louis.
I was delayed over 11 hours on the Coast Starlight from Portland to LA in 1999! Our train had to keep letting freight trains go ahead of us because they had to share the tracks. I'm guessing it's not any better these days.
It’s a little better these days but the delays can still get bad
I have never ridden an Amtrak, but I hope to someday.
The French toast was super good. I wish the dining car use regular chair rather than venture like McDonald. I’m glad you shared this video because I enjoy every minute of it.
Love your take on the Amtrak adventure, last year for my retirement i was on the Coast Starlight July 24 2023 on my way to Seattle from LA. Our train was terminated in San Jose but were allowed to ride on up to Sacramento, which all the Coach passengers did. We were unsure if everyone was getting kicked off at the station, but after a while we were told we could stay aboard. We rambled around the yard unhooking and hooking up other cars, most of us tried to get some shut eye as it was very late. The next day we were told they would take everyone who stayed aboard, all coach lol, and they feed us breakfast lunch and dinner free. It was a nice ride back to LA, but what a bummer we did not make it to Klamath Falls Oregon due to a fire in the area. This year i plan to do a 30 day travel trip from LA to Seattle, Seattle to Chicago, Chicago to KC, KC to Chicago then take the Zepher to San Francisco area then to LA.
What an eventful trip it sounds like!
When I was in San Jose in 1979, the station windows were covered in some kind of paper, glad to see them uncovered now!
There was a train between Bostin/Springfield and Washington called the Fast Mail whivh made use of the !2 and 13 numbers (for Washington to Boston Service with traibs 412 and 413 being the Springfield Through Cars which split off in New Haven.
Another great ride! You really do the best videos about train trips and transit systems. I'm so glad I subscribed and can't wait to see each new video you make! 😃
I’m glad to hear from you every video! You always have something great to add
The capital corridor is going to be rerouted on to the coast sub which will help shave some time of the trip but also allow better separation of freight and passenger traffic south of Oakland. South bay connect is the plan. The Alvios wetlands you crossed though is also going to get work but that is a mid to longer term plan which will result in double or tipple track though the wetlands and adjustments to make the curves faster.
Good to know! I’ve been doing some reading about the new ACE station they’re planning to build in Union City as well.
@@Thom-TRA Its such a weird choice instead of just pushing for Alvios wetland to happen faster and or double tracking between Great America Way and Reed street to increase capacity there
That’s awesome that you were able to eat breakfast in the dining car!!! The scenery along the way to Portland was awesome too. I always enjoy your history lesson of the train you are riding. The gentleman volunteering at the San Jose train station was just absolutely awesome too!!!
We love Ron!
Always fun to travel along with Thom! Glad you did this trip and hopefully you will get to do the whole Coast Starlight route in the future.
I know I will someday!
Danke Thom and Lindsay! Another great video! I never paid attention to engines until I started watching your channel🙂
Glad to be an inspiration!
another great video !! Thank you !!
You're welcome!
That was a great video.
Thanks!
The Amtrak pass sounds like a great deal! I rode the California Zephyr from Chicago to Denver (to see the UP Big Boy 4014) a couple of years ago. Next time, I'm taking it all the way to Cali.
Nice! I caught your exact train in Oregon in May!
Wow!
Great video. I'll be looking forward to seeing more train videos
I do a lot of train videos so you’re in the right place!
I ride a few times a year between Olympia and Sacramento. Having breakfast in the diner along the lake after we leave Klamath Falls is always a highlight for me! I always enjoy the trip over the Cascades. I have ridden the whole route several times, and the oceanside running between Ventura and Narlon isn't the only scenic part of the route!
Southern Pacific used all four train numbers for the Starlight long after Amtrak stopped using them publicly. It was trains 11/14 north of Oakland, and 12/13 south of Oakland. This is because all trains headed away from San Francisco were "eastward" and all trains headed towards San Francisco were "westward". As such, the southbound Starlight would change timetable direction (but not physically) at Oakland on it's trip, running as 11 from Portland to Oakland and 12 from Oakland to Los Angeles, with the northbound train running as 13/14. They are still shown that way in the April 1984 SP Western Division timetable. I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted until the end in 1996, but I don't know for sure.
I was wondering why the numbers switched from even to odd! Thanks for the explanation!
@@Thom-TRA no problem!
I Love this route so much. Vancouver wa to Dunsmuir ca many many times
I was on the Coast Starlight on the 16th- 17th November 2023. Traveling in coach from Grand Junction, CO (California Zephyr) to Tacoma, WA was kind of a bucket list thing for me. I traveled on trains with my mother in the 1950's and to and from college in the mid 60's. The dining car is my best memory from all my trips. I also had breakfast on the Coast Starlight and it was better than I expected and made me think about my train trips when I was younger. The 9 hour layover in Sacramento was not my favorite. Overall, I loved the trip and would do it again if I get the chance. Thanks Amtrak!!!
I'm so glad you were able to relive these memories! Did you do anything worthwhile in Sacramento?
@@Thom-TRA TH-cam ate my first long reply... sigh. The short answer is no. "Old Sacramento" closed down not long after the Zephyr arrived as did the railroad museum there. Bummer.
This brought back fond memories of my September 1989 trip north on the Coast Starlight. Upper Klamath Lake and the Cascades were highlights. I stayed in Eugene Oregon for two nights right on the return weekend of Students returning to the local Colleges and participated in a picnic afternoon with a friendly group. This video was watched while digesting Christmas Lunch. Thanks for the memories.🙂🙂🙂
Hope you had a merry Christmas!
Did a double take when I saw Ron! I've met him on the bus, at Diridon and a Caltrain event before, he's a great guy! Next time I see him I'll mention this video!
Tell him hi for us!
I met him just now on the bus today! Another volunteer already told him about the video so I was the second person to mention the video to him, he was happy about it!
@@gautam0826 wow, that was fast!!
Thanks!
Thank you for your generosity!
Them SC 44 train horns sound 🔥 AF
I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak became nationwide (formerly individual railroad passengers companies became no longer confused with many transfers) for over 55 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because train travellings are blasting with wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car that is including no extra cost eating in dining car is the best! And their real foods are great! Able to walk entire each cars or standing out of train car on platform if stop for 10 or more minutes (don't wonder away from platform then the train will left by catch up on schedule or be on-time a minute or two before). While monitoring the completely refueling in locomotives, done by exchanging suitcases in baggage car, finishing filling up water each car and less passengers hopping in or hopping out will be leaving early as a schedule.
I used took Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose, now called Caltrain extended to Gilroy (south of San Jose).
For you guys are taking a short trip on any long distance Amtrak to see if you like the train before taking longer trip. Also, check train status (keeping repeating if a train is catch up) for the arrival to save your waiting. Enjoy!
I’m planning to ride Amtrak from Sacramento to Albany OR station this summer so your excellent video is a preview of what I might encounter. Your narration reminds me a lot of my nephew. I also subscribed.
Thank you! I hope you have a great trip.
Love your video!
Thanks!
17:32 Hey, you got the bay, that's good enough. 😏
hello nice video!! i get on in san jose nice when i travel by train i live in san jose nd take the light rail all the time peace
I really like that cta sticker in your store
I recognize that NJTransit car anywhere, cool to see that here
Yeah it made me do a double take
When I go to London, I’m leaving out of Baltimore Washington international Thurgood Marshal airport. But wait! There’s more! Me, my parents, and my sister are taking the Amtrak northeast regional to BWI! But there’s one more thing… the train ride only takes about 26 minutes! And my train ride there only has one stop between BWI and Washington Union Station, the train station is New Carrollton Maryland.
I have done this trip many times. It’s only $5 if it’s early in the morning.
@@Thom-TRAThis is also my first time riding an electric Amtrak train line, I’ve always wanted to ride an electric Amtrak train.
And just an fyi, I don’t live in D.C and I’m just visiting my family in Virginia for Christmas. And after that, I’m going to London and it’ll be my first time out of this country and if you’re wondering, I will ride the London underground and the reason why I’m riding the Amtrak to go to the airport is because it’s really fast and it’s 26 minutes.
Definitely really nice as soon as your videos come out I watch them
Appreciate it!
This was very detailed, which along with your kind demeanor makes another excellent video! I haven't seen Upper Klamath Lake since 1993, so thanks for bringing back some good memories. Thank you for your hard work.
Thanks for your kind words. Comments like these make my day :)
Thanks for sharing, the Coast Starlight is my favorite to LA where I have family, take it very often, love this trip
Lucky you get to ride it so much!
The Pacific Parlor cars were actually remodeled old ATSF Hi-Level lounge cars from the El Capitan, they were in service for over 50 years before being retired in 2018, a couple are now in Michigan at the SRI, one’s in Wisconsin at a local excursion train, and one’s here in Arizona at the Arizona Railway Museum, where the other 2 are I don’t know, 6 were built total.
I wish I could have ridden in one
I loved those cars too. They were showing “Cowboys and Aliens” downstairs one time that I was on the Starlight. As the weather outside wasn’t great for viewing scenery, the theater was packed.
Amazing video mate. You're such a good story teller, the video is packed full of information and great shots as usual! 🙂
Thanks! You know as well as I do traveling is one big story!
Great video 👍👌
I don’t exactly remember where but the Coast starlight does Street run south of San Jose
I enjoyed that video👍👍
Thanks for always leaving a comment!
Thanks for another great video. This is maybe my favourite train, since there is no longer The Panama Limited. If you take tis trip again, may I recommend getting up at 0500 to see Mount Shasta early in the morning?
You just cut out Leslie Salt, a reporting point for Palo Alto airport, I remember flying over those massive salt piles!!
Pensacola, Florida when service resumes unless they reroute
Your logo on a black t-shirt…🤘🏻🚂( & stellar vid as always guys!👍🏻)
“-And there’s the VTA; America’s least favorite light rail” the SHADE
Excellent video! Look forward to each one, thank you!
Thank YOU!
Great video! Thanks for sharing your trip! Love trains here too!
Thanks for watching!
The Chargers in the 300 series look great.
I enjoy the video👍👍
I took the coast starlight from San Jose dirridon to la union station in sleeper class it took 11 hours
OMG somebody touched me! Settle down people! Another great train vlog. Love watching your adventures. Hopefully I will get to hit the rails like this sometime in 2024 or 2025. We love trains on our channel too and travel on them from time to time and we are trying to tour all of the stations on the system. We are getting there slowly.
He went insane. It was so loud and immature we were all just like SHUT UP. And there was cheeto dust all over the floor
@@Thom-TRA He was high on Cheetos! Such a weird way to overreact though. Crazy
@@Thom-TRA Cheeto dust? That’s hilarious! Wonder if it was flaming hot??
@@dianethulin1700 his attitude certainly was!
Every morning over coffee I watch a trainspotter video of the Zephyr stopping at Ft. Morgan, CO. Two times recently, including this morning, they have needed the local cops to remove a disruptive passenger. Is it “holiday stress”?
That’s an absolute nice trip and that you could have breakfast while on board. Those are some really nice views throughout that train trip! Today I went to both Nashville and Atlanta in one day, something I always wanted to do while I live two hours away from both those cities. I flew one way from Nashville and spent a few hours in Atlanta getting to ride two different airport trains and the MARTA subway again. Then I took a greyhound bus back to my hometown in Chattanooga. What a good way to spend the day of traveling with all those interesting ideas.
Wow, that sounds like quite the intense travel day!
Saw this video and I'm buying a hoodie
So you and Lindsay watch out for the shot out on my train home
I'm taking the California Zephyr also planning on riding the Pacific surfliner when I go to San Diego and part of the coast starlight as well
Hope you have a great trip! And thank you!
Just started watching but excited to see you go North! I’ve taken the CS many times but mostly to visit family who live in small towns in SB and Ventura County. I feel like most people don’t go North. Thanks for sharing this with us!
I’m planning this trip in May on a rail pass. This gives me a good idea on what to expect. Now plan on San Jose departure. Well done!
Any other exciting plans for your rail pass adventure?
@@Thom-TRA I’m now considering leaving a day early for a day in Portland
-Coast Starlight to Seattle. Check out their transit system and do the Pop Art Museum
-Empire Builder to Whitefish. Hiking and small town activities
-Empire Builder to Chicago. River boat and transit. EAT!
-City of New Orleans to Memphis. Visit brother/ blues music/ BBQ festival and Civil Rights Museum
-City of New Orleans to NOLA. Visit cousins (the Brennens), EAT, music and their transit system
-Sunset Limited to El Paso. I lived there and miss the amazing Mexican food. Fly to Denver
-CA Zephyr to Helper Utah. My great grandfather lived here in the 1800’s and worked for the RR. Meet my sister and rent a house and enjoy each other. Hiking
-CA Zephyr Helper to Emeryville
That French Toast with bacon looks delicious.
Enjoyable as usual. I am watching for the RailPass promotion.
I will keep my eyes out as well
I'm glad you liked your meal in the dining car! I understand that Amtrak food has improved a lot over the years. When they first started, Amtrak food was pretty bad, honestly. The old private railroad food was legendary, especially for dinner. As a kid, I was privileged to eat in dining cars on the Baltimore and Ohio and the Rock Island. The food was cooked on a wood stove in a tiny little kitchen, and then served on railroad china. B & O china featured a depiction of the Point of Rocks bridge.
I ate in the diner on Amtrak's Sunset Limited, going from L A to Arizona. The engineer went around a curve a little too fast while we were eating, and the tablecloths and all the china and food slid off the tables onto the floor. The dining car steward (the manager of the car) and all the waiters were pissed! They had to reset all the tables, and the cooks had to replace all the food. Nobody dared laugh of course, but looking back it was hilarious! 😅
I guess you could say that dinner derailed…
@@Thom-TRA Good one! 😂
I rode in business class from Emeryville to LA, unless it’s almost the same price as coach, totally not worth it. I think you got one meal voucher or something like that, seats were basically the same as coach but leather, no more comfortable. We lost some stuff on Amtrak, but business class will probably not be missed.
Interesting and beautiful views on your journey. Ate once in the dinning car from Reno to Oakland, breakfast was delicious and views along the Truckee River were spectacular.
There’s nothing quite like a meal with a view
Earliest train memory was having 2 inch thick French Toast with maple syrup while seeing Mr. Shasta out of the window. Southern Pacific Shasta Daylight from Portland to Oakland pre Amtrak.
Great job on this, Thom and Lindsey! I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the SSL again as well.
Yay for Amtrak volunteers! People who are not paid by Amtrak but just love helping out and love sharing their knowledge about trains to visitors. I've never been at a station where there's been one, but that was so cool that you encountered one!
I'm also glad you were able to get a long-distance train with chargers. I do appreciate you giving them a few moments in the video as well.
We charger fans have to look out for each other!
Nice video
Thanks
Jack London Square is a place I've wanted to railfan for almost all my life. I first learned about it in the Pentrex Street Running DVD. I've never actually railfanned at a street running location before. I went to Augusta once in 2015 but didn't catch anything unfortunately. Street running is getting rarer and rarer as it heavily interrupts traffic and is a huge safety hazard but as a railfan it's sad to see them going away. I do hope to catch something at least once before they're all gone.
That’s unfortunate news about the Pacific Lounge car. My fondest memories on the starlight were there when they used to screen movies on the lower level. I hope when you guys return to the Bay Area (Hopefully next fall for the launch of the Stadler Kisses) you guys check out the Capitol Corridor with our version of the California Cars.
Wow, I didn’t know they did movies! They should do that again at night
I haven't had a chance to ride the coastal starlight.. Amtrak Seattle Washington to Los Angeles im saving it for me and my newly wife ❤...
It some Amtrak routes I haven't been on yet at least I go with my wife.
I first started riding portions of this route as a kid in the 1950s (San Francisco to LA along the coast) and then back and forth to college in the 1960s. I really liked the overall experience, other than one thing…u
Southern Pacific ran the passengers heading all the way north through a very uncomfortable gauntlet at Martinez. The night train from LA (I think is was called “The Owl”) went over the Cajon Pass, through the Mojave , over the Tehachapi Pass to the San Joaquin Valley and north to Oakland. The passengers going further north had to change trains in Martinez. In those days the Martinez connection heading north was very early in the morning; very dark, only one light shining on the cement platform, no benches, and the building was locked so no bathroom access. The checked luggage was piled at one end, and passengers of all ages had to stand or sit on the cement until the “Shasta Daylight” arrived from Oakland. Why didn’t we change in Oakland? Well, our train was always too late to make that connection.
The Shasta was wonderful, though, as it went by Mt. Shasta in the morning light and got to Portland in the evening.
The counterpart to the Shasta, which I would take southbound, was the “Cascades” night train. It dumped us out at Martinez in the early morning too, but not quite so early as the train north, and then the ride to LA was the “San Joaquin Daylight.”
It was obvious that Southern Pacific wanted to dump their passenger service just as they did us passengers at Martinez.
I agree, the Vegan Asian Noodle salad is the best thing you can buy in the snack bar. It is a welcome change from the inedible stuff which is most of the rest of their offerings. It’s nice the diner is open to coach passengers again, even at exorbitant rates.
Glad you got to try the dining car! I always enjoy that part of my Amtrak rides wherever I can do it. I did the boxed meal era and the dinners were ok but the breakfasts were pretty meh, so I'm glad proper sit down meals are returning systemwide.
This is the most positive review of the boxed meals I’ve heard yet lol
The VTA tram isn't the best if you compare it other systems but I have grown a great interest in it during my 14 years with the organization. I haven't ridding the Coast Starlight for quite a long time. First saw it when I was 7 but didn't ride it until age 12. As of I got into my college years I started riding it by myself. Sleeper twice, Coach once. I did make it to the Pacific Parlour car in 2013.
Don't thank me. Just join Rail Passengers. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I miss those Pacific Parlor cars on the Coast Starlight. BTW let me know if you’re interested in a sleeper car on your next Amtrak long distance train. But I would have been ok myself if I had to spend 1 night in coach class.
45 minutes ahead of schedule into PDX, that’s early and great! Also it’s interesting at the end you mentioned that you got an Amtrak shirt in the gift shop at Portland Union Station because I got one from there too and I also happen to be wearing it right now and it might be the same kind! Is the one you have the one that has a the Amtrak P42s pulling lots of superliner cars including a baggage car somewhere where there is seemingly snow? That’s the one I have and it would be amazing if we ran into each other with the identical shirt! Also, with all the long distance trains in the west, the Coast Starlight is the one to ride because all the others such as the Southwest Chief, California Zephry, Empire Builder and the tri weekly Sunset Limited are with what I’ve heard experiencing long 6 hour delays for some reason. Luckily the Coast Starlight is exempt from that for some reason
Yep, that’s the one!
@@Thom-TRA I knew it, that’s so awesome bud!
Also, train numbers 12/13 were used on the Northeast Regional as their Fast Mail service and 99 is still used for its Southbound Northeast Regional from Boston to Newport News VA
Funny how those numbers have seen service on both sides of the country
Yeah I know in fact, I also remembered when 12 & 13 before the NE Regional Fast Mail were used for the shadow Coast Starlight. I also rode the Capitol Corridor to San Jose but way back in 1995@@Thom-TRA
Thank you for this great video ! Glad you started your journey at St.Jose, for you certainly enjoyed a good start to your journey. As you say, the scenery throughout is wonderful, and I look forward to hearing about your next ride on the Cascades !
Great video sir, and of course, Lyndsey, do you think intercity rail in the US could be improved if they had the frequency of European style intercity trains?
Absolutely, I know there are several corridors where the demand would be much higher if the frequencies were higher too
Would the Oakland street running section be the largest city with street running of passenger trains?
16:49 UP1983 Western Pacific heritage unit Nice catch!
I had to pull out my camera so fast
I was just in Portland attending KumoriCon the weekend before Thanksgiving. That Sunday I had planned to take the Cascades train, expecting a Talgo since southbound 505 typically runs with a Talgo set. I have to say the Cascades Talgo makes for a great ride, especially in Business Class. I took it as far as Salem, then got a Thruway bus back to Portland. Here's hoping the Airo sets will be just as great when they arrive in 2026.
Oh boy, do I have a story about the Talgo next week...
I have to ask, what is KumoriCon?
It's an anime convention that ran the weekend before Thanksgiving Day, and has run yearly since the early 2000s, as early as August and as late as November throughout its history.
Awesome trip! I love how you highlight everything great about the west and your journeys everywhere!
I may be an East Coast guy myself, but I do love traveling out west and meeting all the great people!
Interesting how the San Diegan became the Pacific Surfliner and now plans want the train to go to San Francisco-which is basically the original run of the Coast Daylight. I wonder if a second train running through Bend and Fresno using the 12/13 numbers and giving both a special title akin to the Silver Service on the East Coast (Sierra Service came to my mind)
I don't think that I have ever sat in a dining car on a train and I have been on tons and tons of them over the years! Obviously I never went on a sleeper which included food in the price!As the prices you quoted for Amtrak prove on train grub is sold at a high premium!I always took it with me . Dutch is pretty easy to learn for English speaking folk but Afrikaans is easier.Frisian might be the easiest West Germanic language for Anglophones but the problem is English is also very heavily, and I mean heavily!!, influenced by French whereas the other West Germanic languages aren't .
The worst thing is that Smuckers maple syrup. Seriously bring on the real thing for the price. I now carry real maple syrup with me. It’s worth it
I can hardly understand Frisian when I hear it! But I am able to speak the Zeeland dialect a little bit because I have family there
0:25 my people! Are all 3 power units needed to keep time or is that a precaution?
They do that all the time to move equipment to where it needs to be
Hopely amtrak will offer the amtrak rail pass special in 2024
I hope so too!
What's up with the vegan chili and bacon? Two different menu items have this odd combination...
They should revive the Coast Starlight to San Diego as I would love to have a long distance train in San Diego. We only have the Surfliner and I think a long distance train would be cool
It would be cool, but I don’t think the extra cost would be worth it to Amtrak. Remember, it has to turn around at LA Union Station.
@@Thom-TRAThey are adding through tracks at LA Union Station so maybe after that project is finished they can connect a Pacific Surfliner to the Coast Starlight.
Re: Street running LD Amtrak trains…At the risk of duplicating someone else’s comment I’ll mention that LD trains pass through Ashland, Virginia on its streets every day. The Virtual Railfan TH-cam channel shows live views of passenger trains passing thru Ashland, Virginia 24/7. This was a great episode and the Coast Starlight is on our bucket list. Thanks.
Two Chargers and a P42? This must be Amtrak’s most over-engined consist!
Probably a transfer
I just spoke to Amtrak and they said coach passengers can not go to the diner has this changed again?
What route were you on? Coach passengers can only go into the diner on the Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, and Sunset Limited right now.