I think overall, traveling experiences in coach on Amtrak have been positive. Only one time, riding on the Crescent in coach from New Orleans to NYC I had bad experience. There was one guy who kept talking non-stop on his cell phone after lights were out. I discreetly walked out to see a conductor who told me just to go back to my seat and that he would take care of it. A few minutes later the conductor came and resolved the situation. I've traveled extensively on Amtrak and have found that the crew is top notch.
Harper's Ferry is a National Historic Landmark, and most of the town visible from the train consists of protected buildings at least a century old. It played a key role in the onset of the Civil War. Google John Brown raid... It's definitely on my short list of favorite places!
@@bunkstagner298 I saw a before Civil War Indian battle field site in West Texas that involved the same General Robert E. Lee and General John Bell Hood...
The Superliner equipment shortages are getting insane. It’s criminal that the Capitol Limited doesn’t have a Sightseer Lounge. Also, a shame you didn’t have a coach on the rear. The view out the rear of the train going through the Appalachians (especially at Harpers Ferry) is terrific.
I’m old enough to remember when shortages, random equipment failure and endless “supply chain issues” were what happened in communist Russia…unlike in 🇺🇸 and 🇪🇺 where things actually worked like you’d expect in an advanced society🫤
It’s weird too, like some pacific surfliner trains have sightseer lounges as business coaches, just baffles my mind that the Capitol Limited doesn’t have one. I can understand it for the city of New Orleans and the Texas eagle, but not for a route as scenic as this one
I live in Maryland. And it's Silver Spring, MD. It's very common for out of town folks to get that confused though :) The Harpers Ferry area is wonderful. It worth exploring the history of the town if you ever get a chance
Flexible dining is deplorable and train passengers in the USA hate it. Experimental traditional dining is currently being tested on Amtrak's "Silver Star" between New York and Florida. We hope the experiment is successful and that the dining car will once again serve coach passengers. It s a damn shame how the "Capitol Punishment" has been severely downgraded since I worked this premier train in the 80's. Blame it on Amtrak Board of Misdirection.
Yes, Harper's Ferry indeed is a lovely town. The views of the mountains and the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers are unbeatable. In addition to the history, there are also so many charming shops. I enjoy watching the Capitol Limited pass through Gaithersburg which is between the Rockville and Harper's Ferry stops.
This is the route when you are traveling from Maryland in either direction when you cross the Potomac into a West Virginia tunnel and then back across the Potomac into Maryland again... Bridge, tunnel, bridge... Only on Amtrak...
East Palestine, Ohio is also on that Capitol Ltd. train route, near the Pennsylvania/Ohio border. That's the location of where there was a recent tank car derailment & toxic chemical release.
I think one of the reasons your train was able to make up most of the delay was because that "American View" hosts some of higher ups at Amtrak. So most likely there was a little more incentive to arrive in Chicago close to on time.
This June I will be traveling by Amtrak from Portland, Maine to Miami, Florida, which I have done a couple of times before. Either by bedroom or coach, depending on my mood. It is a meditative break for me from the stress of working. Thibault, that photo of you near the end of the video, it is really nice.
5:31 I took the capital limited back in early March and I can confirm that my train only had three superliner cars and no observation car. It also didn’t have an ALC 42 in the mix and only 2 P42’s. One of the conductors on board said that the reason was because of the low demand during that time but more cars would be added going forward once spring arrived.
Covid messed up the transportation industry considerably... Not just Amtrak was affected, the airlines were messed up too... As Gomer Pyle would say, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"
I traveled by train a lot while I studied abroad in Europe last semester thanks to the Eurail pass, which I bought for first class. While those seats were definitely nice with most operators (and less crowded), I always found most Amtrak’s coach seats to be superior thanks to the legroom and recline. Definitely easier to sleep, too.
I think that honestly stems from the era a lot of the coaches were built. With many now being in stock for 30/40 + years it was just built in a different era, one more about luxury and comfort than packing people in.
The Capital Limited is on my Amtrak list to do. My grandfather worked on the B&O, the forerunner of the route (which grew into CSX). It also passes some interesting places, some near where I used to live. Sand Patch, one of the steepest mainline grades in the east is just past Cumberland, then it passes near Falling Water, a famous Frank LLoyd Wright designed home, then overnight it passes near 3 different places I’ve lived (in PA & OH), along with the now infamous East Palestine OH. It’s a shame Pittsburgh is at night, its a unique city with the 3 rivers.
I enjoyed traveling over the Potomac River through a tunnel and then over the Potomac River again through the states of Maryland and West Virginia in a distance of less than a mile on the Capitol Limited... Surely more than a century ago this was one very expensive mile of track for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad... Reminds me of a Jimmy Steward song, Follow the River, from the film Night Passage... ua-cam.com/video/KYvEmaQTzok/v-deo.html
Good job! We took the Capitol Limited last year at this time from Cleveland to DC. We loved it. We’ll be taking it to Chicago in about a month, on our way to Albuquerque, New Mexico on the Southwest Chief.
When I travel by train, I always board In Pittsburgh, the Capital Limited, and then board the western trains in Chicago. For the trip from Pgh to CHI, I go coach because the train leaves Pgh at 11.59pm and gets into CHI about 8.45am. Thats too short, in my opinion, to justify the much higher cost of a Roomette. When I have traveled---about a dozen times at this point---from Pgh, the Cap. Lim. is always full and I have never gotten the full seat all to myself. And, with someone sitting beside you, sleeping is a challenge. I always recommend one of those pillows that goes around your neck---one thats inflatable that you can adjust the firmness. Helps a great deal but still doesn't make sleeping in the single sleep very pleasant. Thanks for all your vids. I always enjoy them
Small world! I saw this exact train as it was heading into Pittsburgh! 304 trailing and the inspection car on the back gave it away. Unfortunately it appears you were asleep at that point.
My teenage daughter and I made the same run about 5 years ago. Unfortunately, our trip wasn't as uneventful as yours. The seats in the cars were narrower and closer together than the ones we had experienced on the Northeast Regional; the ones on your video seemed to be similar to the spacing on the Northeast Regional. The train also didn't have Wi-Fi, my teenage daughter almost went into withdrawal without an internet connection. We had gotten spoiled on the Northeast Regional. There was a problem with the heating system on our car and it got extremely cold in the car and there were no blankets available; not very comfortable. The train got sidelined a number of times, we sat outside Elkhart Indiana for about 2 1/2 hours waiting for freight trains to clear out and ended up being almost 4 hours late into Chicago. I was getting frantic since we planned on taking the Texas Eagle to St. Louis but thankfully we arrived about 30 minutes before its departure (I had thought a 4-5 hour layover would be sufficient). Even with these issues, I still prefer taking the train over flying any day. I do wish there were more options for train travel across the country.
1. The conductor really likes the sound of his voice... like that was a bit much. 2. NEVER LEAN OUT OF THE WINDOWS OF THE TRAIN. Not just because it is dangerous, but they can 100% throw you off. The engineer has windows and a radio and can catch you. You should never do this on Amtrak unless a conductor is right next to you telling you it is ok. Stop showcasing this and giving others the idea. Jeez. At least warn viewers not to do this
The food service on a major overnight train like Capitol Lmt seems terrible. Long lines, no dining car and subquality food. Just basically snacks. Also no observation car. I will think twice before I utilize long distance passenger trains east of the Mississippi.....I was not impressed with the Cardinal or the Capitol.
Recently there was a news article about the review of $500 roomette from New York to Miami, nothing wrong with that. I noticed a lot of negative comments from the older generation, saying everything from the idea of Amtrak promoting communism, to Amtrak being a waste of money because planes were faster. Don't they realize that Amtrak is the only way to travel across the country without being frisked by the TSA and can pay for by cash? Or that the older generations' father and grandfathers commonly used rail travel and kept up the facilities of such so that their descendents could utilize it? I just don't understand, if there was a train I would use it, especially with modern cars being so difficult to work on yourself, you're basically paying for a few years of train tickets everytime you need to take your car to the dealership/company repair shop. Yes you have freedom in travel, but you don't have freedom in repairing your own transportation. If I can't make my car run unless I buy a company specific part, then that company controls my freedom of movement not the government.
Which is nothing compared to my late arrival once into Los Angeles on the Sunset Limited... Fourteen hours late... If Amtrak misses its window, the freight container trains dominate the Sunset Limited route coming out of the port of LA...
I've taken the Capitol Limited over 10 times, and it never gets old, I was in sleeper every single time of that, but I remember using the Cross Country Cafe to get snacks after the diner had closed! I was actually on the capitol limited first back in 2017 back when it still had the full 9 car consist with the sightseer lounge!
Amtrak is presently refurbishing all of its Superliner fleet, including bringing 12 wrecked ones back into service which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024... Unfortunately Amtrak has had to pull some out of service to do the refurbishing, with the diner and sightseeing lounge pulled from the shared train sets of the Texas Eagle/Capitol Limited until all have been done. Amtrak chose to maintain the diner and sightseeing lounge on the more scenic western train routes that travel through the Rockies and Cascades. Because of the arrivals and departures from Chicago, not San Antonio or Washington DC, Amtrak is able to save one train set. Instead of requiring SIX train sets, Amtrak uses FIVE...
The first Maryland town as you left Washington, D.C. is Silver Spring (singular, no "s"), NOT Silver Springs. You are thinking Silver Springs, Florida (plural, which does have an "s").
I found that most people that trash the US rail network never actually ridden it, which is pretty interesting. I can’t imagine someone who takes the trains in America, and then ends up not liking it.
Lol…passengers forced to drag their luggage through a dark and gritty prison-like ‘Escape from New York’ dystopia, dodging diesel fume belching locomotives😮💨🤢…can’t imagine anyone not liking this!😂
How are you always able to open the window without anyone complaining? When I did that on the exact same route the conductor threatened to throw me of the train! Genuinely curious…
@@SimplyRailway haha ok, I thought maybe they allow you because of your channel or something. The thing is an old man snitched on me and got the conductor because he thought it was dangerous. But I love the breeze!
Well damn, I did not know the Viewliners are technically a Budd design. Even if they only made the prototype, it brings a slightly new perspective to the most of the Eastern Long Distance trains and longer Corridor routes. Viewliners and the legendary Amfleets... Also you had 304 on your train? Damn, that alone tells me you filmed this nearly a year ago, when the ALC's were still being sent west after break-ins in Phase VI. Also, excellent job getting the ALC-42 in the same shot as the older SC-44! I believe on these trips, the ALC's run "dead-in-tow," so 304 was off. Honestly, Bewteen 15 (the P42DC) pulling the train alone, and the holdup in Cumberland, I'm amazed you made up time. The Capitol is notorious for its delays, being one of the few Eastern routes not to use any or the Corridors (Northeast, Keystone, or Empire), so Amtrak doesn't have any control over the right of way. The ROW itself is split between the two eastern Class I railroads, which are equally notorious for delays and derailments. I recall the last time I took the Capitol, we were held up for several hours due to a CSX train ahead of us not only getting stuck, but also shifting the track. Not only were we held up, but the rest of the evening rush of MARC Brunswick Line trains was stuck too! In the end, they had to back all the trains to a crossover and continue on the other track. We were the last ones to actually move forward again
While Bombardier built the first batch of Viewliner Is, CAF built the Viewliner IIs. As for the train dispatchers, well, they know who butters their bread, and it is isn't Amtrak... They work for the major railroads, not Amtrak... While Congress passed legislation to give Amtrak priority, that also involves being within their time window, being basically on time. Unfortunately with Amtrak still operating rolling stock approaching 50 years in age, it is a wonder they are still rolling. The freight railroads are operating even older rolling stock. All it takes to slow up and jam up railroad traffic flows is a hot wheel bearing on any axle of any train, whether passenger or freight. Amtrak long distance passenger trains are traveling a thousand miles or more, 1600 kilometers plus, on linear routes on single track with sidings. There are slow trains in Eastern Europe as well traveling even slower than Amtrak going a distance of a few hundred miles instead of possibly two thousand miles...
my birthday is in the fall and i plan on doing the capital limited from dc towards chicago! im nervous because i've never done anything like this before! this will definitely be a nice treat to myself ☺️ thanks for uploading this !
I’ve been on the Capitol Limited twice in the past year and a half and I’m not at all a fan of the cross country cafe. Bland and mediocre atmosphere and both times I was riding they made you leave after you finished eating.
On our trip in 2018, they still had the dining car in service and it was very nice. The food was good and prices reasonable. My daughter was impressed for once.😀
Great video of the Capital Limited Route. I rode on Amtrak 71 times since my very first Amtrak ride on the Silver Meteror from Richmond, VA to Wilmington, DEcon 1/31/1974. I travel long distance on Amtrak as well as on the Pacific Surfliners between San Diego, Los Angeles & Oxnard,CA. It beats driving and flying domestically is a hassle and a drudgery. My most favorite route is the Pacific Surfliner/Coast Starlight route.
Took the Crescent from NOL to ALX last weekend in a roomette. Planning in April to do the Capital Limited from CHI to WAS in a Bedroom. Thanks for the preview!
Thank you for this trip video!!! I’ve done DC to Chicago already and will be doing Chicago to DC this summer and I hope I’m only 35 min late!!! Ya never know with Amtrak!!!😢😂
Harper's Ferry was the scene of one of those events that shines a true yet disturbing light on the United States. Beautiful town. The South Shore line with CTA is a very effective mass transit option from Indiana to downtown Chicago and Union Station, O'Hare and Midway airports.
Worst "adventure" on Amtrak occurred in 2015 on a trip between LAX and CHI. We left LAX an hour late due to mechanical problems, things were fine until reaching San Antonio. We were awakened at 5:30AM and had to board busses in the pouring rain, destination was Fort Worth to board the turn around west bound Eagle. Somewhere around Waco the bus blew a tire and we needed to be rescued by a road service to change the tire. Meanwhile we had had neither breakfast nor lunch. Finally reaching Fort Worth we were boarded and on our way. Actually, we arrived on time in Chicago. Had the best breakfast the next morning I had ever had on Amtrak, still had full diner service back then. It was a combination Cafe / Diner combination. Normally travel from CLE to CHI & CHI to LAX yearly, have friends in the Los Angeles area, use the Capital and Southwest Chief after the mis adventure.
To be fair, the scenery and the big seats are 👍 but man that looked like a pretty miserable experience overall😢 Being forced to trek through a prison-like maze of cement and steel, weaving through locomotives belching diesel fumes😮💨 and then still having to stand in line just to get a coffee and some snack food😬 Welcome to everyday dystopia in the USA🇺🇸😐
On my September odyssey, I rode the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Pittsburgh. Since I would be leaving the train about 5 AM to transfer to the Pennsylvanian, I decided to go in Coach and had a reasonably pleasant trip. We arrived about 30 minutes late, so my connection was OK. The only meal I had on the trip was dinner, so I made my way to the cafe, where I got the excellent turkey and cheese sandwich on an oat roll, which is always good, but ask for extra mayo! A tip for anyone traveling overnight in Coach: get a good set of wireless noise-cancelling headphones! And always take an aisle seat. The headphones will ensure a quiet night, and during the day you can use them to listen to music on your portable device.
Love from Taipei. I'm here because I watched a Civil War vid on Warhawk channel about Harpers Ferry, and thought, How Can I get there by Public Transportation? You solved almost all my questions! Wonderful vid, with one puzzle remains. What's the full list of the Cafe Car menu?
I NORMALLY have a good experience in coach. I have to ride accessible because i have a mobility scooter, but one time someone had to sit beside me because full train and when she lifted her seat it wedged my leg against my scooter and she would not put it down, luckily she was only on for a few stops.
My worst experience was Coach on a Spokane to Seattle trip. My seat was next to an Oil Worker from North Dakota. He musta jumped from the wells to the Train. It was a nasty night. However, the return trip was great. Guess it just depends. I am gonna do the Spokane to Chicago in the future, love to see the videos before I go.
16:21 The westbound train arrives in Pittsburgh at 11:48 pm. That is not the middle of the night - unless you have to go to bed at 9:30 pm because they have shut off the lights and there to do because of not having any WiFi on the train.
Amtrak loses the most $$$ on the cross-country routes; so routes like the Capitol Limited will *always* get short shrift..... The only reason the cross-country routes are run at all is that Congress demands it!
I really have not had much coach experience. My only time being in a coach was from Essex MT to Seattle on an Empire Builder after spending a day in Glacier National Park. Otherwise, I had a sleeper car on both directions from and to Chicago. JMS
Why do you do "train tours? I watch your videos and the train videos of "A Train Odyssey" for what I see out of the window as I imagine most viewers do(?). Not washing valuable video footage on tours that I do not care about. JMS
hello ive traveled by coach lots of times did have one problejm with a lady saying i was staring at her lol omg but other than that i never had a pobblem being in coach if uk get a window seat also are u alowed to request a seat u want on the CL or they say no? ty in advanced
THANK YOU for this video! You helped me decide to book my trip from SKY to WAS and back. However, now I am contemplating a night in Harper's Ferry to check the town out! Great content!
I highly recommend doing a layover at any of the cities and towns on these long distance routes. Spend a day there and catch the next train the next day. Since most of the stations and depots are near downtowns, there is usually either a hotel or a nice B&B within walking distance. Like Sherlock Holmes, I bring my telescoping fishing pole with me, Harpers Ferry looks like a great place to fish in the Potomac or the Shenandoah...
my first experience in coach was not fun. traveling from ny to wpb. I only slept one hour and woke up in neck pain. NEVER AGAIN I'm taking coach. plus I like privacy. Roomette or bedroom all the way from now on.
Great video! Nice scenery. Comfy accommodatiobs. A friend visiting the US many years ago took the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington DC and raved about it. Thanks Thibault. 😀💚👌
The Appalachians may not be as a great scenery as the Rockies, they are still wonderful views... And this from a desert rat living in Cactus Jack country...
No the Lakeshore Limited follows a similar route through Cleveland but then heads up to Buffalo and then splits in Albany NY, with one section going to Boston and the other going to New York.
Simply Railway, I was looking for a little insight from an experienced traveler. I’m from the state of Washington and I’m looking to ride Amtrak for the scenic experience, excluding time and convenience for the most part, would you recommend the California Zephyr from Sacramento to Denver or the Empire Builder from Portland to East Glacier?
That’s really neat that the conductor was giving everyone a history lesson on the railroads! This definitely looks like a route that I would take just for fun!
I think overall, traveling experiences in coach on Amtrak have been positive. Only one time, riding on the Crescent in coach from New Orleans to NYC I had bad experience. There was one guy who kept talking non-stop on his cell phone after lights were out. I discreetly walked out to see a conductor who told me just to go back to my seat and that he would take care of it. A few minutes later the conductor came and resolved the situation. I've traveled extensively on Amtrak and have found that the crew is top notch.
Harper's Ferry is a National Historic Landmark, and most of the town visible from the train consists of protected buildings at least a century old. It played a key role in the onset of the Civil War. Google John Brown raid... It's definitely on my short list of favorite places!
the Union officer in overall command of the troops there was a Col. Robert Edward Lee. yes that Lee.
@@bunkstagner298 I saw a before Civil War Indian battle field site in West Texas that involved the same General Robert E. Lee and General John Bell Hood...
I love the little ones observations on his journey. This is how my love of trains started. On Amtrak on the Southern California commuter trains!
The Superliner equipment shortages are getting insane. It’s criminal that the Capitol Limited doesn’t have a Sightseer Lounge.
Also, a shame you didn’t have a coach on the rear. The view out the rear of the train going through the Appalachians (especially at Harpers Ferry) is terrific.
I’m old enough to remember when shortages, random equipment failure and endless “supply chain issues” were what happened in communist Russia…unlike in 🇺🇸 and 🇪🇺 where things actually worked like you’d expect in an advanced society🫤
@@basstrip73 well 🇷🇺 has its fair share of supply chain issues as well! It’s just how the world is right now (remember the 1973 oil crisis?)
It’s weird too, like some pacific surfliner trains have sightseer lounges as business coaches, just baffles my mind that the Capitol Limited doesn’t have one. I can understand it for the city of New Orleans and the Texas eagle, but not for a route as scenic as this one
Up the video quality to 4K60fps! :)
Oh yeah, it's so criminal that it should be outlawed! Criminal, I tell you! SMH
Don't Knock-it, until you've Tried-it.
I live in Maryland. And it's Silver Spring, MD. It's very common for out of town folks to get that confused though :) The Harpers Ferry area is wonderful. It worth exploring the history of the town if you ever get a chance
The commentary from the kid sitting near you is adorable. Water, are there mermaids? lol
Flexible dining is deplorable and train passengers in the USA hate it. Experimental traditional dining is currently being tested on Amtrak's "Silver Star" between New York and Florida. We hope the experiment is successful and that the dining car will once again serve coach passengers. It s a damn shame how the "Capitol Punishment" has been severely downgraded since I worked this premier train in the 80's. Blame it on Amtrak Board of Misdirection.
using weird buzzword insult-names like that makes you just sound like an old man yelling at clouds, nobody will take u seriously if u keep doing that
Yes, Harper's Ferry indeed is a lovely town. The views of the mountains and the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers are unbeatable. In addition to the history, there are also so many charming shops.
I enjoy watching the Capitol Limited pass through Gaithersburg which is between the Rockville and Harper's Ferry stops.
This is the route when you are traveling from Maryland in either direction when you cross the Potomac into a West Virginia tunnel and then back across the Potomac into Maryland again... Bridge, tunnel, bridge... Only on Amtrak...
East Palestine, Ohio is also on that Capitol Ltd. train route, near the Pennsylvania/Ohio border. That's the location of where there was a recent tank car derailment & toxic chemical release.
I think one of the reasons your train was able to make up most of the delay was because that "American View" hosts some of higher ups at Amtrak. So most likely there was a little more incentive to arrive in Chicago close to on time.
This June I will be traveling by Amtrak from Portland, Maine to Miami, Florida, which I have done a couple of times before. Either by bedroom or coach, depending on my mood. It is a meditative break for me from the stress of working. Thibault, that photo of you near the end of the video, it is really nice.
I hope you enjoyed your travels
Also, Silver Springs MD was the location of MARC's deadliest train collision in 1996.
5:31
I took the capital limited back in early March and I can confirm that my train only had three superliner cars and no observation car. It also didn’t have an ALC 42 in the mix and only 2 P42’s. One of the conductors on board said that the reason was because of the low demand during that time but more cars would be added going forward once spring arrived.
Covid messed up the transportation industry considerably... Not just Amtrak was affected, the airlines were messed up too... As Gomer Pyle would say, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"
I traveled by train a lot while I studied abroad in Europe last semester thanks to the Eurail pass, which I bought for first class. While those seats were definitely nice with most operators (and less crowded), I always found most Amtrak’s coach seats to be superior thanks to the legroom and recline. Definitely easier to sleep, too.
I think that honestly stems from the era a lot of the coaches were built. With many now being in stock for 30/40 + years it was just built in a different era, one more about luxury and comfort than packing people in.
The Capital Limited is on my Amtrak list to do. My grandfather worked on the B&O, the forerunner of the route (which grew into CSX). It also passes some interesting places, some near where I used to live. Sand Patch, one of the steepest mainline grades in the east is just past Cumberland, then it passes near Falling Water, a famous Frank LLoyd Wright designed home, then overnight it passes near 3 different places I’ve lived (in PA & OH), along with the now infamous East Palestine OH. It’s a shame Pittsburgh is at night, its a unique city with the 3 rivers.
I enjoyed traveling over the Potomac River through a tunnel and then over the Potomac River again through the states of Maryland and West Virginia in a distance of less than a mile on the Capitol Limited... Surely more than a century ago this was one very expensive mile of track for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad... Reminds me of a Jimmy Steward song, Follow the River, from the film Night Passage... ua-cam.com/video/KYvEmaQTzok/v-deo.html
Lindo trem amtrak chicago Boa tarde Washington simply vista da cidade lindo
Good job! We took the Capitol Limited last year at this time from Cleveland to DC. We loved it. We’ll be taking it to Chicago in about a month, on our way to Albuquerque, New Mexico on the Southwest Chief.
Good vdeo. You would of been disappointed if you rode the South shore due to no more street running
I’m really impressed the conductor gave a history lesson to explain the delay!
Same!
Amtrak employees are some of the organisation's biggest fans.
When I travel by train, I always board In Pittsburgh, the Capital Limited, and then board the western trains in Chicago. For the trip from Pgh to CHI, I go coach because the train leaves Pgh at 11.59pm and gets into CHI about 8.45am. Thats too short, in my opinion, to justify the much higher cost of a Roomette. When I have traveled---about a dozen times at this point---from Pgh, the Cap. Lim. is always full and I have never gotten the full seat all to myself. And, with someone sitting beside you, sleeping is a challenge. I always recommend one of those pillows that goes around your neck---one thats inflatable that you can adjust the firmness. Helps a great deal but still doesn't make sleeping in the single sleep very pleasant. Thanks for all your vids. I always enjoy them
Small world! I saw this exact train as it was heading into Pittsburgh! 304 trailing and the inspection car on the back gave it away. Unfortunately it appears you were asleep at that point.
Small world indeed!
My teenage daughter and I made the same run about 5 years ago. Unfortunately, our trip wasn't as uneventful as yours. The seats in the cars were narrower and closer together than the ones we had experienced on the Northeast Regional; the ones on your video seemed to be similar to the spacing on the Northeast Regional. The train also didn't have Wi-Fi, my teenage daughter almost went into withdrawal without an internet connection. We had gotten spoiled on the Northeast Regional. There was a problem with the heating system on our car and it got extremely cold in the car and there were no blankets available; not very comfortable. The train got sidelined a number of times, we sat outside Elkhart Indiana for about 2 1/2 hours waiting for freight trains to clear out and ended up being almost 4 hours late into Chicago. I was getting frantic since we planned on taking the Texas Eagle to St. Louis but thankfully we arrived about 30 minutes before its departure (I had thought a 4-5 hour layover would be sufficient).
Even with these issues, I still prefer taking the train over flying any day. I do wish there were more options for train travel across the country.
America's Amtrak train is the best in the world
The superliner fleet has been hit hard by wrecked equipment not being repaired or salvaged. The Capital needs new equipment badly.
The only route to Chicago from New York/DC I have yet to ride. Every LD train I went on last month was full for all or most of the journey.
1. The conductor really likes the sound of his voice... like that was a bit much.
2. NEVER LEAN OUT OF THE WINDOWS OF THE TRAIN. Not just because it is dangerous, but they can 100% throw you off. The engineer has windows and a radio and can catch you. You should never do this on Amtrak unless a conductor is right next to you telling you it is ok. Stop showcasing this and giving others the idea. Jeez. At least warn viewers not to do this
There's nothing worse than being near a child using an iPad without headphones
Lmao true :(
The food service on a major overnight train like Capitol Lmt seems terrible. Long lines, no dining car and subquality food. Just basically snacks. Also no observation car. I will think twice before I utilize long distance passenger trains east of the Mississippi.....I was not impressed with the Cardinal or the Capitol.
Recently there was a news article about the review of $500 roomette from New York to Miami, nothing wrong with that. I noticed a lot of negative comments from the older generation, saying everything from the idea of Amtrak promoting communism, to Amtrak being a waste of money because planes were faster. Don't they realize that Amtrak is the only way to travel across the country without being frisked by the TSA and can pay for by cash? Or that the older generations' father and grandfathers commonly used rail travel and kept up the facilities of such so that their descendents could utilize it?
I just don't understand, if there was a train I would use it, especially with modern cars being so difficult to work on yourself, you're basically paying for a few years of train tickets everytime you need to take your car to the dealership/company repair shop. Yes you have freedom in travel, but you don't have freedom in repairing your own transportation. If I can't make my car run unless I buy a company specific part, then that company controls my freedom of movement not the government.
it's SILVER SPRING>>>no "S"...a lo of people make tha mistake.
It’s been 15 years since I did this route. That particular trip was not pleasant and we arrived seven hours late in Chicago. So this went better!
Which is nothing compared to my late arrival once into Los Angeles on the Sunset Limited... Fourteen hours late... If Amtrak misses its window, the freight container trains dominate the Sunset Limited route coming out of the port of LA...
@@ronclark9724 Ouch! Yeah, that is crazy late.
I've taken the Capitol Limited over 10 times, and it never gets old, I was in sleeper every single time of that, but I remember using the Cross Country Cafe to get snacks after the diner had closed! I was actually on the capitol limited first back in 2017 back when it still had the full 9 car consist with the sightseer lounge!
The good old days
@@SimplyRailway Yessir!
Amtrak is presently refurbishing all of its Superliner fleet, including bringing 12 wrecked ones back into service which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024... Unfortunately Amtrak has had to pull some out of service to do the refurbishing, with the diner and sightseeing lounge pulled from the shared train sets of the Texas Eagle/Capitol Limited until all have been done. Amtrak chose to maintain the diner and sightseeing lounge on the more scenic western train routes that travel through the Rockies and Cascades. Because of the arrivals and departures from Chicago, not San Antonio or Washington DC, Amtrak is able to save one train set. Instead of requiring SIX train sets, Amtrak uses FIVE...
This is a nice video! I'll also be traveling this way to Chicago via Amtrak in June
The first Maryland town as you left Washington, D.C. is Silver Spring (singular, no "s"), NOT Silver Springs. You are thinking Silver Springs, Florida (plural, which does have an "s").
Hey Simply, Love your content! It would be awesome if you could review the Union-Pearson Express trains that run in Toronto someday lol
have driven this area many times---fun to see the train route
I found that most people that trash the US rail network never actually ridden it, which is pretty interesting. I can’t imagine someone who takes the trains in America, and then ends up not liking it.
believe me, lot of people who have used amtrak also trash it. this train’s average speed was a dismal 44mph
Lol…passengers forced to drag their luggage through a dark and gritty prison-like ‘Escape from New York’ dystopia, dodging diesel fume belching locomotives😮💨🤢…can’t imagine anyone not liking this!😂
@@basstrip73 it’s not that bad. The stations are nice and Amtrak has a good baggage policy
@Tyler I took The Capitol Limited a few years back DC to Pittsburgh, and couldn't believe how slow it went.
How are you always able to open the window without anyone complaining? When I did that on the exact same route the conductor threatened to throw me of the train! Genuinely curious…
Just don’t get caught 😉
@@SimplyRailway haha ok, I thought maybe they allow you because of your channel or something. The thing is an old man snitched on me and got the conductor because he thought it was dangerous. But I love the breeze!
Well damn, I did not know the Viewliners are technically a Budd design. Even if they only made the prototype, it brings a slightly new perspective to the most of the Eastern Long Distance trains and longer Corridor routes. Viewliners and the legendary Amfleets... Also you had 304 on your train? Damn, that alone tells me you filmed this nearly a year ago, when the ALC's were still being sent west after break-ins in Phase VI. Also, excellent job getting the ALC-42 in the same shot as the older SC-44! I believe on these trips, the ALC's run "dead-in-tow," so 304 was off.
Honestly, Bewteen 15 (the P42DC) pulling the train alone, and the holdup in Cumberland, I'm amazed you made up time. The Capitol is notorious for its delays, being one of the few Eastern routes not to use any or the Corridors (Northeast, Keystone, or Empire), so Amtrak doesn't have any control over the right of way. The ROW itself is split between the two eastern Class I railroads, which are equally notorious for delays and derailments.
I recall the last time I took the Capitol, we were held up for several hours due to a CSX train ahead of us not only getting stuck, but also shifting the track. Not only were we held up, but the rest of the evening rush of MARC Brunswick Line trains was stuck too! In the end, they had to back all the trains to a crossover and continue on the other track. We were the last ones to actually move forward again
While Bombardier built the first batch of Viewliner Is, CAF built the Viewliner IIs. As for the train dispatchers, well, they know who butters their bread, and it is isn't Amtrak... They work for the major railroads, not Amtrak... While Congress passed legislation to give Amtrak priority, that also involves being within their time window, being basically on time. Unfortunately with Amtrak still operating rolling stock approaching 50 years in age, it is a wonder they are still rolling. The freight railroads are operating even older rolling stock. All it takes to slow up and jam up railroad traffic flows is a hot wheel bearing on any axle of any train, whether passenger or freight. Amtrak long distance passenger trains are traveling a thousand miles or more, 1600 kilometers plus, on linear routes on single track with sidings. There are slow trains in Eastern Europe as well traveling even slower than Amtrak going a distance of a few hundred miles instead of possibly two thousand miles...
my birthday is in the fall and i plan on doing the capital limited from dc towards chicago! im nervous because i've never done anything like this before! this will definitely be a nice treat to myself ☺️ thanks for uploading this !
I’ve been on the Capitol Limited twice in the past year and a half and I’m not at all a fan of the cross country cafe. Bland and mediocre atmosphere and both times I was riding they made you leave after you finished eating.
On our trip in 2018, they still had the dining car in service and it was very nice. The food was good and prices reasonable. My daughter was impressed for once.😀
Great video of the Capital Limited Route. I rode on Amtrak 71 times since my very first Amtrak ride on the Silver Meteror from Richmond, VA to Wilmington, DEcon 1/31/1974. I travel long distance on Amtrak as well as on the Pacific Surfliners between San Diego, Los Angeles & Oxnard,CA. It beats driving and flying domestically is a hassle and a drudgery. My most favorite route is the Pacific Surfliner/Coast Starlight route.
Took the Crescent from NOL to ALX last weekend in a roomette. Planning in April to do the Capital Limited from CHI to WAS in a Bedroom. Thanks for the preview!
You're welcome :-)
Filmed May 2022, before equipment shortages got really bad.
So it got even worse? Yikes.
The schedule has always departed Washington around the time it does now
Train rides are nostalgic
Wonderful as always Thibault, have you done the lakeshore limited route yet? Would love to see your work respective of that route.
Not yet! It’s my last one with the Texas Eagle !
7:51 I’m actually really good friends with Erick Railfan! Him and I met up at DC Union Station back in August!
Beautiful train beautiful journey 🌹💯👍
Gary looks like Chernobyl...
Thank you for this trip video!!! I’ve done DC to Chicago already and will be doing Chicago to DC this summer and I hope I’m only 35 min late!!! Ya never know with Amtrak!!!😢😂
I will never understand why trains in the USA are so slow
Because we have planes and cars that are faster
Some people like to have a nice relaxing ride on a train
Harper's Ferry was the scene of one of those events that shines a true yet disturbing light on the United States. Beautiful town. The South Shore line with CTA is a very effective mass transit option from Indiana to downtown Chicago and Union Station, O'Hare and Midway airports.
Thank you for your comment :)
Worst "adventure" on Amtrak occurred in 2015 on a trip between LAX and CHI. We left LAX an hour late due to mechanical problems, things were fine until reaching San Antonio. We were awakened at 5:30AM and had to board busses in the pouring rain, destination was Fort Worth to board the turn around west bound Eagle. Somewhere around Waco the bus blew a tire and we needed to be rescued by a road service to change the tire. Meanwhile we had had neither breakfast nor lunch. Finally reaching Fort Worth we were boarded and on our way. Actually, we arrived on time in Chicago. Had the best breakfast the next morning I had ever had on Amtrak, still had full diner service back then. It was a combination Cafe / Diner combination. Normally travel from CLE to CHI & CHI to LAX yearly, have friends in the Los Angeles area, use the Capital and Southwest Chief after the mis adventure.
To be fair, the scenery and the big seats are 👍 but man that looked like a pretty miserable experience overall😢
Being forced to trek through a prison-like maze of cement and steel, weaving through locomotives belching diesel fumes😮💨 and then still having to stand in line just to get a coffee and some snack food😬
Welcome to everyday dystopia in the USA🇺🇸😐
Awesome job narrating your experiences on the ride. I just took a trip to Chicago. So much fun and relaxing. Enjoyed the video 😊
Thibault, the area that you saw right after you entered Maryland was where I grew up. I was born in Silver Spring. Yes, there is just one spring.😄
Nice!
On my September odyssey, I rode the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Pittsburgh. Since I would be leaving the train about 5 AM to transfer to the Pennsylvanian, I decided to go in Coach and had a reasonably pleasant trip. We arrived about 30 minutes late, so my connection was OK. The only meal I had on the trip was dinner, so I made my way to the cafe, where I got the excellent turkey and cheese sandwich on an oat roll, which is always good, but ask for extra mayo! A tip for anyone traveling overnight in Coach: get a good set of wireless noise-cancelling headphones! And always take an aisle seat. The headphones will ensure a quiet night, and during the day you can use them to listen to music on your portable device.
Nice, I was at Gaithersburg and saw your train
yep
Coach really can be hit or miss I took the Crescent a few weeks ago between ATL and DC and someone's service dog jumped in the seat next to me.
You should try Indonesia Train next. There is a sleeper first class train too. I suggest you to visit indonesia someday 😁
Love from Taipei. I'm here because I watched a Civil War vid on Warhawk channel about Harpers Ferry, and thought, How Can I get there by Public Transportation? You solved almost all my questions! Wonderful vid, with one puzzle remains. What's the full list of the Cafe Car menu?
The “American View” 😳
A good observation car
I NORMALLY have a good experience in coach. I have to ride accessible because i have a mobility scooter, but one time someone had to sit beside me because full train and when she lifted her seat it wedged my leg against my scooter and she would not put it down, luckily she was only on for a few stops.
Love it!
Great trip. And yes you are trying coach car at Amtrak after long time. Overall great train even though the consists is shorter and great scenery.
My worst experience was Coach on a Spokane to Seattle trip. My seat was next to an Oil Worker from North Dakota. He musta jumped from the wells to the Train. It was a nasty night. However, the return trip was great. Guess it just depends. I am gonna do the Spokane to Chicago in the future, love to see the videos before I go.
16:21 The westbound train arrives in Pittsburgh at 11:48 pm. That is not the middle of the night - unless you have to go to bed at 9:30 pm because they have shut off the lights and there to do because of not having any WiFi on the train.
Siemens absolutely nailed the new engines. Not too different from the p42, but look classy and modern
that intro is really nice
Amtrak loses the most $$$ on the cross-country routes; so routes like the Capitol Limited will *always* get short shrift..... The only reason the cross-country routes are run at all is that Congress demands it!
I really have not had much coach experience. My only time being in a coach was from Essex MT to Seattle on an Empire Builder after spending a day in Glacier National Park. Otherwise, I had a sleeper car on both directions from and to Chicago. JMS
I wonder why do they use two locomotives, one should be enough to pull a short train
It's technically enough
Always good to have a backup in case one goes down. Also, in this case, one of them was still in its testing/break-in phase and wasn't running.
Why do you do "train tours? I watch your videos and the train videos of "A Train Odyssey" for what I see out of the window as I imagine most viewers do(?). Not washing valuable video footage on tours that I do not care about. JMS
In coach you must endure loud cell phone conversations, stink feet, snoring and farting. No thanks.
6:20 amtark only fans concent lol
Your peaceful moment was interrupted by ANNOYINGLY LOUD KIDS (and no parental intervention), not by a freight train!
Can you tell me when your going to ride the lake shore limited or maple so I can railfan you
We really like the scenery on this route. My wife saw a house made from a train car. I missed it. Anyone know about it?
The front of Union Station is always dirty and infested with debris and cigarette butts everywhere.
Perfect safari! I'm envy at you my dear.
AmTrak does absolutely the least to maintain a very ordinary train travel experience.
There was once a time you could enjoy a nice meal in the Dining Car on the Limited with other travelers but not any more.
hello ive traveled by coach lots of times did have one problejm with a lady saying i was staring at her lol omg but other than that i never had a pobblem being in coach if uk get a window seat also are u alowed to request a seat u want on the CL or they say no? ty in advanced
Pleas pick a larger font with more contrast. My eyes aren’t what the used to be.
If you’re going west, take the Capital Limited, if you’re going east, then take the Cardinal!
Good news they’re looking to doing that for coach soon.
My advice though try to Cary some food and drinks with you
THANK YOU for this video! You helped me decide to book my trip from SKY to WAS and back. However, now I am contemplating a night in Harper's Ferry to check the town out! Great content!
I highly recommend doing a layover at any of the cities and towns on these long distance routes. Spend a day there and catch the next train the next day. Since most of the stations and depots are near downtowns, there is usually either a hotel or a nice B&B within walking distance. Like Sherlock Holmes, I bring my telescoping fishing pole with me, Harpers Ferry looks like a great place to fish in the Potomac or the Shenandoah...
my first experience in coach was not fun. traveling from ny to wpb. I only slept one hour and woke up in neck pain. NEVER AGAIN I'm taking coach. plus I like privacy. Roomette or bedroom all the way from now on.
Thanks for needlessly overpaying for a room. You help keep the coach fares low for the rest of us.
When I ride coach, I just stay in the lounge car and sleep on the floor. Lol
The lounge car is closed on this train at 10:00 when the cafe is closed. Just another rule that conductors come up with to annoy the passengers.
Great video! Nice scenery. Comfy accommodatiobs. A friend visiting the US many years ago took the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington DC and raved about it.
Thanks Thibault. 😀💚👌
😀💚
The Appalachians may not be as a great scenery as the Rockies, they are still wonderful views... And this from a desert rat living in Cactus Jack country...
Was this previously called the Lakeshore Limited?!?
No the Lakeshore Limited follows a similar route through Cleveland but then heads up to Buffalo and then splits in Albany NY, with one section going to Boston and the other going to New York.
Long distance travel is much safer on trains than driving. Avoiding road rages. But you should know and accept to travel light.
Simply Railway, I was looking for a little insight from an experienced traveler. I’m from the state of Washington and I’m looking to ride Amtrak for the scenic experience, excluding time and convenience for the most part, would you recommend the California Zephyr from Sacramento to Denver or the Empire Builder from Portland to East Glacier?
video bro
You finally excepted my comment
That’s really neat that the conductor was giving everyone a history lesson on the railroads! This definitely looks like a route that I would take just for fun!
Yea screw airplane people always take amtrak I promise