At least extend a day train from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. Or restore the Broadway Limited thru Canton and Fort Wayne: OG Route over the CF&E into Chicago... Maybe even a Washington-Detroit/Pontiac service via Cleveland and Toledo...
@@vincent412l7 with the new HSR Corridor program it might be simpler than ever and just connect Pittsburgh to Cleveland or Columbus. We could even see a NY-> Scranton -> Akron -> Cleveland 🤷♂️
I've traveled in business class on the Pennsylvanian before, and I actually preferred it to coach because it was much quieter and less crowded than coach. It's really not worth paying a premium, though. Like you, I prefer the 2 - 1 configuration found in business class on Midwestern trains. I think Amtrak needs to be clearer with their branding and tell passengers exactly what they will get when purchasing different types of tickets.
I don't remember if the business class coach was any less crowded than coach, as the coach I chose at the beginning of the video didn't have many people to begin with, but I think it was a fair bit quieter as the people who were in business class understood that it was supposed to be a quiet (or at the very least quieter) coach. I definitely agree that Amtrak needs to be more clear about what passengers get from Business class on long distance trains, because had I known what I would actually be paying for ahead of time, I'm not sure I would have chosen business class at all.
@@LonestarTrips, I am glad you did choose “Business Class” because no-where-in-the-world would I have ever believed that any passenger-transportation would have less ‘leg-room’ in a “Business Class”-seat than a “Coach Class”-seat. 😺!
@@LonestarTrips I hope you write to Amtrak and explain what you said about Business Class on this UA-cam channel. Someone will listen because you make a good point and no one can disagree with the facts.
I took business class on this train a few years ago and they were using the 2-1 brown leather seats. I had a one seater all the way from New York to Pittsburgh and it was really nice. It's no excuse, but I don't think the Amfleet I was intended to be business class on this route.
I'm a frequent business traveler and I take business class when I can. What you're actually paying for is a quiet car, with electrical outlets, no screaming babies, and dedicated baggage space so you can get to your bags and get off the train quickly without much hassle. As soon as I sit down in the seat, I'm probably plugging in my phone or computer and answering emails, and then after that I'll probably get a glass of wine and then sleep. Maybe less likely to take a long ride like Harrisburg to Pittsburgh but definitely would do this from New York to Baltimore or Philadelphia to Boston.
Harrisburg is my favorite Amtrak station that I’ve been to so far, and I’ve been to 30th Street Station & Moynihan Train Hall. There’s just something about its classic PRR vibe that’s like no other station I’ve visited.
Harrisburg is a great station but parking is a real problem. There is a reasonably priced lot behind the station but is a bit of a walk. Middletown now has a nice station. It use to be free to park there, but is now $10/day to park which I think is pricey. Five dollars a day would be reasonable.
I took this train from Greenburg to Newark in 2021 after I helped a friend move to Western PA. I enjoyed the scenery and the horseshoe curve. Once the train got into Philly I thought to myself “How is it that Philly and Pittsburgh are in the same state yet look radically different from each other?”. I wanted to take this train again but going to Greenburg however my friend moved to Ann Arbor, MI before her lease expired so now I’ll be flying to DTW but I might take the Wolverine to Chicago when I visit Ann Arbor sometime this year.
I agree with you about the MLKJ East Busway. It works really well, but a sleeker, faster light rail line would be better suited. It would tie into the existing (though small) Pittsburgh subway system instead of driving around the cramped streets of downtown as the buses do.
I'm so glad you enjoy them! I never really know if it's a part of the video that people like, so it's always great to hear that its a welcome addition.
I agree. My wife and I opted for Coach Class on the AMTRAK Maple Leaf (14 hours Toronto to New York) and on the AMTRAK Vermonter (12 hours from New York to St Albans) and we preferred it too, rather than Business Class. Where Business Class is situated in half the Café Car, Business Class was decidedly hotter as the Aircon had to compete with the cooking going on in the Café section. Also you can get interrupted sitting in Business Class as all the dining passengers file passed you. Personally, I also prefer the cloth seats in Coach over the slippery leather seats in Business. So all in all, much better in Coach, and it was half the price ! As your video shows, Coach is more than adequate. Regards from London, England.
I usually take the business class if it’s less than $40 more. The reason is there are normally no children in business class and is much quieter than coach. Sometimes the coach cars are like a playground and the conductor seldom intervenes. Then I just go through all the cars to find the quietest one but if the train is full there may not be any seats.
I took the Pennsylvanian from Paioli to Altoona back in December. Not a good train for business travelers in terms of convenience and ability to work, but still worth it. Wish PennDot would pay for more trains, not to say they haven’t tried something, but if you’re on a schedule, driving is almost the only way to go.
Yeah the timing of the single daily train is pretty inconvenient, but I know they’re planning on adding a second round trip to the line, which should hopefully help.
Most people are on a schedule that is why Amtrak has such a small mode share. People want SPEED AND FREQUENCY they don’t care about feelings of nostalgia or beauty
I certainly wonder what speeds the Pennsylvania Railroad ran their passenger trains at over the mainline. With Amtrak on the Norfolk Southern owned mainline, it only briefly topped out around 75 mph, while most of it cruised no faster than 60 mph. Add in station stops and how much of the cruising was not even that fast.
I remember this station was used for the movie: Thomas and the Magic Railroad when they used the Strasburg 475 4-8-0 Steam Locomotive (Ex-Norfolk & Western) for the Rainbow Sun. Harrisburg Transportation Center was used for Big City Station.
I am a frequent traveler between Philly and Pittsburgh, where I have family. I have taken coach and later switched to business Class, which is less crowded than coach. Several times, I have had the entire row to myself. I understand service to Pittsburgh is being increased. Maybe they will upgrade the seats. In general, I am very satisfied with Amtrak. Except for delays caused by NS freight trains, I have experienced on time performances both ways.
The service between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg is quite slow. Driving or taking a bus is potentially much faster even if the Pa Turnpike is often a mess. Perhaps Amtrak should acknowledge this fact and invest in a fleet of "super busses" and leave the rail service for freight and sightseeing.
@@GilmerJohn You write busses are "potentially" better. That is not stating a fact. Also, I have driven the PA Turnpike many times between Philly and the burgh and have had no issues, except once when I left on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, where we sat at Somerset for 30 minutes due to volume. So, I altered my schedule to leave on Monday instead of Sunday. Busses = more pollution and congestion. People do not want more roads. I also understand Amtrak is planning to increase service to Pittsburgh.
Actually, a lot of people want more roads. Pointing to Pennsylvania, I wonder if some tunnels blasting through the mountains might be popular. They could decrease the route miles and the time.
@@GilmerJohn Just one more lane bro!! And no, there are FAR more mountains than you think. One tunnel would be extremely expensive. It would reduce congestion for a time, but tunnels are not easily adaptable to the demand that they induce. If you're going to build a tunnel, build a rail tunnel. Rail is extremely capable of absorbing a rise in demand. Earlier this year, Amtrak increased the length of its Northeast Regional service. All you need to do to accommodate an extra 500 people is have a longer train on exsiting track, not needlesly destroy natural beauty of the landscape to add 5-10 years of capacity. Harrisburgh and pittsburgh are big cities that are growing. Gtfoh with your short term thinking. It's stupid.
@@pootispiker2866 -- Automotive tunnels are quite useful. They often cost more than most bridges but they save a lot of hill climbing and even "crow flying" distance.
I just rode A42 yesterday from Pittsburgh to Trenton. I was in the last car in pull and got a view out the back. The Amfleet II seats are definitely a premium product. Simply huge amount of space between seats, and the legrest is especially premium. But I’m surprised the Amfleet I is considered business class while the II is considered coach, when the II’s have bigger pitch and the legrest. It’s definitely an action-packed and scenic ride. Must have passed about three dozen freight trains along the way. While I was 40 minutes late at Huntingdon, was only 9 minutes late in Trenton.
I have taken business class on the Pennsylvanian a few times, however in the cafe/business car. I preferred business due to it being just 18 seats and if traveling alone having the single seat. Thanks for stating the difference between Amfleet 1 and 2.
Another great video! I have just found your channel and I’m playing catch-up. It was amazing to go around the Horseshoe Curve and see yourself at the same time! I’m a great fan of Virtual Railfan since the pandemic.
The main tracks between Harrisburg & Altoona are only 2. After Altoona there are 3. At 1time there were 4, but for some reason Conrail( Freight operator at the time ) took out one of the tracks West of Altoona.
Haha it's always nice to hear that the content is punching above its weight! I'm sure we'll get to be one of the larger channels someday, but until then, I'll keep putting out the best content I can!
I have taken this trip several times, either as part of a much longer train trip to/from points West or just between Newark, NJ, and Pittsburgh. It's pretty unexceptional so far as I'm concerned, with limited visibility in the narrow valleys and through Horseshoes Curve almost before you know it because much is obscured by trees. I agree that the Business class car, which I've taken, is quite underwhelming. I was a bit surprised that you didn't comment on the part of the route through Johnstown where the infamous flood took place. My one other comment is that the wait in Pittsburgh to make connections with the Capitol Limited can be extremely long, especially when it occurs in the middle of the night! Still, I am glad there is Amtrak service between Philly and Pittsburgh. It's important to keep the route open.
One advantage of riding these trains in the dead of winter is that you get better views with no leaves on the trees, specially when the tracks run parallel to streams or rivers.
You don't ride business class on the Pennsylvanian for the leg room. You ride business class to get some peace and quiet and not be reminded about the personal hygiene habits of the Amish.
I rode the Pennsylvanian several years ago and did buy business class. During my journey I walked through the train and did notice several of the coaches were the longer distance type of coach seats. I thought it odd that the coach seats would be more nice than the business class. At the time I rode the premium for business class was not as high as you paid. But at the fare you paid I would agree that it would not be worth the additional fare for the service.
The fare was certainly high for the quality of service. Had it been lower, like you mentioned, it probably would have been worth it, but for the 50% increase over standard coach, it was a total ripoff. Granted, the $53 I ended up paying was a little less than the actual ticket price, as there was some form of discount issued when I booked a multi-city journey with Harrisburg as a pitstop. Not sure why that was, but still, not worth the extra cash.
I've traveled on the Pennsylvanian many times and find that Business is better than Coach overall. Whether it is worth the extra money is up to you. But even Business Class ends up being cheaper and less annoying than driving (for me at least)! And I like to support Amtrak. There are plans to have a second Pennsylvanian within the three years or so, using federal money to lay more track (which will benefit NS also). The return of Three Rivers service would be great but NS will probably complain, requiring more federal money.
As a local to Lewistown, the river and some town pronunciations hurt 😅 but love the vid! Pennsylvanian has gotten me to and from college many times, thankfully without much incident :)
@@LonestarTrips Sus-kwuh-hannah, Kit-tanning, and Hun-ning-don, essentially, but the Pittsburgh student in me perked also at Mononga-hey-lah haha; loved seeing the trip and so many local shots! Went right by my house lol
Very timely video! We’re set to do the whole length of the Pennsylvanian NYC-PGH in 2 weeks and have been going back and forth on whether to bid for an upgrade or not. Seeing this tells me it’s probably not worth the extra $29 (lowest bid at the moment) unless we luck out and get an Amfleet II business coach. Any idea if it’s standard that they use Amfleet I for business on the Pennsylvania? Or did you just have bad luck on the day you travelled? Awesome channel by the way- keep up the great videos!
The Amfleet 2 never came in a business class configuration, just coach and Diner Lite, so it’ll always be an Amfleet 1 business coach. That is unless you luck out and somehow end up with a half diner half business Amfleet 1, which has the larger seats like I showed in the video. And thanks for the support, it’s greatly appreciated!
First time I rode the Pennsylvanian many years ago, I also booked business. Haven't done that since. Back then, It was only half of the coach cars that were the long distance Amfleet II. Now, they're all Amfleet II. So business isn't really worth it. Also, the 2-1 Business layout is generally only on state-supported services, the Pennsylvanian and Keystone excluded.
That's weird when I traveled on the Pennsylvanian a year ago we had the business class combo with the diner car. I wonder if they had to make a substitution for your trip?
Business class on Midwest trains is operated with a significantly smaller cabin than on northeast trains. Midwest trains operate the Amfleet 1 Business/Diner cars, which have 5-6 rows of 2x1, so only a max of 18 business class passengers, while the full coach business class can hold more than double that.
@@LonestarTrips The "business class" on the Northeast Regional between Boston and NYC is a bit better now that there's assigned seating. Before that on crowded trains the car would often be entirely full by the time the train hit Rte 128 southbound from Boston, once a few business passengers spread out across two seats, and some coach passengers wander in and decide to sit in that car instead. And the staff did NOT care if you could find a seat or not. One time I used a BC upgrade on a ride from Boston to Providence and ended up just sitting at a "reserved for staff only" table across from one of the conductors in the cafe car the whole way, as there was nowhere else to sit..not really worth it lol. On that popular route it really does just seem like a way to sell pretty much the same seats at a significantly higher price once the others sell out, though assigned seating on an otherwise unreserved train makes it a little bit more palatable.
I love the Pennsylvanian, frankly it’s the best way to go from Pgh to Philly, and probably NYC too if you don’t want to fly. The buses are a miserable ride, and make the Amfleet 1s seem like the peak of modern luxury.
I've been shopping around on Amtrak for tickets, and there have been weird occasions of business costing less than coach for a multi train ticket. I'll try to report back if I find one or remember one.
I like the horseshoe curve I have been around it in years Amtrak put the Broadway Limited in the history books I think it is a real shame I grew around Cape Cod I lived and worked in Chicago a few years Rode the Broadway limited back and forth
The toilet on in the Amtrack in this video is not as dirty as most public bathrooms in US so I guess we have to be great full for that. 😅 But no Transportation toilets can compare to Wheel Chair Accessible Toilets on Japanese Shinkansen. It’s not only super clean, and modern, it is the largest toilet on anything with wheels or wings.
0:16 correction: the Keystone Corridor refers to the entire line between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. what Harrisburg is the western terminus of is the Philadelphia to Harrisburg mainline
It sounds like Amfleet IIs took inspiration from Amfleet I business class. I would be curious to see if there are any Amfleet II business class cars, or what they would've looked like. If you are riding from anywhere East of Harrisburg, coach is 100% better. Once you hit Harrisburg almost everybody gets off and you get lots of space. Meanwhile in business class, you're probably next to someone entire ride.
I will never ride in Amtrak business class again unless it's one of the older business-cafe cars that have the red seats, and the ONLY cars that have SINGLE seats on one side so you don't have to sit next to anyone. Otherwise, it is not worth it. That other half of the cafe is separated by a curtain and that business section is smaller and more intimate. THAT'S an actual business class, not a car that is really just glorified coach if even that. I too took the Pennsylvanian to Pittsburgh in "business class" and felt duped. But Amtrak doesn't tell you what kind of business class they are using - a full car (not business class) or a cafe-business car which is the only kind of legitimate business class that exists on Amtrak save for the Acela. But how were you unaware you'd booked business class? It costs more and it indicates it right on your reservation.
I totally agree with your sentiment. Business class is only really business class if it has the 2x1 leather seats. I was unaware I had business class because I totally forgot. This was segment 24 of 32 on an 8 day trip across the Northeast and Midwest to gather footage for the channel.
What day was this. I did amtrak round trip from Lewistown to Harrisburg n back with 42's leader. ua-cam.com/video/7N0Y0q6xgZ8/v-deo.html That train layout is always christmas i think. Junk. You follow the Susquehanna, till Duncannon to follow the Juniata River. You didn't get the clip of crossing Rockville?!?! 2 track mainline only sidings make it 3. From Altoona to Conpit (seward) is 3 tracks). I used to live near Gallitzin/Hsc/Cresson.
Why is dirt a bad thing? You aren't eating off the carbody and the train doesn't run any differently. Maybe you Krauts would have time for fun things if you weren't spending your days making sure every piece of machinery that naturally gets dirty stays clean.
You know, I was about to leave a comment asking about the Capitol Limited to Chicago right before you mentioned it. Anyways, cool video. I hope to ride the Pennsylvanian and see the Appalachian Mountains one day. I've only gone as far as Harrisburg.
Haha took the words right out of your mouth! I highly recommend taking the train out to Pittsburgh if you can, cause the views are just stunning. The footage in this video doesn't do it justice, despite my best attempt.
Good morning! My friend Dave and I took the Pennsylvanian from Philly to Pittsburgh on Thursday, June 30, 2010, to see the Phillies-Pirates series at PNC Park. The train left 30th Street Station in Philadelphia at 12:43 PM and arrived at Pittsburgh's relatively small Amtrak station at 1100 Liberty Ave at 8:05 PM. For us the highlight was going through the Allegheny Mountains just past Altoona, chugging through that famous curve. From the back of the train you can see the front. Altoona's minor-league baseball team is named the Curve. We returned July 5, 2010, on a trip equally as long.
I do my very best to go on a vacation I do not want to go broke doing it I bring my own food I not going to pay Amtrak high food prices All that I want the train to do is get me from point A to B
In Pennsylvania, we call the mountains the Alleghenies. Nobody calls them the Appalachians here. The reservoir is called Kit-TAN-ing. The Mon River's long name is Mo-nong-a-HAY-la. Yeah, it's an "e" but pronounced long A.
Within the last 20 years there have been massive station and track improvements on the Keystone. These include returning the corridor to all-electric service with more and faster trains.
@@samtrak1204 I realize over a 20 year span, money has been spent. and compared with 2000, there are improvements, but still not even close to getting the line, service and equipment to the level it should be . PA deserves better.
@@gatorjay7972 And it's gonna get it. Back in June, it was announced that the line will be receiving $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvement, and service will be increased to two roundtrips daily.
@@potblack6043 Thank you for the update. I am old and old school. I love passenger trains. I think that something is lost when we fly over everything to get somewhere. Plus it is so much fun if you make it so.
@@samtrak1204 I agree the commuter line has been improved ...I am a fan of the longer runs and I believe that with good schedules, frequency and amenities, Pittsburg to Philly would be a good run .
The Pittsburgh station is dark and dirty, has trees growing out of the canopy roof on the approach, and particle board as you enter the building. What a disgrace. Go read the horrible Google reviews.
Do you know what homely means? 🤣 maybe you were using the British definition lol. In North America this means "unattractive" and "plain" but then you go on to describe it with words like beautiful and say it's on the national historic register. Lol
I am aware. I tried my best to find the correct pronunciation online, but I couldn't find a consistent answer, so I just picked one. Clearly I did not choose wisely.
It will never happen in USA too many grade crossings, most of the track used by Amtrak is not their own trackage, is used to haul freight traffic too. The closest is on small section of NEC, & Brightline in Fla. Even in Virginia there is a St. running track.
Remember the (discontinued) Three Rivers (NY - Philadelphia - Pittsburgh - Chicago). It might be time to reinstate this train?
I entirely agree, and also with a better timetable between Pittsburgh and Chicago.
At least extend a day train from Pittsburgh to Cleveland.
Or restore the Broadway Limited thru Canton and Fort Wayne: OG Route over the CF&E into Chicago...
Maybe even a Washington-Detroit/Pontiac service via Cleveland and Toledo...
@@vincent412l7 with the new HSR Corridor program it might be simpler than ever and just connect Pittsburgh to Cleveland or Columbus. We could even see a NY-> Scranton -> Akron -> Cleveland 🤷♂️
No
There is a light rail in Pittsburgh. It runs from North Shore all the way to Castle, Shannon, Bethel Park, and library
I've traveled in business class on the Pennsylvanian before, and I actually preferred it to coach because it was much quieter and less crowded than coach. It's really not worth paying a premium, though. Like you, I prefer the 2 - 1 configuration found in business class on Midwestern trains. I think Amtrak needs to be clearer with their branding and tell passengers exactly what they will get when purchasing different types of tickets.
I don't remember if the business class coach was any less crowded than coach, as the coach I chose at the beginning of the video didn't have many people to begin with, but I think it was a fair bit quieter as the people who were in business class understood that it was supposed to be a quiet (or at the very least quieter) coach. I definitely agree that Amtrak needs to be more clear about what passengers get from Business class on long distance trains, because had I known what I would actually be paying for ahead of time, I'm not sure I would have chosen business class at all.
@@LonestarTrips, I am glad you did choose “Business Class” because no-where-in-the-world would I have ever believed that any passenger-transportation would have less ‘leg-room’ in a “Business Class”-seat than a “Coach Class”-seat. 😺!
@@christopherpearman3422 Right?! Never would I have thought that business class could be worse than coach, but here we are.
@@LonestarTrips I hope you write to Amtrak and explain what you said about Business Class on this UA-cam channel. Someone will listen because you make a good point and no one can disagree with the facts.
I took business class on this train a few years ago and they were using the 2-1 brown leather seats. I had a one seater all the way from New York to Pittsburgh and it was really nice. It's no excuse, but I don't think the Amfleet I was intended to be business class on this route.
I'm a frequent business traveler and I take business class when I can. What you're actually paying for is a quiet car, with electrical outlets, no screaming babies, and dedicated baggage space so you can get to your bags and get off the train quickly without much hassle. As soon as I sit down in the seat, I'm probably plugging in my phone or computer and answering emails, and then after that I'll probably get a glass of wine and then sleep. Maybe less likely to take a long ride like Harrisburg to Pittsburgh but definitely would do this from New York to Baltimore or Philadelphia to Boston.
😂
😊😊
Harrisburg is my favorite Amtrak station that I’ve been to so far, and I’ve been to 30th Street Station & Moynihan Train Hall. There’s just something about its classic PRR vibe that’s like no other station I’ve visited.
Harrisburg is a great station but parking is a real problem. There is a reasonably priced lot behind the station but is a bit of a walk. Middletown now has a nice station. It use to be free to park there, but is now $10/day to park which I think is pricey. Five dollars a day would be reasonable.
@@cathymarie8304 Luckily I didn't need to worry about parking because I took the train there!
@@newenglandskier13 Now that's the way to do it! haha
I took this train from Greenburg to Newark in 2021 after I helped a friend move to Western PA. I enjoyed the scenery and the horseshoe curve. Once the train got into Philly I thought to myself “How is it that Philly and Pittsburgh are in the same state yet look radically different from each other?”. I wanted to take this train again but going to Greenburg however my friend moved to Ann Arbor, MI before her lease expired so now I’ll be flying to DTW but I might take the Wolverine to Chicago when I visit Ann Arbor sometime this year.
I agree with you about the MLKJ East Busway. It works really well, but a sleeker, faster light rail line would be better suited. It would tie into the existing (though small) Pittsburgh subway system instead of driving around the cramped streets of downtown as the buses do.
Stats for nerds is my favorite! Wish more channels did this.
I'm so glad you enjoy them! I never really know if it's a part of the video that people like, so it's always great to hear that its a welcome addition.
@@LonestarTripsI like it as well
I agree. My wife and I opted for Coach Class on the AMTRAK Maple Leaf (14 hours Toronto to New York) and on the AMTRAK Vermonter (12 hours from New York to St Albans) and we preferred it too, rather than Business Class. Where Business Class is situated in half the Café Car, Business Class was decidedly hotter as the Aircon had to compete with the cooking going on in the Café section. Also you can get interrupted sitting in Business Class as all the dining passengers file passed you. Personally, I also prefer the cloth seats in Coach over the slippery leather seats in Business. So all in all, much better in Coach, and it was half the price ! As your video shows, Coach is more than adequate. Regards from London, England.
I usually take the business class if it’s less than $40 more. The reason is there are normally no children in business class and is much quieter than coach. Sometimes the coach cars are like a playground and the conductor seldom intervenes. Then I just go through all the cars to find the quietest one but if the train is full there may not be any seats.
I took the Pennsylvanian from Paioli to Altoona back in December. Not a good train for business travelers in terms of convenience and ability to work, but still worth it. Wish PennDot would pay for more trains, not to say they haven’t tried something, but if you’re on a schedule, driving is almost the only way to go.
Yeah the timing of the single daily train is pretty inconvenient, but I know they’re planning on adding a second round trip to the line, which should hopefully help.
Most people are on a schedule that is why Amtrak has such a small mode share. People want SPEED AND FREQUENCY they don’t care about feelings of nostalgia or beauty
I certainly wonder what speeds the Pennsylvania Railroad ran their passenger trains at over the mainline. With Amtrak on the Norfolk Southern owned mainline, it only briefly topped out around 75 mph, while most of it cruised no faster than 60 mph. Add in station stops and how much of the cruising was not even that fast.
I remember this station was used for the movie: Thomas and the Magic Railroad when they used the Strasburg 475 4-8-0 Steam Locomotive (Ex-Norfolk & Western) for the Rainbow Sun. Harrisburg Transportation Center was used for Big City Station.
I am a frequent traveler between Philly and Pittsburgh, where I have family. I have taken coach and later switched to business Class, which is less crowded than coach. Several times, I have had the entire row to myself. I understand service to Pittsburgh is being increased. Maybe they will upgrade the seats. In general, I am very satisfied with Amtrak. Except for delays caused by NS freight trains, I have experienced on time performances both ways.
The service between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg is quite slow. Driving or taking a bus is potentially much faster even if the Pa Turnpike is often a mess. Perhaps Amtrak should acknowledge this fact and invest in a fleet of "super busses" and leave the rail service for freight and sightseeing.
@@GilmerJohn You write busses are "potentially" better. That is not stating a fact. Also, I have driven the PA Turnpike many times between Philly and the burgh and have had no issues, except once when I left on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, where we sat at Somerset for 30 minutes due to volume. So, I altered my schedule to leave on Monday instead of Sunday. Busses = more pollution and congestion. People do not want more roads. I also understand Amtrak is planning to increase service to Pittsburgh.
Actually, a lot of people want more roads. Pointing to Pennsylvania, I wonder if some tunnels blasting through the mountains might be popular. They could decrease the route miles and the time.
@@GilmerJohn Just one more lane bro!!
And no, there are FAR more mountains than you think. One tunnel would be extremely expensive.
It would reduce congestion for a time, but tunnels are not easily adaptable to the demand that they induce. If you're going to build a tunnel, build a rail tunnel. Rail is extremely capable of absorbing a rise in demand. Earlier this year, Amtrak increased the length of its Northeast Regional service. All you need to do to accommodate an extra 500 people is have a longer train on exsiting track, not needlesly destroy natural beauty of the landscape to add 5-10 years of capacity. Harrisburgh and pittsburgh are big cities that are growing. Gtfoh with your short term thinking. It's stupid.
@@pootispiker2866 -- Automotive tunnels are quite useful. They often cost more than most bridges but they save a lot of hill climbing and even "crow flying" distance.
Thanks!
I just rode A42 yesterday from Pittsburgh to Trenton. I was in the last car in pull and got a view out the back. The Amfleet II seats are definitely a premium product. Simply huge amount of space between seats, and the legrest is especially premium. But I’m surprised the Amfleet I is considered business class while the II is considered coach, when the II’s have bigger pitch and the legrest.
It’s definitely an action-packed and scenic ride. Must have passed about three dozen freight trains along the way. While I was 40 minutes late at Huntingdon, was only 9 minutes late in Trenton.
That toy trainset in Harrisburg isn't seasonal. It may have been at one point, but now they keep it there year round.
I took this train today from Trenton to Harrisburg.
Awesome! I hope you had a great journey.
@@LonestarTrips I did
the old guy with his head face down on the table at 13:21 lol
Also depends on what equipment the Pennsylvanian have at some time they do have some amfleet 2 business classes
I have taken business class on the Pennsylvanian a few times, however in the cafe/business car. I preferred business due to it being just 18 seats and if traveling alone having the single seat. Thanks for stating the difference between Amfleet 1 and 2.
I ridden the Pennsylvanian before in 2021 and noticed the derailed cars and wondered how they were gonna remove them.
Another great video! I have just found your channel and I’m playing catch-up.
It was amazing to go around the Horseshoe Curve and see yourself at the same time! I’m a great fan of Virtual Railfan since the pandemic.
The main tracks between Harrisburg & Altoona are only 2. After Altoona there are 3. At 1time there were 4, but for some reason Conrail( Freight operator at the time ) took out one of the tracks West of Altoona.
Bro, your channel is pretty underrated!
Haha it's always nice to hear that the content is punching above its weight! I'm sure we'll get to be one of the larger channels someday, but until then, I'll keep putting out the best content I can!
Agreed
I have taken this trip several times, either as part of a much longer train trip to/from points West or just between Newark, NJ, and Pittsburgh. It's pretty unexceptional so far as I'm concerned, with limited visibility in the narrow valleys and through Horseshoes Curve almost before you know it because much is obscured by trees. I agree that the Business class car, which I've taken, is quite underwhelming. I was a bit surprised that you didn't comment on the part of the route through Johnstown where the infamous flood took place. My one other comment is that the wait in Pittsburgh to make connections with the Capitol Limited can be extremely long, especially when it occurs in the middle of the night! Still, I am glad there is Amtrak service between Philly and Pittsburgh. It's important to keep the route open.
One advantage of riding these trains in the dead of winter is that you get better views with no leaves on the trees, specially when the tracks run parallel to streams or rivers.
You don't ride business class on the Pennsylvanian for the leg room. You ride business class to get some peace and quiet and not be reminded about the personal hygiene habits of the Amish.
Try not to travel with Amish onboard on Thursday and Friday. The Amish only bath on Saturday.
Pennsylvania really dislike the amish
The changes mentioned at rough timestamp 13:31 look effect on or around August 20, 2022.
Few things illustrate better how the railroad builders had to adapt to the terrain than that map showing the route
Agreed. It’s amazing how back and forth some routes have to be to traverse what’s a seemingly short distance.
I'm planning to go to Pittsburgh to see the Mets play at PNC Park. This may have answered my question on business class. Leg rest looks clutch.
I rode the Pennsylvanian several years ago and did buy business class. During my journey I walked through the train and did notice several of the coaches were the longer distance type of coach seats. I thought it odd that the coach seats would be more nice than the business class. At the time I rode the premium for business class was not as high as you paid. But at the fare you paid I would agree that it would not be worth the additional fare for the service.
The fare was certainly high for the quality of service. Had it been lower, like you mentioned, it probably would have been worth it, but for the 50% increase over standard coach, it was a total ripoff. Granted, the $53 I ended up paying was a little less than the actual ticket price, as there was some form of discount issued when I booked a multi-city journey with Harrisburg as a pitstop. Not sure why that was, but still, not worth the extra cash.
I've traveled on the Pennsylvanian many times and find that Business is better than Coach overall. Whether it is worth the extra money is up to you. But even Business Class ends up being cheaper and less annoying than driving (for me at least)! And I like to support Amtrak.
There are plans to have a second Pennsylvanian within the three years or so, using federal money to lay more track (which will benefit NS also). The return of Three Rivers service would be great but NS will probably complain, requiring more federal money.
Thanks for sharing this Train information
As a local to Lewistown, the river and some town pronunciations hurt 😅 but love the vid! Pennsylvanian has gotten me to and from college many times, thankfully without much incident :)
I tried my best to get the pronunciations closer to correct this time around, but looks like I was still a ways off 😂
@@LonestarTrips Sus-kwuh-hannah, Kit-tanning, and Hun-ning-don, essentially, but the Pittsburgh student in me perked also at Mononga-hey-lah haha; loved seeing the trip and so many local shots! Went right by my house lol
@@peytonharris616 Haha thanks for the english lesson. I'll be sure to correct it if I'm ever back in the area. And I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Very timely video! We’re set to do the whole length of the Pennsylvanian NYC-PGH in 2 weeks and have been going back and forth on whether to bid for an upgrade or not. Seeing this tells me it’s probably not worth the extra $29 (lowest bid at the moment) unless we luck out and get an Amfleet II business coach. Any idea if it’s standard that they use Amfleet I for business on the Pennsylvania? Or did you just have bad luck on the day you travelled?
Awesome channel by the way- keep up the great videos!
The Amfleet 2 never came in a business class configuration, just coach and Diner Lite, so it’ll always be an Amfleet 1 business coach. That is unless you luck out and somehow end up with a half diner half business Amfleet 1, which has the larger seats like I showed in the video. And thanks for the support, it’s greatly appreciated!
First time I rode the Pennsylvanian many years ago, I also booked business. Haven't done that since. Back then, It was only half of the coach cars that were the long distance Amfleet II. Now, they're all Amfleet II. So business isn't really worth it.
Also, the 2-1 Business layout is generally only on state-supported services, the Pennsylvanian and Keystone excluded.
That's weird when I traveled on the Pennsylvanian a year ago we had the business class combo with the diner car. I wonder if they had to make a substitution for your trip?
It seems like we are being a bit picky? I never can get a Business Class seat on the Midwest Hub, they always seems to be sold out??
Business class on Midwest trains is operated with a significantly smaller cabin than on northeast trains. Midwest trains operate the Amfleet 1 Business/Diner cars, which have 5-6 rows of 2x1, so only a max of 18 business class passengers, while the full coach business class can hold more than double that.
@@LonestarTrips The "business class" on the Northeast Regional between Boston and NYC is a bit better now that there's assigned seating. Before that on crowded trains the car would often be entirely full by the time the train hit Rte 128 southbound from Boston, once a few business passengers spread out across two seats, and some coach passengers wander in and decide to sit in that car instead. And the staff did NOT care if you could find a seat or not. One time I used a BC upgrade on a ride from Boston to Providence and ended up just sitting at a "reserved for staff only" table across from one of the conductors in the cafe car the whole way, as there was nowhere else to sit..not really worth it lol.
On that popular route it really does just seem like a way to sell pretty much the same seats at a significantly higher price once the others sell out, though assigned seating on an otherwise unreserved train makes it a little bit more palatable.
Loved the seats.
I love the Pennsylvanian, frankly it’s the best way to go from Pgh to Philly, and probably NYC too if you don’t want to fly.
The buses are a miserable ride, and make the Amfleet 1s seem like the peak of modern luxury.
I've been shopping around on Amtrak for tickets, and there have been weird occasions of business costing less than coach for a multi train ticket. I'll try to report back if I find one or remember one.
So far as the bathroom being clean can mostly be blamed on careless passenger, just my opinion
You're definitely correct, but for business class, I was expecting cleaner.
@@LonestarTrips Point well taken, in the old days just about every car had a n attendant who did what you spoke of wanting
Minorities....
That train hasnt worked in years and yes, I am from and live in Harrisburg City.
Where is the Rockville Bridge, Lewistown????
Also no mention of Gallitzin Tunnel.
I like the horseshoe curve I have been around it in years Amtrak put the Broadway Limited in the history books I think it is a real shame I grew around Cape Cod I lived and worked in Chicago a few years Rode the Broadway limited back and forth
Shoutout to the Pennsylvanian 42 (NYC-bound) crew; they're great!
The toilet on in the Amtrack in this video is not as dirty as most public bathrooms in US so I guess we have to be great full for that. 😅
But no Transportation toilets can compare to Wheel Chair Accessible Toilets on Japanese Shinkansen. It’s not only super clean, and modern, it is the largest toilet on anything with wheels or wings.
0:16 correction: the Keystone Corridor refers to the entire line between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. what Harrisburg is the western terminus of is the Philadelphia to Harrisburg mainline
Amfleet IIs are basically Amfleet I Businesss Class.
The Monongahela River?
You should have gone onto the Sugar Creek car.
Seeing as it is a private car, it is not open to the public.
It's still up sir
What is?
The model train display
I have a ticket in business on the Pennsylvanian in a few weeks lol
Thank ypu
Cool Video im sure I’m gonna be 1 of many to comment
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed!
It sounds like Amfleet IIs took inspiration from Amfleet I business class. I would be curious to see if there are any Amfleet II business class cars, or what they would've looked like.
If you are riding from anywhere East of Harrisburg, coach is 100% better. Once you hit Harrisburg almost everybody gets off and you get lots of space. Meanwhile in business class, you're probably next to someone entire ride.
Nice video
Thanks!
Empire corridor business class is 2-1, and super comfortable. Much better than Amfleet 1 coach.
I was told that the electrication went to Sunbury 🤔
P42 locomotives have motors you can *feel.*
I will never ride in Amtrak business class again unless it's one of the older business-cafe cars that have the red seats, and the ONLY cars that have SINGLE seats on one side so you don't have to sit next to anyone. Otherwise, it is not worth it. That other half of the cafe is separated by a curtain and that business section is smaller and more intimate. THAT'S an actual business class, not a car that is really just glorified coach if even that. I too took the Pennsylvanian to Pittsburgh in "business class" and felt duped. But Amtrak doesn't tell you what kind of business class they are using - a full car (not business class) or a cafe-business car which is the only kind of legitimate business class that exists on Amtrak save for the Acela. But how were you unaware you'd booked business class? It costs more and it indicates it right on your reservation.
I totally agree with your sentiment. Business class is only really business class if it has the 2x1 leather seats. I was unaware I had business class because I totally forgot. This was segment 24 of 32 on an 8 day trip across the Northeast and Midwest to gather footage for the channel.
If you have Amfleet II coach cars, what's the point of having an Amfleet I business class car? Just "money grab", I guess.
Nerd here, you forgot to mention that the baggage car is a Viewliner II Baggage car
where would we be if we didn't have something to complain about
It's the same for the Palmetto. Business is worse than coach.
What day was this. I did amtrak round trip from Lewistown to Harrisburg n back with 42's leader.
ua-cam.com/video/7N0Y0q6xgZ8/v-deo.html
That train layout is always christmas i think. Junk. You follow the Susquehanna, till Duncannon to follow the Juniata River.
You didn't get the clip of crossing Rockville?!?! 2 track mainline only sidings make it 3. From Altoona to Conpit (seward) is 3 tracks). I used to live near Gallitzin/Hsc/Cresson.
Cool 😎
Thanks! 😄
Your welcome 🤗
Why ya all American trains so dirty like dammm.
I am from Germany and this gives me chills the amount of dirt I see
Why is dirt a bad thing? You aren't eating off the carbody and the train doesn't run any differently. Maybe you Krauts would have time for fun things if you weren't spending your days making sure every piece of machinery that naturally gets dirty stays clean.
The only advantage to business class on Amtrak corridor trains is free drinks from the cafe.
You know, I was about to leave a comment asking about the Capitol Limited to Chicago right before you mentioned it.
Anyways, cool video. I hope to ride the Pennsylvanian and see the Appalachian Mountains one day. I've only gone as far as Harrisburg.
Haha took the words right out of your mouth! I highly recommend taking the train out to Pittsburgh if you can, cause the views are just stunning. The footage in this video doesn't do it justice, despite my best attempt.
Good morning! My friend Dave and I took the Pennsylvanian from Philly to Pittsburgh on Thursday, June 30, 2010, to see the Phillies-Pirates series at PNC Park. The train left 30th Street Station in Philadelphia at 12:43 PM and arrived at Pittsburgh's relatively small Amtrak station at 1100 Liberty Ave at 8:05 PM. For us the highlight was going through the Allegheny Mountains just past Altoona, chugging through that famous curve. From the back of the train you can see the front. Altoona's minor-league baseball team is named the Curve. We returned July 5, 2010, on a trip equally as long.
@@Jimbodisfan That’s cool! I like baseball, too! I'm from New York, though, so I like the Mets.
My father worked that train
Thank you, your video convinced me to downgrade my Business ticket and save some money.
Wow you don’t hold back
No mention of cost?
Cost is in the description.
Thank you, i did not see that. I have traveled alot by train....in Thailand, but never in the US.
I do my very best to go on a vacation I do not want to go broke doing it I bring my own food I not going to pay Amtrak high food prices All that I want the train to do is get me from point A to B
What trains are you riding that food costs too much? Is $3 too much for you?
Reason to take biz. class = quiet and no kids.
Good enough for me!
In Pennsylvania, we call the mountains the Alleghenies. Nobody calls them the Appalachians here.
The reservoir is called Kit-TAN-ing. The Mon River's long name is Mo-nong-a-HAY-la. Yeah, it's an "e" but pronounced long A.
5 hours? : AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT
Clearly people do.
@@pootispiker2866wrong cause most people don’t use it that’s a fact
@@qjtvaddict What a Braindead comment. Do you struggle with simple tasks?
Bluntly, Amfleet ll cars don't belong on trains like the Pennsylvanian.
try riding first class on ÖBB eurocity ☺️🤮
Perhaps not.
Amtrak has never really tried to improve the entire line from Pittsburg to Philly.
Within the last 20 years there have been massive station and track improvements on the Keystone. These include returning the corridor to all-electric service with more and faster trains.
@@samtrak1204 I realize over a 20 year span, money has been spent. and compared with 2000, there are improvements, but still not even close to getting the line, service and equipment to the level it should be . PA deserves better.
@@gatorjay7972 And it's gonna get it. Back in June, it was announced that the line will be receiving $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvement, and service will be increased to two roundtrips daily.
@@potblack6043 Thank you for the update. I am old and old school. I love passenger trains. I think that something is lost when we fly over everything to get somewhere. Plus it is so much fun if you make it so.
@@samtrak1204 I agree the commuter line has been improved ...I am a fan of the longer runs and I believe that with good schedules, frequency and amenities, Pittsburg to Philly would be a good run .
The year is 2042 and here lies NS train and horseshoe curve
Harrisbug!
Harrisbug!
@@LonestarTrips yess!, can u add me on discord
@@StudioSA15 What for?
@@LonestarTrips sound clips when you go on trips + talk about train (:
The Pittsburgh station is dark and dirty, has trees growing out of the canopy roof on the approach, and particle board as you enter the building. What a disgrace. Go read the horrible Google reviews.
Who cares about the google reviews? Are you mental? I board and disembark just fine every time.
Pennsylvanian should only be having Amfleet 1️⃣, not 2️⃣
Your keyboard has numbers on it
@@pootispiker2866 emojis r cooler
@@joshuafajardo5697 We express gay pride in many ways, I guess
I am first on your video
Happy to have a loyal fan such as yourself!
Do you know what homely means? 🤣 maybe you were using the British definition lol. In North America this means "unattractive" and "plain" but then you go on to describe it with words like beautiful and say it's on the national historic register. Lol
Business class is not worth a free coke. Thanks
My thoughts exactly.
Damn shoulda stopped for a primantis sandwich
I did! Had a couple hours to kill between the Pennsylvanian and Capitol Limited, so I went out to grab dinner at Primanti's.
@@LonestarTrips oh nice, what’d ya get and what’d ya think?
@@aridianknight3576 It's been a couple years, so I don't remember exactly what I got, but I remember it being awesome.
@@LonestarTrips fuck yeah, can’t go too wrong at primantis lol
@@aridianknight3576 That you can't. I need to get back out to the area so I can go back.
You really mispronounced Susquehanna
I am aware. I tried my best to find the correct pronunciation online, but I couldn't find a consistent answer, so I just picked one. Clearly I did not choose wisely.
America needs true highspeed bullet trains.
I’m pretty sure everyone knows that but it’s not that easy
It will never happen in USA too many grade crossings, most of the track used by Amtrak is not their own trackage, is used to haul freight traffic too. The closest is on small section of NEC, & Brightline in Fla. Even in Virginia there is a St. running track.
Amtrash
i didn't know they built high level platforms at Harrisburg.g
I think they've had them for a while now? I was under the assumption that they were always high level, but I guess not.
@@LonestarTrips probably. its been a minute since i went through there.
@@LonestarTrips the PA Government is working on adding a second daily trip for the train.