Honestly I think war movies that are fun tend to be the most realistic. Like in OPERATION DUMBO DROP. Why should war movies be downers. I like these other fun war movies. 1941. THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY. BILOXI BLUES. CATCH-22. THE DIRTY DOZEN. FATHER GOOSE. FORREST GUMP. GOOD MORNING VIETNAM. KELLY'S HEROES. MASH. MISTER ROBERTS. NO MAN'S LAND. OPERATION PETTICOAT. THE SECRET WAR OF HARRY FRIGGS. THREE KINGS. WHAT PRICE GLORY.
Three weeks isn’t enough to “speak” a language. Just be aware of that, you’ll know some phrases and be able to kinda converse but not well It takes years to decently speak a language. Just be aware of that and have fun learning
Cross country train trips are definitely a fantastic experience. You can probably find a bus service that would connect you to a large enough terminal to go across country. I'm a bit biased, of course, since Amtrak from Los Angeles to Chicago in a sleeper berth cost $100 when I went in 2002. I wasn't expecting a 5-star hotel for that price, but apparently people in these comments do expect a 5-star hotel and for the price to be that low again. Oh well :)
Enjoyed your video. Well done. Just finished my own long distance Amtrak trip last week, New Orleans to Charlotte, NC on the Crescent, Charlotte to Raleigh, NC a short 3-4 hour trip on the Carolinian and finally Raleigh to Tampa on the Silver Star. Roomettes on first and third legs of my trip. 54 hours with both layovers totaling just over 15 hours. Note delays on third leg added 3 extra hours. I agree about the top bed rattling being irritating 😝 but the food was great, the attendants awesome and the travel enjoyable. Been traveling Amtrak for 40 years.
Absolutely beautiful I'm an Air Force veteran and a Long haul truck driver. Me and my wife are going to do a bunch of Amtrak cross-country vacations before we even do a cruise ship! Absolutely spectacular!
Why do people feel the need to announce their military service where it's not even relevant? Wait I know...because getting a "thank you for your service" in the comments for the world to see boosts your ego. You probably have a bumper sticker too right? Only the silent and non-validation seeking people get my respect.
Enjoy. I have done a few of them, and they are wonderful. On many they have guides that give great insights. Oh yeah, and trust me on this, try the steak in the dining car.
Rode a Amtrak back in the 80s from LA California to New Orleans Louisiana with the wife and kids, had a cabin or sleeper too young to take it all in. 40 years later, rode one from Houston Texas to Tucson Arizona, sat coach, really enjoyed it. Accidentally sat in 1st class dining and was asked to retreat to the dining below, they let me keep my coffee at no charge. 😅lol
The amount of money that Amtrak charges they should have updated, beautiful sleepers. Their trains are disgusting. I have seen other trains from other countries where you could literally eat off the floor. Amtrak needs to do better, a lot better. They charge a ridiculous amount for what you get.
I couldn't agree with you more. But that's what happens when one company has a monopoly on a particular service. No competition equals complacency, bad service, and poor quality. And people are clamoring for government control healthcare. As if the government hasn't prove time and time again its inability to manage anything.
@jorgevillavicencio427 Amtrak is virtually the only intercity passenger service because the private railroads all wanted to get out of the passenger business, and dumped their passenger services on the government at the end of the 1960s. If not for Amtrak, we would have no intercity passenger rail service at all, except maybe in a few small parts of the country. TLDR: They have no competition because almost nobody else wants to be in this business.
Most of the profits go to shareholders and special interests. A clear sign the USA is declining and falling behind in service and technology. The. Trains speed and service is definitely 1990's😊
@@j2b348 Are you talking about Amtrak's profits? Most of the time they don't make a profit. And their only shareholder is the U.S. government. If you're talking about the freight railroads, yes -- they are completely oriented around shareholder profits, and it's had a very destructive effect on every aspect of rail transportation.
I roade aboard the Crescent in nNovember 2017. I stayed in a Viewliner. I am a hard core rail fan. I can hear the crescent pass through my town here in NJ everyday ON TIME too.
Just completed a trip on the Silver Meteor and Capitol Limited. My first in a sleeper. I was in a Viewliner I and II - I must say I prefer the Viewliner II. I loved the traditional dining. My next trip is going to be out west to California. Still have to figure the sleeping arrangements - I sleep inclined and that was a bit difficult in a roomette. But still enjoyed it tremendously - looking forward to my next trip!
@daniellucas, the Superliners you are facing in a trip to California have a lot less headroom in the upper bunks than Viewliners. I don't know how you are arranging inclined sleeping in a Viewliner, but on a Superliner, I think you want the lower bed, for sure. I haven't seen Superliner accommodations in person, but the lower bunks seem to be similar to Viewliners, both in bedrooms and roomettes.
@@catreader9733 Thanks - I am really looking forward to my trip out west. I sleep in the lower berth - even if I do not good a good sleep - it is still a very enjoyable trip.
The Roomette was *cozy* and *quiet.* I found it very calming, especially during the worst days of Covid - as I’d be less likely to get it *and then give it to my aged parent.*
I have traveled a lot by train. Travel by train is scenic and if you like leisurely atmosphere is worthwhile. But the cars need a major upgrade with spaces and creature comfort. Advertise vacation packages. More upper berth space. Equal to the lower.
Been in the roomette for 3 trips, the private toilet is the absolute best, just bring your own airspray and your good, there is no better feeling than having plenty of time when you leave New Orleans with a hangover and more
Long time Amtrak afficiado here. I used to reside in Charlottesville VA and would ride to NYC yo transfer to the Vermonter. Now Greensboro NC is my home and im pleasantly surprised that i can travel directly to Charlottesville via The Crescent
The bit at 5:51 made me realize how sad it is that there's no direct passenger rail connection between Atlanta and Orlando. That's gotta change. Currently, you have to take Crescent up north to VA, then transfer to the Silver Service.
Superb, brilliant narration...the sojourn comes alive! I have taken the Crescent several times during my stay in the United States, with 'break-journey' at different locations, rather than a single-shot journey. The video is informative, brings out aspects surrounding the journey "inside-out": in that, the inside configurations, and the scenery outside. It is heartening that people in the States, like those in my own country (India) have started taking the train. Like they used to advertise..."See America at the "see" level" ! Bravo, 'Lone Star' ! Please keep up the Good Work ! I cannot help but compare: Just like Peter Masella brings aviation alive, with the intricacies elucidated, Lone Star is a terrestrial analogue of Peter !!!
When I was in college, I could sleep on a tile floor and wake up without a backache. 😂 Another reason why coast-to-coast trips on Amtrak in coach class never bothered me back then. Especially when you could go from Los Angeles - New York for $75 in the early 2000s, if you bought short-notice on 'Rail Sale'. Good times!
I have MS,and was curious about the accessibility of the rooms. I dearly miss rail travel,and you've answered all my questions! Thank you,awesome video!
Been riding Amtrak for over three decades. Every kind of accommodation. Ridden every VIA Rail route too, trains in Europe, Russia, Australia, China, other countries too. I love Amtrak.
Another "Well Done!" The quality of the audio (new microphone?) and the mixing with music blending in this video was stellar! I had a good laugh when you showcased and discussed the Acela, especially with that period electronic drum sound, "dush dush," in the background. The drums and train were period matched. Very enjoyable!
Thanks a ton! I haven't gotten a new mic (yet), but I have been adjusting the balance every now and then, so good to know this one sounds better. I didn't even notice the Acela/music time sync lol. Anyway glad you enjoyed and thanks as always for stopping by!
@@RonGersteinOnce you get beyond the district, most of the tracks are not underground and operate largely at grade level. The Silver line has substantial overhead trackage around Dulles International Airport and at the stations.
When I lived in Boston and had to be in New York, I always took the Amtrak Acela first class. I did not know why there were fights. Seemed even then a thing of the past. My experience on the train refrained me from even considering a longer trip. 1400 miles would take one day back here in Europe. And in quieter and well kept trains.
Glad to see you back in the comments! Sorry it's been a while, but I assure you the wait will be worth it in the long run. Can't wait to share some really incredible rides on the Shinkansen plus many more sleeper trains!
hi there, at 13:51 when you say you're pulling into Charlottesville; the footage being shown is actually from Manassas, VA. i know what my city looks like, i could walk to that location in about 10 minutes.
As well as the Amfleet II coaches that ride with the Viewliner I sleepers... However, presently Amtrak is still refurbishing the Superliner long distance fleets and the Amfleet I short distance regional coaches... The pandemic has been over for a few Yeats now, Amtrak has had plenty of time to retrain and recruit new diner staff that were furloughed during the pandemic...
If I recall correctly, Amtrak is currently designing the refresh for the V1s, with actual refurb work expected to begin this year. (Though knowing Amtrak it likely wont begin until early next year)
I saw a video of a rider's viewpoint on the new Venture coach cars. They look more a bit more like aircraft seating, including less cushioning, significantly shorter seat pan, narrower, less leg room, and less recline; the rider liked the seats less than on Amfleet (not sure which version), but he said the coach chasses rode much more smoothly. I ride Amfleet coaches on the more part of the Northeast Corridor*; the trackage is so rough, I don't know whether I would prefer more smoothness under foot or under butt. The cars are holding up pretty well on the several trains I ride, and I doubt that even a new Venture coach or Viewliner II can be quiet or smooth. *No dedicated tracks; I think it's all Norfolk Southern where I ride.
@@catreader9733 Yes, it used to be Southern Railways and well maintained. Norfolk and Southern is more about profits and investors than maintenance and not blocking passenger service. There is the old conflict !
Rail travel is the only way to go,very scenic, comfortable,fun and most of the scenery is beautiful.From penn station to Niagara Falls , especially in the fall and winter,love Amtrak💯👍🏼❤️
The Crescent is a direct descendant of the Southern Railway’s Southerner, a streamlined passenger train that ran from 1941 to 1970. The name, however, comes from the Crescent, another Southern route, which took a more coastal route to New Orleans via Mobile. These two routes were combined into the Southern Crescent in 1970. Amtrak took over the train in 1979 and simplified the name to “Crescent.” The name “Crescent” refers to one of New Orleans’s nicknames, the Crescent City, referring to the bend of the Mississippi River as it flows through the city! Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans opened in 1954 and was built just west of the older New Orleans Union Station to consolidate the city's passenger rail operations. Previously, New Orleans had been served by five stations, Union Station, the Southern Railway Terminal, T&P Station, Louisiana & Arkansas Station, and Louisville & Nashville Station! While it stops at Trenton after Newark Penn on its way to New Orleans, on the way back, it stops at Metropark before Newark Penn! Metropark is named such because it was one of two park-and-ride infill stations proposed in the 1960s for use by the new Metroliners. Capital Beltway Metropark in Lanham, Maryland and Garden State Metropark in Iselin, Woodbridge Township near the interchange of Route 27 and Garden State Parkway were the two proposed, with both later shortened to Capital Beltway and Metropark respectively. Capital Beltway station closed in 1983 when New Carrollton station opened! Because of Metropark, a large business park grew, called "the first Edge City in the world to grow from a parking lot". Today, besides being an Acela stop and other Amtrak services, Metropark is among the busiest NJT stations, and many Staten Islanders from the South Shore of Staten Island drive out to Metropark for their commute to Manhattan. The Metroliners were the predecessor of the Acela, operating from 1969 to 2006. Service originally ran with Budd Metroliners, self-powered electric multiple unit cars designed for high-speed service. These proved unreliable and were replaced with locomotive-hauled trains in the 1980s. When the Acela was introduced in 2000, due to equipment troubles, the Metroliners stayed in service until 2006 when the Acela fully replaced them.
Thank you for the great history...my brother and I grew up shuttling between Savannah and Wilson, NC on the engine 52 train, which is now the sentinel of the Train Museum in Savannah. Wonderful childhood memories of train crew members singing to us, making us laugh. They were special people. 😊
In 2001, getting stuck up north while on vacation on 9/11, my partner and I managed to get tickets from Ohio to Florida (possible back then), as well as the last roomette from NYC to Fl. It was a safe trip home after the chaos of the week, despite the roomette being small and with a toilet you would never want to use next to your bed. Lol. Two of us made it work, but the trip was quite boring, since this was before smart phones and such. The dining car offered several options back then with the meals served on plates, not plastic microwave ware... and the area was used during the off dining hours as the smoking area...yeah, times have changed! Lol
Great to see you take this trip! I took the Crescent northbound and southbound a few weeks ago, on either side June 1st. My return trip was indeed complete with the dining car and I got to enjoy both flexible dining meals of dinner and breakfast there. Funnily enough, the northbound train had a very similar issue with coupling the ACS-64 in Washington DC - it took them three tries and a little ribbing between the crew to get everything all lined up. Additionall, you mentioned that the Viewliner I sleepers don't have name placards, but I did find on the TrainWeb site that your sleeper car number 62046 is listed as "Tranquil View". On my trip south, the name of my Viewliner I sleeper "Mystic View" was only present on the outside of the sliding vestibule door. I would have never known otherwise.
Hey! Great to see you stopping by! Glad you could experience the Crescent first hand. It's certainly not Amtrak's flashiest route, but it's a great experience nonetheless. Funny the coupling thing still seems to be an issue lol. Also I saw the name thing listed on TrainWeb as well. From the pictures on there, it looks like the V1s actually had their names listed on the placards up until around 2009ish. Not sure why they were removed, as that's always a fun piece of info to see.
The Amtrak experience hit rock bottom when Dining Car service was removed on all over-night trains east of the Mississippi just prior to 2020. Service is so bad now in the "snack-car" that if you order a mixed drink (I always enjoyed a Bloody-Mary at my seat or in my Roomette) the Amtrak attendant will just throw all the ingrediencies into a carboard box along with a cup of ice expecting you to mix everything yourself. Ridiculous.
@stillplayswithtrains From 3 years old, I had an N gauge 🚂 train set, which my Daddy assembled on a big board with tiny cars & train tracks and a body of 🌊 and 🏢🏫 ⛽ 🚉 buildings like a church and gas station and 🌲 🌴🌳 trees and 🏠🏡 houses. My Daddy and brother had HO ⚖️ scale 🚆🚂 trains. Sorry 😐 Amtrak is now downright tacky. I have been through 14 states between early 1970's: last year of Santa Fe and First year of Amtrak 🚆🧳 through 2002. I have been shocked seeing all the graffiti and homeless encampments from West Coast Amtrak You Tube train channels. Have a 🙂👍 nice Labor Day Weekend.✨🕊️
So glad I discovered your channel! Very helpful information and well presented. I wished the roomettes were a wee big bigger and that the 2 chairs could swivel to face the window. I haven't taken the Crescent yet and have it on my list.
I took an Acela "first class" from NYC to Boston recently. It didn't feel like a first class experience. Food was also similar to low end airline coach.
I Really like your Video. After showing the many features on Amtrak I'm looking forward to traveling on the Southern Cresent at a future date. I booked my Cousins trip on the Cresent several years Ago . He was traveling home to Meridian Mississippi. He said it was A fantastic trip. I really looking forward to Traveling on the Southern Cresent. Thank you.
if you are just into taking train rides. do the darango silverton and stay over nite and take the bus back to durango colorado. fun and loads of seeing stuff
They just added the dining car back on the train last week. Oh and Brightline in Florida is considered high speed rail so its not just Acela anymore. Great video!
I heard! Glad it's back, but also sucks it's still flex meals. At least it's a step in the right direction! And Brightline isn't just considering HSR, they're building it! They broke ground on the LA-LV line earlier this year, and hopefully the line will be open in 2028!
@@LonestarTrips They're also building Merced to Bakersfield high speed rail line in California! When going down the 99 or the San Joaquins you can see some of the bridges and viaducts!
@@shreychaudhary4477 The project you're referring to is California High Speed Rail, but still a huge step forward for the US! It's gonna be an awesome next couple years for rail in America!
Rode Atl to Chattanooga in late 50s dad was Southern R R conductor, in summer months old guys and I mean old took vacation so for about 2 weeks he could get off freights. Enjoyed show.
Fantastic video documentary. So helpful for me an elderly larger passenger doing this same trip in November. Loved the descriptions. Wondering if there is a general use disabled toilet on the train and or shower room
I took my combat wounded Vietnam veteran friend around the country from Maine to Oregon, California,Chicago, and back. The accessible room was great and plenty of room for his wheelchair. All meals could be brought to the room if needed. There is at least one on every train ( by rule- ADA). Book ahead. He covered it well in the video.
For prepacked food during travel, it looks very good. As for the bumps, try riding in a semi on the interstates across the northeast. Anything not tied, velcroed, or taped down turns into flying debrie. 😂😂😂
The word "bayou" is thought to originate from the Choctaw word bayuk, which means "small stream". After first appearing in the 17th century, the term is found in 18th century accounts and maps, often as bayouc or bayouque, where it was eventually shortened to its current form. The Bayou Bartholomew is the longest bayou in the world. It’s so large, it stretches across both Arkansas and Louisiana, is 375 miles long, and boasts more than 100 different types of fish. The first settlements of the Bayou Têche and other bayous were founded by the Louisiana Creoles. The term Créole was originally used by French Creoles to distinguish people born in Louisiana from those born elsewhere. Creoles are people of multiracial European, African, and Native American descent. Many in Louisiana are descendants of Acadians who were forcibly expelled from what's now maritime Canada by the British. Many went to France before later settling in Louisiana after the then Spanish Province of Louisiana government encouraged them to settle there to populate with more Catholic settlers. This subset of Creoles of Acadia descent are the Cajuns! Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans opened in 1954 and was built just west of the older New Orleans Union Station to consolidate the city's passenger rail operations. Previously, New Orleans had been served by five stations-Union Station, the Southern Railway Terminal, T&P Station, Louisiana & Arkansas Station, and Louisville & Nashville Station. New Orleans is derived from the original French name La Nouvelle-Orléans, which was given to the city in honor of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who served as Louis XV's regent from 1715 to 1723. The French city of Orléans itself is named after the Roman emperor Aurelian, originally being known as Aurelianum.
The Crescent is practically the Texas Eagle’s eastern cousin in that it’s a very similar journey time and has been one of the least favored routes by management, running it without a dining car, thereby eliminating a lounge space altogether! The Crescent did just have a dining car restored, but it still serves reheated meals and coach passengers are barred from entering it!
Yet the Crescent runs through the heart of Dixie with inferior Amtrak services. Running through Charlotte and Greenville during the wee hours of the morning through three plus million metros... Amtrak should be ashamed...
I agree that the Cresent has gone down in quality compared to years past. It had a full service dinner open to both sleeping car and coach passengers. Amtrak should return to full dinning car service on all long distance trains. The train should also have a full size Amfleet dinette/ lounge car to provide a space for passengers to socialize and relax in other than their coach seats or sleeping car. This is really needed if you are not allowing coach passengers to use the dinning car. But with advanced reservations and pre paid meal cost, I feel they should be able to accommodate coach passengers in the dinning car.
I don’t know why they don’t like this train. It always did good business between Washington DC and Atlanta. It was a good overnight train between these two cities. Today since it has been down graded it usually runs with as low as two coaches and two sleeping cars. With a full service dinner and lounge I am sure they could fill more coach seats as well as sleepers. But you know the newest Amtrak directors only seem interested in the northeast trains as well as state supported shorter distance trains. Long distance trains especially here in the east that serve Chicago, Atlanta, and northern Florida could still do good business due to the overnight schedule serving these cities. However it needs good marketing and advertising to make it work.
Birmingham intermodal station is a definite upgrade from the previous musty underground hole it used to have. My only gripe is that I wish they could have removed the steps from the platform and built an escalator. Those steps are brutal to traverse up and down with baggage.
Freight appears to be a major thorn in Amtrak's side.! Where I'm from, freight has secondary precedence to passenger, and mostly runs at night to further demonstrate that point. Another point is crossings. Crossings are fundamentally dangerous, and severely curtail any aspirations of 'higher speed'. To achieve that, all crossings have to be closed (blocked and fenced-off) and replaced by bridges under or over. Unless Amtrak own the track, I can't see that much can be done to change the status quo.
Enjoyed your video. I did 3 train rides last year. In 2022, I rode NYC to MIA during July. It was going well until ac went out in GA. Train was delayed 3 hours which was a disaster. I did receive full refund.
Then, it wasn't really a disaster after all, was it ? I have always found Amtrak to be fair. When a problem was found on the rail system outside New Orleans, we were provided either dinner and overnight accommodations, or the bus for those with deadlines, etc. No one complained.
Sometimes when we’re talking about how great the railroad is are the amenities that you’re gonna get it would be nice to give a little history lesson who built it how it was built you know those things are very, very important with the luxury or non-luxury that we deal with today who’s back with that built on
Greetings: I have been on many modes of transportation across the USA. Never aa train. I have entertained the idea a few times. The cost / time factor uas it a combination of both Greydog and jet. In this case not inexpensive or fast. I was wondering Y a 100+mph train takes so long. Now I know. Basically an expensive Greydog on rails. I would tather drive myself. Good job on the presentation. Thx 4 the share.
I had a sleeper car from Chicago to san Antonio the year just before they ended the dining car......... It was nothing fancy bit it was a cool experience and the food wasnt terrible. 3 meals a day were included and you had free range of the menu. They did not include an alcoholic beverage though. I heard they switched to a more airline meals with food trays......... Im not sure what is the better option but what the were doing before was great.
I do want to try a trip west from my state to Dallas and then west to Washington State - I've never been farther than Tulsa Ok. or El Paso,Tx - I just want to see some of the other states before I get to old 😊 - guess I'll have to save some $$$ to make the trip
Birmingham is apparently one day hoping to introduce lightrail and commuter rail service which may explain the spur being built at the platform stub end.
Nice video. Nice room tours. Did I miss the part where you explained why the trip was "disappointing"? When the first word of your title is "DISAPPOINTING", I was hoping for an explanation of why that is. Maybe in future videos you can spend a minute or two at the end of each video with a summary of what you liked and what you didn't like about the journey, the train, the staff, or whatever else makes sense for you to include.
Just rode the Acela from Boston to Wilmington. We reached 150mph for an entire 4 minutes! We were an hour and a half late with several delays which, unfortunately, the crew rarely bothered to mention over the PA system. The train is old, worn and just uninspiring. The NEC tracks are horrible and I found the majority of the freight tracks in the journey from Wilmington to San Diego smoother than the NEC. The NEC is a money pit that management tries to hold up as the premier train in the US. The Pacific Surfliner line is in far better shape and is constantly being improved and double tracked. As a retired Amtrak Conductor, I find the hype over the NEC embarrassing and the Acelas an incredible waste of money. Sad. And the fact that Traditional Dining is still in the distant future shows that management either doesn’t care or is completely inept. There’s no excuse for still serving the marginal meals in Flexible Dining.
Metuchen, NJ is derived from Chief Matouchin of the Raritan people who first lived in the area. Atlanta was founded in 1837 as the end of the Western & Atlantic Railroad line and was first named Marthasville in honor of the then-governor's daughter. It was nicknamed Terminus for its rail location, and then changed soon after to Atlanta, the feminine of Atlantic, as in the railroad! Charlottesville, Virginia is named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage in September 1761 until her death in 1818. Charlotte, North Carolina is named after the same person. The footage at 10:06 is the train crossing the Susquehanna River, which at 444 miles (715 km) long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the United States. The Susquehanna River is one of the oldest existing rivers in the world, being dated as 320-340 Myr, older than the mountain ridges through which it flows Gainesville, Georgia was given the name "Gainesville" at the suggestion of Justice John Vance Cotter in honor of Gen. Edmund P. Gaines who was one of the Army's senior commanders during its formative years in the early to mid-1800s, and was a veteran of the War of 1812, Seminole Wars, Black Hawk War, and Mexican-American War. As commander of Fort Stoddert in 1807, he detained Aaron Burr, and Gaines subsequently testified at Burr's trial for treason. During the War of 1812, Gaines advanced through the ranks to colonel as commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment and he fought with distinction at the Battle of Crysler's Farm. Gaines was promoted to brigadier general during the war, and received a brevet promotion to major general. Gaines' post-war service included diplomacy with and military engagements against various tribes of Native Americans, though Gaines later opposed Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy. The Gainesville in Florida was named after the same person.
I took the cresant and was disappointed the area outside Washington was mostly passed through at night . I wonder if going from New Orleans north would allow more daylight sightseeing ?
On trains, you can walk almost anywhere , visit club or lounge cars or observation car. No one has to sit for hours unless they want to. Only airplanes trap passengers.
Although I've taken quite a few overnight trains on Amtrak, all in bedrooms of various types, I've never ventured much past the platform or adjoining station on stops. But I've long wondered if there are occasionally stops of long enough duration to venture a bit beyond the station, or even go for a short run (which having shower facilities on board if you have a room makes much more practical). Are there any routes that have stops of at least 20 or 30 minutes or even longer, which is enough time to try this, that are not in he middle of the night? Seems like a fun thing to do plus a way to break up the monotony of a long route. Plus, I'm the sort of person who likes to cut it close for the thrill of it. 😄
Chicago always has a 3 hour period for roaming around . We always take the river boat excursion. Denver has a hold over..not that long. The trains need servicing periodically; cleaning, water,etc.
@@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401 In Chicago you have to change trains if you're continuing on through as I don't know of any Amtrak line that goes through Chicago and doesn't either begin or terminate there. But yes, you do get several hours between trains to roam around and explore. I've done that three times. Twice I went up the former Sears and now Willis Tower (it was very foggy the first time so I went back on my next pass-through), and once we just walked around and had lunch. I've also done this several times driving cross-country. But mostly I was wondering how many Amtrak stops are long enough to get in a decent if brief run or brisk walk, without worrying about missing the train. If you're in a sleeper you don't have to worry about being all sweaty the rest of the trip as you can shower. It's a bucket list goal of mine.
![[ Amtrak Train Ride ] Complete Trip Report, All 37 stops and highlights, NOL-NYP](/img/n.gif)
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Honestly I think war movies that are fun tend to be the most realistic. Like in OPERATION DUMBO DROP. Why should war movies be downers. I like these other fun war movies.
1941.
THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY.
BILOXI BLUES.
CATCH-22.
THE DIRTY DOZEN.
FATHER GOOSE.
FORREST GUMP.
GOOD MORNING VIETNAM.
KELLY'S HEROES.
MASH.
MISTER ROBERTS.
NO MAN'S LAND.
OPERATION PETTICOAT.
THE SECRET WAR OF HARRY FRIGGS.
THREE KINGS.
WHAT PRICE GLORY.
How much does it cost? I wanna go to Colorado in a sleeper car.
Three weeks isn’t enough to “speak” a language. Just be aware of that, you’ll know some phrases and be able to kinda converse but not well
It takes years to decently speak a language.
Just be aware of that and have fun learning
@Johnnypaycheck77 ever heard of the Amtrak App
Seriously? The terms "first class" and "Amtrak" are an oxymoron. 😂
I love traveling by train. I've ridden on Amtrak a couple of times & enjoyed it each time. We need more Amtrak. Our country was made for rail travel.
Amtrak isn't the solution to American train travel
@@jcspotter7322 No, but it will do until we fully revive proper passenger rail.
Ok. So what is?
I wish Amtrak came through my town. I’ve never taken a train ride, but would love to experience it.
You ain't missing anything
It is worth traveling to a departure point. Pick one with a grand station. It is memorable. Happy traveling.
Cross country train trips are definitely a fantastic experience. You can probably find a bus service that would connect you to a large enough terminal to go across country. I'm a bit biased, of course, since Amtrak from Los Angeles to Chicago in a sleeper berth cost $100 when I went in 2002. I wasn't expecting a 5-star hotel for that price, but apparently people in these comments do expect a 5-star hotel and for the price to be that low again. Oh well :)
@@carltonkeys6205 Come on don't spoil it for me. I booked my room on the Coast Starlight this April 😂
Enjoyed your video. Well done. Just finished my own long distance Amtrak trip last week, New Orleans to Charlotte, NC on the Crescent, Charlotte to Raleigh, NC a short 3-4 hour trip on the Carolinian and finally Raleigh to Tampa on the Silver Star. Roomettes on first and third legs of my trip. 54 hours with both layovers totaling just over 15 hours. Note delays on third leg added 3 extra hours.
I agree about the top bed rattling being irritating 😝 but the food was great, the attendants awesome and the travel enjoyable. Been traveling Amtrak for 40 years.
Love your expression of appreciation . That's the way I feel, too !
❤️
Absolutely beautiful I'm an Air Force veteran and a Long haul truck driver. Me and my wife are going to do a bunch of Amtrak cross-country vacations before we even do a cruise ship! Absolutely spectacular!
Thank you for your service.
Sounds good buddy, enjoy. 🙂
Why do people feel the need to announce their military service where it's not even relevant? Wait I know...because getting a "thank you for your service" in the comments for the world to see boosts your ego. You probably have a bumper sticker too right? Only the silent and non-validation seeking people get my respect.
@@evoz4489 only jerks with zero understanding of service for your country would comment as you did
Enjoy. I have done a few of them, and they are wonderful. On many they have guides that give great insights. Oh yeah, and trust me on this, try the steak in the dining car.
Rode a Amtrak back in the 80s from LA California to New Orleans Louisiana with the wife and kids, had a cabin or sleeper too young to take it all in. 40 years later, rode one from Houston Texas to Tucson Arizona, sat coach, really enjoyed it. Accidentally sat in 1st class dining and was asked to retreat to the dining below, they let me keep my coffee at no charge. 😅lol
Interesting video. I traveled by train from Baltimore to Washington DC back in the sixties when I was a kid visiting various interesting sites.
The amount of money that Amtrak charges they should have updated, beautiful sleepers. Their trains are disgusting. I have seen other trains from other countries where you could literally eat off the floor. Amtrak needs to do better, a lot better. They charge a ridiculous amount for what you get.
Most Americans don't travel overseas.. they have no idea.
I couldn't agree with you more. But that's what happens when one company has a monopoly on a particular service. No competition equals complacency, bad service, and poor quality. And people are clamoring for government control healthcare. As if the government hasn't prove time and time again its inability to manage anything.
@jorgevillavicencio427 Amtrak is virtually the only intercity passenger service because the private railroads all wanted to get out of the passenger business, and dumped their passenger services on the government at the end of the 1960s. If not for Amtrak, we would have no intercity passenger rail service at all, except maybe in a few small parts of the country.
TLDR: They have no competition because almost nobody else wants to be in this business.
Most of the profits go to shareholders and special interests. A clear sign the USA is declining and falling behind in service and technology. The. Trains speed and service is definitely 1990's😊
@@j2b348 Are you talking about Amtrak's profits? Most of the time they don't make a profit. And their only shareholder is the U.S. government.
If you're talking about the freight railroads, yes -- they are completely oriented around shareholder profits, and it's had a very destructive effect on every aspect of rail transportation.
I roade aboard the Crescent in nNovember 2017. I stayed in a Viewliner. I am a hard core rail fan. I can hear the crescent pass through my town here in NJ everyday ON TIME too.
I hope to take the Viewliner up to Canada this Fall...gorgeous trip by train.
Just completed a trip on the Silver Meteor and Capitol Limited. My first in a sleeper. I was in a Viewliner I and II - I must say I prefer the Viewliner II. I loved the traditional dining. My next trip is going to be out west to California. Still have to figure the sleeping arrangements - I sleep inclined and that was a bit difficult in a roomette. But still enjoyed it tremendously - looking forward to my next trip!
@daniellucas, the Superliners you are facing in a trip to California have a lot less headroom in the upper bunks than Viewliners. I don't know how you are arranging inclined sleeping in a Viewliner, but on a Superliner, I think you want the lower bed, for sure. I haven't seen Superliner accommodations in person, but the lower bunks seem to be similar to Viewliners, both in bedrooms and roomettes.
@@catreader9733 Thanks - I am really looking forward to my trip out west. I sleep in the lower berth - even if I do not good a good sleep - it is still a very enjoyable trip.
You'll love it...I sleep inclined, too. They will provide extra pillows for you.
thank you for this video! Living in italy it's my dream to do a trip on an amtrak sleeper, hopefully I'll do it in the future
I'm glad you could experience the journey vicariously through my videos, and I too hope you'll be able to ride with Amtrak in the future!
The Roomette was *cozy* and *quiet.*
I found it very calming, especially during the worst days of Covid - as I’d be less likely to get it *and then give it to my aged parent.*
I down voted this video at 21:00
I have traveled a lot by train. Travel by train is scenic and if you like leisurely atmosphere is worthwhile. But the cars need a major upgrade with spaces and creature comfort. Advertise vacation packages. More upper berth space. Equal to the lower.
Been in the roomette for 3 trips, the private toilet is the absolute best, just bring your own airspray and your good, there is no better feeling than having plenty of time when you leave New Orleans with a hangover and more
Long time Amtrak afficiado here. I used to reside in Charlottesville VA and would ride to NYC yo transfer to the Vermonter. Now Greensboro NC is my home and im pleasantly surprised that i can travel directly to Charlottesville via The Crescent
Also in Greensboro. Love our Depot early in the wee hours...every departure is exciting.
This is great! I am so excited I will be riding in a sleeper roomette on the Crescent next month!
I'm sure you'll love it! Traveling by train is such a relaxing experience. Enjoy!
Glad you could use the video of you passing by hopefully one day I’ll get around to going on more long distance Amtrak trips
Thanks a ton for the footage of both the Acela and the Crescent. Was awesome to have some flyby shots.
Thanks from viewers, too (at least this one); the run-by footage adds another POV.
Looks like fun. Like to see the Northwest Run Thur Western Montana and Idaho..Middle of nowhere. BIGFOOT SIGHTINGS NEAR THE TRACKS. FUN. GREAT VID.
The bit at 5:51 made me realize how sad it is that there's no direct passenger rail connection between Atlanta and Orlando. That's gotta change. Currently, you have to take Crescent up north to VA, then transfer to the Silver Service.
Love this! I've been watching so many of your videos lately that whenever I read something, I hear it in your voice.
Ha! Thanks so much for your support, and I'm so glad you enjoy the content!
Hope there's a cure.
Superb, brilliant narration...the sojourn comes alive! I have taken the Crescent several times during my stay in the United States, with 'break-journey' at different locations, rather than a single-shot journey. The video is informative, brings out aspects surrounding the journey "inside-out": in that, the inside configurations, and the scenery outside. It is heartening that people in the States, like those in my own country (India) have started taking the train. Like they used to advertise..."See America at the "see" level" ! Bravo, 'Lone Star' ! Please keep up the Good Work ! I cannot help but compare: Just like Peter Masella brings aviation alive, with the intricacies elucidated, Lone Star is a terrestrial analogue of Peter !!!
When I was in college I took the crescent from NO TO DC. No sleeper cabin. It was about 26 hours and countless stops in every small town.
That must have been very interesting, then.
When I was in college, I could sleep on a tile floor and wake up without a backache. 😂 Another reason why coast-to-coast trips on Amtrak in coach class never bothered me back then. Especially when you could go from Los Angeles - New York for $75 in the early 2000s, if you bought short-notice on 'Rail Sale'. Good times!
I have MS,and was curious about the accessibility of the rooms. I dearly miss rail travel,and you've answered all my questions! Thank you,awesome video!
Been riding Amtrak for over three decades. Every kind of accommodation. Ridden every VIA Rail route too, trains in Europe, Russia, Australia, China, other countries too. I love Amtrak.
Amtrak is a fantastic operator, despite being underfunded for almost its entire existence.
Well good for you
Wow. Must be a ton of liars on the webs
@@gnlout7403 I finger popped my corn spitter so roughly I was juicing out poo drippings for a week!
@@gnlout7403
Impatient A-type personalities, probably, definitely not laid back train people.
Another "Well Done!" The quality of the audio (new microphone?) and the mixing with music blending in this video was stellar! I had a good laugh when you showcased and discussed the Acela, especially with that period electronic drum sound, "dush dush," in the background. The drums and train were period matched. Very enjoyable!
Thanks a ton! I haven't gotten a new mic (yet), but I have been adjusting the balance every now and then, so good to know this one sounds better. I didn't even notice the Acela/music time sync lol. Anyway glad you enjoyed and thanks as always for stopping by!
That shot of the WAMTA is such a lucky catch!
Yeah the timing was incredible! Not sure I'll ever see that again.
The fact he called it a subway pisses me off
@@kzooaviationbut most routes are underground
@@RonGersteinOnce you get beyond the district, most of the tracks are not underground and operate largely at grade level. The Silver line has substantial overhead trackage around Dulles International Airport and at the stations.
Wmata.... That was the yellow line train in DC going to Virginia...
When I lived in Boston and had to be in New York, I always took the Amtrak Acela first class. I did not know why there were fights. Seemed even then a thing of the past. My experience on the train refrained me from even considering a longer trip. 1400 miles would take one day back here in Europe. And in quieter and well kept trains.
Yay I been waiting for you to upload another great amazing riding the rails! 😊
Glad to see you back in the comments! Sorry it's been a while, but I assure you the wait will be worth it in the long run. Can't wait to share some really incredible rides on the Shinkansen plus many more sleeper trains!
hi there, at 13:51 when you say you're pulling into Charlottesville; the footage being shown is actually from Manassas, VA. i know what my city looks like, i could walk to that location in about 10 minutes.
Hopefully Amtrak could start refreshing the Viewliner 1s. They need some love.
As well as the Amfleet II coaches that ride with the Viewliner I sleepers... However, presently Amtrak is still refurbishing the Superliner long distance fleets and the Amfleet I short distance regional coaches... The pandemic has been over for a few Yeats now, Amtrak has had plenty of time to retrain and recruit new diner staff that were furloughed during the pandemic...
If I recall correctly, Amtrak is currently designing the refresh for the V1s, with actual refurb work expected to begin this year. (Though knowing Amtrak it likely wont begin until early next year)
I saw a video of a rider's viewpoint on the new Venture coach cars. They look more a bit more like aircraft seating, including less cushioning, significantly shorter seat pan, narrower, less leg room, and less recline; the rider liked the seats less than on Amfleet (not sure which version), but he said the coach chasses rode much more smoothly. I ride Amfleet coaches on the more part of the Northeast Corridor*; the trackage is so rough, I don't know whether I would prefer more smoothness under foot or under butt. The cars are holding up pretty well on the several trains I ride, and I doubt that even a new Venture coach or Viewliner II can be quiet or smooth.
*No dedicated tracks; I think it's all Norfolk Southern where I ride.
@@ronclark9724
They are doing a remarkable job on the Chicago to Emeryville and up to Seattle runs. Very patient and helpful.
@@catreader9733
Yes, it used to be Southern Railways and well maintained. Norfolk and Southern is more about profits and investors than maintenance and not blocking passenger service. There is the old conflict !
Rail travel is the only way to go,very scenic, comfortable,fun and most of the scenery is beautiful.From penn station to Niagara Falls , especially in the fall and winter,love Amtrak💯👍🏼❤️
Glad I found your channel!!! This was first video for me! Going to binge watch tonight !!!! Hope all is well
I've done the Cardinal, and the Silver Star.....loved them both! The Crescent is definitely on my list..
The Crescent is a direct descendant of the Southern Railway’s Southerner, a streamlined passenger train that ran from 1941 to 1970. The name, however, comes from the Crescent, another Southern route, which took a more coastal route to New Orleans via Mobile. These two routes were combined into the Southern Crescent in 1970. Amtrak took over the train in 1979 and simplified the name to “Crescent.” The name “Crescent” refers to one of New Orleans’s nicknames, the Crescent City, referring to the bend of the Mississippi River as it flows through the city! Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans opened in 1954 and was built just west of the older New Orleans Union Station to consolidate the city's passenger rail operations. Previously, New Orleans had been served by five stations, Union Station, the Southern Railway Terminal, T&P Station, Louisiana & Arkansas Station, and Louisville & Nashville Station!
While it stops at Trenton after Newark Penn on its way to New Orleans, on the way back, it stops at Metropark before Newark Penn! Metropark is named such because it was one of two park-and-ride infill stations proposed in the 1960s for use by the new Metroliners. Capital Beltway Metropark in Lanham, Maryland and Garden State Metropark in Iselin, Woodbridge Township near the interchange of Route 27 and Garden State Parkway were the two proposed, with both later shortened to Capital Beltway and Metropark respectively. Capital Beltway station closed in 1983 when New Carrollton station opened! Because of Metropark, a large business park grew, called "the first Edge City in the world to grow from a parking lot". Today, besides being an Acela stop and other Amtrak services, Metropark is among the busiest NJT stations, and many Staten Islanders from the South Shore of Staten Island drive out to Metropark for their commute to Manhattan. The Metroliners were the predecessor of the Acela, operating from 1969 to 2006. Service originally ran with Budd Metroliners, self-powered electric multiple unit cars designed for high-speed service. These proved unreliable and were replaced with locomotive-hauled trains in the 1980s. When the Acela was introduced in 2000, due to equipment troubles, the Metroliners stayed in service until 2006 when the Acela fully replaced them.
Thank you for the great history...my brother and I grew up shuttling between Savannah and Wilson, NC on the engine 52 train, which is now the sentinel of the Train Museum in Savannah. Wonderful childhood memories of train crew members singing to us, making us laugh. They were special people. 😊
The Southern Crescent is mentioned in the REM song “Driver 8”. I’ve always wanted to travel by train… just once!!!
In 2001, getting stuck up north while on vacation on 9/11, my partner and I managed to get tickets from Ohio to Florida (possible back then), as well as the last roomette from NYC to Fl. It was a safe trip home after the chaos of the week, despite the roomette being small and with a toilet you would never want to use next to your bed. Lol. Two of us made it work, but the trip was quite boring, since this was before smart phones and such. The dining car offered several options back then with the meals served on plates, not plastic microwave ware... and the area was used during the off dining hours as the smoking area...yeah, times have changed! Lol
Great to see you take this trip! I took the Crescent northbound and southbound a few weeks ago, on either side June 1st. My return trip was indeed complete with the dining car and I got to enjoy both flexible dining meals of dinner and breakfast there. Funnily enough, the northbound train had a very similar issue with coupling the ACS-64 in Washington DC - it took them three tries and a little ribbing between the crew to get everything all lined up. Additionall, you mentioned that the Viewliner I sleepers don't have name placards, but I did find on the TrainWeb site that your sleeper car number 62046 is listed as "Tranquil View". On my trip south, the name of my Viewliner I sleeper "Mystic View" was only present on the outside of the sliding vestibule door. I would have never known otherwise.
Hey! Great to see you stopping by! Glad you could experience the Crescent first hand. It's certainly not Amtrak's flashiest route, but it's a great experience nonetheless. Funny the coupling thing still seems to be an issue lol. Also I saw the name thing listed on TrainWeb as well. From the pictures on there, it looks like the V1s actually had their names listed on the placards up until around 2009ish. Not sure why they were removed, as that's always a fun piece of info to see.
The Amtrak experience hit rock bottom when Dining Car service was removed on all over-night trains east of the Mississippi just prior to 2020. Service is so bad now in the "snack-car" that if you order a mixed drink (I always enjoyed a Bloody-Mary at my seat or in my Roomette) the Amtrak attendant will just throw all the ingrediencies into a carboard box along with a cup of ice expecting you to mix everything yourself. Ridiculous.
@stillplayswithtrains From 3 years old, I had an N gauge 🚂 train set, which my Daddy assembled on a big board with tiny cars & train tracks and a body of 🌊 and 🏢🏫 ⛽ 🚉 buildings like a church and gas station and 🌲 🌴🌳 trees and 🏠🏡 houses. My Daddy and brother had HO ⚖️ scale 🚆🚂 trains. Sorry 😐 Amtrak is now downright tacky. I have been through 14 states between early 1970's: last year of Santa Fe and First year of Amtrak 🚆🧳 through 2002. I have been shocked seeing all the graffiti and homeless encampments from West Coast Amtrak You Tube train channels. Have a 🙂👍 nice Labor Day Weekend.✨🕊️
You got a great voice! Its very easy to listen to you and get all the info I need without the 1001 fluff pieces other reviewers take on.
The filming and the editing is great. But the voice is just grating.
So glad I discovered your channel! Very helpful information and well presented. I wished the roomettes were a wee big bigger and that the 2 chairs could swivel to face the window. I haven't taken the Crescent yet and have it on my list.
I took an Acela "first class" from NYC to Boston recently. It didn't feel like a first class experience. Food was also similar to low end airline coach.
Seeing the buttercake is making me miss them from my trip on the Silver Meteor last month. Those things are addicting.
They’re soooooo good. The brownie is nice, but that butter cake is on a whole other level!
You managed your expectations really well--essential when traveling by Amtrak! It ain't the Orient Express, folks, but it's fun!
Good to see the Thomasville NC mention … I’m definitely taking this train ride soon.
I Really like your Video. After showing the many features on Amtrak I'm looking forward to traveling on the Southern Cresent at a future date. I booked my Cousins trip on the Cresent several years Ago . He was traveling home to Meridian Mississippi. He said it was A fantastic trip. I really looking forward to Traveling on the Southern Cresent. Thank you.
Really like your videos. Informative and easy to listen to. Keep up the good work!
if you are just into taking train rides. do the darango silverton and stay over nite and take the bus back to durango colorado. fun and loads of seeing stuff
So cool to see you pass through Thomasville NC. My hometown!!
They just added the dining car back on the train last week. Oh and Brightline in Florida is considered high speed rail so its not just Acela anymore. Great video!
I heard! Glad it's back, but also sucks it's still flex meals. At least it's a step in the right direction! And Brightline isn't just considering HSR, they're building it! They broke ground on the LA-LV line earlier this year, and hopefully the line will be open in 2028!
@@LonestarTrips They're also building Merced to Bakersfield high speed rail line in California! When going down the 99 or the San Joaquins you can see some of the bridges and viaducts!
Technically, by FRA designation, anything over 79mph is considered “high speed.”
@@shreychaudhary4477 The project you're referring to is California High Speed Rail, but still a huge step forward for the US! It's gonna be an awesome next couple years for rail in America!
@@ZenkoTheGreat12 The FRA considers 79 to up to 90 as conventional rail. 90-125 is usually considered Higher-Speed rail, and 125+ is High Speed.
You really should take the Amtrak Vermonter during October for spectacular scenery.
I definitely want to. Not sure when I'll be able to make that happen, but it's on the to-do list.
Leaf Peeper
Hasn’t the Vermonter been discontinued?
Rode Atl to Chattanooga in late 50s dad was Southern R R conductor, in summer months old guys and I mean old took vacation so for about 2 weeks he could get off freights. Enjoyed show.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I'm taking Amtrak for short distances (i.e., NOLA to Atlanta). I'm looking forward to longer Amtrak travels.
Well done! Great presentation. Your video gives me greater urge to take a cross country rail trip.
Fantastic video documentary. So helpful for me an elderly larger passenger doing this same trip in November. Loved the descriptions. Wondering if there is a general use disabled toilet on the train and or shower room
I took my combat wounded Vietnam veteran friend around the country from Maine to Oregon, California,Chicago, and back. The accessible room was great and plenty of room for his wheelchair. All meals could be brought to the room if needed.
There is at least one on every train ( by rule- ADA). Book ahead.
He covered it well in the video.
Thanks for the video, I was just looking for something to watch about traveling on Amtrak trains ❤
Glad I could be of service!
Sooo happy to get a video from you..
Sorry it was a longer wait than usual, but I should be back to weekly, or at least mostly weekly uploads!
For prepacked food during travel, it looks very good. As for the bumps, try riding in a semi on the interstates across the northeast. Anything not tied, velcroed, or taped down turns into flying debrie. 😂😂😂
The Crescent line....the HAPPIEST place on Amtrak
Thats a small part of Lake Pontchartrain connectioning
St. Tammany Parish/Slidell to New Orleans east then into downtown NOLA
Well done video
Glad to see all the other comments from Amtrak travelers.
The word "bayou" is thought to originate from the Choctaw word bayuk, which means "small stream". After first appearing in the 17th century, the term is found in 18th century accounts and maps, often as bayouc or bayouque, where it was eventually shortened to its current form. The Bayou Bartholomew is the longest bayou in the world. It’s so large, it stretches across both Arkansas and Louisiana, is 375 miles long, and boasts more than 100 different types of fish. The first settlements of the Bayou Têche and other bayous were founded by the Louisiana Creoles. The term Créole was originally used by French Creoles to distinguish people born in Louisiana from those born elsewhere. Creoles are people of multiracial European, African, and Native American descent. Many in Louisiana are descendants of Acadians who were forcibly expelled from what's now maritime Canada by the British. Many went to France before later settling in Louisiana after the then Spanish Province of Louisiana government encouraged them to settle there to populate with more Catholic settlers. This subset of Creoles of Acadia descent are the Cajuns!
Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans opened in 1954 and was built just west of the older New Orleans Union Station to consolidate the city's passenger rail operations. Previously, New Orleans had been served by five stations-Union Station, the Southern Railway Terminal, T&P Station, Louisiana & Arkansas Station, and Louisville & Nashville Station. New Orleans is derived from the original French name La Nouvelle-Orléans, which was given to the city in honor of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who served as Louis XV's regent from 1715 to 1723. The French city of Orléans itself is named after the Roman emperor Aurelian, originally being known as Aurelianum.
My grandmother's family were of French-Acadian descent in Savannah; others went on to Louisiana. Your essay is very accurate and enjoyable.
Wrong. Cajuns are white French extraction. Creoles are mostly ex slave mixed with French or Spanish. A completely different culture, food.
Very cool filming how the transition goes with the lead power train(s). Never knew how that would work. Thanks.
The Crescent is practically the Texas Eagle’s eastern cousin in that it’s a very similar journey time and has been one of the least favored routes by management, running it without a dining car, thereby eliminating a lounge space altogether! The Crescent did just have a dining car restored, but it still serves reheated meals and coach passengers are barred from entering it!
Yet the Crescent runs through the heart of Dixie with inferior Amtrak services. Running through Charlotte and Greenville during the wee hours of the morning through three plus million metros... Amtrak should be ashamed...
I agree that the Cresent has gone down in quality compared to years past. It had a full service dinner open to both sleeping car and coach passengers. Amtrak should return to full dinning car service on all long distance trains. The train should also have a full size Amfleet dinette/ lounge car to provide a space for passengers to socialize and relax in other than their coach seats or sleeping car. This is really needed if you are not allowing coach passengers to use the dinning car. But with advanced reservations and pre paid meal cost, I feel they should be able to accommodate coach passengers in the dinning car.
Better catering than on Cardiff to Birmingham (and Nottingham)!
Why don’t they like that route?
I don’t know why they don’t like this train. It always did good business between Washington DC and Atlanta. It was a good overnight train between these two cities. Today since it has been down graded it usually runs with as low as two coaches and two sleeping cars. With a full service dinner and lounge I am sure they could fill more coach seats as well as sleepers. But you know the newest Amtrak directors only seem interested in the northeast trains as well as state supported shorter distance trains. Long distance trains especially here in the east that serve Chicago, Atlanta, and northern Florida could still do good business due to the overnight schedule serving these cities. However it needs good marketing and advertising to make it work.
my grandmother lives in Meridian and we like to go see the Amtrak pull into Union Station. I might’ve saw your train pass that day.
That’s an awesome train report video.
Birmingham intermodal station is a definite upgrade from the previous musty underground hole it used to have. My only gripe is that I wish they could have removed the steps from the platform and built an escalator. Those steps are brutal to traverse up and down with baggage.
Freight appears to be a major thorn in Amtrak's side.!
Where I'm from, freight has secondary precedence to passenger, and mostly runs at night to further demonstrate that point.
Another point is crossings.
Crossings are fundamentally dangerous, and severely curtail any aspirations of 'higher speed'.
To achieve that, all crossings have to be closed (blocked and fenced-off) and replaced by bridges under or over.
Unless Amtrak own the track, I can't see that much can be done to change the status quo.
I wondered if there was public transportation like a trolley to get into the Quarter?
I would chosen the bedroom option.
On that trip. 😄👍
Happy Saturday to you and forever happy travels, my very soon to be Austin (well, technically Cedar Park) neighbor
Happy Saturday and an early welcome to the Austin area! I absolutely love Austin, and I'm sure you will too.
Enjoyed your video. I did 3 train rides last year. In 2022, I rode NYC to MIA during July. It was going well until ac went out in GA. Train was delayed 3 hours which was a disaster. I did receive full refund.
Then, it wasn't really a disaster after all, was it ? I have always found Amtrak to be fair. When a problem was found on the rail system outside New Orleans, we were provided either dinner and overnight accommodations, or the bus for those with deadlines, etc. No one complained.
Sometimes when we’re talking about how great the railroad is are the amenities that you’re gonna get it would be nice to give a little history lesson who built it how it was built you know those things are very, very important with the luxury or non-luxury that we deal with today who’s back with that built on
Greetings: I have been on many modes of transportation across the USA. Never aa train. I have entertained the idea a few times. The cost / time factor uas it a combination of both Greydog and jet. In this case not inexpensive or fast. I was wondering Y a 100+mph train takes so long. Now I know. Basically an expensive Greydog on rails. I would tather drive myself. Good job on the presentation. Thx 4 the share.
I had a sleeper car from Chicago to san Antonio the year just before they ended the dining car......... It was nothing fancy bit it was a cool experience and the food wasnt terrible. 3 meals a day were included and you had free range of the menu. They did not include an alcoholic beverage though. I heard they switched to a more airline meals with food trays......... Im not sure what is the better option but what the were doing before was great.
I do want to try a trip west from my state to Dallas and then west to Washington State - I've never been farther than Tulsa Ok. or El Paso,Tx - I just want to see some of the other states before I get to old 😊 - guess I'll have to save some $$$ to make the trip
Birmingham is apparently one day hoping to introduce lightrail and commuter rail service which may explain the spur being built at the platform stub end.
Nice video. Nice room tours. Did I miss the part where you explained why the trip was "disappointing"? When the first word of your title is "DISAPPOINTING", I was hoping for an explanation of why that is. Maybe in future videos you can spend a minute or two at the end of each video with a summary of what you liked and what you didn't like about the journey, the train, the staff, or whatever else makes sense for you to include.
I always book the sleeper when I go to Atlanta.
Glad y'all traveled in March
It feels like an oven when you reach NOLA!!
So cool....I desperately want to go across the country and take a train through Europe.
Just rode the Acela from Boston to Wilmington. We reached 150mph for an entire 4 minutes! We were an hour and a half late with several delays which, unfortunately, the crew rarely bothered to mention over the PA system. The train is old, worn and just uninspiring. The NEC tracks are horrible and I found the majority of the freight tracks in the journey from Wilmington to San Diego smoother than the NEC. The NEC is a money pit that management tries to hold up as the premier train in the US. The Pacific Surfliner line is in far better shape and is constantly being improved and double tracked. As a retired Amtrak Conductor, I find the hype over the NEC embarrassing and the Acelas an incredible waste of money. Sad.
And the fact that Traditional Dining is still in the distant future shows that management either doesn’t care or is completely inept. There’s no excuse for still serving the marginal meals in Flexible Dining.
Great review of the bedrooms
Thanks, glad they were appreciated.
I’ve ridden that line from Atlanta to New Orleans ❤
LIRR service is now out of Grand Central Terminal via the East Side Access Tunnel
Only a few trains.
The rest still go to Penn Station
Metuchen, NJ is derived from Chief Matouchin of the Raritan people who first lived in the area. Atlanta was founded in 1837 as the end of the Western & Atlantic Railroad line and was first named Marthasville in honor of the then-governor's daughter. It was nicknamed Terminus for its rail location, and then changed soon after to Atlanta, the feminine of Atlantic, as in the railroad! Charlottesville, Virginia is named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage in September 1761 until her death in 1818. Charlotte, North Carolina is named after the same person. The footage at 10:06 is the train crossing the Susquehanna River, which at 444 miles (715 km) long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the United States. The Susquehanna River is one of the oldest existing rivers in the world, being dated as 320-340 Myr, older than the mountain ridges through which it flows
Gainesville, Georgia was given the name "Gainesville" at the suggestion of Justice John Vance Cotter in honor of Gen. Edmund P. Gaines who was one of the Army's senior commanders during its formative years in the early to mid-1800s, and was a veteran of the War of 1812, Seminole Wars, Black Hawk War, and Mexican-American War. As commander of Fort Stoddert in 1807, he detained Aaron Burr, and Gaines subsequently testified at Burr's trial for treason. During the War of 1812, Gaines advanced through the ranks to colonel as commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment and he fought with distinction at the Battle of Crysler's Farm. Gaines was promoted to brigadier general during the war, and received a brevet promotion to major general. Gaines' post-war service included diplomacy with and military engagements against various tribes of Native Americans, though Gaines later opposed Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy. The Gainesville in Florida was named after the same person.
Tysm 😊👍 for the history lesson.✨🕯️🕊️✨
Gainesville, GA is my hometown and I have always wanted to take a train trip
Great video. Felt like I was there!
Glad you could "join" me on the ride!
Brilliant, thanks for the post.
Glad you enjoyed!
Look like fun. Thanks!
I wish they had made coaches as part of the Viewliner II order. The mismatched train rubs me the wrong way.
lol. I did that trip (NY to New Orleans) in 1989.
I keep forgetting that the Crescent travels on the NEC
I love Amtrak my dad retired from there- they need a balance with airplanes
It all looks very old-fashioned compared with many other countries.
I took the cresant and was disappointed the area outside Washington was mostly passed through at night . I wonder if going from New Orleans north would allow more daylight sightseeing ?
@ LoneTR, what is this considered a weekend trip from NYC?
I'd say that it is First Class for it it were Second you'd be sat bolt upright in a seat for 27 hours!
On trains, you can walk almost anywhere , visit club or lounge cars or observation car. No one has to sit for hours unless they want to. Only airplanes trap passengers.
You have a beautiful voice that can take you far. I bet you were an English major.
Thanks! I’m actually a mechanical engineer, though.
@@LonestarTrips Super!
LOL @ WMATA just call it Metro and Subway is reserved specifically for NYC MTA :)
I’m new here. I loved this video
Thanks for stopping by! I’m so glad you enjoyed the video 😊
Although I've taken quite a few overnight trains on Amtrak, all in bedrooms of various types, I've never ventured much past the platform or adjoining station on stops. But I've long wondered if there are occasionally stops of long enough duration to venture a bit beyond the station, or even go for a short run (which having shower facilities on board if you have a room makes much more practical). Are there any routes that have stops of at least 20 or 30 minutes or even longer, which is enough time to try this, that are not in he middle of the night? Seems like a fun thing to do plus a way to break up the monotony of a long route. Plus, I'm the sort of person who likes to cut it close for the thrill of it. 😄
Chicago always has a 3 hour period for roaming around . We always take the river boat excursion. Denver has a hold over..not that long. The trains need servicing periodically; cleaning, water,etc.
@@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401 In Chicago you have to change trains if you're continuing on through as I don't know of any Amtrak line that goes through Chicago and doesn't either begin or terminate there.
But yes, you do get several hours between trains to roam around and explore. I've done that three times. Twice I went up the former Sears and now Willis Tower (it was very foggy the first time so I went back on my next pass-through), and once we just walked around and had lunch. I've also done this several times driving cross-country.
But mostly I was wondering how many Amtrak stops are long enough to get in a decent if brief run or brisk walk, without worrying about missing the train. If you're in a sleeper you don't have to worry about being all sweaty the rest of the trip as you can shower. It's a bucket list goal of mine.
Fantastic vid
Much appreciated!