@@nexusoflife Only the regional trains running Amfleet I and Horizon coaches are getting new Siemens coaches... The Superliner I and II fleet is only being refurbished. Recently the Viewliner II fleet were built, and the Viewliner I fleet have been refurbished. Their Amfleet II fleet will be refurbished and not replaced with new Siemens coaches. So the regional trains will be getting new rolling stock, the overnight sleeper trains will have to settle for refurbishments outside of the new Viewliner II fleet. Keep in mind the first of the Superliner I fleet are approaching their 50th birthday...
@@ronclark9724 It's sad that there won't be any upgrades to the long distance routes beyond refurbishment. These really are gorgeous trains. But then again, Amtrak is already losing gobs of money on these Congress-mandated routes that they then have to then make up from their profitable corridors. So spending even more money on the long-distance trains is probably the very last thing they want to do.
Truly an exception to the rule that your sleeping car attendant was useless. I’ve been a sleeper on several Amtrak trains and the attendant has always been wonderful. So sorry you didn’t receive their usual service
Great video! At 9:53 the third engine in the passing consist is the Norfolk southern Central New Jersey heritage unit. Catching that on the opposite side of the country of where it usually would be is super awesome!!
Heading east on the Empire Builder (in a roomette) about 8 years ago, my sister had the unfortunate experienced of a very unhelpful and rude cabin attendant, crabby conductor, and poor food service on her Empire Builder leg east. When she returned to the Pacific NW a couple of weeks later, it was completely different; helpful and pleasant throughout the trip. On that train, some guys asked to join her in the dining car; they were Amtrak Customer Service and took notes as they asked how she was enjoying the train. Of course she was loving her ride west, but she didn’t mince words to them about her eastbound experience.
You do know that Amtrak operates six different tralnsets for the Empire Builder. You most likely experienced two different crews on two different trainsets...
@@ronclark9724 and it was 8 years ago. This is why some choose to not work in the industry anymore. When complaints are received unless it’s a lot of people it’s not an issue and it sounds a lot like nothing could be right.,
@@MDTASHA0926 What are you, the self-appointed apologist? Seems like passengers (customers, the ones that give money to Amtrak) had a beef. Give it a rest, will ya?
@@MDTASHA0926 , if you read carefully, this was my sister’s experience, not mine. For further context, she was an 80 year old widow, and is the mildest-mannered, most sensitive, most “not at all a Karen” in the family. She was traveling east to visit her recently widowed sister-in-law. The room attendant did not answer the call button for making up the bed, so about 9:00 she tried looking for him. She couldn’t find him in the car, so she tried again. After an hour, she found him and asked him to please make up the bed. “I’m busy. I’ll get to you when I can.” She is an “early to bed” old lady, so going to bed after 11:00 was hard on her. The next morning, she expected (from my glowing reports of my previous Amtrak trips) that the bed would be put away when she came back from breakfast. Nope. And when the attendant finally did show up, she reminded him that the toilet on that level needed attention rather badly. His eyes rolled, and she (with her bad knees) ended up carefully venturing downstairs for the toilets. It finally got attended to that evening. I guess not all attendants are equal to “Joy” on the Coast Starlight.
@@ronclark9724 , if you carefully read my comment you will notice this was my sister’s experience. She was aware that the trains and crews change, and this was not the same as the trip east. My experiences have never been bad, so I was surprised that ANY cabin attendant would put off fixing up the bed for ANY 80 year old lady until after 11:00pm, when she had first pressed the call button at 8:00.
Sometime around 1997-99 when I was 5-ish years old, my parents and I took this from Pittsburgh to Chicago and then to Seattle for my uncle's wedding because I was too scared of flying even at that age. I only remember snippets of the trip but I'm proud to say I at least experienced the Empire Builder. Excellent video as always!
Wow, perfect example of our crumbling society... a five year old, afraid to fly (if that's even possible) forces his entire family onto a cross-country train. Your father was lucky to have the luxury of so many days off. Come on Zach, suck it up, grow a pair and take one for the team... my Lord.
@@atatterson6992, why should have he have done so? Just to suit anti-train people like you? This _wasn't_ the same as Raymond Babbitt refusing to fly when Charlie needed to get someplace fast in _Rain Man_ , this is a family going on a vacation, and they can take as much time to get where they're going ('half the fun is getting there.') It was their time to waste.
@@Neville60001 uuummm, why would you think I'm anti-train (if that's even a thing)? I love trains. I also happen to love airplanes, but that's neither here nor there. What I 2 like is parents indulging spoiled children rather than approaching the issue intelligently and offering a learning experience instead of accomodating irrational fears or phobias. Instead of forcing the family into an unplanned, unnecessary cause of action, someone could have explained the theory of flight while also providing the facts of how safe it is when compared to other transportation methods... that all. I believe that parents should be the ones planning and partaking in relatively important life/family activities... not children. Have a nice day.
@@atatterson6992, the OP didn't feel like travelling on a plane, so he and his mom and dad took a train. Your bullshit that you just spewed doesn't mean anything other than you're full of it.
Simply Railway is my favorite train vlog. Who'd have thought some French guy could come here and do such good job? Vive la France!Actually he does a good job all over the world.
14:30: It's called "french toast" because while the recipe (known as "pain perdu" or "lost bread") has been around for hundreds of years even possibly going back to the Romans, an innkeeper in Albany NY by the name Joseph French is largely credited with introducing it to Americans. Hence "French('s) toast".
@@mikeymutual5489 Was just going off of this webpage. I'm definitely not creative enough to make this "sh@t up". Sorry to have so terrifically offended your sensibilities. thebreakfastshoppe.com/history-french-toast/
Thanks for the great trip video. It reminded me of the trip I made on the Milwaukee Road round trip from Chicago to Seattle in 1953. I road coach and bought only 1 meal on the 3 day 2 night trip.
For the last 25 years I've lived in Portland, Seattle, and now in Vancouver BC, and I think this is one of the most beautiful parts of the world. I'm so glad you got to experience it and see the gorgeous scenery that Cascadia has to offer! I've wanted to do the Empire Builder for a long time, it's great that you had such a good trip!
Love your videos! Honest comments from someone who rides trains all over. So many videos get done by people who just "heard" that European trains are so much better. I have travelled a lot on trains in the US and United Kingdom and have one comment about "on time" performance. I would suggest that it is competitive with air travel (in the US at least) on a percentage of. journey basis. I just flew from CA to TN and the 3.5 hour flight was a half hour late -- that's 14% late. A 48-hour train could be 6 hours late and still beat that percentage! For folks who complain about food cost on Amtrak -- yes, it is higher than brick and mortar stores "ashore" but it's not nearly as inflated as US airport food! Finally, Wisconsin Dells -- Much is "touristy" (i.e. man made attractions) which is fun but many are not peculiar to the Dells. The boat rides to see the Dells (the formations along the Wisconsin River) are unique and beautiful. My maternal grandparents honeymooned at the Dells over a century ago and it is still as unusual and beautiful as it was then.
27:01 Is probably one of my favorite moment, it shows that, even though our network is lackluster in most ways with exceptions to the NorthEast Corridor, our longdistnce and mid-distance trains are still beautiful. And holy crap when they have a chance they can move quite fast
The Dells are so much fun….we have camped at Rocky Arbor Campground and driven into the Dells for go-carts, mini-golf, water parks and of course checking out various restaurants.
Being a lifetime subscriber to Trains magazine, often times the Builder is described as the most popular AMTRAK passenger train in the country. It doesn't get much publicity like the other passenger trains, but the numerous people I have talked to about their experience traveling on the Builder have been very positive in their experience!
Beautiful footage. You keep complaining about how bad the weather in the first leg of the trip, but the mountains wreathed in fog are gorgeous. I've been considering a trip on this train and you've convinced me to pull the trigger! e: P.S. TIL that what we call "French toast" is known as pain perdu ("lost bread") in French. The dish is first described as aliter dulcia ("another sweet dish") in the first-century Latin recipe book the Apicius. It is also known as Arme Ritter ("poor knights") in German.
This Channel is fantastic. So peaceful. So inspiring and positive. I love the tips and commentary and especially like they are subtitles so I can enjoy the train ambiance. When the world seems so full of problems this reminds me of the joys.
When I was a student, during 1966-72 I rode the Great Northern Empire Builder back and forth between Seattle and Chicago up to four times a year. I missed seeing a few of the striking landmarks such as Mt. Index in Stevens Pass (something out of a Wagner opera!) and the bizarre, gnomelike rock formations at Wisconsin Dells, but otherwise it was a very good representation of the journey. I appreciate that you worked in enough early Great Northern history to give it that little extra bit of perspective. Well done - I enjoyed it!
I can never get over the natural beauty of the pacific NW. You should do the train to Vancouver someday if you can. Great job with this video Thibault!
I first took the Empire Builder from Central Washington to Minneapolis in 1971. That started a life-long love of trains and train travel. Later, we'd ride the EB out and back to Glacier Park for summer backcountry trips, hiking across the park from station to station.
Hello from the greater Sacramento area of California! That ALC-42 was assembled at the Siemens Mobility plant right here in Sacramento! In fact, all the SC-44 Chargers on various US commuter railroads, Amtrak-operated state routes, the SC-42s that power the the trainsets, as well as the trainsets themselves for VIA Canada, as well as the SCB-40s and their trainsets for Brightline are all built in the same plant!
I have taken several Amtrak trains. My favorite does not operate anymore. The Pioneer. I took it from Seattle to Denver. The most beautiful scenery ever. If they ever reinstate it, which they may, it is a must.
Excellent Empire builder video! Another thing that passengers traveling the first night from Portland or Seattle being the fact that the dining car isn’t available between Portland and Spokane meaning you’d have to travel from Seattle for dinner in the dining car the first night is also that the sightseer lounge car isn’t available between Seattle to Spokane meaning that if you want a sightseer lounge car on the first night you’d need to travel from Portland! And yes I agree, they need to get their food together better in the diner and cafe as they seem to have food shortages
I saw a really cool video. I haven't been to the US yet, but I really want to go, and this video made me feel like I was on a trip instead. I was impressed with the detailed subtitles and the introduction on the train, and the food you ate each time looked very delicious. Looking forward to future great introductions. From. South Korea. 👍
That is the ugliest piece of crap for a locomotive in the entire world. Take a look at the Italian high speed trains then look at this pos. It is sad that the US calls this a first class train. The last time I rode Amcrap the service sucked. I vowed then that I would never again ride on Amcrap.
@@alexandermangani3346, nobody misses you or your opinion/experience (and all that foreigners like you do is make it harder for Americans that want to see HSR be built and run nationwide [continental USA excluding Alaska and Hawaii] when you make the complaint about how ugly the GE Genesis loco and the Siemens Charger ones are.)
@@Neville60001 Amtrack is the poster child for not only ugly trains, but lousy service as well. So shove your opinion, Neville, where the sun doesn’t shine.
Wow! Best Video! Almost took this trip last year, and the view in the Rockies is so much better in daylight! On the westbound route the train goes through glacier park during evening/night. Well done!
Hi. I just did this trip the other way Chicago going west and stopped in Whitefish, MT in April. I too was stunned by the beautiful Glacier National Park views. In the Spring, Amtrak was not doing much weekend service to Seattle so I missed the Cascades portion of the trip - I am glad I caught it here. Thanks for making these great train videos - your passion really shows - next year for me The Zephyr! Take care.
I’m happy you reviewed this train! It’s another very popular route that doesn’t receive as much praise or review as the Zephyr. I’m also taking the builder west in about a month to Seattle, even though I’m hopping on in Milwaukee.
I am amazed at how beautiful nature is in this part of the US. It reminds me of the nature in Slovakia where I live, the Carpathians and Tatras, only the dimensions and distances are incomparable of course!
Of the three different people who have made videos of train travel in the U.S., this one by 'Simply Rilway' has had much more footage of Glacier National Park and the areas below it! This has done two things for me, first, it showed why I use the term ""AWESOME"" to describe Glacier. Second, it has brought back pleasant memories of my visit to Glacier! Thanks much, Simply Railway!!! JMS
Nice trip! I love the long haul trains and your stop to ride horses at Glacier. Great idea. And you passed Wisconsin Dells! I went on vacation there when I was a young child (1960-ish?) and it was wonderful. I especially remember the Duck Boats; amphibious vehicles that went straight from the road into the water, then passing the fabulous rock formations. They quite impressed my young self.
It really is neat how quiet the diesel engines in many modern locomotives are, such that on some you can much more clearly hear the "electric" half of "diesel-electric". In the clip of your first train pulling out of West Glacier, the ALC sounds just like its ACS64 cousins, just with the relatively faint hum of the diesel engine added in the background.
Semi-related: I remember reading somewhere that electric trains in the US were pioneered on the Seattle to Spokane line back in the 1920s because the steep slopes of the Cascade passes taxed the fossil-powered locomotives so badly
Makes me happy to live in this area, just a short drive away from mountain rivers or the bustling metropolis. Also, YOU GOT NS 1071 AT 9:53!!! Legendary catch, especially here in the Northwest! We usually get NS heritage units once every couple years!
Another excellent video. The scenery looks stunning. I’ve booked on the Empire Builder for October this year; here’s hoping I get your second attendant, not the first 🤞. Keep up the great content 👍👍
A great video. The Canadian Pacific portion through Wisconsin is the old Miwaukee Road. Their "Hiawatha" trains ran at 120 mph behind steam locomotives! Wisconsin Dells is major league fun.
Thanks for the review! I'll be taking this very train in September (when the days are shorter but the weather is usually better) and I'll also have a roomette. The dining tips are particularly welcome!
@@paulwarner5395, if you want to ride such a loud train, find a way to go back in time and then ride them. Frankly, it's time to end (North) America's over-dependence on DMU-powered trains, and convert everything to run on electric power, but that's me, and Amtrak is trying to help save the environment by getting less polluting (and less loud) trains into service.
In the winter of 2022-2023, it has been reported, that the ALCs were having issues with the cold temps. I don't have a link, but I've heard the chatter...
@@HardRockMaster7577, then the ALC's have to be winterised better to survive in said cold temperatures; Russia has had electric rail for a quarter of the last century (and a few decades into this one) and their trains work just fine in Russia's bitterly cold winters.
@@Neville60001 The USA unfortunately does not have the resources to build that much electric rail. We have the longest rail-system in the world. Trains aren't killing our environment. Diesel is relatively clean compared to other sources of power, and it gets cleaner every year.
Have taken the grandkids to Wisc Dells....fun place....but while you are there...you must eat at " Buffalo Phil's". You food comes to your table on a train
One of my most favorite rail trips! And done by a wonderful travel-vlogger. Thank you sir! I’ve done this trip in both directions. It’s so scenic in either direction.
I've worked on those tracks between Seattle, Everett, Wenatchee and Spokane, and I've worked inside the Cascade tunnel numerous times as well. It looks like you were on the #8 Builder.
When I was in college (at least first two years), I would take the Empire Builder from Grand Forks North Dakota (the stop before Fargo) to Minneapolis. Was fun! But I got on when you would be out cold (2 am assuming it wasn't late (it usually was)).
Amazing trip on Amtrak Empire Builder #8 from Seattle to West Glacier and Amtrak Empire Builder #8/28 from West Glacier Park to Chicago the Amtrak Empire Builder is my number one favorite Amtrak route.
Thank you for capturing so nicely my downtown Milwaukee. Always homesick, since I live on the other side of the planet now. The ride on the Empire Builder is my second favorite to the California Zephyr and always worth the trip.😍
I've taken this train once years ago and LOVED it! I will be taking it again in November and really looking forward to it. For me, it's the BEST way to travel!
Thank you for a great review ! I agree with all that you say, and it was good to have the new Siemens Charger locos on both parts of your trip. I last rode the Empire Builder pre-Covid, and the food was in good supply ! Many thanks.
15 years ago~ I went West on the Empire builder and yeah we were like 5hrs~3hr late... when we rolled into West Glacier park I think it was around midnight. I still remember great views! and coming in to the mountains about sunset (summer time), I had felt a bit robbed lol. I'm really thinking this year to go to Seattle, and take the train east to correct that wrong lol I've taken the Zephyr East from Emery to Chicago also 15 years ago, but I still right now would rather go on the Empire builder again! This is my internal debate about which one to take in September lol
I enjoy watching your videos. I’ve been watching them for about 2 years now and decided to take one. I took the Texas Eagle from LA to San Antonio. Let me tell you I really loved it and will definitely do it again.
A beautiful journey!! Great food!! Fantastic scenery#! Those new engines are super!! Sorry the rain dampened the beginning but typical of Seattle area. Thank you Thibault for this posting.😀😀💚💚
Well done and I will consider this one when I take a long distance Train ride. Though I am in Florida and are limited on what trains go west as you know. Love the views here!
I took the Empire Builder (Seattle-Chicago) back in mid March and loved it. There was still plenty of snow on the ground and fresh flurries, making for some amazing photo during the trip.
We just took this trip and it was amazing. We also had a roomette and found it very comfortable. The food was really good and the staff were great. If you have the two days to spend you should take this trip.
What an amazing journey! 😍😍 Really enjoyed watching this with all the information! Hope some day I can experience all that too. Best wishes from Finland!
I took the Empire Builder from East Glacier to Chicago a few years ago. We started our vacation with the California Zephyr to Salt Lake City. Then we rented a car, and drove to Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier parks. We stayed at the Isaak Walton Inn, too. A Great (Northern) hotel!
Awesome video. Only complaint is you should’ve shown more of your time at Glacier. Maybe a minutes worth of footage or so. Like you did for the ski train in Colorado.
Another excellent report! I'd underline your comments about the Izaak Walton Inn. It's a great place to stay, about midway between East and West Glacier. Inn is very comfy and interesting. They have rental cars to make getting to and through the park easy. I'd also add that the scenery on the Portland section is wonderful, winding along the Columbia River.
You should visit Milwaukee for sure! Lake Michigan, the art museum, some great food and of course amazing beer. I recommend renting a kayak and paddling your way up the Milwaukee River which runs right through the city. There are several places you can just stop, tie up your kayak, and go in for a brewery tour or a delicious lunch!
I agree, you cannot get this experience on planes or cruise ship. If you want to try a scenic ferry, I recommend the one between Vancouver and Victoria B.C. Take tge train to Vancouver ot course. :)
Last year I took EB out of Portland. As we left Portland, we were seved in our room, a wonderful "box lunch"catered by a Portland retaurant . It was no disappointment because of the quality. Spinach salad topped with large fresh shrimp..
We may not have the best network in the world, but the US has some of the best long distance train routes in the world ✌️
I treat amtraks trains like excursion railways but more modern
If only Amtrak's upgraded fleet would hurry up! Then we could enjoy the scenic routes in modern style!
@@nexusoflife Only the regional trains running Amfleet I and Horizon coaches are getting new Siemens coaches... The Superliner I and II fleet is only being refurbished. Recently the Viewliner II fleet were built, and the Viewliner I fleet have been refurbished. Their Amfleet II fleet will be refurbished and not replaced with new Siemens coaches. So the regional trains will be getting new rolling stock, the overnight sleeper trains will have to settle for refurbishments outside of the new Viewliner II fleet. Keep in mind the first of the Superliner I fleet are approaching their 50th birthday...
@@ronclark9724 It's sad that there won't be any upgrades to the long distance routes beyond refurbishment. These really are gorgeous trains. But then again, Amtrak is already losing gobs of money on these Congress-mandated routes that they then have to then make up from their profitable corridors. So spending even more money on the long-distance trains is probably the very last thing they want to do.
@@ronclark9724 ,if it ain't broken , keep it
At 11:53 you see such a nice reunion of two people. One of them running out of the platform with her bags to give their loved one a hug. So sweet
Nice catch! Thank you for pointing that out.
Truly an exception to the rule that your sleeping car attendant was useless. I’ve been a sleeper on several Amtrak trains and the attendant has always been wonderful. So sorry you didn’t receive their usual service
Great video! At 9:53 the third engine in the passing consist is the Norfolk southern Central New Jersey heritage unit. Catching that on the opposite side of the country of where it usually would be is super awesome!!
i saw it today in Skykomish Wa few hrs ago today it was leading a WB
I saw the Wabash unit working a UP Coal train in Helper, UT 2 weeks ago. That was quite the surprise
BNSF shares a lot of power on this route. It's very evident on their freight trains and sometimes quite surprising.
Heading east on the Empire Builder (in a roomette) about 8 years ago, my sister had the unfortunate experienced of a very unhelpful and rude cabin attendant, crabby conductor, and poor food service on her Empire Builder leg east. When she returned to the Pacific NW a couple of weeks later, it was completely different; helpful and pleasant throughout the trip. On that train, some guys asked to join her in the dining car; they were Amtrak Customer Service and took notes as they asked how she was enjoying the train. Of course she was loving her ride west, but she didn’t mince words to them about her eastbound experience.
You do know that Amtrak operates six different tralnsets for the Empire Builder. You most likely experienced two different crews on two different trainsets...
@@ronclark9724 and it was 8 years ago. This is why some choose to not work in the industry anymore. When complaints are received unless it’s a lot of people it’s not an issue and it sounds a lot like nothing could be right.,
@@MDTASHA0926 What are you, the self-appointed apologist? Seems like passengers (customers, the ones that give money to Amtrak) had a beef. Give it a rest, will ya?
@@MDTASHA0926 , if you read carefully, this was my sister’s experience, not mine. For further context, she was an 80 year old widow, and is the mildest-mannered, most sensitive, most “not at all a Karen” in the family. She was traveling east to visit her recently widowed sister-in-law. The room attendant did not answer the call button for making up the bed, so about 9:00 she tried looking for him. She couldn’t find him in the car, so she tried again. After an hour, she found him and asked him to please make up the bed. “I’m busy. I’ll get to you when I can.” She is an “early to bed” old lady, so going to bed after 11:00 was hard on her. The next morning, she expected (from my glowing reports of my previous Amtrak trips) that the bed would be put away when she came back from breakfast. Nope. And when the attendant finally did show up, she reminded him that the toilet on that level needed attention rather badly. His eyes rolled, and she (with her bad knees) ended up carefully venturing downstairs for the toilets. It finally got attended to that evening.
I guess not all attendants are equal to “Joy” on the Coast Starlight.
@@ronclark9724 , if you carefully read my comment you will notice this was my sister’s experience. She was aware that the trains and crews change, and this was not the same as the trip east. My experiences have never been bad, so I was surprised that ANY cabin attendant would put off fixing up the bed for ANY 80 year old lady until after 11:00pm, when she had first pressed the call button at 8:00.
Sometime around 1997-99 when I was 5-ish years old, my parents and I took this from Pittsburgh to Chicago and then to Seattle for my uncle's wedding because I was too scared of flying even at that age. I only remember snippets of the trip but I'm proud to say I at least experienced the Empire Builder.
Excellent video as always!
You made the smart choice, I mean, who doesn't want great views of beautiful scenery like Glacier National Park & the Cascades?
Wow, perfect example of our crumbling society... a five year old, afraid to fly (if that's even possible) forces his entire family onto a cross-country train. Your father was lucky to have the luxury of so many days off.
Come on Zach, suck it up, grow a pair and take one for the team... my Lord.
@@atatterson6992, why should have he have done so? Just to suit anti-train people like you? This _wasn't_ the same as Raymond Babbitt refusing to fly when Charlie needed to get someplace fast in _Rain Man_ , this is a family going on a vacation, and they can take as much time to get where they're going ('half the fun is getting there.') It was their time to waste.
@@Neville60001 uuummm, why would you think I'm anti-train (if that's even a thing)? I love trains. I also happen to love airplanes, but that's neither here nor there. What I 2 like is parents indulging spoiled children rather than approaching the issue intelligently and offering a learning experience instead of accomodating irrational fears or phobias. Instead of forcing the family into an unplanned, unnecessary cause of action, someone could have explained the theory of flight while also providing the facts of how safe it is when compared to other transportation methods... that all.
I believe that parents should be the ones planning and partaking in relatively important life/family activities... not children. Have a nice day.
@@atatterson6992, the OP didn't feel like travelling on a plane, so he and his mom and dad took a train. Your bullshit that you just spewed doesn't mean anything other than you're full of it.
Simply Railway is my favorite train vlog. Who'd have thought some French guy could come here and do such good job? Vive la France!Actually he does a good job all over the world.
14:30: It's called "french toast" because while the recipe (known as "pain perdu" or "lost bread") has been around for hundreds of years even possibly going back to the Romans, an innkeeper in Albany NY by the name Joseph French is largely credited with introducing it to Americans. Hence "French('s) toast".
Yeah, you need to stop making sh@t up on the Internet. You know very well that you are spreading misinformation here. Knock it off.
@@mikeymutual5489 Was just going off of this webpage. I'm definitely not creative enough to make this "sh@t up". Sorry to have so terrifically offended your sensibilities. thebreakfastshoppe.com/history-french-toast/
Thanks for the great trip video. It reminded me of the trip I made on the Milwaukee Road round trip from Chicago to Seattle in 1953. I road coach and bought only 1 meal on the 3 day 2 night trip.
LET'S GOOOOOOO EMPIRE BUILDER!! I've been waiting for this one in a long time
For the last 25 years I've lived in Portland, Seattle, and now in Vancouver BC, and I think this is one of the most beautiful parts of the world. I'm so glad you got to experience it and see the gorgeous scenery that Cascadia has to offer! I've wanted to do the Empire Builder for a long time, it's great that you had such a good trip!
Love your videos! Honest comments from someone who rides trains all over. So many videos get done by people who just "heard" that European trains are so much better. I have travelled a lot on trains in the US and United Kingdom and have one comment about "on time" performance. I would suggest that it is competitive with air travel (in the US at least) on a percentage of. journey basis. I just flew from CA to TN and the 3.5 hour flight was a half hour late -- that's 14% late. A 48-hour train could be 6 hours late and still beat that percentage! For folks who complain about food cost on Amtrak -- yes, it is higher than brick and mortar stores "ashore" but it's not nearly as inflated as US airport food! Finally, Wisconsin Dells -- Much is "touristy" (i.e. man made attractions) which is fun but many are not peculiar to the Dells. The boat rides to see the Dells (the formations along the Wisconsin River) are unique and beautiful. My maternal grandparents honeymooned at the Dells over a century ago and it is still as unusual and beautiful as it was then.
Hi, I have many Japan train videos on my channel, check it out!😉
27:01 Is probably one of my favorite moment, it shows that, even though our network is lackluster in most ways with exceptions to the NorthEast Corridor, our longdistnce and mid-distance trains are still beautiful. And holy crap when they have a chance they can move quite fast
The Dells are so much fun….we have camped at Rocky Arbor Campground and driven into the Dells for go-carts, mini-golf, water parks and of course checking out various restaurants.
Being a lifetime subscriber to Trains magazine, often times the Builder is described as the most popular AMTRAK passenger train in the country. It doesn't get much publicity like the other passenger trains, but the numerous people I have talked to about their experience traveling on the Builder have been very positive in their experience!
Beautiful footage. You keep complaining about how bad the weather in the first leg of the trip, but the mountains wreathed in fog are gorgeous. I've been considering a trip on this train and you've convinced me to pull the trigger!
e: P.S. TIL that what we call "French toast" is known as pain perdu ("lost bread") in French. The dish is first described as aliter dulcia ("another sweet dish") in the first-century Latin recipe book the Apicius. It is also known as Arme Ritter ("poor knights") in German.
This Channel is fantastic. So peaceful. So inspiring and positive. I love the tips and commentary and especially like they are subtitles so I can enjoy the train ambiance. When the world seems so full of problems this reminds me of the joys.
The Amtrak Empire Builder definitely reminds me of the Sunrise Express sleeper trains in Japan, which also have two termini and splits off at Okayama.
I was thinking that same thing when I saw a video about the Sunrise Express.
When I was a student, during 1966-72 I rode the Great Northern Empire Builder back and forth between Seattle and Chicago up to four times a year. I missed seeing a few of the striking landmarks such as Mt. Index in Stevens Pass (something out of a Wagner opera!) and the bizarre, gnomelike rock formations at Wisconsin Dells, but otherwise it was a very good representation of the journey. I appreciate that you worked in enough early Great Northern history to give it that little extra bit of perspective. Well done - I enjoyed it!
I can never get over the natural beauty of the pacific NW. You should do the train to Vancouver someday if you can. Great job with this video Thibault!
I first took the Empire Builder from Central Washington to Minneapolis in 1971. That started a life-long love of trains and train travel. Later, we'd ride the EB out and back to Glacier Park for summer backcountry trips, hiking across the park from station to station.
Hello from the greater Sacramento area of California!
That ALC-42 was assembled at the Siemens Mobility plant right here in Sacramento! In fact, all the SC-44 Chargers on various US commuter railroads, Amtrak-operated state routes, the SC-42s that power the the trainsets, as well as the trainsets themselves for VIA Canada, as well as the SCB-40s and their trainsets for Brightline are all built in the same plant!
At 9:52, you passed Norfolk Southern's Jersey Central heritage unit, rare catch! Thanks for another great video :-)
Best train video ever. Cannot thank you enough.
This is right at the top of my favorite Amtrak journeys, and the video was great. Wouldn’t mind doing it again.
I have taken several Amtrak trains. My favorite does not operate anymore. The Pioneer. I took it from Seattle to Denver. The most beautiful scenery ever. If they ever reinstate it, which they may, it is a must.
Excellent Empire builder video! Another thing that passengers traveling the first night from Portland or Seattle being the fact that the dining car isn’t available between Portland and Spokane meaning you’d have to travel from Seattle for dinner in the dining car the first night is also that the sightseer lounge car isn’t available between Seattle to Spokane meaning that if you want a sightseer lounge car on the first night you’d need to travel from Portland! And yes I agree, they need to get their food together better in the diner and cafe as they seem to have food shortages
I saw a really cool video.
I haven't been to the US yet, but I really want to go, and this video made me feel like I was on a trip instead.
I was impressed with the detailed subtitles and the introduction on the train, and the food you ate each time looked very delicious. Looking forward to future great introductions.
From. South Korea. 👍
That is the ugliest piece of crap for a locomotive in the entire world. Take a look at the Italian high speed trains then look at this pos. It is sad that the US calls this a first class train. The last time I rode Amcrap the service sucked. I vowed then that I would never again ride on Amcrap.
@@alexandermangani3346, nobody misses you or your opinion/experience (and all that foreigners like you do is make it harder for Americans that want to see HSR be built and run nationwide [continental USA excluding Alaska and Hawaii] when you make the complaint about how ugly the GE Genesis loco and the Siemens Charger ones are.)
@@Neville60001 Amtrack is the poster child for not only ugly trains, but lousy service as well. So shove your opinion, Neville, where the sun doesn’t shine.
Wow! Best Video!
Almost took this trip last year, and the view in the Rockies is so much better in daylight!
On the westbound route the train goes through glacier park during evening/night. Well done!
Nothing like the old days of the Milwaukee Road's Hiawatha. The greatest were the long-distance Santa Fe trains. e.g., the El Capitan
Hi. I just did this trip the other way Chicago going west and stopped in Whitefish, MT in April. I too was stunned by the beautiful Glacier National Park views. In the Spring, Amtrak was not doing much weekend service to Seattle so I missed the Cascades portion of the trip - I am glad I caught it here. Thanks for making these great train videos - your passion really shows - next year for me The Zephyr! Take care.
Wow you were very lucky to have an ALC42 and Amtrak 203 pull you! And you caught the NS central unit at 9:45
I’m happy you reviewed this train! It’s another very popular route that doesn’t receive as much praise or review as the Zephyr. I’m also taking the builder west in about a month to Seattle, even though I’m hopping on in Milwaukee.
I am amazed at how beautiful nature is in this part of the US. It reminds me of the nature in Slovakia where I live, the Carpathians and Tatras, only the dimensions and distances are incomparable of course!
Another wonderful trip. Enjoy sharing long distance train travel with you. Keep the videos coming!
Great trip. Two legs of journey, Two train of Empire Builder, and two ALC 42 Locomotive, perfection.
Of the three different people who have made videos of train travel in the U.S., this one by 'Simply Rilway' has had much more footage of Glacier National Park and the areas below it! This has done two things for me, first, it showed why I use the term ""AWESOME"" to describe Glacier. Second, it has brought back pleasant memories of my visit to Glacier! Thanks much, Simply Railway!!! JMS
Oh man the new ALC-42s look so GOOD! I can't wait to see more of them on the network
Beautiful!
Beautiful train ride. Amazing scenery along the way. Tnx4sharing full watched 👍
The Empire builder seems like a very beautiful route. The new ALC-42 locomotive looks pretty clean too. 👍👍
Beautiful video. I live in Seattle suburbs and I plan to travel to MT by this train. Thank you for capturing this journey so wonderfully
I'm doing it at Christmas this year. Going home by train for the first time
a Jersey central unit had a Guest appearance in 9:51
NICE!!! Youre videos are always awesome.
Excellent work! The 120 year old trestle bridge shots and then the Great Plains, superb!
Nice trip! I love the long haul trains and your stop to ride horses at Glacier. Great idea. And you passed Wisconsin Dells! I went on vacation there when I was a young child (1960-ish?) and it was wonderful. I especially remember the Duck Boats; amphibious vehicles that went straight from the road into the water, then passing the fabulous rock formations. They quite impressed my young self.
Here goes my 👍 even before whatch it! Happy birthday!!
It really is neat how quiet the diesel engines in many modern locomotives are, such that on some you can much more clearly hear the "electric" half of "diesel-electric".
In the clip of your first train pulling out of West Glacier, the ALC sounds just like its ACS64 cousins, just with the relatively faint hum of the diesel engine added in the background.
Semi-related: I remember reading somewhere that electric trains in the US were pioneered on the Seattle to Spokane line back in the 1920s because the steep slopes of the Cascade passes taxed the fossil-powered locomotives so badly
Brilliant vlog!!! Beautiful scenery!! This is on my bucket list to travel on this train one day
Truly an amazing trip. Beautiful video!
nice video, also nice heritage unit on that bnsf train at 9:50
Makes me happy to live in this area, just a short drive away from mountain rivers or the bustling metropolis. Also, YOU GOT NS 1071 AT 9:53!!! Legendary catch, especially here in the Northwest! We usually get NS heritage units once every couple years!
The CNJ Heritage Unit 30th Anniversary Edition (1982-2012)
Epic video of a wonderful train, Thibault. So glad you have exposed the Empire Builder to the world. It truly is a marvelous train adventure!
Another excellent video. The scenery looks stunning.
I’ve booked on the Empire Builder for October this year; here’s hoping I get your second attendant, not the first 🤞. Keep up the great content 👍👍
A great video. The Canadian Pacific portion through Wisconsin is the old Miwaukee Road. Their "Hiawatha" trains ran at 120 mph behind steam locomotives! Wisconsin Dells is major league fun.
Railroads ran fast before the FRA which limited speeds for different classes of tracks/signals...
Thanks for the review! I'll be taking this very train in September (when the days are shorter but the weather is usually better) and I'll also have a roomette. The dining tips are particularly welcome!
Did anyone else notice NS 1071 the CNJ heritage unit @ 9:52. It’s a long ways away from home.
US railroad isn't fast and modern, but landscapes are so beatiful.
Well their new locomotives are.
The sleeper car attendant just has to be a rarity! I have had nothing but polite and respectful sleeper car attendants in my experiences!
Same here, Amtrak employees have always been very helpful and professional when I take the California Zephyr, huge shout out !
9:52 YO IT'S THE CNJ HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE
Amtrak may not be the best train but the have amazing looking strains and amazing routes with stunning views
While I love that the ALC is quieter, I’m going to miss the unique thunder of the Genesis locos. Excellent video!
Give me the lazy 4 stroke beat of the GE P42 any day over the diesel truck roar of the ALC 42 though I do like the look of the ALC
@@paulwarner5395, if you want to ride such a loud train, find a way to go back in time and then ride them. Frankly, it's time to end (North) America's over-dependence on DMU-powered trains, and convert everything to run on electric power, but that's me, and Amtrak is trying to help save the environment by getting less polluting (and less loud) trains into service.
In the winter of 2022-2023, it has been reported, that the ALCs were having issues with the cold temps. I don't have a link, but I've heard the chatter...
@@HardRockMaster7577, then the ALC's have to be winterised better to survive in said cold temperatures; Russia has had electric rail for a quarter of the last century (and a few decades into this one) and their trains work just fine in Russia's bitterly cold winters.
@@Neville60001 The USA unfortunately does not have the resources to build that much electric rail. We have the longest rail-system in the world. Trains aren't killing our environment. Diesel is relatively clean compared to other sources of power, and it gets cleaner every year.
Have taken the grandkids to Wisc Dells....fun place....but while you are there...you must eat at " Buffalo Phil's". You food comes to your table on a train
One of my most favorite rail trips! And done by a wonderful travel-vlogger. Thank you sir!
I’ve done this trip in both directions. It’s so scenic in either direction.
I've worked on those tracks between Seattle, Everett, Wenatchee and Spokane, and I've worked inside the Cascade tunnel numerous times as well.
It looks like you were on the #8 Builder.
Spokane to Chicago in '86 and it was amazing 😍.
When I was in college (at least first two years), I would take the Empire Builder from Grand Forks North Dakota (the stop before Fargo) to Minneapolis. Was fun! But I got on when you would be out cold (2 am assuming it wasn't late (it usually was)).
Amazing trip on Amtrak Empire Builder #8 from Seattle to West Glacier and Amtrak Empire Builder #8/28 from West Glacier Park to Chicago the Amtrak Empire Builder is my number one favorite Amtrak route.
I was able to make this journey last summer and enjoyed it a great deal! Very nice viewing as always and thank you for sharing..
Awesome video! Now you've completed all the long distance routes in the West, I recommend this as your BEST amtk video ever!!
It's not IR anyways
@@RakeshKR10 I meant IR as well
IR and Amtrak are my favourite railways
Btw @Simply Railway you should make a trip report in India.
@@namratajha9712 yeah
Indian railways is famous for railway in India 👍
Great vid! I have to say you're probably my favorite train channel on YT!
My parents, my husband and I were in Wisconsin Dells back in 2018. It wad a great time. You and your girlfriend would enjoy it during the summer
Thank you for capturing so nicely my downtown Milwaukee. Always homesick, since I live on the other side of the planet now. The ride on the Empire Builder is my second favorite to the California Zephyr and always worth the trip.😍
Love the captions. No like the talky talk talk talk of other travelogues. This was nice.
I've taken this train once years ago and LOVED it! I will be taking it again in November and really looking forward to it. For me, it's the BEST way to travel!
Awesome !
Thank you for a great review ! I agree with all that you say, and it was good to have the new Siemens Charger locos on both parts of your trip. I last rode the Empire Builder pre-Covid, and the food was in good supply ! Many thanks.
Great trip and a super report -- many thanks!
Thank you for taking us with you. Some day, I’d really like to do this trip.
15 years ago~ I went West on the Empire builder and yeah we were like 5hrs~3hr late... when we rolled into West Glacier park I think it was around midnight. I still remember great views! and coming in to the mountains about sunset (summer time), I had felt a bit robbed lol. I'm really thinking this year to go to Seattle, and take the train east to correct that wrong lol
I've taken the Zephyr East from Emery to Chicago also 15 years ago, but I still right now would rather go on the Empire builder again! This is my internal debate about which one to take in September lol
I enjoy watching your videos. I’ve been watching them for about 2 years now and decided to take one. I took the Texas Eagle from LA to San Antonio. Let me tell you I really loved it and will definitely do it again.
A beautiful journey!! Great food!! Fantastic scenery#! Those new engines are super!! Sorry the rain dampened the beginning but typical of Seattle area.
Thank you Thibault for this posting.😀😀💚💚
Well done and I will consider this one when I take a long distance Train ride. Though I am in Florida and are limited on what trains go west as you know. Love the views here!
I took the Empire Builder (Seattle-Chicago) back in mid March and loved it. There was still plenty of snow on the ground and fresh flurries, making for some amazing photo during the trip.
We just took this trip and it was amazing. We also had a roomette and found it very comfortable. The food was really good and the staff were great. If you have the two days to spend you should take this trip.
What an amazing journey! 😍😍 Really enjoyed watching this with all the information! Hope some day I can experience all that too. Best wishes from Finland!
Hold Up, I can't be the only one to notice the CNJ Heritage Unit at 9:52.
Holy crap you caught the CNJ heritage unit, that’s pretty lucky
Wow .. What I can see is America sure is a beautiful place and they have great huge trains ..Some day I hope to be an American ..I love it
LOLLLLLLLL
I took the Empire Builder from East Glacier to Chicago a few years ago. We started our vacation with the California Zephyr to Salt Lake City. Then we rented a car, and drove to Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier parks. We stayed at the Isaak Walton Inn, too. A Great (Northern) hotel!
The best route for the views and for the staff!
I love particularly the moment of the meeting of these two people on the opposite side of the train in the Wenatchee stop 🥹 It was cute
Awesome video. Only complaint is you should’ve shown more of your time at Glacier. Maybe a minutes worth of footage or so. Like you did for the ski train in Colorado.
Another excellent report! I'd underline your comments about the Izaak Walton Inn. It's a great place to stay, about midway between East and West Glacier. Inn is very comfy and interesting. They have rental cars to make getting to and through the park easy. I'd also add that the scenery on the Portland section is wonderful, winding along the Columbia River.
Milwaukee is home! Definitely worth the visit. A lot of fun things to do, especially in the summer…
Summer fest. Brewery Tour. Downtown.
Bravo! What a treat. Thank you for sharing.🙏
You should visit Milwaukee for sure! Lake Michigan, the art museum, some great food and of course amazing beer. I recommend renting a kayak and paddling your way up the Milwaukee River which runs right through the city. There are several places you can just stop, tie up your kayak, and go in for a brewery tour or a delicious lunch!
I agree, you cannot get this experience on planes or cruise ship. If you want to try a scenic ferry, I recommend the one between Vancouver and Victoria B.C. Take tge train to Vancouver ot course. :)
An excellent presentation. thank you
Last year I took EB out of Portland. As we left Portland, we were seved in our room, a wonderful "box lunch"catered by a Portland retaurant . It was no disappointment because of the quality. Spinach salad topped with large fresh shrimp..