I was fortunate enough to have been on the Capitol Limited in August 2019. They still had an observation car at the time. Allie I hope you are 100% recovered from your surgery. I know Rob has been taking good care of you! 😊
Amtrak had to pull some out of service for the on going refurbishing of the Superliner fleet. Amtrak pulled them from the shared train sets of the Texas Eagle/Capitol Limited trains preferring not to pull them from western trains traveling through the more scenic Rockies, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada. The Cross Country Cafe is being used as a cafe/diner/lounge car substitute presently. The good news is that the refurbishing of the Superliner fleet is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 with 12 wrecked Superliner cars returning to service as well...
I grew up in Rockville, and the route between Cumberland MD and Rockville is among the most beautiful of all the Amtrak routes. You may not have noticed, but between Cumberland and Hancock, you go through "Paw Paw" -- a cascade of sharp curves and short tunnels along the upper Potomac river. Harpers Ferry is indeed among the most gorgeous of all the Amtrak stations. Just east of Harpers Ferry, the train passes through Point of Rocks. This has a classic gem of a station in the middle of a wye. The "Old Mainline" goes direct from Point of Rocks to Baltimore. Sadly, a hurricane in the early 1970s (Agnes) washed out most of the bridges. The route is now operated as freight-only subdivision of CSX. As late as the 1970s, there was still a working turntable in the Brunswick yards (just east of Point of Rocks) that I used to enjoy cranking around as a highschooler and college student. My grandfather's brother was an engineer on the B&O living in Connellsville, PA and he drove the Capitol for years during the steam era (the Capitol Limited was the "crack" train of the B&O for many decades). Sadly, the Capitol Limited is among the worst of the Amtrak trains. The meal service is abysmal, even by Flex Dining standards (Flex Dining on the Lakeshore is way better). Amtrak dropped the Sightseer Lounge years ago claiming equipment and staff shortages. For whatever reasons, the Capitol always seems to get the short end of the Amtrak stick. I've always preferred the Cardinal between Chicago and DC. It uses ViewLiner equipment and passes through the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. After stopping in DC, it continues to NYP (which is why it uses Viewliner equipment). The Cardinal runs only 3 days a week, is slow and creaky, and is often late -- but I still prefer it. It leaves CHI at 5:55p and arrives in DC at 6:45 p the next day. It's earlier start makes dinner on the Cardinal much more relaxed, and I always enjoy the ride. No Harpers Ferry, though Finally, a perhaps interesting bit of Amtrak history -- the Cardinal still exists because of the late Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia. For all his many faults, Mr. Byrd was a strong Amtrak supporter and was also chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee during much of his tenure. Mr. Byrd demanded that the Cardinal continue running through West Virginia as his price for supporting Amtrak funding (Mr. Byrd was, along with LBJ, a classic pork-barrel Senator). The original route terminated in DC, and was extended to NYC as a way of increasing ridership during its leaner years. Thanks for posting another great video.
I just got back from my trip on the Zephyr and was in room 23 which was a roomette and the bathroom/shower combo was right next store. It was great. It was partitioned with crew quarters.
The Capitol Ltd. is one of two trains that stop in my town, Elkhart, IN, and I often watch it on the live webcam. It's nice knowing that you passed through!
This video is very informative. I knew a little bit about the Transition Car, but this video provides many details. I remember someone (maybe it was both of you) did a video where they included information on a 2nd floor bathroom with a shower, but they did not highlight that it was on a Transition Car.
I had a transition car roomette on the Coast Starlight (EMY-SEA) last month. I too was confused when my ticket showed Room 24. As your video showed, the car was the closest sleeper to the engine so you definitely heard the train horn.
This car has access with a small stairwell to the lower deck back door of the locomotive.. While there are too many roomettes for most trains, this car was used extensively for the staff with the much longer Auto Train, the only train that actually turns a profit...
Some years ago, I too was booked into a transition car. And it is, indeed, a unique experience even tho the roomette is exactly the same as in a normal coach.
Thanks guys, we are from outside of US and found the Amtrak sleeper cars because of your channel. A great way to get around America! Also (not trying to be a smart alec or anything: I also did this and learned the hard way) be careful of touching the plug pins when plugging in! I used to do that too and got zapped when unplugging an operating shearing machine (jumped some amazing distance). Formed the habit of holding the plastic bit and not touching the pins. All the best, love your videos!
I took the Capitol Limited WAS-CHI in April 2021. The consist was one loco and four cars: One Sleeper One Cross-Country Cafe (like yours) Two Coach Class
The timing of this video could not be better- I am planning a Capitol Limited roomette trip for December and I'm glad to see this. I wish they had the observation/lounge car back
I had the upper bunk from FL to Wash. Dc, then to Chicago and on the Empire Builder. Once I got my hair caught in that net! Actually it is not bad, and I found if I needed to get up during the night, the train would often be making a stop...felt much safer to get up & down when not moving! And always have your feet on the end where the steps or ladder is!!!!
Thank you for posting this video on the Capitol Limited Train. I was looking into the Capitol Limited as part of a trip between Alexandria, Virginia and Sacramento, California in March 2026. I’m planning on attending RailNation 2026 - a passenger rail conference held by Rail Passengers Association. It is held every March at the Alexandria Embassy Suites Hotel. I would fly Southwest to the conference and ride Amtrak back home to gain the train travel experience.
I was in the crew car as a passenger once on the Empire builder. I really liked it it was quieter than other cars.shower upstairs and downstairs would do it again.
Just rode one yesterday on the Coast Starlight. Room 19. The staff break area is downstairs where the family room would be. They were all friendly.. Upstairs were 2 shower/bathroom. Both were about 5 feet from my room. Oddly enough, this was my first sleeper car!!
The Capitol Limited is an amazing route. I took it on a regular Superliner, but there was no observation car. It basically was beautiful once we left DC until it got dark, which was just after we got to Pennsylvania. It's amazing.
Amtrak is presently refurbishing the entire Superliner fleet. The sightseeing lounge and diner will return soon. Amtrak is expecting to complete the refurbishing by the end of 2024...
In winter, it will be dark before the westbound Capitol gets to Martinsburg. The best scenery is on the eastbound train. You follow the Youghogheny (sp?) River for a long way, then go down Sand Patch grade into Cumberland, then down the Potomac through Paw Paw and Harpers Ferry.
30 or so years ago, we twice caught the Indian Pacific train from South Australia to Sydney. The first time was a deliberate choice, the second when there was a pilots' strike and there were no planes. Each time we had what was called a Roomette. That gave us a private room with upper and lower bunks and a private bathroom. The bathroom had a shower, and our own toilet/lavatory. There probably was a handbasin also, or perhaps that was in the main room. The lower bunk folded down from what was a sofa through the day. Meals were served in the dining carriage and there was also a lounge car where you could meet other passengers. It had a piano and also bar service. They were very pleasant trips, starting with farming country as you travelled north from Adelaide, turning into desert a few hours later. On the second morning, you woke to grazing country in western NSW followed by bushland/forests as you crossed the Blue Mountains.
In the heydays of streamline stainless steel passenger trains, Budd produced the bulk of them... Pullman operated most of the sleeper cars...Presently VIA is running the Canadian with Budd cars built for the Canadian Pacific Railroad during the early 1950s with dome and park cars...
I used know who made the carriages of the Southern Aurora, which operated an all sleeper train from Sydney to Melbourne starting in the early '60's and those used for the Sydney-Brisbane train. All forgotten now, but the memory of the Adelaide-Sydney journeys continues.@@ronclark9724
Rode on one of those last Thanksgiving on the Zephyr. Was in room 2 and noticed that at my end of the car there were outside locks on the doors used by staff. Car attendant was at the other end of the car in room 15.
I got to do this in April of this year between DC and Ft Lauderdale I was super confused at first but having 2 very nice showers was incredible. Normal car was out for maintenance. Funny thing was attendants and passengers were all in there mixed. Loved it.
If you guys ever ride the crescent or Cardinal you guys should check out the viewliner version of this car, it’s called the Bag-Dorm car. Half the car is a baggage car and the other half is roomettes. Most of them are for crew but a few get sold to passengers! You usually usually know if your in this car if it has the suffix is ‘09’ on your ticket
The Superliner II Transition Sleeper cars were built in 1994 by Bombardier’s factory in Vermont. The Superliner II’s design adheres to the (at the time) recently passed Americans with Disabilities Act. The Transition Sleepers from Amtrak’s order of Superliner II’s were specifically designed to replace the older Santa Fe Budd “Hi-Level” cars built in the late 1950’s. The Transition Sleeper car and the Santa Fe “Hi-level” cars allow bilevel cars to be coupled on one end of the car with a second floor vestibule connecting to other superliners, and a single level/low level vestibule to be on the other to transition to other single level passenger cars. Often times baggage cars are coupled up to the transition sleepers since the Long distance trains generally have the engines and baggage car up front before the rest of the passenger train consist.
The transition sleepers have been there all along. Perhaps the sleeping passenger load was too great on that particular train and overflowed into the transition car. It is built to give Amtrak that flexibility. Rooms are still good and your security somewhat enhanced.
That consist is only on “Capitol”. Capitol has not had a Sightseer for quite sometime Sad. Western trains have a “crew/transition car mostly in the summer to sell extra roomette. Have you had all roomette or all room cars on the Auto Train? I always get my upper made up with the “head” on the end where the “night light” is. I love your posts!
Hello guys. Thank you for clearing up for me the section on the lower level of the Superliner that had tables and chairs. I was curious about that when I saw it in Chicago as I was boarding my train, Texas Eagle. Which I'm not sure if it was on there also. As for the Superliner cafe/diner, that's been out since the pandemic. it threw me off when I first saw in September 2021 on the Texas Eagle.
I loved seeing this. On maybe my second Amtrak trip about 20 years ago I was in a car like that and didn’t realize how great it was to have the shower upstairs and I’ve been searching for one ever since haha… I was wondering if it was a false memory… 🤭
I would argue that there is a rarer amtrak sleeper. The transition sleeper used to be on every Superliner train to connect to baggage cars. But they do sometimes run without one now. The rarer sleeper is the "Deluxe" Superliner which ONLY runs on the Auto Train. Instead of all roomettes, it's all Bedrooms on the top level!
I’m going on Acela for the first time ever in my life in august!!! First class🎉 can I get to the cafe from there if they don’t serve food I like? Also capital limited looks fun. Reminds me of sunset limited
Of the four routes to Chicago from the northeast, I've taken three, the Lake Shore Limited, Broadway Limited and Cardinal, but I've never taken the Capitol Limited, because I'm in NYC and I'd have to take a separate train to or from DC and I prefer a through-route for overnight travel. But it is on my train bucket list and it's been ages since I've been to DC. Thanks for the reminder!
The round-trip fare between Washington and HF was $3.50 when I was a teenager. HF was a rare place where I could practice both my passions: trains and hiking. I'm revealing my age by quoting that fare.😊
Hi Allie and Rob. Your videos are very entertaining. Rob always sleeps in the top bunk and you sleep in the bottom bunk. Have you ever cut a big one in the middle of the night and does the noise or the smell wake Rob up? Does he get mad?
Wow, neat. Thank you for taking us along on your adventure. I hope you are fully recovered from your emergency. Thank you again for taking the time to create these videos.
I'm pretty sure the headrest temperature dial controls an electric space heater in the wall under the window. It's not connected to the ventilation system. If you think of it as a space heater it seems to make sense. You can't make the room any cooler but can warm it up.
A very good sleeper car attendant (Lou, on the Capitol Limited in fact!) told me that it is "baseboard heating". He wishes they would label the thermostat "on or off". Thermostat has no connection to the air conditioning, only control you have over that is the air vent in the ceiling. Though I guess you could turn on the heater to counteract the AC.
Hi. I just found your channel today and I’m loving the content. Allie, you have beautiful hair and skin. Do you blow dry and flat iron, etc? Could you please share your hair routine and products you use? Thanks so much. ❤❤
Twenty years ago when Amtrak refurbished the Superliner I cars, they also refurbished the Superfiner I diners. Some were refurbished for the Cross Country Cafe for the Auto Train for usage with the coach passengers in addition for the sightseeing lounge's cafe which was being overburden. Since they converted more than they needed for the Auto Train, they would turn up as a replacement for a diner whenever a diner was pulled for maintenance with the other Superliner trains as Amtrak barely had enough diners for the trains in service. Now that the Superliner II diners are being refurbished, the Cross Country Cafe replaced the diners for the shared train sets of the Texas Eagle/Capitol Limited until all of the diners in the fleet have been refurbished which should be completed by the end of 2024. Congress has also funded the Superliner sleeper fleet replacements, 12 firms have made offers with Amtrak presently studying before issuing their purchase order. New bi-level sleeper trains are not expected to be in service before the 2030s... VIA is also considering ordering this train to replace their sleeper fleet as well on the Canadian and Ocean. Whether Amtrak California will replace their Superliner coach fleet with this new sleeper coach or just continue acquiring the new single level Siemens coaches is yet to be determined...
funny story, I only live a couple miles from Amtrak station (Elyria) and I can hear the Capitol Limited's (westbound) horns while watching this video haha This was not planned
You were in the transition car? That's a typical practice. I rode in one of them last year on the California Zephyr. The Viewliner II cars are more rare than the transition dorm cars. Not really all that rare. I loved riding in the transition car.
no flexible dinning meals for sleeper passengers only last I heard which are meals that are ready before on the train and just warmed up in the microwave on the train, those are for trains mostly east of Chicago and North of San Antonio and part of the western routes from Chicago also have flexible dinning like the segment from Chicago to San Antonio, and segment from Sopkane to Portland have flexible dinning for sleeper passengers only.
@@chrisdobrowolski2783 They restored real dining to the Florida trains. Hoe long until they get around the others? The 'flexible' junk food they served to Florida was the worst I have ever had. On my last trip I took my own food for dinner. Breakfast was tolerable then I just waited until arrival to eat. So glad they have brought back real food.
Whether traditional dining ever returns to the trains east of Chicago is still unclear. Amtrak has had difficulty recruiting new diner staff they furloughed during the pandemic. Many of the furloughed found other jobs that allowed them to sleep at home every night, something Amtrak can't offer...
Better than a Japanese POD or the new Siemens European Night Train half roomette similar to a POD... They literally are coffins.... Roomettes are great for singles, and okay for two well acquainted... There is plenty of room on the wide chairs to prop up your feet...
@@ronclark9724 I'd never stay in a Japanese POD but some do because they are CHEAP (Amtrak is expensive). Agreed the new European Night Train rooms you speak of are outrageously claustrophobic however there are larger rooms. Like the PODS, I'd never stay in one of those coffin size sleepers. I believe, however, that they are INEXPENSIVE whereas Amtrak charges a LOT. Incidentally, before Amtrak Budd and Pullman Standard Roomettes were designed with one berth for one person only. Amtrak downgraded the Roomette. Pre Amtrak there were economy "sleepercoaches", sometimes called "slumbercosches" for a nominal fee above coach rail fare. These should have been retained as a cheap alternative to the traditional Roomette.
1. Regarding your tip on the bathrooms: If you find yourself walking “through” a Transdorm car, you’re going to be walking to nowhere (with a staircase going down to the level of “normal” cars). These cars were designed to transition between the baggage car (normal floor height) and any of the “true” Superliner cars. Further, your advice has you sending people into sleeper cars other than their own to use that shower. Not polite. 2. These cars are not that unusual. In September, waiting for the California Zephyr at Emeryville, the southbound Coast Starlight had a Transdorm after the baggage car as the first of the Superliner consist. “Most” of the time, that’s the position you’ll find the Transdorm, with all of the odd-numbered roomettes on the left side, and the even-numbered cars on the right side. Earlier this year, Transdorm cars were spotted at the tail end of the consist on a few trains. 3. Could you confirm two things: An accessible roomette on the lower level in the normal place; and the presence of two combined lavatories/showers on the upper level - one in the middle opposite the stairway and the other opposite roomette 15? I agree that the hanging space in roomettes is much better than the skinny closet. If you want a convenient way to double your A/C outlet, search Lowes for item 2516019: Utilitech 1/2-ft 16/1 3-Prong Indoor Light Duty General Extension Cord. It costs about $4 and once you know what you're looking for you can find it at other retailers or online. Overall, I think that if Amtrak had more all-roomette Superliners on their busiest routes, they’d fill them up.
The dining car attendants wouldn't let me go see if our rooms (headed to Portland) were different from those going to Seattle, but on a fresh air break (or was it when the dining car was closed), their attendant let me check them out. Guessing a transcar, especially if it was crew quarters. On the way from LA to StL, there were crew quartering in 9 & 10, next to my roomette #7, and crew quarters, on the next car (maybe that was the Portland to Sacramento), but even tho their dining car attendant said it was OK (she was in #10) I didn't realize it had a special bathroom upstairs. Back when the Superliners first came out, (1980 High School graduation present), they didn't yet have the double decker dining car, but used a transition car, with a spiral staircase, at that end to get there, and perhaps the Mandela effect tells me they were still using the old style dome cars - where you could see the front of the train, even when you weren't making a turn, or on a fresh air break. Also, the announcements didn't work in the car I was in. Back to this year, when the knob said "music" and turning it didn't change channels or volume, I didn't notice that it affected the announcements, because there weren't any when I "played games" with the knob.
@@jeffreyhall5307 This music service has long been discontinued by Amtrak as its ancient technology. Remember some of these Superliners are over 40 years in age, approaching 50... No wonder there is only one 110 volt outlet in a roomette, built for a razor or hair dryer, not for recharging batteries for devices...
![Amtrak's Capitol Limited - History, Triumph and Tragedy [S3: E05]](/img/n.gif)
I was fortunate enough to have been on the Capitol Limited in August 2019. They still had an observation car at the time. Allie I hope you are 100% recovered from your surgery. I know Rob has been taking good care of you! 😊
Amtrak had to pull some out of service for the on going refurbishing of the Superliner fleet. Amtrak pulled them from the shared train sets of the Texas Eagle/Capitol Limited trains preferring not to pull them from western trains traveling through the more scenic Rockies, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada. The Cross Country Cafe is being used as a cafe/diner/lounge car substitute presently. The good news is that the refurbishing of the Superliner fleet is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 with 12 wrecked Superliner cars returning to service as well...
I grew up in Rockville, and the route between Cumberland MD and Rockville is among the most beautiful of all the Amtrak routes. You may not have noticed, but between Cumberland and Hancock, you go through "Paw Paw" -- a cascade of sharp curves and short tunnels along the upper Potomac river. Harpers Ferry is indeed among the most gorgeous of all the Amtrak stations. Just east of Harpers Ferry, the train passes through Point of Rocks. This has a classic gem of a station in the middle of a wye. The "Old Mainline" goes direct from Point of Rocks to Baltimore. Sadly, a hurricane in the early 1970s (Agnes) washed out most of the bridges. The route is now operated as freight-only subdivision of CSX. As late as the 1970s, there was still a working turntable in the Brunswick yards (just east of Point of Rocks) that I used to enjoy cranking around as a highschooler and college student.
My grandfather's brother was an engineer on the B&O living in Connellsville, PA and he drove the Capitol for years during the steam era (the Capitol Limited was the "crack" train of the B&O for many decades).
Sadly, the Capitol Limited is among the worst of the Amtrak trains. The meal service is abysmal, even by Flex Dining standards (Flex Dining on the Lakeshore is way better). Amtrak dropped the Sightseer Lounge years ago claiming equipment and staff shortages. For whatever reasons, the Capitol always seems to get the short end of the Amtrak stick.
I've always preferred the Cardinal between Chicago and DC. It uses ViewLiner equipment and passes through the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. After stopping in DC, it continues to NYP (which is why it uses Viewliner equipment). The Cardinal runs only 3 days a week, is slow and creaky, and is often late -- but I still prefer it. It leaves CHI at 5:55p and arrives in DC at 6:45 p the next day. It's earlier start makes dinner on the Cardinal much more relaxed, and I always enjoy the ride. No Harpers Ferry, though
Finally, a perhaps interesting bit of Amtrak history -- the Cardinal still exists because of the late Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia. For all his many faults, Mr. Byrd was a strong Amtrak supporter and was also chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee during much of his tenure. Mr. Byrd demanded that the Cardinal continue running through West Virginia as his price for supporting Amtrak funding (Mr. Byrd was, along with LBJ, a classic pork-barrel Senator). The original route terminated in DC, and was extended to NYC as a way of increasing ridership during its leaner years.
Thanks for posting another great video.
Very interesting!😃
As a train enthusiast and train Conductor, I love your videos!! Very cool videos showing the features of the long and short distance amtrak trains!!
I enjoyed the natural train sounds in this video. Thank you so much for that.
I love this. We need more trains in this country! Thanks guys!
I just got back from my trip on the Zephyr and was in room 23 which was a roomette and the bathroom/shower combo was right next store. It was great. It was partitioned with crew quarters.
Harper's Ferry is our get a way spot and we love taking the capital limited there from Cleveland!!!
The Capitol Ltd. is one of two trains that stop in my town, Elkhart, IN, and I often watch it on the live webcam. It's nice knowing that you passed through!
Nice to see you back and recovered.
This video is very informative. I knew a little bit about the Transition Car, but this video provides many details. I remember someone (maybe it was both of you) did a video where they included information on a 2nd floor bathroom with a shower, but they did not highlight that it was on a Transition Car.
I was in a transdormer room a couple years ago. The upstairs shower is so cool.
Nicely done with the flexibility Rob! No way would I try that in the Penthouse!! haha
Get well soon, Allie!
I had a transition car roomette on the Coast Starlight (EMY-SEA) last month. I too was confused when my ticket showed Room 24. As your video showed, the car was the closest sleeper to the engine so you definitely heard the train horn.
This car has access with a small stairwell to the lower deck back door of the locomotive.. While there are too many roomettes for most trains, this car was used extensively for the staff with the much longer Auto Train, the only train that actually turns a profit...
Some years ago, I too was booked into a transition car. And it is, indeed, a unique experience even tho the roomette is exactly the same as in a normal coach.
I really revere your reviews I recently stopped flying and I love amtrak. Always look forward to more!!
Thanks guys, we are from outside of US and found the Amtrak sleeper cars because of your channel. A great way to get around America! Also (not trying to be a smart alec or anything: I also did this and learned the hard way) be careful of touching the plug pins when plugging in! I used to do that too and got zapped when unplugging an operating shearing machine (jumped some amazing distance). Formed the habit of holding the plastic bit and not touching the pins. All the best, love your videos!
I took the Capitol Limited WAS-CHI in April 2021. The consist was one loco and four cars:
One Sleeper
One Cross-Country Cafe (like yours)
Two Coach Class
The timing of this video could not be better- I am planning a Capitol Limited roomette trip for December and I'm glad to see this. I wish they had the observation/lounge car back
I had the upper bunk from FL to Wash. Dc, then to Chicago and on the Empire Builder. Once I got my hair caught in that net! Actually it is not bad, and I found if I needed to get up during the night, the train would often be making a stop...felt much safer to get up & down when not moving! And always have your feet on the end where the steps or ladder is!!!!
Loved this and hope to ride the Capitol Limited soon! Just booked my 1st retirement trip from western NY to Savnnah GA
Have fun!Have fun, which train are you taking?
@@GroundedLifeTravel Silver Meteor NYP to SAV; Palmetto SAV to Richmond
I’ve done the Cap Ltd many times and that was a very unique combination of cars. It’s great that they used the transition car.
Thank you for posting this video on the Capitol Limited Train. I was looking into the Capitol Limited as part of a trip between Alexandria, Virginia and Sacramento, California in March 2026. I’m planning on attending RailNation 2026 - a passenger rail conference held by Rail Passengers Association. It is held every March at the Alexandria Embassy Suites Hotel. I would fly Southwest to the conference and ride Amtrak back home to gain the train travel experience.
I enjoy watching these videos. Thanks for sharing.
Allie, you must be doing better! Hope your remaining recovery goes well!
Always fascinating! Thanks for sharing another informative video. The transition car and the setup of the car is very interesting!
I was in the crew car as a passenger once on the Empire builder. I really liked it it was quieter than other cars.shower upstairs and downstairs would do it again.
Just rode one yesterday on the Coast Starlight. Room 19. The staff break area is downstairs where the family room would be. They were all friendly.. Upstairs were 2 shower/bathroom. Both were about 5 feet from my room. Oddly enough, this was my first sleeper car!!
The Capitol Limited is an amazing route. I took it on a regular Superliner, but there was no observation car. It basically was beautiful once we left DC until it got dark, which was just after we got to Pennsylvania. It's amazing.
Amtrak is presently refurbishing the entire Superliner fleet. The sightseeing lounge and diner will return soon. Amtrak is expecting to complete the refurbishing by the end of 2024...
In winter, it will be dark before the westbound Capitol gets to Martinsburg. The best scenery is on the eastbound train. You follow the Youghogheny (sp?) River for a long way, then go down Sand Patch grade into Cumberland, then down the Potomac through Paw Paw and Harpers Ferry.
We just rode in one of these coming from Chicago to Memphis! Loved the bathroom with the shower, so roomy!🥰
30 or so years ago, we twice caught the Indian Pacific train from South Australia to Sydney. The first time was a deliberate choice, the second when there was a pilots' strike and there were no planes. Each time we had what was called a Roomette. That gave us a private room with upper and lower bunks and a private bathroom. The bathroom had a shower, and our own toilet/lavatory. There probably was a handbasin also, or perhaps that was in the main room. The lower bunk folded down from what was a sofa through the day. Meals were served in the dining carriage and there was also a lounge car where you could meet other passengers. It had a piano and also bar service. They were very pleasant trips, starting with farming country as you travelled north from Adelaide, turning into desert a few hours later. On the second morning, you woke to grazing country in western NSW followed by bushland/forests as you crossed the Blue Mountains.
In the heydays of streamline stainless steel passenger trains, Budd produced the bulk of them... Pullman operated most of the sleeper cars...Presently VIA is running the Canadian with Budd cars built for the Canadian Pacific Railroad during the early 1950s with dome and park cars...
I used know who made the carriages of the Southern Aurora, which operated an all sleeper train from Sydney to Melbourne starting in the early '60's and those used for the Sydney-Brisbane train. All forgotten now, but the memory of the Adelaide-Sydney journeys continues.@@ronclark9724
Rode on one of those last Thanksgiving on the Zephyr. Was in room 2 and noticed that at my end of the car there were outside locks on the doors used by staff. Car attendant was at the other end of the car in room 15.
I got to do this in April of this year between DC and Ft Lauderdale I was super confused at first but having 2 very nice showers was incredible. Normal car was out for maintenance. Funny thing was attendants and passengers were all in there mixed. Loved it.
Excellent and thanks for sharing
If you guys ever ride the crescent or Cardinal you guys should check out the viewliner version of this car, it’s called the Bag-Dorm car. Half the car is a baggage car and the other half is roomettes. Most of them are for crew but a few get sold to passengers! You usually usually know if your in this car if it has the suffix is ‘09’ on your ticket
I wasn't aware Amtrak was booking dorm baggage car roomettes... Thanks for the info...
The Superliner II Transition Sleeper cars were built in 1994 by Bombardier’s factory in Vermont.
The Superliner II’s design adheres to the (at the time) recently passed Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Transition Sleepers from Amtrak’s order of Superliner II’s were specifically designed to replace the older Santa Fe Budd “Hi-Level” cars built in the late 1950’s. The Transition Sleeper car and the Santa Fe “Hi-level” cars allow bilevel cars to be coupled on one end of the car with a second floor vestibule connecting to other superliners, and a single level/low level vestibule to be on the other to transition to other single level passenger cars.
Often times baggage cars are coupled up to the transition sleepers since the Long distance trains generally have the engines and baggage car up front before the rest of the passenger train consist.
The transition sleepers have been there all along. Perhaps the sleeping passenger load was too great on that particular train and overflowed into the transition car. It is built to give Amtrak that flexibility. Rooms are still good and your security somewhat enhanced.
That consist is only on “Capitol”. Capitol has not had a Sightseer for quite sometime Sad. Western trains have a “crew/transition car mostly in the summer to sell extra roomette. Have you had all roomette or all room cars on the Auto Train? I always get my upper made up with the “head” on the end where the “night light” is. I love your posts!
That's a fun trip
Hello guys. Thank you for clearing up for me the section on the lower level of the Superliner that had tables and chairs. I was curious about that when I saw it in Chicago as I was boarding my train, Texas Eagle. Which I'm not sure if it was on there also. As for the Superliner cafe/diner, that's been out since the pandemic. it threw me off when I first saw in September 2021 on the Texas Eagle.
I loved seeing this. On maybe my second Amtrak trip about 20 years ago I was in a car like that and didn’t realize how great it was to have the shower upstairs and I’ve been searching for one ever since haha… I was wondering if it was a false memory… 🤭
I would argue that there is a rarer amtrak sleeper. The transition sleeper used to be on every Superliner train to connect to baggage cars. But they do sometimes run without one now.
The rarer sleeper is the "Deluxe" Superliner which ONLY runs on the Auto Train. Instead of all roomettes, it's all Bedrooms on the top level!
I think that only runs on the Auto Train.
I’m going on Acela for the first time ever in my life in august!!! First class🎉 can I get to the cafe from there if they don’t serve food I like? Also capital limited looks fun. Reminds me of sunset limited
Of the four routes to Chicago from the northeast, I've taken three, the Lake Shore Limited, Broadway Limited and Cardinal, but I've never taken the Capitol Limited, because I'm in NYC and I'd have to take a separate train to or from DC and I prefer a through-route for overnight travel. But it is on my train bucket list and it's been ages since I've been to DC. Thanks for the reminder!
That was a very interesting video. I wonder where this odd equipment originated.
Something different thank you for the video so cool
Interesting to see the differences.
Harpers Feery is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. It is breathtaking.
and its a very short walk to a couple BnBs right downtown. Great place to take the train.
The round-trip fare between Washington and HF was $3.50 when I was a teenager. HF was a rare place where I could practice both my passions: trains and hiking. I'm revealing my age by quoting that fare.😊
Nice video
Hi Allie and Rob. Your videos are very entertaining. Rob always sleeps in the top bunk and you sleep in the bottom bunk. Have you ever cut a big one in the middle of the night and does the noise or the smell wake Rob up? Does he get mad?
I hope your okay Allie.
Wow, neat. Thank you for taking us along on your adventure. I hope you are fully recovered from your emergency. Thank you again for taking the time to create these videos.
On the train to New Orleans, this past October, we were in roomette # 24 😮
I'm pretty sure the headrest temperature dial controls an electric space heater in the wall under the window. It's not connected to the ventilation system. If you think of it as a space heater it seems to make sense. You can't make the room any cooler but can warm it up.
A very good sleeper car attendant (Lou, on the Capitol Limited in fact!) told me that it is "baseboard heating". He wishes they would label the thermostat "on or off". Thermostat has no connection to the air conditioning, only control you have over that is the air vent in the ceiling. Though I guess you could turn on the heater to counteract the AC.
Hi. I just found your channel today and I’m loving the content. Allie, you have beautiful hair and skin. Do you blow dry and flat iron, etc? Could you please share your hair routine and products you use? Thanks so much. ❤❤
I rode the Capitol Limited last year (in May), and it had the same cafe/dining car. I wonder if this car is particular to this route.
Twenty years ago when Amtrak refurbished the Superliner I cars, they also refurbished the Superfiner I diners. Some were refurbished for the Cross Country Cafe for the Auto Train for usage with the coach passengers in addition for the sightseeing lounge's cafe which was being overburden. Since they converted more than they needed for the Auto Train, they would turn up as a replacement for a diner whenever a diner was pulled for maintenance with the other Superliner trains as Amtrak barely had enough diners for the trains in service. Now that the Superliner II diners are being refurbished, the Cross Country Cafe replaced the diners for the shared train sets of the Texas Eagle/Capitol Limited until all of the diners in the fleet have been refurbished which should be completed by the end of 2024. Congress has also funded the Superliner sleeper fleet replacements, 12 firms have made offers with Amtrak presently studying before issuing their purchase order. New bi-level sleeper trains are not expected to be in service before the 2030s... VIA is also considering ordering this train to replace their sleeper fleet as well on the Canadian and Ocean. Whether Amtrak California will replace their Superliner coach fleet with this new sleeper coach or just continue acquiring the new single level Siemens coaches is yet to be determined...
I took this car on the Empire Builder twice earlier this year! Had rooms 21 and 18. 18 is definitely the worst with the bathroom smell....
Harpers Ferry is unique and historical. It's a National Park.
It use to go through Indianapolis Indiana
❤❤❤ !
What is the route for the Capital ?
funny story, I only live a couple miles from Amtrak station (Elyria) and I can hear the Capitol Limited's (westbound) horns while watching this video haha This was not planned
Can I ask use one of your lsl videos for my group lake shore limited train
You were in the transition car? That's a typical practice. I rode in one of them last year on the California Zephyr. The Viewliner II cars are more rare than the transition dorm cars. Not really all that rare. I loved riding in the transition car.
You did not show the view of that tall bridge
They're still serving fast food on the Capitol Limited?
no flexible dinning meals for sleeper passengers only last I heard which are meals that are ready before on the train and just warmed up in the microwave on the train, those are for trains mostly east of Chicago and North of San Antonio and part of the western routes from Chicago also have flexible dinning like the segment from Chicago to San Antonio, and segment from Sopkane to Portland have flexible dinning for sleeper passengers only.
@@chrisdobrowolski2783 They restored real dining to the Florida trains. Hoe long until they get around the others? The 'flexible' junk food they served to Florida was the worst I have ever had. On my last trip I took my own food for dinner. Breakfast was tolerable then I just waited until arrival to eat. So glad they have brought back real food.
Whether traditional dining ever returns to the trains east of Chicago is still unclear. Amtrak has had difficulty recruiting new diner staff they furloughed during the pandemic. Many of the furloughed found other jobs that allowed them to sleep at home every night, something Amtrak can't offer...
@@ronclark9724 With millions of new immigrants, it's incredible that these jobs can't be filled.
Let me guess before I watch it: transition sleeper.
I don't know how you can share a Roomette. Obviously you don't suffer from claustrophobia.
Better than a Japanese POD or the new Siemens European Night Train half roomette similar to a POD... They literally are coffins.... Roomettes are great for singles, and okay for two well acquainted... There is plenty of room on the wide chairs to prop up your feet...
@@ronclark9724 I'd never stay in a Japanese POD but some do because they are CHEAP (Amtrak is expensive). Agreed the new European Night Train rooms you speak of are outrageously claustrophobic however there are larger rooms. Like the PODS, I'd never stay in one of those coffin size sleepers. I believe, however, that they are INEXPENSIVE whereas Amtrak charges a LOT. Incidentally, before Amtrak Budd and Pullman Standard Roomettes were designed with one berth for one person only. Amtrak downgraded the Roomette. Pre Amtrak there were economy "sleepercoaches", sometimes called "slumbercosches" for a nominal fee above coach rail fare. These should have been retained as a cheap alternative to the traditional Roomette.
1. Regarding your tip on the bathrooms: If you find yourself walking “through” a Transdorm car, you’re going to be walking to nowhere (with a staircase going down to the level of “normal” cars). These cars were designed to transition between the baggage car (normal floor height) and any of the “true” Superliner cars. Further, your advice has you sending people into sleeper cars other than their own to use that shower. Not polite.
2. These cars are not that unusual. In September, waiting for the California Zephyr at Emeryville, the southbound Coast Starlight had a Transdorm after the baggage car as the first of the Superliner consist. “Most” of the time, that’s the position you’ll find the Transdorm, with all of the odd-numbered roomettes on the left side, and the even-numbered cars on the right side. Earlier this year, Transdorm cars were spotted at the tail end of the consist on a few trains.
3. Could you confirm two things: An accessible roomette on the lower level in the normal place; and the presence of two combined lavatories/showers on the upper level - one in the middle opposite the stairway and the other opposite roomette 15?
I agree that the hanging space in roomettes is much better than the skinny closet.
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Overall, I think that if Amtrak had more all-roomette Superliners on their busiest routes, they’d fill them up.
The dining car attendants wouldn't let me go see if our rooms (headed to Portland) were different from those going to Seattle, but on a fresh air break (or was it when the dining car was closed), their attendant let me check them out. Guessing a transcar, especially if it was crew quarters. On the way from LA to StL, there were crew quartering in 9 & 10, next to my roomette #7, and crew quarters, on the next car (maybe that was the Portland to Sacramento), but even tho their dining car attendant said it was OK (she was in #10) I didn't realize it had a special bathroom upstairs.
Back when the Superliners first came out, (1980 High School graduation present), they didn't yet have the double decker dining car, but used a transition car, with a spiral staircase, at that end to get there, and perhaps the Mandela effect tells me they were still using the old style dome cars - where you could see the front of the train, even when you weren't making a turn, or on a fresh air break. Also, the announcements didn't work in the car I was in.
Back to this year, when the knob said "music" and turning it didn't change channels or volume, I didn't notice that it affected the announcements, because there weren't any when I "played games" with the knob.
@@jeffreyhall5307 This music service has long been discontinued by Amtrak as its ancient technology. Remember some of these Superliners are over 40 years in age, approaching 50... No wonder there is only one 110 volt outlet in a roomette, built for a razor or hair dryer, not for recharging batteries for devices...