3 Days in Coach for $50 | Amtrak Southwest Chief | Mojave Desert Views and Hello LA!
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- Опубліковано 9 лис 2021
- It’s our final day aboard the 50-hour train journey from Chicago to LA! Because of flooding in Arizona, we wake up on the border with California. As the Chief chugs through America’s driest desert and climbs up the Cajon Pass, we soak up the last few hours of this amazing train travel experience. Everyone should try Amtrak, and our hope is that the last few videos inspire you to do just that!
This video also features footage of some unique Amtrak rolling stock and MetroLink trains!
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Awesome video! I had planned to book a roomette for this trip, but now I may opt for coach and use the savings for other Amtrak trips. I might hope for a delay too so I can experience those Mojave views!
It's rare to see the Mojave desert in the daytime. The Southwest Chief usually runs during the nighttime.
Wow-what an incredible train journey from Chicago to LA and all for $50. Thank you for sharing your experiences onboard the Southwest Chief. When I did the trip I had booked to fly from Ottawa (Canada) to Chicago but my flight was delayed by snow & ice. I did manage to catch the train but it was close, as my first long-distance Amtrak train journey, I never factored in any major delays on the train. So I now realize how naive I was as I was booked to fly out of LA home to Sydney Australia on day 3 of the end of my train trip (not factoring in any possible Amtrak train delays). It was for me a trip of a lifetime. I note you had a 7-hour delay, luckily I had no delays so I was able to make my flight home. I recall waking up on day 3 at 5 am to see all these cars on the highway heading for LA. At breakfast, I was told they were making their daily commute to LA trying to avoid any major traffic delays. Because of your 7 hour delay, you got to see what I slept through - but thanks to your video I got to see it. Looking forward to your future videos and yes' trains are awesome'! Keep up the great work you do, always much appreciated.
Excellent trip report! Glad you had such an awesome time in coach! Even though the delay meant you got to enjoy some extra time and sights on the train you might want to write to either your senator/congressperson or the representatives of the states along the route. Amtrak is supposed to have priority and the fact that an on time train within its scheduled slot was delayed for so many hours by freight should be an unacceptable violation of the law and Congress needs to strengthen the penalties or enforcement and hold the railroads accountable. Those delays and all the shuffling of connections and motor coaches make it that much harder for Amtrak to cover costs and encourage ridership, passing more cost onto the taxpayers and essentially subsidizing the freight traffic
Well this video made me want to take a trip on this route. I've done the other Chicago to west coast routes - empire builder, California zephyr, Texas eagle. I hope you get a chance to try a sleeper. Note that sleeper accommodation cost is per room, not per person so with multiple people the cost isn't nearly as bad - you each pay for seats the regular coach price and then you add the room to the reservation which covers everyone on the reservation. Meals and unlimited soft drinks are included.
That San Joaquin train goes to Merced. Then take a bus from there into Yosemite Park. It’s awesome as is the train station there
Barstow California is also the site of the main station for the Deep Space Network. The DSN manages and controls the Earth's spacecraft in deep space all over the Solar System. It's an American network but we assist international operators of spacecraft in deep space.
kingman native here!! in the cars movie, radiator springs was actually based on a tiny town in arizona called seligman about an hour and a half from kingman!
I really enjoyed your trip on the Chief. I also follow the Chief regularly with the. railfan group out of Flagstaff. I once lived in Arizona and attended college in Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University, Class of ‘69!!! Recently I drove 2400 miles from Texas to Phoenix and Camp Verde and back, as I’m planning to move to Camp Verde. Your trip showed me some places I’ve been, but from the tracks!! You do a great job.
As usual, a great video! By watching this particular video, this is the first time that I have ever seen a train descend down from the mountain Cajon Pass in the daylight. Back many years ago, there was an Amtrak train that used to go to Las Vegas in the daytime daily and you could see Cajon Pass all the way up. I myself never had the opportunity to ride it, but my late father and mother as well as my older sister all have ridden it when it ran in the daytime. That was back in 1980 and '81. Now the Southwest Chief only goes up Cajon Pass at nighttime unless it is majorly delayed like your train was by 7 hours! Under normal circumstances, the Southwest Chief would arrive in San Bernardino around 5:40AM or so. I myself am planning to ride Amtrak from my hometown of San Bernardino into Los Angeles on one morning. Even though I rode the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from L.A. to San Diego back in 2000, I have never ridden Amtrak into L.A. Union Station from our area. Once I get to L.A., I will catch a Metrolink one-way back home. Like I said, just for the Amtrak ride into L.A. It looks like you really enjoyed that trip from Michigan to Los Angeles despite all of the delays. I also saw that you rode coach instead of getting a sleeper car. Well, I just might do the same thing when I take my Amtrak round trip from San Bernardino to Chicago as I told you about. Just a thought. Obviously I will save one heck of a lot of money by doing that! That $50.00 ticket you paid for this trip; was that a one way or round trip ticket? I can't remember. Great video once again!
Super marvelous trip & commentary! I watched all 3 of your trip videos. In my mind the train is the only relaxing way to travel. I'm old enough to remember the days of "pullman" sleepers, which were great. Now I book my sleeper (despite the expensive cost); I LOVE my own private sleeping quarters AND the "included" meals in the dining car!
Saw your entire 3 part, report. Enjoyed it a lot , especially the facts that you give. Keep up the excellent work. Greetings from Riverside, CA
Thank you. Best video of Southwest Chief I have seen.
Thanks for bringing along.
Had to watch this again, shows your growth as a U-Tuber, still enjoy it.
Gosh Arizona is SO beautiful from the seat of a train; it's lovely watching the red landscape roll by in an air-conditioned Superliner
I do this trip every couple of years. Always a great time.
Thanks for a great video. I always plan for Amtrak delays by allowing for them. Treat the train travel as part of the vacation, so a delay is a bonus. More to see, more time to talk, more time to relax.
ありがとう、ゆっくり見せて頂きました。
Thank You so much for taking me on your trip. I had an amazing time watching all 3. Your so funny and very informative. Your soaks were funny too. This is my dream to do a cross country train ride. The only train I ever taken is the Silverton Train from Durango, CO to Siliverton. Im going to watch all of your videos and thank you again. be safe and take care. If your ever in Norther Arizona by the 4 Corners area., let me know. bye.