The Trains of Half-Life
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- Опубліковано 15 січ 2025
- Half-Life: Alyx is just around the corner and seeing as the HL series and Valve is back in the news, this seemed like a good time to revisit the games preceding it. However, I'll be re-visiting them in a bit of an unorthodox way. Trains are a common theme throughout the Half-Life series and being the avid railfan I am, it's hard not to notice the abundance of them. After all, you start Half-Life and Half-Life 2 on a train for that matter. With that said, I'll be analyzing the trains throughout each of the games from the first Half-Life in 1998 up to Half-Life 2: Episode 2 in 2007. Also included though are the beta train models cut or altered prior to Half-Life 2's retail release! I'll be comparing the in-game models to their theoretical or definite real-life counterparts and give a little trivia on each locomotive, train-set, or freight and passenger car. So, wake up, Mr. Freeman. Wake up and smell the ashes.
Music Used:
Half-Life OST - Hazardous Environments
Jazz Spastiks - Marshmallow Instrumental
Half-Life OST - Space Ocean
Jazz Spastiks - Bananas Instrumental
Jazz Spastiks - Fresh Oranges Instrumental
Jazz Spastiks - Apples Instrumental
"Cosimo Fogg - Jazzaddicts" is under a Creative Commons license (CC-BY) 3.0.
Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: • 'Jazzaddicts' by Cosim...
Half Life OST - Closing Theme
Links:
Twitter: / amtrakguy365
Instagram: / amtrakguy365
My Site: amtrakguy365.we...
Flickr: www.flickr.com...
Hey there! Thanks a ton for the massive support on this video! I'm really happy to see people who aren't really into trains enjoying this video as I was hoping both railfans and Half-Life fans could equally enjoy the video. Now after popular demand, The Trains of Team Fortress 2 is currently available to watch now if you're interested! ( ua-cam.com/video/nWlwi3rUumA/v-deo.html ) I've also been taking your suggestions for future "The Trains of (game)" videos into consideration as well so stay tuned for those, possibly somewhere down the line. Anyway, thanks again for all your support and feedback on this and the TF2 video!
hi. I liked your trains of TF2 video request: the trains of RDR 2
Can you do Alyx now that it's released? There are some models now available on Gmod.
AmtrakGuy 365 I can’t get over how creepy the K5H the razor train has.
No prob bud.
@@jeremyasher297 make that to Red Dead series because a UA-cam user by the name leviathan York did a “The train of RDR2” who already said that it was inspired by Amtrakguy365. However, there might be still a chance because he only reviewed Red Dead Redemption 2 not the red dead series, which I am talking about Revolver and Red Dead Redemption 1.
I didn't realize just how many different train cars there were in Half-Life. I honestly didn't think I would watch all the way through this video but by the end I was actually pretty interested. Great video, man!
I've watched half hour long videos about such obscure objects in certain video games, this seems very exciting.
Who else watched that 30 min long video about explosive barrels
Is there something about Half-Life that is not interesting? lol
@@SirKolass the fence keeping you away from Grigori's monastery in Ravenholm.
He has a mistake, at 5:41 This is not DR-1, this is DR-1A, they are different, they even have different windshields
“It’s actually illegal to ship a Half-Life game if you don’t spend at least a little time riding in a train.” - Valve
This is actually a real quote from erik wolpaw i think.
So episode 2 is illegal
@@BlackShadowLegion you actually ride a train in episode 2, if you forgot, go play it again. 😉
@@arumteguh2762 As far as I remember, it starts on train crash site (not a ride), then it continues in mines/caves and then you get a car and spent the remaining time riding it. I don't remember any train rides.
@@BlackShadowLegion You do ride some carts in the mines tho.
Some friends and I once tracked down the origin of the HL2 Ep2 reefer car. It was in a museum in Organ, and is a former GN car. It has since been repainted. Also worth noting is that the ends of those boxcars are infact container doors.
Additionally the "TEM-2" was originally intended to be a driveable vehicle, it has a modeled cab interior that you can only see if you noclip inside the model. I've seen many people make it into a functioning locomotive in gmod.
Excellent video!
ThePainTrain765 holy shit is that the EJ&E foamer from Griffith Indiana
I honestly wish it WAS driveable.
Yes
Epiic
Time to add driveable trains to my map! :)
me: "trains are kinda cool i guess"
AmtrakGuy365: recognizes the exact make and model of a train just by its horn like it was nothing
To be honest, it is a pretty recognizable horn sound effect used in many movies, cartoons and video games depicting trains.
To be honest, it’s kinda easy to recognize trains by train horns when you are a over appreciative Rail-buff.
its really not that hard
It really isn't that hard at all. I've even heard some people call the K5H the "movie star horn."
think of the train as a gun, there are people who looks at the TF2 shotgun and can see a Ithaca shotgun aswell :)
I didn’t realize how much of a focus trains were in the HL universe until now. Literally played the game like 50 times and this video made me realize how much effort they put into them.
Indeed, I always thought they were props, I didn't realise they were based on actual train models.
Idk about you but whenever I dream about trains I always recognize that they were from Half Life 2. I have a lot of lucid dreams.
It's a leitmotif
It's to symbolize the subtle railroading of Gordon's journey.
@@jessegd6306 And the trainwreck that is the player's expectation of a third title.
"I like trains."
*Combine gets run over*
Ah, the Garrys Mod nostalgia.
I am the 69th like
@zedelk nice
How did asdf movies train guy became a combine ? 😄
@@didiera.49 he got his mind washed and we took him to nova prospekt,chopped off his balls,ass,dick and he is now a overwatch soldier
*Laughs manically in combine*
My brain: Bro It's 1 am you need to get some sleep
Me: HALF LIFE TRAINS :DDDD
Gotta learn me some train horns I guess
@@Rickaddnamehere horn
Y
This was literally me. It's 0:51 am and I'm watching an analysis of trains in the HL franchise 😂
2am here!
Same
I'm with the science team!
Trist's Channel Open the silo door
Please, leave me alone until after the experiment.
SgtMays i’m busy
MY GOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
MadMan Machinations ahhaa
“Look! Freeman is examing the train! He’s gonna create something with it, I can feel it! We’re gonna win the combine!” - Some rebel probably.
Alyx: Well, the thing is... he's been doing that for every single train we've seen so far, so....
Half Life has always had the best industrial atmosphere.
What about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. then?
It is nowhere near as epic as HL, but what they managed to recreate seemed rather authentic
Nah tf2 does
1. This is not TEM2 but TEM18
2. SM48 is Name only used in Poland
S- spalinowy
M- manewrowy
48- -
This means diesel shunter series 48 (DS48)
:^)
It's neither TEM2 nor TEM18.
It looks more likely to be "shortened" version of TEM7 (originally TEM7 used to have 4 axles per bogey, this one only have 2 axles per bogey, but bogey, cab and hood exterior seem to match).
The only thing it borrows from TEM18 are headlights, and they are pretty similar on TEM18, TEM2U and "late" versions of TEM2.
This is the geekery the world deserves
Look at the hood shape and roof. Of course there are some changes because it could end up in court for copyrights etc.
How do you know?)
Ok, when I heard him say "rolling stock" without even explaining what the hell that was, I knew I was on the REALLY nerdy side of UA-cam. Exactly where I want to be.
Me: *likes trains*
Amtrak: *creates an analysis for trains in HL*
You, sir, put two of my most loved things in one video.
@@gooer2887 Yeah, people should stop putting 'nobody' in front of their comments, it's not funny anymore and never really was.
both of you implying i wanted to be funny in the first place.
I did changes. you both can run off now.
@@Clazzette lol
aH YES, *ENGINES OF AMTRAK but in HALF LIFE 3*
On a serious note, nice video! neat to see the ammount of interesting details people usally pass by in games such as this!
Do you plan on making more of that series?
Me? Engines of Amtrak? Yeah, I do.
Great! I’m exited for more!!
The razor train cars have always reminded me of the custom cars that Chevy used to transport the Vega. Just stretched in proportion like the engine.
I'm not even in trains but still popped up in my recommendations. Probably because I'm interested in HL lol
I’m not in space but I get space videos in my recommendations
@@silent_stalker3687 Well, technically you are in space. Suspended on a big ball of rock.
I swear I see you everywhere I go
@@Geeler Do I know you?
@@DieseltheWhiteTailedBuck No. But he knows you ;-)
Saw your Engines of Amtrak series. Since I'm a huge Half-Life fan, when I saw the frame of this video, I HAD to see this! Nice work!
Another tidbit: The Siemens plant is in south Sac, about a half-hour's drive from where I live, north-central Sacramento County.
The UA-cam algorithm is wild lmao
Came here to say that, I didn't know I needed this video until I saw this video 😅👍 Thanks, UA-cam.
I'm pretty sure i got noticed watching some trainspotting videos. Not a videogamer at all.
I am just completely impressed that you found so many exact real world pictures of some of these. Down the the exact numbers and everything. Very good vid!
What blows my mind is Half-Life's trains are so detailed and researched, yet they are only there as a backdrop that most people wouldn't really notice beyond aesthetics.
At 44 seconds of the announcement trailer of Half-Life: Alyx we already see passenger carriage similar to russian ЭР2. I rode in it all my childhood :)
Also before I saw this video I thought that the locomotive from the White Forest is similar to ЧМЭ3, another one that still using in Russia.
(excuse me for my english)
-Hi! (excuse me for my english)
А вообще так забавно видеть советские поезда в таком пост-апокалипсисе, и в игре тоже!
There's nothing to excuse.
...и РАФики на платформах :)
In HL Alyx we can see the car on ED4M, proof iconic white and green colors.
@@AriochThe вообще дизайн халф лайф на половину русский и советский
It would be cool if you do “The trains of Team Fortress 2”
train fortress 2
There are only 3 trains?
Yeah that would be cool
Woohoo 69th like
There are very few train variants in TF2
Wow, I thought "Is he seriosly going to talk about trains? Is this even interesting?"
Well, I was not dissapointed.
To add to the beta version of the Razor Train, it kind of reminds me of those retrofuturistic looking "streamliner" designs from the 1930s to 1960s. In fact, the front of it kind of looks like the Milwaukee Road F7 with an elongated pilot.
I second it. 4:46 for example. Those "flaps" on the top are fitting well high speed steam locomotives, but make but zero sense for diesel or electric engines
Some years ago I was in Seattle (even visiting Valve), and the horns of the trains I heard in the distance sounded exactly the same as the ones I knew from Half Life 2. I think they took their inspiration from their surroundings. Assuming horns didn't change in the 13 years between the game's release and when I was there, of course. Great video!
The diesel.mdl train is a CounterStrike asset. It actually dates back to CS1.6. That’s why it doesn’t look quite right. The bogies are from rolling stock and not traction motors. The proportions are a little off.
Also it would not have been completely inaccurate to have American trains in HL2. I forget the exact locomotive model, but Union Pacific sold a dozen or so locomotives to Estonia. For a few years they still wore UP livery before getting repainted. There’s videos of them on UA-cam. Very interesting to see a UP pulling a bunch of old Soviet freight cars while a modern European passenger train goes by.
7:14 this man just turned into oddheader
Oh wow, he did it for a moment there.
In the fanfic I've written set in approximately this universe, Gman is very enamored of trains, as part of his personality. He does seem to lead you to them, ride on quite a few, and lurk around them :D Thanks for sharing this!
its so weird looking at this channel now. I remember when you only had 1-2k subs and you were still figuring things out, and you made such different videos that were really cool and fun to watch, it was refreshing. You had (and have) such an interesting style of editing then most train channels, and to see your channel grow to this level is just amazing
I've never paid attention to the types of trains in this game! I also didn't predict I'd be so engrossed with the topic! Very cool video.
4:28 That train also reminds me off the trains that ran in Newfoundland Canada until 1988. They had cabs at the rear and were used all across the island for passenger (until 1969), freight and switching
My 2 passions into one video, trains and Half Life ! Thanks man, a pleasure to see all this work and recognize my french signals !
"All we had to do was follow the damn train......."
WAIT A MINUTE!! Wrong game...
Ah... nevermind...
"All we had to do was to get inside the damn train, Gordon!"
"The Trains of GTA Series"
@@midge_gender_solek3314 brown steak is a f40ph, sa freight is a sd40, gta iv subway is 60-70s production standard nyc subway, idk about GTA 5 tram and trains.
5:43 Trains that make you say 'I WAS AIMING FOR THE CHAIR!!'
One of the coolest train were in half life mod Entropy : Zero. You can ride the train. I loved it. And this mod is in the steam for free if you have half life 2 ep2. I think it’s the best mod. You play on the “Empire side” as Combine.
I guess, the HL2 passenger car resembles the ones used in New York subway, and the episode 1 car looks like Indian Railways passenger car. Also, it is weird to use DR1 loco for hauling cargo trains, because it is almost twice less powerful then average diesel locomotive.
I didn't think I'd be interested, but what do you know, UA-cam recommendations strike again
Thanks for putting all the work in this video, it was really nice! Always thought trains were pretty cool but never really got into them; apparently Half Life of all things could bridge the gap (never even realized how important they were to me there before)
I adore these Half-Life fact/comparison videos. Like, you're probably never going to do anything with the information these videos give you, but they're so interesting to see considering it's about one of the most innovative games of all time.
7:56 the passenger car is not shorter version of ER9 (эр9). It looks completely different inside and outside, it's custom model from valve employees minds.
the car is way narrower than standard ER9, got seats parallel to the railways, and also got a set of doors in the middle of the car, not on its ends; some minor details which were lost in the production of the game aside (like car's length and number of doors in it), basically that car is analogous to the ones in Moscow Metro.
@@DrCranium not so Moscow metro, only similar models is "D"1955 and 81-740/741"Русич" 2009. The NYC R32 looks more like this car if you crop it.
архив канал that being said, using a subway car for intercity - or even for interregional, - transportation is something Combine would do, especially if the car's original subway gauge is the same as of the surface-level trains (like in the case of Moscow Metro).
So, the bottom line: devs have probably butchered some details, but they've still managed to pull the effect off, arguably - even better than they intended (at least - in my case).
Came for the half-life, stayed for the cool locomotive info. Neat channel my guy!!
7:27 SM48 is actually the Polish classification for the same locomotive. Here in Russia and other former Soviet republics, it's still known as the ТЭМ2.
Apart from switching/shunting, it often does local freight duty (e.g pulling cars between yards and spurs)
Hey, what about the little rail car you use in the first Half-Life at the end of the On a Rail chapter? It is the one that you ride to the start of Apprehension; then the rail gets blown up by soldiers sending the rail car off into the flooded silo.
I was wondering about that one too.
Gordon Freeman internally: "... i like trains" *gets hit by train of thought*
I loved that you included the beta
I've never been so entertained by trains before
5:06 imagine just being in canada as a hl2 fan and you hear that and scream '' WHY IS THERE A FUCKING RAZOR TRAIN ON THE RAILWAY??? ''
idk just a thought
By the title, I thought this was going to be a philosophical video on why trains represent the predestined life of Freeman.
But I was not disappointed, but amazed by both the game and video.
That moment when you finally realize the local train horn sounded familiar...
6:20 So, a note on the station. It's actually primarily inspired by the Gare d'Austerlitz in Paris. In the recently released Half Life 2 20th Anniversary documentary, Viktor Antonov cited this station being similar in design to a station located in Budapest, Hungary.
4:45
In a cartoon:
*train comes crashing through a wall and completely messes up the enemy*
Other youtbers: things u didn’t know of half life
Amtrak: T R A I N S
Yo, nice video. One of my fav games. Nice train analyzing :D
3:56 looks like a streamlined C&NW E4
What a coincidence. I’m sitting here in my home in Howe Sound, British Columbia, along the old BC Rail lines that are now operated by CP Rail. Just as you mention the old whistle (or horn), one comes by sounding nearly identical. Awesome
11:38 Gordon doing a wee bit of Trainspottin'
HEV: Morphine administred
There was three modifications of DR1 trains - DR1, DR1P, and DR1A. Now there is only DR1A left in service. Some DR1 are preserved in museums too, but there is no DR1P left, exept some in Chernobyl at Yanov station in very bad condition. The real prototype of train that carried Gordon to City 17 is DR1P-402, built in Riga in 1973. Operated and scrapped also in Riga, Latvia in 2006. I'm sure that game model uses textures of real train , because before retirement it had the same color as in game. I can't find a photo of 402 in this color, just good memories of it. I live in Riga and it was realy a good surprise back in 2006 to see train that i ride every day in sequel of my favorite game! But a little dissapointment that developers "cut" it, and made a locomotie from passenger diesel motive unit)
He's been... TRAINing his whole life for analysis. Love it!
You're right about the horn! Its sound plus the train tracks noise is really satisfying to hear, especially when you are underneath the bridge, and the entire structure is shaking
This is some Deep Lore.... Love when people specialize in something and bring it to games. I want to make a similar one on mushrooms! Nice work!!
I love both trains and half life, this video is really great!
3:58 Razor train seems to be manufactured by "ZIL" as it's written on the side of it. The problem is that "ZIL" wasn't manufacturing trains, especially razor ones.
Yes, ZIL produced trucks and refrigerators (Multilateral production)
The fact that you made a video about two of my favorite things is crazy! Cool video 👍👍👍
Didn’t really expect this from you but what a great video
I accualy would have loved the accurate DR1 horn when you have to escape being run over bu the train, I just think it fits in the situation more than the one that they used. The one they used is very, low pitch and low volume. If they had used the accurate DR1 horn it would fit much more with the situation, picture this. You are just walking in the train yard and you suddenly hear an ear screeching train horn, you look behind you and a giant DR1 is about to run you over, but you manage to jump in to another lane just as the train rushes by...
nobody:
youtube recommendations: "Trains from half life"
How the fuck does someone make trains sound so interesting to people who have no interest whatsoever in trains, you got me hooked man.
Hey! Nice video! And also, it’s the 50th birthday for the Burlington Northern Railroad!
This video was extremely informative and really well made! Nice video! 😁
"the iconic horn"
[Music]
turn ya volume up all the way to max and put on some headphones (or speakers) m8
This is no joke the kinda content I love to see regarding HL. Trains and horns have always fascinated me and HL's attention to detail has always been unrivaled imo.
6:28 on every Tuesday I and the class going to a gym because school Physical training. And I always looked the western trainstation and I remind Half-Life 2. Now I know why
Gotta love the subconscious.
Wow. Nice video you have make. Always interesting in know about the trains see in HLF series, specially the Razor unit. Always think that the Razor are based on EMD GP-7/18 unit. Never imagine see basic a "upgraded" Fairbanks-Morse unit.
me: ok ill go to bed early
me at 3am:
I learned more from this video than I learned in all of my school life. *And it's a video about trains in a video game.*
Please do more of this! I absolutely love this video format!
I didn't expect him to mention my home city Wuppertal! omg that is so amazing!!! Greetings from wuppertal!
5:19 it's a Metro train horn
"ferroequinologist" is my new favorite word.
11:03 - well, that explains what are these ameriacan cars doing in Ep2. You are supposed to run from a chopper here anyway, not look closely at cars design xD
It's great when people use knowledge of their passion to analyze an aspect of a video game. It makes you appreciate the effort that was put into making the game setting so believable.
new to your channel, found this video through discord - i loved this video and it was fascinating to learn what kinds of trains there are in the Half-Life series! if you end up doing a follow-up video for Half-Life: Alyx, i suggest taking a look at the fan-made HL1 remake Black Mesa, as well!
The quality of the video is so good. I personally love monorail and I hope I can take one in the future.
Dr. Freeman!
I'm coming with you
This is my hiding spot! Find your own!
Board the train to Nova Prospect
Frickin' headhumper!
About that beer I owed ya
my favorite thing is that there's a website that has multiple photos of pretty much every piece of rolling stock that's ever had a photo taken of it, as well as the time, place, and consist it was a part of. railfans are great.
Everyone be theorizing about HL3 while this bro talks about trains used in Half life.
I was once in Riga, Latvia and out of curiosity I went to the main train station, just to see the destinations and trains. When I walked upstairs to the train platforms, I saw a DR1 train, or at least a very similar model and it reminded me inmediatly at the first train in Hl2. In combination with the architecture of the city, a mixture of art deco, Jugendstil and communist brutalism, it made me really feel like I was in city 17.
Never realized how many trains were in Half Life 2
That tiny switching engine
so *CUTE*
RIP BM&LP. 1973-2020
You know you're a good entertainer when you can make me watch a 12min video about trains in a 20+ year old video game
aw, you cut the ponytail
oh and you actually missed one
apparently theres a SMALL diesel engine that appears someone in the game
small due to it being a far away background object
check the wiki
That pasaenger wagon 9:09 reminds me of Czechoslovak b4ge 53242. I am using them sometimes to get to school in Bratislava.
The SM48 is a Polish designation of the TEM2. There’s almost no difference between them. The SM was operated by state railways, the TEM by anyone else.
He has a mistake, at 5:41 This is not DR-1, this is DR-1A, they are different, they even have different windshields
I also like the fact how HL2 has working French BAL signal
5:18 i like this
I never knew that I wanted this video. But now that I'm here, Im ready for the ride!
I honestly thought this reffered to chernobyl
half life and half life 2 beta was more than just chernobyl
The real DR1 horn sounds more like a whistle.
5:12 | i like train horn
Interestingly enough, in the Half Life 1 fan remake Black Mesa, the cargo trams now operate on a more standard track system, with a 3rd rail providing power to the tram's motor.