Railroads were always pretty far ahead for that kind of thing, Pullman porters being a successful and powerful African American union being one of them. A lot of the mentality is "we don't care what you look like, there's a job to do"
The new CEO is ruining Amtrak. He banned special excursions including steam excursions that partnered with Amtrak, and he is threatening to get rid of long distance trains (like Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, etc.) in favor of shorter routes between cities.
Well if Oil comes back up the Empire Builder would be saved...Never seen so many people get on and off a train than I have at the Williston, Stanley, etc stations.
I think the commercial for the California Zephyr has to be one of the most beautiful, awesome commercials ever made. Amtrak really did have some nice commercials back in the 1980's, and I can faintly remember seeing some of them when I was a little kid. The part at 2:52 has to be the most memorable slogan ever..."All Aboard America...All Aboard Amtrak" with a train speeding away across the countryside. You just can't beat that. That always stuck with me. Who hasn't heard that melody??
That's the distinguished Richie Havens (1941-2013) singing at 2:52. Too bad the sound in this posting is so wretched. It certainly wasn't like that in the commercial as broadcast. The narration is, I think, by the actress Linda Hunt (b. 1945), a performer whose charm has always eluded me.
Those ads about the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and Southwesth Chief needs a comeback. It would be cool to see them make those ads and make one for the Sunset Limited and the Coast Starlight.
I worked as a train attendant for the summer of '80 and '81 during break from college. Let's just say it was an "interesting" time. What I remember most though, was the food on the long haul trains...OMG that wonderful, glorious, incredible food. :-D
I’m no 70s or 80s kid, I’m an ‘04 kid, but the commercials just give you the chills. Amtrak’s marketing is alright today, and these may be ultimate nostalgia machines, but in my eyes, some of them are a bit cheesy. Nevertheless, the use of “All Aboard America” and “All Aboard Amtrak” is a really awesome marketing plan.
It's something about the end of the 3:51 commercial that ending sounds really great i don't know who's singing that part but it sounds great when he says all aboard amtrak
has anyone noticed that the coleen dewhurst commercials here, at the end, have richie Havens singing the "all aboard amtrak" logo. I get goosebumps from those
Beginning at 1:36, I recall how the Amtrak CEO at the time really put his heart and soul into selling the American traveler on "flying without leaving the ground" - not to mention defending the company from the ax which Messrs. Reagan, Stockman, et al were anxious to bring down on the company. Thank you, Mr. Claytor.
+abderaman alzemouri Thats the most common road locomotive Amtrak had then, Pretty much if you saw an Amtrak passenger train there would be like an 80% that it would be an F40PH.
It is most of the time, especially if you live here. It's a lot worse everywhere else--old tracks and trains. But the train is still always better than flying.
i think p42 units was not built in 1976 back then but all i can say is that back the the GE p30CH and the F40 locomotives were really useable for pullin the amtrak trains back then and the other locomotives as well
Rail is majestic. Only by train can you see the world- the beauty that is America. Gleaming cities and towering mountains coast to coast every day for a low fare. That's a beautiful thing, to me.
I have a plan. It involves buying up underused freight lines and rebuilding them for high speed diesel multiple unit trains. The number of new lines that would need to be built would be minimal, and they could be electrified as enough traffic develops to justify the expense.
Best commercials here are between 2:05 and 5:05. "All aboard America. All aboard Amtrak". How I wish these commercials would be brought back and updated to the current times and equipment.
hey, can you post another video, just showing the commercials from the 1980's? I really loved those and they bring back a lot of memories of the Amtrak commercials I saw when I was a little kid. I love how they ended, with the train speeding away and the "All aboard America...All aboooard Amtrak." Those commercials were really cool and classy, instead of the lame, corny commercials we have now.
From what I've read, the Las Vegas-Los Angeles MagLev has been scrapped in favor of a European style bullet train like the Trans-Europe Express, so it can use existing tracks. Still, I would like to see the Amtrak service for Las Vegas brought back. I would love to travel by train without having to take a bus halfway. Besides, I absolutely HATE flying!
Geez I was alil kids when these commercials aired. I remember all the commercials after 2:00. Its really ashame they dont do great commercials like this anymore, only the cheezy Acela commercials. Why did they do away with the All Aboard Amtrak tune. Very catchy. I still hear people singing that tune. Where can you get that tune at online?
I love Amtrak. We used to ride it a lot when I was a kid, when we lived in Illinois. I don't really remember the commercials, but I distinctly remember the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody, the way it was sung in the Empire Builder and other commercials. All I can remember from tv was seeing a train speed by, and hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody. I thought it was so cool. It stuck with me for years. I sort of remember seeint the last commercial with the model trainset too.
Great! This brings back some wonderful memories! It's a shame that congress has squeezed Amtrak's budget so tight that nationwide commercials are far and few in between. Thank you for posting :)
When the train shows up at the departing station and my destination at a decent time, I don't mind riding Amtrak, but when it shows up three hours or more late, then has issues, such as power outages (or brake compression issues), that's what makes me consider other modes of transportation, such as flying.
I don't trust airplanes period those screaming metal death traps are nothing but trouble something goes wrong tens of thousands of feet in the air and you start plummeting toward the ground you dead gg
BTW: There were the other commercials: "America is getting into Training, Training the Amtrak Way!" (early 1980s) and there was also "Take the A Train" (Auto Train).
I travel long distance on Amtrak and when I’m home in the San Diego area I ride on the Pacific Surfliners to & from Los Angeles & Oxnard alternating my visits between the 2 cities, it beats driving on I-5 between the North end of I-805 to Oceanside where it’s becoming a parking lot and is already a parking lot from Oceanside to the 134 freeway in Los Angeles. They are rebuilding it from the 605 parking lot to the Orange County Line. My youngest brother now travels Amtrak between Wilmington, DE & Fredericksburg & Quantico,VA alternating between those 2 towns as the I-95/I-495 around Washington,DC-The Capital Beltway are also parking lots. My niece in law that lives in Quantico takes the commuter train to & from work for Capitalone in Alexandria and just walks to her work from the Alexandria Amtrak/VRE Station.
Trains are the future. They keep cars off the road and cut pollution. Plus its a great way to relax and see the country.. and move freight for that matter.
I'm loving the theme song! haha Also, parts of those trains look nicer than the current Amtrak cars-We don't have a coupon video for Amtrak, but we should make one :)
Trainfan1055 I believe it is, it’s been shortened though. I remember it’s 10 or 15 days or something. Still enough to get you around to the coast and back on an alternate route
Those are the commercials I have vague memories of, the ones from the 1980s. The ones from the 1970s were before my time. Some people might disagree, but yeah I think the commercials after 2:05 were MUCH better better than the earlier ones. The 1970s ones were so cheesy and almost insulting. I was a little kid when I saw the Amtrak commercials, and I only remembered hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak..." song and a train speeding through the countryside, but it stuck with me for years.
@Richard Big: CarolinaRailWorks is dead on correct. My friend who works as an attendant on Amtrak does that regularly and says although it can be a pain in the ass at times, other times can be quite rewarding.
The amount of diversity Amtrak includes in these ads is amazing. Amtrak was way ahead of their time.
Railroads were always pretty far ahead for that kind of thing, Pullman porters being a successful and powerful African American union being one of them.
A lot of the mentality is "we don't care what you look like, there's a job to do"
I wish they still made Amtrak commercials like these
I do too
All Aboard Amtrak!
Same...
All aboard America all aboard amtrak all aboard America all boooaaard amtrak
RandallJVlogs that would be so cool!
Amtrak should remake these commercials for their 50 years celebration.
"See what a thrill it is to fly, on a train." Wow, we just got rick-rolled by Amtrak.
Can’t hear it
@@spiralhillrailfan3768 1:53 next time see what a thirill it is to fly on a tray
@@alaineeunicedionisio7600 Can’t hear it
@@spiralhillrailfan3768 it says it right after the timestamp of 1:53
Wdym?
Man.... Hearing that "All aboard America, all aboard Amtrak" jingle takes me back to when I was a kid...
cool
I was born in 2007 but I love hearing it
Gives me the chills
All Aboard America All Aboard Amtrak 2x
The new CEO is ruining Amtrak. He banned special excursions including steam excursions that partnered with Amtrak, and he is threatening to get rid of long distance trains (like Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, etc.) in favor of shorter routes between cities.
Rob Krasinski then lets hope his stay as ceo doesn't last much longer.
Well if Oil comes back up the Empire Builder would be saved...Never seen so many people get on and off a train than I have at the Williston, Stanley, etc stations.
No long distance trains, no Amtrak
I don't think that's going to happen anytime ever
2 years later, and he's out
Back then: Amtrak tickets are cheap
Today:noooooooooooooooooooooo!!
Especially on the NEC. A trip from Philly to NY and back costs $78 and from NY to DC and back cost $98
Metrolink:CHAMGE THEM BACK charge $13 per ride
@Carol Ziegler But me not loving the new long distance locomotive and the new amtrak passenger cars either
Damm inflation
Damn you inflation
This makes me really tempted to ride an Amtrak train
I Know Right
Yeah that fax
Guess the commercial did it’s job
I love Amtrak been on it many times
God, I miss the F40PH. I thought those were the coolest things ever when I was a kid.
You can still see them as NPCUs, but I think most are around the Midwestern-Western regions.
Come to Alaska
I think the commercial for the California Zephyr has to be one of the most beautiful, awesome commercials ever made. Amtrak really did have some nice commercials back in the 1980's, and I can faintly remember seeing some of them when I was a little kid. The part at 2:52 has to be the most memorable slogan ever..."All Aboard America...All Aboard Amtrak" with a train speeding away across the countryside. You just can't beat that. That always stuck with me. Who hasn't heard that melody??
That's the distinguished Richie Havens (1941-2013) singing at 2:52. Too bad the sound in this posting is so wretched. It certainly wasn't like that in the commercial as broadcast.
The narration is, I think, by the actress Linda Hunt (b. 1945), a performer whose charm has always eluded me.
2:00 is the soundtrack to my life
Turbocharged Rail Videos *ITS MY RINGTONE*
All Aboard Amtrak!
Same
𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘼𝙢𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙠!
I love Amtrak, wish we had those prices back lol.
Ken Dufresne
Agreed
I like too
Yeah, but minimum wage in $3.10 in 1980 for some reference. Interestingly enough, that’s roughly $10.39 today.
@@jackboerner1901 Yep. Inflation works a bit odd like that.
He defend
He attack
But most importantly
ALL ABOARD AMTRAK
Hello!
Its u!
I agree
More like
He protec
He attac
But most importantly
ALL ABOARD AMTRAK
Those ads about the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and Southwesth Chief needs a comeback. It would be cool to see them make those ads and make one for the Sunset Limited and the Coast Starlight.
Why don't we build new tracks with prison labor? There's plenty of them around. That should save us some money...
Trainfan1055 they would probably screw up the tracks for Amtrak.
Why do we need more tracks?
My favorite is the ad at 1:36
Same. This is (or was in) in Engines of Amtrak. F40PH
You are right, these are beautiful commercials. And the "All Aboard America" song gives it just the right emotional touch.
Heyyy I work for Amtrak!
:D
Thank you for your service.
I worked as a train attendant for the summer of '80 and '81 during break from college. Let's just say it was an "interesting" time. What I remember most though, was the food on the long haul trains...OMG that wonderful, glorious, incredible food. :-D
I’m no 70s or 80s kid, I’m an ‘04 kid, but the commercials just give you the chills.
Amtrak’s marketing is alright today, and these may be ultimate nostalgia machines, but in my eyes, some of them are a bit cheesy. Nevertheless, the use of “All Aboard America” and “All Aboard Amtrak” is a really awesome marketing plan.
It's something about the end of the 3:51 commercial that ending sounds really great i don't know who's singing that part but it sounds great when he says all aboard amtrak
That's Richie Havens who was an America Folk singer and performer at Woodstock.
In the ads for the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and Southwest Chief, it sounds like Maya Angelou narrating.
I forgot who narrates these, but it's not Maya Angelou. Sounds close though. I'll check back.
Diego Posada actress Colleen Dewhurst is the narrator in those commercials
assaultislove Yes! Forgot about this post. Thanks for jogging my memory.
has anyone noticed that the coleen dewhurst commercials here, at the end, have richie Havens singing the "all aboard amtrak" logo. I get goosebumps from those
I dont it makes me calm
It makes me nostalgic even though I didn’t grow up with these commercials.
Beginning at 1:36, I recall how the Amtrak CEO at the time really put his heart and soul into selling the American traveler on "flying without leaving the ground" - not to mention defending the company from the ax which Messrs. Reagan, Stockman, et al were anxious to bring down on the company. Thank you, Mr. Claytor.
1:36
all aboard all aboard ALL ABOARD AMTRAK!
2:50 All Aboard America, All Aboard Amtrak, all Aboard America ALL ABOOOOORD Am-trak, that's my favorite one.(besides the southwest chief...)
Hear this when you are mad 2:51
why the EMD f40ph were so iconic in amtrak in the 70 and 80s ?
+abderaman alzemouri Thats the most common road locomotive Amtrak had then, Pretty much if you saw an Amtrak passenger train there would be like an 80% that it would be an F40PH.
They also have gone down in Amtrak history as one of the most popular locomotives owned by Amtrak.
F40PHR 281 Exactly, the SDP40F's were prone to derailments, and the P30CH was a mechanical nightmare for Amtrak. The F40PH allowed them to be retired.
The F40PHs were the only Amtrak 70s graduates that WEREN'T derailment bait.
abderaman alzemouri, The F40'S saved Amtrak and it was the locomotive that seems to be the most successful in Amtrak's stable.
I always enjoy travel on Amtrak all the time it's the only way to travel
1:57
Those are so classic!
1:58 BORRRRD ALL ABAORAD ALL ABOARD ALL ABOARD AMTRAK
Love It yeah!!😁🤗
1:38 to 2:05. Best commercial ever!
It is most of the time, especially if you live here. It's a lot worse everywhere else--old tracks and trains. But the train is still always better than flying.
2:00 is the soundtrack to my life
Awesome, I've never seen any of these before ... "All Aboard Amtrak" was their best slogan I think.
i think p42 units was not built in 1976 back then but all i can say is that back the the GE p30CH and the F40 locomotives were really useable for pullin the amtrak trains back then and the other locomotives as well
Those commercials are great.
Rail is majestic. Only by train can you see the world- the beauty that is America. Gleaming cities and towering mountains coast to coast every day for a low fare. That's a beautiful thing, to me.
Love Amtrak, and these old ads. They should update them, and get the message out once more!
1:58 Best jingle ever.
I believe Colleen Dewhurst did the narration for the three long-haul ads (California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief).
I'd say that is the voice of Colleen Dewhurst. Such a distinct voice.
He protecc he attacc
Most importantly
All aboard amtracc
I have a plan. It involves buying up underused freight lines and rebuilding them for high speed diesel multiple unit trains. The number of new lines that would need to be built would be minimal, and they could be electrified as enough traffic develops to justify the expense.
How those planes coming five years later
and the way they changed from then to now
Rest In Peace SDP40Fs(1973-1980s), P30CH(1978-1992), F40PH(R)(1975-1990s) and E60s(1972-2002)
amtrak should advertise like this again, and highlight its best trains/services
I never road Amtrack but this song for Amtrack is so beautiful...."All aboard Amtrack....all aboard Amtrack"
2:59
Love the chime that is in the background of the California Zephyr commercial toward the end. It pairs well with the jingle.
Its relaxing
I wanna see the painted over Southern Pacific streamliners when they first started with surplus passenger coaches in all colors.......
the Empire Builder commercial was awesome!
Best commercials here are between 2:05 and 5:05. "All aboard America. All aboard Amtrak". How I wish these commercials would be brought back and updated to the current times and equipment.
"Alllll aaaboard Ammtrak.". lol gives me the goose bumps. Lol
A FRICKEN MASTERPIECE
At 2:03 my favorite part-ALL ABOARD, ALL ABOARD, ALL ABOARD AMTRAK! YEAH!
actually 1:58
Childhood memories there
1:59
Oops, yeah it is 1:59, my bad..still love it!
Try 2:51
I love the "ALL ABOARD AMTRAK" tune.
hey, can you post another video, just showing the commercials from the 1980's? I really loved those and they bring back a lot of memories of the Amtrak commercials I saw when I was a little kid. I love how they ended, with the train speeding away and the "All aboard America...All aboooard Amtrak." Those commercials were really cool and classy, instead of the lame, corny commercials we have now.
Colleen Dewhurst has a wonderful voice!
From what I've read, the Las Vegas-Los Angeles MagLev has been scrapped in favor of a European style bullet train like the Trans-Europe Express, so it can use existing tracks. Still, I would like to see the Amtrak service for Las Vegas brought back. I would love to travel by train without having to take a bus halfway. Besides, I absolutely HATE flying!
Amtrak. Where the journey is the destination.
Agreed! Beautiful.
I love the song from the 90s.....a very smooth version.....I wished they would of released this on a cd
Geez I was alil kids when these commercials aired. I remember all the commercials after 2:00. Its really ashame they dont do great commercials like this anymore, only the cheezy Acela commercials. Why did they do away with the All Aboard Amtrak tune. Very catchy. I still hear people singing that tune. Where can you get that tune at online?
2:51 something about this part makes me calm
I love Amtrak. We used to ride it a lot when I was a kid, when we lived in Illinois. I don't really remember the commercials, but I distinctly remember the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody, the way it was sung in the Empire Builder and other commercials. All I can remember from tv was seeing a train speed by, and hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody. I thought it was so cool. It stuck with me for years. I sort of remember seeint the last commercial with the model trainset too.
Great! This brings back some wonderful memories! It's a shame that congress has squeezed Amtrak's budget so tight that nationwide commercials are far and few in between. Thank you for posting :)
0:05 start here!
When the train shows up at the departing station and my destination at a decent time, I don't mind riding Amtrak, but when it shows up three hours or more late, then has issues, such as power outages (or brake compression issues), that's what makes me consider other modes of transportation, such as flying.
I don't trust airplanes period those screaming metal death traps are nothing but trouble something goes wrong tens of thousands of feet in the air and you start plummeting toward the ground you dead gg
EricEbac22 if you fly, don’t ever fly on The Bullying Skies of United Airlines which is the very worst airline to fly on.
Hi,
Is there anyway I could get either a copy of this video or a copy of the audio for it?
I love it! Thanks!
Amtrak = The best way to travel!
I think they are missing something that begens with the letter F with the number 40 after that and ends in a PH
BTW: There were the other commercials: "America is getting into Training, Training the Amtrak Way!" (early 1980s) and there was also "Take the A Train" (Auto Train).
I agree. Friendly service, great food & drink, and beautiful sites to see. I love it.
I travel long distance on Amtrak and when I’m home in the San Diego area I ride on the Pacific Surfliners to & from Los Angeles & Oxnard alternating my visits between the 2 cities, it beats driving on I-5 between the North end of I-805 to Oceanside where it’s becoming a parking lot and is already a parking lot from Oceanside to the 134 freeway in Los Angeles. They are rebuilding it from the 605 parking lot to the Orange County Line. My youngest brother now travels Amtrak between Wilmington, DE & Fredericksburg & Quantico,VA alternating between those 2 towns as the I-95/I-495 around Washington,DC-The Capital Beltway are also parking lots. My niece in law that lives in Quantico takes the commuter train to & from work for Capitalone in Alexandria and just walks to her work from the Alexandria Amtrak/VRE Station.
Oh wow I love these old Amtrak commercials
In a week I will be taking Empire Service to Buffalo,
Lake Shore Limited to Chicago and
Texas Eagle down to Dallas!
All aboard Amtrak!
Trains are the future. They keep cars off the road and cut pollution. Plus its a great way to relax and see the country.. and move freight for that matter.
THE PLANE CAN NEVER COMPARE TO RAIL TRAVEL! :-)
I'm loving the theme song! haha Also, parts of those trains look nicer than the current Amtrak cars-We don't have a coupon video for Amtrak, but we should make one :)
The engine ringing the bell and blowing in the horn in the intro sounds just like my Lionel UP Desert Victory SD40-2!
Hey its ms Tisdale from the dukes of hazzard!! 1:11
Omg yah
Adelaide from different strokes
I hate the fact that our government doesn't care much about passenger rail anymore. I want the Desert Wind back!
Is the USA Rail Pass still a thing?
i think no
Lee Hunt That's sad. I can't afford Amtrak because I'm too poor.
oh
Trainfan1055 but you can afford train simulator😂😂😂jk
Trainfan1055 I believe it is, it’s been shortened though. I remember it’s 10 or 15 days or something. Still enough to get you around to the coast and back on an alternate route
I LOVE AMTRAK
1:36 is my favorite one
Those are the commercials I have vague memories of, the ones from the 1980s. The ones from the 1970s were before my time. Some people might disagree, but yeah I think the commercials after 2:05 were MUCH better better than the earlier ones. The 1970s ones were so cheesy and almost insulting. I was a little kid when I saw the Amtrak commercials, and I only remembered hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak..." song and a train speeding through the countryside, but it stuck with me for years.
Love these commercials, All Aboard Amtrak!!
Hmm, I remember a jingle from an Amtrak commercial that wasn't in this collection:
"America is getting into training, training the Amtrak way".
1:36 All Aboard Amtrak is my Favorite Commercial
The Old Woman In the second commercial played Adelaide on Diff'rent Strokes.
Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Thomasinthe1980s?
She also appeared in an infamous commercial for Jack in the Box where she "blew up" the Jack drive-thru speaker head.
The 1st commercial really makes me feel like excited to be a passenger!
@Richard Big: CarolinaRailWorks is dead on correct. My friend who works as an attendant on Amtrak does that regularly and says although it can be a pain in the ass at times, other times can be quite rewarding.
Despite cut backs Amtrak and Via Rail Canada Still do a good job on a shoe string budget.
I lOVE TRAINS!I LOVE AMTRAK!
i love Amtrak
The first commercial reminds me of that 1976 Hitchcock-styled comedy film, "Silver Streak", w/ Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, and Jill Clayburgh.
All abord America All Aboard Amtrak. That music is 4ever in my head.
Amtrak, we dont grope you before you board.
0:11 SDP40F
These Amtrak commercial is back in 2021
All Aboard Amtrak is what I may sing while I ride Amtrak sometime.