12:53 into the video , you see a parking lot on the right. Trains stop there to tie up. It is called The Ball Park. It's not in the time table but it is where to get picked up if the train can't get into Englewood or no outbound crew available. Now how did it get the name Ball Park if there ain't no baseball field around there? Well if you tied up a train there after midnight, let''s just say that's where the folks from San Francisco go when they get homesick----------------- True story----- High ball Draker !
Just discovered you, great videos, especially the Amtrak rear window ones. I really like you titling, gives us who are not from the area a perspective. Keep up the good work
Thank you for this series of videos! I grew up in West U and have been watching trains on this line since I was a kid, riding my bike to Mulberry Park in Bellaire and the old YMCA on Bellaire Blvd when it was still a Southern Pacific line. I've been looking for a cab view (forward or rear) video on this very line for years with no luck, so thank you! I'm not in Houston anymore, but recognize every side road and crossing in this video, from downtown to San Felipe at the end. Sad you weren't able to get the passage south from the Galleria through West U/Bellaire, but anticipate the eastbound video you mention in another comment.
SteubiePilot You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed these! As for the eastbound video, I'm working on that now, so I hope to have it up in the next day or so. It'll be in two parts, from SW Houston (Along 90A) to Memorial Park and from Memorial Park to the Amtrak Station.
SteubiePilot I'm so sorry that this took longer than expected, but here's the first part of the eastward trip in on Train #2, from SW Houston to Memorial Park. ua-cam.com/video/ZgOawIZMRTk/v-deo.html
Those are guardrails. They're there to help keep cars in-line with the track in the rare chance they derail. And that's awful important because otherwise cars could potentially fall onto the freeway below.
Thanks! I live in Houston (well, Cypress now). It's not the nicest Amtrak station (downtown Houston), nor is the scenery coming out of downtown all that, but the scenery gets nicer after leaving the 610 Loop area and the service appears to be top-notch! Thanks for sharing - I always wanted to see this!
Red in Houston Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! Part 2 should be up shortly. It continues from a few miles down the track (Just before Brays Bayou) and heads out to Missouri City. I actually didn't get the trip past the Galleria here because I had to change the card in the camera (Whoops. lol). But I actually did get the trip coming back east on #2 about a week later. And I'd like to get that video up at some point as well.
+Anthony Washington Honestly, I can't say for sure. I've got some work done on the first leg of #2 from San Antonio to Kirby, but it's still got quite a bit that needs to be done. And I've got a big backlog of work I'm trying to get done, so I wouldn't count on that coming out anytime in the next week or two. Sorry about that.
I think it is a shame that Houston, the nation's fourth largest city has train service only six times per week. We need at least a dozen trains a day going to the northwest, north, northeast etc. We also need a station befitting the fourth largest city rather than that dumpy thing we have now. Hell, even San Antonio has a much nicer station than does Houston.
jcost0099 Houston was back then where 13 railroads meet the sea and when we had a union station but when railroads were not bringing the revenue like they use to,they gave it to Amtrak in 70's. So when they took over lot's of the older routes like the texas eagle and texas chief they were routed to San Antonio instead so there was no use to have a union station anymore. So now we are stuck with a small SP station and the only route is the sunset limited.
@@thef2pn00b4 The SP never used Union Station, where Minute Maid Park is now (and a steam loco marks Astros home runs). They alone had Grand Central Station, which was demolished for a federal building when passenger service declined and replaced by the present Amshack. Union Station was used for the Texas Chief in Amtrak's early years before it switched to the SP depot.
While this San Antonio native is flattered, I think the SP station in Houston isn't bad either. And Houston may be connected to Dallas by high-speed rail in the future, thanks to Texas Central Railroad. Stay tuned!
That was HOT.....
Trains 1 and 2 is the only long distance train I have yet to ride... Now it is tops on my bucket list👌🏾👌🏾👊🏾👊🏾
12:53 into the video , you see a parking lot on the right. Trains stop there to tie up. It is called The Ball Park. It's not in the time table but it is where to get picked up if the train can't get into Englewood or no outbound crew available. Now how did it get the name Ball Park if there ain't no baseball field around there? Well if you tied up a train there after midnight, let''s just say that's where the folks from San Francisco go when they get homesick----------------- True story----- High ball Draker !
Any chance of you knowing the radio frequency to this line?
Sorry for the late reply, but this stretch of track is on Channel 44, 160.770
@@UPRR11 no worries lol I've been railfanning it ever since with the scanner thanks!
Just discovered you, great videos, especially the Amtrak rear window ones. I really like you titling, gives us who are not from the area a perspective. Keep up the good work
Thanks a bunch! And I'll try!
Thank you for this series of videos! I grew up in West U and have been watching trains on this line since I was a kid, riding my bike to Mulberry Park in Bellaire and the old YMCA on Bellaire Blvd when it was still a Southern Pacific line. I've been looking for a cab view (forward or rear) video on this very line for years with no luck, so thank you! I'm not in Houston anymore, but recognize every side road and crossing in this video, from downtown to San Felipe at the end. Sad you weren't able to get the passage south from the Galleria through West U/Bellaire, but anticipate the eastbound video you mention in another comment.
SteubiePilot You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed these!
As for the eastbound video, I'm working on that now, so I hope to have it up in the next day or so. It'll be in two parts, from SW Houston (Along 90A) to Memorial Park and from Memorial Park to the Amtrak Station.
SteubiePilot I'm so sorry that this took longer than expected, but here's the first part of the eastward trip in on Train #2, from SW Houston to Memorial Park.
ua-cam.com/video/ZgOawIZMRTk/v-deo.html
8:53 why are there two other skinny tracks in the middle of the actual track?
Those are guardrails. They're there to help keep cars in-line with the track in the rare chance they derail. And that's awful important because otherwise cars could potentially fall onto the freeway below.
it looks like one of the railroad crossings has arms down on one side I've never seen that before
It might be a one-way street, so crossing signals are only needed on one side.
Thanks! I live in Houston (well, Cypress now). It's not the nicest Amtrak station (downtown Houston), nor is the scenery coming out of downtown all that, but the scenery gets nicer after leaving the 610 Loop area and the service appears to be top-notch! Thanks for sharing - I always wanted to see this!
You passed my house near the salvation army building!! I want to ride Amrak one of these days!
Great footage!
***** Thanks!
That was awesome! I can't wait for Part II, continuing west from Westheimer.
Red in Houston Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! Part 2 should be up shortly. It continues from a few miles down the track (Just before Brays Bayou) and heads out to Missouri City.
I actually didn't get the trip past the Galleria here because I had to change the card in the camera (Whoops. lol). But I actually did get the trip coming back east on #2 about a week later. And I'd like to get that video up at some point as well.
Excellent! Looking forward to part 2.
good evening,during any more Amtrak sunset limited videos in the near future ?
+Anthony Washington
Honestly, I can't say for sure. I've got some work done on the first leg of #2 from San Antonio to Kirby, but it's still got quite a bit that needs to be done. And I've got a big backlog of work I'm trying to get done, so I wouldn't count on that coming out anytime in the next week or two. Sorry about that.
I think it is a shame that Houston, the nation's fourth largest city has train service only six times per week. We need at least a dozen trains a day going to the northwest, north, northeast etc. We also need a station befitting the fourth largest city rather than that dumpy thing we have now. Hell, even San Antonio has a much nicer station than does Houston.
Yeah, Houston's train station is a poor example. Oddly, a train is in the City seal too.
jcost0099 Houston was back then where 13 railroads meet the sea and when we had a union station but when railroads were not bringing the revenue like they use to,they gave it to Amtrak in 70's. So when they took over lot's of the older routes like the texas eagle and texas chief they were routed to San Antonio instead so there was no use to have a union station anymore. So now we are stuck with a small SP station and the only route is the sunset limited.
@@thef2pn00b4 The SP never used Union Station, where Minute Maid Park is now (and a steam loco marks Astros home runs). They alone had Grand Central Station, which was demolished for a federal building when passenger service declined and replaced by the present Amshack. Union Station was used for the Texas Chief in Amtrak's early years before it switched to the SP depot.
While this San Antonio native is flattered, I think the SP station in Houston isn't bad either. And Houston may be connected to Dallas by high-speed rail in the future, thanks to Texas Central Railroad. Stay tuned!
That's okay, no hurry,you still have alot of videos on your channel to watch,still you did a great job on the Amtrak ride...
Nice video.
+aw467000 Thanks!