TRIP REPORT - Amtrak Texas Eagle (Bedroom), San Antonio to St Louis
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Ever since my absolutely crazy trip report of the Lake Shore Limited (my favorite video I've ever produced - • TRIP REPORT - Amtrak a... ), I've received tons of requests for more long-distance Amtrak trips. And I've really wanted to do another one myself. It took a while for the right opportunity to present itself. These trips can be expensive and take a lot of time. But the stars aligned at the end of a trip to San Antonio earlier this year when I realized I could spend the better part of my weekend riding a direct train back home. And for some reason the train was super empty on this particular day - which made the ticket cheap and filming much easier.
Strangely the full bedroom actually came up cheaper than a roomette when I booked (Amtrak has a really goofy reservation system), so I was able to try a new type of room on a train I'd never been on before. Awesome! There's so many highlights in this video, but just to name a few:
-Overview of San Antonio station and boarding process
-Detailed tour of Superliner bedroom
-Arrival footage in all major Texas cities
-Full tour of the entire train
-Demo of setting up the bed
-Reviews of all 3 meals
I had a ton of fun shooting/editing this one, and I really hope you enjoy the experience as much as I did. I can't say enough good things about the crew on this train. The friendly, personal service combined with great food and early arrivals at almost every station made for the most relaxing day of travel I've ever had. If you ever get the chance, try booking a bedroom on the Eagle!!
Full hotel review coming next week.
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As an Australian who has ridden most long distance Amtrak trains, except this route, I found this "report" to be an extremely true representation of just how good Amtrak really is. It is a pity most Americans mock Amtrak, especially those who have never experienced. They are all into much of a rush to appreciate what they have got.
Agreed! I still say, Amtrak is FAR from perfect. But we gotta appreciate the system we have if we want it to get better
I understand what you re saying Bring Back The Pennsy That s how commercial passenger trains were removed from service back on May 1st 1971 It was a tough time for me I always enjoyed going away on the train before then I just want to see Amtrak thrive and prosper in the future
@@Cal90208 I would like to see it get better I would like to see America s passenger trains thrive and prosper in the future
Australia have no sleeper train? I think Americans compare our sleeper train to Canadians?
I am taking the train in a sleeper from Chicago to Portland Oregon in October when my son gets out of the Army. Really looking forward to it. Great video.
World According To Briggs
How much did it cost, one way or round trip
That delay "outside Longview" was actually Marshall, TX. Amtrak 22 leaves Longview at 6:15 pm and has a crew change in Marshall at the same time you were discussing the delay. I live in Longview and frequently go down to the Amtrak station with my wife to watch #22 come through. A couple of months ago, we took a daytrip to Dallas and back on Amtrak. It so enjoyable that it seemed to be over way too soon.
23:45 I love it when the train makes a turn, and you can therefore look out the window and see the engine.
Yup
It's incredible interesting as a German to see how small the American railroad world is. For examble it's hard to imagine that a taxi driver in Munich (which has about the same population as San Antonio) doesn't know where the train station is - it has 32 tracks. But this video shows how much more relaxed a train ride in the U.S. can be. It reminds me a little bit of a cruise tour on rails. You won't experience that in Germany or other European countries. Instead you often have annoyed staff and passengers and you won't see much scenery in a long-distance train with 125 mph and sound barriers on both sides of the track. I enjoyed watching! Greetings
Honestly, I don't think there'd be that many cab drivers(or for that matter, Uber/Lyft drivers) who wouldn't know where the Amtrak train stations in a lot of cities and towns are. It's used well enough(even the long distance lines where there's 1 train a day in each direction, or heck the 2 long distance routes where there are only trains in each direction 3 days a week), where I suspect you'd have a hard time finding anyone not knowing where the Amtrak station is. Yes it is very relaxing too, vs. the hell of going through security(no thanks to Transportation Security Administration/TSA rules) at US airports. And don't get me started about how downgraded airline flying is on most US and North American airlines, save for like Southwest and Porter(based out of Toronto, and serving eastern Canada). Seriously those are the only 2 airlines I like flying on, which is very sad.
Amtrak trains don't go as fast as European trains do(outside of the Northeast Corridor I mean), since most of their trains run on the same tracks freight trains do. And freight railroads(though they aren't supposed to do this, and allow Amtrak trains to pass) give their freight trains priority, and it isn't uncommon to throw an Amtrak train onto a siding to let several freight trains pass. :( And that sucks about sound barriers on the side of German passenger train lines, since I didn't notice this at all when I rode a train in the Netherlands, and ditto with DART(the local commuter rail system) in Dublin, Ireland.
Because the U.S. is so spread out, and a large portion live in rural areas, you basically have to have a car to even go to grocery store, to work and all other day to day errands. Remember Texas alone is twice the size of Germany...and that is only 1 state. Because everyone has cars...and have since WWII...there is not a big enough customer base to do much more with the train system. It would cost trillion of dollars PER STATE to have a decent train system and there would not be enough customers to support the system after it is built. Why wouldn’t there be enough to support it? We’re Americans, we like Freedom and Cars. We don’t want to be tied to other people’s schedules any more than we have to.
That being said, if you do ride Ametrak, it is very relaxing, but cost about three times as much and take four times as long as a flight.
Yes, the truth is that rail travel on AMTRAK is excursion touring. It is not fast, but it is comfortable and enjoyable, but using it for utility transportation is not realistic. I enjoy riding these trains very much but am under no illusion about how they work.
The US chose long ago to focus on airlines as the main mode of getting around the country. So you can fly one way to across the country for cheap; I've seen flights from Chicago to LA for under 100 bucks on southwest airlines. Even if the trains in the US went as fast as the Euro/Japanese ones, it still wouldn't hold a candle to the speed of an airliner. That's why I never understood why the mockery of US train system by Europeans and the sort.
Passenger rail in the U.S. shares roadbed (railroad tracks) with freight railway. Unfortunately, freight has priority, leading to unexpected stops and pervasive delays. With a well-developed highway system, it's extremely unlikely that separate roadbed will ever be developed for passenger-only travel.
I lived in the Netherlands for six months, and had the opportunity to travel by rail to London, Paris, Lyon, Brussels, Milan, Zurich, and other places, all on very pleasant, efficient, and reliable rail service. Now, I live in the Los Angeles metro area (about the same size as the Netherlands), with less than 1% of the train service, stops, etc. but still enjoy traveling by rail up and down the coast.
I enjoy the trains. I don’t travel far about a 3 hr train to my nephews but it is very relaxing and I get to see the sights as opposed to being the driver. Great fun.
I've taken this trip in the opposite direction from Longview TX to Austin so many times in the 25 years we lived there. Our kids moved there not long after 2000. I found that if I wanted to go to the museum or shopping in Austin, I would drive my car the 5 and half hours and fight the traffic in the bottle neck from the University to over Lake Travis. But if I just wanted to relax , read a book, eat a great meal then I liked to take Amtrak Coach which is way cheaper. So I REALLY enjoyed this video because now, I live between San Marcos and South Austin.
4:20 Hey! Ainsley was the car attendant on my Texas Eagle ride back in 2017! He's a good man and will treat you well! And he has a firm handshake. Also, he makes good coffee. A credit to Amtrak, that man. A true professional.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us! I have ridden the trains since I was a child & it's so interesting to see how things change over time. I have never taken this route, so this was very cool to experience! You were very fortunate...my last trip was from Indy to New Mexico & the train was very crowded! And you are so right...the experience of watching out the window at night as you pass through different cities is truly magical!! Thanks again! Janine
I made my first train trip in Aug 2018 from Huntington, Wva to Chicago to San Antonio, Tx. Rode the Cardinal and then the Texas Eagle. Enjoyed the trip very much. Love trains, this was on my bucket list and hope to do it again. Had a sleeper car on the Texas Eagle, the food was very good. Amtrak staff was super friendly and helpful, great service from them all.
Thanks. I enjoy riding trains. There is a gentle swaying of the cars. It will rock you to sleep.
I love trains and wish Amtrak came through Nashville, Tennessee. The rocking of the train puts me to sleep and I sleep comfortably. But the last time I took Amtrak in the early 80's the food in the dining car was terrible. It was worse than Bobs Big Boy. What I remember from childhood is traveling on a train from Bell Buckle, TN to Nashville. The dining car was beautiful. Mahogany walls, linen tablecloths, silver and flowers in a beautiful glass vase on the table. It was a wonderful experience.
Katherine McChesney wow u must b super old
I will never forget Bob’s Big Boy. That was a gooood restaurant with goooood food
They need to rebirth the Dixie Flagler, from Chicago south through Terre Haute, Evansville, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Macon, Jacksonville, then south down the coast to Miami, serving all those coastal towns.
Those were the days . . . . .
servicarrider soooo in order to be rude, she had to be ghetto????? #SeemsLegit 😏🤦🏾♀️
It's Ansley! He's the man...had him on one of my CZ trips last year. One of the best attendants that Amtrak has.
Nice try Ansley!
Hes a pullman Porter..
Ansley seemed like a nice person. I’m an old lady from the South and a stickler for nice manners, which I perceive Ansley has much of! Good to know there are nice people in our world, as I’m sure our tour director is!
It's a fact ... good man, makes good coffee, has a firm handshake. He should train some of the others. Perfect customer service.
Ainsley was my SCA on the Cardinal! Great man!
Thank you, for the trip.
Temple Tx. Station 1911
Cleburne (long e sound)
was a Civil War general.
Fort Worth,Texas
"Where the west begins"
Major cattle shipping
hub in cowboy days. 1876
Butch and Sundance were here for a while.
Very cool video I will definatly try an Amtrak sleeper . I learned alot
Thanks, I enjoyed the video you took of the train and showing where everything was. One day my husband and I will take a trip.
Thank you for sharing your trip. I hope to take a long distance trip out west one day with a roomette. I would spend most of my time in the lounge car with all the windows.
This is the second Amtrak video of yours I’ve watched. On both, you made your own bed for some reason - that was Ansley’s job: while you are at dinner, have him turn down the bed.
Sadly, Amtrak has discontinued complimentary meals for certain lines like the southeast. I hope they bring that back. The food was awesome.
2 years later we have a covid virus is it back?
They were still complimentary. The quality is just in the drain. It’s just TV dinners...
I must give you credit. You did this very well. I think I appreciated your lack of criticism and bringing out all the good things about Amtrak. I have yet to travel on Amtrak but hopefully soon. Thanks!!
Thank you for letting me ride alone with you. This is how I travel now on my (PC) I traveled a lot when I as was younger hoped a train or two ,hiding in a hot box making miles and states never knowing what you will have to do to get to your desired location. Nice job , I would like to bring a friend next time if you don't mind a nother rider.
The price of a Sleeper car ticket at first glance seems high but when you consider the your have a private bedroom, and your meals included, and your transportation it becomes a good value for your dollar.
Every night on the train is most likely not spending a night at a hotel or motel. That is unless you are spending nights with family or friends... Have you checked the prices for hotels and their restaurants lately?
@Willie yeah its double that now.
Good value?? You cant be serious. Not even close. Amtrak rooms are a ridiculous rip off. The rooms haven't been modernized or updated since 1985. Takes a ridiculous amount of time, trains are always late, delayed or cancelled. Where is the value?
@Willie $450 for what is a $150 2 hour flight or $50 long day drive. "great value" lmao.
@Willie wow, having sex on an amtrak train, thats pretty trashy but to each their own
Nice video! Just an FYI for anyone who'll be taking their first trip in a double decker car, you'll feel the inevitable sway of the train noticeably more on the top floor than you will on the bottom floor. Makes a significant difference for some people so thought I'd mention it. Also, if you prefer, your car attendant will serve your meals in your room. You'll be given the standard menu, and the attendant will take your order. The food isn't spectacular, but it's good, and I've never been disappointed. BTW - they're all terrific people that work hard, and I always give the car attendant a nice tip - especially if they've served any meals to my room. Cheers!
I too watched it all in one sitting. Thanks. (I've been a train-spotter (as the Brits call it) since I was almost 5 in Bound Brook, NJ.)
I love it when there aint as many people in the seating arrangement whether by plane or by train. You feel good that you picked a day when no one else chose to ride. Better savor those moments.
We have a saying down here in the south: “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” That holds true with food portion sizes.
Loved watching your video and hope you had safe travels to your destination.
Just watched this whole thing and lived vicariously through you! Beautiful trip. Hoping to take a Chicago to Dallas trip on the Texas Eagle soon!
Thank you for the tour. I grew up riding the last days of Sante Fe and the early days of Amtrak. We never had a bedroom, but just the roomette. Our "shower" was in the little sink you had there. ;)
Thanks again. Happy trails.
Amtrak's Texas Eagle slowly fills up through Texas on the way to Chicago, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, and eventually Houston passengers in Longview arriving by bus. Nothing has changed since the old days more than a half century ago. It is usually full or nearly full by the time you leave Texas especially on weekends. Keep in mind the MoPac Texas Eagle ended in St. Louis with connections further east on other trains more than a half century ago, not in Chicago presently. Its former major competition was the MKT, or Katy Texas Special which did start from Houston and headed to St. Louis as well. One route skirted the Ozark Mountains around the south and east, while the other skirted the Ozark Mountains around the west and north... This is somewhat different than the Southwest Chief or California Zephyr which can fill up in Los Angeles or Emeryville. Ditto with Chicago at the other end of the routes, even with the Texas Eagle... Amtrak's Sunset Limited has a similar arrangement although heading westward from New Orleans, by the time that train departs San Antonio it can fill up too. Please note that the three times a week the Sunset Limited runs westbound a coach and a sleeper of the Texas Eagle is shunted on to it or eastbound off it at San Antonio. Train routes are unlike airline routes, train routes are linear in concept whereas airline routes are point to point...
This is inspiring me to maybe try the Chicago to Seattle sleeper. Good to know the in room shower is a no-go, though!
Just a note. Sleeper cars also have 2 downstairs showers. They are much bigger and more comfortable. I use them all the time.
There's only 1 shower.
I dont think showers on a train are meant to be or expected to be 'comfortable'. Just there to get you clean. I rather use the one in my room, even if its a bit cramped. I dont ever plan to be in there all day long.
Driving
Thank you for the video. My grandad always wanted to take the trip from Fort Worth Texas down to Houston, Texas to visit his oldest boy down there and expand the rest of the grandkids life experience. I'm saddened by the time I had my first job and was able to pay for a trip somewhere he wasn't healthy enough to make the ride.
The beauty of Amtrak train travel!
Damn they really made Longview look like it was a big city from the cabin window, lol. I live in Longview and honey we don't ever see that view of our city lol
Thank you!! I’ll be on the Texas Limited in October. It will be my first Amtrak trip.
I just sat and watched every minute of this. I enjoyed this very much! Taking a big Amtrak trip is still on my bucket list to do!
It's really worth doing. If you book way in advance during the winter, and during the week, that seems to be the best way to get the lowest possible fare. Try running lots of dates too. Amtrak's reservation system is really weird.
Mine too.
*Do it soon!*
ems318 same
It’s well worth it. There is probably no better way to travel.
This was so much fun to watch! I’ve ridden the Texas Eagle, round trip from Chicago to Austin, on two different occasions. The first time was with my 12 year old nephew, in Coach. The second time, traveling solo, I booked a room Etta in the sleeping car. Both trips were wonderful. I met lots of interesting people on each part of the journey. Watching this video was nearly like being there in person. Thanks for making such an in-depth video!
Karen Pierce I’ve travelled extensively in the US and Europe. I used to travel by airplane at least monthly throughout the USA. I’ve taken trains in multiple countries. I love train travel. I’m sorry you had a bad experience. I
@33:14 I was literally a block or two away from the Ft. Worth station for a whole week, last week, for a major convention. That dome structure on the other side of the building is the arena that is part of the Ft. Worth Convention Center.
Both cities are on my list of to do as well taking the Texas Eagle train, Currently attempting to tackle the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to LA!
I love traveling by train. I rode the Southwest Chief a couple times. It is so relaxing and easy. Bought my tickets online, they scanned my tablet, no one rifles through the luggage or feels you up. You get on the train and relax. Someone even brought me my meals, which are very good, as they are prepared fresh by chefs. Just love the train!
That’s actually MoPac Blvd & not the Interstate.
Side note: the toll lane is”capacity rated variable” and I’ve seen it as high as (get ready to choke) $19!!!! But it’s usually under $2 and the base is $.50
Thanks ,I have always wanted to know what it would be like to ride Amtrak, as I have watched them roll down the track here in Longview
I just saw this for first time, tonight. Watched your California Zephyr video too. Both are really great. You are so relaxed and informative about everything. Amtrak should be paying you to take these trips as I’m sure they recognize their fantastic promotional value. But, seeing as they don’t, you can be much more honest about the bad things that Amtrak should immediately address since people ARE paying considerable sums to ride on their trains, no matter what level of class they use. First: run the cars through a train wash at LEAST once a week! Second: for the cost of a bedroom compartment one should NEVER have to deal with a cold water only shower. The sleeper attendant, or a person from quality control, should check, before the train takes on passengers at its point of origin, to see that EVERYTHING is working, as it’s supposed to. On a train where it is half empty, the attendant should have been given a letter for a switched compartment for you, when you boarded.
My final comment is: your trips are very educational and great fun. Look at all the favorable comments from the many viewers. Please, if you can afford it ( LOL), take many more for us to “travel with you.” And a final question: Do you EVER complain to Amtrak about things that are just plain “unacceptable”?!
Great video review....! I enjoyed the trip along with you!
Thankyou! I felt like I was traveling with you! Excellent video and a wonderful adventure. I boycott flying (because of TSA always stealing my stuff and feeling me up) and usually drive. I will be taking Amtak from now on.
@Derek Charette Stfu
25:24 The freeway in Austin that the track runs between is actually nick-named after the rail line you are on, "The Mopac". It's official designation is Loop 1.
Love these video’s! I was in San Antonio when the Spurs were playing OKC Thunder and watched it in that station. I took the Texas Eagle to Ft.Worth, then the Spur line up to Purcell, Ok. then back. Great Trip! 2016 Spurs won! I had a Sleeper too. “The Little One” I also took my Hot Spot for down along the border of Mexico where there is no service. So glad I did!!
Thank You, I really enjoyed your video. Thinking about taking the kids for a train ride this summer and I Just wanted to know what to expect!
Good evening from Reno Nevada here.
I am taking my first train ride this coming
Thanksgiving all the way from Reno Nevada
To Charolltte North Caorlinia Yippee I can't wait
I'm so happy to come across this video!! It's the most detailed & relaxed one I've seen. You covered everything in the bedroom including the air flow vent, the toilet directions & shower. Everyone just shows the compartment. But thanks to you I feel more acquainted with the bedroom. I was worried about the little towels but thankfully you found the larger ones lol. You made me more convicted to do this. Thank you!!! I can't wait! I plan to do cross country.
I live on the Blanco River in San Marcos and this train runs by my house, thank you for sharing.
Aloha from Hawai'i! This comment is delayed, but so be it. I hope that you'll do more videos like this one, perhaps a transcontinental one. People dump on trains. But I know how wonderful they are. My wife and I once went from Brownville JCT Maine to Vancouver BC, 3 1/2 days! When I visit relatives in the NW, I always travel between Portland and Tacoma on the train. Travel is always faster, cheaper, and far less stressful than driving or flying.
Sleeper car is not public and it's considered 1st class and also that is why your food is included. The showers and toilets in the sleeper car are intended for the passengers of the sleeper car only. Also, if you don't want to go to the dining room, the attendant will bring your food to your room. Love traveling with Amtrak in their sleepers. There are toilets but no showers in the rest if the train. Enjoy.
Really because my family got 2 sleeper cars to California from Texas, and we’re not wealthy
I've done the Fort Worth to Chicago ride a few times in the roomettes. I didn't think any of the trains had full size rooms. When you make reservations the only option is roomette. That's awesome.
Loved the video, thank you so much. It gives me itchy feet, now I want to go on a train trip.
Me, too! I don’t know if you’ll ever see this but I’m watching on December 14, 2020. I really want to take a train trip before this country goes to .........
Thank you for a very nice Train tour. Nice to see the train and all the places you been to. Have a great weekend. Best wishes from Jan in Norway
Thank you so much for this very nice trip. I watched it from Brazil here.
In 2013 I rode the last of my 5 weekend to weekend rail trips to complete riding all the AMTRAK routes west of St. Louis. After taking the Southwest Chief to L.A. making connection in K.C., I took a train to Anaheim to see an afternoon Angels baseball game knowing the station was basically in their stadium parking lot. Returning to L.A. after the game and a good Mexican meal on Olvera street again, I rode the Sunset Limited to San Antonio. I spent a day in San Antonio seeing the Alamo and Riverwalk. Then took the Texas Eagle home to St. Louis. A suprise for me was simply riding AMTRAK slowly through my South St. Louis homestead. The rail trips on Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle were not scenic like the others in The West, but enjoyed still seeing the desert along Mexico and going through places like El Paso and San Anotnio that I had never seen. As you mention in your videos, it's fun meeting other rail and travel fans for conversation on the rail trips. I enjoyed your video to re-live the memory.
Austin, that is the Mopac Expressway that is built on either side of the Missouri Pacific Rail line.
I’ve lived in Austin for about 13 years and never saw the station. I’m surprised you missed Camp Maybry when in Austin. You could of seen it when you were traveling in between the interstate. That’s called Mopac.
I love the mini sink tho, great job on the video man, thumbs up for you.
I took the Eagle to Chicago from Ft Worth in a bedroom and it was an excellent trip. I loved hanging out in the lounge car- great views along the way. I would love to do another one!
36:18 Trinity Railway Express commonly known as the TRE. It's a commuter rail that goes from Dallas to Fort Worth. It's an hour long ride each way
Hello from Temple, TX.....The Santa Fe museum is def worth checking out. We are a big train town here. And those buildings that were under construction when you filmed this are all done now and it looks great.
Amtrak, in Washington, D.C., also has a person who checks your ticket before you go out to the train. I always enjoy your trip reports. I love your narrations.
Thanks!
Vancouver, BC does that as well. The reason why in this case is understandable as there's a US customs pre-clearence checkpoint right behind the ticket inspection point. That same customs office is also used by Canadian border guards for Northbound Amtrak Cascades trains from the US.
I've also seen it where they scan your ticket as you board the train. This happened to me at both Los Angeles and Kissimmee.
Because those places in USA on train tracks sometimes ppl try to snag free ride.
As for Los Angeles me and my mom went in Business Class on the Surfliner, so I think they were trying to check to make sure people had Business Class tickets.
What a great trip you had!!!! I always take Amtrak and get a handicapped acessible room for me......you post great videos and I really enjoy watching them!!!
Have ridden on the Eagle many times between Chicago and Fort Worth, but not in the last 15 years. This was nostalgic!
I love traveling by amtrack. I can not wait until I can travel across country by train. I'm start from New York to California. I've already travel from St.Louis to San Diego a couple times already
Very nice video tour! I am heading out on the Texas Eagle one week from today (7/15/18). Glad to show a video tour of a roomette on this train as well as the people and personalities. My wife and I will be in one roomette and my son and daughter in the other.
I work at the intermodal in fort worth I see Amtrak trains every day love that your doing these
I had taken a train from LA to Houston in 2012, had thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks for the video.
That was a fun adventure! Makes me want to ride Amtrack some place LOL. That shower is a tight squeeze
I live in San Marcos, Texas. I booked a train to Taylor, Texas for Christmas 2019 there. For New Years, I went back to San Antonio, Texas by bus but on the way from San Antonio, I rode the train back. I have never ridden a lot of transportation in so little time but it was fun, I had a lot of space to myself on both trips! I’m totally doing it all again very soon.
nice floor in the cafe car, been nice to see the seating and what was available...
Wow, what an amazing video you made. This looks so cool, I'd LOVE to take a full-scale Amtrak trip across the country some day. Thanks for posting!!!
Looking to take this trip the other way: STL to SAT soon! Thanks so much for this video!
Thanks for your review, planning a trip from SA to Chicago which is the endpoint for Texas Eagle. This was excellent timing, reminded me to book the room in advance and get a decent deal!
44:20 my hometown, baby! Glad you got to film this! Watched EVERY minute if it!
Much better than any reality tv show that might mess up the whole perspective of train traveling if there is one that tried to air it out
Thanks for the video! I didn't realize train travel was so affordable. I am a money starved college student, but never thought of trains as a way to travel. I found out it is only 38 dollars to go from Southeast Michigan (my home) to Chicago. I though the trains would have been nasty, but they looked nice from this video.
coolcamaro12 It is really cheap surprisingly.
Going cross country you can fly for the price of coach...you want a room it costs 3 times what flying does
lol i know as an ypsilanti native living in Tennessee now my closest amtrack is memphis or atlanta by the time i spend to get there i can drive to ypsi park my car at the fams and take the wolverine to chicago. and go anywhere ahh the bitter taste of irony
nah trains roll by
I wish Amtrak hadn't killed The Floridian train off. Years ago there used to be train service between Chicago-Indy-Louisville-Nashville-Birmingham-Jacksonville, but that line was eliminated decades ago in the 70s or 80s I think. :( There still is service to Indy, Birmingham, and Jacksonville, but Louisville and Nashville no longer have a single Amtrak long distance train serving it. :( I recommend checking out www.timetables.org , if you want to look at past Amtrak national schedules and learn about other long distance train routes Amtrak no longer runs(i.e. Pioneer between Portland-Boise-Denver, Desert Wind between Salt Lake City-Las Vegas-Los Angeles to name examples). YES, every page of past Amtrak timetables is available to read on that website!
I especially wish Las Vegas could finally get Amtrak service again, even if it was only establishing a regional Amtrak train between LA and Vegas with several trains running that corridor a day.
Kept me smiling 54 min. Took my then 7yo train crazy son in roomette from Houston to Chicago in late Nov. so magical to see small towns and isolated farm houses lit for Christmas tucked warm in rocking train with kid asleep above me.So glad I took way too many photos as now21yrs later he says he doesn't remember it. No matter, I loved it. Dawn shimmering on the St Louis arch having crossed the river was gorgeous and I love Chicago Union station.sigh.
25:30 It's not so much that they built the rail line between the interstate lanes as they build interstates around rail lines. The rail line goes there first, then the interstate gets built nearby because the rail line provides the transportation for the material and labor to build the road. By the time America was starting to build organized road networks (1920s), the railroads had been covering the same grounds for 50 years.
47:00 And yeah, you never want a train to leave early. Running behind is better. Most train journeys are single line or the interconnect points are scheduled with hours and hours of buffer, like trains arriving in Chicago in the morning and leaving again in the afternoon and evening. A train arriving even a few hours late would still probably make your connection. Which is good, considering there's typically only one a day....
That was amazingly interesting. I'm off to check the Amtrak schedules.
36:18 Trinity Railway Express (TRE) runs from Dallas Union Station to Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center
It's the commuter link between the two, with multiple stops. Works with DART (Dallas Area Regional Transit bus/light rail), the yellow/white electric light rail that you saw going into Dallas. Take DART to Union Station, and switch to TRE (a proper DART ticket gets you through), and get off in Fort Worth to catch a city bus at Intermodal.
The road you run down the middle of in Austin is called the Mopac expressway or Loop 1. Named after the Missouri Pacific railroad. I myself just got done riding the Texas Eagle from Austin to St. Louis
This was a wonderful trip report. And I'm finally glad you got to ride in a Superliner. Now, we have to get you on the Empire Builder.
California Zephyr will be part of a trip report for me.
Or better yet, what about the Acela Express?
Mind you the Acela's on my bucket list (particularly between NY and Boston), and I've done the Silver Star from Kissimmee to DeLand back in January (in coach)!
3dkidsartfairs I did the Northeast Regional BOS-PVD and back. I'm doing the special golf train this weekend CHI-BHG (Benton Harbor Golf).
3dkidsartfairs silver service....you can always get laid on that train
gladfan1989 Update on the Empire Builder is that it is going to be reduced to tri-weekly service from daily. This the cost of doing battle with the Trump Administration.
I really enjoyed your trip from Texas to St. Louis. We live in Alton and have wanted to take a train trip for some time. Maybe soon.
Waves from San Marcos, TX. Interesting to see a different perspective of my hometown.
Many of those towns, sadly, have seen better days. Pretty grim.
Thanks for the memories. I rode the Texas Eagle in 2016 from Texarkana to St. Louis. In a sleeper. Great ride. Of course I would say that since I am a TRAIN NUT!!!!!
A big thumbs up regarding your trip on Amtrak! Great vdo!
Man, I enjoyed this video so much! Wonderful and enthusiastic filming and narration! It was fun feeling like I was right there, riding on that train. I sleep pretty well long-distance on Amtrak's Adirondack to Montreal -- and they're all coach seats (at least lots of legroom in the lead car or both the lead and second cars) on the Adirondack. So I'd probably sleep like a baby, kitten or puppy in either the lower or upper berth in a longer-distance rail trip.
Loved the car-plane-trains vid from St. Louis to Chicago to N.Y.
You've inspired me to plan a halfway cross-country rail trip. I've long desired to travel via Amtrak from NYC Penn Sta. to Chi Town's Union Sta. I can't afford one of those bedrooms on the sleeper car, but oh yes to a roomette!
Bravo!!! I'm a renewed fan of The Elevator Channel.
Man I wish I could ride an Amtrak train across the country even once. I’ve only ever ridden a train from Joliet central station(before it was closed) to St. Louis in coach.
Very well done video!!! Would love to see more Amtrak riding videos!!! Keep up the good work!!! Splendid job!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas. 🤠
That was the fastest 50 minutes of my life. Incredible trip report! You seem so enthusiastic about it and have a uplifting attitude! I definitely want to try a long haul like this sometime.
Taylor Texas is home to Louie Mueller BBQ. Named the Top BBQ joint in Texas in the inaugural issue of Texas Monthly's Best list in 1973. Louie Mueller is the only restaurant to have been named either #1 or #2 every year since.
My mom rode that Amtrak train in 2015 when she was going to Wisconsin, she caught the train in Austin, Texas.
This was great to watch! A San Antonio Viewer
I'm poor so i'm thinking of just taking some train rides as vacations
Hey it's just as cheap to travel coach or business as it is drive. It just takes a little longer to get there. AND no travel to contend with.
A while back, I rode from Ft. Worth to Springfield, IL overnight. Tromped around Springfield all day doing the tourist thing, then got back on the Eagle that evening and
went back to work the next day. A great mini vacation. Try it, you'll like it!
Me too brother
If you're poor you can't afford a train room lol
Amtrak would NOT be your choice if you are looking to save some money. I have found that Amtrak is pretty much double what ever you would pay for a plane ticket. PLUS you have to buy your meals on the train (hint-$$$$). Depending on where I want to go I can hop a plane and be there in 1 or 2 hours, whereas it takes Amtrak 8+ hours to get me to that same destination. Drive yourself or flying would be easier on your wallet.
I'm a travel lover. Trolley, train, bus, car, bike, etc.. The longer the trip, the better. No matter how long a trip is, when getting to the destination, I kinda get bummed it's over. Yeah, I watched the entire video and definitely enjoyed it! Only recently discovered train travel. Almost 50 years of living and just now realize this is something I would have engaged in quite frequently, YEARS ago! DAMN! Awesome video, though! It was relaxing to watch and kinda got to, vicariously, live the experience. I plan to take my first, roundtrip, cross country train trip from west to east and back in just a couple months. Thank you so much for making this video. You seemed cozy, for sure!
Had the train started in the opposite direction in San Antonio, you would have immediately glimpsed San Antonio's former Southern Pacific Sunset Station, once considered one of the most picturesque Mission Revival stations in the U.S. Southwest. In another era, you could have taken direct trains from here to either Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and even Mexico City aboard the Aztec Eagle. Struggling Amtrak in the 1980s couldn't afford to maintain or restore the pink-stuccoed station, and ultimately moved into the current tiny annex. Sunset Station has since been redeveloped into an entertainment hall, part of a historic district that many hope to make into an urban development cluster.
To the west, on the opposite side of San Antonio's downtown, is the former International & Great Northern Depot, another charmingly historic Mission Revival landmark station here topped by a broad dome. It has been restored into a bank, and long range aims are to redevelop it again into a westside transit center and development district. The major bus node has been established, but plans for a streetcar system and light rail line were defeated by voters. Had they succeeded, a loop system would have linked back to Sunset Station on downtown's eastside and connecting with the Amtrak station, creating a complete rail network encompassing downtown by streetcar, the suburban centers by light rail at the historic westside station, and the national network by Amtrak at the historic eastside station. Pity. It probably could not have been clearly seen in that dreary morning drizzle, but if your train had instead continued a southwestern heading around downtown San Antonio and then then north, it would have passed by the disused yard of this former station. Perhaps one day it will be functioning rail yard once again.
On the southern edge of San Antonio's downtown was the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad's former Katy Depot, also once a beautiful Mission Revival landmark and modeled after the city's heritage Spanish colonial Mission Concepción into a railroading cathedral. Though popular, it was an awkward and confined terminal depot where trains had to back into or out of the station, and the increasingly neglected station was sadly demolished in 1969 as passenger railroading in the U.S. collapsed. The site became the parking pad of a budget hotel.
Even further south was the Victorian-styled former San Antonio & Aransas Pass depot. Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders once mustered here. The SA&AP Depot has long since been demolished and the site now is a Salvation Army warehouse, but, if your train had continued on its initial southward course, it would have passed directly over its location on the southern swing around downtown San Antonio.
Rail fans should be sure to look up San Antonio's former railroad gems, the Sunset Station, I&GN Depot, the Katy Depot, and the SA&AP Depot.
Awesome! Thank you!
It's really sad to see old huge stations abandoned and no longer used for rail. In Detroit, we have a huge train station no longer in use, Michigan Central Train Depot. It's a big beautiful boi that sadly no longer gets railed on the daily by passenger trains.
I believe I took the Aztec Eagle to Chicago back in the 70's from the Sunset Station that was my one and only train trip I ever took . A very slow trip but very worth it . Its a shame that so called progress destroys all these beautiful historic treasures.