New York to Miami onboard Amtrak's BRAND new SLEEPER Viewliner - Silver Meteor
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- Опубликовано: 18 мар 2021
- Howdy folks,
Welcome to this trip report onboard the Amtrak Silver Meteor! We will travel all the way from New York to the sunny Miami. It was the moment to review the brand new sleeper Viewliner II.
Enjoy :)
- TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED IN FEBRUARY 2021
Railroad company: Amtrak
Train type : P42 #161#190, Amfleet II, and Viewliner I & II
From : New York Penn Station (Moynihan Hall) to Miami
Time : 27h54
Price : $557 or €467,21
LINK TO THE NEW PATREON PAGE : / simply_railway
Massive thanks to my following Patreon for their help :
Claudio Bickel ; Iwan Di Tullio ; Martin Haynes ; Cyril ; Laurent Gilson
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- EQUIPEMENT - Iphone 12 Pro + Dji Mobile Go 2
As a proper Frenchman, you brought your own tablecloth 🤣🤣🤣 👍👌✌️
Lol
C'est magnifique 👌 🇫🇷
Wow! That's really hilarious! Who knew a tablecloth could be so funny!
[9th 99 9 Tree
and a bottle of lafite rothchild 1888 along with a bagette.
I fabricated and welded every single frame for that new Amtrak line, I even built the prototypes(sleepers,diners,baggage and bagdorms). It was fun to build the frames and later on I helped finish the interiors. It's such an honor to have you like them and I love seeing them on the track in service. P.s if you look on the ends on the frame below the door posts there is a hand stamped serial number. I hand stamped every single frame.
Hi. Nice work! Are the roomettes fabricated fully assembled and then placed into the rail car? Just wondered.
👏👏👏
You want a Blue peter badge for that?
Thank you for your service
That's Cool. Hope to take this train one day soon. Thank you.
Having rail fans film the train from the side of the road or a station really add to the experience of the video 👍🏼. What a community!
I do have to say that this is the BEST video I have ever seen, and watching it from all angles, plus the "rail fan" video footage from the sides of the road (as the train passes and the snow blowing) was extremely cool. This is by far the best video I have ever seen (from a Rail Fan). Amazing stuff!
Genius !!!
I wish I could have done that when I moved from Oregon to Florida on AmTrak ten years ago !!! Image having inside and outside photo montage of a cross continental trip.
@@markmalewski Àà
This train goes bye my house, well within a mile. I have ridden it from Raleigh to NYC and back. Could have flown for cheaper and quicker; I did read an entire book over the two days.
@@markmalewski yes it the best
It bizarre why we haven’t any high speed networks across this fine nation!!! 🚂
Plane? car? Give me a train every time!!
We could, but Congress won't let us. We don't get to have nice things.
@@jblkcns Because we don't need it! The average American flies or drives. What is the point in spending money on a nationwide high speed rail network? I would agree with you if this was the 1940s. But its not! Its just not worth it nationwide.
@@black10872people fly because the train is slow, people drive because its cheaper then the train. When I use to take it to south caralina most people i talk to said they take it becuase they were scared to fly and that they were scared of falling a sleep on the road. Its honestly faster too drive and cheaper to take a plane to nyc delaware then taking a train. It is very relaxing taking a train and the view once you leave the city area is nice.
@@fatcatpeople I took Amtrak once to Virginia.
distance between regions and lack of density in most of those regions
You are one of the biggest reasons I took the train to New York in September of '21, along with my father's encouragement. I thouroughly thank you so much for this video, because the train trip added so much to my trip. Moynihan Hall was truly an experience to be in in general once I was leaving for home, after a week of being in NYC.
Thank you so much, Simply Railways!
I might take this trip. I did NY Chicago once, hated it.
Florida is a lot bigger than most people realize. When I was in my 20s my girlfriend and I drove down to the Keys from Indianapolis one time. I remember crossing the state line into Florida and thinking “Wow we’re almost there!” Nope, we were barely halfway.
That is a problem for me as I live just North of the Keys. It takes all day to get out of this State so normally when driving we stayed over night near the GA/SC State line. As I had a CDL, legally I couldn't make a trip from here to Quincy in legal time in the State vehicle. And here to Jax was also cutting it close at times. To get to home in Ohio, it is a 17 hour drive. To get from here to Anniston, AL it is a 12 hour drive into our neighboring State. But from Ohio to Anniston thru WV, VA, TN, GA, AL is only a 10 hour drive.
Had a similar experience when I drove from my home in Southern San Diego County (I live about eight miles from the Mexico border) to Seattle...we didn’t actually LEAVE California and cross into Oregon until Day 3, more than 850 miles into the 1400 mile trip...if you drive Florida from Pensacola, near the Alabama border, to Key West, you have a similar 850 mile trek!
We drove from Fort Lauderdale to Houston, TX after getting off of our cruise (during 9/11, so no more flights). I got an education really fast how big Florida is....especially that westerly route! Mississippi and Alabama state lines were blips in comparison.
Driving through Georgia is a hell too
@@leethejuggler1486 there really should be a by-pass.
No distracting music or commentary. Just the ambient sounds. Thumbs up!
Absolutely !
Unfortunately the shots were so short it was hard to take things in and read the text at the same time, I had to keep stopping it.
The Fortnite dance music is what makes these videos exciting and sexy.
@@capenjck and the pop-ups, but at least you can clear them and scroll back!
@@capenjck Thank you! I agree.
Nice to see the Amtrak Silver Meteor line still going. My father took the whole family on Silver Meteor from Miami to New York on vacation back in 1982. We returned to Miami on Silver Meteor also. We went in a first class room for 4 persons. It was my first experience on a train traveling. It was the best summer I had with my family.
Nothing beats train travel imo. I simply love it to death! Thank you for sharing!
Right! If only we could build bridges and tracks across oceans! I'd take a train from New York to London lol.
@@faa1412 Absolutely!
You right about that ...... Had the passenger train experience of traveling on a Amtrak with my Sister from Rockymount, NC 🚅🚈🚉New York.
I personally like the wood paneling. It gives the interior just a hint of old world class and style.
If you can call the 70s old world. But I agree that it looks good. Midcentury modern. Will definitely age better than some short lived modern trend.
This seams to be a CAF thing
I think its a welcome change, the blue gets very old. I think it'd be nice touch to see all different colors like this and on the Cascadia
Me too, the wooden panels were great back then and still great now rather than the bright pastel colors and plastic that would have to be changed after a few years.
It certainly retains its charm over time! The rehabbed Type 7 trams in Boston look great.
It was nice to hear people thanking the crew. So many people these days are unthankful.
And we're legally obligated to do so, why? Who the fuck are you, the courtesy police, mind your own damn business 🖕
Amtrak went all in on that Viewliner set. Major props to them!
If they would just make full use of those expensive dining/kitchen cars they purchased. *roll eyes*
I dk about the “old rattling sound” at night, but for me, the whole point of taking the train is to be able to hear the ‘chunk-chunk’ sound of the wheels on the track, such a comforting sound.
I don't even want to go anywhere in particular, I just wanna ride that train.
Same
Sameeee 😄
Same mate
Huh??
And you'll be sorry!.
I've taken that Amtrak train to Florida for 15 years at Easter with my kids, the fun began as soon as we got on board the train. We always booked coach seats and Philadelphia was the last pick up of passengers, if there were sleeping cars not used after that we always would upgrade to a sleeper car for about $30. What a deal, all the meals were included, the conducted told me about that little trick after our first trip to Florida, used it like a charm for the next 14 years. Worth asking for definitely!!!
Wow, really? You were able to do that every time?
@@Rachel-rs7jn Every year but one for 14 years. Try it, you've got nothing to lose.
@@kathyficarotta598 That's awesome; thank you for the tip!
@@kathyficarotta598 How did that 1 year go? Dealing with kids in coach for 24+ hours on Amtrak would change the value proposition of the other 14 years for me.
Great tip! Thinking about going by rail to Florida, vs flying. May try this.
I'm a grandmother in NC, near Charlotte, and I thoroughly enjoyed your video. I don't enjoy traveling too far from home, even though I have several times, but I loved being able to travel and learn while in my own home. Good job !
Thank you for leaving the subtitles up long enough for us to read them and then see what you are capturing at that moment. A lot of RUclipsrs could learn something by watching this video.
Great video. Love the subtitles instead of incessant talking, you can hear the ambient sounds. My grandparents always took the Silver Meteor to Florida back in the 1950s-60s pre-Amtrak. We used to see them off at Penn Station in NYC. Back then you could go on the train before it left to say good-bye. They always booked a sleeper but grandma usually stayed up all night playing cards in the club car with the other night owls. Wonderful memories.
Me and my family also. My hometown stop of Sellers, SC was between the Latta and Florence stations. Once they forgot my aunt was getting off in Sellers and when she got off in Florence, they gave her money and also had a Pennsylvania Railroad employee drive her back to Sellers. (The New York to Florida route was known as Pennsylvania Railroad until Amtrak to over in the beginning of 1970). This was wonderful because before then, you had to stand up or sit in the aisles all the way to your destination even if you had children or babies. Some seated passengers were kind enough to let the elderly or people with children sit for a while.
Do you remember you could look up and hear the announcer when he announced train departures? Everyone my Harlem neighborhood and in the South were so proud that he was black. Once I stared at him so hard, he waved at me. I loved hearing how he pronounced the word "and". He would always say: "annnnnn ... ". Also the current departure gates were not East and West -- they were A and B and when he announced the gates, it was so poetic.
I would much rather hear a spoken narration than subtitles.
most of the videos people talk, not subtitles , 99% of videos done with voice not subtitles, there is a reason why !!!!
@@alanef4127 Exactly! You don't need to glue your eyes to one spot to read it...
@@alanef4127 I agree. Voice over for me.
While I have no interest in trains myself (beyond a potential leisurely trip out West at some point), the geeky-in-a-good-way enthusiasm and pure joy of you getting so excited about the equipment, the routes, the updates, etc., is truly contagious and really makes for an enjoyable -- and information-rich -- video. In a way, I envy seeing people that passionate about their hobbies. So you just keep on ridin' and sharing!
Oh if you took a train you’d love it. There’s something about it
Loooove your comment!
Hurry up and ride out West. You can't imagine how fun it is!
When I moved from NJ 45 years ago I went twice a year back by train, I loved ie. Me and my young daughter. Still miss it. Happy travelers
Finally no human voice just nature noise ❤
This isn't a review. This is a full on documentary. Good stuff! Thanks!
the culture of train trips is that you take your time and you smell the roses.
Agreed
I used to take the Auto-train from Virginia to Florida to visit my grandma in the 90's. As a small child, they used to put movies on for kids and I met kids my age. It was before everyone had cell phones so we used to bring board games and lanyard to keep ourselves busy. Very good memories.
I took the autotrain in 2019 when I moved back to PA from FL. At age 41 it was my first time, and I LOVED it! It was so much fun, and being rocked to sleep in my tiny little sleeper room while I watched a movie on my tablet was so nice. I’d love to do another sleeper car trip!
@@laurenk1766 I'm so happy to hear you had a good experience! Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful video. I love your enthusiasm & love for trains, it's contagious. Thank you so very much. Safe travels young man!! !!
No, I love the old style wooden panel! Looks classy! ;)
Love the fact you allow for the background/track/train noise to be the audio on your videos, not not incessant talking (subtitles are best). Allows viewers to really experience the trip without any distractions. Cheers! (from a new subscriber)
I 100% agree with this statement!!!
I agree. I actually like the click clack if the rails as I weirdly sleep better.
My Bebita Wife Maria tho... You can guess who'd win that one.
I too agree 100%. I also love the pacing, giving us the time to see and understand everything, instead of quickly moving the camera all over the place.
Agreed
I agree. These videos are perfect.
The lounge in Moynihan Hall is a HUGE improvement over the cramped, depressing lounge in the older part of Penn Station
@@tminusnyc2915 so is Moynihan Hall. What's your point genius?
I've never seen America from this point of view. It's always car infested cities. This is so cool.
When I first moved to New York I took the train from NY to Miami unique experience I love it.
Did you have to transfer trains
Riding the train is relaxing.
You get to see/discover the USA without having to be focused on driving :)
It's a great way just to view our beautiful country
Granted, thats a benefit of most trains.
Add more trains then build HSR and regional rail networks in cities
Many anericans havent experience pleasure of train journey...
Less safe than flying but I guess if im going to die I might as well be comfortable
@@joelt00b Flying is incredibly safe, so saying it's less safe isn't a very big statement.
That's like saying a blow torch is less hot than the sun; well, obviously.
When I was growing up, my dad would always take me to the station to meet my Granny coming in on the Silver Meteor! We lived in Raleigh, NC and she lived in Savannah, GA. We would see who could stand the closest to the rails when the train came in and loved the rumble it gave our chests! I was a little girl then, and I turn 64 this year. I have also had the pleasure of riding the Silver Meteor, too! One thing on my Bucket List is to take my husband (who has never been on a train) on a trip in a sleeper aboard the same train to remember my sweet Granny. Thank you for bringing back wonderful memories!
Hope it works for you. My wife and I have taken many trips both by sleeper and by coach. I'm 60.
the new roomettes look NICE! I travel once or twice a year on Amtrak just for the fun of it and I always get a roomette. I haven't done the east coast yet though, this has inspired me!
this is the best video for someone looking for what to expect. An I love how you stay silent allowing viewer to take in all details the others dont show much its like they love sound of their own voice they distracted away from what purpose of video is.
This is the most proffesional in car, train trip video I've ever seen. Shooting is incredibly steady, moves are smooth as can be. No wandering, no lighting problems, audio is appropiate and right where it should be. Tracked the video right on.
Editing superb, I am almost not noticing it. Love the details. I'm sure going to watch more of your work.
Thanks so much for the fine story telling.
Marty Jasper
I would love if you could elaborate on what this video brings to you. I'm struggling to understand what one gains from watching this. I enjoy keeping videos of front cab views of scenic places in the background while I work, but this is a little bit puzzling.
Your camerawork was steady! Wonderful! The Amtrak formerly rocked sideways
enough to make me dizzy. Can other viewers give feedback on coach motion.Has Amtrak stabilized?
@@TickleMeTimbers Well for starters, people see how train travel is like. People like to know the best deals and if it is worth it. Also, this can count as a scenic video because we do see scenery along the way.
Excellent trip report, as usual. Thank you! Sorry if someone already mentioned this (I wasn't able to read through all the comments) but as you mentioned the new Moynihan Train Hall is located across 8th Avenue from Penn Station in part of the former Farley Post Office (btw, the post office facility is still operating, but has been reduced in size, obviously, and modernized). The reason the post office is on the western edge of Penn Station is because, when the Pennsylvania RR opened NY Penn Station in 1910 all intercity mail traveled by train, so when trains arrived in New York, passengers would disembark under Penn Station and mail was unloaded to the Farley postal facility. As you all know, the original Penn Station was one of the great architectural wonders of the New World and its demolition in 1963 and replacement with Madison Square Garden led to an overwhelming outcry that eventually led to New York City's landmark preservation laws. Until the completion of the Moynihan Train Hall, New York City was the only major city on the Northeast Corridor with a truly sub-par train station. This is definitely a step in the right direction, although, of course, the 1960's Penn Station under Madison Square Garden continues to operate.
We might add that after demolition of the original Penn Station, Grand Central Station was next to be demolished....but Jacqueline Kennedy waged a successful battle to save it, and in so doing got the Preservation movement in New York started.
#RebuildPennStation mirite?
www.rebuildpennstation.org/
Anyone?
Great video. Actually makes me want to go by train again. Haven’t been on a train in 40 years.
The shot of your train traveling through the snow covered station was dramatic and brillant. Great video.
"No trip on Amtrak is complete without a good old delay thanks to the host railroad" - I love that sense of humor!
😂😂🤣🤣
Can't be further from the truth.
Oh yes, and on the meteor/star, you will have plenty
yeah, as though the host railroads had not established a lot of their trackage and right of way with government subsidies.
@@tracyavent-costanza346 this is interesting
My mom was a nurse on the ny to miami train in 1963. She loved it! Had an apartment in both cities; shared with other nurses.
isn't 1963 before Amtrak was established?
It was at the time she must have either worked for seaboard airline railroad or Atlantic coast line railroad
You couldn't get a bandaid on a train now!.
Not even a cup of coffee,Was supposed to have din car,we paid extra
AMTRAK LIES!.
That was a great ride. I rode Amtrak a few times during the pandemic. In 2019, 30 of my family members rode Amtrak from Raleigh NC to Miami for a cruise. Amtrak was able to put all of us in a coach car. We had a wonderful time. We fed all the people in our car. We are going on a cruise in July, but only 6 people are going by train.
It’s beautiful to see how the snow flues past the Amtrak train as it zooms past through the snow❤❤❤❤❤
9:16 beautiful pictures
Never had the urge to take a train trip until I saw this video 😬 Most times I don’t like people but seeing your railfans get footage at the platforms just renewed my hope in people ❤️
I traveled many trips in the Viewliner 1 sleepers, and enjoyed having the toilet in the roomette. What amazed me the most was the lack of odor! No foul odors, no chemical odor, no odor! To get up in the middle of the night to have a quick pee was so much easier than having to get dressed and go to a (usually dirty) toilet somewhere else. I'm firmly in the camp that will miss the toilets. Now living in the Superliner part of the US, I also believe they should have in-room toilets. I enjoy your videos!
most people - including myself - strongly dislike those in-room toilets. they weren't suitable for any kind of regularly sized adult person.
The Superliners ran millions of miles without roomette toilets for over four decades. It's time for the Viewliners to do the same.
@@leob5675 I'm regular size and have no problem with them. I'd rather have them.
My Wife was sleeping I went to a pub toilet it was FILLLL-THEE!. The car with seats smelled like a bouquet of buttholes,Serious reeked of body odor!.
The en suite toilet is huge advantage for us frequent urinators. Def' will be missed.
Thanks for the video, I love trains. I’ll pass on the rooms without a bathroom, I had enough of that in the military.
My future, yet unscheduled, trip will be from L.A. to Chicago on the Empire Builder.
Thanks again.
Traveled Amtrak from Hartford to California and back in the old roomette. We like the new look. Thanks for your video now considering a trip to Florida via the meteor😊 shower
I don't know how this video got to be recommended but I am glad I watched. I feel like taking a train trip now.
I'm super-impressed with how quiet it was at night. I enjoy the unique sounds associated with train travel, but the gentle "white-noise" at night seemed delightfully restful..
When I went from NYC to Chicago, some of the best sleep I ever had surprisingly was in a Viewliner II roomette.
I mean... Always, ALWAYS pack earplugs, though. I once met the world's loudest snorer grandma in a 4-person sleeper. Bonus: the other 2 places were occupied by a 2 parents and their cca. 2-3 year old son. The son could also not sleep from the SNORING, but he was totally quiet.
Does it stop in many places or direct to Miami?
How nice is this video. Clean stations, and unique atmosphere.. Thank you for this unique trip
They wouldn't be so clean, especially in the very large cities, if it weren't for the rules about only ticket holders have access. The vagrant problem is out of control in some of America's large cities.
Your train vids are excellent. It’s interesting that you are far less critical of Amtrak COVID-style food than American reviews I’ve seen! As an old-fashioned 73-yr-old who studied in France and has traveled by train all over Europe, I prefer the “wooden” paneling because it reminds me of those great European trains! I’m glad you appreciate the great New York stations! I had not seen the Moynihan Hall station, and it too is lovely. Nice work! A la prochaine fois!
I think the wood panels look more upscale. Decor would be the least of my complaints about Amtrak as it is currently managed. Use those expensive new dining cars with their kitchens to their full advantage and bring back full dining service for all passengers on the long distance trains! And cull out rude, lazy on-board service personnel. A few spoil the experience although most are good.
Me at the beginning of this randomly recommended video: "Hahaha, this guy is such a nerd! What a silly nanny!"
Me after sitting through the entire video: *googling Amtrak ticket prices and route options*
Hahaha, same same!!! It looks soooo cozy.
Me too, but I refuse to catch public transport in my day to day
@@ceejae2349 why though? increasing public transport usage will eventually increase their funding. This can make it faster, cleaner, more efficient and sustainable. Honestly, I love public transport
Same! 😂😂😂😂 But I was surprised at how expensive it was compared to just getting there by plane. I was expecting this to be $150-$200 ....not * *gasp* * $500! Is this a flat fee per "room" or per person?! I see this cabin has 2 seats and 2 beds. Can you split the fee with another adult?! I could gladly pay $250 to travel with a friend....but $500 for just me I would never. Rather spend that on an experience (which the train trip is, I know) at my destination, than on a transportation method.
[Edit: typos]
@@i.t.577 I agree. But you have to take two things into account:
1st: you usually start right away in the central station of your origin city, which means you can easily spend a whole day and then just go to the station 30minutes before. No security, no stress, no nothing.
2nd: You don't have to spend money on a hotel room that night which can easily be another 150-200$ for a single person in the US.
And then obviously you arrive in your destination center again where you can spend the whole day well rested. So basically you earn 1,5 days and save one hotel room.
It's still expensive, but then it's also something really nice to experience, so cozy, you might see a lot of countryside...
Not sure if you can split the cost, but if you could, it would be really something.
I'm still waiting for a business class like on planes, where you have your own lie flat seat but it's not as expensive as having your own room like here..
I think the wood paneling looks great. Makes it feel more retro and old fashioned. Also, it seems more inviting than if it were just stainless steel or something.
Thanks for inviting me along, I really enjoyed the trip! You are a travel buddy!
Thank you for sharing. You did an excellent job helping us view and visualize being there.
I agree with you. Traditional dining is one of the highlights of travel by train. I hope traditional dining will be returned to Amtrak.
When my wife and I took our trip on the Crescent a highlight of the trip was our meals in the diner. And sitting with complete strangers to fill a table was a little different at first but then we enjoyed it by meeting people from different backgrounds
Yes, that is one major reason I quit flying. A sack snack just doesn't cut it for me.
I’d travel by train if they brought the dining back
As much as I enjoy making fun of the us-trainsystem, this new station is so good looking (especially the clock hanging from the skylight)! What an amazing building.
That clock reminds me of the one at Glasgow Central Station
The rail system in the New York metro area is pretty comparable to Europe, probably the only place in America that is.
We fly, almost no one takes a train. Why sit on a train for 31 hours when you can be there in 3? Unless the train it traveling the west, the Rocky Mountains or Deserts, there's nothing worth seeing.
@@TheBandit7613 100% agreed. If flying was expensive, it’d be different, but right now I can fly from NYC to Miami for under $100 round-trip (economy) or $240 in first class, so why would I spend $800 on an Amtrak roomette? Why would anyone, if they weren’t making money off the video?
I love this kind of videos because they are so relaxing and interesting! Carry on!
Man I’m only twelve but I’m in love with trains and I love your videos
14*
As they say, “It’s best to start good things early”
Amtrak definitely needs to bring back the traditional dining cars !
It’s very interesting to compare the US carriers to European operators. It seems here in Europe, we have what seems like style over substance in many ways, including in very stylish branding and general train design at cost to comfort and with hard seating and poor leg room. American operators eschew that, it seems, for focussing on passenger comfort. Microwaved pasta covid style during the pandemic is better than a naff snack boxes on UK all service catering both pre- and post covid. Thank you for bringing us these insights. It’s fascinating
Oh the pasta has always been microwaved I’m pretty sure.
Amtrak is the only national passenger rail service in the US,driving & or flying are faster and cheaper with better coverage than a train.
Most European lines are a lot shorter so it does make some sense. Comfort really is less of a priority on a 3-hour ride than a 28-hour one. ;-)
I just wish we could get more - and new! - sleeper trains.
But this strategy led European carriers to be more efficient, faster, possibly cheaper. Also, distances are usually much shorter, exept from some night trains
@@hypernewlapse "second-class" trains can be rather less fun to ride, thought. But that's arguably true everywhere.
The big problem with the European rail network - IMHO - is that they're all in practice still national concerns. Lines are laid out based on what the most vocal group in each country wants, so traveling to another country, or worse traveling THROUGH a country, can be rather horrible. :-P
And of course since the railways are national concerns it's not just a cost question to upgrade them to the same loading gauge/electrical power/signal&comm systems - everyone fights to keep their own "thing". :-(
I remember moving to Florida from ny 1989 via Amtrak getting off the train and waiting for my dad to pick us up. Experience I will never forget
I grew up in Elmira Heights, NY where the car was built. They started by refurbishing New York City subway cars back in the 70's. Thanks for the memory.
That is very cool that your friends filmed you and that you edited the video to include it. Good job.
It's great that you had collaborators along the way to contribute footage of your train on the move!!!
my brother, my friend it's a pleasure to watch this wonderful video from the Amtrak line and without hiding it's my favorite line I've already traveled Ladan from Florida to North Carolina it was great fun this video is from a long time ago but I love it thank you from the bottom of my heart you did a great job God bless you
WOW! Great video coverage, pleasure to watch. Thanks!
OK, that's really cool that you got train fans to record you going by. Dedicated!
I honestly like the woodgrain interior of the Viewliner II sleeper.
I did this trip in 2010. It took over 31 hours. The trip comes to a snail’s pace once you hit the Florida rail system and was the reason I flew home😄
I seriously watched this video 1 year ago, and it's still amazing
I'm so glad to see young people into American trains I've loved since childhood. I hear the European ones are far superior, but it we all support Amtrak and NARP and write our Congresspeople, hopefully Amtrak can continue to improve. Well done video!
Actually taxpayers shouldn't fund this hobby. It's a slow and inefficient transport system especially when the future of self driving cars will mean much faster point to point transport than is currently possible.
@Smitastic trains are supported by politicians. Airplanes are in demand by people but politicians do a lot to make air travel less convenient than it should be. 350 dollars for a seven hour train ride that can be done in 90 minutes on an airplane is nothing but DUMB
@@smitastic7030 Airlines should have been allowed to go bankrupt. And so should train boondoggles.
@Smitastic I do not confuse the engineering marvel of high speed trains with the inconsiderate burden of forcing taxpayers to subsidize it. I'm not selfish in wanting other people to finance what I consider "cool".
@Smitastic so because government takes our money we should support subsidies for trains?? Nice lack of logic. Better idea is keep train vanity projects unfunded while REDUCING subsidies for everything else including planes.
It’s weird but nice to see that Amtrak brought back phase 3 after forever
Im not sure they brought it back, i think they made the cars a long time ago and never used them they sat in storage waiting for the other rolling stock to age out, like the Budd diner and sleeper cars. I was on Yahoo Amtrak groups which had alot of Amtrak experience on there and i asked why are the Viewliners in phase III, and they said they are new diners and baggage cars which have been sitting in storage wasting money and Amtrak won't pull them out. There's no explanation why Amtrak wouldn't use them but apparently they are using them now because of complaints of wasted money with them sitting in storage.
@@pashon4percushon The Viewliners were built with Phase lllb, a paint scheme introduced in 2013.
@@Maunico0809 oh ok, i'm referring to the Viewliners built with phase III paint in the early 90's. Some rolled out in Phase III livery but i don't know how many or which ones but there are rare photos on the internet like on trainweb.org or railpictures.net. Walthers made HO versions in 1998 but only in Phase IV.
I am le 69th like
@@Maunico0809 Why did Amtrak decide to revive phase 3?
Travels this way on this train many years with my daughter , loved it from Jersey to Miami
Subbed! I like the titles and no talking. Hand signals with just fine 😁👍
We're planning a trip when this mess is over and things are back to the real normal. Your videos help lots!
I don't think the in room toilets are a waste of space. I don't want to walk down the hall in the middle of night just to use a toilet. My wife and I always get a bedroom with the toilet in room now. I understand the lack of funds can leave you with no alternative but to get a roomette or coach seat. I did it a few times on overnight trains and it was the only bad part of taking the train. It's also nice to be able to take a shower without leaving your room.
Man, if you pay for basic you'll get basic. For instance, Czech Railway's WLABmz826 sleeper has full toilets only for first class coupes. The rest of the coach share's a communal one.
The Superliners don't have toilets in their roomettes and it has never been an issue. In fact, passengers prefer it that way. The Viewliner I roomette toilets have consistently been considered a nuisance in customer surveys.
@@dynasty0019 Why? For 500 bucks I want my own toilet.
@@saratemp790 Obviously most passengers don't want them that's why it's gone.
I used to go to Miami from New York when I was a teenager. I am now 85 years old. We had a "Pullman" which, if I remember correctly, was two rooms and a private bathroom. It was a very exciting trip for my sister, me, my mother and father. We also enjoyed the dining car and couldn't get over how the waiters could carry and balance the trays full of food while the train was moving side to side and back and forth. Then, plane travel became popular, and you could get to Miami faster and cheaper. But, I miss those days on the Silver Meteor. One last comment, some years ago, I took the train to Florida by myself and had a Roomette that had a bathroom. Watching this video today, I can't imagine paying such a high price for a Roomette and having to walk down a public hall to use a bathroom or take a shower. For someone my age, this just wouldn't work!
And I can confirm, having travelled there, Winter Park IS lovely!
I used to live there and it is a nice town
@@emeyer6963 Amtrak ruined the day trips in Florida by their schedule changes. It used to be we would take a friend's private car as far as Winter Park and get off locking the car up for storage in Jax. We'd clean up from the trip that we would have just completed on the way north. With the old schedule, you could have a nice lunch and then catch the Meteor back to Miami. Then they changed the schedule. Now you do good to get to Winter Haven or if lucky, Kissimmee. We also used to be able to go from Miami to Tampa and have lunch and walk to the river. Then walk back and get back to Miami that night. Hopefully Brightline will make it better.
@@gravelydon7072 I did a Lakeland to Deerfield Beach trip to pick up a car about 10 years ago and it took forever to get down there but was an interesting way to travel for a change.
That's where I get off the train at Winter Park, FL.
I finished preparing for my exams and now I am enjoying watching your videos! Great Sunday!
Thank you for this fantastic video. My wife and I really enjoyed it. Merci!
"New Jersey transit is still using the old Penn Station hall"
NJT: Why are we still here? Just to suffer...
*new jersey doesn't deserve nice things*
@@josefstalin9068 to be honest the only thing I liked about them is their paint job and their ALP45DP
they're renovating it
I heard that NJT balked at sharing the cost of renovating Moynihan Train Hall with Amtrak and LIRR, so they weren't allowed to use the new hall. Not certain how true the report is, though.
Hit a little too close to home 😂😂
Thanks, Packingten. There are toilets accessed from corridors that all can use, but the level of cleanliness is often not the best, and having to leave the roomette in pjs in the middle of the night and walk somewhere is an unwelcome alternative to having a commode right there beside you. A surprising number of people responding seem to feel Amtrak miscalculated by removing them, making you wonder who all these reportedly surveyed folks were who thought that was a good idea.
I thought it was for cost-saving
@@AVeryRandomPerson They cut out dining cars replaced with HIGH PRICED SOY BURGERS 5.75+275 CHIPS!, Want a coke??,try 2.75 So 11.50 We were lied to they said a din car wud be on trip Chicago to Tampa fl😡 LIARS!.
I found that having my toilette was the best part of the trip from NY to Fl.
Agreed
Thanks for taking the time to make this great video
I took this trip in the early 1990s, when the Viewliner I’s were new. It was an awesome experience. I’m so happy to see this trip report, you brought back some great memories! I can’t wait to see the Moynihan Train Hall in person someday. 😀
Personally, I liked the in-room toilets of the Viewliner. Especially at night, or when I travelled with my little kids. It’s nice knowing you’re not sitting in someone else’s urine.
i assume you're lucky to be of some kind of extra-small size. because those toilets were useless for anyone who's even slightly bigger than a 5-year old kid.
@@leob5675 Not true at all. I'm 5'10" and 200 plus pounds and never had a problem with them.
@@leob5675 Yet another comment by $ house leo.
@@leob5675 Btw Pal I weigh 260!.
@@gravelydon7072 well good for you man what can i tell you. i have no idea how you could use them for anything serious and sure as hell don't want to know lol. anyway, they're gone.
Your Trip report was excellent as always. Thank you a lot
I live down the road where the cars are built and updated, it's quite the view to see a car being transported on a specially built flatbed to keep the cars from swaying side to side during transportation on the freeway. They're usually taken of the tracks either in Rochester, NY or Syracuse depending on what they need done in certain timelines, we even service the subway cars from NYC.
Yes, bring back the traditional dining service!
The wood panels actually look far more elegant, classic. Adds a touch of warmth to an otherwise bland environment.
Agree
Ditto: it's a lovely touch, something I don't think we've had in US rolling stock since shortly after the Second World War. I had forgotten how much character the old British Rail compartment carriages had because of that; there they were manufacturing them with wood panelling through to about 1965 and while the compartment rolling stock was out of service by the mid 1980s, some of the open plan carriages with wood panelling were in service until more recently than that..
I live near MetroPark Station. And nothing is cooler in the winter months, than seeing the snow drift when an Amtrak rushes through! #ItsTheLittleThings
What a fantastic video!!! Thank you.
This channel inspired me to take my first cross-country trip by sleeper train from NYC to LA. I had the best time during this pandemic. Keep up the good work.
The seats are firmer because they aren't all worn down like the old ones! :-)
This Video Was Very Satisfying! Outstanding Job!👍
You are one blessed guy❤to have *caring* super fans willing to show up to the station to take video of your amazing train!😂Thanks so much for sharing, Mr. French Man!💋
New station. New train cars. Nice. Like!
Sitting on a train while looking out on a snowy American landscape is my dream.. Trains I am considering for sure
You should try Norway (Oslo-Bergen and Oslo-Trondheim) and Northern Japan for beautiful snowy landscapes too.
It snows in America?,I live in midwest the only snow I saw this yr was a cpl weeks ago it snowed maybe an inch gone shortly after it did. Like a cpl hrs.
@@packingten Yes??
Do it at Christmastime...the houses decorated with lights really add to it.
NICE VIDEO. NO COMMENTATING, IRRITATING VOICE, JUST VISUAL AUDIO. LOVED IT. ENJOYED IT. I WILL WATCH YOUR VIDEO AGAIN.
This is so cool! THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!
You found them “disgusting” and “useless”? Your experience has indeed been different from mine! As an older woman who frequently needs to get up in the night, I was so glad not to have to go out in pajamas to a public facility. Also, what was disgusting about them I don’t grasp. The ones I have used were clean and had no smell.
look, i agree that in-room toilets, when properly implemented, is a great feature. such as the ones in the classic Budd roomettes found on the Canadian (Toronto-Vancouver). especially that I'm myself also go several times at night. also, evidently you did like them - so I totally sympathize with people who will be missing them now.
but most people found those toilets disgusting and next to useless. they indeed were clean and had no smell. other than that... i actually don't even want to go into details. I'm happy they removed them.
Customer surveys has consistently rated the roomette toilet as a nuisance rather than an amenity.
I totally need a bathroom!! I go about 3 or 4 times a night!😬
My Wife Maria would need one.
At 62 it'd be a problem for her.
Not me, and I'm 66.
@@iamhis5580 me too, trust me. and yet I'm glad they removed it from Viewliner roomettes because it wasn't that much helpful anyway.
I took the train from Miami to Philadelphia earlier this year, first time ever on Amtrak! Long trip but I really loved it, seeing the country! It took 26 hours and of course I slept a bit as well in the night hours but I really loved it! Great experience! Love travelling with Amtrak!! Would love to do it again and travel more in America and see more of that country!!😀
How much was the trip if you don't mind sharing it on here or you can email me. Was it a roundtrip
What did you pay? What accommodations did you get?
@@tasheaiyyawelch3249 to get a normal seat for a trip like that is round 160 USD. If you get a room, it's more like 1500 usd, but in exchange you get the room and three meals per day. For the train we're talking about (silver meteor) the meals are prepared in a kitchen. On most Amtrak trains, especially east of the Mississippi, the meals are prepared off site and just microwaved on the train.
List of ones where the meal is prepared onboard:
Sample Menus
Get a taste of traditional dining selections by sampling each route menu:
Auto Train Menu
California Zephyr Menu
Coast Starlight Menu
Empire Builder Menu
Silver Meteor Menu
Silver Star Menu
Southwest Chief Menu
Sunset Limited Menu
Texas Eagle Menu*
@@gravityslave6277
to get a normal seat for a trip like that is round 160 USD. If you get a room, it's more like 1500, but in exchange you get the room and three meals per day. For the train we're talking about (silver meteor) the meals are prepared in a kitchen. On most Amtrak trains, especially east of the Mississippi, the meals are prepared off site and just microwaved on the train.
List of ones where the meal is prepared onboard:
Sample Menus
Get a taste of traditional dining selections by sampling each route menu:
Auto Train Menu
California Zephyr Menu
Coast Starlight Menu
Empire Builder Menu
Silver Meteor Menu
Silver Star Menu
Southwest Chief Menu
Sunset Limited Menu
Texas Eagle Menu*
I love train content. So wholesome.
That was one smooth ride, and so quiet too 👍
Thanks.