I can't travel right now due to Covid-19 and have been viewing every Train Odyssey I can Find. This guy does the best job of narrating the trip....he picks out very interesting details and I like how he reports on his trip. I almost feel as if I am right there on the train with him. Since I can't travel now, this is the next best thing to taking the trip myself!
Until Canadian National bought out the Illinois Central, the City of New Orleans ran parallel to US Hwy 51 and I-55 between Memphis and Jackson. That track is old and worn. Now, Amtrak uses the old Yazoo & Mississippi Valley RR line between Memphis and Jackson. At Jackson, it picks up the Illinois Central line, which it uses on down to New Orleans. Riding through the Mississippi Delta is sad these days. Old cotton and soybean fields lie abandoned, and trees are taking over. The small delta towns are dying out. Cotton no longer is king, sad to say.
Unfortunately Amtrak can't afford to pay dishwashers $30 an hour union wage when restaurants are balking at paying dishwashers $15 an hour. Nor can Amtrak afford to pay cooks $30 an hour union wage, above what Gordon Ramsay pays his chefs at his five star restaurants. With the new Amtrak CEO being a former airline CEO, don't be surprised that train food is going the same way as airline food. Box lunches, box dinners, and continental breakfasts. Just be happy Amtrak is feeding you something, forget about the former diners of famed named overnight hotel trains... Maybe Amtrak will bring back on the Empire Builder the Idaho Star. A loaded baked potato...
It's a concerted effort to run people off from Long Distance trains. contact your Congressmen (OK, OK, AND Congresswomen) and complain. This guy Anderson is doing more to kill AMTRAK than - well, I can't think of anything worse.
@@The_DuMont_Network Unfortunately the airline executive in charge of Amtrak presently is CORRECT whether you like it or not. Simply put Amtrak can't provide Denny's coffee shop hot diner meals anywhere near their price with the huge railroad union wages. Nor will the passengers pay $40 for a $10 Denny's meal... The economics cannot be ignored...
@@ronclark9724 Rather than kill a seriously wounded patient, cure the ill. He is trying to cure diarrhea by playing with the toilet. If you have observed the waste and outright mismanagement of the dining car operation, you will see why it is not profitable. No, you're not gonna get 4 star meals. But if the system were outsourced to someone who knows how to do fast food well, you would see an improvement. Alas, AMTRAK's hands are pretty well tied with some archaic Union work rules which seem damn near impossible to fix. We don't need china, silverware, glass and the rest. The current plastic plates, cups,drinking vessels and stamped tinware work well. No dishwashing needed. The portion controlled Cryovac precooked entrees are pretty good. Superior to the glop served by the airlines in the rare occurrence you get food on an airplane. Onboard heated vegetables, heated preprepared breads, instant hot cereals, pre prepared sandwiches all worked well and were tasty. Perhaps if the crew didn't keep back the steaks and expensive entrees for themselves, were charged for their meals (discounted, of course, as in any restaurant), and were managed properly, things would be better. Maybe his game is to get rid of the Dining cars and personnel, wait a while and bring it back in a new version, outsourced management and labor. But I doubt it. Take a look at some of the newer diner/snack bar combos. The snack bar portion is NEVER used in combination with the Diner. How about utilizing this one car as the combo Diner/Snack bar, rebuild the View cars with either more seating, maybe some Roomettes or a new econo version of a Roomette. You could probably eliminate one car, create some more revenue, and please more customers?
I took the California Zephyr this summer to Mt. Pleasant,Iowa. I watched your CZ presentation many times and I felt like a seasoned train traveler thanks to your great information. Thank you!
So far, have only watched the first minute or so and already loving it. Spent 15+ years living in Evanston, IL, often riding the Metra into the city. Brings back so many wonderful memories just seeing that top level seating!
I just took this same train two days ago. Had a lot of fun. Heard a hot box detector call out the wrong amount of axles which was quickly caught by the engineer. Super glad that I brought my scanner.
I loved this series, a I have all of them. I particularly enjoyed seeing Mississippi, specifically Yazoo City. My mother was born there in 1917 as was her mother. This video is my first time seeing the area! I enjoyed both The City of New Orleans, the Crescent and your commentary as always.
I can not take my trains due to health but I relive these last 30 years I can watch your videos on a large screen TV of your various adventures. The quality and explanation lets me recall these very same trips. Please know your efforts have brought me great joy.....and I did not have to sleep on those bumpy cars. I can take short rides from MPLS to Winona on the Empire builder. Starts early and returns the same day on the West bound and gives me time enough to visit the family.
The reason the train is "backwards" at Union Station at 17:10 is the train backs down South to West to around 18th and Halsted, about a mile and a half or so and then goes forward across the South Loop on what is known as the St.Charles Airline over to the CN (old Illinois Central) Main Line to head South. There is no direct connection South to East.
@2:44:05 in my observation Amtrak pads the very last stop sometimes by an hour or so. I think they are trying to improve “on time” performance or ratio to final stop. Another thing is it may pad schedule to more closely assure scheduled connection or at least so passengers on a delayed train don’t cause the connecting train to depart late.
@@rhallanger challenger, AMTRAK most certainly builds extra time into their schedules, and not just at the end. If there happens to be no delay during a stretch of the route, they just wait at the next station until the scheduled time of departure.
I've taken this route to return home to N.O. from a job interview in Metro Detroit. It just so happened it was the weekend before Mardi Gras. Talk about a wild trip!
Ah. This video made me sad. I grew up near Memphis and went to college in Chicago, and loved taking the Panama Limited, which was the IC night train. (I guess Amtrak kept the City of New Orleans, which was a day train, because of the song.) The Paama was an all Pullman train. I could board the train at midnight in Memphis, go to sleep, and wake in time for a delicious breakfast as we went through the cornfields of northern Illinois before arriving at the old IC Station at 12th St. Going south, one boarded just before dinner, and it didn't seem like really going to sleep much before arriving in Memphis.
Spot on. Good to see you have updated your Rand McNally road map. I got one from Amazon some time ago and use it to follow your trips. I'm using your videos to sort out what trips I want to take when I finally make it to America. Your commentary makes your videos live. Looking forward to seeing Part 2.
Thank you very much for another epic train trip. I always make it a point to watch as many of your train travel videos as I think I'm becoming somewhat of an authority in Amtrak travel. GOD bless, stay safe and I'll join you on your next trip from here in Chicago to my family home in New Orleans.
Thanks for these! Way better than the 20 minute versions that other channels are putting out. You need the videos to be this long to get the gist of the trip!
The King Edward Hotel (in your Jackson shot) was closed for decades and was pretty much left to rot. But it was saved and is now a Hilton Garden Inn. That and Jackson's Union Station are absolutely gorgeous buildings. Union Station also houses the Greyhound terminal and is the meeting place for the local bus system, JTRAN.
Vaughan, Mississippi is the place Casey Jones made infamous. It was on the old Illinois Central Railroad, now Canadian National owned trackage. My grandfather was John D. Steers, Fourth Officer on the Pacific Clipper for that troubled flight. Amazing book. He kept some of the best log entries of the entire crew and flight. Nothing like finding yourself halfway from home in a big airplane with no weapons at the start of world war II. Railroads don't follow traffic rules, they also do not stop for ambulances, police or fire trucks. I got a kick out of your concern for that school zone in Marks, MS.
Just downloaded the book. Looking forward to reading it tonight. I always loved those beautiful craft from the first time I read of them. Alas, I was born to late for the likes of them and for classic railroad travel. It will be nice reading about your grandfather, a vicarious pleasure to which I look forward.
Please can you make more train trip videos Mr Train Odyssey your videos are clear very professional and gives me the opportunity to see places I will probably never get a chance to see
I've viewed a fair number of documentaries regarding Boeing's 314 Clipper and its potential (albeit un or under utilized) military applications. Also, about it's use as a long-distance passenger plane serving high-end, on-plane, prepared meals and passenger sleeping quarters... kind of like a train's sleeper car but flying at 20,000 feet! Cool stuff! Cool plane!!!
Another Amazing Amtrak ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the legendary Amtrak city of New Orleans. My hometown Memphis Tennessee is in the middle of the city of New Orleans route! I still riding the Amtrak city of New Orleans line to New Orleans, great scenery throughout the Mississippi delta on the way to the big East! I’m huge fan of this video especially you pass thru my hometown of Memphis Tennessee!
I haven’t even watched this yet but I have to say Thank You! I fall asleep to your train videos but watch all the parts that I missed when I am awake. It takes a few days but I love it. Your voice with the train backgrounds puts me into a deep REM sleep every time. Please don’t take this as a bad thing. I love your channel!
Joey Sheremeta ASMR Amtrak edition. I totally get what you are saying. I watch ASMR videos as well. This is a very chill channel and trains are relaxing.
Nice job with the video as usual. Riding the trains sure brings out the worse of the country. The only thing that blows more than that train whistle are the sirens in New Orleans. But another adventure I watched end to end. Thanks for the ride along.
Joe, I wish I could have anticipated how many viewers would misconstrue the actual train activity from the snippets I included in this video. As it is, I have already explained the actual horn situation at length several times in the comments. In short, the train does not blow the horn as much as this video makes it seem. As for your comment about 'riding the rails brings out the worst in this country', well.....all I can say is that is clearly a kneejerk, uninformed, inaccurate statement.
@@youtuuba I think you misconstrued my comment. I was referring to the out-of-date, abandoned industrial areas that so often are found in any city near rail lines. And, I would like to remind you that you too commented negatively referring to a dilapidated house next to a well-kept property. And, also the deteriorated terminal in (I think) Bermingham Al. got more than a few seconds of your video and you were not enjoying the architecture. Let's face it, train riders just don't get the amenities of other modes of travel. But, once again, I enjoy your videos. Watch them from end to end but I'll admit I don't read all of the comments. I'll be more careful with my mine.
At 1:48:15, that bridge is new within the past couple of years or less. Hwy 49E used to cross directly back over the tracks and that crossing was always very rough and it was in a curve in the Hwy. I was glad when they built that new bridge to go over top of the tracks.
Thank you sooooo much. I love this kind long travelling videos, longer they are better they are (my minimum is 3 hours). Also i love watch freight train hoppers (can't tell who they are). Waiting part 2. Take care Man :-)
I drove to New Orleans from North Carolina so thanks for that info on the bridge being the longest in the world!!! I didn’t even know… I was terrified to drive FYI .. it wasn’t something I happily planned 😂😂😂 but once I got on hood I was ok, the entrance was very intimidating!
this was a neat trip, made the trip many times from Chicago to Hammond, LA, gave me quite a few chuckles on the pronunciation of the LA towns and cities, missed going thru Pontchatoula though
I'm not saying you are boring, but I've used your very calm voice to fall asleep. I have sleeping issues and have slept full night listing to your voice. :) Thank you.
Ok, so you have inspired me to go on an adventure. I graduate with a masters in Innovations and Entrepreneurship in December and some friends and I have put a fund together for me to take a trip to Whitefish, Montana. There is a restaurant there called Jalisco Cantina and I've been to the one in Oceanside, California (I'm from there). So, that is my graduation gift to myself. I have been watching and falling asleep to your videos and now I think it's time I make my own video. Thank you for effort and time to make your videos.
Another great travel log, Paul. I believe you mentioned at one time that you've been to New Orleans several times and wasn't interested in going back. Unless this is a special trip you're doing. I was hoping for another train odyssey video. Thank you for sharing this. Hopefully one day I'll take this trip to New Orleans.
You are correct....I had all of the New Orleans that I care to have, but decided that I needed to document the City of New Orleans train, and that means going there again.
New Orleans is a YMMV town, indeed. Now hold all your acid comments! I have lived in New Orleans 4 times, including living in the French Quarter at St. Philip and Rampart. I love the city's history, architecture and mystique. Alas, in the past 20 years things have changed not to my liking. But I still go back, for the reminiscences, the cuisine (from Bud's Broiler to Commander's Palace to Arnaud's, Tujaque's and Dooky Chase's), and discovering new good changes and restorations. Currently concerned about the damage at Rampart and Canal, especially the Saenger Theatre and the organ within. New Orleans is never ever dull.
I’ve never been on the METRA but I have seen it many times when I use to visit Lake County. Kind of miss it, I might visit once things get better in the world. I really enjoy your videos, me and my brother definitely want to take Amtrak across America one day. From NYC to LA or Seattle. We shall see! You inspired us! Love from Brooklyn ❤️
I watch many things on you-tube on my tv. I saw this uploaded within an hour of the post, and I love that you drove over Lake Pontcartrain!! Then the last leg, I kept checking for it, and found it within an hour!!
Alas, you're gonna get a box lunch and a soda. If you are lucky. The CEO of AMTRAK is busting his butt trying to run off customers on Long Distance trains so he can spend all the appropriations on the Northeast Corridor. We need the NEC to be sure, but we need transcontinental passenger service, too!
This is such an awesome video. After listening to "City of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie, it's like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. Of course I've heard the song prior to this video and have always known thst the City of New Orleans is a train, but I didn't realize how spot on he was in the some of the lyrics. For example, "the train pulls out of Kankakee, and rolls along past houses, farms and fields ", "changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee", etc.
Thank you so much for your train videos and thank you for using the word we you make me feel like I'm on a journey with you the only Down side , I must owe you a fortune my share of the ticket price
Your Metra train reminds me of the Chicago-Northwestern commuter train I used to take down from Kenosha, WI back in the day (late 1970s-early 1980s, during college & grad school), when I wanted to head into the Loop to do something. It made more sense to do that (and then walk a couple of blocks to Union Station, if I wanted to catch Amtrak down to the U of I) than to head out to Sturtevant (near Racine) to catch Amtrak there. (The town where I live now has an Amtrak station, so I won't have that problem if I should ever need to take Amtrak again.) My son used to take Amtrak to and from Carbondale along your route on this trip, usually on the "Saluki." (His apartment during law school was just a few blocks from the Carbondale station.)
Agatha Cristie and a rail adventure. what a jump off point.... I stepped onto the train after a rough night in the lounge. Passenger scurried up and own the lane to board the train and find the sweet respite of the imagined journey. How can you not start or continue with less than that.
Hello! I've just begun viewing and I have a wonderful feeling of anticipation. I love the way you narrate and show us the details and picturesque angles. I love that part of the Chicago River, but don't like the distance of the Metropolitan Lounge to the train -- however, I'd feel fortunate to experience all of it! This is a rail trip I will make, albeit leaving from NYC to go to New Orleans, and then, after a few days in N.O., taking the train to Chicago to spend a week. I so enjoy your rail trips! Now, let me sit back, and take your exciting vid off "Pause" to let it "Play." I will take this journey through the end of Part 1 and will hop on over to Part 2. Thank you for another riveting ride through this wonderful country of ours!
Thanks for the cue re the two books. Just downloaded The Long Way Home into my Android Kindle reader. I've always been fond of the 314s, too bad they were before my time. Almost like AMTRAK. AMtrak is booking about half the Transition Sleeper for the public. The rest are crew dorms.
@ 1:50:44 Where you think he's saying fal-found, to me I hear South Bound. Sounds clear as a bell to me...maybe the computer is just a Southerner so it's easier for me to understand, lol. I see just out of Yazoo City you figured that out. I can hear the S's plain as day...perhaps it's all those years of living in a congested city that has plugged up your ears :) The town I currently reside in has more livestock than people, Canton, Indiana, but it's still larger yet then where I'm originally from. Hico, Tennessee probably isn't on any map, but it's about midway between Puryear, Cottage Grove, Jones Mill and Whitlock in Henry County. The County seat is Paris which is comparable in size to Yazoo City. The County seat here in Washington County, IN is Salem which is about half the size of Paris, TN. @ 2:42:13 in Amite, that's pronounced as Ay-Mitt. A comedian I used to listen to named Jerry Clower is from Amite County, MS up by McComb in Liberty, MS though he spent his adult life in Yazoo City. Here's a story of his where he tells how to pronounce it before he tells the story is you'd like. ruclips.net/video/ev0li6_fFfo/видео.html Hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed "riding along" with ya.
I rode this route back in June 1994 back when it still ran the original route from Memphis to Jackson via Batesville, Grenada, Winona, Durant and Canton before the Illinois Central sometime in 1996 downgraded the line (called the Grenada District, boy I recall it being very rough with the jointed rail 90 percent of the route) and Amtrak had to move to its current route via Marks, Greenwood and Yazoo City. I'll need to check out the new route sometime.
The start of the video, when you're on Metra. reminds me of Caltrain in San Francisco. That's a rough ride, with all the comfort of being inside a hamster cage. Things should improve, as the electrification project is complete, with new coaches.
"Mississipi Delta" is a misnomer, since it is located way up north than the geographical delta in Louisiana, at the confluence of the Mississippi River with the Gulf of Mexico.
I've haven't been on any sort of train since I was in the USAF and stationed in the UK. That was back in the 1970s. I was a camera guy, AKA a "shooter" for my professional career and I once had to shoot some footage in an Amtrak sleeper bedroom, but we (the small crew) boarded in LA and got off in Santa Barbara, CA as our jobs were quickly done for the day.. (I've also shot inside helicopters and fixed wing aircraft 😀) In addition, I did once travel from NYC to San Diego CA by train and then back some time later... but I was too young to remember and Amtrak didn't yet exist back then. Anyway, I live in the LA area. So, for my first long-distance rail trip, I'll probably take the Coastal Starlight from LA to SF. Then, the CA Zephyr east from SF to Denver. (I'll visit with family in Denver.) Then, a no-name Amtrak train from Denver down to Albuquerque. (335 miles and it takes just shy of two days to complete. So, I guess it'll be a roomette for that trip too.) From Albuquerque, I'll hop aboard the West-bound South West Chief Amtrak train back to LA where I live. Before I go, I'm definitely going to get myself a GPS device that I can take aboard the train. I love the idea of always knowing where my train is at during the trip. Perhaps a GPS app for my brand-spanking-new iPhone 15 Plus can handle those GPS duties well enough for my rail-trip purposes? They already have police and fire radio scanner apps for IOS and Android although I don't know if they can be programmed to scan for RR train frequencies.
You only begin to realize how low the area around New Orleans is after you have been there to see it with your own eyes. Not even one inch of elevation for miles and miles around New Orleans...
At 1:47:10 you passed a plant that had been used to process peanuts, which they were growing in the area a couple of years ago. That's walking distance to my parents' house.
When I rode on the City of New Orleans (Last time in November, 2003) it would stop in Fulton, Kentucky and Dyersburg, Tennessee. And it would also go past Memphis', Pyramid Shaped Convention Center. That city derived its name from the Ancient Egyptian city of Memphis.
Someone on another travel video said if u put ur phone or camera on the glass it stops the glare and dirty window reflections as well as reflections from the room ur in, u just see outside the window. Just a tip not a judgment. Totally enjoyed this thanks for the upload.
That is generally true, but only if the camera lens is flat to the window. That is not practical in reality, since the video works better if the camera is aiming somewhat forward of the direction of travel, and this means that the camera is angled to the window, and there will be reflections and such. Also, the train has enough vibration that it is difficult to hold the camera lens in contact with the window without getting a rattling sound through the microphone.
Thanks for sharing these train videos. I had looked into going to Seattle from Raleigh. I cant afford that right now coach would probably be miserable. But ur video from Chicago to Seattle showed me some of the scenery I was interested in seeing from a train.
I have taken 6 long haul round trips in coach and my experience found it not at all intolerable. I met some wonderful people. I am however planning on a roommate for my next journey
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I can't travel right now due to Covid-19 and have been viewing every Train Odyssey I can Find.
This guy does the best job of narrating the trip....he picks out very interesting details and I like
how he reports on his trip. I almost feel as if I am right there on the train with him. Since I
can't travel now, this is the next best thing to taking the trip myself!
I'm taking a trip from Texas to Chicago, September 3rd on Amtrak, if all goes well!
The food looks great to my eyes... i'm 75 and enjoy your videos.
So do I. I'll soon be 75 and I'm planning my first Amtrak long-distance rail trip in the not-too-distant future. 😃
Train Odyssey is my favorite bedtime video! I find them pleasant and calming! I watch them every night! I also watch them in the daytime ❤️😊
I always enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing. Chris from England 🏴
Until Canadian National bought out the Illinois Central, the City of New Orleans ran parallel to US Hwy 51 and I-55 between Memphis and Jackson. That track is old and worn. Now, Amtrak uses the old Yazoo & Mississippi Valley RR line between Memphis and Jackson. At Jackson, it picks up the Illinois Central line, which it uses on down to New Orleans. Riding through the Mississippi Delta is sad these days. Old cotton and soybean fields lie abandoned, and trees are taking over. The small delta towns are dying out. Cotton no longer is king, sad to say.
I understand Amtrak trying to save expenses, but the hot meals are part of the attraction of train travel. Glad to see another train odyssey from you!
Unfortunately Amtrak can't afford to pay dishwashers $30 an hour union wage when restaurants are balking at paying dishwashers $15 an hour. Nor can Amtrak afford to pay cooks $30 an hour union wage, above what Gordon Ramsay pays his chefs at his five star restaurants. With the new Amtrak CEO being a former airline CEO, don't be surprised that train food is going the same way as airline food. Box lunches, box dinners, and continental breakfasts. Just be happy Amtrak is feeding you something, forget about the former diners of famed named overnight hotel trains... Maybe Amtrak will bring back on the Empire Builder the Idaho Star. A loaded baked potato...
@@ronclark9724 Maybe next Amtrak will shrink coach seating just like it was done with commercial airlines so in order to eliminate a car or two.
It's a concerted effort to run people off from Long Distance trains. contact your Congressmen (OK, OK, AND Congresswomen) and complain. This guy Anderson is doing more to kill AMTRAK than - well, I can't think of anything worse.
@@The_DuMont_Network Unfortunately the airline executive in charge of Amtrak presently is CORRECT whether you like it or not. Simply put Amtrak can't provide Denny's coffee shop hot diner meals anywhere near their price with the huge railroad union wages. Nor will the passengers pay $40 for a $10 Denny's meal... The economics cannot be ignored...
@@ronclark9724 Rather than kill a seriously wounded patient, cure the ill. He is trying to cure diarrhea by playing with the toilet. If you have observed the waste and outright mismanagement of the dining car operation, you will see why it is not profitable. No, you're not gonna get 4 star meals. But if the system were outsourced to someone who knows how to do fast food well, you would see an improvement.
Alas, AMTRAK's hands are pretty well tied with some archaic Union work rules which seem damn near impossible to fix.
We don't need china, silverware, glass and the rest. The current plastic plates, cups,drinking vessels and stamped tinware work well. No dishwashing needed.
The portion controlled Cryovac precooked entrees are pretty good. Superior to the glop served by the airlines in the rare occurrence you get food on an airplane. Onboard heated vegetables, heated preprepared breads, instant hot cereals, pre prepared sandwiches all worked well and were tasty.
Perhaps if the crew didn't keep back the steaks and expensive entrees for themselves, were charged for their meals (discounted, of course, as in any restaurant), and were managed properly, things would be better.
Maybe his game is to get rid of the Dining cars and personnel, wait a while and bring it back in a new version, outsourced management and labor. But I doubt it.
Take a look at some of the newer diner/snack bar combos. The snack bar portion is NEVER used in combination with the Diner.
How about utilizing this one car as the combo Diner/Snack bar, rebuild the View cars with either more seating, maybe some Roomettes or a new econo version of a Roomette. You could probably eliminate one car, create some more revenue, and please more customers?
I been on a Amtrak for a field trip to McComb Miss to Hammond Louisiana
I was so excited to see another train odyssey....loving it so far
Waking up to this video being posted is making my morning coffee and cigarette much better.
I took the California Zephyr this summer to Mt. Pleasant,Iowa. I watched your CZ presentation many times and I felt like a seasoned train traveler thanks to your great information. Thank you!
So far, have only watched the first minute or so and already loving it. Spent 15+ years living in Evanston, IL, often riding the Metra into the city. Brings back so many wonderful memories just seeing that top level seating!
I just took this same train two days ago. Had a lot of fun. Heard a hot box detector call out the wrong amount of axles which was quickly caught by the engineer. Super glad that I brought my scanner.
I loved this series, a I have all of them. I particularly enjoyed seeing Mississippi, specifically Yazoo City. My mother was born there in 1917 as was her mother. This video is my first time seeing the area! I enjoyed both The City of New Orleans, the Crescent and your commentary as always.
I was very excited to see a video from you, and I got to watch it immediately after you uploaded it. These video's are very relaxing.
I can not take my trains due to health but I relive these last 30 years I can watch your videos on a large screen TV of your various adventures. The quality and explanation lets me recall these very same trips. Please know your efforts have brought me great joy.....and I did not have to sleep on those bumpy cars. I can take short rides from MPLS to Winona on the Empire builder. Starts early and returns the same day on the West bound and gives me time enough to visit the family.
I dont know how many times I have watched your train odyssey's over and over again. Well done Sir, well done.
same here.
Recently found your videos. The first ones were museums , now the train trips . I have enjoyed all of them . Thank you for sharing..
Your Amtrak online video's are the best I have scene, I have watched most of (all) of them I think, thorough and actual. Keep it up! Mark
your voice is so calming my guy, I love watching your videos, they are wondefully relaxing
The reason the train is "backwards" at Union Station at 17:10 is the train backs down South to West to around 18th and Halsted, about a mile and a half or so and then goes forward across the South Loop on what is known as the St.Charles Airline over to the CN (old Illinois Central) Main Line to head South. There is no direct connection South to East.
You giving me hours of enjoyment hanging out with you thank you very much
Thanks so much for these "Train Odyssey" videos. I love them so dearly!! ❤
Money MS...omg your dry sense of humor...I love you brudda!
@2:44:05 in my observation Amtrak pads the very last stop sometimes by an hour or so. I think they are trying to improve “on time” performance or ratio to final stop. Another thing is it may pad schedule to more closely assure scheduled connection or at least so passengers on a delayed train don’t cause the connecting train to depart late.
@@rhallanger challenger, AMTRAK most certainly builds extra time into their schedules, and not just at the end. If there happens to be no delay during a stretch of the route, they just wait at the next station until the scheduled time of departure.
Liked this immediately without even watching first
Ditto.
his videos i always do
Exactly right
Ever since I took and filmed the trip on the Carolinian train trips are even more soothing to me
Me too....
Used to ride that train to college in Carbondale. Back on Amtrak's original equipment they inherited from Illinois Central.
I've taken this route to return home to N.O. from a job interview in Metro Detroit. It just so happened it was the weekend before Mardi Gras. Talk about a wild trip!
Ah. This video made me sad. I grew up near Memphis and went to college in Chicago, and loved taking the Panama Limited, which was the IC night train. (I guess Amtrak kept the City of New Orleans, which was a day train, because of the song.) The Paama was an all Pullman train. I could board the train at midnight in Memphis, go to sleep, and wake in time for a delicious breakfast as we went through the cornfields of northern Illinois before arriving at the old IC Station at 12th St. Going south, one boarded just before dinner, and it didn't seem like really going to sleep much before arriving in Memphis.
Love you videos. Latin from the beginning of the details add have a safe and blush trip.
I cant wait to get rolling. Always enjoy the oddysseys!!!
Spot on. Good to see you have updated your Rand McNally road map. I got one from Amazon some time ago and use it to follow your trips. I'm using your videos to sort out what trips I want to take when I finally make it to America. Your commentary makes your videos live. Looking forward to seeing Part 2.
Wayne Hawkins, Part 2 is available now for viewing, as a pair of videos labeled Day 1 and Day 2.
Thank you very much for another epic train trip. I always make it a point to watch as many of your train travel videos as I think I'm becoming somewhat of an authority in Amtrak travel. GOD bless, stay safe and I'll join you on your next trip from here in Chicago to my family home in New Orleans.
I rode it back in 1988 when it still had the heritage cars, including a dome car. It backed out of the station then too.
Thanks for these! Way better than the 20 minute versions that other channels are putting out. You need the videos to be this long to get the gist of the trip!
So great to see another train trip video from you! I really enjoy these. Looking forward to part 2! Thanks.
Love your train odysseys, so relaxing and informative.
I really am glad you had the scanner when the logging truck pulled out in front of the train. Good info!
The King Edward Hotel (in your Jackson shot) was closed for decades and was pretty much left to rot. But it was saved and is now a Hilton Garden Inn. That and Jackson's Union Station are absolutely gorgeous buildings. Union Station also houses the Greyhound terminal and is the meeting place for the local bus system, JTRAN.
Youtubba, 10/27/19, of the vast array of things do, your coverage of the RR are the best.
His voice sounds like announcer and adman, from WVTV 18, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 1970s-1980s Very excellent sir!!
He sounds like that economist Ben somebody from Ferris Bueler. I listen at night because his voice makes me sleepy.
Vaughan, Mississippi is the place Casey Jones made infamous. It was on the old Illinois Central Railroad, now Canadian National owned trackage. My grandfather was John D. Steers, Fourth Officer on the Pacific Clipper for that troubled flight. Amazing book. He kept some of the best log entries of the entire crew and flight. Nothing like finding yourself halfway from home in a big airplane with no weapons at the start of world war II. Railroads don't follow traffic rules, they also do not stop for ambulances, police or fire trucks. I got a kick out of your concern for that school zone in Marks, MS.
Just downloaded the book. Looking forward to reading it tonight. I always loved those beautiful craft from the first time I read of them. Alas, I was born to late for the likes of them and for classic railroad travel.
It will be nice reading about your grandfather, a vicarious pleasure to which I look forward.
YOUR VIDEOS ARE AWESOME 👍😊 THE BEST I ALWAYS ENJOY WHATCHING THE BEAUTIFUL LAND 😊😊🤗
Please can you make more train trip videos Mr Train Odyssey your videos are clear very professional and gives me the opportunity to see places I will probably never get a chance to see
I was sooo hoping that a new Amtrak video would be coming out soon.
Voilá!!!
I was in Chicago for my first time when you started this train ride! Attending the WEFTEC show at the McCormick.
Your new scanner worked really well, looking forward to part 2 and 3
I've viewed a fair number of documentaries regarding Boeing's 314 Clipper and its potential (albeit un or under utilized) military applications. Also, about it's use as a long-distance passenger plane serving high-end, on-plane, prepared meals and passenger sleeping quarters... kind of like a train's sleeper car but flying at 20,000 feet! Cool stuff! Cool plane!!!
Another Amazing Amtrak ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the legendary Amtrak city of New Orleans. My hometown Memphis Tennessee is in the middle of the city of New Orleans route! I still riding the Amtrak city of New Orleans line to New Orleans, great scenery throughout the Mississippi delta on the way to the big East! I’m huge fan of this video especially you pass thru my hometown of Memphis Tennessee!
I haven’t even watched this yet but I have to say Thank You! I fall asleep to your train videos but watch all the parts that I missed when I am awake. It takes a few days but I love it. Your voice with the train backgrounds puts me into a deep REM sleep every time. Please don’t take this as a bad thing. I love your channel!
Joey Sheremeta ASMR Amtrak edition. I totally get what you are saying. I watch ASMR videos as well. This is a very chill channel and trains are relaxing.
Nice job with the video as usual. Riding the trains sure brings out the worse of the country. The only thing that blows more than that train whistle are the sirens in New Orleans. But another adventure I watched end to end. Thanks for the ride along.
Joe, I wish I could have anticipated how many viewers would misconstrue the actual train activity from the snippets I included in this video. As it is, I have already explained the actual horn situation at length several times in the comments. In short, the train does not blow the horn as much as this video makes it seem.
As for your comment about 'riding the rails brings out the worst in this country', well.....all I can say is that is clearly a kneejerk, uninformed, inaccurate statement.
@@youtuuba I think you misconstrued my comment. I was referring to the out-of-date, abandoned industrial areas that so often are found in any city near rail lines. And, I would like to remind you that you too commented negatively referring to a dilapidated house next to a well-kept property. And, also the deteriorated terminal in (I think) Bermingham Al. got more than a few seconds of your video and you were not enjoying the architecture. Let's face it, train riders just don't get the amenities of other modes of travel. But, once again, I enjoy your videos. Watch them from end to end but I'll admit I don't read all of the comments. I'll be more careful with my mine.
@@youtuuba wrong again Paul!
Thank you, nice you afther all embarqued on this yourney !
For me watching your vids is just as good as doing it for real.
At 1:48:15, that bridge is new within the past couple of years or less. Hwy 49E used to cross directly back over the tracks and that crossing was always very rough and it was in a curve in the Hwy. I was glad when they built that new bridge to go over top of the tracks.
Thanks for sharing this video! I haven't ridden the CONO yet and have always wanted to see a good video of the route.
Thank you sooooo much. I love this kind long travelling videos, longer they are better they are (my minimum is 3 hours). Also i love watch freight train hoppers (can't tell who they are). Waiting part 2. Take care Man :-)
You made my week by posting a new Train Odyssey!
We took this trip both ways in july. Had ride a charter bus from Jackson, Miss to NOLA.
I drove to New Orleans from North Carolina so thanks for that info on the bridge being the longest in the world!!! I didn’t even know… I was terrified to drive FYI .. it wasn’t something I happily planned 😂😂😂 but once I got on hood I was ok, the entrance was very intimidating!
It’s as if I’ve made it to Yazoo City (so far) as well and I’m loving it! Thank you!
this was a neat trip, made the trip many times from Chicago to Hammond, LA, gave me quite a few chuckles on the pronunciation of the LA towns and cities, missed going thru Pontchatoula though
I love your style of video. Loved the Key West ones!
So much flat land, much of it looking dry. Thank you for this video.
I'm not saying you are boring, but I've used your very calm voice to fall asleep. I have sleeping issues and have slept full night listing to your voice. :) Thank you.
Ok, so you have inspired me to go on an adventure. I graduate with a masters in Innovations and Entrepreneurship in December and some friends and I have put a fund together for me to take a trip to Whitefish, Montana. There is a restaurant there called Jalisco Cantina and I've been to the one in Oceanside, California (I'm from there). So, that is my graduation gift to myself. I have been watching and falling asleep to your videos and now I think it's time I make my own video. Thank you for effort and time to make your videos.
Another great travel log, Paul. I believe you mentioned at one time that you've been to New Orleans several times and wasn't interested in going back. Unless this is a special trip you're doing. I was hoping for another train odyssey video. Thank you for sharing this. Hopefully one day I'll take this trip to New Orleans.
You are correct....I had all of the New Orleans that I care to have, but decided that I needed to document the City of New Orleans train, and that means going there again.
New Orleans is a YMMV town, indeed. Now hold all your acid comments! I have lived in New Orleans 4 times, including living in the French Quarter at St. Philip and Rampart. I love the city's history, architecture and mystique. Alas, in the past 20 years things have changed not to my liking. But I still go back, for the reminiscences, the cuisine (from Bud's Broiler to Commander's Palace to Arnaud's, Tujaque's and Dooky Chase's), and discovering new good changes and restorations. Currently concerned about the damage at Rampart and Canal, especially the Saenger Theatre and the organ within.
New Orleans is never ever dull.
Another great video, sir. Thank you.
I’ve never been on the METRA but I have seen it many times when I use to visit Lake County. Kind of miss it, I might visit once things get better in the world. I really enjoy your videos, me and my brother definitely want to take Amtrak across America one day. From NYC to LA or Seattle. We shall see! You inspired us! Love from Brooklyn ❤️
I watch many things on you-tube on my tv. I saw this uploaded within an hour of the post, and I love that you drove over Lake Pontcartrain!! Then the last leg, I kept checking for it, and found it within an hour!!
Expected date for Part 2 and Thanks!
I've been looking for it as well.
It is what I am looking forward to also
A train odyssey 5 would be good. Just watching train odyssey4 for the second time. Great job.
Ask for in room dinner,I really prefer that option.
Love your videos.
Alas, you're gonna get a box lunch and a soda. If you are lucky. The CEO of AMTRAK is busting his butt trying to run off customers on Long Distance trains so he can spend all the appropriations on the Northeast Corridor.
We need the NEC to be sure, but we need transcontinental passenger service, too!
This video actually makes me as if I'm actually travel along with this dude.
Like cruising on land. We can see how lovely our country is.
This is such an awesome video. After listening to "City of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie, it's like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. Of course I've heard the song prior to this video and have always known thst the City of New Orleans is a train, but I didn't realize how spot on he was in the some of the lyrics. For example, "the train pulls out of Kankakee, and rolls along past houses, farms and fields ", "changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee", etc.
24:15 Chicago
37:46 Day 2
42:47 Memphis
1:13:40 Marks
1:35:09 Greenwood
2:02:06 Yazoo City
2:19:51 Jackson
2:35:21 Brookhaven
2:37:35 McComb
2:43:37 Hammond
3:00:45 New Orleans
I saw a Chrysler Cordoba in Marks, MS...COLOR ME THERE! Gotta love that Corinthian Leather!
Thank you so much for your train videos and thank you for using the word we you make me feel like I'm on a journey with you the only Down side , I must owe you a fortune my share of the ticket price
Your Metra train reminds me of the Chicago-Northwestern commuter train I used to take down from Kenosha, WI back in the day (late 1970s-early 1980s, during college & grad school), when I wanted to head into the Loop to do something. It made more sense to do that (and then walk a couple of blocks to Union Station, if I wanted to catch Amtrak down to the U of I) than to head out to Sturtevant (near Racine) to catch Amtrak there. (The town where I live now has an Amtrak station, so I won't have that problem if I should ever need to take Amtrak again.)
My son used to take Amtrak to and from Carbondale along your route on this trip, usually on the "Saluki." (His apartment during law school was just a few blocks from the Carbondale station.)
Should same train type after all.
Agatha Cristie and a rail adventure. what a jump off point....
I stepped onto the train after a rough night in the lounge. Passenger scurried up and own the lane to board the train and find the sweet respite of the imagined journey. How can you not start or continue with less than that.
Good to see NOLa once more thank you!
Mississippi has some pretty interesting city names. Loved Sledge, Savage and Sidon.
Hello! I've just begun viewing and I have a wonderful feeling of anticipation. I love the way you narrate and show us the details and picturesque angles. I love that part of the Chicago River, but don't like the distance of the Metropolitan Lounge to the train -- however, I'd feel fortunate to experience all of it! This is a rail trip I will make, albeit leaving from NYC to go to New Orleans, and then, after a few days in N.O., taking the train to Chicago to spend a week.
I so enjoy your rail trips! Now, let me sit back, and take your exciting vid off "Pause" to let it "Play." I will take this journey through the end of Part 1 and will hop on over to Part 2. Thank you for another riveting ride through this wonderful country of ours!
Nice video. Had to pause it and listen to Arlo Guthrie sing "City of New Orleans."
Thanks for posting another one!
Thanks for the cue re the two books. Just downloaded The Long Way Home into my Android Kindle reader. I've always been fond of the 314s, too bad they were before my time. Almost like AMTRAK.
AMtrak is booking about half the Transition Sleeper for the public. The rest are crew dorms.
@ 1:50:44 Where you think he's saying fal-found, to me I hear South Bound. Sounds clear as a bell to me...maybe the computer is just a Southerner so it's easier for me to understand, lol. I see just out of Yazoo City you figured that out. I can hear the S's plain as day...perhaps it's all those years of living in a congested city that has plugged up your ears :) The town I currently reside in has more livestock than people, Canton, Indiana, but it's still larger yet then where I'm originally from. Hico, Tennessee probably isn't on any map, but it's about midway between Puryear, Cottage Grove, Jones Mill and Whitlock in Henry County. The County seat is Paris which is comparable in size to Yazoo City. The County seat here in Washington County, IN is Salem which is about half the size of Paris, TN. @ 2:42:13 in Amite, that's pronounced as Ay-Mitt. A comedian I used to listen to named Jerry Clower is from Amite County, MS up by McComb in Liberty, MS though he spent his adult life in Yazoo City. Here's a story of his where he tells how to pronounce it before he tells the story is you'd like. ruclips.net/video/ev0li6_fFfo/видео.html Hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed "riding along" with ya.
I rode this route back in June 1994 back when it still ran the original route from Memphis to Jackson via Batesville, Grenada, Winona, Durant and Canton before the Illinois Central sometime in 1996 downgraded the line (called the Grenada District, boy I recall it being very rough with the jointed rail 90 percent of the route) and Amtrak had to move to its current route via Marks, Greenwood and Yazoo City. I'll need to check out the new route sometime.
The start of the video, when you're on Metra. reminds me of Caltrain in San Francisco. That's a rough ride, with all the comfort of being inside a hamster cage. Things should improve, as the electrification project is complete, with new coaches.
I had to chuckle when you said, "I think we're in the South." Yes sir, you are, it's called the Mississippi Delta. Wonderful video!
"Mississipi Delta" is a misnomer, since it is located way up north than the geographical delta in Louisiana, at the confluence of the Mississippi River with the Gulf of Mexico.
He said: "I think, we're getting into the South, here."
Love your Amtrak & tour videos. Awaiting part 2 of this one.
Found it. Thanks
I absolutely love this video
I've haven't been on any sort of train since I was in the USAF and stationed in the UK. That was back in the 1970s. I was a camera guy, AKA a "shooter" for my professional career and I once had to shoot some footage in an Amtrak sleeper bedroom, but we (the small crew) boarded in LA and got off in Santa Barbara, CA as our jobs were quickly done for the day.. (I've also shot inside helicopters and fixed wing aircraft 😀) In addition, I did once travel from NYC to San Diego CA by train and then back some time later... but I was too young to remember and Amtrak didn't yet exist back then. Anyway, I live in the LA area. So, for my first long-distance rail trip, I'll probably take the Coastal Starlight from LA to SF. Then, the CA Zephyr east from SF to Denver. (I'll visit with family in Denver.) Then, a no-name Amtrak train from Denver down to Albuquerque. (335 miles and it takes just shy of two days to complete. So, I guess it'll be a roomette for that trip too.) From Albuquerque, I'll hop aboard the West-bound South West Chief Amtrak train back to LA where I live. Before I go, I'm definitely going to get myself a GPS device that I can take aboard the train. I love the idea of always knowing where my train is at during the trip. Perhaps a GPS app for my brand-spanking-new iPhone 15 Plus can handle those GPS duties well enough for my rail-trip purposes? They already have police and fire radio scanner apps for IOS and Android although I don't know if they can be programmed to scan for RR train frequencies.
When you were riding parallel to Lake Pontchartrain, your train was on the longest continuous railway curve in the world.
Learn something new every day
You only begin to realize how low the area around New Orleans is after you have been there to see it with your own eyes. Not even one inch of elevation for miles and miles around New Orleans...
@@ronclark9724 i was down there one time on the west bank walking up a hill and i saw a boat passing by😃
At 1:47:10 you passed a plant that had been used to process peanuts, which they were growing in the area a couple of years ago. That's walking distance to my parents' house.
When I rode on the City of New Orleans (Last time in November, 2003) it would stop in Fulton, Kentucky and Dyersburg, Tennessee. And it would also go past Memphis', Pyramid Shaped Convention Center. That city derived its name from the Ancient Egyptian city of Memphis.
Someone on another travel video said if u put ur phone or camera on the glass it stops the glare and dirty window reflections as well as reflections from the room ur in, u just see outside the window. Just a tip not a judgment. Totally enjoyed this thanks for the upload.
That is generally true, but only if the camera lens is flat to the window. That is not practical in reality, since the video works better if the camera is aiming somewhat forward of the direction of travel, and this means that the camera is angled to the window, and there will be reflections and such. Also, the train has enough vibration that it is difficult to hold the camera lens in contact with the window without getting a rattling sound through the microphone.
so we have entered the terminal boarded up and waiting for some unknown revival. we just get on board and travel and hope for the best to come.
I have been across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. There is nothing to see but a loooooong narrow bridge and a LOT of water very close to it.
I enjoyed seeing both Highway80abd interstate 20 in Jackson ms.they both run through my hometown of Longview tx.
Thanks for sharing these train videos. I had looked into going to Seattle from Raleigh. I cant afford that right now coach would probably be miserable. But ur video from Chicago to Seattle showed me some of the scenery I was interested in seeing from a train.
I have taken 6 long haul round trips in coach and my experience found it not at all intolerable. I met some wonderful people. I am however planning on a roommate for my next journey