I enjoyed your upload on The Lake Shore Limited. I recall coming to Chicago from San Fransico by plane in December 1980 (my first trip to the US). I had come from sunny Sydney Australia & found SF to be very much like Sydney weather & scenery-wise - nothing prepared me for the Windy City (the wind & snow). I like train travel, especially Amtraks's long-distance trains - what makes it unique is the traditional dining (that flexible dining appears to be a microwave disaster) the free Red Caps (what a great customer service) & for trains traveling south & west of Chicago the Observation car. It is a pity you got the old Viewliner! Roomette, I fully agree with you that whilst having a toilet in your room is very convenient(especially for us old folks) it does raise hygiene & privacy issues if one was traveling with someone else. That lounge in NY is unique -added to my 'bucket list'. I have never seen the Amtrak crew using brooms to brush the snow off the steps before!
Amtrak is indeed a unique operation. Good and bad. The old Viewliners are still very enjoyable for a long trip of traveling solo. You’d have to be really comfortable with each other to double up in one though. I particularly love catching these trains through the snowstorms! Thanks for the comments Dennis
@@TravelwithMark I live in Brazil and I love Amtrak in the winter. Right now I am travelling in the Nightjet between viena and hamburg. Amtrak >> European trains. Amtrak runs old wagons. It is pure charm. The noises. The seats. Amtrak is very nice.
@@TravelwithMark we dont have long distance train anymore. The last one does not operate regularly and the view is not nice, linking Vitoria and Belo Horizonte. Brazil has potential but never will belong to trains :(
This is my preferred route as well. The other route via Pittsburgh requires a 4 hours stop in Pittsburg. It’s possible to go out and have dinner in Pittsburgh though, which is nice if you’re in coach with no access to the dining car.
Like his pertinent narration, telling us important info and not babbling on and on and on endlessly enjoying the sound of their voices about useless banter we don't need to know like some of the other train narrators.
Thanks Brenda. I too find it annoying when vloggers babble on about "awesome" "once in a lifetime" "super fantastic" experiences. Keep calm and keep traveling!
Have this coming up in July. Part of a cross-country "bucket list" train ride, nearly all in roommettes. Lake Shore Lmtd - Cali Zephyr - San Joaquins - Southwest Chief back home
Hi Mr C, depending on your preference you should be able to choose whether you’re in an old or new Viewliner. Of course some of the cars will also be Superliners.
It seems mark has discovered the cafe cars Microwave, A.K.A. burger in a bag 🤣 Well this too shall pass. Thanks for the update, newer equipment is starting to show up. The new “Siemens cars” have a better ride. The new cafe cars look good, not the stark of old. I think what mark is saying it’s a “mixed bag” of old and new with the loo moving down the hall if you get the new roomette. Sorry mark I just had to mention that. I do hope you enjoyed your trip. Well folks have a wonderful day 🌞
Hi Timothy. Yes indeed, its a WIP and hopefully we get there soon. This was actually a new cafe car, but they were only using the microwave! Half the length of the car is full of other appliances but they weren’t using them!
@@TravelwithMark I don’t know if you have visited the Tennessee valley railroad museum, they have some of the old Amtrak prototype cars, the company tested ideas and concepts before building sleepers and bathrooms. Those cars were supposed to be destroyed. I think There is one prototype Amtrak car at the Erie rail museum in Erie Pennsylvania but I would call ahead to make sure. To rail fans these prototypes are a gold mine of curiosity. Thanks for covering Amtrak on the lake shore limited. I hope to go on a trip sometime 😉
@@TravelwithMark I have visited Steamtown they have a wonderful repair shop for locomotives, i did go into the shop itself to see some of the projects that were in there. The shop tour I think is a special request and follow what the safety rules are posted. It’s the only National Park Service site that I’m aware of that is part museum and repair facility. If you like train’s you like this place😉
Don't agree that the in-room toilet is unsanitary. It's a lot more sanitary than sharing a toilet with other passengers. At least the room has been cleaned before boarding and you can keep it clean yourself; public toilets on Amtrak usually get dirty and stay dirty throughout the trip.
I really enjoyed your video. Amtrak, however needs to step up their game especially in the food. I have to say If I made this journey I would bring my own food along. Train travel in the United States in not up to par with Europe or Canada.
Hi Ron, I have no experience of Canadian rail travel yet, but I’d agree that the European experience is more seamless and pragmatic. I have had some very nice experiences on Amtrak prior to Covid and I hope they can restore that, but I fear it’s more than just Covid that’s wrong here. They announced pre-pandemic that they were closing Dining Cars although I think they backtracked somewhat from that.
New York and Chicago- two of my favorite cities
I enjoyed your upload on The Lake Shore Limited. I recall coming to Chicago from San Fransico by plane in December 1980 (my first trip to the US). I had come from sunny Sydney Australia & found SF to be very much like Sydney weather & scenery-wise - nothing prepared me for the Windy City (the wind & snow). I like train travel, especially Amtraks's long-distance trains - what makes it unique is the traditional dining (that flexible dining appears to be a microwave disaster) the free Red Caps (what a great customer service) & for trains traveling south & west of Chicago the Observation car. It is a pity you got the old Viewliner! Roomette, I fully agree with you that whilst having a toilet in your room is very convenient(especially for us old folks) it does raise hygiene & privacy issues if one was traveling with someone else. That lounge in NY is unique -added to my 'bucket list'. I have never seen the Amtrak crew using brooms to brush the snow off the steps before!
Amtrak is indeed a unique operation. Good and bad. The old Viewliners are still very enjoyable for a long trip of traveling solo. You’d have to be really comfortable with each other to double up in one though.
I particularly love catching these trains through the snowstorms!
Thanks for the comments Dennis
@@TravelwithMark I live in Brazil and I love Amtrak in the winter. Right now I am travelling in the Nightjet between viena and hamburg. Amtrak >> European trains. Amtrak runs old wagons. It is pure charm. The noises. The seats. Amtrak is very nice.
Are there any good trains in Brazil I should take?
@@TravelwithMark we dont have long distance train anymore. The last one does not operate regularly and the view is not nice, linking Vitoria and Belo Horizonte. Brazil has potential but never will belong to trains :(
Good to join you on this trip. Thorough and fun video. Thanks!
Good to have you along for the ride Joe
This is my favorite route to take.
This is my preferred route as well. The other route via Pittsburgh requires a 4 hours stop in Pittsburg. It’s possible to go out and have dinner in Pittsburgh though, which is nice if you’re in coach with no access to the dining car.
Another compliment for y-when u showed the departure screen I saw it was Mar 11-& u posted this video promptly (kudos)
Thanks sbeckas. I do try to do timely posts but don’t always manage to.
Thanks for the video!
You’re welcome
i love that video.
Thank you Malik, your comment is appreciated
Like his pertinent narration, telling us important info and not babbling on and on and on endlessly enjoying the sound of their voices about useless banter we don't need to know like some of the other train narrators.
Thanks Brenda. I too find it annoying when vloggers babble on about "awesome" "once in a lifetime" "super fantastic" experiences. Keep calm and keep traveling!
yes and very soothing voice I found.
Have this coming up in July. Part of a cross-country "bucket list" train ride, nearly all in roommettes. Lake Shore Lmtd - Cali Zephyr - San Joaquins - Southwest Chief back home
Hi Mr C, depending on your preference you should be able to choose whether you’re in an old or new Viewliner. Of course some of the cars will also be Superliners.
I enjoyed this same trip last november. Zero snow :(
There’s something about taking the train through the snow…very enjoyable
It seems mark has discovered the cafe cars Microwave, A.K.A. burger in a bag 🤣 Well this too shall pass. Thanks for the update, newer equipment is starting to show up. The new “Siemens cars” have a better ride. The new cafe cars look good, not the stark of old. I think what mark is saying it’s a “mixed bag” of old and new with the loo moving down the hall if you get the new roomette. Sorry mark I just had to mention that. I do hope you enjoyed your trip. Well folks have a wonderful day 🌞
Hi Timothy. Yes indeed, its a WIP and hopefully we get there soon. This was actually a new cafe car, but they were only using the microwave! Half the length of the car is full of other appliances but they weren’t using them!
@@TravelwithMark I don’t know if you have visited the Tennessee valley railroad museum, they have some of the old Amtrak prototype cars, the company tested ideas and concepts before building sleepers and bathrooms. Those cars were supposed to be destroyed. I think There is one prototype Amtrak car at the Erie rail museum in Erie Pennsylvania but I would call ahead to make sure. To rail fans these prototypes are a gold mine of curiosity. Thanks for covering Amtrak on the lake shore limited. I hope to go on a trip sometime 😉
I have not. I did visit Steamtown in PA which was very interesting.
@@TravelwithMark I have visited Steamtown they have a wonderful repair shop for locomotives, i did go into the shop itself to see some of the projects that were in there. The shop tour I think is a special request and follow what the safety rules are posted. It’s the only National Park Service site that I’m aware of that is part museum and repair facility. If you like train’s you like this place😉
When I was there, there was only 1 other group visiting. The NPS staff seemed happy to see me, and I had a really good look around.
Does anyone know how the wifi is on this route? I will need to get some work done.
I used it for the first few hours in the Hudson Valley, but not after that.
takes 19hrs for it to get to Chicago. I wish it only took 14hrs.
Why? That's random
@@parkerjon29 It took the 20th Century 16. you can drive in 14 because the highway is a more direct route.
How Late were you? I was 5 hours late on this trip.
Not too bad, I think about an hour.
Union station is intimidating to me
It is indeed. Always impressive
Why? It is probably the most beautiful Amtrak Station in the USA.
@@ironleader3169 And a great film location
@@ironleader3169 I said nothing of its beauty , only it’s intimidating size it’s vastness , been through there half a dozen times going cross country
Don't agree that the in-room toilet is unsanitary. It's a lot more sanitary than sharing a toilet with other passengers. At least the room has been cleaned before boarding and you can keep it clean yourself; public toilets on Amtrak usually get dirty and stay dirty throughout the trip.
I really enjoyed your video. Amtrak, however needs to step up their game especially in the food. I have to say If I made this journey I would bring my own food along. Train travel in the United States in not up to par with Europe or Canada.
Hi Ron, I have no experience of Canadian rail travel yet, but I’d agree that the European experience is more seamless and pragmatic. I have had some very nice experiences on Amtrak prior to Covid and I hope they can restore that, but I fear it’s more than just Covid that’s wrong here. They announced pre-pandemic that they were closing Dining Cars although I think they backtracked somewhat from that.
So much better to just fly there!
Unless you took the 20th Century.