Riding Amtrak's World Famous "City of New Orleans" | Superliner Roomette | New Orleans-Chicago
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- Happy New Year and welcome to this very special video! Last Month, I took a trip onboard one of America's most famous passenger trains! Amtrak's "City of New Orleans" Which runs daily between New Orleans and Chicago. it travels through 5 states during its 19 1/2-hour journey, we’ll travel through the Louisiana bayous and along Lake Pontchartrain before crossing into Mississippi, reaching Memphis later in the evening, Through the night, it travels through Tennessee and a small section of western Kentucky, and spends the final 7 hours of the trip traveling through Easten Illinois before arriving In Chicago the next morning. I traveled in a Superliner Roomette, One of Amtrak's Sleeping Car Accommodations. It was an incredible ride and I'm so excited to be able to share this experience with you! I have some more train trips planned for 2022 and can't wait to bring some new, and different content to this channel! A huge thanks to the crew on this train! They were incredible and among the best I've ever had while traveling on Amtrak! I hope you enjoy the video and can't wait to take you along. If you've never taken one of Amtrak's long-distance trains, I'd highly recommend doing it! It's a great way to see this beautiful country! So come along with me as I ride aboard Amtrak Train #58, The world famous "City of New Orleans" On it's 19 1/2-Hour 934 Mile journey from The Big Easy to The Windy City! Enjoy the video!
Train Consist:
GE P42DC (201)
Superliner II Transition Sleeper (39091)
Superliner II Sleeping Car (33077) “District of Columbia” (My Car)
Superliner I Dining Car (38000)
Superliner II Sightseer Lounge (33028)
Superliner I Coach (Refurbished) (34020)
Superliner I Coach (Refurbished) (34091)
Superliner I Coach/Baggage (31045)
Music: Epidemic Sound
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*Correction * at 42:46, This is the Canal Street Bridge, Not the St. Charles Air Line Bridge, The St. Charles Air Line is actually under construction, so an alternative route is being utilized.
You're correct
Dan, I'm new to your channel, just found it today. I took this same train back in 1983 when heading out west to meet a long time friend. Although this was only part of my journey thanks for the memories. Btw, how come you don't talk, just captions?
Thanks for you comment, and for checking out the channel! To answer you question, I don't talk because it would take away from the sights and sounds of the true experience. I know many others do narrate but I've found the captions to work better for me. I also use limited music with my train travel videos and instead include more of the announcements and the entire ambiance of the trip to provide as close to the actual experience as possible!
@@travelingadventureswithdan3181 thanks for your explanation. Happy travels!!!
Thanks for correcting that!
Strangely surreal. The use of captions instead of voice-over, the inclusion of extraneous sounds and conversations, the photography... all combine to create a dreamlike quality... like a long-forgotten memory.
Yes. The captions really help someone who is hard of hearing. This is very well done program, thank you.
Thanks! I much prefer doing the captions over a voice over. It also gives the viewer a chance to hear the different sounds of the train. I have another one coming in a few days on the California Zephyr!
I don't care that the trains may be a little less than perfect, or that you might be delayed a little. Amtrak holds a special place in my heart. Let's hope these routes are not closed. Thanks for the great video. Next time I go long distance I'm going to spring for the roomette.
I'm old enough to have ridden the City of New Orleans during the last of its glory days, when it was still operated by the Illinois Central back in the late 1950's/early 1960's. (The all first-class, all Pullman-car Panama Limited was IC's premier train, overnight from Chicago to New Orleans.) My mother would take my older brother and me down to the IC station on 13th Street in Chicago by cab to spend our summer vacations in Southern Illinois, where her family was from. She'd give a red cap a whole dollar bill to watch after us, and boy would he. He'd take us to our seats, handle our little suitcases, and get us settled in, telling us to sit tight and he'd be coming back on his rounds if we needed anything. Every time he'd return, he'd ask if we needed anything. If either of us had to use the toilet, he'd take both of us so that neither one of us would be left alone, wait until we were done, and take us back to our seats. After a few hours traveling south, it was lunch time. The red cap would come to pick us up and take us to the dining car, laid out in linen tablecloths and silver flatware. Before dropping us off, my mother would have found out what was on the menu and told the red cap what to order for each of us and he'd then tell the waiter. I was too young to know a good meal from a bad one - preferring a can of Chef Boy-Ar-Dee ravioli to beef wellington - but passenger railroads back then were known for the high quality of their food. When we were approaching DuQuoin, some 6 or 7 hours later, the red cap would gather up my brother and me along with our luggage and get us off the train when it stopped. And then he'd wait until someone "claimed" us, usually our grandfather. I remember once nobody was there when we got off. My grandfather was running late. The red cap held up the train until he did, fortunately just a few minutes later. Just reverse this scenario for the return trip. Those were the days. BTW, watch Arlo Guthrie's City of New Orleans on RUclips.
Thanks so much for your comment! I enjoyed reading your story. Those were the good ole' days and the true golden age of train travel in America! I can't wait to share many more train trips to come! Thanks for watching!
I took the City of New Orleans in August of 1962 with my mother and younger sister from Hammond to Carbondale. I remember the porter coming and getting me out of the observation car because they were going to be changing cars in Memphis.
@@travelingadventureswithdan3181 I remembered something interesting I meant to include about the Illinois Central but forgot. Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer for the IC, his largest client, and signed their incorporation papers.
You can look at the ties pass under bowl
I was singing Arlo Guthrie in my mind as I read this😀
Dan, you did a fabulous job on this video. I REALLY liked the fact that you used subtitles rather than droning on like so many people do with their videos. Even more than that, your filming itself was of the best quality I have ever seen on YT. Thanks so much and a big thumbs up!!
I normally drive home to NOLA for visits but once I decided to book two roomettes (there were 4 of us) across from each other for the trip. We napped, talked, ate, and the in-room toilets were a huge plus. It was a very nice experience and I'd definitely do it again.
I took this years ago to connect with amtrak to Florida loved it. Then coming back up the south coast to DC and back to Chicago
One of the best train travel videos I've yet seen. As others have noted, excellent cinematography and great use of subtitles. Looking forward to more!
Hello from Carbondale! It's nice to have a passenger train service go through your town, you don't know how lucky you are to have one till you don't (and A LOT of Americans do not anymore).
Train travel has always been my favorite way to travel!!!
My wife and I are experienced rail travelers and we loved your City of New Orleans video. We watch a lot of Amtrak videos on RUclips, and this is one of the best we've seen. You obviously are very knowledgeable. We hope you will produce many more in 2022.
Thanks so much for your comment, Jack, it really made my day! I've loved trains ever since I was a child (particularly Amtrak trains). So, I do have quite a bit of knowledge about how they operate, their rolling stock, routes, and things like that. This was actually my first time traveling on the City of New Orleans and I really enjoyed it! I try to include a little bit of everything in these videos. There's something special about train travel that no other mode of transportation offers. The different sounds, the rocking back and forth, and the beautiful views you can see when you travel by train! I have many more train trips planned for 2022 including several long-distance ones. If you haven't already, I'd highly suggest subscribing to the channel, and click the notification bell to be notified whenever a new video is released! Thanks so much for watching!
@@travelingadventureswithdan3181 surgeries
I agree, this video was excellent, thanks.
Before the pandemic, I used to travel frequently via Amtrak for work. I honestly haven't thought about riding the train much since then, but watching this video just made me realize how much I miss it! Particularly just watching the scenery pass by so calmly, and sleeping while the car gently rocks around... I might have to just book a random trip soon!
Thanks for your comment, Larry, Amtrak is a great way to see the country! I too love watching the world go by and the rocking back and forth as the train travels along its route. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
I’m headed on my 2nd Amtrak trip in 5 months from Chicago to LA. I loved this way of traveling over the crowded airlines.
I had traditional dining on the Cali Zephyr, It. Was. The. Best food of all time!
Great views and I think SAFER too than flying. You don't fall 30,000 feet if the train loses its engine(s), etc.
My all time favorite is the AMTRAK Vacation package to Yosemite National Park. It is all inclusive except meals. A combination bus and rail trek into the park. The buses will drop you off directly at the hotel. And there are free park buses to take you throughout the park. And excursions you can purchase for day trips in the area. I recommend at least w days. Preferably a week if you can afford it. There is no better place on earth to relax in the grandeur of this planet. The advantages of the AMTRAK package is that they have room blocks in the Chalet condominium units across from Yosemite Lodge which are not available for general public booking. Much quieter there.
Thanks for your comment, Gary, that sounds like a lot of fun! Very interesting info regarding the room blocks, I've yet to visit Yosemite but it's definitely on my bucket list. I'll have to take a closer look into those Amtrak Vacation packages. Thanks for that information!
For me, "delays", on Amtrak, are a plus. Being on a train trip is like being on an ocean cruise. WHO COMPLAINES when the cruise lasts longer???
I like trains 🚅 ! Beautiful nature outside the window !
Dan, I really enjoyed this video. There was no talking or extremely annoying music like in other videos, just the actual sounds of the train and traveling over the tracks. I too would like to experience some long distance Amtrak journeys, but more like 5+ days. I'm a railfan and a truck driver, and I'd love to sit back and let someone else do the driving and feed me some real good food that hopefully I can brag about! I'll be looking forward to seeing more of these videos. 👍
Thanks Steve! I'm glad you said that! The benefit of having captions is the ability to retain the sounds of the actual train. Without that, it just isn't the same. I have several Long Distance Amtrak trips planned for this year and can't wait share those experiences!
Amtrak offers a special promotion now and then with the 30 day Railpass, usually for less than $450 riding in coach... While most don't have 30 days unless your retired or presently not working, you can take ten different trains in a similar number of days, or less....
Enjoy your video. I did sleeping cars when I travel with my grandma as a child. In 2021, I did 2 Amtrak trips no more than 6 hours, so I rode coach. I enjoyed it very much. Much more relaxing than trying to go by air.
Thanks for your comment, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I've ridden in Coach on Amtrak many times (even on trips around 24hrs!) it's very comfortable and is much more economical than a sleeper.
This is the best Amtrak video I've seen. You did a great job!! I've been on that route back and forth , Milwaukee Hiawatha to Chicago, then off to Nola. Like the saying goes, something about a train....love it!!
Thanks. Hubby found this and we enjoyed!
I love Amtrak City of New Orleans route, it’s overnight train leaving Chicago’s famous Union Station, stops my hometown Memphis, Tennessee Central Station to its destination New Orleans, most Amtrak has a lot rail cars but city of New Orleans isn’t big train but is very enjoyable and Mississippi scenery and farmland is unique! Amtrak City of New Orleans is legendary!
Nice to hear the engineer calling out the crossings.
We caught this train in Champaine/Urbana headed to Jazz Fest a few years ago, it was an absolutely great trip. I mean, imagine taking an overnight train into New Orleans for a couple of days of very cool music and for me, a killer oyster po' boy.
Do more trips. I've done Amtrak but not in a roomate. I love it. But in a sleeper I got to experience at some point this.
Nice Travel gives refreshment always like the food & drink which is non alcoholic
I love TRAINS thanks for this video
Omg, that train whistle would drive me insane, especially during the night
It actually isn't as annoying as you'd think, you get used to it and I actually kind of like it!
Back in 2005 I rode the Sunset from LA to San José California. I’m a big man and I did not fit in those accommodations in the dining car so I ate in my coach seat. The staff was just awesome. Bringing me my diner and making sure I was comfortable. In fact they kept the seat next to me open so I was more comfortable. That’s my story about the Amtrak staff. So I agree with you they are top notch. I recommend traveling by train if you can it’s great.
Excellent video!
Ayy, this is the train that goes through Memphis! Love it! Home of St Jude!
Thank you so much for this video. This will be my family first train trip from New Orleans, and you made it look fun and exciting. Can’t wait till the spring/summer comes along..
Thanks so much for your comment, Chanel, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Traveling by train is a lot of fun and I do my best to show that in these videos! The City of New Orleans is a very enjoyable ride and I hope you have a great trip!
Thanks for watching!
Fine job, especially the editing. I traveled from New York City to Seattle in December 2019 via the Lakeshore limited and the empire builder. It was an excellent ride. I didn't video anything. One of the roomette attendants on the Lakeshore was a bit surly, so I had to make my own bed. The return trip was excellent overall. It was a 48 and a half year dream to go across country by train so I finally did it. In April I plan on taking Southwest Chief to LA but I'm actually considering cutting it short and going to Albuquerque as I've never been in New Mexico. I spent quite a bit of time in LA years ago. He who digs Los Angeles is Los Angeles. I didn't take it but I liked it.
Again thanks for the upload, you did a good job.
Wow there’s nothing like a train trip.
I enjoyed your video. I'm taken the train twice from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and found it very enjoyable. I'll probably never get to take your trip but it almost like feeling I was there with you.
The superliner fleet and that extra day from NY to NOLA is everything on the city of New Orleans! Especially in the sleeper car. Lol looks like a great trip and for sure has taken me down memory lane! Now I'm think of Harold's chicken in Chicago lol Thank you for this.
And I can't forget that subway sandwich shop that was in the NOLA train station lol! Oo yes.
Excellent video, sir. Very informative and entertaining. Looking forward to more trips.....
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Many more to come!
Thanks for posting a great video...I have ridden the City of New Orleans from Memphis to Chicago and NOLA to Memphis, but I haven't ridden it in one continuous journey, so this was kind of cool to watch! The City isn't necessarily one of the most scenic Amtrak routes, but as always on the train, you get a different perspective, even on places with which you're familiar; I agree that there's something special about watching the world go by at night on the train. Seeing the views on the platform at Memphis brings back great memories of how excited I was as I got aboard for my first train trip a few years ago. BTW, Central Station in Memphis has been extensively renovated in the past few years and that hotel is pretty spiffy; I haven't stayed there yet, but judging by the photos I've seen of the rooms, it's very nice with some great views. Central Station may not be one of the true showplace stations in the Amtrak network, but it used to be a dump, one of the most dilapidated in the country, so I'm delighted with what they've done to it! Thanks again for sharing your experience!
Thanks for your comment, Harry, I'm glad you liked the video. The City of New Orleans is definitely not the most scenic of Amtrak routes, but it certainly has its own charm! Given the history and fame this train has, it does hold a special place in the Amtrak system. I wasn't aware that Memphis Central got that big of a renovation, but they did a very nice job with it! That hotel looks amazing and it's one I'd love to visit at some point! Riding the route from one end to another is the best way to do it in my opinion because you get the full experience rather than only part of it. That said, there are many people who board and alight throughout the trip and use these long-distance trains more as a means of transportation too. In some places, Amtrak is the only transportation option besides a car. So, they are a lifeline for some small cities and towns. I'm very happy you enjoyed this video and that it brought back some good memories! Thanks for watching!
I did Chicago to Memphis, except that I did Chicago to Champaign on the regional train. It was basically from 10pm to 6am to get to Memphis, and 6:16 to 3:30pm from Memphis to New Orleans. The delta during the daylight. BTW- Illinois plain is boring.
@@mholtebeck Memphganistan (Memphis) is boring
@@kaydod3190 You have a different definition of boring than I do. I
In Feb I'm taking the Empire Builder from St. Paul to Chicago on a coach 💺 seat, as it will be during the day. From there I'll be on The City of New Orleans to New Orleans in a Roomette. I've never been on an Amtrak. I'm off to see the Eagles in concert. I'm taking a Delta flight back...
Excellent video! I really enjoyed.
Very good video. I bought my first Amtrak ticket this year. I am celebrating my husband's birthday. We have the bedroom sleeper. We are traveling from Memphis to New Orleans. I was wondering about snacks. If you don't bring your own, is sleeping rooms have complimentary snacks? Great video again!!
I took the Coast Starlight from LA to Tacoma in 2010 and slept in the upper level, upper bunk in a Roomette northbound and lower level, upper bunk southbound . The mattress is relatively comfortable, but it can get stuffy up there, at least on the upper level Roomettes. The lower level roomettes have a little more height between the mattress and the ceiling.
Yes post more Amtrak vids
I live in Australia but caught this train from Chicago to New Orleans. The staff were brilliant and the trip was excellent. Much better than our long distance trains.
Interesting. Back in the 80s, Amtrak REFUSED to use St. Louis' Union Station for its terminal because they DIDN'T WANT TO BACK INTO THE STATION -- yet here they are BACKING IN at New Orleans.
I've road "The Empire Builder" as well as the "Coast Starlight". I enjoyed the "City of New Orleans" video, the song is also
pretty cool too. Thanks
Congress needs to give Amtrak absolute priority over freight.
the best video yet of the train service to chicago!
OH MY GOD thank you for making this video! It was the first one I have seen that didn't make the train look like the tiniest place in the USA (lol). Also you did a fantastic job on keeping the camera stedy and not making the viewer seasick (like most everyone else does). Ok, now I have a question. I have not ridden on Amtrack since I was in collage at SIU - Carbondale, IL (where the train went through) . I was young and NOTHING scared me. That was 20 years ago now I'm old and scared of EVERYTHING (it sucks). I am taking the City of New Orleans in a week from Carbondale to Chicago to Omaha. I will be riding cocah (upper floor) does the train sway so much that it makes you queasy? I am in sheer panic about it! I LOVE TRAINS and like I said I rode them years ago and I hope I can enjoy riding them again. Again thank you for this recording this journey it was really fun to watch!
By now you’ve had your trip - and I hope it went well!!!
For anyone else wondering about this, I did not find the upper level to be super swaying and make me queasy. I can sometimes manage to get carsick traveling in backseats of a car, but for whatever reason, the train’s swaying is sturdy enough that it doesn’t feel jostling and doesn’t mess with my inner ear. I have heard that you can experience that effect on the top bunk of the roomette.
The only downside to coach is that if you’re doing an overnight and wanting to catch some shuteye, it can be difficult when folks come bouncing through the aisles joining the train at all hours of the night. In a Roomette, at least you get a door that mostly keeps disturbances low! Also, can be a bit of a crap shoot (literally) if your car has a… persistent bathroom odor hahah between folks using the lavatory for smoking grass, and then having the smell of the toilets bubble up, our 15 hours overnight in coach was long 😆
This is so well informed. Thanks for sharing!
Made a good bit of money down at Belle Chase joint reserve base after hurricane Katrina. I left New Orleans for Montana. Watching others board this train, in great curiosity each passenger started to pull out big jackets and blankets. I am just wearing a cotton hoodee. Then after a couple miles the AC kicks in and I'm just realizing just how good the AC is pretty cool return trip to Chicago, not cool But cold and bumpy. Good thing I had some of gramps cough medicine lots of it 😅
Having recently took the Southwest Chief, to "see the USA", I feel so much "of the seeing" is missed in the night. As the train is so much slower already than flying at 35,000 ft up, I propose Amtrak try a promotional "see America" train, and stop the train at 10 pm and restart going at 5 am, so passengers get to see what they paid for. Also, blow the whistle a lot more, we want to hear that too.
Better review than most...bravo
You should try the empire builder to seatle
Thanks for your comment! I took the Empire Builder years ago from Chicago to Seattle but didn't make a video for it. I plan to take it again at some point and will be sure to make a video when I do!
Great video Dan of a route rarely covered - so really appreciated you doing that. Out of personal interest, what do you use to generate that amazing map graphic at the beginning of the video showing the route? Is it a mapping tool or is it all in done in software like After Effects?
Thanks for the comments, Mark, one of the reasons I chose to take the City of New Orleans is because I think it is one of the less-appreciated long-distance trains that Amtrak runs. It has such a rich history, and it was a trip I really wanted to take! As for the map, it's actually a combination of both, it's made using an After Effects template called World Travel Maps, it is available on Envato Elements to license with a subscription. It can also be licensed for a fee from Envato Marketplace as well without a full subscription. I still have to set the route, points on the map, etc. But it's a lot easier and looks better than if it were to be done from scratch every time. It definitely is a learning curve, but the provided tutorial is very handy and its pretty straight forward once you get the hang of it! Thanks for watching!
Great video !!!! Long distance train travel looks fun and relaxing
Thanks! Long-Distance train travel is incredible! I highly recommend giving it a try if you've never done it before!
I’ve taken the Crescent, the City of New Orleans, and the Sunset Ltd. I like the City of New Orleans with it’s day view of Lake Pontchartrain the most. Even though it is the shortest in terms of distance, the view of the lake during the day going north is so beautiful.
Thanks for your comment, Rodney, The City of New Orleans is one of the shorter long-distance trains, but those views of Lake Pontchartrain are spectacular. I haven't taken the Crescent or the Sunset Limited yet, but they are definitely on my list! Thanks for watching!
I've ridden the Crescent (many times), the California Zephyr, and a couple of trains from DC to Chicago, both the Cardinal and the Capitol Limited, iirc. The Crescent also crosses Lake Pontchartrain just outside of N.O. The Crescent crews have been the best; the CZ's out of Denver going west the worst. I've never ridden City of N.O. but would like to. I hope they bring the full dining car service back; it's an integral part of the experience. (Amtrak bought expensive new dining/kitchen cars and then didn't use them in favor of prepackaged "meals," and those not even available for coach riders. Such a waste!). I hope the long distance trains survive as management seemed set on killing them with a thousand small cuts for awhile.
as far as scenic roads, this is probably not one I'd choose. Good job in your description of the train and service.
The Southwest Chief is way more scenic, even before you get to the mountains
Correction, Amtrak has priority over freight trains, its noted in the 1979 Amtrak Improvement Act.
I have taken 2 longer distance trips on Amtrak and enjoyed them immensely. Greensburg Pa to New York and also just to Altoona Pa and then from Connellsville Pa. to D.C. The scenery was good and the D,C trip along the Youghiogheny and Potomac rivers was very beautiful. Highly recommend a Rail trip, if you want to get there, with out the fuss and actually fully enjoy the ride and scenery.
One of the best City of New Orleans videos I have watched. Two minor corrections to facts you stated: 1) Legally Amtrak trains have priority over all freight trains since 1970 as one of the concessions freight railroads made to turnover passenger operations to Amtrak(I do acknowledge that today the freights don't abide by that concession) and 2) even before the Chicago detour the City of New Orleans backed into Union Station as on approached they merged into westbound tracks near MH Tower and then backed into the station as did the Illinois trains to and from Carbondale. Incidentally, the arriving California Zephyr often backs into Union Station after doing a turning action near MH Tower.
Thanks for your kind comments! I'm I wasn't aware that Amtrak has priority over freight railroads. I've always heard that the freight railroads have priority. The City of New Orleans usually uses the St. Charles Air Line which is why the back up move is required, I didn't know that the Eastbound California Zephyr backs up for its arrival in Chicago. Typically the train is turned around using the wye for its next departure. I appreciate the clarification about the freight railroads.
@@travelingadventureswithdan3181 RE: Amtrak's priority over freight railroads, the problem has long been not whether it exists, but how to enforce it. Recent legislation has strengthened the enforcement mechanism, but I do not know the details. Rail Passengers Association has been involved in this issue for years and would know the details.
One other reason not to take the train is people on their cell phones for hours. I got a horrible headache from a woman who talked non stop for 4 hours !
At one time there was an agreement to allow British Railways passengers reduced rate travel, so we took this line with Illinous Central - my wife stretched out and less than an hour after our grub she was fast asleep. Being used to working our sleeper trains and the Night Mails I had a whale of a time being able to just watch the night world go by! Super travel then and it looks rather good now, altho all the visible signs of dead lengths of railway are sad. Thanks for a good video.
Very good video. I really enjoyed it. It is a waste of money though, for amtrak to spend on the cars since their ridership is still sinking. In a few years, thanks to the freight railroads, long distance train travel will be a thing of the past I am afraid.
I wish New Orleans Union Terminal Station offers shower (like Chicago, NY Penn, and LAX). For long distance train, try Cardinal (Chicago - NY Penn for 27 hrs), California Zephyr (Chicago - Emeryville for 52 hrs [east of San Francisco], Southwest Chief (Chicago - LAX for 43 hrs), and Cresent (New Orleans - NY Penn for 32 hrs).
Dan, another great video. Relaxing and informative at the same time. Please don't be like other you tubers and go all in with music, glitz, and special effects. This format is perfect! I just subscribed!
Liked the Video - but maybe a little more of Cafe Dining Info - Menu, Ordering, self help? Also would have liked a peak at the Carbondale
Stop. All in All Good Job 👍🏻
Thanks for your comment, Ed, I appreciate your feedback and will be sure to include more footage of the Cafe on future Amtrak trips. Basically though, you order, and the cafe attendant takes care of making the order for you. The reason I didn't include the footage at Carbondale was because there was another Superliner consist of the opposite track and that was that could be seen. Thanks for watching!
I took this very same route back when I was in USA last year! New Orleans to Chicago! Really nice travelling with Amtrak!
Very nice vid.
Thanks!
1 streamlined Genesis Amtrak locomotive is pulling seven passenger cars.
You covered everything. Good balance of views and lots of train interiors. I would watch any of your long distance trips. I want to take the coastal starlight in the near future. Thanks
Thanks so much for your comment, Ana! I really appreciate your feedback. I try to include a little bit of everything when making these videos. I have several train trips planned in 2022 and can't wait to share them! The Coast Starlight is definitely on my bucket list too, I took it from Seattle to Emeryville about 7 years ago and it was a beautiful ride! I'd highly suggest subscribing to the channel if you haven't already. If you click the notification bell, you'll get notified when I upload future videos. Thanks so much for watching, I'm very glad you enjoyed the video!
@@travelingadventureswithdan3181 I subscribed after I saw your video! I don’t want to miss any of your content :)
Thanks so much! Much more coming soon!
Great video!
My condolences on the food... On Amtrak's western routes, including the Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief and Sunset Limited, they have reinstated the full Traditional Dining menu, which is nearly identical to the pre-pandemic menu and is a massive improvement over the paltry selection of microwaved bowl meals that are on the Flexible Dining menu. I had the steak on the Coast Starlight earlier this month, and it was as good as it's ever been.
Also, due to the pandemic, room service is a standard option now. (It was always technically an option, but before I found it to be really hit-or-miss whether the sleeper attendants really wanted to do it...)
A member of my family took the Memphis to Chicago part of this route last night because there was a strong chance her scheduled flight was going to be cancelled. She loved the sleeper berth. Hopefully, Amtrak will return to Nashville in the future. The Floridian from Chicago to Miami quit running 40+ years ago, because the route did not go through Chattanooga and Atlanta. Thanks for making this great informative video. Amtrak should compensate you for it.
Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it informative! The sleeping car is the best way to travel on Amtrak's long-distance trains! I agree that Amtrak should bring back some of their now defunct trains! We need more train travel in the US for sure! I have several train trips planned for 2022, among other travel content! Thanks again for watching!
I am waiting on Nashville leg. I would only have to drive just over 20 miles to station not just under 200 miles for train
We definitely agree, train travel is wonderful! Now that we sold our motorhome, we travel ONLY by train. The packaged meals are very good, and, of course, the desserts are great. Our last trip gave us a taste of dining during the early 50s. Love train travels!
35 years ago I was a student at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond Louisiana and used to get just a little bit upset when the Amtrak City of New Orleans would come through town and I'd be late for lectures. Next year we'll be on it, our first time on a train. We'll be in one of the Rooms, but the upper bunk in the Roomette is far and away larger and more comfortable than what's on a US Navy/Coast Guard vessel. We're looking forward to it. A little trivia... back in the mid to late 1980s the TV series "In the Heat of the Night" starring Carol O'Connor was filmed, in part, in Hammond Louisiana, and the lead in shows the Amtrak City of New Orleans going through downtown Hammond (fictional Sparta, Mississippi) at night... the filming & closed streets would often make us late for lectures as well... There's been more than a few TV shows and movies filmed in Chicago Union Station. Many scenes from ALL of "The Untouchables" were filmed in and outside
* Enjoyed your video !
Thanks Dan! It was nice traveling with you! Lots of great tips. I will be taking the same train in March. I’m doing a train trip, Boston to NYC on the NE Regional, NYC to New Orleans on the crescent, New Orleans to Chicago on the City of New Orleans, and Chicago to NYC on the Cardinal. For the Crescent, City of New Orleans and The Cardinal, I booked a Roomette. I’m looking forward to it. My first time in a Roomette was last year on board the Lake Shore Limited. Awesome experience, I definitely recommend taking that train end to end! Thank you for sharing your experience, makes me even more excited for my first Superliner Roomette experience. And my first time on the City of New Orleans!
That sounds like an amazing trip, Brandon! I've taken the Lake Shore Limited twice between Chicago and Boston. I'm planning to take it between New York and Chicago hopefully later this year. I've only traveled in a Viewliner Roomette once on the NE Regional (Night Owl) from Boston to New York. But I've traveled in the Superliner Roomettes a few times. The Viewliners have a bit more storage space and the benefit of the windows on the upper bunk. The Superliner roomettes are still quite comfortable and luckily don't have the in room toilets like on the Viewliner I's. I'm glad you found the tips helpful and am very glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching! Let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you so much, and to all who contribute the time and efforts in making these videos. They are entertaining, informative as well as educational. Train travel will never go out of style!
Thanks for this interesting journey video. But you didn't mention whether there was any free WiFi on the train.
Thanks for your comment! Your absolutely right! I forgot to mention that. The City of New Orleans doesn't offer Wi-Fi service, nor to many of the superliner trains. The exception to this being the Auto Train. this is partiality due to the fact that many of the western long-distance trains and The City of New Orleans travel through areas with little to no cell reception. So even if the train was equipped with Wi-Fi, it likely would be very undependable. While this may be an inconvenience for some, it can be nice to disconnect and watch the scenery go by without distractions. Some of the single level long distance trains such as the Silver Star and Lake Shore Limited do offer free Wi-Fi though.
Did this twice in my freshman year at Dillard University. Looking back now, it’s a lot better than driving…or taking the bus!
Nice video
Thanks!
What a wonderful video! I love the low key style without the narration that can be annoying in other travel videos. And yet your enthusiasm comes through loud and clear. Thanks for sharing your trip. I look forward to more long distance train journeys. You’ve inspired me to start thinking about taking a similar trip.
Is the bedroom worth the extra bucks? If I fly over from London, go on Amtrak journeys, then fly back, it’s got to be worth it.
Yeah, definitely. Between the privacy, comfort, and better food, it is extremely worth it.
In the 80s, I took the train between Hammond, La. and Chicago. Back then it was comfortable , clean and safe. These days, it is cheaper to fly.
I am going to suggest the following schedule for your trains to the west coast. Do the Southwest Chief first, the Empire Builder second and the most beautiful trip, the California Zephyr to round out three of the most iconic and scenic routes.
Good video. I definitely recommend doing a video on Amtrak's California Zephyr (Chicago-San Francisco area) and Empire Builder (Seattle-Chicago). Do those in the summer though when you have more daylight.
The stripped down dining car and heated up packaged food look very unappetizing.
Amtrak only runs full dining car service on its western routes--with the exception of the east coast auto train. Basically, any long-distance train west of Chicago has a full dining car and great food. All other trains have prepackaged, microwaved crap.
They recently updated the diner menus on trains like the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Empire Builder. The new additions look good--but they also kept the old favorites.
Mid February of 2023 Katrina and I be taking the City of New Orleans down to NOLA for the Maudi Graw
I enjoyed it! Thank you for letting us tag along. I’m more eager to plan a trip now. God bless you🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Making the same trip in August , then on to Seattle, Los Angeles and back to New Orleans ...all in one trip.
In 1983 I took The City of New Orleans from Chicago to McComb, MS. Wonderful trip. In recent years I've taken Amtrak from Lamy, NM to Los Angeles and then Portland OR to visit my son who was living there; and several trips on the Southwest Chief from NM to Kansas City. I am hoping to take what I'm thinking of as a land cruise (based somewhat on ocean cruises I have taken). I'll go from Lamy, NM to Chicago on the Southwest Chief. Two nights in Chicago. Then the Empire Builder to Seattle. Another two nights there. The Coast Starlight to Los Angeles, one overnight, then the Southwest Chief back home. It's a ten day trip at minimum, and since I just love sitting on the train, talking to people, looking at the scenery, it will be wonderful. I've taken a couple of ocean cruises, and really loved the meeting new people and looking out at the scenery part.
Your video was wonderful and informative, and thank you for what you did to make it so good.
Great Video, we are planning a trip on the City of New Orleans in January of 2023 (St Paul to NOLA) Probably should book coach to Chicago and a Roomette or Sleeper to NOLA, What do you think? Thanks.
Thanks for your comment, Jeff, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Coach from St. Paul to Chicago should be fine as the duration of that trip would be during the day and only for a few hours. The Superliner coach seats are quite spacious and even have a largest and footrest! I think getting a Sleeping Car accommodation to from Chicago to NOLA is preferable to Coach because you'll have access to the dining car (Flexible Dining) and the shower. It's very nice to have an actual bed rather than just a reclining seat. Thanks for watching!
this is amtrak's 2nd or 3rd most on time train in the nation. auto-train being #1 most ontime (if not earlier than scheduled)
No mountains to cross, fewer freights on the line.
Thanks for your comment! Yeah, This route has one of the best On-Time Performances and on this run, we were ahead of schedule until we got delayed in Kankakee. Thanks for watching!
I rode a number of Amtrak trains in September 2022, and I can tell you that masks are no longer required, and most western trains (probably including the City of N.O.) have traditional dining back. (The flatiron steak is the choice at dinner; I liked the loaded baked potato for lunch!) I only had "flexible" dining on the Crescent, and while they'll deliver to a sleeper room, I had mine in the lounge car and also enjoyed the short ribs of beef. My choice for lunch in the cafe is easily the turkey & cheese sandwich on oat bread; the cheese could be cheddar, swiss or havarti but it was always good. I found the Magnolia Room at New Orleans UPT to be just fine, though there were more dining choices than you seemed to have. Thanks for the video.
I just watched your video it was really nice to see that trip from New Orleans to Chicago I live here Western Canada. On your next trip, how about from the East Coast all the way to the West Coast,that would be a nice trip. I really enjoy this video thank you.
Thanks so much for your comment, Derick, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I do have another long-distance Amtrak trip planned. I'd definitely like to do a Coast-to-Coast trip at some point though! This next train trip will be a big one though so if you haven't already, I'd highly suggest subscribing and enabling notifications, so you'll be notified when future videos are uploaded! Thanks for watching!
I thought Plant City Florida is the the strawberry capital of America!
EXCELLENT video. I wanna go on a train trip.
In its heyday, IC's overnight "Panama Limited" covered this 934 mile route in 16-1/2 hours.
That Smuckers Breakfast Syrup doesn't look like maple syrup.
Hey....You didn't finish your salad. Didn't your mother tell you about that?
But I am glad that the food was good. That makes or breaks a trip.