I've taken the Amtrak from NY to FL and back again many times, and love it. I always have a sleeper unit. It helps to think of it as a "glamping" experience. Bring food, a small blanket, a book,, maybe a tablet or some device, and be flexible-minded about your schedule.
Also water, boots, jacket, tent, cooking stove, food, disinfectant, water filtration, and anything else required for a heavy duty exploratory assignment. :-)
As a huge fan and also an Amtrak Employee aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder. Thank you for this awesome video of the train I work on!!!! Hope you had a wonderful experience!!!!!
I am a mobility impaired senior citizen and traveled the City of New Orleans by myself in an accessible room. No problems. Staff was attentive and very helpful.....if you want to take a trip, do it.....very well worth it.....
Yes I agree, my ex took a trip to I think ark. to see her ex. a month later she came back to cleveland. (Shes gone now - in Iowa since 2011) She was on wheelchair.
I am sure the life lesson you mentioned is that you should always look for silver linings in every situation. Wow! That was some incredible landscape. Thank you for sharing it with us. Peace to all
Frankly when you consider how old the Superliner cars are, nearly 50 years, Amtrak has done a good job just keeping them running. It isn't easy keeping equipment 50 years old running. Not a refrigerator, HVAC, or the hot water tank... Railroads are linear, not point to point like airlines, so every mechanical issue of any train on that route will cause delays on the entire route. Those freight train cars may be even older than Amtrak Superlliner or Viewliner cars. European trains outside of Russia have considerably shorter routes of a 300 hundred miles, 450 kilometers at most, whereas Amtrak and Via have transcontinental routes from coast to coast of around 4 thousand miles, 6 thousand kilometers... When your route is ten times longer, well, there are more chances of things going wrong, ten times more...
You don't take Amtrak to get there, you take Amtrak for the experience of getting there. I remember one trip I took years ago, Denver to Iowa on the California Zephyr. They'd had a fire in the dining car kitchen somewhere in Nevada that had contaminated all their pre-loaded ingredients and destroyed their freezers. So, they called ahead to every place the train stopped and, at every station, there was a truck from the local supermarket to load whatever they had been able to throw on the truck at short notice. Sure, the chefs had to improvise, but they adapted and kept everyone fed.
Montana in the winter is not matched in it’s beauty. Did Yellowstone tour two February ago, and it was a life changing event. The beauty is only magnified by the amazing snow cover.
Just ending a wonderful Empire Builder trip from Seattle to Chicago. I was all set for everything that happened because I watched your video several times. My husband kept saying, “How do you know that?!”😊 We left 3-4 hours late so I told him that it was OK because we would see Idaho in daylight. I knew there wasn’t food at the station in Seattle … and I knew it was going to gorgeous. I told him what to order on the train. We brought a power strip and duct tape I pointed things out along the way. He thinks I have super powers Thanks so much! Best wishes to you and Suzanne - hope you have as happy a life as we’ve had.
Good call ... taking some wine on board! I love to sit in my roomette, and sip wine. They do the driving, and I relax and enjoy seeing the country go by.
I loved this route. I did it from Portland in 2021. I didn’t want to fly during the pandemic and I was going to meet my new granddaughter and a bedroom was the perfect way to minimize contact. I ate in my room and only left my room to stretch my legs during longer stops.
The Great Northern ran a secondary train called The Western Star through their during the day all the way to Chicago. Most routes had 2-7 runs per day at one point. Amtrak axed a bunch of them when they were created, including the Western Star.
I grew up on trains...any situation is acceptable. It is really a mindset. As an adult, I gave up flying, except for emergencies, and settled back to always give myself time and enjoy the journey, meeting new people from all over the world, and getting work done as our great country rolls by in all it differences and greatness. No other way to achieve this !
My husband was handicapped, so we've taken the handicapped room. It's a roomette for sitting and sleeping with an open bathroom on the other part of the room. You have a sink and a toilet, but no shower. Since it is on the lower level, the train car shower is near by. The open space is big enough to store a wheelchair and the extra stuff one brings with the handicapped. They will bring you your meals so you don't have to go upstairs to the dining car. Snacks and other goodies from the snack bar depend on how busy the car attendant is. I usually went over to get him those kinds of things. Tipping is real important. Price was the same as a roomette.
From the comfort of my room here in Nigeria, I sincerely enjoy your voyages I often daydream of being tagged along with you fantastic couple, America is such a great country with lovely scenery
Please God look down upon this Empire Builder track and bless all of their adventures. This Amtrak line has been the key to my survival more than once. Each and every time they were always loving and supportive. I do miss them, and hopefully one day I will be able to ride again. Thank you Jeb, you and your wife are dictating/conveying far more dreams than you know. One day very soon I hope to cross paths with you all and tell you how much you truly have helped me during this down time. To Infinity and Beyond!!! I also must add that the lack of services at the King Street Station adds to the calmness and peacefulness that we all used to have whilst travelling. Suzanne, you are riding for me, and I thank you so much. I pray that all of your adventures are fondly looked down upon from above. We all love you, and we are are grateful for your work.
I really enjoy how you both travel together and show what it means to find joy in the smallest moments. I am looking forward to making this trip with my wife one day!
I used to ride the Empire Builder from Wisconsin Dells to St. Paul monthly when I went to school in Minneapolis. The views of SW Wisconsin and the Mississippi River throughout Minnesota are pretty remarkable.
My granddaughter was two or three at the time, she really loved her Amtrak ride. She loved the fact that she wasn't confined to a car seat. She was able to walk from parent to grandparents while the train was moving. We did a short 100 mile day trip from Alton, IL to Springfield, IL .I was impressed how quickly we got to our destination. Our tiny granddaughter slept all the way home.
That delayed departure actually turned out to be a "Blessing in Diguise" for you guys as you got to witness some awesome scenery (to say the least.) in Idaho and elsewhere ...
Born and raised in Idaho. Sandpoint is a very nice town/area. Couer D' Alene is spectacular - northern Idaho has some fantastic scenery. Thanks for taking us along.
Hey man, love the videos and you are very lucky that you have a wife who can support you when u do the videos, it's just amazing to see that. Love from Canada
As a child I took the amtrak train from spokane to Seattle, Seattle to Portland and Portland back to spokane. It was unforgettable for sure and has left me with a want to travel by train again. The trip from spokane to Chicago would be awesome for sure. Maybe someday I will get the chance to travel by train again. ❤
We live in the UK and use trains regularly across Europe. The biggest thing for us is to see the counrty not from 35000 feet and no airports. I have always wanted to cross the USA by train and you have got us seriously thinking about it. Your trip to NC may be a clincher as my wife's brother lives in Hickory NC. I will start planning a visit, thanks guys.
"She didn't say 'Uno'" LOL(!!) 🙂 ... As always, Thank You Both for the informative and entertaining videos. Traveling always presents unexpected setbacks, and your thoughtful videos with thorough evaluations prevent countless unsavory surprises for vacationers. Very Well Done(!!) 🙂 ...
Jeb I grew up in North Idaho in Clark Fork, 20 miles east of Sandpoint on the Montana boarder. It was so wonderful to see we’re I grew up for 18 years. Made me cry, such a beautiful area!
I took this same trip over 20 years ago during the winter months, and it was magical outside. Going through Glacier National Park was like being in a snow globe. Enjoy.
Delays usually stink but sometimes they also remind us it’s time to slow down and enjoy are surroundings and this video seemed to be perfect example of that notion. Thank you so much for sharing Jeb the views were absolutely majestic! I also have to add that those new Siemens locomotives are gorgeous!
Yes...whether you're on your bicycle, in a taxi, a bus, an aircraft, a train, a car, delays happen - and most of the delays aren't related to something disastrous. A true blessing to have so many modes of transportation - if one or all doesn't work, most people and service providers are resourceful.
What if you really wanted to use the bathroom in a certain city and the train was late? You'd have to hold it maybe a long time, and that is not very romantic.
Jeff, my oldest brother and me are taking the C.Z. the 2nd week of May. Thank You for sharing all these Amtrax videos. I love my several trip to Seattle areas. Beautiful country there. America is so Great! God Bless.
Interesting video. My grandfather on my dad's side was an engineer for Great Northern. I grew up in St. Paul where my dad's family lives and worked downtown St. Paul for years. Used to walk a couple of blocks down to the river during lunch when the weather was nice and watch the trains and barges on the river. Funny you mentioned Cutbank. I met a guy in school and he was from outside of Cutbank where his family had a 17,000 acre farm. Blew my mind. He only came to the university during the winter as he was busy on the farm the rest of the time.
In the FAQs section you mentioned “it’s not the most efficient”. Well, in one way it is. I read an article a couple of years ago that compared the amount of fuel per passenger per mile. Trains were the most fuel efficient way to travel.
My first train trip included the Great Northern Empire Builder from Williston, ND, to St. Paul. This was in 1966 and the train was completely full. I was traveling in "steerage" and had to sit on a stool in the restroom for part of the trip. Still, it was an exciting adventure!
Please God look down upon this Empire Builder track and bless all of their adventures. This Amtrak line has been the key to my survival more than once. Each and every time they were always loving and supportive. I do miss them, and hopefully one day I will be able to ride again. Thank you Jeb, you and your wife are dictating/conveying far more dreams than you know. One day very soon I hope to cross paths with you all and tell you how much you truly have helped me during this down time. To Infinity and Beyond!!! I also must add that the lack of services at the King Street Station adds to the calmness and peacefulness that we all used to have whilst travelling. Suzanne, you are riding for me, and I thank you so much. I pray that all of your adventures are fondly looked down upon from above. We all love you, and we are are grateful for your work. 🌻
Beautiful post...I agree about the peace and quiet in the depots. There are so many shops and restaurants surrounding the depots, so why clutter up a resting area?
Suzanne And Jeb Brooks, I absolutely always look forward to your truly exciting and humorous travel videos. .. You both always make me smile and I do enjoy the wonderful descriptions of the lovely scenery as the train rolls on!! . ... I shall always enjoy travelling on Amtrak no matter how late it always is (fact)!! .. Thank you again for this lovely journey across our amazing country!! .. God Bless You, CC 🥰
Hello from Hendo NC- Love your content!!! Will be taking 1st Amtrak trip in over 20 years again. Your an inspiration to venture throughout America with Amtrak at the wheel...
If you loved what you saw in Minnesota, you should definitely adventure along the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers and head up to the North Shore. Absolutely incredible scenery! We have a beautiful state if you don't mind the weather. 🙂
As someone that's been involved with railroading history for many years now at a museum, I can tell you that while all of your points regarding Amtrak constantly being late are true, it's still not a valid excuse. When the private railroads operated the lines in rail's golden years things were much better in basically every way. Rarely was a train very late, the equipment was in beautiful condition, the service was top notch and the food as well, and the prices were fairly reasonable. Companies like Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Milwaukee Road, Santa Fe, Southern Railway, New York Central, Western Pacific, and many others actually took pride in their company, equipment and operations. As sad as it is to say, let's be completely honest and just say it like it truly is: The government destroys anything it touches. Period. The instant they got involved the service, food, heritage, experience, operations, and equipment immediately started to corrode and it hasn't stopped since. Before, a passenger was treated like a guest. Now, they are generally treated like cattle. Honestly, cattle would probably get treated better though seeing as how freight traffic is prioritized over passenger traffic in the US unlike the old days where it was the other way around. It really just shows where our countries loyalty lies, not with the people but the almighty dollar that freight provides. To top it off, there hasn't been a single year since Amtrak started service that they have made any kind of profit. Not one single year. Instead, we the taxpayers pay for them to continue to provide subpar, poor, and frankly dangerous at times service. It's truly pathetic and honestly infuriating if you think about it realistically. Anyway, keep up your great work, you guys are always a treat to watch. 🙂
I did the same trip last summer. Summer was beautiful too. The mountains still snow on the mountain peaks. One thing I found that was very interesting was, many of the small towns in the plains all had gambling houses.
The Empire Builder is the Amtrak route I'd love to travel. A trip in the winter would be spectacular, but I imagine any season would be an adventure. I'd also love to do some of the Canadian trans-Canada routes as well.
I enjoy watching your videos. Over the last several years, I have gained a renewed enthusiasm for train travel. In June 2021 I went on a cross country vacation to coastal Washington and Oregon state. I started off on the Michigan Blue Water from Flint, Michigan to Chicago, and after a 2 hour layover, went on Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle. 5 days later I went back on Coast Starlight from Tacoma, Washington to Sacramento and then a 5 hour layover and went on California Zephyr from Sacramento to Chicago. And then returned home on the Michigan Blue Water. It was a vacation of a lifetime.
I miss my solo trip to Chicago last summer from St. Cloud, MN. It was the most peaceful and life just slowed down. Only thing I wish I would’ve done is explore the train more like dining car and bedrooms. Brings back amazing memories
I've taken the Empire Builder 4 times. 2 times from Milwaukee to Seattle. And last 2 times, Hiawatha to Chicago to ride it the entire route. Just such a peaceful, relaxing way to travel. Yes old cars, but the pace and scenery make it so worth it. I always travel alone hoping someday to travel bring someone with me to share the trip. Thank you for all your Amtrak videos. Makes a long day at the office so much better
I've taken the Empire Builder many times...and will again take it next month. As you point out, UNFORTUNATELY, the timing of the train's schedule places it in some of the most beautiful parts of the country...AT NIGHT. I PRAY for a schedule slip for my coming trip!
I took this route once many years ago and we were delayed by about 7 hours and let me tell you, it was worth it. Montana looks like something out of a story book in the winter. Such a beautiful state and not having cell phone reception makes it so you get up and talk to others. Would happily do it again. Thanks for sharing
I have taken my first ride with my children on Amtrak today and even though we only went to 1 town over it was an amazing experience seeing things with a different perspective than my normal commute to work
Incredible travel journal. I did the Empire Builder last year (Sept 2022) in roomette and will be doing it again in April on a 6000 mile Amtrak journey! I really appreciate your enthusiasm for Amtrak and train travel. Thanks!
I’ve used the Empire Builder to get from one side of Wisconsin to the other (Milwaukee to La Crosse) to see family. Even in a Coach car it was comfortable for that 2-2.5 hour trip, no delays either which was lucky. Besides just being a great way to see the country, trains also provide reasonably priced travel to smaller towns that may otherwise not be serviced by planes or other systems of transportation. I saw a lot of college students like myself along with some Amish getting off at my stop, reminded me of that.
If you love the Empire builder and it’s amazing views, I highly encourage you to ride “The Canadian”. A very similar trip but a little more elegant with vintage equipment. I’ve taken both trains and love the majestic Rockies and serene prairie views.
I am a railfan and quadriplegic and therefore use a wheelchair. It has been several years, but I have ridden on the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, and California Zephyr using the accessible sleeper. It is spacious enough for my wheelchair and had great views even with smaller windows. The car attendant brings meals to your room after choosing what to eat. Getting in and out of the car is a little tight, but it does work well.
I live in Spokane, thanks for saying our name right, by the way. The Empire Builder is one of the most scenic trips in the country. I really hope Amtrak will offer a day trip through the Cascades, now that would be a trip to enjoy.
My wife and I did the Empire Builder in 2021 from Portland to Chicago. It was the best vacation we ever did! Next time, take it from Portland so you can see the Columbia River Gorge. That was up there with Glacier for views. And Portland Union Station has a Metro Lounge. Cheers!
I’m currently on Amtrak’s westbound Pennsylvanian right now. This video is seriously a life saver since our engine broke down in Harrisburg and we’ve been stuck here for 2 hours and counting. Not gonna lie I wish this was longer because I still have an hour to kill before they can send another engine up here from Philly.
Amtrak is kind of in a state of purgatory right now with their engines. The P42s are way past their expiration date and are breaking down. Not to mention all the freight engines that are increasingly breaking down today. There have been significant teething issues with the ALC-42s. They are making software improvements and handling these as they come up. Hopefully, in a year or so these issues will be resolved and we will see far better reliability with the ALC-42s.
@@stevendelavaux1426 funny enough, I was chatting about this very issue with the head conductor during this whole layover. she said that all the protect power in Harrisburg also broke down, so that's why they had to send a diesel all the way up from Philly. the ALC-42s have also had many issues so she was wondering why Amtrak spends so much money with stupid things like battery-electric cars for the Empire Corridor rather than putting focus on the boring but important issues of everyday operations
@@nathanjiang100 Public Relations. Adding "Shiny & New!" to a system looks better than fixing "old & familiar", especially if they can add a few buzzwords. Battery electric? That's "Environmentally friendly" (supposedly), and "forward looking". Diesel? Not so much...
Great Video!!!! Interesting seeing the Mississippi up north, unlike my hometown of Memphis and my second home town of New Orleans. Try the City of New Orleans, very festive crowd on that train. To Chicago to Minot. Wisconsin was just beautiful on the Empire Builder. Again just a great video. Greg Adams, Springfield, Louisiana and 31 year retired Federal Express (Fedex Express) employee.
Thanks for sharing your trip! Living in Minne-snow-ta during this time was no treat for me to see all that snow, we're into our 4 month of winter now. And we just got another 4.5" of snow over the last two days. I'm so ready for spring weather, temps in the 40's would be wonderful at this point! Taking my Grandson on a trip for graduation this summer, not sure of the direction yet.... Hoping to see sunshine, green grass or an warm ocean view! "See you on the rails!"
I was amused when Jeb said a 39°F temperature in St. Paul was chilly ... for us locals, that's a warm day! Nice to see my office building through the train window.
Another great rail journey!! Thanks Jeb and Suzanne for sharing the trip! As someone who grew up in Canada - I love Winter landscapes (from the mountains to the plains)!! Don't get me wrong - Summer is great and all - but there is really something special about fresh/deep snow covering both the ground and the trees under a brilliant blue sky....and even though the late start was probably inconvenient for everyone - you really can't beat those views that would normally have been hidden in the dark (also loved the scenes you captured of wildlife near the tracks!).
Hi there, I’m from Sydney, NSW, Australia 🇦🇺 My wife and I really enjoyed your rail adventure. Thank you for your efforts and sharing your trip. The scenery was beautiful….
Hi Jeb, Thank you for your reply to me recently. I really appreciate your humble attitude and your ability to connect with the camera. Suzanne is a pure delight with her indescribably and wonderful attitude about travel! Thank you again for the pleasure that you two have given me and many others. Have a great evening, and Merry Christmas to you and Suzanne, Peter
That is a trip I would love to take someday! I used to live in Williston, ND and would see the train coming into town often. I also picked up lots of friends from the train station.
Seeing you two traveling together, with all the little quirks and hiccups that travel entails, really just shows you two are kindred spirits! Also, how nice you were able to benefit from Amtrak’s incompetence by gaining such a wonderful scenic backdrop to your meals!
@@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401 in the last 30 years, I have given Amtrak 11 different chances… I have only had a positive experience twice that hasn’t been marred by ridiculous delays, surly staff, or just rank incompetence… nine out of 11? Yeah, they’re incompetent!
So very great to see the Empire Builder again! What a treat, our son regularly traveled from our home in Minneapolis to Chicago on it and also on the Zephyr. He loved it them both. Bummer about the Observation Deck car on the Empire Builder being absent for repairs on your trip. He used to take a deck of Tarot Cards and do "Readings " for a fun pastime for anyone who wanted one, free of course. As a college student he meet many other travelers doing that and laughed saying it was a "babe magnet " to meet beautiful college girls from different schools traveling to and from. 😄😁😅😍😂.
Grew up right next to Elk River MN so seeing the water tower made my day!! Was happy to hear about the delay at the beginning of the video, because otherwise the train normally goes by pretty early in the morning.
I live in Saint Cloud AND I work for Amtrak as a conductor on the Builder! I see that water tower often driving through Elk River or passing through on the train!
@AndrewOsborne okay question for you!! You probably have no idea but I gotta ask. A handful of years ago I saw Amtrak westbound pull out of St. Cloud around midnight, pulling like 50 intermodel cars. Any idea what that might have been about? I managed to film it with my potato iPod at the time, its the first video on my RUclips channel if you want to see it.
More great information and photography especially the "Get ready with me". Amtrak addition. LOL. My wife liked that one. She wasn't sure how her "mornings" would proceed. Thank you guys. Great video as usually. 👍
Ugh, I love all your Amtrak videos, but I especially loved this one so much!! Y’all’s excitement and enthusiasm had me smiling the whole way through. The terrain was gorgeous and I loved Suzanne’s impromptu professional beauty RUclipsr get ready with me! So excited to see the rest of your Amtrak journey!! 🥲🥰
Decades ago when I was 14, Amtrak had a route from Chicago west through Arizona with two overnights at the Grand Canyon (spectacular!) and on to and through Southern California, all the way up the West Coast with stops in LA and San Francisco and a day trip out to the islands off Washington State’s mainland and then back across passing Mt. St. Helen and on back toward Chicago. What an amazing journey. I will never forget it. I had always traveled by train from the time I was 3, and that trip at 14?..I was hooked! Trains for me! Always!
The best thing about ALL my vacations, and that includes a 9 hour ride on a beat up old train that leaked exhaust into the carriage which replaced a 4 hour high speed train (in the U.K.) on a bank holiday, is having someone to share it with (28+ years). Great video, as always!! 👍🏼👍🏼
Another historical fact about the Great Northern is that the Empire Builder has a companion train before the creation of Amtrak. The Western Star ran the Great Northern, departing Seattle and Chicago in the evening about 2 hours after you departed. Fun news is that Amtrak and the FRA are looking into restoring the North Coast Hiawatha through Southern Montana. They have also issued a request for information to replace and expand the long distance fleet.
Personally, I think that the Western Star could be brought back as a summertime, Seattle-Minneapolis train running through most of the Cascades and Rockies in daylight and serving as a twice-or-thrice weekly luxury tourist complement to the Builder. The North Coast Hiawatha would be a great train to add back, and likely to add 400,000 riders to the national network. Not to mention the opportunity to serve Yellowstone from te Midwest.
Additional trains are just a dream with current Freight railraoad management. They are Finally under investigation for violations to their contract with Amtrak and causing a vast majority of the delays on the western long distance trains.
@@JuanSanchezGuerra from your fingertips(lol) yp God's ears! I grew up in Livingston, Montana! I remember taking the North Star Hiawatha in 1979 out to Seattle
@@renafox4481 The restoration study will come out soon as well as results from the new equipment RFI. I think that is is certainly a realistic prospect!
As a mountain biker, I was thrilled to see a random appearance of legendary racer Ned Overend at 15:20 on the Mountain Dew vending machine. That's from around 1996, so cool to see that it hasn't been replaced with something newer after all those years! 🚲
Jeb and Suzanne, your videos are beautiful. Your original Amtrak stuff was a huge part of the inspiration for my own cross country Amtrak trip last summer! What an amazing experience it was! Thank you so much for your work! (The videos also convinced my skeptical mother to go as well!)
Brings back memories. My wife and I rode the empire builder from Montana to the twin cities several times in sleeper cars. It is a great way to travel if leisure is your thing. The trains are always late.
The fresh flowers on Amtrak is a very nice touch. And seeing a bald eagle on Amtrak....if you were eating an apple pie that would be the most American thing ever.
Great video just got off builder in Winina mn. have taken this train almost 100 times since 1975. I have never had anything taken in either coach or sleeper. it is a very safe way to travel. no need to worry about theft.
Just took Amtrak from Richmond VA to Miami, FL. Took about 24 hours or so each way. Coach on the way down was brutal. Comfy seats but not being able to truly lay out to sleep wasn't great. Roomette on the way back was so luxurious! Would definitely do it again. (We had the older train)
![How to Get a Developer Job - Even in This Economy [Full Course]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6nz8GXjxiHg/mqdefault.jpg)
![How to Get a Developer Job – Even in This Economy [Full Course]](/img/tr.png)
Whoa, thank you so much for the shoutout, I really appreciate it!!!! It's fitting that I'm typing this from on board the Amtrak Palmetto 😂
You bet! Loving your channel! Have a great trip!!
Please do a trip together. Chaos meets control. One way go the Miles path, come back the Jeb way.
@@djohn118 I would literally pay to watch this
My favorite guys to watch ride the trains!
When I went on a road trip with my dad to glacier National park we were a little surprised to see the Amtrak right above the entrance to the park.
My wife and I took the same trip many years ago. We had a blast. One lesson I learned was pack light, less is more.
I've taken the Amtrak from NY to FL and back again many times, and love it. I always have a sleeper unit. It helps to think of it as a "glamping" experience. Bring food, a small blanket, a book,, maybe a tablet or some device, and be flexible-minded about your schedule.
Also water, boots, jacket, tent, cooking stove, food, disinfectant, water filtration, and anything else required for a heavy duty exploratory assignment. :-)
Jeb's humble and positive attitude is why I keep coming back, and Suzanne is also a top notch travel buddy. All the best, cheers guys.
My grandpa is buried just north of Sand Point, so it was nice you guys mentioned it and showed just a tiny clip of it. I miss him
💟
@@Cheesemo Yikes that was insensitive, unnecessary, and unfunny.
@Interesting_Banana ur lame as heck it's true. Bird breath
@@Cheesemowym he didnt say how he passes
@@Cheesemo have you ever been with an older guy?
As a huge fan and also an Amtrak Employee aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder. Thank you for this awesome video of the train I work on!!!! Hope you had a wonderful experience!!!!!
I am a mobility impaired senior citizen and traveled the City of New Orleans by myself in an accessible room. No problems. Staff was attentive and very helpful.....if you want to take a trip, do it.....very well worth it.....
Yes I agree, my ex took a trip to I think ark. to see her ex. a month later she came back to cleveland. (Shes gone now - in Iowa since 2011) She was on wheelchair.
Did you leave the traditional KFC bucket of Chicken Bones in the aisle? I sure did. :)
Sorry for your loss!!
I am sure the life lesson you mentioned is that you should always look for silver linings in every situation.
Wow! That was some incredible landscape. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Peace to all
I love how you can take multiple inconveniences that would piss anyone else off and make the best of it.
Yup, they turn the not so positive, into positive. They really just enjoy the trip as a whole. Great content and great people.
Frankly when you consider how old the Superliner cars are, nearly 50 years, Amtrak has done a good job just keeping them running. It isn't easy keeping equipment 50 years old running. Not a refrigerator, HVAC, or the hot water tank... Railroads are linear, not point to point like airlines, so every mechanical issue of any train on that route will cause delays on the entire route. Those freight train cars may be even older than Amtrak Superlliner or Viewliner cars. European trains outside of Russia have considerably shorter routes of a 300 hundred miles, 450 kilometers at most, whereas Amtrak and Via have transcontinental routes from coast to coast of around 4 thousand miles, 6 thousand kilometers... When your route is ten times longer, well, there are more chances of things going wrong, ten times more...
You don't take Amtrak to get there, you take Amtrak for the experience of getting there. I remember one trip I took years ago, Denver to Iowa on the California Zephyr. They'd had a fire in the dining car kitchen somewhere in Nevada that had contaminated all their pre-loaded ingredients and destroyed their freezers. So, they called ahead to every place the train stopped and, at every station, there was a truck from the local supermarket to load whatever they had been able to throw on the truck at short notice. Sure, the chefs had to improvise, but they adapted and kept everyone fed.
My father worked for Amtrak. I used to travel from Spokane to Chicago on the Empire Builder every summer. Great memories!
Can I bring my foldable electric scooter onto the train from Seattle ? Its 67 lbs but I also have one that is 44 lbs.
@tayh3168 no u can't. Don't be lazy
Montana in the winter is not matched in it’s beauty. Did Yellowstone tour two February ago, and it was a life changing event. The beauty is only magnified by the amazing snow cover.
Just ending a wonderful Empire Builder trip from Seattle to Chicago. I was all set for everything that happened because I watched your video several times. My husband kept saying, “How do you know that?!”😊
We left 3-4 hours late so I told him that it was OK because we would see Idaho in daylight.
I knew there wasn’t food at the station in Seattle … and I knew it was going to gorgeous.
I told him what to order on the train.
We brought a power strip and duct tape
I pointed things out along the way.
He thinks I have super powers
Thanks so much!
Best wishes to you and Suzanne - hope you have as happy a life as we’ve had.
Suzanne and I are so stoked to know you found our tips useful. Also, secret’s safe with us. We won’t tell him where you learned your secrets!
Good call ... taking some wine on board! I love to sit in my roomette, and sip wine. They do the driving, and I relax and enjoy seeing the country go by.
I take the Northeaster all the time. You can bring your own booze on board even in coach.
I loved this route. I did it from Portland in 2021. I didn’t want to fly during the pandemic and I was going to meet my new granddaughter and a bedroom was the perfect way to minimize contact. I ate in my room and only left my room to stretch my legs during longer stops.
I can't BELIEVE Amtrak schedules trains to pass through that incredible Idaho scenery at night!
Absolutely agree. Some really stupid people failing the tourists on train.
They only have 12-16 hours of daylight to work with and 40+ hours of riding to do. There has to be almost half of the ride at night lol.
The Great Northern ran a secondary train called The Western Star through their during the day all the way to Chicago. Most routes had 2-7 runs per day at one point. Amtrak axed a bunch of them when they were created, including the Western Star.
@@David-dx5wz This happens when you only have one train per day.
the train to Cincinnati arrives at 3:30 am, it's the only train that comes there. no trains leave during the day. Expand Amtrak!
I grew up on trains...any situation is acceptable. It is really a mindset. As an adult, I gave up flying, except for emergencies, and settled back to always give myself time and enjoy the journey, meeting new people from all over the world, and getting work done as our great country rolls by in all it differences and greatness. No other way to achieve this !
BTW, I live in Greensboro,NC, too. Thank you for the videos! 😊
My husband was handicapped, so we've taken the handicapped room. It's a roomette for sitting and sleeping with an open bathroom on the other part of the room. You have a sink and a toilet, but no shower. Since it is on the lower level, the train car shower is near by. The open space is big enough to store a wheelchair and the extra stuff one brings with the handicapped.
They will bring you your meals so you don't have to go upstairs to the dining car. Snacks and other goodies from the snack bar depend on how busy the car attendant is. I usually went over to get him those kinds of things.
Tipping is real important.
Price was the same as a roomette.
From the comfort of my room here in Nigeria, I sincerely enjoy your voyages I often daydream of being tagged along with you fantastic couple, America is such a great country with lovely scenery
I’ve been on The Empire Builder about ten times. It’s why I love trains.
Please God look down upon this Empire Builder track and bless all of their adventures. This Amtrak line has been the key to my survival more than once. Each and every time they were always loving and supportive. I do miss them, and hopefully one day I will be able to ride again. Thank you Jeb, you and your wife are dictating/conveying far more dreams than you know. One day very soon I hope to cross paths with you all and tell you how much you truly have helped me during this down time. To Infinity and Beyond!!! I also must add that the lack of services at the King Street Station adds to the calmness and peacefulness that we all used to have whilst travelling. Suzanne, you are riding for me, and I thank you so much. I pray that all of your adventures are fondly looked down upon from above. We all love you, and we are are grateful for your work.
One day, I would love to travel across the United States on an Amtrak... You make me fall in love with trains every time I watch.
Jen has a very soothing voice. Great for relaxing before a long trip.
I really enjoy how you both travel together and show what it means to find joy in the smallest moments. I am looking forward to making this trip with my wife one day!
Yikes. He already has LOADS of money. Ask for a refund!
I know right....I love this channel, and I too look forward to doing this with my husband one day.
Wow! Thank you so much Kevin!!
I live in Greensboro 🎉
@@GreenerGrass What if Amtrak had a 100% perfect schedule?
I used to ride the Empire Builder from Wisconsin Dells to St. Paul monthly when I went to school in Minneapolis. The views of SW Wisconsin and the Mississippi River throughout Minnesota are pretty remarkable.
As a former Minnesotan, I enjoyed those views!
Hi Cat, I'm North St. Paul....living in Washington State now. Moving home next year!
My granddaughter was two or three at the time, she really loved her Amtrak ride. She loved the fact that she wasn't confined to a car seat. She was able to walk from parent to grandparents while the train was moving. We did a short 100 mile day trip from Alton, IL to Springfield, IL .I was impressed how quickly we got to our destination. Our tiny granddaughter slept all the way home.
That delayed departure actually turned out to be a "Blessing in Diguise" for you guys as you got to witness some awesome scenery (to say the least.) in Idaho and elsewhere ...
Another nice trip with the Brooks couple.
Born and raised in Idaho. Sandpoint is a very nice town/area. Couer D' Alene is spectacular - northern Idaho has some fantastic scenery. Thanks for taking us along.
Sandpoint and CDA are beautiful. Great places to explore
I was born and raised in Boise/Nampa :)
We go every summer from Calgary. 5 hour drive
Shush!!!
@@DaveChamberlain-DTSinIdaho Yeah - good point 😁.
Seeing this video inspired me to take the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle in September!!!
Saint Paul Union Depot is beautiful, 10/10 do recommend visiting it.
Built by the guy after whom this train was named, James J Hill, the empire builder himself!
Hey man, love the videos and you are very lucky that you have a wife who can support you when u do the videos, it's just amazing to see that. Love from Canada
My grandfather was a conductor on the Burlington Northern based in LaCrosse WI. Your LaCrosse & Wisconsin Dells shots brought back good memories. 💚
As a child I took the amtrak train from spokane to Seattle, Seattle to Portland and Portland back to spokane.
It was unforgettable for sure and has left me with a want to travel by train again.
The trip from spokane to Chicago would be awesome for sure.
Maybe someday I will get the chance to travel by train again. ❤
We live in the UK and use trains regularly across Europe. The biggest thing for us is to see the counrty not from 35000 feet and no airports. I have always wanted to cross the USA by train and you have got us seriously thinking about it. Your trip to NC may be a clincher as my wife's brother lives in Hickory NC. I will start planning a visit, thanks guys.
Great video. You two need to more of the back and forth commentary. Suzanne is a wonderful addition to the videos and has real charisma and charm.
"She didn't say 'Uno'" LOL(!!) 🙂 ... As always, Thank You Both for the informative and entertaining videos. Traveling always presents unexpected setbacks, and your thoughtful videos with thorough evaluations prevent countless unsavory surprises for vacationers. Very Well Done(!!) 🙂 ...
Jeb I grew up in North Idaho in Clark Fork, 20 miles east of Sandpoint on the Montana boarder. It was so wonderful to see we’re I grew up for 18 years. Made me cry, such a beautiful area!
I took this same trip over 20 years ago during the winter months, and it was magical outside. Going through Glacier National Park was like being in a snow globe. Enjoy.
Delays usually stink but sometimes they also remind us it’s time to slow down and enjoy are surroundings and this video seemed to be perfect example of that notion. Thank you so much for sharing Jeb the views were absolutely majestic! I also have to add that those new Siemens locomotives are gorgeous!
Yes...whether you're on your bicycle, in a taxi, a bus, an aircraft, a train, a car, delays happen - and most of the delays aren't related to something disastrous. A true blessing to have so many modes of transportation - if one or all doesn't work, most people and service providers are resourceful.
What if you really wanted to use the bathroom in a certain city and the train was late? You'd have to hold it maybe a long time, and that is not very romantic.
I've NEVER complained about a schedule slip...especially when I'm on board. Rail trips are like land cruises. The longer the better!
Jeff, my oldest brother and me are taking the C.Z. the 2nd week of May. Thank You for sharing all these Amtrax videos. I love my several trip to Seattle areas. Beautiful country there. America is so Great! God Bless.
Interesting video. My grandfather on my dad's side was an engineer for Great Northern. I grew up in St. Paul where my dad's family lives and worked downtown St. Paul for years. Used to walk a couple of blocks down to the river during lunch when the weather was nice and watch the trains and barges on the river. Funny you mentioned Cutbank. I met a guy in school and he was from outside of Cutbank where his family had a 17,000 acre farm. Blew my mind. He only came to the university during the winter as he was busy on the farm the rest of the time.
In the FAQs section you mentioned “it’s not the most efficient”. Well, in one way it is. I read an article a couple of years ago that compared the amount of fuel per passenger per mile. Trains were the most fuel efficient way to travel.
I’m about to do this whole trip tomorrow! Will be sleeping in a Superliner I Bedroom. Really looking forward to it!
Hope you have a wonderful journey!
My first train trip included the Great Northern Empire Builder from Williston, ND, to St. Paul. This was in 1966 and the train was completely full. I was traveling in "steerage" and had to sit on a stool in the restroom for part of the trip. Still, it was an exciting adventure!
Please God look down upon this Empire Builder track and bless all of their adventures. This Amtrak line has been the key to my survival more than once. Each and every time they were always loving and supportive. I do miss them, and hopefully one day I will be able to ride again. Thank you Jeb, you and your wife are dictating/conveying far more dreams than you know. One day very soon I hope to cross paths with you all and tell you how much you truly have helped me during this down time. To Infinity and Beyond!!! I also must add that the lack of services at the King Street Station adds to the calmness and peacefulness that we all used to have whilst travelling. Suzanne, you are riding for me, and I thank you so much. I pray that all of your adventures are fondly looked down upon from above. We all love you, and we are are grateful for your work. 🌻
Beautiful post...I agree about the peace and quiet in the depots. There are so many shops and restaurants surrounding the depots, so why clutter up a resting area?
Suzanne And Jeb Brooks, I absolutely always look forward to your truly exciting and humorous travel videos. .. You both always make me smile and I do enjoy the wonderful descriptions of the lovely scenery as the train rolls on!! . ... I shall always enjoy travelling on Amtrak no matter how late it always is (fact)!! .. Thank you again for this lovely journey across our amazing country!! .. God Bless You, CC 🥰
What a wholesome comment
You reflect the character of a true train traveler!
Hello from Hendo NC- Love your content!!! Will be taking 1st Amtrak trip in over 20 years again. Your an inspiration to venture throughout America with Amtrak at the wheel...
If you loved what you saw in Minnesota, you should definitely adventure along the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers and head up to the North Shore. Absolutely incredible scenery! We have a beautiful state if you don't mind the weather. 🙂
As someone that's been involved with railroading history for many years now at a museum, I can tell you that while all of your points regarding Amtrak constantly being late are true, it's still not a valid excuse. When the private railroads operated the lines in rail's golden years things were much better in basically every way. Rarely was a train very late, the equipment was in beautiful condition, the service was top notch and the food as well, and the prices were fairly reasonable. Companies like Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Milwaukee Road, Santa Fe, Southern Railway, New York Central, Western Pacific, and many others actually took pride in their company, equipment and operations. As sad as it is to say, let's be completely honest and just say it like it truly is: The government destroys anything it touches. Period. The instant they got involved the service, food, heritage, experience, operations, and equipment immediately started to corrode and it hasn't stopped since. Before, a passenger was treated like a guest. Now, they are generally treated like cattle. Honestly, cattle would probably get treated better though seeing as how freight traffic is prioritized over passenger traffic in the US unlike the old days where it was the other way around. It really just shows where our countries loyalty lies, not with the people but the almighty dollar that freight provides. To top it off, there hasn't been a single year since Amtrak started service that they have made any kind of profit. Not one single year. Instead, we the taxpayers pay for them to continue to provide subpar, poor, and frankly dangerous at times service. It's truly pathetic and honestly infuriating if you think about it realistically. Anyway, keep up your great work, you guys are always a treat to watch. 🙂
I did the same trip last summer. Summer was beautiful too. The mountains still snow on the mountain peaks. One thing I found that was very interesting was, many of the small towns in the plains all had gambling houses.
Loved how relaxed you guys were, and the casual banter. It really added to the train content. Thanks for sharing. 🙏
The Empire Builder is the Amtrak route I'd love to travel. A trip in the winter would be spectacular, but I imagine any season would be an adventure. I'd also love to do some of the Canadian trans-Canada routes as well.
I enjoy watching your videos. Over the last several years, I have gained a renewed enthusiasm for train travel. In June 2021 I went on a cross country vacation to coastal Washington and Oregon state. I started off on the Michigan Blue Water from Flint, Michigan to Chicago, and after a 2 hour layover, went on Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle. 5 days later I went back on Coast Starlight from Tacoma, Washington to Sacramento and then a 5 hour layover and went on California Zephyr from Sacramento to Chicago. And then returned home on the Michigan Blue Water. It was a vacation of a lifetime.
I miss my solo trip to Chicago last summer from St. Cloud, MN. It was the most peaceful and life just slowed down. Only thing I wish I would’ve done is explore the train more like dining car and bedrooms. Brings back amazing memories
I've taken the Empire Builder 4 times. 2 times from Milwaukee to Seattle. And last 2 times, Hiawatha to Chicago to ride it the entire route. Just such a peaceful, relaxing way to travel. Yes old cars, but the pace and scenery make it so worth it. I always travel alone hoping someday to travel bring someone with me to share the trip. Thank you for all your Amtrak videos. Makes a long day at the office so much better
The Amtrak trip was both beautiful, and very interesting. Thank you Jeb and Suzanne.
I've taken the Empire Builder many times...and will again take it next month. As you point out, UNFORTUNATELY, the timing of the train's schedule places it in some of the most beautiful parts of the country...AT NIGHT. I PRAY for a schedule slip for my coming trip!
I took this route once many years ago and we were delayed by about 7 hours and let me tell you, it was worth it. Montana looks like something out of a story book in the winter. Such a beautiful state and not having cell phone reception makes it so you get up and talk to others. Would happily do it again. Thanks for sharing
I have taken my first ride with my children on Amtrak today and even though we only went to 1 town over it was an amazing experience seeing things with a different perspective than my normal commute to work
Incredible travel journal. I did the Empire Builder last year (Sept 2022) in roomette and will be doing it again in April on a 6000 mile Amtrak journey! I really appreciate your enthusiasm for Amtrak and train travel. Thanks!
I took a sleeper from Seattle to Minnesota during the fracking boom. It was pretty wild. One of the best experiences of my life
I’ve used the Empire Builder to get from one side of Wisconsin to the other (Milwaukee to La Crosse) to see family. Even in a Coach car it was comfortable for that 2-2.5 hour trip, no delays either which was lucky. Besides just being a great way to see the country, trains also provide reasonably priced travel to smaller towns that may otherwise not be serviced by planes or other systems of transportation. I saw a lot of college students like myself along with some Amish getting off at my stop, reminded me of that.
that loco is pretty the paint scheme is wonderful.
If you love the Empire builder and it’s amazing views, I highly encourage you to ride “The Canadian”. A very similar trip but a little more elegant with vintage equipment. I’ve taken both trains and love the majestic Rockies and serene prairie views.
Bonjour Jennifer: My husband and I are planning that next year!
I am a railfan and quadriplegic and therefore use a wheelchair. It has been several years, but I have ridden on the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, and California Zephyr using the accessible sleeper. It is spacious enough for my wheelchair and had great views even with smaller windows. The car attendant brings meals to your room after choosing what to eat. Getting in and out of the car is a little tight, but it does work well.
I live in Spokane, thanks for saying our name right, by the way. The Empire Builder is one of the most scenic trips in the country. I really hope Amtrak will offer a day trip through the Cascades, now that would be a trip to enjoy.
My wife and I did the Empire Builder in 2021 from Portland to Chicago. It was the best vacation we ever did! Next time, take it from Portland so you can see the Columbia River Gorge. That was up there with Glacier for views. And Portland Union Station has a Metro Lounge. Cheers!
This is so beautiful! Hopefully Trains become more commonplace and efficient sometime soon.
Awesome Bedroom View of Snow Capped Mountains and Rivers
I’m currently on Amtrak’s westbound Pennsylvanian right now. This video is seriously a life saver since our engine broke down in Harrisburg and we’ve been stuck here for 2 hours and counting. Not gonna lie I wish this was longer because I still have an hour to kill before they can send another engine up here from Philly.
What good timing…hope you made it and thanks for watching!
@@GreenerGrass still on the train over 4 hours late on a scheduled 9-hour train. fell a sleep for about 2 hours though
Amtrak is kind of in a state of purgatory right now with their engines. The P42s are way past their expiration date and are breaking down. Not to mention all the freight engines that are increasingly breaking down today. There have been significant teething issues with the ALC-42s. They are making software improvements and handling these as they come up. Hopefully, in a year or so these issues will be resolved and we will see far better reliability with the ALC-42s.
@@stevendelavaux1426 funny enough, I was chatting about this very issue with the head conductor during this whole layover. she said that all the protect power in Harrisburg also broke down, so that's why they had to send a diesel all the way up from Philly. the ALC-42s have also had many issues so she was wondering why Amtrak spends so much money with stupid things like battery-electric cars for the Empire Corridor rather than putting focus on the boring but important issues of everyday operations
@@nathanjiang100 Public Relations. Adding "Shiny & New!" to a system looks better than fixing "old & familiar", especially if they can add a few buzzwords. Battery electric? That's "Environmentally friendly" (supposedly), and "forward looking". Diesel? Not so much...
Great Video!!!! Interesting seeing the Mississippi up north, unlike my hometown of Memphis and my second home town of New Orleans. Try the City of New Orleans, very festive crowd on that train. To Chicago to Minot. Wisconsin was just beautiful on the Empire Builder. Again just a great video. Greg Adams, Springfield, Louisiana and 31 year retired Federal Express (Fedex Express) employee.
Thanks for sharing your trip!
Living in Minne-snow-ta during this time was no treat for me to see all that snow, we're into our 4 month of winter now. And we just got another 4.5" of snow over the last two days. I'm so ready for spring weather, temps in the 40's would be wonderful at this point!
Taking my Grandson on a trip for graduation this summer, not sure of the direction yet....
Hoping to see sunshine, green grass or an warm ocean view!
"See you on the rails!"
I was amused when Jeb said a 39°F temperature in St. Paul was chilly ... for us locals, that's a warm day!
Nice to see my office building through the train window.
I thought I was the only one from St. Paul watching this 🤔
@@aldelvex233 You might be ... I'm in Minneapolis 😀
I'm down by Iowa border, getting more snow right now!
Love your channel. Who’d have thought Amtrak would have a great steak. It looked amazing
Another great rail journey!! Thanks Jeb and Suzanne for sharing the trip! As someone who grew up in Canada - I love Winter landscapes (from the mountains to the plains)!! Don't get me wrong - Summer is great and all - but there is really something special about fresh/deep snow covering both the ground and the trees under a brilliant blue sky....and even though the late start was probably inconvenient for everyone - you really can't beat those views that would normally have been hidden in the dark (also loved the scenes you captured of wildlife near the tracks!).
Hi there, I’m from Sydney, NSW, Australia 🇦🇺
My wife and I really enjoyed your rail adventure. Thank you for your efforts and sharing your trip. The scenery was beautiful….
Loved the longer video on this trip...the scenery and your comments justified it very well. Thank you for all your videos!
Hi Jeb,
Thank you for your reply to me recently. I really appreciate your humble attitude and your ability to connect with the camera. Suzanne is a pure delight with her indescribably and wonderful attitude about travel!
Thank you again for the pleasure that you two have given me and many others.
Have a great evening, and Merry Christmas to you and Suzanne,
Peter
That is a trip I would love to take someday! I used to live in Williston, ND and would see the train coming into town often. I also picked up lots of friends from the train station.
I'm so addicted to these Amtrak travel videos. Can't wait until I do this one day.
Seeing you two traveling together, with all the little quirks and hiccups that travel entails, really just shows you two are kindred spirits! Also, how nice you were able to benefit from Amtrak’s incompetence by gaining such a wonderful scenic backdrop to your meals!
It isn't incompetence...it is circumstances. Give up your negative attitude. You'll never be a train traveler.
@@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401 in the last 30 years, I have given Amtrak 11 different chances… I have only had a positive experience twice that hasn’t been marred by ridiculous delays, surly staff, or just rank incompetence… nine out of 11? Yeah, they’re incompetent!
So very great to see the Empire Builder again! What a treat, our son regularly traveled from our home in Minneapolis to Chicago on it and also on the Zephyr. He loved it them both. Bummer about the Observation Deck car on the Empire Builder being absent for repairs on your trip. He used to take a deck of Tarot Cards and do "Readings " for a fun pastime for anyone who wanted one, free of course. As a college student he meet many other travelers doing that and laughed saying it was a "babe magnet " to meet beautiful college girls from different schools traveling to and from. 😄😁😅😍😂.
Grew up right next to Elk River MN so seeing the water tower made my day!! Was happy to hear about the delay at the beginning of the video, because otherwise the train normally goes by pretty early in the morning.
Coon Rapids here. "Hey, I know that apartment complex! That's Fridley!"
I live in Saint Cloud AND I work for Amtrak as a conductor on the Builder! I see that water tower often driving through Elk River or passing through on the train!
@AndrewOsborne okay question for you!! You probably have no idea but I gotta ask. A handful of years ago I saw Amtrak westbound pull out of St. Cloud around midnight, pulling like 50 intermodel cars. Any idea what that might have been about? I managed to film it with my potato iPod at the time, its the first video on my RUclips channel if you want to see it.
More great information and photography especially the "Get ready with me". Amtrak addition. LOL. My wife liked that one. She wasn't sure how her "mornings" would proceed. Thank you guys. Great video as usually. 👍
🤣glad she enjoyed that segment!
Ugh, I love all your Amtrak videos, but I especially loved this one so much!! Y’all’s excitement and enthusiasm had me smiling the whole way through. The terrain was gorgeous and I loved Suzanne’s impromptu professional beauty RUclipsr get ready with me! So excited to see the rest of your Amtrak journey!! 🥲🥰
Decades ago when I was 14, Amtrak had a route from Chicago west through Arizona with two overnights at the Grand Canyon (spectacular!) and on to and through Southern California, all the way up the West Coast with stops in LA and San Francisco and a day trip out to the islands off Washington State’s mainland and then back across passing Mt. St. Helen and on back toward Chicago. What an amazing journey. I will never forget it. I had always traveled by train from the time I was 3, and that trip at 14?..I was hooked! Trains for me! Always!
The best thing about ALL my vacations, and that includes a 9 hour ride on a beat up old train that leaked exhaust into the carriage which replaced a 4 hour high speed train (in the U.K.) on a bank holiday, is having someone to share it with (28+ years). Great video, as always!! 👍🏼👍🏼
Always an adventure though, no matter what!
Amtrak is awesome
Amazing! I would love to see more longer videos like this, it's always nice to see you upload. Amtrak really looks nice.
Suzanne is a great travel partner...and a good sport for taking the top bunk! Plus she's as cute as a bunny (beautiful smile)!
Another historical fact about the Great Northern is that the Empire Builder has a companion train before the creation of Amtrak. The Western Star ran the Great Northern, departing Seattle and Chicago in the evening about 2 hours after you departed.
Fun news is that Amtrak and the FRA are looking into restoring the North Coast Hiawatha through Southern Montana. They have also issued a request for information to replace and expand the long distance fleet.
Personally, I think that the Western Star could be brought back as a summertime, Seattle-Minneapolis train running through most of the Cascades and Rockies in daylight and serving as a twice-or-thrice weekly luxury tourist complement to the Builder.
The North Coast Hiawatha would be a great train to add back, and likely to add 400,000 riders to the national network. Not to mention the opportunity to serve Yellowstone from te Midwest.
Additional trains-just a dream with current Amtrak management.
Additional trains are just a dream with current Freight railraoad management.
They are Finally under investigation for violations to their contract with Amtrak and causing a vast majority of the delays on the western long distance trains.
@@JuanSanchezGuerra from your fingertips(lol) yp God's ears! I grew up in Livingston, Montana! I remember taking the North Star Hiawatha in 1979 out to Seattle
@@renafox4481 The restoration study will come out soon as well as results from the new equipment RFI. I think that is is certainly a realistic prospect!
As a mountain biker, I was thrilled to see a random appearance of legendary racer Ned Overend at 15:20 on the Mountain Dew vending machine. That's from around 1996, so cool to see that it hasn't been replaced with something newer after all those years! 🚲
Jeb and Suzanne, your videos are beautiful. Your original Amtrak stuff was a huge part of the inspiration for my own cross country Amtrak trip last summer! What an amazing experience it was! Thank you so much for your work! (The videos also convinced my skeptical mother to go as well!)
Brings back memories. My wife and I rode the empire builder from Montana to the twin cities several times in sleeper cars. It is a great way to travel if leisure is your thing. The trains are always late.
I absolutely love train travel. I love Amtrak. One day I WILL try one of the longer routes and maybe get a roomette / bedroom.
The fresh flowers on Amtrak is a very nice touch.
And seeing a bald eagle on Amtrak....if you were eating an apple pie that would be the most American thing ever.
Possibly the most amazing scenery from one of your travels yet! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!
Great video just got off builder in Winina mn. have taken this train almost 100 times since 1975. I have never had anything taken in either coach or sleeper. it is a very safe way to travel. no need to worry about theft.
Such beautiful scenery. Your videos make me smile. Thanks for doing this guys!❤️✈️
Just took Amtrak from Richmond VA to Miami, FL. Took about 24 hours or so each way. Coach on the way down was brutal. Comfy seats but not being able to truly lay out to sleep wasn't great. Roomette on the way back was so luxurious! Would definitely do it again. (We had the older train)