Amtrak Heartland Flyer - Oklahoma to Texas by train

Howdy folks,
Welcome to this new #Amtrak trip report bound to #Texas to #Oklahoma with the Heartland Flyer! A lovely little #train full of little surprises.
Enjoy!
- TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED IN MAY 2022
Railroad company: Amtrak
Train type : P42 #172 #22 and Superliner
From : Oklahoma City to Fort Worth
Time : 04h02
Price : $31 - 29€
Thumbnail credit : Matt Shell on Flickr - www.flickr.com/photos/9102879...
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00:00 : Introduction
01:31 : Oklahoma City Santa Fe station
02:48 : Here come the train
03:16 : A busy yet not convenient service
03:34 : A tiny train
03:51 : Boarding
04:19 : Pictures of the outside
04:42 : Departure from OKC
05:27 : Seat check
06:41 : Riding through OK plains
07:38 : Walkthrough of the train
08:21 : Toilets Time
09:00 : Walkthrough of the train
10:38 : PBJ
11:05 : Mid roll ads
11:29 : Pauls Valley, OK
12:03 : More landscape
13:11 : Washita River
13:46 : Ardmore, OK
14:12 : Crossing the Texas state line
14:48 : Approaching Dallas/Fort Worth
15:27 : Conclusion
15:58 : Outro

[@markreece7827]

Fun fact: the heartland flyer is the only passenger train on the whole of Oklahoma, all other trains are cargo.

[@Cpr1234]

Was gonna say the same but I thought he'd already know. But I wonder if he knows this: South Dakota is the only mainland state that Amtrak doesn't run through*. Wyoming doesn't either, but sometimes the California Zephyr travels through Wyoming on diversion **if** the usual route from Denver to Salt Lake City is closed/blocked *I am not sure if the Empire Builder has ever travelled through South Dakota on a diversion but you never know

[@CreatorPolar]

@@Cpr1234 Amtrak thruway buses run to Wyoming so technically it’s served regularly by Amtrak

[@connecticutmultimodaltrans8226]

That's most of the 46 states Amtrak serves lol

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

@@Cpr1234 even their connect2035 map doesn’t have anything going to South Dakota lmao

[@fluffnose3386]

I live in Tulsa. I think a Tulsa-Oklahoma city route would do very well, but for some reason Oklahoma just won’t fund it 🤷

[@johnsons74thsquadron74]

I love the proposal to have three daily trains between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and extend the current train north to Newton. But it would be really great to have the infrastructure renovated to increase speeds to 110mph to have it connect the two cities in three hours instead of four.

[@ronclark9724]

Why not ask for 200 mph trains? As long as this line uses the BNSF tracks, the speed will be limited to 79 mph... BNSF have NO desire to increase their tracks speed for Amtrak... PERIOD...

[@dennisyoung4631]

Hence *nationalize* the track network, so as to upgrade *the track system.* Improve the right-of-way, and give passenger traffic priority - and trains would *routinely* achieve the fabled *one-hundred and two* of song and story. The idea of getting on the train in Seattle about 10 and getting off at LA the next morning is an attractive one - 50% faster than now!

[@Daniel-hj8el]

Not only it would extend to Newton and seeing good stuff, but also a connection- (ish) to Amtraks Super chief (LA to Chicago)

[@ronclark9724]

@@dennisyoung4631 HSR works well and outcompetes the airlines at distances of around THREE hours or less, not for overnight sleeper train journeys. Simply put, most passengers prefer to FLY longer distances than THREE hours. A fact reveals by Amtrak itself on the Northeast Corridor of Acela and the Northeast Regional trains. At less than THREE hours, DC to NYC, Acela outcompete the airlines operating out of all three NYC airports. But at four hours, Acela loses the passenger load battle with the airlines to Boston from NYC. At nearly seven hours, less than FIVE percent of the Acela riders ride the entire distance DC to Boston. And this isn't new either, it has been this way for two decades. HSR has a time distance LIMIT which can not be IGNORED or DISMISSED offhand. Even in Europe and Asia where HSR exists.It is why America HSR is concentrating on LA to SF in California for a four hour trip, Dallas to Houston for a 90 minute trip, Ontario to Las Vegas for a three hour trip. LA to SF is pushing the time and distance LIMIT. There will NEVER be HSR from Seattle to LA in your lifetime... THREE hours IS the sweet spot for HSR... Why spend TRILLIONS for nationwide HSR when it won't win the passenger load competition with the airlines, not even close? The airlines and airports already EXIST... It is a FIVE plus hour flight from LA to NYC, a SIX hour flight from LA to Boston, a SEVEN hour flight from Miami to Seattle with airlines flying around 500 mph non-stop. The best most HSR trains can do is 200 mph, but averages less than 150 mph with stops as trains lose a lot of average speed and time slowing down, stopping for two to three minutes, and speeding up at each stop. Being generous and making math much easier, I shall use 150 mph. Imagine a seven hour flight being more than tripled to 21 hours riding HSR to Seattle from Miami. Instead of less than five percent of the Acela riders riding all the way from DC to Boston, think in terms of less than one percent riding all the way from Miami to Seattle, if that?

[@PieDoesRoblox]

As a college student going to OU, the Heartland flyer is an awesome way for me and the boys to go enjoy DFW for the weekend. I absolutely agree with you about the need for increased frequency. There have been times that I’ve seen the HF with 3 super liner cars instead of the normal 2. Even then, it’s not unheard of for this service to sell out (I can recall 3 times in recent memory). One reason why a lot of people don’t take the train is because they feel like they need a car at their destination anyways, but they forget about the TRE that will take you to Dallas, the Amtrak Texas Eagle that will take you to Austin and San Antonio, the Trinity Metro busses that go everywhere in-town, and TexRail’s service to DFW international airport. Fort Worth is a well connected city by American standards- Dallas’ DART is even better. I wish that more of this was mentioned. In fact, I’ve saved $100s of dollars just by commuting from Oklahoma to the DFW airport by train. Airfare in DFW is always much cheaper than it is in OKC (and half the time you’re going to end up with a layover in DFW anyways). I was a little saddened that you didn’t show my college town of Norman in the video. If you had sat on the opposite side of the train you would’ve had a very pretty view of the University of Oklahoma. Here’s a fun Amtrak Fact: during the Red River football game (OU vs. UT) weekend, Amtrak offers a “game train” discount, complete with special livery on the locomotives. It’s nice to see the HF get some love. Not a lot of people know about the HF- riding it feels almost like a guilty pleasure in that regard. Thank you for showing it to the world.

[@johanfalk2875]

I’m a huge CFB fan and had no idea there was a gameday train for the Red River Rivalry. That’s so awesome.

[@Peyethon]

The Big game train also adds an extra stop in Dallas as well as a lot more cars

[@awdrifter3394]

For $30 this is not bad. Power outlets, generous seat pitch. If you're not in a hurry this is a good alternative to flying.

[@jdm1039]

With the additional time needed at the airport and travel to and from the airports to the city they serve, Amtrak can be competitive on these shorter trips. Airports are usually miles away from the cities they serve and Amtrak stations are almost always in the city centers. A 1 hour flight time can actually take triple that time or more when these other factors are figured into the equation.

[@qjtvaddict]

@@jdm1039 still faster than the train

[@jdm1039]

@@qjtvaddict Then fly.

[@adams8132]

No one in their right mind would fly between OKC and DFW. Outside of an emergency. The drive is extremely short and much less expensive.

[@dennisyoung4631]

And, while the plane is faster *while it’s moving,* there’s the time being spent at the arrival and departure airports, and dealing with the Inquisition, er, TSA…. Not something someone who has trouble with crowds would want. Note that this *particular* train would be a bit much for me, unless I found a quiet space. Most places in this one - I’d need an earplug at the very least.

[@elijahweber8786]

I've lived in Oklahoma my whole life and been on this train a few times. I really wish train travel was more common, it's a great way to see the landscape and not have to drive

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

Most of Oklahoma used to be open prairie (grasslands). The pre-American tribes used to regularly burn out the brush in order to suppress forests to make grazing for the bison. American practice for the past 50 years has allowed the natural oak forests to reestablish themselves, and Oklahoma is becoming a forest instead of a prairie. I lived there in the early to late 70's and the change in the state over the decades has been stark. I must say, it's much more beautiful now than it was then. Oklahoma is becoming a very interesting American state to watch develop. It's a much ignored gem.

[@mgjmiller1995]

The Congress for New Urbanism's CNU30 conference was in OKC Mar2022. One talk had a native elder who was a fire chief for the US Forest Service! Said, with little impartiality, Arkansas and Oklahoma are among the best states for fire practices (prescribed burns, information and outreach, etc).

[@smokeyangelav]

They still do controlled burns. Especially in the Tall Grass Prairie where there's a Bison reserve. It's so beautiful there when the wildflowers are in bloom.

[@Peyethon]

Fun fact: in the days leading up to the Texas vs Oklahoma football game, the train adds a lot more cars and becomes the “big game train.” It will also make an extra stop in Dallas after leaving Fort Worth.

[@dimanimatedtakes]

I read about this actually, I think they should have had Dallas all along as a stop and not just for Big Game Train instances, though. One thing I don't know: how often does this happen? I don't follow football but I can't be too certain there's a Texas v. Oklahoma game every season no matter what, so I gotta ask.

[@SnowmanTF2]

@@dimanimatedtakes I do not remember the first year they did this for the train, but there has been a Texas vs Oklahoma game going every year since 1900. With the shift of both to the SEC there is a small chance that could change, but it seems unlikely to.

[@Peyethon]

@@dimanimatedtakes I think they only go to Dallas a few days per year because it would be sharing tracks with the Texas Eagle and TRE

[@JediTev]

A couple of things, those coach lounge cars are used a great deal in California. If a long distance train has its lounge go down, they'll throw one on, if it's available. Second, the talk right now is extending this train to Newton, KS. There are people trying to get it extended to Kansas City, and possibly exchanging cars with the Southwest Chief.

[@ronclark9724]

To get to Newton Amtrak will have to add another train set, to get to Kansas City Amtrak would have to add two more train sets... Amtrak does not have that many extra Superliner train sets... However, when California upgrades to new Siemens train sets, California's used Superliners may come available... As far as I am concerned Texas is poorly served by Amtrak. I want to see the return of the Burlington Texas Zephyr, Houston to Dallas to Fort Worth to Wichita Falls to Amarillo to Pueblo, to Colorado Springs, and finally to Denver... Houston to Denver is far more important than Fort Worth to Kansas City...

[@davidwolf226]

I'm also a fan of Art Deco architecture! There are so many wonderful train depots across this great country that have also restored/renovated with these old buildings in a similar manner. They are just beautiful and, in some cases, truly magnificent. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with all of us.

[@alexpelsor6841]

Cincinnati Union Terminal is an Art Deco masterpiece. Unfortunately amtrak only stops there in the middle of the night, but it houses a museum during the day.

[@youminholastransit3218]

Oklahoma’s only passenger rail what a unique line....

[@ElCapitan1718]

Thank you for sharing this video. Between 1956 and 1971, I made 25 round trips from Texas to Illinois on the Santa Fe "Texas Chief". The ride through the Arbuckle Mountains is one of the most scenic parts of the route. The "Texas Chief" passed through the Arbuckle Mountains in daylight for both the northward and southward legs of the trip. Your video brings back so many great memories. I hope the "Heartland Flyer" will be extended to Newton, KS, where it will connect with the "Southwest Chief". I could recreate my journey from Texas to Illinois on the former "Texas Chief" route. Will

[@ronclark9724]

Amtrak may extend the Heartland Flyer to Newton, but Newton will be seeing wee hours of the morning night time services... Amtrak could easily cut two or more hours of sitting in Fort Worth from the Heartland Flyer, but the current times are preferable for OU students living in Norman... This train is OKC's commuter/regional train...

[@MrJimheeren]

Must have been quite the ride in the 50s. Those beautiful red Santa Fe locos, the dome car, good food on board

[@ronclark9724]

@@MrJimheeren I recall the Burlington T-bone steak dinner in the diner on the Texas Zephyr, Houston to Denver on the Christmas holidays SKI train... While the Texas Zephyr didn't have Burlington's streamline rolling stock of the California Zephyr, it did have the wonderful E-5 diesel locomotives...

[@FlexxenRandomPlaces]

Oklahoma City Santa Fe station actually looks quite cool!

[@ronclark9724]

Yes, she is a small Art Deco charmer...

[@trainmands2535]

I have ridden the Heartland Flyer in 2021, and I enjoyed it. At the very end there was this lady yelling at her 16-18 year old kids who were doing nothing wrong the whole way back to Fort Worth. When we got off, I told my papa that that was a grade-a b and some random guy just started bursting out laughing. Best Amtrak trip ever.

[@isaiahwiley396]

hi it's Isaiah Wiley from myrtle Beach south Carolina sending a beautiful message saying that we Americans will all miss amtrak's p42 genesis locomotives because they have changed are hearts and their spirit will always be with us because Amtrak is like family to me and to you for riding their trains to see America.

[@bobmmann3917]

Another great review. As a Brit, I was always mystified by the allure of the PBJ until I moved to the US some years ago. It didn't take long before I was hooked.

[@johanfalk2875]

Another good one is the PB & banana sandwich. Add a bit of honey in it to top it off.

[@bjm676]

@@johanfalk2875 Mmmmm! I'll have to try that

[@ronclark9724]

@@johanfalk2875 For those who don't understand peanuts as a cash crop, it is the crop farmers use in rotation with cotton... What cotton takes out, peanuts puts back in...

[@TeutonicTribe]

@@johanfalk2875💯

[@fluffnose3386]

Been wanting to take this for a while now. $30?! That’s insane for a cross-state route! And I could not for the life of me find a single video showing the cafe car layout so thanks for showing. 😂 I cant wait for the city of New Orleans review!

[@ronclark9724]

Amtrak has operated a cafe coach on the Empire Builder as well, but opens it west of Spokane to Seattle... The diner to Seattle, the sightseeing lounge to Portland...

[@fluffnose3386]

@@ronclark9724 oh cool! Is it the same type of cafe coach as this?

[@ronclark9724]

@@fluffnose3386 Yes.... But Amtrak only opens it west of Spokane, east of Spokane Amtrak operates the Sightseeing Lounge lower level cafe... Lately in the present replenishment program Amtrak has been known to operate a cafe from a couple of coach seats in a coach using boxes whenever a cafe coach isn't available... To refurbish some cars these cars have to be pulled from service unfortunately... While Amtrak has lots of extra coaches and sleeper in hand, Amtrak does not have any extra diners, sightseeing lounges, cafe lounges, or cafe coaches...

[@gacj2010]

Oh man...this America looks such a big and beautiful place..I hear always bad but I never see it with the people I see you meet...seems the trains are big with much space and the land looks like it never ends and is different everywhere..you help me form my own opinion of that country and it's good...a nice place I wish I could go there..

[@greatwolf5372]

We have our negatives. Most people around the world focus on our negatives. But we are people too and so we have some positives as well😁

[@qjtvaddict]

The train network is slow very inconvenient that’s why

[@ronclark9724]

@@qjtvaddict Not even the US government itself prefer trains over planes. Ask the USPS. They terminated their railroad mail contracts over a half century ago...

[@TaylorMMontgomery]

The consist is quite unique... Especially with two locos on each end. It's not like this is a frequent service that runs a lot that would necessitate push/pull operation but there has to be a reason for it. This could be a fantastic "Amtrak Texas" train if it just kept going further south to Waco, Austin and San Antonio. There was a push for such a service 10 years ago called Lone Star Rail but they could not get Union Pacific to cooperate and they couldn't afford to build tracks so they scrapped it. Amtrak did a feasibility study a few years back to see if people would ride a "Amtrak Texas" service but nothing so far from it.

[@kalon227]

Being from Fort Worth I totally agree with you about extending service and area served. Better timing, though. Getting to OKC late at night and leaving early next morning means you have to stay in OKC two nights. Boy, a ride to Wichita, Kansas, with service on North would be great to Kansas City. Show a little more of the prairie north of Fort Worth. I’m a Prairie guy and will buried in the veterans cemetery in Grand Prairie, Texas. Thanks for the ride. Grandma and I have done it twice.

[@davepov]

It could make a BIG difference if the plan goes through that would extend the Heartland Flyer north to Newton, KS. There, you could board the Amtrak Southwest Chief to Kansas City and either continue on to Chicago or take another Amtrak to St. Louis. It would be especially great for Texans but also Oklahoma City residents. You can do that now but only by bus from OK City to Newton...buses aren't nearly as fun as the train!

[@mj1234321]

I always found this to be a very odd service but I'm glad that it has proven popular enough to stick around with talk of increased frequency and an extension to meet the Southwest Chief at Newton, KS. I also find it odd that there was enough momentum to get a Fort Worth to Oklahoma City train going, and yet Dallas and Houston remain inexplicably without a direct passenger rail link.

[@Matt-wc2mf]

Needs to be a triangle of routes. Route 1: Houston-Dallas-OKC-Wichita-KC, Route 2: San Antonio-Austin-Waco-FW-Dallas-OKC-Wichita-KC, and Route 3: San Antonio-Houston-Beaumont-Lafayette-Baton Rouge-New Orleans. Here's hoping Texas Central HSR between Dallas and Houston actually gets off the ground and is successful so that they eventually expand into such routes. Edit: it's crazy, all of these cities have the beautiful old train station buildings still in use. Just need to run some good tracks to them once again.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

The Texas Eagle once split in Fort Worth, with some going to San Antonio, and some going to Dallas, but it was discontinued in 1990ish.

[@jdm1039]

I never understood why this train's Texas terminus was Ft Worth and not Dallas. Only possibility that I can think of is that Dallas Union Station does not have track space for switching/storage.

[@fermatachambersoloists]

@@Matt-wc2mf Unfortunately, T-Central is all but dead. There are too many hurdles in the way for this train to come to fruition in the next couple decades.

[@mj1234321]

@@AVeryRandomPerson '95 I think. When I visited Texas A&M back in '92 there was still an Amtrak stop at College Station. (Ended up choosing Virginia Tech...no Amtrak service there but we finally got Roanoke and it's coming to the New River Valley!)

[@ellenfalls1330]

This shows how popular train travel would be throughout the country if it continues to expand.

[@pastexit]

Those birds never stopped squawking the whole way.

[@MDCSWildcats86]

As an Oklahoma City resident, I can tell you this is the northern terminus of the Heartland Flyer. The pre-1979 configuration (don't remember the name---I was 11 at the time) went north through Guthrie, Perry and Ponca City OK, then Arkansas City, Winfield and Wichita KS---followed by Topeka and Lawrence en route to Kansas City MO.

[@bartpickens8650]

The name of the train back in the pre-AMTK days was the Texas Chief. I don't know if AT&SF allowed them to keep that name.

[@RedRiverRailfan]

welcome to my neck of the woods! I live in southeast Oklahoma and catch this train regularly. I can't wait for this train line to be extended to Kansas soon. Hope you enjoyed the Oklahoma-Texas Hospitality! I actually made a video of this train and the Texas Eagle because of your videos! Love it man! Keep up the great work

[@walkermangum56]

As someone who moved from DFW to OKC last summer and still has plenty of friends back in TX, this was a great train to take Friday morning and head back on Sunday evening. But 2 trains a day would be much more suitable and demand seems to be there on weekends. Great video!

[@ronclark9724]

Amtrak is lucky BNSF allows this one train to run daily in both directions... BNSF owns the tracks...

[@johanfalk2875]

$30 for a 4hr, 250 mile trip is a hella good deal.

[@timnewman1172]

Especially from Amtrak!

[@JL-lg8tk]

If the line is extended from OKC to Newton, KS or Wichita, KS, maybe someday Amtrak could add through car service to L.A. and Chicago on the Southwest Chief with cars from the northbound Texas Eagle connecting in Ft. Worth.

[@markdm4805]

Great video yet again. Thanks for highlighting this unique route. The Superliner Coach Cafe cars are definitely unique. They are also found on the Pere Marquette out of Chicago and at least one Capitol Corridor train runs with one from Sacramento to Oakland/San Jose. I think there are only 5 built this way. The Surfliner trains from LA to San Diego do have a Coach Cafe setup though.

[@SWITCHMASHER]

This looks like a good route for a high speed train. Excellent video, thank you!

[@ronclark9724]

Better Dallas to Houston, both metros over 8 million soon... Whereas OKC's metro is around 1 million. Where would you build HSR? Texas Central is coming... Amtrak has screwed up...

[@rchilde1]

@@ronclark9724 OKC is 1.5 million. HSR OKC-DAL-HOU is where it's at.

[@banksrail]

@@ronclark9724 Unfortunately Texas Central is practically dead. It’s on its last legs.

[@nikhilkay1]

@@rchilde1 I wish there was a hsr train to south padre or denver.

[@ronclark9724]

@@rchilde1 You do know that the Texas triangle is better, as there are SIX million living in South Central Texas in the San Antonio and Austin combined metros... Keep in mind the DFW and Houston metros are around SEVEN million each... Both San Antonio and Austin have twice the metro of OKC...

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for a great video which I thoroughly enjoyed! I agree with all that you say, and trust Amtrak will soon increase the frequency of this fascinating service.

[@kenwbrenner]

Hi. Another very enjoyable Amtrak video. I wished our country would invest in a much-larger and comprehensive passenger rail service. This one is a good start... Keep up the great work!

[@ronclark9724]

But the numbers don't stack up. While 100 percent of Americans use the highways one way or another, and over 80 percent have flown at least once, sadly less than 2 percent have ever rode a long distance Amtrak train (not a local commuter). No wonder Congress has much higher priorities than trains... Large America is not a TINY nation like France or Germany...

[@kenwbrenner]

@@ronclark9724 Hi Ron. You are correct in not comparing our country's size to Europe. A similar system in the US would be much larger and difficult to build. However, I've often wondered if more people would use passenger rail service if it went more places. 🙂

[@ronclark9724]

@@kenwbrenner America will never match European or Japanese train services. Frankly in the northeast Amtrak and state operated trains are much better than elsewhere in the US, but there are some services in California and the Midwest around Chicago that are good, if not great. However train services in the South is HORRIBLE, Amtrak should be ashamed of the poor services in the South. Texas and Florida have MORE population than Illinois and New York which have in comparison superior services... Imagine the fourth and fifth largest metros 250 miles apart, Dallas and Houston, not have a daily direct service, never mind multiple daily services? Mind you in the second most populated American state, nor daily services to Houston from South Central Texas, San Antonio and Austin, with a combined metro of nearly SIX million, never mind multiple daily services... Frankly as a Texan I find Amtrak GUILTY of CRIMINAL incompetence! This is the greatest crime in Amtrak history...

[@kenwbrenner]

@@ronclark9724 Hi. Thank you or your detailed reply. Another thing that is bad is not resuming service from New Orleans east to Jacksonville, FL. Before hurricane Katrina, the Sunset Limited went from one coast to the other (Los Angeles to Jacksonville). It makes no sense they stopped the part from New Orleans east. But, then again, I'm using logic... God Bless!

[@dimanimatedtakes]

Awesome to see a bigger "train review/train enthusiast/rail enthusiast" type channel do a report/review on this Amtrak route. There's not enough reviews/report videos of this route in particular. I feel like they could benefit from a connection to the Southwest Chief so there wouldn't have to be Thruway buses to Newton. Also, why not add Dallas? Sure, the Trinity Railway Express can get you to Dallas - but I feel like that was a Heartland Flyer missed opportunity. I also think it could benefit by having more stops in some additional Oklahoma towns and maybe making the route a bit longer for the whole leg, instead of just the 4 hours in Coach class. Of course they'll never do that because they're stubborn souls, but a person can dream!

[@ronclark9724]

For the Texas Eagle Fort Worth is one of the stops with Amtrak's fueling and watering long stops, not Dallas. Since Fort Worth has the refueling and watering infrastructure, this train goes to Fort Worth. The one time each year this train does go to Dallas, this train returns to Fort Worth during the game to fill the fuel and water tanks... As for Newton any Heartland Flyer services will be alike their Southwest Chief services, in the wee hours of the morning... And to extend this train Amtrak will have to deploy one more train set of two locomotives and two coaches or run this one train set without any down time for cleaning and maintenance...

[@dimanimatedtakes]

@@ronclark9724 Yeah, I figured it might have something to do with all that. Another alternative would be to have more Heartland Flyer departure times than just 8:30AM (OKC) or 5:25PM (Fort Worth) but I don't think that's happening anytime soon either. That probably would also require more locomotives to be deployed. It's crazy though, but at least the Heartland Flyer does allow for a Texas Eagle connection, so I guess that's something and probably the best thing it has to offer.

[@LynneFarr]

Thanks for a terrific video of an often overlooked part of the US.

[@dennisud]

As Gas prices go up I agree there will be more ridership between Cities and That's why I love what Brightline is doing here in Florida. Tri-Rail and other commuter lines should get a boost. The only downside are smaller communities that won't have the population to sustain it.

[@qjtvaddict]

Tri rail serves the small communities

[@dennisud]

@@qjtvaddict AS does Sunrail in the Orlando area. But what about the rest of Florida? We need more Intracity rail lines that hit the smaller nearby towns and communities! Like Naples to Tampa, or Tallahassee to Jacksonville as examples.

[@stopsign997]

Thank god it’s Friday! Awesome video as usual!!

[@djthomp]

That area around the station in Ardmore was rather recently redone so I'm glad the channel got to see it post-clean up. For example the Sante Fe engine wasn't mounted up like that.

[@eddiegenita7179]

Around 7:17. I hear a massive flatulence. If you gotta let one rip. It’s America and let it roar like a lion. Much love and respect

[@timnewman1172]

Amtrak needs to develop more of these shorter routes, Des Moines to Chicago comes to mind... Thanks Thibault for taking us along for the ride!

[@ronclark9724]

Keep in mind the airlines fly this route in less than an hour...

[@timnewman1172]

@@ronclark9724 having spent 6+ hours stuck in O'Hare because the airline screwed up their own connecting flight, I'm well aware. Taking the train puts you downtown where most things are that people want...

[@ronclark9724]

Unfortunately the California Zephyr doesn't run through Des Moines, but it isn't as if Iowa does not have Amtrak services... Maybe Iowa should buy some Bombariders bi-level coaches to run a commuter train south to Osceola... Or some Amtrak thru buses to that station...

[@timnewman1172]

​@@ronclark9724 only problem, there is no rail connection between Osceola and Des Moines... the ONLY rail connections are U.P.(ex-Rock Island) to Chariton, but Amtrak does not stop there, or BNSF/NS to Albia...

[@michaelbruchas6663]

I came into OKC from Chicago in the 1970s in the early days of Amtrak in a coach from an eastern railroad. Amtrak did not own any of their coaches yet. I had a comfy warm roomette. But a cracked window with condensation - so I could not see out. Decent diner. Unfortunately - the man in the next roomette - had picked up a female coach companion. They “entertained” each other - rather loudly until about 4am.

[@henrytudor8537]

This is wonderful. Will like to explore the rail of the USA and Canada someday. Love from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@buttercuppy269034]

Welcome to nick of the woods! Where this excited you, a train trip up north from Chicago or surrounding area would excite me’ Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jamesthompson3099]

What a great little journey! I do love Amtrak but wan't familiar with this line. Thanks for introducing me to it!

[@andrewthacker114]

Thanks for the clip

[@hayd8946]

🤲🌴🍊🍊🍊🍋🍋 thank you very much for the video

[@Adumzzinthehouse]

Hey there, I love the heartland flyer

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Bom dia simply lindo trem 🚆 amtrak boa viagem ai para vcs

[@Lou_Hou]

Fun facts for Art Deco: Back in the 1930s Art Deco becomes every railroad companies to build a streamlined design train (if they got the money to create one and take care of it)

[@OnkelPHMagee]

11:00 I've never had a prepackaged PBJ. I'm used to making one to my own taste. I highly recommend that method when your circumstances allow.

[@Delta-pantages]

Great report - again! Great photo of you, too! 😉

[@rogertemple7193]

I live just a few miles east of Ardmore, thanks for the video.

[@mikeedwards9306]

Great upload and glad you enjoy train travels in USA , before you mentioned it was better by train , my exact thoughts were going through my head, less expensive than car now.

[@hainam8614]

Nice my friend! :D

[@SarahRenz59]

Welcome to the wonderful world of peanut butter and jelly (PB&J)! As other have commented, the mass-produced Uncrustables sandwich pales in comparison to a homemade PB&J. Here are a couple of other variations you might want to try: 1) PB and banana; 2) PB and bacon; if you're using natural (unsweetened) PB, drizzle a little honey on the sandwich. Good stuff!

[@highway2heaven91]

I was waiting for you to upload this one. The Oklahoma City station is underrated imo.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Yes you really were in the heartland of America!! Glad you enjoyed the scenery. Shame on you for not having eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while you lived in the US. (ha ha) I forgive you Thibault. Thanks for good review😀😀💚💚

[@KristiBranstetter]

Great sweatshirt!!

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip. I think that's the shortest intercity/corridor train consists I've ever seen in my life.

[@ronclark9724]

Greyhound runs more services...

[@rchilde1]

Im sure Chicago-Milwaukee is shorter. But yes, nice to see the OKC route.

[@mr.conductorfromsts4204]

Wow. Impressive

[@embwhitton9792]

On the list!

[@mdavid1955]

Train frequency is a big problem in "Murica" outside the NEC...That train should run at least 4 trains/day.

[@ronclark9724]

Yes, it is a big problem... Unfortunately the freight needs to move the goods as well. While many live next to apparently empty branch lines, the main lines are congested. Notice Amtrak's on time performance on the freight railroads main lines. The freight isn't doing much better with on time performance either...

[@killerbees177]

Really hope Amtrak adds more timetables to this route

[@SimplyRailway]

Agreed!

[@charlierogers9553]

Rode it many times, GREAT ride !! Purcell Ok is the best station in Okla.

[@jmcfarlandjr]

Good video.

[@vachankehr5403]

Das Video war sehr schön

[@timnewman1172]

What a neat little route, that Pauls Valley depot looks straight out of a model railroad catalog!

[@timnewman1172]

Wearing ANYTHING "Jayhawk" in OK is a brave choice... LOL!!!

[@fredy_fix]

Waow, so beautyful view in the train , thanks for shareing , say hello from indonesia 🙌🇮🇩

[@JoeLikesTrains]

Great thumbnail!

[@f40phproductions]

Nice Video

[@LearnwithJanice]

Hello from Kansas 🇺🇸

[@selfstockage7930]

Nice

[@ferroviestazioni7323]

Nice video

[@roundandroundmyworld]

I rode the other way on this train back on a hot day in the summer of 2017. We were delayed a few hours leaving Fort Worth as the Flyer holds for connecting passengers from the Texas Eagle. I was on the southbound Eagle and it was late by several hours so we were late rolling north and lost sight of the daylight after the stretch along the Washita River. The trip was not comfortable as the a/c wasn't working in any of the 3 Superliners. The station at OKC was locked up when we finally arrived, so we just exited down the ramp between the building and the tracks.

[@amberatkinson4230]

Like so many I of course am commenting on the PB&j. You never said whether or not you liked it. I also have never and would never eat a processed PB&j. High quality bread, homemade if you can get it, fresh ground peanuts and delicious jam. Strawberry jam, black cherry jam, peach jam, raspberry jam... I don't like grape jelly anymore though I remember Smuckers when I was a kid. You can also toast the bread which melts the peanut butter and makes it so delicious and goopy. I've never had bacon with my peanut butter which sounds a little weird, but the banana and honey suggestions are spot on. We had a Dutchie come visit and he tried a root beer float for the first time. It was pretty high quality, but he hated it. 😆

[@Robbi496]

Train is not slow, except thru the Arbuckle Mountains which has many heavy grades and sharp curves

[@MDCSWildcats86]

the lights you see at 4:48 is Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma City Dodgers, AAA affiliate of guess who.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Two locomotives on either end - means no turntable or wye on the OKC end. Formerly a lot of Illinois Amtrak service ran this way. With a “tin can” locomotive with no motor, just cab control and the other locomotive providing power.

[@illogicerr3769]

Thanks for this. Had no idea there was train service between OKC and Ft. Worth.

[@qjtvaddict]

It’s that infrequent

[@gdrriley420]

they are running 2 locos because they don't have a cab car on the end. The only bi level cab cars are in California. I really hope amtrak gets more funding to increase the frequency and number of medium distance routes.

[@wolfbyte3171]

Rock Chalk Jayhawks, nice sweater! :D (my parents met going to Kansas University)

[@opelastraappukannanpollach6345]

Welcome brother s I happy .am from Pollachi TAMIL nadu state INDIA.your railway beautiful . thanks

[@jcrhodes379]

Before Covid this service did offer a lounge car it’s a shame they still haven’t brought it back

[@ronclark9724]

Amtrak had to pull some out of service to refurbish the entire fleet of Superliner cars. Keep in mind many of these Superliner cars are approaching their 50th birthday. Amtrak received funding to refurbish cars during the pandemic, with the refurbishment expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

[@samwise-_]

Great video, I actually looked at catching this service myself, unfortunately as highlighted in this video the frequency of service made it impossible for me.

[@MargaretCSullivan]

Thibault my friend...an Uncrustable is not a good PBJ. You still have something nice to experience.

[@eddieflxible379]

The scheduling for Train 821/822 was designed to connections to/from the Texas Eagle Trains 21/421 and 22/422 Furthermore there is a Amtrak Bus that runs between Oklahoma City station and Newton Kansas that’s designed to connect to Trains 3 and 4.

[@gregsells8549]

I took the Heartland Flyer last Christmas in between the Texas Eagle and the Southwest Chief, with the bus that stopped at Wichita's downtown bus terminal before reaching Newton. When my homeward-bound Chief was several hours late, Amtrak got me an Uber to make my connection to the Flyer. The Washita River flows through the small but geologically-significant Arbuckle Mountains.

[@davidhumberger5078]

These are the best train reviews on the planet 😎❤️🚂🚞🚊

[@pakroomitrains]

Excellent 👍👍👍 bro very nice and beautiful ❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@mariegarside8830]

With train tickets equal to gas costs, train travel gains appeal. Comfy seats, snacks available and no battling traffic.

[@tonywalters7298]

Then you get the libertarian types who act like rising gas prices are part of a conspiracy to force people out of cars and into trains and transit

[@mariegarside8830]

@@tonywalters7298 Factor in the air pollution being lower with trains and buses transporting more people per gallon. We have a clear winner

[@pakrailofficial1062]

Ur railway is too beautiful🌹

[@rodrigoalvesdepaula5262]

4:50 I can hear Brazilian Portuguese. There are a lot of Brazilian people living in Midwest.

[@pbyguy7059]

Good heavens sir! An uncrustable as your first pb&j experience...

[@guillaumedarbin2433]

Noice!

[@Simku]

Not bad! I still have yet to take the Amtrak. I live in OKC so there are quite some destinations to take. As a Frenchman though, I'm used to the TGV so that will be something different!

[@ronclark9724]

You will soon come to the conclusion the USA is not TINY France. Airlines rule America, trains lost that war...

[@Simku]

@@ronclark9724 I am quite aware of that.

[@ferseal4]

Incredible the river. It seems the Amazonia region instead of Texas.

[@apollosaturn5]

9:02 Did someone just got thrown out of the train?🤣🤣🤣

[@samkuzel]

I was searching the comments to find someone asking about that sound, haha

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

Peanut butter jelly and coffee, that's a great combo. Try a peanut butter sandwich and coffee, the two go together amazingly.

[@ronclark9724]

Dr. Pepper goes with peanut butter sandwiches too...

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

@@ronclark9724 I need to try that. Thanks.

[@everythingbyjanetdullaghan5122]

😌

[@natsfan100]

Trains are getting packed now because of the cost of gas and the cost of flying along with limited flights due to crew shortages.

[@jbc5877]

I don't know when you did this leg of your journey but would've been awesome to possibly meet haha. I work for TEXRail so I see the Heartland Flyer regularly.

[@wesharp7639]

Completely left out the old Santa Fe Depot in Gainesville, Texas, which is the next stop after Ardmore. I'm disappointed!