Amtrak Palmetto from Savannah to Washington, DC - Apparently a Trip Report

[@iamweave]

Dude, she's a keeper.

[@thebeastproductions]

Props to Aleena for recognizing South of the Border at a great distance 😎👍🎩

[@tombowers3681]

Miles and Aleena get married and have their first child, a bouncing baby girl they name Septa Taylor. At first they notice nothing strange about Septa, but as she grows into a young lady, they start to notice that whenever Septa is on a train or bus or Ferry, it miraculously runs on time. She also, by simply closing her eyes and waving her hands, can make transit systems throughout the world add services. Miles and Aleena encourage young Septa to explore her super power and eventually she transitions completely into "Transit Girl" a superhero for transit everywhere!

[@cobalt8619]

I got 2nd hand cringe from that conductor yelling at you for filming. Dude was kind of a dick

[@ManyTriangles]

Never seen this channel before in my life. ~15 seconds in “Alright. I’m in.”

[@MilesinTransit]

Haha, thank you so much!

[@jbreezy101]

For me, it’s the jeb line

[@ClassyWhale]

6:38 was the chaotic energy that I watch your channel for

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

*"I'm scared"*

[@senorspahrtan]

The energy of this video is PERFECTION 🤣🤣 I freaking loved every second of it haha

[@Unmannedperson]

"please exercise caution..."

[@BrentFiore]

The buses have such a long wait in Savannah that you can tell someone your life story sitting at the stop. Someone made a movie about it.

[@MilesinTransit]

Hahahaha, fantastic comment

[@trainsandroads]

Safety card, safety card, right now you're looking at the safety card.

[@joshuatrower1698]

Foamer interlude: the line you crossed at Selma is the Norfolk Southern Line from Goldsboro, NC to Greensboro, NC. The Carolinian and Silver Star divert here to reach Raleigh. Future service to Wilmington, NC would also use this line.

[@MilesinTransit]

Oh wow, that's good to know actually! I definitely should've mentioned that...

[@calvincoolidge1207]

The location of the Savannah Amtrak station is very inconvenient. It is quite far from downtown. I took a train from Florida to Savannah in 2001 and the train was very late due to hitting a bread truck. I just looked up the story and found out the driver was injured but survived. It was weird waking up and seeing bread lying everywhere along the tracks.

[@radjago]

3:10 I used to install and configure the systems behind these boards. They are designed to handle a wide variety of scenarios including being centrally driven from Amtrak's scheduling systems, GTFS feeds, or other dynamic data sources, or to be manually updated and maintained remotely or locally by Amtrak staff from information provided by train personnel over the radio.

[@mmanisr22]

Nice video. I loved the Palmetto as a child because it was the "day train" between Charleston and NY. The miracle of the video is that you were on time, on CSX tracks at that!

[@SamNusbaum]

Congrats on your sponsorship! It's the best transit channel on KZbin!

[@MilesinTransit]

I really appreciate that, thank you so much!

[@RebeccaMundschenk]

I love that you've had both Paul and Jeb acknowledge your channel now. 😂

[@gchsbus]

In what videos of theirs?? Please tell me! I would love to see those videos.

[@nyc90]

@@gchsbus Jeb mentions him in his recent Amtrak Empire Builder video at 21:30. I haven't seen the Paul video but I would also love to know!

[@rbjplay13]

@@nyc90 Paul commented on the Lake Shore Limited trip report video!

[@MilesinTransit]

Yeah, I don't think Paul has directly shouted out the channel in a video, but he's mentioned me on Twitter and I'm pretty sure he watches somewhat regularly!

[@RebeccaMundschenk]

I stand corrected!

[@TalKessler]

So happy to see you get a sponsor! Keep up the good work!

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you so much!

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

The Carolina swamp is the habitat of the rare Venus fly trap! Fly traps become what they are as the result of lack of soil nutrients. While common for house plants, in the wild, they're rare. Taking just ONE Venus fly trap from public land is considered a felony in NC and could result in four to 25 months in prison. Miles scrambling to read the safety information with a chilling version of the menu shot jingle is horror movie energy...I don't blame Aleena for being scared now. 😂So Yemassee is named after the Yemassees which was a confederation who lived along coastal Georgia, northeastern Florida, and South Carolina. They were allies of colonial South Carolina until the Yemassee War in 1715. Frank Lloyd Wright's Auldbrass Plantation (the only plantation he designed) is located just outside the town limits. It was built in the late 1930s, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and has since been restored. Its original name is Old Brass and was named after an old slave from an old plantation on the land before. The earliest records from the farm are dated to 1736 when the farm was known as Mount Pleasant.

[@idxluaviation]

Ok kimmy 😂

[@ncard00]

Please do some train trip reports in Denmark and Scandinavia :)

[@Shane_Shaney]

Now that’s a fun fact!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

That bird is a Muscovy duck! They're invasive in the southeastern US. Their native habitat is from northern Mexico down to Uruguay. I like to call it the Darth Maul duck. Yeah, South of the Border is a staple of Interstate 95 road trips (though I've only gone past it twice as part of a trip for my high school's FRC robotics team to the Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach back in 2017). South of the Border has a Mexican theme because the joke is that South of the Border typically refers to Mexico, but in this case, it refers to it being south of the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. The place has been around since 1950, originally started as a beer stand next door to Robeson County in NC which was dry at the time! Then when I-95 was announced to go right through it in 1964, it helped them grow even more! The tall structure you saw is its 200-foot observation tower! They also have two mini golf courses, a motor inn, a steakhouse (shaped like a sombrero, of course), and a thing called the Reptile Lagoon which is the largest indoor reptile exhibit in the US with 15 crocodilian species and 50 snake species.

[@petethetraveler]

Very informative, thank you for your insightful comment.

[@MilesinTransit]

I didn't realize Muscovy ducks were invasive - we saw them at a cool nature park in southern Savannah and it seemed like they were there intentionally because they look cool!

[@supergppl]

2:27 GE Genesis AC Compressor spool-up “whirrrp”

[@steelers3814]

Finally, the main character is back on this channel. I used to play Pocket Trains! I had it on my iPod touch years and years ago. Probably around 2013. I was always more of a Pocket Planes fan. I re-downloaded Pocket Planes when I switched back to iOS in 2019. Still a really fun game that recently got its first update in years.

[@tf_9047]

That sponsor code made me laugh so hard I started coughing. Nice. 😂

[@MilesinTransit]

I was SO happy when they said I could use that one!!!

[@trainandmore]

It's official folks, we've lost Miles he's been........ Sponsored. What's worse is that it's not even a official Amtrak sleep mask. Serious note, congrats on your first sponsorship. Love all of the SpongeBob sounds by the way. This was probably your worst trip, in terms of staff customer service, based on everything you've posted, it's usually good, I guess I won't be taking Amtrak to Florida, thanks for the tip.

[@petethetraveler]

It’s the Palmetto, so it ends in Georgia, but yeah I agree, the service was unusually bad.

[@idxluaviation]

You should take Amtrak to Florida, I might make a video on it but it’s actually a good service🎉 (if you get a sleeper class ticket)

[@sgt.eclair]

The service is usually good and I'd recommend it, but I am legally obliged to advise against going to Florida

[@trainandmore]

@@sgt.eclair I'm still going to Florida, just not taking Amtrak. Maybe one day I'll move there.

[@sgt.eclair]

@@trainandmore no, bad. If you're going to venture to that hellhole at least do it the civilized way lol. One bad experience isn't universal

[@j7gy8b]

Busses in the South, man... it's so frustrating. The motto appears to be "be grateful there's anything"

[@j7gy8b]

Also, just realized - 12 hours from way down in Savannah to NY? The Carolinian is 14 hours and is considerably closer. I guess it's that long arc through NC.

[@MilesinTransit]

No, 12 hours is from Savannah to DC - I fudged the region a bit for clickbait, but I do personally consider DC to be in the northeast! The trip to New York on the Palmetto is also 14 hours though! It does look like the track to Savannah is significantly straighter than the track to Charlotte, in fairness.

[@theconezy]

I took the train from Savannah to Philly. I was stuck next to a 'foamer' who kept calling people telling them where he was and how it was a "great run" I ended going to the cafe car for most of the ride.

[@cjuice9039]

I can't believe Miles was in my home of Savannah and made a video about it! Great content as always!

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@TBizTch]

I had your channel recommended to me and I love it. Its amazing! Thank you for the videos

[@MilesinTransit]

That's my favorite thing to hear - thank you so much!

[@ge009]

14:40 Same deal on the Carolinian too; when I took that from DC to Charlotte and back, lots of people got on and off within NC

[@andrewclark8630]

Thank you for that, what a great couple and so nice to see.

[@mikeobrien901]

Florence is a major crew change station. As they deal with all south bound trains. With bigger stations like that, we need to rescan to make sure people did not A - change seats, and then we have no clue where they are going. B- no one is on the train who is not supposed to be on it. Only happens at bigger crew change place.

[@MilesinTransit]

Does the Palmetto not have a coach attendant to keep track of this stuff? Especially when the conductors are writing the destinations on the seat checks anyway, I think it'd be preferable for the passenger to just be told to hold onto the seat check if they do change seats! This isn't meant to be confrontational, it's just my least favorite Amtrak practice and I didn't know it happens outside of New York (and it certainly doesn't happen on any of the long-distance trains I've been on west of Chicago).

[@TURKEYDAY2023]

Awwww, when she says " is that south of the border"? She's so sweet a soul. ❤ you guys are both great people! Love the content. You make life doable.

[@DavidDellsperger]

I can say with confidence that I look forward to the F-Tier Missouri River Runner review!

[@psychorabbitt]

Manta sponsored this week's Love Sundays video, and as soon as Shawn took the mask out I could hear the Manta song in my head.

[@craftergin]

Congrats on getting a sponsor!

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@ZoahPorre]

12:51 How cute of a reaction.

[@3dkidsartfairs]

4:31 - I will say, Business Class on the Pacific Surfliner and Premium on Brightline is totally worth it, in comparison to what is offered here on the Palmetto and perhaps even the Carolinian. I'm saying this because I've done both Brightline (WPB->Fort Lauderdale roundtrip on the same day) and Pacific Surfliner (San Diego to Anaheim and vice versa) within the past couple of months.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

The Palmetto is a kind of palm of the Sabel family and one of the hardiest of palms although the Windmill Palm beats it hands down as some in Plovid, Bulgaria survived a drop down to -32c in one exceptionally cold winter.

[@lukeweatherford3230]

If you ever get the chance to stop off at the North Charleston station, it was completely rebuilt in 2019 and is really nice. Glad you enjoyed the Carolinas!

[@JustAnotherPoorSlob]

Congrats on your sponsorship, Miles. I'll look into it once I start summer traveling again (waves fist angrily at COVID)

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you! It's definitely a good investment if you're going on long train or bus trips!

[@joemotes]

I really have enjoyed both your travels, keep it up.

[@MilesinTransit]

Thanks!

[@underscorecascadian]

This video inspired me to download pocket trains again and when I did I saw that they released pocket trucks!!! Thank you both

[@iangrimm]

9:35 - my biggest lol yet during a Miles vlog. And I've been watching A LOT of them.

[@MilesinTransit]

Apropos of nothing, that's quite the unintentionally Boston "stahted" right there!

[@iangrimm]

@@MilesinTransit Hah it is! It all adds to the greatness of that moment.

[@docvideo93]

13:15 That stadium is for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, AA baseball team

[@99ferns]

i'm always down to hear more about bus transit, for what it's worth

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Amen

[@MilesinTransit]

Noted!

[@viridimontes]

7:40 dirt as bad as dots!

[@NEPATransitnTravel]

If I’m not mistaken, San Jose-Diridon boards display the local bus to Santa Cruz, but that could be because they’re the “Ambus” provider to SC.

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

7:14 love playing that game lmao!!! Didn’t realize other people played it.

[@fjkelley4774]

The old Union Station in Savannah was a terminal station. The railroads came to hate these if it was not a specific destination (and even then ...). A few blocks north was the Central Station (actually, it is still there, though no longer a rr station), for the Central of Georgia trains. Union Station was replaced with I-16. What had been the old Railway Express building is still there (no idea what it is now).

[@washuotaku]

Fun facts about North Charleston: When the previous Atlantic Coast Line Depot opened in 1956, the city didn't exist and thus was identified as Charleston. The city of North Charleston was established in 1972 and is the 3rd largest city in South Carolina (behind Columbia and Charleston). The new station opened in 2018, next to the old station that was eventually razed. Amtrak still identifies it as "Charleston," but everything else correctly identifies it as North Charleston. Last, the station is the busiest in South Carolina, accounts for a 3rd of all ridership.

[@arbarrro]

Once when I was seven years old or so we stopped at the South of the Border hotel for the night and the bathroom lock in our room broke while I was in there. Took my parents and the hotel management an hour or so to get me out. Anyway that's my South of the Border story

[@MilesinTransit]

Wow, sounds like a great place...!

[@knkjchannel55]

make a 10 hour version of the theme song

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Hey now, the sasquatch in the woods relies on the bus too, y'know! 😉The Amtrak station saying it's open 24 hours and then a separate taped paper says it's not and THEN them saying the cafe car would open in a few short moments and it doesn't...you just keep getting bamboozled! My man not only got sponsored but made a song about said sponsor and made the promo code ✨𝓹𝓸𝓸𝓻 𝓫𝓲𝓭✨....well played! Ah yes, my favorite train... *CAT Route 29.* And showing the old Savannah Union Station, gotta love being reminded of the train infrastructure the city you're in lost thanks to artwork! Hearing you talk about Palmetto business class and how it's not worth it makes me think pre-pandemic Hamptons Reserve on the LIRR's Cannonball was a better deal (even for just 130 miles) with at-your-seat bar and snack service and reserved seating for 20 dollars more.

[@cjuice9039]

and as if the irony wasn't already enough, they put a mural of the old union station on the burger king that now stands in it's place.

[@anonymous-ir3tf]

At least there's one bus on Sunday. In 1973, there wasn't any Sunday bus service at all in Savannah. Was expecting to get a bus to Tybee Island, so ended up hitchhiking. Those were the good old days for me.

[@MilesinTransit]

There's no bus service period to Tybee Island anymore!

[@anonymous-ir3tf]

@@MilesinTransit Oh no! Thanks for that info! Not that I'd be taking it anytime soon soon. LOL.😀

[@jg-7780]

OMG, pocket trains! I love that game! To answer your very serious question I have 25 trains in service on my worldwide pocket trains empire

[@MilesinTransit]

Ooh, very nice!

[@TrainsFerriesFeet]

I live in Columbia and have taken the 14 hour Silver Star to NYC; man is that a long trip.

[@2002dialupconnection_]

That was a Muscovy Duck, love your content Miles, I work at the West Palm Beach Amtrak/Tri Rail station, would be cool to see you here, safe travels!

[@MilesinTransit]

One day! Thank you!

[@The-rp6do]

It’s always a great day when it’s apparently a trip report!

[@john654owl9]

If you ever end up in NC in the future, the Piedmont between Raleigh and Charlotte could make for a good video. It uses what I believe are the only heritage coaches still operated by Amtrak, some of which date back to the 1950's

[@kitchin2]

Essentially owned by the state of NC since it was built in the mid 1800s.

[@MilesinTransit]

The Piedmont is definitely on my list!

[@Blake-vc3ym]

Not sure why I like this channel, but I like it a lot - great work!

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you so much!

[@CSXKid5016]

Whenever you get a new conductor crew, they’re supposed to sweep the whole train and recheck all tickets. That’s why they got you after FLO. Amtrak rule that’s rarely followed, more so in the day time, but looks like you got unlucky that day.

[@MilesinTransit]

Weird...I've never had that happen anywhere outside the NEC! I feel like that would be a pain on long routes like the Empire Builder if they actually followed those rules?

[@CSXKid5016]

@@MilesinTransit like i said, it’s a rule that’s very rarely followed

[@nathanjiang100]

I've been preaching this for years: the Palmetto is the most underrated line for scenery. I rode the entire southbound from New York to Savannah in December of 2021 and there is nothing like a sunset over the South Carolina lowcountry! (We took an Uber from the station to the hotel) Also running express in Virginia as also super cool but running local on the NEC is not cool. A couple notes from watching the video: Dillon seems super cool, and I wondered why the Silver Meteor doesn't also serve it when we passed by Wilson is a large Thruway Bus hub for cities like Greenville and Wilmington it the eastern part of the state, which explains the high ridership they told you guys not to film in Richmond? didn't happen to me at least Ashland has a really large foamer community and one of the most popular foamer webcams (basically allows you to foam a constant livestream of trains that pass by the cams) is located there I honestly don't know why the Palmetto isn't an S when it comes to usability for long-distance trains. It serves everywhere at a good time and the ridership reflects that. It's also the second-most on-time long-distance train, only behind the City of New Orleans. Sleep masks are really useful for sleeping on trains, except when Amtrak wakes you up on the Night Owl at NYP, you got lucky when you rode it, but I took it last week and they still do that. YOU SURTUPFID RBF

[@VonPosen]

I've done the Palmetto twice. Good basic service (way late both times!) I hope next time I go they bring back The Bagle! Great videos! Putting the AMTRAK station way outside Savannah is a bummer. Keep transiting!

[@quinncowan7551]

I actually took the train not too long ago for spring break to see my cousins in Charleston and all in all it’s a pretty decent experience! The service is hit or miss depending on which crew you get but some really nice people work on this line! If only it didn’t take so damn long lol

[@thefareplayer2254]

That’s the best promo code ever! 🤣

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!!

[@syrax101]

I want to see you beef with Jeb and Paul… You got this… lol

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Considering both Jeb and Paul love this channel...it's only a matter of time

[@MilesinTransit]

I love Jeb and Paul though!!

[@fenderbender4294]

I might have to start playing that train game.... congratulations on your first sponsored video!🎉🎉 it was another great one :)

[@MilesinTransit]

Thanks a lot!

[@blathersb]

Lol these apparently a trip reports are great and hilarious well done

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@colinbecker6869]

While up in Boston, you gotta ride the Downeaster up to Portland.

[@MilesinTransit]

It's quite an old video and I need to do it again for AATR, but I've ridden it before! kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioDRiX99fKaMgrs

[@jamesschock4296]

Near Petersburg is Fort Lee headquarters of the U.S. Army supply and Quartermaster Corps. Hence the large warehouse buildings.

[@calvincoolidge1207]

I did my AIT there. Running through the civil war battlefield was a rare fun experience during training.

[@timothyschollux]

@2:31 so excited to go downtown :)

[@ChiSoxRox2005]

If the Empire Builder is S tier for scenery, I can't wait to see your take on the California Zephyr. IMO the Zephyr is the crown jewel of Amtrak scenery.

[@iJoshDG]

OMGGGG I also have a Manta Sleep mask; my parents got it for me for Christmas because I work nights, and have the curse office-style plastic blinds in my apartment. I love it!!! It's helped me sleep on multiple trips even as a side/stomach sleeper as well. So happy for you that you got sponsored, that's so exciting

[@MilesinTransit]

That's great to hear! It's really been a game changer for me on trips!

[@piemadd]

BTW that horrible bus tracker is also used by the CTA for their buses (its the standard bustime tracker) and Metra for their...trains?

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Metra try to be normal challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

[@juulvlog]

I laughed my ass off about the bus system in Savannah being so dodgy tho

[@seanh2286]

A new song? De-lightful. I'm hooked. PS Enjoyed the video as usual.

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you so much!

[@jerrymoadjr6098]

Once again great video by the way what's up with finding them birds

[@MilesinTransit]

Thanks! We had seen a bird a couple days ago that we didn't recognize and Aleena wanted to find out what it was!

[@ratedpz9461]

I genuinely laughed out loud when I heard the promo code was POOR BID. That’s such a good code 😂 Also as a bird foamer im pretty sure that was a Muscovy Duck. If the app you were using was Merlin then I think there’s a feature where you can show the app your photo and it can identify it.

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!! For the compliment and the bird info ;)

[@shreychaudhary4477]

wow, non-hostile benches! I wouldn't have expected that for a larger city

[@glowingfish]

The Amtrak readerboards on some cities on the Cascades have regional buses, but not ciry buses. I think those regional buses are all crossticketed with Amtrak, thoigh.

[@MilesinTransit]

Yeah, that's fairly common!

[@jacorp7476]

Ayy it's Pocket Trains! I currently only have 11 trains but at one point I think I had like 40 lol

[@sammymarrco47]

9:37 boston accent spotted

[@metagoat]

Sponsorship! Yes! Miles in transit!

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@randomtransitadventures]

The 2 videos milez mentioned: this one and $19 Amtrak to nor-fawk and the last video: DC-Boston by transit (anti-amtrak)

[@kicka11]

I want the mp3 of the manta song

[@MilesinTransit]

Available on Patreon! ;)

[@aldenhunt]

Comment for Aleena: Pocket Trains is alright, but Pocket Planes is the GOAT! Fun video as always.

[@daviiiid.r]

tiny trains goes very hard, i have like all the trains in europe and asia, Im currently expanding to oceania

[@breadmaster1714]

i took to amtrack auto train up the same route and pro amtrack tip DON"T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW. there is a light the is fully lit all night and i had to put my hoodie up to stop it. love amtrack and would do again tho. BTW the got rid of BAGELS on the auto train menu which i think is a crime.

[@TBTboston]

I thought he was joking when he said he had a sponsor... No offence Miles

[@MilesinTransit]

Fair enough!

[@SamRoss68]

I bet if a bus breaks down in Savannah they blame it on ghosts, and not inefficient infrastructure budgeting.

[@davidsixtwo]

Menu shot Menu shot Right now you're looking at a menu shot

[@mountainclawoutdoors]

Ha, I sing that in my head now Much like 🎶 diner 🎶

[@Sparkiebc]

Incredible vid

[@MilesinTransit]

Thanks!

[@MassbyTrain]

Only sponsor I watched because congrats

[@MilesinTransit]

Ayyy thank you! And you're gonna want to stay tuned for the song when that drops ;)

[@jeremyquiros5483]

Best promo code ever 😂

[@amprosk]

Our boy got sponsored 🥹🥹

[@Skeet284]

Here for the Palmetto and saw some Gilligs. Yep this is a Southern Video. Yes I do have NABIs, Novas, and New Flyers where I am in the South but only cause Gillig doesn't build artics lol.

[@garyhorchem4365]

You guys should come ride The Bus run by City Utilities here in Springfield Missouri.

[@eljefecom]

14:24 Lucama, North Carolina

[@MilesinTransit]

Damn, that's really impressive!

[@joemckim1183]

Aleena pulling out the One Bite Everybody Knows the Rules quote from Bartstool pizza reviews.

[@deaventuraconkikomas4281]

The microwave is a most, when you're traveling long distances in train like Amtrak, because they don't allow you to heat food inside, they only want you to buy it, but it's great to have a microwave in the station before you board. Jeje 😂

[@jonat_gabl]

I honestly don’t think that I’ve ever gotten on a train in the Northeast that has told me to read the passenger safety card.

[@triadrailfanproductions]

ALINA AND MILES! The great amazing combo is back again. On the palmetto! He doesn’t have narration or expertise and he’s not like Paul or Jeb who can do it with ease. And now it’s apparently too late to abort. So it’s apparently a trip report!* REPEAT 🔁 REPEAT 🔁 AND REPEAT 🔁 OVER AND OVER! It’s a banger. Awesome video

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@tibbers3755]

havent played tiny trains in a while, but iirc i have about 16 between europe and North America