Amtrak Western Long Distance Trains: Train Talk Ep. 7

[@thecoloradokid1758]

The California Zephyr is by far, my favorite long distance train out there. The scenery is glorious and the fact that it was ran by Denver and Rio Grande Western, makes me feel like I'm apart of history.

[@Balerio2357]

Excellent video Mike! In September 2016 my sister and I had the experience of a lifetime. We took the Coast Starlight from L.A.to Seattle. What an amazingly beautiful trip. I waited over 20 years to take this trip, it was more than worth it! - Balerio

[@rypatmackrock]

Balerio 2357 that's awesome. I would like to take the starlight all the way to Seattle one day.

[@marcushezekiah6627]

You prolly dont give a damn but does anyone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account? I was dumb forgot the login password. I would love any tips you can offer me

[@willpaxton9179]

@Marcus Hezekiah instablaster :)

[@marcushezekiah6627]

@Will Paxton Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@marcushezekiah6627]

@Will Paxton It worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thank you so much you saved my account !

[@wtrskr59]

Hi Mike 10 years ago I took the 14/11 coast starlight from Los Angeles to Sacramento (RT) it was my first time with my friend who is a train enthusiast and talked me into taking a train trip, and I'm glad he did. Everytime I see a Amtrak video I feel as though I'm on a train, I even have a memorabilia book of my trip to Sacramento. Now I'm living in Northern CA and dream of taking another train trip.

[@harvhobson1984]

The train talk series is great. My favorite Amtrak long distance train is the Empire Builder. I rode the Great Northern Empire Builder from St. Paul to East Glacier (June 26-27, 1968) and from East Glacier to Minneapolis (July 16-17, 1968).

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks! That must have been a neat experience. You'll never get to do that again.

[@TexasWorldRailfan-wi5ei]

That would probably be the last western route I'd choose to take. The problem with the Builder is that you get great views on glacier national park and the cascades, but outside that, all you see is just flat farmland.

[@outofthecraftermath8497]

I've ridden all of those, except for the Sunset Limited after the Split with the Texas Eagle. I'll be taking the SWC to La this summer and returning to MI on the Texas Eagle. I can hardly wait. I used to love and still miss the Desert Wind. It started in CHI with the California Zephyr and split in Salt Lake City, I think, and headed down to Los Angeles. Still my favorite route. You need to take the Zephyr in the winter. Absolutely beautiful.

[@TrainTrackTrav]

Fantastic video. I have to say though, Southwest Chief will always have my favor.

[@TrainsNStuff]

SW Chief and Coast Starlight for me.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@warleo1591]

Empire builder

[@Shinyarc]

TrainTrackTrav Yeah, it's the only long distance to KC, the River Runner doesn't hold a candle though I still like it

[@type4016]

Going on the SW Chief next year, really looking forward to it

[@norskviking9410]

I just saw your video, I grew up around trains when a kid, I REALLY LIKE HOW YOU SPLICED IN SHOTS OF THE ORIGINAL TRAINS FROM THE 40S AND 50S. THIS IS A FIVE STAR VIDEO!

[@amjkodaz]

4:40 Anyone else notice the F40PH blended in with the superliner?

[@johnverschelden9961]

amj20 yup

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

I hadn't

[@julianamontolio5047]

i watched this while camping in the pokemon world lol

[@atalllad105]

yes

[@ashleyjlikestrains]

I did

[@KBowWow75]

I've been on the Southwest Chief from Illinois to Flagstaff, and now I live in Seattle, so options are there to have a few more trips along different routes.

[@kennethmccann6402]

I've travelled on Amtrak train (even former private RR Company before Amtrak merged) for 50 years. So, I go once (sometime twice) a year in any part of USA as I love it and no matter if on time or delays.

[@k5elevencinc0]

As a kid I used to take the Sunset Limited from L.A. to Atmore Alabama with my Grandmother last time we road it back to L.A. was August 2005 before Katrina hit then it all went downhill from there lol

[@sunking2001]

9/11/2018 rode Amtrak from Martinez , CA. all the way to Chicago. I had a "roomette" on the bottom floor of the car. It was worth every penny for the privacy. Met some nice folks...Americans...like myself. One of the four modes of transportation...railroads in the US...was the mode that really shaped this country.

[@mpfy2k]

The California zephyr was my favorite route!

[@AmtrakFan19290]

My favorite train route is the coast starlight

[@TexasWorldRailfan-wi5ei]

My fave is the Southwest Chief

[@freddole6649]

Can’t wait to ride the Coast Starlight, both directions, on our 50th anniversary. 😄❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@hamsterhuey99]

Nice! Been on all of them multiple times, all really amazing

[@tomg8518]

Mike, this is the first time I have ever watched your videos . I am most impressed. Personally I have been on the Empire Builder a couple of times very nice by the way. I have been on the City of New Orleans, Sunset Limited and the Texas Eagle. They were all great as usual the Amtrak folks are super duper. Sorry about that I guess my age is showing. We are thinking on the California Zephyr next. From what you just showed it looks like lots of fun and beautiful scenery. Thanks for the sharing the video!

[@David-sr1iy]

Just found your videos and they're just what I was looking for. Thanks! I'm traveling on the SWC in 3 months.

[@TWF1003]

best train talk episode yet

[@Flossyorcgaming]

trimetwesfan1003 Hanyon Agreed

[@RobRidleyLive]

Best of the bunch in an already high quality series. Mr Armstrong you have really raised your game, you desrve the highest praise.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much!

[@hydcpls]

trimetwesfan1003 Hanyon...

[@SturtevantRails]

I loved the video, my favorite is the empire builder because it passes through my town. your videos are always so amazing and i always leave comments, twice you have loved my comment and when you did that i gained many subs! thank you so much for the subs and thanks for making my Friday that much better

[@CoasterFan2105]

Any time!

[@jimskywaker4345]

Then I have passed through your town

[@ivanoffw]

The Coast Starlight is Train 11 from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and 12 to Seattle. From Seattle to San Francisco it is train 13, and to Los Angeles it is train 14. All of this because all trains headed to San Francisco are West bound, and heading away from the City by the Bay are East bound.

[@royreynolds108]

For our 40 th anniversary my wife and I caught the Eagle at Mineola, TX and rode to San Antonio, stayed overnight and returned the next day in May, 2011. The train had the anniversary paint scheme on the lead unit.

[@rypatmackrock]

I have been commuting from the SF Bay Area, to LA on the coast starlight. I have been on the California Zephyr once, yet I would like to have traveled on every trip before declaring my favorite.

[@07Giddyup]

Thanks Mike, I think you've given me a great,idea for my next vacation!

[@Patrick_3751]

Another great episode of Train Talk Mike! My favorite western route would probably have to be the Sunset Limited.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Patrick! I like that one too.

[@urianstapleton3643]

I have two favorites which is: The Coast Starlight & The Southwest Chief

[@rojorailfan]

A few months ago I took a long distance Amtrak from Sacramento to I Reno

[@benjamindeloney]

2 favorite Amtrak trains in the west: Empire Builder(to Seattle and Portland) Coast Starlight

[@nortonhatfield7312]

They should have an auto train in the western half of the United States. It could be ideal for those traveling from northern California to southern California.

[@vadmscheer]

This was great! I would love to see a video about the eastern routes, as well as some of the corridors.

[@nortonhatfield7312]

They should bring back the Amtrak desert wind because a lot of people would use that train to go to Las Vegas on weekends and to salt lake city during the winter for skiing.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Whoo hoo! The Long hauls are safe. I like the California Zephyr.

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

The California Zephyr used to have a couple of additional sections that branched off at Salt Lake City. Amtrak is cutting out long-distance routes (and Richard Anderson has said that he wants to get rid of them, or at least most of them).

[@weinito]

I love all of these long distance trains at my favorites. The Southwest Chief is my personal favorite route and is the most scenic in my opinion. My favorite part of the route is the Glorieta Pass because I have an attachment to the Sangre De Cristo mountains range and I think it's impossible to beet them in terms of scenery. I go to Taos New Mexico each year and have fallen in love with the Sangre De Cristo range. I also love Raton Pass and the desert Southwest and Cajon Pass. I've driven through the desert area right along the side Southwest Chief's route and it feels like I'm on Tatooine. Coming just behind the Southwest Chief is the California Zephyr. I love the rocky mountains and Utah desert and of course Donner Pass. Then coming in very close behind the California Zephyr is you're favorite, the Coast Starlight. I love the coast of California, the Cuesta Pass, Mount Shasta, the Cascades and Puget Sound. The Southwest Chief, California Zephyr and Coast Starlight are almost tied. Number 4 would be the Sunset Limited, number 5 would be the Empire Builder. I'm not a big fan of the Texas Eagle as the scenery is bleak and dull, and it no lounger has a lounge car or observation car.

[@stevepowsinger733]

I believe the Sunset Ltd used to run all the way to Jacksonville FLA and, as I recall, there was a wreck caused by a boat hitting the bridge somewhere west of Pensacola.

[@k5elevencinc0]

Big Bayou Canot in Mobile Alabama?

[@MrBnsftrain]

3:58 I saw the Southwest Chief at night on December 30th outside Kansas City! This was the 3rd time I've seen the train, as it usually comes into Kansas City at times i'm not able to film it! 4:30 nice catch of an F59 on the Southwest Chief! 4:58 I've seen the California Zephyr twice this past summer, once in Denver, and once entering Moffat Tunnel with 4 engines, including 156! 5:38 Nice catch of 651 being delivered to the northeast, a sight I wanted to see in person, but never got to! 9:04 the pacific parlor cars are old Santa Fe bilevel cars, and are the last of its kind left on Amtrak! I think my favorite has to be the California Zephyr or the Coast starlight! Also, the 1700 series baggage cars and the 1200 series baggage cars being replaced by the

[@0515stan]

I have ridden the entire length of these trains' routes. I love them all, and each of them has much to recommend it. However, I grew up in a town in southern Iowa that is on the CB&Q, and I remember the California Zephyr from my boyhood, so the Zephyr is my favorite of these for that reason.

[@АлександрМорозов-р1п]

Thank you You, Excellent video and good commentary

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much!

[@АлександрМорозов-р1п]

Always please.

[@RobRidleyLive]

Super video. Would love to see some longer takes as the consists go past. I'll have to go for the Southwest Chief as my favourite, purely since it passes through my adopted hometown of Albuquerque.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much! Longer videos of these will be released eventually. I cut a lot of them short here because I wanted to show as many different scenes of each train as I could while still fitting it to the narration.

[@kirkzevola5004]

Awesome video I have been on almost all of the Amtrak Long distance routes except the Amtrak Coast Starlight which I am dying to try but my favorite Amtrak long distance routes are the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, & Southwest Chief but if you ask me what's my number one favorite Amtrak route that overtakes them all its the Amtrak Empire Builder.

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Excellent video Mike and my favorite train is the Coast Starlight as well.

[@southshore0007]

Omg..I just came across your media in my quarantine this was great I just subscribed 👍

[@Willysmb44]

Excellent video! I rode the Empire Builder and loved every minute of it.

[@michaelglass4701]

My favorite is the Southwest Chief, I'm riding the Chief to Flagstaff from Chicago in September, going to the GRAND CANYON.

[@AlohaMilton]

Hey thanks for the great train spotting. I am making an N scale Coast Starlight layout and you Amtrak videos are very helpful.

[@Cal90208]

I have been on the sunset limited, southwest chief(both roundtrip and full journey) and I am going on the coast starlight in about a week. videos of that trip will go up in my channel. I have/will ride all these trains before IM thirteen years old. I have also been on the pacific surfliner a few times and have road on metrolink, coaster, and will go on the Amtrak cascades.

[@average_joe8905]

Even though I have ridden the Coast Starlight more, the California Zephyr is by far my favorite long distance train. I think the scenery on the California Zephyr is better, as there is way more mountainous terrain, though the Pacific Ocean and Mt. Shasta scenery is a close second for me. Great video man! Please do more of these videos, I really enjoy them!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you! I will!

[@aidan4473]

I love the zephyr that’s my aim to do once I’m an adult . My problem is that I live in the uk so I need to get to the us first

[@Cpr1234]

I don't know if this counts as a western long distance because it starts in Chicago but there's also the City of New Orleans. Southbound is numbered 59, northbound 58. It goes across the midwest though

[@christophers.o622]

My favorite Amtrak routes are the Pacific Surfliner & Coast Starlight which both are shared between Los Angeles & San Luis Opisbo. I travel long distance by Amtrak train and when I'm home in the Civilized San Diego area I ride the Pacific Surfliners to & from Los Angeles & Oxnard for visits. Train travel is the best way to travel, it beats driving, beats the bus and beats flying as flying domestically is a drudgery & a hassle, many interstate highways are already and/or are becoming parking lots making driving a hassle.

[@metra160]

By far the California Zephyr wins because of the beautiful mountains in Colorado were it hangs on the edge of the cliff and the Moffat Tunnel also the mountains in California are beautiful too!

[@jameshsu3685]

Good video. Your explanation is very clear and detail. I like it. (I like the Coast Line most)

[@jamesbaker9677]

Great narrative. Top info and professional voiceover. Thanks coaster fan!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much, James!

[@wtrskr59]

Hi Mike I took the 14 North from LA to SAC then spent 2 days in Sac then headed home on amtrak 11 that was back in 2010, I know I need to get on another Amtrak and purchase a sleeper, But I 'm sure the sleepers are $1K and upa and that is why I see sooo many people in coach.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yeah, the sleepers are definitely not cheap. If I end up doing a full video on one of these routes, I will be talking about the different accommodations.

[@LegoWormNoah101]

My favorite is the Texas Eagle, because it's the first Amtrak train I rode for my 15th birthday!

[@Ferromexfan4081]

Great video!!😊 I learned more about the long distance Amtrak trains thanks to this video!

[@Ferromexfan4081]

By the way my favorite Amtrak train in the western United States is the coast starlight because it can be seen with a dash 8 and it has the Pacific Parlor car unlike other Amtrak trains that are in the western United States!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@wyattdoran2480]

Great video are we going to get one on the viewliner long-distance trains that go Florida and alongside the Great Lakes

[@donkazmier402]

the coast starlight is the one for me. rode this every 6 days Seattle to Los Angeles for six months.

[@ftra1987]

Coast Starlight is my favorite train!

[@acidexwarrior1183]

I love the southwest chief it my favorite of them all but I like the coast starlight aswell

[@cartographer1977]

The California Zephyr is my favorite! :)

[@janettemcclelland2959]

I love the Coast Starlight. I take the Southwest Chief between Albuquerque and Los Angeles at least once a year.

[@russbear31]

I love Amtrak. Through the years I have rode the Southwest Chief and the California Zephyr. I still want to take the Empire Builder.

[@edwardhudson5505]

I love Amtrak too. This year, I got to ride the Amtrak Palmetto train. I wish I could ride it again.

[@chrisylink]

Love the coast starlight!!

[@robb.675]

Great video! I've taken the Coast Starlight from L.A. to Chico, CA. The only bad part was that the train got into Chico at 2:00a.m. But, I did have someone meet me.

[@Flamerailzzz]

Loved the video. next can you do the East coast trains? and also a video for us to learn about Train emergencies or tips or something for travel.

[@average_joe8905]

BeastModeGamez I like that idea!

[@CoasterFan2105]

East Coast Long Distance is coming, but I need to get some more video! And I will look into your other suggestion!

[@aaron7671]

My favorite Amtrak train is the Empire Builder. I have rode the coach and a roomette. It's amazing.

[@edwardhudson5505]

My favorite Amtrak train is the Palmetto train. It was such an awesome train. I got to hear its amazing horn and man, that was fun.

[@mx72890]

I liked the coast starlight and the California Zephyr. It’s too bad though that they took off the pacific parlor cars.

[@drummerian1960]

I love the Texas Eagle!

[@mallardmccart8833]

frysyduhghghggu

[@AmtrakFan19290]

I love my favorite the coast starlight

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

9:13 hey a P40dc. I've always wanted to see one but never have. Great catch

[@mikhailkozak1824]

Thanks, Mike and happy New!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks Mikhail, you too!

[@tsgmultimedia]

I like that opening shot with the old film effects. It would be even better if you made it B&W! :D

[@TommyPicklesFan]

I voted The Southwest Chief because It runs on The Former Santa Fe Line from Los Angeles to Chicago.

[@Cal90208]

TommyPickles Fan1992 IV been on that route

[@luluu044]

Do an eastern long distance railway for Amtrak

[@Cpr1234]

In your terming, the Amtrak regional trains from Norfolk, Newport News and Roanoke, VA to Boston would be long distance. Roanoke to Boston is the longest regional route, at 683 miles

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Coast Starlight is my favorite route

[@NiCadHeliPilot]

The Southwest Chief would have to be my personal favorite. In fact, I've been on it, when I was in the U.S.A 'round the end of 1999.

[@melissavandella7879]

7:28 an additional coach car

[@Random.Channel_]

I love the Texas eagle because I see it a lot cause i live near it in the dfw metroplex but my all time favorite is the coast starlight

[@Trolleyatthestation]

I like the Southwest Chief and the California Zephyr.

[@CameraManRailFan]

Do an episode on the history of the class 1 freight railroads

[@DerexReal]

Re-watching this video in 2021 reminds me how much the P42 fleet needs a replacement with new Siemens locomotives. Just look a the smoke and hear the noise

[@joshuafajardo5697]

I wish that the Heartland Flyer could go between San Antonio-Grand Forks ND & there would be a line from Chicago that would go to Saint Paul Minnesota, SD, & Wyoming, and terminate in Eugene Oregon

[@warrenwarner6157]

Great video! my favorite route is the California Zephyr

[@Henry-loves-trains]

the empire builder is my favorite western long distance route!

[@virginialoverproductions]

I like the Southwest Chief most out of all of them.

[@imnotthebr2230]

Me to

[@United1158]

Coast starlight because it’s such a good balance between mountain scenery and ocean scenery

[@CP_Trent]

Well edited and narration. Great video!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@CameraManRailFan]

My favorite is the Southwest Chief

[@Bregott07]

That SP locomotives bell is music to my ears.

[@g-manonthego6678]

You should do a video about Amtrak long distance trains in the east coast, along with the City of New Orleans, although it runs from Chicago to New Orleans. Great video, BTW.

[@anniewinston4155]

l

[@EpicThe112]

Sunset limited used to run Los Angeles to Orlando where you can take train 91 & 93 Silver Star to New York Penn Station

[@tommyandersson999]

Thanks for this video. Great info.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks for watching!

[@meeperfive]

I've went on Amtrak from NYC to Orlando

[@amjkodaz]

Can you talk about Eastern long distance trains? (Crescent, Silver Star, etc)

[@BILL-2002hst]

Happy new year Mike

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, you too!

[@mfwalensa9405]

Would like to know more about the Coast Starlight trip from SF to Portland Oregon.

[@CoasterFan2105]

I have a video app about the Coast Starlight right here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h17EnZSnZcasjs0 . For San Francisco on, you're going to want to start at about 20:00 in.

[@jessecuriel2765]

I'm going on the amtrak surfliner

[@brucesharpe1079]

The coaches on American trains are brilliant a good variety if only we had something like this in England ( good video) thanks

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Bruce!

[@TommyPicklesFan]

7:05 Reminds Me of The Desert Wind!

[@coasterworld9448]

All of them except for the sunset limited ends in Chicago

[@Surfliner-lt7uy]

Hey my favorite is coast starlight as well I cought it in Los Angeles

[@Surfliner-lt7uy]

Caught *