Amtrak's 50 Year History 1971 - 2021: Train Talk Ep. 32

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, also known as Amtrak, has been carrying passengers all across the United States since it took over the business from private railroad companies on May 1st, 1971. To celebrate 50 years of Amtrak service, the first Train Talk episode for this year will take a brief look back at the company's 50 year history from the beginning up through the present year. As always, leave me any feedback in the comments below, thanks for watching, and a Happy 50th Anniversary to Amtrak!
CoasterFan2105 is the home of all sorts of train and railroad related video content. Stop by every Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroading adventure and be sure to check out all of my social media pages @coasterfan2105 for even more great railroad content. Thanks, and I'll see you down the line!

[@TheFarmanimalfriend]

I was 16 when Amtrak was created. I remember how everyone expected Amtrak to fail. Amtrak started with a lot of worn out equipment. There were breakdowns every day, but somehow, they kept going. Every time I ride the train I reach my destination relaxed versus flying where I am wound up and stressed at the end of every flight. I take the train whenever I can.

[@EdmundeLalonde-lb6xt]

I have ridden amtra❤k,ever since 1976.,and have since accrued 60,000 miles. And had a bad trip accept when our train derailed outside of Las Vegas nevada.even then only the locos were the only ones that derailed. We were bused from salt lake City. But even then I still travel by Amtrak and still enjoy it.

[@nathanaelrios7075]

Hey mike i just wanna say that you make me happy and others happy i just wanna thanks you for all the things you have done to make people happy.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it!

[@weebeetrainin3853]

I second that comment!!

[@jabrown04]

@@weebeetrainin3853 that is an old year

[@joshuadominictoling5310]

@@CoasterFan2105 Amtrak 130, 145, and 164 would’ve joined to celebrate their 50th Anniversary, including 174.

[@mjefferson3223]

Your train talk episodes are very interesting and informative. I really enjoyed this episode about Amtrak.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you! Happy to hear it!

[@johnhagan7742]

I concur. One thing that is interesting about Amtrak's Services is that their train services are named and/or partially named after their previous names. Ex: Amtrak's Southwest Chief->A.T.&.S.F Super Chief.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

I really think this is without a doubt the longest episode yet. I really like phase 1. I love the bloody nose and pointless arrow Logo. I'm planning on making an amtrak video which will be very similar to this one. But it'll be titled a day in the life of amtrak.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks for watching! And yes, I think it's the longest by about 8 minutes.

[@SleepTrain456]

I am in the process making my own video about Amtrak too!

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Me as well

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

@@FabianDiazTrainsTrucksNCars I'm pretty sure it will. I'm excited to see what lies ahead for Amtrak

[@joshuadominictoling5310]

@@CoasterFan2105 Amtrak 161, 130, 145, and 164 including 160 and 301. Newer ones, 46, 100, 108, and 174 are looking great!!!

[@amtrakboy4155]

It’s amazing on so much has changed, especially with the new equipment, all though favorites like The P42 unfortunately will have to come to an end, at least they had a really good time in America.!

[@CoasterFan2105]

A lot has changed over the last 50 years. It's an interesting history. Thanks for watching!

[@aaronmiller5012]

I’ve seen the p42 before on the Pacific Surfliner. It’s Diesel engine sounds awesome. Maybe place it it in as a museum display. The new Charger diesel-electric and the long distance one sounds good. It’s a sounds quiet at idle, I could barely hear it when it goes fast.

[@ricardopintotwitterclairea678]

@@CoasterFan2105 awesome dude my friend dear friend I'm so excited 😊 🤗 🤪 😃 😄 can't wait for this moment please remember me and brothers 😊 😀 😄 🙏 ☺️ 🙂

[@SPNGLovato18]

Happy 50th anniversary!

[@mariamayub212]

I really enjoyed watching this documentary and I have traveled by Amtrak many many times in the past. Especially during the mid-2000s from Seattle to California on the coast starlight and even back in 1993 on the empire builder from Seattle to Chicago and then connecting to Michigan on a different line. I love Amtrak so thank you for making this and I will check out your channel!

[@MetxsightseerRailfan]

Whatever camera you have, the quality is really good at 2160p60.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you! It's a Canon XF400.

[@josesaavedra9459]

@@CoasterFan2105 so the f59phi where on a 20 year lease

[@davidlaporte321]

@@CoasterFan2105 I purchased a cell phone last November called Samsung note 20 ultra with 100 megapixel camera. It takes video as you're stateing in 2160 4K with the option of also recording in 8k but it doesn't do any justice with reproducing 8K, but 4K it's really good I won't settle for anything less.

[@MetxsightseerRailfan]

Happy 50th Anniversary, Amtrak.

[@Chqnces]

Happy Birthday to Amtrak!

[@svtrains4773]

Beautiful video!!!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

What I really miss from the 1980s was that you could just go down to South Station (Boston) and get a ticket and just go, and not get ripped off either. Now Amtrak acts like an airline, charging high fares that get steeper as you get closer to the time of travel, requiring reservations for everything, and playing games for the fares. I hate that.

[@DillianTrainzStudios]

Awesome video! (Fun Fact: I actually went inside a Amtrak ACS-64 back in 2019.)

[@thealmightydoge5653]

Back at it again with Train Talk!! Great to see it again, Mike! Great work as always, see you down the line!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@derrickwong5337]

Happy 50th Anniversary for Amtrak, Mike Armstrong!

[@mariosonicaviationrailroad6703]

It’s so cool that they are still able to retain passenger service across the country.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Pretty neat!

[@HardRockMaster7577]

@@CoasterFan2105 How is passenger train service funded in France, and in Europe?? What do they do that we don't??

[@juanavazquez5110]

😊dsdDW 😊

[@FelicianaDelacruz]

That was an incredibly interesting and fascinating look into Amtrak's history. Thanks so much for sharing this and your other great videos. Train talk is definitely a favorite!

[@gatortrainchaser2080]

EXCELLENT video on the HISTORY of AMTRAK!!! Thanks for SHARING Mike!!! :D

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Gary! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@goodeye03]

Well done. Former Amtrak LSA 92-97 Loved every minute of it.

[@Lakeside_Rail_Productions]

Once again excellent job. I also never knew Amtrak went over the Yakima and Stampede pass!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks so much! Yeah, that's a neat little bit of history. Would be cool to see them going over that route again but not sure if or when that might happen, although there is interest.

[@tom-and-mom]

0:43 The Beginning

[@tom-and-mom]

4:36 Rebuilding the National Network

[@tom-and-mom]

11:16 Intercity Growth

[@tom-and-mom]

16:38 Acelarating into the 21st Century

[@andross51]

Hard to believe amtrak is 50 years old Mike! Another great video! Keep the great videos coming! :)

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Dean! Hard to believe it's been that long!

[@merinaete9068]

Hi ​@@CoasterFan2105! :)

[@davidlaporte321]

When I was a boy I remember Amtrak was called Penn Central and indeed Amtrak has came a long long way since the last time I road a train since then ! ! ! And my late dad did work for the railroad when it was called Penn Central in Selkirk New York ! And also my dad worked for the railroad for 20 years when it was called American locomotive located in Schenectady New York where they built train engines.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

Amtrak was never called Penn Central, it always was a separate thing.

[@peterprice6898]

Happy 50th anniversary to the Amtrak Train company and the next 50 years to come I love Amtrak trains!

[@AnitaV90]

Nice videos keep it up👍👍👍👍

[@AnitaV90]

And thanks for the information to costerfan2105

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, will do!

[@AnitaV90]

You welcome

[@AnitaV90]

And I could draw the trains to 🙂

[@rsandrews8115]

it took 50 years to watch/listen to this.

[@Lakeside_Rail_Productions]

I really hope they bring the pioneer back. It would be cool to have passenger service running on both sides of the Columbia River!

[@MrGoodnplenty1957]

This is one of the best informative presentations yet. Outstanding. Some of the new proposed routes could be very productive. Atlanta-Augusta-Savannah would be a good route. Would love to see the Sunset Limited continue pass New Orleans to Jacksonville again. One I am looking forward to is the Heartland Flyer extended from Ft. Worth to OKC, and continuing to Wichita, ending at Newton KS to connect to the Southwest Chief. Let's hope some of these new routes are approved.

[@apersunthathasaridiculousl1890]

man talks interesting stuff while cool train footage runs in the background

[@devernepersonal3636]

You did a great job with this video. this is amazing.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@MiddleboroLakevilleRailfan]

This is really well done! I throughly enjoyed this and cannot wait for the next one!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Awesome! Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!

[@MiddleboroLakevilleRailfan]

@@CoasterFan2105 no problem it’s my job :)

[@danielwanner8708]

GG 1 , GE E60 both fantastic performers , but I'm excited about the future . Amtrak has come a long way . Charger is absolutely gorgeous .

[@TrainsDirectVictoria]

Fantastic video, thank you for a detailed history of Amtrak!

[@CoasterFan2105]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@RailBrothersProductions]

27:54 beautiful sunset.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@HarryDiecast]

This was another great video that you did on Amtrak. I Can't wait for the next Amtrak video. Have a nice day.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, you too!

[@5hartington]

I approve. Awesome video Mike! I myself have celebrated Amtrak’s anniversary by creating Amtrak 50th Anniversary schemes for Train Simulator

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Brandon!

[@AA_8184_1]

Great relatively brief but very comprehensive recap of Amtrak's history. A lot of great context for how we got to where we are now, and what the future might hold for Amtrak. Well done!

[@cameronreason]

Awesome video. Takes me back to my childhood in the late 80’s and early 90’s when our family would take coast starlight from Seattle to LA.. and Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago.. great memories.. Great video and thanks for all the info on the various types of trains throughout the 50 years and prior 👍🏽

[@lime3107]

We need more Train Talk episodes!

[@CoasterFan2105]

I wish I was able to put them together every month!

[@abean1715]

agree bru

[@thetrainguy1]

@@CoasterFan2105 Can you start a patreon?

[@trainmaster9323]

I've learnt so much in this 28 minutes 😃

[@CoasterFan2105]

Awesome! :)

[@Francobritansolarbally]

The Santa fa and Amtrak sunfliner are my favourite

[@manilatrainsspotting6122]

My favorite locomotive amtrak siemens loco and p42dc!! Nice and cool!!! Men

[@michaeldonaldson4103]

Really a pleasure to watch and informative. As a Transport Fever 2 game player, I enjoy reproducing Amtrak routes on coast to coast and regional maps in the game. There are models of all these locomotives and cars as well as all the pre Amtrak equipment available for use in the game. (It's referred to as a game but can be played as a massive virtual train set.) This video really helps me to place the proper equipment with the historical context and the timeline as game play advances. Thanks for the work you put in to research and produce this video.

[@mindlessshark946]

Happy 50th anniversary, Amtrak! 👍

[@trainlandia697]

Long live Amtrak and passenger trains everywhere!

[@GamingRailfanner]

Ah yes, the 50th Anniversary

[@sikujacob4556]

Happy 50 Amtrak

[@tom-and-mom]

7:11 The E60LF is basically an E60 delivered to CPKC as a stylish ex-Amtrak electric locomotive.

[@roberthenry9319]

Marveloous video. Thank you, Mike.

[@robertreuter5498]

Loved this! Thanks so much. My toddler is fascinated by trains and we love watching your videos together.

[@MetroNorth203Productions]

HAPPY 50TH YEAR AMTRAK!

[@michaelglass4701]

Looooove your Amtrak video, keep making more

[@duaeditsandplays]

We love to to see Amtraks hope I get to see them again

[@sargentrowell81]

Very excited for the push to return service from New Orleans back to Florida, and for the possibility that a new service could start running again between Indianapolis and Louisville (my hometown). As long as I can remember we haven't had service in Louisville, and for the short time we did I didn't even know! I really hope they can do it since the Louisville & Indiana Railroad upgraded the line between Louisville and Indianapolis!

[@CoasterFan2105]

That would be really neat! Hope it happens!

[@kennethmccann6402]

I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak merged private Railroad Company for over 53 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing in any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because trains travel is a blast with a wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car is the best! I used take Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose and now it's called Caltrain extended to Gilroy (south of San Jose). For now covid and I will resume traveling again. For you guys taking a short trip on Amtrak to see if like the trains before taking long trip. Enjoy!

[@coolleo149]

Another happy 50th anniversary to Amtrak!

[@toussantlbisso]

Great Kob ! Thank you Rail Pass ..Good.

[@TheJordanHunt3r]

Amtrak is legendary and iconic, despite all of all the hell Amtrak has been through. Discontinued lines, train replacements, money losses and all of the above, Amtrak still manages to fight till the end. Amtrak will always be the American icon of passenger trains. Happy belated 50th anniversary Amtrak.

[@mattskey1]

This is great I feel like I'm listening to Engines Of Amtrak all over again

[@Railfan225]

Nice! I’ve been looking forward to this!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@liatapaya]

Mantab Happy 50th anniversary

[@unboxingdudegaming8187]

Your channel is the best train channel

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you very much!

[@unboxingdudegaming8187]

Np

[@iiigraghu]

Excellent Enterprising Endeavor 🤝 Greetings from India 🇮🇳

[@anthonyhunt701]

Well, well done!👍🏻

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

It was amazing! Great work mike’ learned a lot from it

[@CoasterFan2105]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@AmateurThread25]

The best Amtrak video ever Amtrak couldn’t explain like this

[@jfp3earth357]

The CT rail service consists of the Hartford Line and Shore Line East Service, but I am drafting plans for expansion

[@pauliewalnuts7088]

Love the old Amtrak trains I took several in late 70s and again in mid 80s

[@Zackman217]

I’ve been riding on Amtrak sense I was a kid, I would take the Pacific Surfliner from Los Angeles to Santa Barbra, and at one time from Los Angeles to San Diego. I have yet to take a ride on a long distance train but my hope is that I would take the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle Washington, and the Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago Illinois. And I’m hoping one day when I go back to Massachusetts I’m hoping to take the Acela Express from Boston to Washington DC or Philadelphia. I’m so excited for the next 50 years to come for Amtrak and I do hope the company will have more high speed rail across the USA in the future. Happy 50th anniversary to Amtrak. 🚅 🎊🎆

[@CoasterFan2105]

I used to take that trip once in a while when I was younger too. It's a fun ride!

[@RogerThunderhandsGilbert]

Thanks for the much needed review of Amtrak's history!

[@RonMontagueSWRR]

Thanks for a great video.

[@OscarMartinez-iy7oo]

I love trains

[@trainsupporter9088]

I really enjoyed your excellent video! You did a great job! I hope for a bright future for rail passenger service in the USA!

[@tom-and-mom]

15:55 1993 is the same year the big bayou crash happened. 47 were dead, and 103 were hurt. The 1st P40DCs came to Amtrak in 1993, the same year the world's worst rail disaster happened, and also is the worst wreck for Amtrak.

[@ianj7194]

And P40 819 was the lead engine destroyed in the crash, only 20 days with Amtrak.

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Nice Video Mike

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks for watching!

[@charlesferebee263]

OUTSTANDING. ! 🇺🇸🏆👍👍

[@TracksideSam]

Hey Mike! ive been watching your amazing videos since i was 5, i am now 11 and i am still watching your videos. the reason is because the videos are just amazing and amazingly edited. i love you vids and i wont stop watching. From, Sam Lagusis.

[@MiguelRivera-yg4fs]

Wow you look like it's time to say goodbye to the old and say hello to the new generation Amtrak trains 🚆🚝🛤️🚄🚅🚊🚉👍👍👍

[@pooliramesh4497]

Beautiful

[@rsandrews8115]

Good information and chronology.

[@SuperDave30]

Happy 50th anniversary Amtrak! I❤️Amtrak!

[@davidbartlett7344]

very very informative!!! So much to see in 1 video but well worth it. I remember traveling on the NYC Line of New England States and The 20th Century . Heritage service with pull together with zipper covering in rooms. Prior to Covid-19, Amtrak needed to pay better attention to cleaning cars both sleepers and coaches with more TLC. I also believe food service dining cars need to come back on line. I remember watching the kitchen crew preparing homemade oatmeal and pealing boiled potatoes. I still believe mail car could be added back on the Boston to Chicago line getting mail to Chicago within a day and help pay Amtrak expenses!! Yes AMTRAK needs more federal funding local state funding to be a success to live on in 2021 and beyond!!!!! Again this was a great video and might suggest when possible to include a site location for reference. GREAT JOB Mike!!!

[@Davi-wu7vs]

Very good channel and trains

[@felixthetrainfan4819]

It's been like 50 years since Amtrak begin service in 1971!

[@DFWRailVideos]

Nice video!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@kevp9601]

This is Awesome. :-D

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Kev! :D

[@saraxaos11]

There was a time when you could get a decent steak dinner on the Texas Eagle. Occasionally a nice Margarita for $2. This was back in the early 2000's!

[@robadams5799]

In the 90s I took Amtrak from Chicago to Worchester, MA on the Lake Shore Limited. It was cool to be on a train, but I wish I would have had the money for a sleeper car. Those seats don't recline very much . . .

[@rah4124]

This video is quite interesting, thank you!

[@kevp9601]

I Love It a Lot. :-D

[@matthewgersch1901]

Happy 50th Anniversary Amtrak

[@jfp3earth357]

Can you do an episode of Train Talk on the New CT rail service that started on June 16th 2018 in the State of Connecticut. Also in 2019 Connecticut partnered with Amtrak for the now named Amtrak Hartford Line originally named Amtrak Shuttle

[@allyreneepenny9447]

This Horn is so amazing 👌

[@SpotterCrazyperson]

Very interesting video! Beautiful videos in this compilation.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@dennisschafer4883]

nice Film from AMTRAK. Thank You

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

Awesome Video 🍀🍀🇮🇳🍀🍀

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@TonyThePlaneTrainFan]

Can you do more fast trains content

[@CoasterFan2105]

I was going to put another one together with more freight trains, I'm just waiting to get some more clips.

[@NJT6050]

I loved the video!!!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@ashishpeters3129]

Thanks a lot for this . Just out curiosity, did US ever had any transcountry east coast to west coast service pre or post Amtrak era? Thanks

[@donaldjobson6799]

Hi Mike, great job as always. I was wondering if you could do the history of the the Norfolk Southern retired f units please and thanks for what you do

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you so much! I'd like to talk about them at some point, but not sure if it will be its own Train Talk episode or part of another video.

[@F-fan-pl7hr]

hi coastfan2105 can you make video on the histor of the SC-44 charger

[@CoasterFan2105]

Eventually!