Amtrak Cascades Horizon Trains

Amtrak Cascades is an intercity passenger train service that operates on between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, B.C. in the Pacific Northwest. Following the retirement of the Talgo Series 6 train sets in 2020 during a period of reduced trip frequency, the states of Washington and Oregon turned to Amtrak's fleet of single level Horizon Fleet cars to supplement the Oregon owned Talgo Series 8 sets. The Horizon cars were constructed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Bombardier Transportation and are based off a commuter rail car design. Since then, more frequencies have been reintroduced to the Cascades corridor, necessitating the use of additional Horizon sets. In this video, we will take a look at Amtrak Cascades trains operating with Horizon cars on several different sections of the rail corridor in Oregon and Washington State. Included are some scenes of Cascades trains running along the shore in Puget Sound southwest of Tacoma, prior to Amtrak service being rerouted onto the Lakewood Subdivision in November of 2021.
This video was made possible by my supporters on Patreon:
Adam Byrne
Bethany Chernay
Brian Zimmerman
Clarence Jackson
Delay In Block Productions
Jim Walker
Jovanni Cruz
Lyle C
Peter Della Flora
Thomas Jackson
Amtrak and AWVR Fan
ShadowSteel18
Paasha and Megan Mahdavi
Cristian C
Vinny G
Malcom B.
And many more!
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!
©2023 Mike Armstrong Media

[@291281]

Awesome compilation of rail traffic CoasterFan2105 3:28 & 4:50 😍 4:04 the sky is beautiful

[@CoasterFan2105]

Many thanks! I really liked how those shots turned out.

[@damirbasic8028]

Hi

[@MariaEduarda-bm9nd]

Z -

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Pretty cool video of these Horizon Trains that are service from Amtrak.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Nathan!

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

This is a wonderful video! Always like the horizon cars on Amtrak, and I think they are iconic for what services they have done.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you! I'll always have a soft spot for the Horizons. Saw them many times on the San Diegans and then the Surfliners over the years.

[@coolleo149]

It’s sad that the official cascade cars are gone, but at least the horizons are still being used!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Indeed! And full service returns next month!

[@sixatyabiii]

I've seen the talgo trains 4 times

[@sixatyabiii]

Rare sighting

[@MegaChallanger]

The series 8 Talgo are still in use

[@damirbasic8028]

Hi mike amstrong

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Beautiful compellation video once again of all the passenger trains from this area of the country. Enjoyed watching and have a wonderful rest of your Friday.(Steve)

[@CoasterFan2105]

Many thanks, Steve! You too.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@CoasterFan2105 Your welcome and thank you also.

[@PrincessAmtrakMinamoto]

Awesome video with Amtrak Cascades Horizon. Amtrak was best forever. 🙂👍🏻❤️

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks for watching!

[@HarborSubHughley]

Fantastic video Mike

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Evan!

[@HarborSubHughley]

@@CoasterFan2105 you are welcome

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

A fantastic video, love these loco combinations and the different train sets, as well as these very nice film locations. Excellently filmed. Have a nice weekend and greetings from Germany

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks again, Wolfgang!

[@nebraskarailfanner2511]

Lots of amazing shots and awesome K5LAs

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks for watching!

[@TERRYExpresS]

Congratulations for all the work done around this beautiful passion! I watch your videos from France and it's always so entertaining as usual! Keep up the good work! Terry ! ;)

[@CoasterFan2105]

Many thanks, Terry!

[@SpotterCrazyperson]

Great videos!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@BeeJayDubya]

NIce footage! You were just south of me on the Bellingham Sub: I live just 70' from the mainline at MP 98.7. Very nice to see local footage.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you! Yes, literally just around the corner! I pass through that area pretty regularly.

[@andrewchapman2024]

Not to veer to far from the topic, but I distinctly remember going to the Seattle Amtrak station to pickup my grandma with my parents when I was 5. The locomotive at the time always seemed to be a black and silver EMD F40PH. I didn't think much of them at the time, but I have an eye for them now because of that fond memory of going to pick up my grandma. There seems to be quite a few in this video.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yes, the former F40PH locomotives in this video were turned into cab control cars about 20 years ago, most of them specifically for the Cascades service. They had their engines and other associated components removed and a number of them received roll up doors on the side for baggage storage.

[@andrewchapman2024]

@@CoasterFan2105 so all of them have been converted and not 1 has been kept as a locomotive?

[@ryalexstudios]

Awesome photography! Your videos are amazing, I click the like button on every single new video!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@RandomRailfan828]

Nice video Mike! Sad to see those coaches leave, but you got some great shots of them!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you! I agree, the Talgos were neat trains.

[@ParrotGaming123]

Nice video!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@rhettrossalbert]

Great Video Mike! :)

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Rhett! :)

[@mccoy79productions66]

Awesome catches!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@Lakeside_Rail_Productions]

8:41 good it sounded like you got lots of photos there. Awesome scene and crew!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@abuBrachiosaurus]

Amazing footage, as usual!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

Thanks for the vid sir - those are good looking trainsets, love the slab sides. I know lots of folks like the green/brown/cream scheme but that silver is sexy too.

[@CoasterFan2105]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching! I like the old Talgos as well as the Horizon cars. It's neat equipment.

[@Boilermaker-Rick]

Great catches thanks for sharing

[@CoasterFan2105]

And thanks for watching!

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Just wait until the Airo trains arrive... The trains will look much better and not unmatched

[@CoasterFan2105]

Indeed!

[@Aroncsik]

Cascades deserves so much better

[@svtrains4773]

Nice work! Good luck 🤞 👋

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@4014fan]

Great Video Mike!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@mrchicken6325]

Wow very cool

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@mrchicken6325]

No problem

[@mccoy79productions66]

cool catches! Nice!

[@RailfanSam]

Great video as always Mike. I miss the series 6 talgos though

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Sam! I do too.

[@SL9SHi_NorCal]

This Is Great!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@notch8c40]

First to comment? Wow! Awesome video mike! I loved the shots on this video!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@cakdebyrailfans]

Nice video my friend👍

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@djmasterty2309]

That is awesome!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@djmasterty2309]

@@CoasterFan2105 I miss seeing the amfleets on the Lossan corridor a lot. It’s amazing that the Amtrak Cascades horizon trains do.

[@josebenitez6925]

Following the December 2017 accident in DuPont, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found a design flaw in the Talgo VI sets, which ultimately led to their retirement. Horizon cars are acting as a temporary replacement, however in 2021, the real replacement was found in the form of the Siemens Airo trainsets, which were unveiled in December 2022. These sets are scheduled to begin arriving in 2025, and will enter service on the Cascades route in 2026. In addition, it was recently revealed that 2 more SC-44s will be joining the Cascades fleet as part of this new order.

[@StefanWithTrains]

Will they have the same cab as the SC-44 ones or the ALC 42 style cab?

[@NorthWARail]

I like the horizons but I wish the talgos could come back but I guess we get 2 horizon trains up here on the northern part since they announced that a second train is coming. (Announced in january but coming in march)

[@CoasterFan2105]

It will definitely be nice to have the other round trip back in March!

[@mijicalmagiemance8014]

great vid I want to see these on the Pacific Surfliner

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks! They used to run on Surfliner, but were removed from service there in March of 2020.

[@Martin_Trainspotter]

Very nice video.

[@landonweber2252]

I love ❤️ ❤❤❤ train,s and you.

[@TheAustinSubRailfan]

0:00 Man I miss AMTK 822 and it’s K5LA. Although I think it got a RL one not long before it was wrecked. Kind of crazy that it’s still at the Beach Grove shops and that they haven’t scrapped it yet. Nice video though!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks! 822 had its horn replaced a few years before being stored at Beech Grove. It will probably be put up for auction eventually, but not sure when that will be.

[@railfangarrett6313]

From the few photos I've seen of it, it isn't too badly damaged but I doubt it will be fixed and it will most likely be used for spare parts

[@brianfalzon6739]

Wish the Horizon Cars were saved and preserved for tourist railroads!

[@Saitama-b8v]

Epic video

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@Saitama-b8v]

No problem

[@IronHorsefan1869]

They should have never prematurely retired the Talgos, they made the Cascades Majestic, and they blamed them for Amtrak's failure on the Dupont Curve which they never should have done, great video though!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@abuBrachiosaurus]

They were removed due to safety concerns

[@IronHorsefan1869]

@@abuBrachiosaurus Ones that didn’t have anything to do with the talgos!

[@falfoulesoychie7609]

Very cool👌

[@paulcastillo1310]

I like the video and have you a make video of the Northeast Amtrak train 🤔

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Paul! I've made a couple videos featuring various Amtrak trains in the Northeast, but nothing covering all the trains.

[@paulcastillo1310]

@@CoasterFan2105 ohh ok and I will check the ones that you have done

[@joshuadominictoling5310]

That would’ve been great with the Pacific Surfliner Service with Cafe and Coaches Horizon.

[@smallexperience]

wow se good👍

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

Nice Video ☘️👌🇮🇳👌🌹

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@svalzania]

Thanks!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks for watching!

[@nickjanssens3413]

Great video. Is the end locomotive just shut off and pulled along in these consists or are they both running? Sure there's a reason, just seems like excessive power for 3-4 coaches and curious why they have two?

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Nick! The older locomotive is actually a cab control car, converted from an F40PH type. Amtrak took all the motor and associated components out of the locomotive and on some of them, added a roll up door on the side for baggage storage.

[@RailVisionaries]

do you think they are going to buy more talgos? or will they repaint the horizon cars? or will they fix the talgos that are in beech groove?

[@mason7024]

They have new Siemens cars on order

[@CoasterFan2105]

All the Series 6 Talgos have now been scrapped. They have new Airo cars on order that will be arriving in 2026. For the time being, the trains will continue to be either Horizon cars or Oregon Series 8 Talgos.

[@RailVisionaries]

@@CoasterFan2105 Oh my fault. Can't really tell from google satellite

[@CoasterFan2105]

@@RailVisionaries Not a problem!

[@n700z28hikari528]

6:15 What are the four rails on the elevated tracks for? Is it to prevent deviation in case of derailment?

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yes, they are "guard rails", often used on bridges and curves to keep equipment from falling off in the event of a derailment.

[@canadianrailfanproductions7630]

Yasss

[@terragraham1297]

I work on these trains ,🥰😍

[@CoasterFan2105]

That's awesome!

[@RailfanningWithMason]

Will you be visiting Chicago again anytime soon?

[@lowellvillerailfanproductions]

Is it just me or do the new Amtrak locomotive have a similar horn to a bright line has

[@CoasterFan2105]

Exact same horn! Brand new Nathan K5LA.

[@lowellvillerailfanproductions]

@@CoasterFan2105 okay thanks for the clarification I do not know anything about

[@coleblackwell2739]

do you have any idea what happened to the southern pacific railroad in 1996 🤔

[@BalloonBugle88MC]

it merged with UP

[@Dragonmasterjs]

What happened to Amtrak 90250's left ditch light? And how does this happen sometimes?

[@Baconbs718]

0:25 the DVT (driving van trailer) is shaking around

[@killerbees177]

The horizon cars are so uncomfortable due they only have one armrest btw two seats

[@saxonaudio]

These are gonna be replaced in 2026 by the only Siemens Airo trains that not only are the only train sets that don’t have dual mode capabilities but also the only Airo train sets in the western USA.

[@Ferromexfan4081]

Where was the 1st shot recorded?

[@CoasterFan2105]

Davidson Street in Albany, OR.

[@damirbasic8028]

Hi

[@graphtonix6607]

Will Amtrak keep the F40 NPCU'S forever???

[@mason7024]

They’ll be phased out on most trains. The new Siemens cars on order include cab cars.

[@graphtonix6607]

@@mason7024 Why???

[@CoasterFan2105]

They will be retired from 2026-2030 as they are replaced with new equipment from Siemens-Mobility.

[@graphtonix6607]

@@CoasterFan2105 What will happen to them then???

[@CoasterFan2105]

@@graphtonix6607 Sold off, most likely for scrap.

[@hammy7061]

What street was the first video?

[@Not34Carloves]

I thought this guy did reviews of cedar point or a random six flags park because his name says COASTER

[@bennygsstopmotions]

Did you look at his profile pic?

[@Not34Carloves]

@@bennygsstopmotions yes, and I said that on purpose

[@davidjackson7281]

It will be nice when it is no longer a three trains a day 12 hour mixed service ride. Not much demand for a train that can not average 80 mph.

[@CoasterFan2105]

One more round trip between Vancouver BC and Portland, OR should be coming in March and then two more between Seattle and Portland this fall. They're also getting more Horizon cars to increase train length and have additional consists.

[@andrewchuang8433]

Oh no the Talgo six coaches are transition and scrapped We just also like to have another set of a European Talgo coaches Just like Talgo six

[@CoasterFan2105]

The Series 8 Talgo sets are still in service and will be running on the Cascades at least until 2026.

[@James.50437]

9:19 amtrak horn

[@BromEgonTales]

What number is the diesel

[@ManuelTorres-vf3hq]

OMG a Ferromex locomotive a 1:09

[@Hiper-Red]

9:02 i just saw the flag of panama... look closely oh yeah i saw the flag of estonia...

[@damirbasic8028]

Hi mike amstrong

[@YardLimit]

Lots of Horizon cars deadheading on the Southwest Chief recently. It's hard to find an uglier looking car.

[@CoasterFan2105]

There are close to 10 of them right now in Los Angeles being prepped for Cascade service. The final round trip is being restored in March and I think they will also be adding cars to some of the trains.