Every Amtrak Train in Chicago

Chicago is well known as the central hub of railroad activity in the United States. This is true for both freight and Amtrak passenger trains. More than half of Amtrak's long distance routes begin or end in the Windy City. In this video, we will take a look at just about every Amtrak train that journeys to or from Chicago on a typical day. The focus will be on two different locations in the downtown area of the city that provide excellent views of both the city skyline and the trains as they arrive or depart out of Union Station. Along with seeing all these trains, we'll also take a look at the different rail lines that pass through the area in the immediate vicinity of Union Station.
CHAPTERS:
00:10 - Introduction
01:53 - Rail Lines Breakdown
05:44 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 54
07:18 - Pere Marquette Train 371 - IDTX 4622
08:51 - Lincoln Service Train 319 - IDTX 4631
10:11 - Amtrak Locomotive Facility
12:10 - Capitol Limited Train 29 - AMTK 51
13:24 - City Of New Orleans Train 58 - AMTK 187 and AMTK 17, 31
17:00 - Wolverine Train 351 - IDTX 4633
18:33 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4622
19:30 - Lincoln Service Train 300 - IDTX 4615
20:44 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 51
21:44 - Blue Water Train 365 - IDTX 4608, 4618
23:03 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 17, 31
23:54 - Lincoln Service Train 302 - IDTX 4619
25:22 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4615
25:57 - Cardinal Train 51 - AMTK 133
27:27 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4608, 4618
28:42 - Lake Shore Limited Train 49 - AMTK 109, 88
30:38 - Roosevelt Road Parking Garage
31:22 - Texas Eagle Train 22 - AMTK 56
32:37 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 107, 112
33:40 - Texas Eagle Train 21 - AMTK 55
34:23 - Saluki Train 390 - AMTK 68
34:52 - Wolverine Train 353 - IDTX 4624
35:29 - California Zephyr Train 5 - AMTK 132, 29
36:38 - Wolverine Train 352 - IDTX 4615
37:20 - Empire Builder Train 7 - AMTK 13, 167
39:17 - Hiawatha Train 336 - AMTK 90221, IDTX 4602
40:03 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 68
40:52 - Southwest Chief Train 3 - AMTK 134, 19
41:52 - Hiawatha Train 337 - IDTX 4602, AMTK 90221
42:32 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4608, 4618
42:52 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4619
43:33 - Blue Water Train 364 - IDTX 4618, 4608
44:38 - Lincoln Service Train 305 - IDTX 4612
45:44 - Illini Train 393 - IDTX 4606
46:45 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 56
48:16 - Wolverine Train 354 - IDTX 4619
49:40 - Metra 829 - METX 198
50:25 - California Zephyr Train 6 - AMTK 138, 44
50:44 - Cardinal Train 50 - AMTK 169
51:48 - Pere Marquette Train 370 - IDTX 4622
52:33 - Southwest Chief Train 4 - AMTK 176, 127
52:40 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 159, 180
53:30 - Capitol Limited Train 29 - AMTK 175
54:52 - Ending
This video was made possible by my supporters on Patreon:
Adam Byrne
Bethany Chernay
Brian Zimmerman
Clarence Jackson
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

[@Jackstermax]

15:52 Love the little 'horn' jingle from the conductor

[@noaha.905]

I've been waiting for an Amtrak Chicago video of this detail and caliber for years! INCREDIBLE WORK! P.S. It's AWESOME that you caught Amtrak 371 with a set of superliner coaches compared to the Venture cars recently. Always been a fan of superliners on that route!

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

Awesome video!! Very cool to learn more about the windy city’s locations and trains.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Many thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@PrincessAmtrakMinamoto]

Fantastic videos with Amtrak in Chicago. 🙂👍🏻❤️

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@MJMYouTuber]

Now there it is!!! That was the time that I went to Chicago Illinois when I was a little kid!!!!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks for watching! Chicago is a neat place to watch trains!

[@courtemanche437]

Very informative and interesting video! Well done!

[@g-manonthego6678]

I was born and raised in Chicago, and lived there for the first 18 years of my life. I can say that it’s easy to find Amtrak trains throughout Chicagoland, including when you want to ride on one. The train that I rode was the City of New Orleans between Chicago and Memphis.

[@RailfanSam]

Great video as always Mike! Love your Amtrak videos!!!!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Sam!

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

This video must have been a heck of a chore to make, wasn't it? I'm planning on going to Chicago in a year or 2, possibly via the Empire Builder

[@CoasterFan2105]

Oh yes hahaha. It took a long time to finish up. That's actually one of the reasons I had to delay some of my other projects that were supposed to come out last month.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

​@@CoasterFan2105 like the Surfline video for example?

[@AmtrakNerd42]

@@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 Surfliner

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

​@@AmtrakNerd42 nono I'm talking about the Surf Line rail line

[@AmtrakNerd42]

@@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 Surfliner video?

[@YardLimit]

An excellent video, Mike! Thanks for putting this together!

[@phillipabbinante-ot7dy]

Well done! I’m from suburban Chicago and use the rails occasionally. I really learned a lot watching this. Kudos!

[@MittenStateRailfanProductions]

Awesome seeing my Amtrak route (wolverine) in the video, keep up the amazing work 😊

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, will do!

[@aaronhill443]

As a fan and frequent rider of Amtrak, this was nice that you were able to capture all of the trains out of Chicago. Great video!

[@dwkcamman611]

Awesome video Mike, great work as always!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Many thanks, David!

[@ryalexstudios]

This is an amazing video! Thanks for making this, and great job!

[@coolleo149]

I love the Amtrak trains and I always will!

[@MercOne]

Wow what a video. I'm from Chicago and still learned a lot. One could spend years exploring Chicago's railroads, particularly the abandoned ones.

[@HarborSubHughley]

Fantastic video Mike

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Evan!

[@HarborSubHughley]

@@CoasterFan2105 No problem

[@josephvanderpool3407]

Amazing video. Unbelievable knowledge and editing, I need to watch a few times to really learn everything

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

Hi Mike, a very interesting video about the Chicago railroad. Fantastic Amtrak trains with a wide variety of locomotive types. Thank you for showing and the information in your written post. I wish you a happy easter. greetings from Germany

[@twanohguy]

Really, really enjoyed this. I appreciate your work to make it.

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

great train video 💕💕❤❤😍😍

[@robertknutson491]

This guy’s channel has some real heritage to it.

[@jasmineperez4854]

❤Good work 🚂

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@barrystock6336]

55:20 Thank you for this video. Will be coming thru in 2024 for our cross country trip. Philadelphia to Seattle for a cruise to Alaska and back . Looking forward to the time in Chicago

[@kevp9601]

Happy Spring Break Vacation, Mister Mike Armstrong !

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Kev!

[@SpeedAcceleracer]

CoasterFan2105 ooh more train videos, really fun to watch on here

[@TheWolverine-ff2rs]

When I used to ride the IC from Highwood to Chicago - we did end up in Union Station this was in the late 60s. The south shore commuter train - station/stopped in the same area but not Union Station. Those were the only trains I rode in Chicago [except for the New York Central - 20th Century Ltd to Kalamazoo MI] when travelling home. I really got to know the train system well. I do remember the 'smoking cars' those were always blue with smoke, we tried to avoid having to ride in that car. lol

[@rhettrossalbert]

Nice video, Mike! :)

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Rhett!

[@kevp9601]

Happy Spring Break Vacation !

[@ericelbe1354]

Being from the Chicago area, this is great scenes for Amtrak and Metra

[@AlanBlakeSr]

MAN THAT WAS GREAT KEEP TI COMING

[@kevp9601]

Happy Spring Break Vacation, Mister Mike Armstrong And Everyyoutuber ! 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

[@RudyTheCannibal]

I plan on moving to Chicago one day, and I will be one happy person when I do.

[@ericd.beckhamsr.2305]

My second home!!! I love Chicago!!

[@attipoe69]

This video is great! I love Amtrak a lot!

[@OneGina83]

Awe 351 was my first Amtrak trip I loved the speedy part of the ride.

[@karatransitfur]

Quite a feat! Glad to see my home base represented!

[@thickernell]

Absolutely superb, Mike! I'd make only one clarification. Only the southern bridge of the pair is the St. Charles Airline. The one on the North is what's left of the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad (B&OCT). The B&OCT is how trains got in and out of Grand Central Station. I believe CSX still owns the "bridge to nowhere" to this day. Grand Central Station and the B&OCT downtown approach we removed after Amtrak took over.

[@danmarkis3785]

Fantastic video Mike....

[@WOALEGOLand]

Awesome Work.

[@aguy4107]

This was a joy to watch - you did a great job filming and explaining. Your video also underscores how garbage Amtrak's consists are...USA rail needs a modern and relentlessly consistent look and feel. Onward! :)

[@rsconover7957]

I kind of want to see Heritage Unit Profiles more often! They’re great! Maybe if you have the chance, you could do one of the Norfolk Southern or Canadian Pacific heritage units!

[@usrails17]

Amazing views! Chicago is one big city, I might go there to railfan too!

[@Dieselhammer696]

Awesome video

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@Dieselhammer696]

@@CoasterFan2105 your welcome

[@jacoblaclair368]

Best Train Video Ever!!!!!!!

[@dontedrake2316]

😊 Lincoln service also stops in Springfield Illinois Bloomington-Normal Lincoln Illinois and down South Alton Illinois it's a great video keep up the great content

[@TheWolverine-ff2rs]

Thank you for the videos and history lesson. I moved from the Great Lakes area in 1969 and now only see it when using the Capital Lmtd - so missed all the change from separate lines to Amtrak.

[@SuperDave30]

Awesome video my man, I love Amtrak City of New Orleans same train stop at my hometown Memphis Tennessee.

[@TheMetGuy]

Amtrak has a lot of great trains

[@CoasterFan2105]

Indeed!

[@Boilermaker-Rick]

Awesome video 😊

[@railgraphy]

Wonderful video. ❤

[@chiefs1587]

Love those new Chargers.

[@simonsv9449]

8 of Amtrak’s 15 long-distance routes end at Chicago so that is sure a lot. The ones that do are the Cardinal, Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited, City of New Orleans, Texas Eagle, California Zephyr, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief. The ones that don’t are the Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Crescent, Palmetto, Auto Train, Coast Starlight and Sunset Limited. Almost all of them end at either New York Penn Station or Los Angeles Union Station.

[@SD40-2]

Amazing video!!!

[@theaustinleeytchanneltalytc]

It's train heaven in Chicago!

[@Erick-Ayala.]

Nice 😃👍🏻

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@karelcornelius9586]

7:17, 51:48 Pere Marquette Train with the Superliner cars 8:51 Four Siemens Venture cars in this train 18:33 IDTX with Superliner 45:44 Illini with Superliner

[@trume12]

The wrapped 31014 I actually rode in back back in May very nice superliner but they are supposed to be doing new interior on it the end of this month

[@jonathanbaker4936]

Amtrak also goes north out of the north end of Union Station. The Hiawatha and the Empire Builder uses the north end tracks to get to Milwaukee and points west to Seattle. Not alot of people knows that.

[@MAJAJAJAJAMJA]

Fantastic video! U should’ve done it now tho because there Amtrak phase 7 p42s and the new borealis route

[@nathanpellegrini]

Cool video

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Nathan!

[@KU84dh37]

Very interesting video. JMS

[@blowtorchhonor]

27:07 It runs through the Buckingham Branch, too! And it's mostly NS through VA

[@AirlinkTrainsAndAviation_PACQ]

I like the way how union station has 30 tracks

[@AmtrakNerd42]

This is also a nice way to pass the time in a car ride.

[@GoldenBonnie2008]

I was born there so I saw all the trains!

[@snoopyloopy]

Wow what a work of dedication. Some of those crossovers need a bit of work.

[@BHV0810]

13:25 That's a nice K5LA

[@ERLCROBLOXGAMING]

Nice railfanning

[@BNSF4749Railfan]

Epic

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@kevp9601]

Happy Spring Break Vacation, Everyone

[@vivyan92]

Can you make a special video for National Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey? The one where you can do various filming locations in New York state filming the Hudson River Rail Excursion train from New York to Albany? It's been pulled by two private coaches from the New York Central railroad attached to Amtrak's Empire Service from New York to Albany and back. And that goes the same for the 75th Anniversary Special this September where a couple of private coaches will be attached to Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited to Chicago and back. If you can get make that special video with those excursions and history, all of us railfans will be thrilled. Thanks.

[@TrainLovers-TL69]

NIce trains!

[@moniquebousseau966]

Merci😘

[@Capallen91845]

Cool

[@nickyyhap1]

I like your narration, Mike. You have the same voice as CNN’s Jake tapper.

[@maas1208]

Can you do videos on the CTA and Metra.

[@lowellvillerailfanproductions]

This area should have been the origin of Amtrak's auto train instead of it's current route Chicago to Florida seems like a perfect way to run it.

[@timlabell]

Haha you enjoy that train ride 😪🤕🤕😮‍💨😵 🚭🚻🚺⬇️↗️🔞🚷🛐♂️⚕️☑️🈴️◾️🔸️👠🎼🎺🔲anything coming from the City of Chicago and anything going to the same city is going to be a trip you'll see😮😮

[@joshuafajardo5697]

The Cardinal should reroute to the ⬇️ Shore Line but should take the Westlake Corridor to get to Dyer

[@joshuafajardo5697]

People also want the Lincoln Service/Missouri River Runner & Texas 🦅 to be rerouted from the Heritage Corridor to the 🪨🏝️ District with a 🚉 in Downtown Tinley Park because of the freight delays on the HC

[@413TomaccoRoad]

I think Selkirk NY would be a great yard to record videos.

[@JTran0217]

Still working on the train talk episode about New Jersey Transit, Metro-North Railroad, and Long Island Railroad?

[@CoasterFan2105]

I probably won't get to work on those until my next trip to the East Coast.

[@chrisbarr6260]

Here’s an idea for a future video. What are your favorite stations on the Amtrak routes?

[@mijicalmagiemance8014]

I sure enjoyed this vid but can we get trains at bob hope airport train station one day and sure hope I see the alc-42 soon

[@AmtrakNerd42]

How long ago was most of this taken? Some of these trains I thing are different now. Like the Empire Builder should ALC 42s on it and other will have no baggage cars. And the Southwest Chief 4 come in at 7 pm?

[@odiecalodie]

Amtrak is looking to reroute the St Louis-Chicago Trains from Joliet to Chicago over the Metra Ex Rock Island Line due to congestion.

[@coleallen3895]

I hope they get the funding to do that. The Rock Island line is free of freight train delays compared to the current line on CN-owned tracks

[@wrrn411]

Awesome! Does CSX come through Chicago?

[@jackchen7003]

ALL freight railroads go through Chicago

[@maas1208]

​@@jackchen7003 except for KCS, however they are merging with CP tho

[@jackchen7003]

@@maas1208 yeaaaaa 😩

[@PatrickDoran2319]

Still no word if Amtrak will donate a P42 to a museum 😞

[@christiandambrosio8363]

Hey Mike do you know what will happen to the coaster F59PHI locomotives after their official retirement from service and why didn’t coaster plan on rebuilding their F59s and upgrading them to tier 4 standards because they were never rebuilt

[@TYR-RailFan]

Where is the best place to RailFan BNSF in the Bay Area?

[@Cal90208]

Why do equipment moved backup so far? The switch appears to be very close but they backup past the crossing.

[@SteveSmithRailways]

I have a question: from watching Virtual Railcam, the Texas Eagle train always seems to have P42's numbered from the around the mid 50's-mid 60's on them. Is there any reason for this?

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

Is Union Station a "run through"? I thought it was a "double stub end," meaning that trains can come in both from the North and the South but that the tracks end, in both directions, at the station.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Some of the tracks are run through while others are stub end. But trains can run through and they do so on a daily basis.

[@dmvarearailstransprod22]

Did you hear about what happened to Amtrak 184?

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yes, I did.

[@dmvarearailstransprod22]

@@CoasterFan2105 Oh wow and I can’t believe that it’s back in the Phase 5 scheme.

[@BowlingCouple]

Hello Everyone

[@BNSF4749Railfan]

Hi!

[@jasmineperez4854]

Hi

[@rebooted.jupiter_]

wsg

[@CoasterFan2105]

Hello!

[@idalwave6422]

You mentioned that all but one P40 locomotives have a new nose, I can you ID it

[@Cruz474]

I'm just here for the Empire Builder.

[@christopherdibble5872]

The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore; not like they did back in 1954