HiDef: Amtrak's City of New Orleans: New Orleans to Hammond, LA

Ride along with IllinoisRailfan Productions as we've once again found ourselves looking out the back of one of Amtrak's cross-country overnight passenger trains. It's 1:45 PM, and we're departing the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana on our way to Chicago, Illinois.
We're operating solely on tracks owned by the Canadian National Railroad on the Mainline of Mid-America, formerly owned and operated by the Illinois Central Railroad.
It's a quick hour as we make our way out of the city of New Orleans and almost immediately find ourselves skirting along the western coast of Lake Pontchartrain and well on our way to the Windy City. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Welcome aboard!
Some Notes:
-The window on the back of this particular Superliner was pretty dirty, so the picture is minimally distorted for the duration of the trip.
-Track got bad at a few points along the route, and the tripod was literally tossed around the rear of the coach. The camera does shake a bit.
Thanks again for watching. Enjoy!

[@billn9910]

What a fond memory refresher. I rode this train from New Orleans to Hammond, La every Monday morning from 1957-1961 while attending college at Southeastern La College in Hammond. Thanks to whomever put this up.

[@TRSPomerania]

Awesome ride, loved the landscapes very much. Thumbs up and greetings from Poland!

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

There have been a lot of changes in the routing into and out of New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal since Amtrak became the only game in town. At 8:51 you are swinging off of the ex-Louisiana & Arkansas( later KCS) lead into NOUPT, and entering a later-built transfer line. At 9:42 you are entering the original Illinois Central McComb district mainline which continued straight behind the train to NOUPT. It is long gone. At 11:10 you pass the other original passenger line directly into NOUPT, once used by IC, Missouri Pacific and Texas & Pacific through 1969. At 18:57, you pass through Orleans Junction. The line veering to the left is a later connection to the aforementioned L&A line, which crossed here. The line coming in from the right is the old IC Baton Rouge district. All these lines saw many passenger trains per day, and there have been several abandonments and reroutes since then.

[@deangumas6364]

I want more more more full length trips!!!!

[@bluezndance]

I found it relaxing, I was sewing so I lifted my head here and there, the sound was relaxing, reminded me when I use the train ages ago

[@charliefass]

Fun ride. Thanks for the ride..........

[@RenegadeChauffeur]

You're going to love it. I ride Amtrak all the time. Strong suggestion: get a sleeper room. Its a lot quieter and the views are awesome.

[@jhollins225]

Riding along side Lake Pontchartrain is always a beautiful thing..

[@pimpbroker9999]

thats the levee. that big wall that protects the area from floods.

[@Catnip11147]

This video is very soothing. Just last month I rode on the Northeast Regional from Washington DC to Boston. The train left at 3:15am and we arrived in Boston a little after 11:00am. I slept most of the way. A very comfortable ride.

[@ellebystrainvideos2023.]

Absolutely loved this Train Video of the City of New Orleans👍🏽

[@milepost4846]

Rode this from NOL to CHI in 1994 in a sleeper. Nice to see this again! Hate I didn't get to ride it back in the dome car days before the Superliners.

[@PLRHG1959]

I rode this train exactly one time…weekend before Mardi Gras from Hammond to New Orleans. 1978. I was attending Southeastern Louisiana University.

[@UncleKenable]

Interesting film. The last time I rode The CofNO was in 1991 and the train was still running Heritage Fleet, including a dome or two.

[@pgo1972]

Loved this!! The old IC looks good!

[@ZombieTide]

Look at all them private cars at the beginning. Beautiful. Really enjoy these rides. Thanks IRF.

[@ellenfalls1330]

Thanks so much for posting this. Miss you, dear old NOLA. Took the CONO back in late 90's southbound.

[@jkrspecnet]

Great video, and tour. Found it mesmerizing watching it on a 46 in. HDTV.

[@major600]

It would've been more interesting if you'd called the video "Hammond to N.O." and run the video in reverse.

[@major600]

I'm not interested it any of that noise. I mute the video, play some relaxing music, and enjoy the ride. :-)

[@donreed]

And then from Florida to Saigon. Your problem, obviously, is that you think too small.

[@Robbi496]

Wow! Still some jointed rail here! Nice video, I have only been on the old IC as far as Memphis, TN and that was in 1970, so this is nice to explore!

[@simflier8298]

Cool train ride. Thanks

[@billchambers1456]

I took this very same trip in September! I sat on the lefthand side of the train. I appreciate the photography from the end car because it gives me a taste of what I missed on the righthand side. Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@faizthesurprise]

u made me love trains even more

[@djmore2620]

I enjoyed the ride.

[@jscottrutan1160]

Great, thanks. I'll be taking the Crescent from NY Penn Station to New Orleans in a couple months. This got me in the mood.

[@user-gk8gg1zt7l]

Great video.

[@dewey70]

That was fun, reminded me of being a kid again.

[@LewisMarien]

Great video Steve! Love the CN power on that coal train at Frenier.

[@GeorgeJansen]

I LOVE THIS...MORE MORE MORE

[@aeoliankid1]

A very fine video, excellent filming job! I also appreciate the 2 way radio traffic, makes the picture more realistic. No annoying zooming or panning, either! Some other railfans that film inside trains could take some lessons from you.

[@arthurhouston3]

Great view looking back at old IC track right of way into NO was amazed the track was still their.

[@chefjaike]

Beautiful ride! I love the swampy areas north of Norlins. Hella buncha water they have to contend with in that city! :p

[@mountain775533]

Excellent video! Professional A+ quality. No picture shaking (better than if personally standing at the rear window), great train sound quality (none of that wimpy music some like to add to their videos), and whatever you had the zoom set at was perfect. You know if you ever put a string of say 5 straight hours on one trip together, you could sell it. I would definitely buy it. Thank you for the post.

[@Marc.Th.25]

excellent video

[@StarfieldRailway]

I love this ride. I have gone between New Orleans and Jackson on Amtrak many times. The route continues up through Memphis and all the way to Chicago.

[@maniacmarklewin52]

great video enjoyed

[@davidfrobel7582]

nice good way to se the land,,,,thanks.

[@paul-andrelarose3389]

Note to ERA3733: the low speed on the trestle is dictated in large part by the reduced dynamic load on the structure. The maintenance of such a structure is very expensive for a railroad and the reduced speed on it reduces the maintenance requirements.

[@monica012077]

Long, but worth it!

[@ragnarlothbrok6399]

Monica Matos rush. I’m You p

[@ragnarlothbrok6399]

Monica Matos Judas Ripest was the way rrush we y

[@jaspermcmillan6918]

New Orleans terminal sends out two to three long distance trains a day (New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles depending on which day it is n receives the same from thoes destinations. Amtrak is TRYING to figure out how to turn the City of New Orleans and send it on to Florida (Orlando) while initiating a fourth round trip service to Mobile Alabama. The biggest problem between New Orleans and Orlando is the single track freight line (CSX) and mile after mile of slow orders on Florida Trestles.....guess who gets priority on this line??

[@jasandros]

I look forward to riding this Train next month from New Orleans to Memphis and back again.

[@deusdetefranciscodesouza8099]

Nossa que viagem maravilhosas ,uma das maravilhas que o homem criou foram essas máquinas maravilhosas que cruzam o país muito show.e gostei da organização dos parques em que os trens ficam muito bem organizados .parabéns

[@geosutube]

That is a very nice video, from the old Union Station of all rail lines (including, for example, the L&N) that was built precisely at the end of rail travel in this country when we went to air travel. Hope to see more videos from this source. This terminal was actually the terminus of the ICRR, but all other lines climbed aboard the venture. I, too, am amazed at the loss of the double-track. Economies of scale that saved the remnants of the ICRR, the Main Line of Mid America. I rode it to Chicago on the Panama Limited, going to boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill back in July of 1960. Faster than a speeding bullet. Got on the train at about 4pm and got off in Chicago at 6:30am. Great ride. Through the heart of America at night. Check out the timetable of the Panama Limited back then. A speed demon that fed great and you shoes were polished in the morning--if you were courteous to leave a tip with them the night before.

[@JLJ061]

Rode this train round-trip from CHI to NOL back in May, loved it! Got plenty of video of the trip on my YT channel as well.

[@ChadQuick270W]

Excellent footage here. You can easily tell this was once double track (the main line of Mid-America). I guess much of this was under water with the events transpiring with Hurricane Issac.

[@deangumas6364]

Thank you for using a tripod, your a professional in the making.

[@chrisbeard5794]

Great video the only thing that is missing is Willie Nelson and Trigger singer City of New Orleans.

[@kellerjeff1]

Great Vid.

[@jaspermcmillan6918]

Planning to ride #58 from New Orleans to Memphis and return on #59 next month! Haven't had the opportunity to ride a Train in years and am looking forward to it.

[@Catnip11147]

Have fun!

[@irelandbloke]

Great video

[@dalehedrick4530]

Awesome ty

[@ERA3733]

at least 70% of America's railroads still use wooden cross ties, but can certainly do higher speeds even so. The reason for the slow speed across Lake Ponchartrain is the fact that if there is a derailment, the chances are less that the train will end up in the drink. The train's maximum speed in this video - given the schedule of 73 Miles in 60 Minutes - is 79 MPH, with the average speed of 72 MPH. As for the wooden ties, for the level of service on this line, Reinforced Concrete isn't needed.

[@etmeyutub]

always wanted to know what it would feel like going over the swamp and manchac pass on a train. i see those tracks everyday.

[@woodwardokie]

thanks for the video

[@gretchenschultz5568]

woodwardokiec

[@ottosaxo]

I watched this video ten times now. It must have that secret something.

[@geosutube]

@ronald young: the water was Lake Maurepas and Lake Borgne, through Pass Manchac. Just to the west and southern end of Lake Pontracharain.

[@bthor76]

13:34 (Central Avenue) is real close to where I live. I hear train whistles constantly.

[@deusdetefranciscodesouza8099]

Adoro esse tipo de viagem ,muito show

[@Mrgsu1]

awesome...! hammond is the new hollywood south

[@TheKenHerrick]

Thanks

[@xanadujohn79]

@10:10 old school, jointed rail.... love it

[@sclm046]

At 6:38, is this the site of the old Carrollton Avenue station? If so, SP trains also stopper here before leaving the IC and heading toward the Huey P. Long Bridge.

[@norbertdx]

Yes the Carrollton Ave overpass is where the Station used to be on the left. Back in the day before the Fontainebleau Hotel and Pelican Stadium. I live a few blocks from there and have been trying to get info about the old stop. I can only find info about the Pelican Stadium.

[@haylieg2780]

Are used to take this train up to Chicago a couple times a year.

[@ronfogartyfogarty9362]

The horn sounds like the six flags nola video with Adam the woo that was cool I'm glad nola could get their city back together from Katrina how far is the six flags from that station

[@grayfireproductions]

You used a camera on a tripod?! How did you even get it to stand without falling over on curves? Moreover, how did you conceal it from the conductors??

[@CDTLifer28]

Is all the trip from New Orleans to Chicago on such straight track?

[@paul-andrelarose3389]

Note to Mark Smith: I suspect that what you hear is not the wind, but most likely the noise emanating from the car's rolling bearings on the last truck (boggie). This is generally audible from the vestibules of the cars.

[@Howrider65]

Does anybody know if there is still track between New Orleans and Jacksonville where the Sunset limited used to run on?

[@chriscaldwell6304]

It’s still there but Amtrak isn’t using it although there are talking about restoring the route

[@anonymike8280]

Hey, I saw absolutely zero swamp creatures!

[@ashleyprsaud1302]

This is out of bounce but I was wondering if these trees along the train tracks will get red during fall or remain green like the ones we have in the Amazon forest

[@francisjacob8929]

Most of the trees in southern Louisiana are green year round.

[@NYCentralSpotter1070]

12:55 - Junction for the Huey P Long Bridge.

[@midnightmystery544]

That was Earhart Expressway, I believe.

[@brandonshaw7619]

I love the building on the left as its pulling out of nola plaza tower its been vacant for years its for sale at 7.5million 47 stories gutted And oh yea the Times Picayune tower at 5:37 was recently demolished

[@madskyltd]

i've always wanted to make this ride. both from a 'caboose' angel, but especially from the cab---see where i am going and not where i've been! i am only 9 minutes in... does it ever go any faster?

[@BNforever2009]

This is nice. havent rode the City of New Orleans train yet. Im watching this thinking of the old IC passenger trains, The City of New Orleans, The Panama Ltd, The Louisiane, The Mid American, The Southern Express. Just imagine seeing 2 E units and a 10 car train all in matching colors crusing at 80 mph. What kind of camera did you use to film this, this long and get it on KZbin?

[@TheDustysix]

I am new to this hobby. Can anyone tell me why the trestle that starts at 26:30 has gravel around the ties, like a railbed?

[@berkmanyt]

I think it is for fire prevention ?

[@skyh]

Looks like it was another track since removed.

[@RobertSFried]

Nicely done - I don't know the area and would have liked some labelling of what is what...

[@NordikFilm]

Couldnt those cars park closer to the tracks ? Interesting video anyway.

[@rspn]

I've been on that train but only from Hammond to yazoo city ms

[@scottcol23]

@ 6:47 at that turn, my house is about 200 yards to the Left.

[@stephenmcmullen7600]

Illinois Central tracks?

[@joeb6723]

I love the zipper sound.

[@AdiCooLIMY]

Cool

[@Robbi496]

Jointed Rail????

[@andybowe]

the IC uses Now CN AAR 72 161.190mhz IC Ch 1 and AAR 54 160.920 mhz IC Ch 2 all the way north changing between the 2 on each railroad subdivision of the Old IC ICG the train is on.

[@bagnome]

Amtrak needs balcony cars.

[@WedgeBoyd27]

Awesome video, and you didn't edit the trip, even better! Quick question, what kind of camera do you use?

[@scottcol23]

Useless fun fact. At 8:38 you can see the London lodge where the 2003 movie "Runaway Jury" was filmed.

[@vietvet68100]

outstranding i take it that was lake ponchatrain useto fish there.

[@faizthesurprise]

don't you have other views beside the back

[@Sockheadgangster3pwr]

34:00 to 34:03 all engine long hood forward.

[@jaygeorge6839]

People say this train rides a bit rough does it?

[@TylerL1059]

It kinda is .

[@midnightmystery544]

1:12 LOL! That train has 504 on it!

[@gregs2373]

Midnight Mystery When I lived in New Orleans I drove by that locomotive twice a day and never caught that. Good eyes.

[@supered227]

What’s 504?

[@gregs2373]

supered227 Area Code for metro New Orleans

[@supered227]

Greg S ooohh thanks!

[@brandonlangston24]

thats where they flimed in the heat of the night the tv show

[@thud9797]

Train 58 hit a truck at Marine Power crossing 8/10/2020, location 52:32 in the video.

[@nbagb1689]

Why is the train going back weres

[@dagrandchamp25]

NBA GB *Backwards. WTF is "back weres?" 😂

[@pgronemeier]

Can you believe at the 42 min mark....2 trains a day, and one has to wait on a siding?!

[@richardgerlach5156]

+Paul Gronemeier 2 "passenger" trains a day. There are plenty of freight trains to interrupt the flow of the Amtrak trains!

[@pgronemeier]

+Richard Gerlach ...Yea, that's what I meant. Only 2 trains a day, and it has to wait? It's almost as bad as driving and hit every red light. lol

[@tonymul5390]

+Paul Gronemeier You have to understand, since Amtrak is utilizing freight trains' tracks they, being in this case Canadian National railroad, would have the right of way, while the Amtrak train waits or yields, in a siding. Now, if the Amtrak train was running on schedule, then the freight train would be in a siding yielding to Amtrak. Because the freight railroad company doesn't want to be responsible for making that Amtrak train late.

[@skyh]

No the freight railroads get fined for holding up Amtrak.

[@tonymul5390]

Bob Pugh​ Well I'm sure the freight railroads must of paid a fortune. Because they are always holding up Amtrak.

[@panKomorny]

У нас глухие пересечения путей делают под ОСТРЫМ углом и то на станциях, а на перегонах пути пересекаются на РАЗНЫХ уровнях. Но под углом, близким к прямому, 60...90 градусов крайне редко, когда пересекаются малодеятельный подъездной путь и например, трамвай. Но чтобы магистральные пути так пересекались на перегоне - никогда не делают. Так было в Р. империи, СССР, постсоветских странах.

[@geraldhook6475]

Apparently the photographer doesn't know the engine cab from the rear of the train

[@Tuckaway]

Good quality picture, if you could run it backwards it would be better to watch. It kinda makes you travel sick seeing where you've been.