How St. Louis Runs a Metro With Light Rail

[@JerrellWoolford]

I enjoy seeing transit enthusiasts and railfans out on the system. It was great to be your operator for the Illinois ride to out to Shiloh and I enjoyed chatting with you. You got your moneys worth out of that Gateway Card lol. You nailed all the facts in this video. Maximum Allowed Speed on the train is 55 mph although there are spots where we could get up to 65 mph. As for the Illinois side, construction for the extension from Shiloh to Mid America Airport should be starting up later this year with the work complete by 2025. Continue to be safe out there 🙂

[@ClassyWhale]

Thanks, we really appreciated riding with you! Hope to come out when the new leg opens.

[@spd_bird]

Enjoyed having you with us on the journey! It was incredible getting to not just meet you but talk about transit and Metro. You're such an incredible person doing such important work. Here's to more adventures in the future!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Respect, bro! You're living the dream operating the MetroLink with some wonderful views on the river.

[@JerrellWoolford]

@@spd_bird I appreciate that. You know where to find me.

[@JerrellWoolford]

@@AverytheCubanAmerican Thank You

[@iron1349]

I feel like the Loop Trolley has potential, they just need to fit the cars with snowplows to punish drivers who park their cars in its way

[@thatpersonsmusic]

I know as a St. Louis native, I once tried to ride it, but none of the ticket machines were working and there was no way to know where the trolley was and how long it would take to arrive. I waited for about 10 or 15 minutes before giving up on it. So that was definitely not a factor that helped it. Get the technological kinks sorted out and perhaps have some sort of live map or estimated arrival time (This was the original 2018 operation, I’m now currently in college in Virginia and don’t know how the new operations are going)

[@robk7266]

At least it has its own row. If it ran frequently 7 days a week, it would work. Eventually, it should be extended down lindell/olive, acting as a local service to the Metrolink

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

@@robk7266 AYYYYYYYYY I'm so glad to hear another St. Lunatic bringing this up! I have been advocating for this for years now. If we could just give it more priority/speed on it's current alignment in U-city and extend it to the C.W.E. (to start) it could be as useful as the St. Charles line in New Orleans! :]

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

It doesn't even need that if they would just remove the stupid on-street parking along its western alignment. I am totally for snow-plow blades on it though! xD

[@robk7266]

@@StLouis-yu9iz agree with you except for one point. The St. Charlse line is not useful. In fact, the service kinda sucks.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

"✨DINER✨" Now that'll summon Miles and Jackson! The views of the Arch from Laclede's Landing are amazing! What a way to impress! Portions of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is also a repurposed right-of-way. When the HBLR wraps around the western side of Hoboken was once part of Conrail's River Line. This portion of the River Line is for the HBLR now, but the former River Line portion between North Bergen Yard and Selkirk, NY is still for freight for the CSX River Subdivision. And the Weehawken Tunnel it uses to go through the Palisades to North Bergen and Union City was once used by West Shore Railroad/New York Central trains that terminated at the now demolished Weehawken terminal (which is now the Port Imperial NY Waterway terminal). And the HBLR service to Bayonne is also repurposed. The Central Railroad of New Jersey once had service to Bayonne (beginning in the 1860s with four stations) but Bayonne service was truncated when the Aldene Connection allowed CNJ trains access to Newark Penn via the Lehigh Valley Railroad (now Norfolk Southern). Service stopped altogether in the 1960s. But the HBLR revived service to Bayonne starting in April 2000 and ending with the opening of 8th Street in January 2011.

[@ClassyWhale]

Dude would you like to join me for my hudson-bergen light rail video?

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

@@ClassyWhale Wait, are you serious?! YES!! I'm on eastern Long Island but I always find an excuse to go to Jersey City.

[@ClassyWhale]

@@AverytheCubanAmerican hmu on email or discord (make sure it's cool with a parent if you're under 18!)

[@zacharylegaspi7594]

I haven’t seen this username in a while

[@MilesinTransit]

diner

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Gateway Arch history nobody asked for: It is the tallest arch in the world and the tallest monument in the Western Hemisphere! It was designed by Eero Saarinen, same guy behind Dulles International! The park the Arch was in was originally called Jefferson National Expansion Memorial until it was redesignated as a National Park in 2018, making it the smallest in the NPS system with the designation National Park. The Arch's unique elevator tram was designed by Richard Bowser. He knew a normal elevator system of course wouldn't do, so for the Arch he combined elevator and Ferris wheel elements to create a unique system where a tram of eight elevator pods that by rotating, allows the visitors inside to remain leveled the entire way. But here's toasted ravioli history people DID ask for: In the early 1940s, a ravioli was accidentally dropped into the fryer at Mama Campisi's by a drunk chef. Mickey Garagiola, older brother of Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Joe Garagiola (who played for the Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs, and NY Giants for nine seasons), was actually at the bar during the mishap and was the first to taste the accidental treat. Shortly thereafter, the item began appearing on menus across The Hill

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

See, I have heard that story from staff at Mama's as well but I wasn't sure if it was true because I am pretty sure I have heard other restaurants on the Hill tell similar stories... lol but I believe Mama Campisi's was the original as well. Thanks for sharing some more Lou facts! :]

[@schwenda3727]

In recent years, I’m surprised that such a dish has never taken off nationwide… fried ravioli likely with a little parmesan cheese on top for presentation and dipped in marinara sauce for obvious additional flavor. By way of comparison, more than a handful of bars within Greater St. Louis that aren’t even remotely Italian appear to have toasted ravioli readily available as an appetizer…

[@johnsmart964]

Thank you for bringing us this excellent video presentation, with your many guests! It really is a good metro/light rail system and it was good to see the use of the former railroad route. The end result of the old and new architectural styles looked really good as well as being wholly practical. These transit systems are a great way to get around cities and may many more open up. Thanks again for taking us with, it is much appreciated.

[@nashorn9745]

The St. Louis light rail system has a couple of things in common with the one in Basel also mentioned in this video. Basel's network goes through multiple states five to be exact. The Illinois part of the system is verry similar to the western most part of line 10 to Rodersdorf wich is just light rail through fields, on wich many unprotected railroad crossings where the streetcars honked, sadly they are normal railroad crossings now so no more honks. Line 3 of the Basel streetcar network will bring you to St. Louis in France.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

It's a shame Royce didn't take you to Forest Park nor the Francis Gymnasium or Francis Olympic Field off of University City-Big Bend station, it would've been an opportunity to flex that St Louis hosted the 1904 Summer Olympics, and those were venues during the Games! The Francis Olympic Field once had a 19,000-person seating capacity, but stadium renovations in 1984 reduced the capacity to 3,300 people. Because it opened in 1904 for the Olympics, it is one of the oldest sports venues west of the Mississippi River that is still in use! Francis Olympic Field was used for athletics, cycling, archery, lacrosse, roque, tennis, tug of war, weightlifting, wrestling, gymnastics, and association football/soccer, Francis Gymnasium was used for boxing and fencing, while Forest Park was used for diving, swimming, and water polo! Creve Coeur Lake for rowing, and Glen Echo Country Club for golf were also used. Basketball, hurling, American football and Gaelic football were featured as unofficial sports. There's an interesting story behind how St Louis got to host the Olympics. Basically, Chicago was supposed to host the Games, but the organizers of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis didn't want another international event held in the same time frame, told the Chicago organizers they'd be planning their own sporting events if they weren't moved to St Louis, and Pierre de Coubertin intervened and awarded St Louis the games. Due to the Russo-Japanese War and difficulties traveling to St Louis, out of over 650 athletes, only up to 74 of them came from outside North America! Cuba was the only Latin American country that participated in those games! And fun fact, the reason Dairy Queen flips their Blizzards upside down is because of Ted Drewes! Samuel Temperato, the DQ franchise owner who came up with the idea for Blizzards, was inspired by the frozen treats sold by Ted Drewes, who termed them “concrete”. In 1959, Steve Gamber, then 14, would stop by Drewes’ Chippewa Street location for a sandwich and chocolate malt, asking Drewes to make it thicker and thicker each time. Drewes had enough and one day flipped the malt upside down to show its thickness, assuring his young customer that if it fell out, it was free. Temperato picked this up for Dairy Queen!

[@robk7266]

I actually remember the Wikipedia article for Metrolink got into a civil war o er weather thos counts as light rail or a light metro. I was on the pro light metro side

[@robk7266]

The same thing goes for Lynx in Charlotte. It's entirely elevated or used crossing gates. The only difference is that it uses low floor vehicles.

[@yourlifeexplainedbyme.4666]

St Louis has been getting attention from you and Trains are Awesome this month

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

We really appreciate the positive press too! :D

[@jimspies2775]

Good video. My hometown system (for reference, I'm the dude you ran into on the CLE Blue Line a month or so ago). MetroLink is great, and I believe you got *just* about all the STL facts right (possible exception for River Des Peres. It's a sanitary sewer now, but is/was a natural creek. It was expanded to it's current state in the 30's by the WPA. If you look closely after you cross Chippewa, you can see the message they installed when it was built). The Metrolink itself is great and despite it's reputation I ride it 15-20 times a month anywhere from 5am to midnight and have never felt unsafe on it at any time. I do wish the system would go back to the frequency of the mid-2010's, with each line running every 12 minutes which effectively gives you 6 minute headways between Forest Park and Fairview Heights. We have a severe driver shortage right now, lots of bus routes get canceled every day because of it.

[@john.m.shukites]

Love the video! And, "Does that mean chemical laden trains ran under a children's hospital?" That is pretty on brand for St. Louis. I would expect no different.

[@billkramme5443]

The children's hospital wasn't built until after the tracks were decommissioned, and the tracks were previously not covered, just depressed.

[@starrwulfe]

First of all thank you so much for a very detailed look at my Hometown transit system. Fun fact, I actually interned for the architectural design firm that was in charge of developing the very first part of the Metrolink system back in 1994. The section where you guys were in the loop is very surreal for me as it is literally where I grew up and down the street from my old high school on the corner of Delmar and Union Boulevard. You pretty much covered all the bases, but I can tell you that toasted ravioli is in Vinny on the southside in an Italian neighborhood called the Hill. St. Louis is famous for a lot of foods that were invented there, like iced tea and ice cream cones!

[@henryjpridejr]

You kids are the best I love all your videos

[@Dragonmdk]

Also about the Children's Hospital, no not really, the Wabash Main used by the Metrolink was more or less mainly used for the Passenger trains in and out of St. Louis, outside of industries on it. So it'd be perfectly fine. You can actually see the old Wabash passenger depot at Delmar's station, it was a suburb station before reaching/first stop departing St. Louis Union. Also the Blue Line isn't former Wabash, at Forest Park it splits off onto the Rock Island Railroad's own passenger main which used to join there, at just past clayton, where you see the large incline at around 8:20 and the curve, you switch onto the TRRA's old West Belt and more or less follow that as far as Shrewesbury

[@fyrf0x8910]

The Gloria mention alone is enough for a like. Good work.

[@Canleaf08]

The Basel tram goes to three countries AND has a German railway station on the Swiss side. And in Canada, the O Train also crosses the Ottawa River into Gatineau.

[@PikalaxALT]

The whistle on these LRVs sounds identical to the Adtranz M4 on the Philly MFL.

[@MrDEWaters]

Trivia item-----The St. Louis airport was designed by the architect of the NYC World Trade Center, Minoru Yamasaki. He also designed the Pruit Igoe housing project north of downtown St. Louis, which was demolished and became world famous as an example of the failure of public housing. St. Louis is really bleak in winter. After mid April everything is green. As of spring 2023 the Delmar Trolley is operating, but it is controversial, and is not really a valid transit method. Mostly it provides historic atmosphere.

[@street_ruffian]

Frozen custard!!! Wait who calls it "iced"?

[@aoilpe]

I’m honestly astonished- 13:40 - You know about the “Drämli” in my hometown : Basel !?!

[@ClassyWhale]

I'm more astonished that there's someone from Basel in my comments section, welcome!

[@dart157]

DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) honks and toots and has a gong bell! The bell is used for station approaches and signalling a train's intent to move, the whistle at grade crossings and the horn for warning people on the tracks that the train is coming or at specific rail crossings with a number of accidents. If you're lucky, the operator will give you a horn salute!

[@geisaune793]

As a native of the StL area, it's always kind of weird to see KZbin vids about places or things in StL that I recognize from real life. It just doesn't have the popularity that cities like NYC, Chicago, LA, Philly, DC, or others have. At one time it was one of the top 5 largest cities in America for close to 100 years but now StL is kind of a 2nd tier or 3rd tier city. Anyway, great video! I'm all about increasing transit, walkability, bikability, and high density development. I do agree with transit advocates that the extension all the way to Scott AFB is kind of pointless. I greatly support StL expanding the MetroLink to cover more of the bi-state area, but only if it connects places that people actually want or need to go.

[@junkman226]

Asheville has a perfect underused rail right of way that is a perfect for north-south east-west lines that perfectly matches the density of the city.

[@yourlifeexplainedbyme.4666]

Glad this iconic American system is getting some attention

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

Me too! I think the Lou is going to be an urbanist mecca so long as infill is done without catering to cars. :]

[@michellejacobcik9946]

I live in St Louis and ride Metrolink, and it is nice to hear what visitors think

[@henry3392]

It was hilarious to me riding the normally quiet metro downtown to the Blues championship parade a few years back. Turned St Louis into NYC for a day, it was completely packed! Gloria!

[@stekra3159]

This reminds me about Viennas never bild USTRAP tram of the Futher. Some of the tunels thy did bild are still in USE by U2 and BB 13 12

[@NATO4623]

That is why America is interesting 😊

[@GeoTransit]

Dallas also has a tourist steeetcar loop! Who knew St. Louis and Dallas were so similar?

[@ClassyWhale]

Current/former AA hubs too!

[@COASTER1921]

Hopefully this is fixed with the Streetcar Central Link soon though! The route has potential to actually be useful and the central link project should bridge the frequency gap they have now. I have several friends in uptown who use it as transit anyway despite the 20m frequency. Streetcar link is likely happening soon now that DART failed to purchase the land needed for the D2 subway (which is not a loss, final D2 LPA was completely silly thanks to I-345 uncertainty).

[@robk7266]

They actually have 2

[@GeoTransit]

@@robk7266 true, but it all ends up in one place.

[@robk7266]

Another way they are similar: light rail that's basically a full metro system, though slightly less so with Dallas. With the exception of a short section at the end of the blue line (where it runs in the median of a street) the entire dart system has an independent row with heavy grade separation. On a side note, the DART vehicles are my favorite "low floor" light rail vehicle. I think they have a clever design that gives the benefits of both high floor and low floor light rail rail vehicles, with very little of the downsides. The just have one small section in the middle that's low floor, so people who need level boarding still get it, but the vast majority of the train is high floor. I also like the use of pocket doors. And I general, I think they just look very cool. They are kinda reminiscent of the original BART trains or the Vancouver Skytrain.

[@benjaminwagner8141]

You and MilestoMadness along with Jeb brooks have me wanting to check out transit stuff now

[@eddunaway5371]

Great video of the metro link I'm from st Louis how did you guys like your visit to st Louis

[@Stoker58]

Since you’re currently based out of Pittsburgh you might be interested in visiting the J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad in Youngstown, OH. It’s roughly an hour drive from the city. Unfortunately I’m not sure it can be reached directly by public transit.

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

These "smaller" light rails always intrigue me with their right of ways, very unique Also that "cannon" is actually a mobile surveillance tower

[@OwlGreene]

4:16 that is so funny, the Baltimore Metro Subway leaves its tunnel to follow Wabash Avenue out of the city to ITS Northwestern suburbs! 😮 The cities have more in common than just crime!

[@sqoomsh]

The mega-collab we all needed

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

Hey Caleb, Sorry it took me a few days to watch I've been busy. Finally got a chance to and I have to say you did a pretty great job covering our rail transit in the Lou! :D The one thing I want to correct is that the 'Grove' is actually south of Cortex and the CWE, and doesn't currently have that great of rail access (despite being one of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods). Other than that great job and thanks for showing him around StL Royce and Jason. :] Would love to take a ride with ya next time you're in Mound City. (The Trolley is running now). I will probably leave some other comments later to help boost the algorithm but thanks for sharing some love for the Lou! Keep spreading awareness of rail transit! 🤍

[@rollinwithunclepete824]

The Loop Trolley goes practically nowhere (Delmar Loop) to almost someplace (the History Museum). It would be more valuable to the St Louis area if it was longer. Maybe if it went from the Loop to the West End (Touristy spot to Touristy spot).

[@alanzemsky7695]

Great point!

[@bobi7152]

Such a wholesome video ❤

[@sleepythespian1455]

Next time you come to Denver, you should ride the RTD light rail. We have 6 lines, and one of our lines has an interesting history.

[@bwcbiz]

Having lived in St. Louis during the 1980s, it's good to see that Ted Drewes and toasted ravioli are still a thing. The Delmar loop seems to have grown and the MetroLink didn't even exist back then.

[@ruedelta]

Both of those are WashU's influence. MetroLink is basically owned by WashU, especially when funding got really rough, which is why it has two stops on Danforth and one at Medical Center. The loop has a lot of student housing now, even more than in the past.

[@briansivley2001]

You should've tried a Saint Paul Sandwich while in St Louis. I've heard they're good.

[@rust_belt_city_enjoyer]

I wanted to introduce Caleb to St Louis's sandwich culture, if we had time I would have dragged him to my favorite sandwich place, Blues City deli, but we didn't unfortunately. Next time inshallah.

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

@@rust_belt_city_enjoyer Great choice! (I LOVE the ambiance there), although Crown Candy and Blueberry Hill are better. ;P

[@transitcaptain]

Royce didn’t do his research😂😂😂😂 Jason didn’t do his research😂😂😂😂 Seriously why is no one doing research?😂😂😂😂😂 Best addition yet

[@ruedelta]

Scott AFB is one of the top 3 employers in the St. Louis Metro Area. I think whoever wanted a station out to it was thinking in terms of commuter rail, which is typical to how American politicians think of transit in general. Can't say I'm a fan.

[@Randomgen77]

Yeah and I forget the next couple of lines but then it goes: CONVENIENT TUNNEL! CONVENIENT TUNNEL! THROUGH ST. LOUIS! CONVENIENT CONVENIENT CONVENIENT TUNNEEEELLLL!

[@gregc6073]

Lol @ the train re-opening it's doors for passengers

[@wolfen216]

Kansas City had talk and still does of using part of the old Rock Island heading toward the current stadiums. Otherwise there really isnt any abandoned line that goes anywhere people want or need to go. Or at least that's intact enough to be used. Way back in the day the old interurban line toward St Joesph was still around up to the airport. Now it's only large remaining land is the appropriately named interurban road from the airport north.

[@yakovgolyadkin]

I feel like you'd like the Stadtbahn/straßenbahn/u-bahn systems of the Rhine-Ruhr in Germany. We've got streetcars that run through tunnels like a subway, ones that run between major city centers interurban-style, and even old London DLR trains that run on the street like a streetcar.

[@thomashatchett4190]

Where do the old DLR trains run?

[@tunami52]

@@thomashatchett4190 They run on Essen's Stadtbahn

[@yakovgolyadkin]

@@thomashatchett4190 Essen lines U-11 and U-17. An example of the street-running portion of the line is near the Halbe Höhe stop.

[@robk7266]

Sounds like Boston, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh

[@PikalaxALT]

The only acceptable response to "This is " is "Doors open on the right"

[@ClassyWhale]

What if the platform is on the left side?

[@lexa.s.6387]

Awesome video! That horn...took me right back to Philadelphia with the M4s, that have the same horn for some reason. I definitely need to check out St Louis - it would be nice to see the cars that are just like Pittsburgh's fleet actually make it up to their top speed for once!

[@blue9multimediagroup]

Whistles And the M4s have them because the Budd M3s before them also had whistles.

[@samkuzel]

I was looking at the St. Louis MetroLink system on Google Maps the other week and dry heaving cause the land use around so many of the stations was making my brain leak out of my nostrils. This video definitely makes me feel better about it though lol

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

Unfortunately, there is still a lot of racism in Missouri and StL is the only city besides Baltimore NOT in a county. These are 2 big reasons that, despite the huge potential for profitable urbanist style developments in the Lou, currently the people in the region with the money to do so would rather continue sprawling outwards (seriously the StL and K.C. metros are some of the largest geographically because of how sprawled they are sadly). This leads me to my other point, Missouri has the most road miles per-capita, and the MO-DOT still has highway dept. chiselled into their stone pediment in the hq in Jefferson City... they may as well leave it though, because the current state government would rather spend money on car infrastructure and double down on the suburbia Ponzi scheme than try to start fixing addressing the problems in urban areas. St. Louis county is no longer solidly red now though, and with the growing awareness of how vital rail will be during the climate crisis things are looking hopeful, we will keep pushing for the North/South line, Loop Trolley extension, and many more projects after that! :]

[@Robbie06261995]

I was confused why you got off at Brentwood for Ted Drewes when Shrewsbury is basically right there but then you got on at Shrewsbury.

[@ClassyWhale]

Rice parked his car at Brentwood!

[@Robbie06261995]

Haha that makes sense!

[@Dexter037S4]

Ottawa should really look into these LRVs as replacements to the Alstom Lemons that have broken, AGAIN, for the like 16th time in 5 years.

[@kevinwong6588]

The central St. Louis freight tunnel was transferred to Metrolink in 1989 as by then loading gauges for freight carloads made the tunnel obsolete.

[@ucitymetalhead]

I used to take the metrolink all the time, I live within walking distance from the welston station. I like the cortex cause it's fairly close to ikea.

[@DCussen]

Great video

[@douglasgraebner1831]

why am I watching this and looking at a map and going "ok but BRANCH LINE TO CAHOKIA MOUNDS" even though that would be a terrible idea for many reasons.

[@douglasgraebner1831]

I would simply like to be able to take a light rail to the most important archaeological site in in the the eastern US* or really outside of the Southwest. *Sorry Spiro and Poverty Point, perhaps you should have been taller.

[@MassbyTrain]

You need to go to Calgary and explore their insane light metro that should be a metro

[@aegisofhonor]

I got super lucky with those floods, I traveled to St. Louis to go to Orlando on the 20th and came back on the 22nd, if I had gone a week later like i was thinking about doing, I would have been unable to use the metrolink to get to the airport.

[@MassbyTrain]

Bro Boston is underrated child

[@ClassyWhale]

I don't see any songs about Charlie on the Metrolink

[@highway2heaven91]

How safe was the STL metro?

[@ClassyWhale]

It felt relatively safe. We sat near the operator during the night runs.

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

It is very safe. They are going to be enclosing the stations (enforcing fares with gates/ etc.) soon, and just opened a new security center with live footage from all buses and train carriages as well.

[@torikicklighter1191]

I believe the US moving towards FLIRT trains would be a great investment!!!

[@bipbipletucha]

Rice!! Yay!

[@AlphabetSoupABC]

Practicality aside, it's really cool to ride a light rail through corn fields. The only part of the system I really take issue with is the Terminal 2 station. To get from the terminal to the station, you have to cross a street, walk through a parking garage, and go up a really long ramp. It feels really unsafe after dark. Overall tho the MetroLink is a good system, and definitely a better experience than driving I70 or I44 through the city.

[@alanzemsky7695]

Yes I agree with you regarding the terminal 2 airport stop. It’s a strange walk plus being outside you have to deal with all the elements of weather right when you get off the plane. I’m sure there is more traffic there being southwest has it’s flights there. Overall I like using the system especially going into the city!

[@realquadmoo]

0:22 Hey here in Seattle we got the Metro Link Light Rail too /hj

[@blue9multimediagroup]

That whistle sounds just the MFL here in Philly....

[@cobalt8619]

A opossum, a wolf and a whale walk into a lightrail station..

[@spd_bird]

Darn right!

[@karatransitfur]

i know those people

[@spd_bird]

Omg I know those people too!

[@rust_belt_city_enjoyer]

Who are you

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

Fancy seeing you here, I hope you are enjoying your Blåhaj! ;P

[@berniekatzroy]

I like the Metrolink and wish KC were I'm at had similar vs a dinky streetcar

[@robk7266]

Do you think you'll ever do a video on Buffalo? It is by far the weirdest light rail line in the country.

[@ClassyWhale]

Hopefully this summer!

[@robk7266]

@@ClassyWhale I'm looking forward to that. Why on earth did they build a tunnel for the vast majority of the line, but in the part where a tunnel is needed the most, it runs on the street?

[@SoloSeatAdventures]

You should check out Seattle's light rail system. It has a similar "light metro" feel since much of the infrastructure is grade separated in tunnels/elevated tracks. However, the infrastructure is all newly built rather than repurposed.

[@robk7266]

The link does have one short section where it runs in the middle of the street. So close, yet so far

[@robk7266]

Oh, and DART in Dallas. Again, just one small section where it runs in the median of a street, and it's on the extremity of one line

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

@@robk7266 The metrolink doesn't ever run in the middle of a street, it CROSSES a few in MO but they are all minor streets with priority gates.

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

@@robk7266 You might be thinking of the footage of the Loop Trolley, this is a separate system in StL.

[@robk7266]

@@StLouis-yu9iz I was referring to Link light rail in Seattle. Sorry for the confusion

[@bernardschmitt6389]

The story for T-ravs is that a chef in the Italian neighborhood of the hill dropped a ravioli in a deep fryer by accident.

[@TheRandCrews]

I believe high Floor trams being used as metros are great almost having the same frequencies though lower in capacity somewhat, but still grade separated like a light metro. Manila LRT is both a great/worse example, though elevated and grade separated it is overcapacity leading to future designs be actually using heavy metros for a city that big.

[@stekra3159]

And U6 uses extra lage Tram viecaöd becuase the platforms of the old wagner Stions are to low for normal metro trains and since its a viaduct excavtion to lower them is imposibal

[@history_leisure]

I thought you were off to St. Louis after the layover, continuity strikes again

[@CrownVictoriaNYC]

You missed another iconic St. Louis food! the St. Paul Sanwich

[@brettbeckemeyer8744]

But do your research first so you can explain why a St. Louis sandwich is called "St. Paul" :P

[@CrownVictoriaNYC]

@@brettbeckemeyer8744 Chinese guy from st Paul

[@CrownVictoriaNYC]

@@brettbeckemeyer8744 tell them to Ask Jeeves about 😂

[@georgegregstacy]

Great video and I love STL!! But I’m visiting there in a few weeks and haven’t been able to find any good info on where to get Gateway Cards. Are they only available at the downtown MetroStore?

[@rust_belt_city_enjoyer]

Yes, which is only open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

[@georgegregstacy]

@@rust_belt_city_enjoyer wish they had them for sale at the airport or other stops, but thanks for the info

[@michellejacobcik9946]

You were in Delmar and did not talk about the St Louis Walk of Fame? On the sidewalk are stars with the names of famous people from the city.

[@kirkda1]

Clayton is not the "second downtown" it's the main city in the county. We separate the city and county government entities! Saint Louis city IS NOT part of Saint Louis County. Therefore Clayton is it's county seat.

[@Westlander857]

This kinda reminds me of SEPTA’s regional rail, where I grew up. Obviously that’s commuter rail, and this is a tram, but almost all SEPTA lines travel through a tunnel under center city Philly. Through there it turns into somewhat of a metro through four or five stations: Temple U, Jefferson, Suburban, the beautiful 30th Street, and University City. It’s been compared to the S-Bahn in Germany. Makes things super convenient and makes SEPTA one of the best commuter rail systems in the country, IMO! Bonus: the entire system is electrified.

[@truthteller8459]

What is 'that' at 11:39?

[@c.p379]

That train is dangerous- 😅

[@shsav2012]

Coming out of the mouth of a St. Louis resident The light rail is decent enough, even though I hardly ever ride it anymore… I used to a lot more at my old address However, the bus network in this city is complete and utter bulk crap to put it lightly

[@DCussen]

Love the Lou. If we could fix the crime, this city will explode with population!

[@TheHungryTransitFan]

The timing of this to Stormy's video is 👨‍🍳 I'd say the NJT River Line is decent repurposing. If/when the Glassboro-Camden Line gets built along currently-running freight rail (originally an option in the PATCO plan, and considering PATCO's extension to Lindenwold runs on old PA-Reading Seashore track), it will be a huge step for the area. Also, the short-line SMS Rail Line has repurposed lines in Salem/Gloucester Counties, NJ (which, I last saw running Jersey Central years ago) into heritage lines this year. They're running original refurbished cars on scenic routes as well as a "Brew-to-Brew" trip close-ish to two local breweries. Can't wait to ride on that one! The old PRR Cape May-Seashore Lines have also seen a resurgence in recent years, running through Atlantic/Cape May Counties. If only they could rebuild true passenger routes (of which the track is owned by NJT)!

[@videonut1988]

Welcome to the birthplace of St. Louis Car and the PCC!!!

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

Not to mention "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Trolley Song". Also, when the STL Browns played the STL Cardinals for the MLB Worldseries, it was known as the Streetcar Series because of our cities strong cultural connection/association with them into the 1960's.

[@blue9multimediagroup]

​@@StLouis-yu9iz Desire was New Orleans

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

@@blue9multimediagroup Thanks for the correction. It was set in the French Quarter yes, but it was still written in (and therefore likely inspired by) St. Louie. ;]

[@doubleatheman]

Sacramento Regional Transit LRT look very similar.

[@robk7266]

They are actually installing turnstiles. Good riddance if yoi ask me. I hope other systems follow suit (looking at you, Seattle)

[@chromebomb]

hell yea

[@blue9multimediagroup]

Not the music using the LRV whistles 😅

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

That front cab camera view is AMAZING!!!! I watch so many train cab view videos and i have seen many amazing sights in Europe and Asia and never would I have thought St. Louis would be a place to see by train but the Arch at night has to be a top 5 landmark i have seen on railway cab view footage

[@lewnwdc]

14:07: "This lets our train hit its maximum speed of 65 mph." Phone GPS reads 54 mph. Oops...

[@theoheinrich529]

that arch joke dough

[@thomasrobinson8336]

what happened with interior shots Trams.What about the Buffalo Tram. just saying. Anyways Great Video. Well done

[@ucitymetalhead]

You went right past salt and smoke and didn't get any? 🤣

[@javiertorres4703]

The US always has some type of crisis when it comes to trains or trolleys.

[@patrickmartin3322]

Why is this light rail when it’s fully grade separated, has high level platforms, and was almost entirely pre-existing lines, why not just use regular heavy rail metro trains

[@robk7266]

Because they needed to use overhead wires because it has grade crossings

[@bahnspotterEU]

@@robk7266 Then just put a pantograph on your metro cars. Lots of countries do it.

[@patrickmartin3322]

@@robk7266 heavy rail metro can use overhead lines, the MBTA Blue Line does (when it’s above ground) as do many other lines in other countries

[@robk7266]

@@patrickmartin3322 then I don't know why. I guess it was just what was available at the time

[@robk7266]

Also, heavy rail, by definition, cannot have have grade crossings. This is despite the fact that the Chicago L uses grade crossings. However, the Chicago L is an old system that was built before the lines were drawn, so it's grandfathered in and gets a free pass. It's annoying to me too, but you just need to accept the fact that the Chicago L is the exception, not the rule.

[@jeffreysmith85]

Folk from southern ill use ml for Lamborgh airport

[@GeoTransit]

DART also toots!😄

[@robk7266]

It's also an example of a heavy rail out of light rail. With the exception of a short section on the south branch of the blue line, it runs in independent rows with heavy grade separation. Even the name suggests that it's rapid transit

[@blue9multimediagroup]

​@@robk7266 huh