I Rode My Least Favorite Amtrak Train Again

In a previous video, I declared the Capitol Limited to be my least-favorite Amtrak train. Now I'm on board again, riding from Pittsburgh to Washington DC in coach. So...can this slow, meandering, expensive train redeem itself?
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Classy Whale - at-least-weekly misadventures with trains and transit!

[@mrmaxmondays]

5 hours late and you stuck with it?? Mans is a champ! 1:35 - absolutely crushed it

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

I appreciate you reaching out to me to help you with research! Your videos are exceptional and wholesome and it's an honor to play a part! In my family, I'm known as the guy with the most random information, but I personally believe that the more we know, the more we grow. And what may seem like random information, may actually help someone later! Yup, the same blueprint was used for Connellsville and Alliance! Another station in the same style is Okeechobee, FL! Alliance's building was built in 2011, Connellsville station opened in 2011, and the station building in Okeechobee was built in 2011 to replace one from 1924. When the original Capitol Limited went to "New York", it really went to the Communipaw Terminal in what's now Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Before the dominance of Penn Station, five different rail terminals lined the NJ Waterfront, with Hoboken Terminal and Communipaw Terminal being the only two left standing. Fun fact, there was a 1908 proposal to expand the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad (PATH) to the terminal as the intention of the PATH was to connect all these terminals to the city. Today, the terminal serves as the NJ departing point for Statue Cruises to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

[@stephenkeever6029]

Your research really added to this video. I hope the two of you work together on future videos.

[@KennethLovgrenIV]

THIS IS THE BEST CHANNEL ON KZbin SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE PATREON SUPPORTERS

[@sargentrowell81]

The Capitol Limited was great when I first rode it about 10 years ago. Full length was 1 baggage car, 3 sleepers, a diner, a sightseer and 3 coach cars. Pretty standard, but they also served proper cooked food on board back then too.

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

Yeah, the current service doesn't really compare well. At one point, just after the pandemic, the Cap was down to FIVE cars total. Basically a "rump" service. At one point, I really thought Amtrak might cancel it altogether. I guess the "Superliner" fleet is really suffering right now. Amtrak could replace the Superliners with Viewliners and it'd be fine, IMO... Especially since this is a classic "Sleeper" (i.e. Overnight) train rather than one of the western "tourist" trains.

[@sargentrowell81]

@@pastorjerrykliner3162 Recently the Cap has been running with as few as 3 Superliners actually. I agree that Amtrak could replace the Superliners with single level stock at this rate, IF they had actually just gone ahead and ordered more than JUST 25 Viewliner II sleepers. That's the crux of the issue from my point of view. I don't know how they didn't see a need for more Viewliner II Sleepers, so they could've actually taken the Viewliner I's out of service to give them a real quality overhaul, and then after they were done expand service. If the need arose, (such as now) they could then even use them to replace the Superliner's on routes where they seem to be redundant on at this rate (mostly the Capitol Limited).

[@johnsons74thsquadron74]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@sargentrowell81 They might have enough sleepers, but what about coaches, and diners? The Capitol Limited would have demand if converted to a single level train to run with a Viewliner Diner. The train would need at least 3 Amfleet coaches and likely have demand for a fourth during peak periods. The Cardinal has never run with a diner since the new Viewliner equipment was delivered. Maybe not enough? or does it just not serve enough of a purpose? I would be for Amtrak converting the Capitol Limited to a single level train if they had the equipment to do it as it would free up some Superliners for use in the western network. I live along the Texas Eagle route which operates with just 4 cars. It used to have 7 plus a baggage car. But I don’t think there are enough cars available to convert any routes to a different rolling stock type.

[@canobiecrazy]

It's cool that it offers wifi now! I took it in April of this year and my train did not have wifi at the time. No cell service between the outskirts of Pittsburgh and Martinsburg too.

[@thomasstambaugh5181]

I've been taking "Amtrak vacations" for several decades. Since the era of "Flexible Dining", the Capitol Limited is my least favorite Amtrak train (although I agree that the Texas Eagle is a strong contender). My most recent experience on the Capitol was in 2021, when I rode in a bedroom from Chicago to Washington. The trip was AWFUL. The attendant was surly, the food was terrible, the lounge was terrible, and the train was late (as usual). I attended CMU, and it was surprisingly disconcerting to realize that we were riding through Panther Hollow on our way through Oakland. When I was at CMU (I graduated in 1974), I used to watch freights come through Panther Hollow. At that time, those tracks were freight only. I grew up in Rockville (although at that time was the beautiful classic brick station that is now a museum and landmark), and I'm very familiar with the route from Connellsville to DC. Finally, I had an uncle on my grandfather's side of the family who was an engineer on the B&0 his entire career. He drove the Capitol for many years and told many stories about it. My very first train ride was on the B&O from Silver Spring to Connellsville in 1962. I rode with my grandfather to spend a long weekend visiting "Uncle Dave and Aunt Marge". The highlight of that was when Uncle Dave let me drive a freight engine in the Connellsville yard for a few car lengths -- just long enough to blow the whistle a few times. I really want to love the Capital Limited. I love Point of Rocks, Harpers Ferry, Brunswick, and Cumberland. The tunnels at Paw Paw MD are beautiful, breathtaking, and very photogenic. Sadly, the train simply sucks.

[@Robert-yp9zs]

Flexible dining is an insult to anyone having bought a roomette or bedroom accommodation. Full sit-down dining car service is part of the upgraded accommodation experience.

[@The_DuMont_Network]

The Flex garbage is a travesty. When we travel on one of those trains, we bring our food with us ( plus coffeemaker and booze ). It is sinful to promote that crap as food. In First Class, yet!

[@johnsons74thsquadron74]

I took the Texas Eagle last Summer 21 hours total in a sleeper. I was unimpressed with the “Flexible Dining” that isn’t even flexible, you do have to make reservations if you want to eat in the sleeper lounge. Like the Capitol Limited, the Eagle doesn’t have a Sightseer Lounge, a kick in the face for passengers who could be on board for as many as five meals. The Eagle is over 30 hours long on the entire Chicago to San Antonio leg! No lounge car or proper meals for a train that long is appalling. The only good thing about the train was the wonderful staff, who honestly made the detracting experience more bearable!

[@Thom-TRA]

4:11 smooth my dude

[@ClassyWhale]

I was waiting for someone to notice!

[@brunhildevalkyrie]

@Classywhale are you dating Kalkidan?

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

It can be spelt as Allegany, Allegheny, OR Alleghany (like Alleghany County NC or VA) depending on where you are in Appalachia. It all comes from the same Lenape word, "oolikhanna", which means "beautiful stream". Martinsburg Martinsburg was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly that was adopted in December 1778. Its founder Major General Adam Stephen named it in honor of Colonel Thomas Bryan Martin, a nephew of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron Maryland has an odd panhandle, but West Virginia is the only state with TWO panhandles! You only went through its eastern panhandle, but its western panhandle looks odder as it's the result of the Revolutionary-era claims of Virginia's former Yohogania County boundary lying along the Ohio River, conflicting with interpretations of the Colony of Pennsylvania's royal charter. The conflict was settled by compromise in the 1780s. This route shows how weird it is to have a river as a border. And here's the thing about river borders, rivers change course...so maybe not the best idea to have a river as a border if it means potentially cutting people off.

[@TomHoffman-uw7pf]

And that narrow neck allows you to cross three states in a very few minutes minutes on US 522. Cross the Potomac from WV into MD. It hooks up with I-70 and reaches PA very quickly.

[@SamAronow]

How does Pittsburgh have a grand train station and not use it as a train station!? Why do so many cities do this? This is endlessly frustrating.

[@aabb55777]

Not enough riders. At some point business decisions need to be made - even if just to be able to fund maintenance costs.

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

It's somewhat similar to what happened to New York's "Penn Station." When the Pennsy was in financial decline (and then collapse) the real estate was the first to go. The old Pittsburgh Penn Station was sold and redeveloped into a swanky, private condo/hotel building. They won't even let you into the drive to take pictures. Pittsburgh also had, at one point, THREE train stations: the B&O's station was across the river and then there was also a NY Central station somewhere in Pittsburgh at one point; the B&O station is also now redeveloped into a shopping center. Amtrak just doesn't have the funds to build a dedicated station at either location and so they inhabit the basement of the "old" Penn Station. It's so bad there that they don't even have dedicated Amtrak parking. But the station only services four trains a day: two in the AM (Eastbound Cap at 5, and Eastbound Pennsylvanian at 7) and two at night (westbound Pennsylvanian at 8pm and westbound Cap at midnight). During the daylight hours the Amtrak station is actually locked up and empty.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@pastorjerrykliner3162 Actually, the PGH B&O station was a stub-end station on Grant St. I was in it once in 1970, and around it in 1981 when it was used for trips of the Chessie Safety Express with C&O #614. There were Budd Cars in the station laying over for the weekend there, the first time I ever saw an RDC in-person. The line to it diverged just before the curve to Schenley Tunnel. It served regional trains from Baltimore and DC, then local PAT commuter trains until that service ended in the late 1980s/early '90s. The station across the river was the P&LE station (later the Station Square shopping center), which served B&O through passenger trains (used that station a couple of times as well as a kid); and to correct the narration a little, the line from after Connellsville to around McKeesport is former P&LE track. You could tell in the 1980s when you were on the P&LE, because it was still stick rail, not welded rail, and a little rough. The B&O/Chessie/CSX-owned line from Pittsburgh to near Youngstown, before they took over the P&LE route, was a single-tracked, curvy, hilly line over Bakerstown Hill, that the "Broadway Ltd." used when it was first rerouted away from the Ft. Wayne line in late 1990. Amtrak had to pay for a connecting track from the P&LE line to Conrail to get to the Amtrak Pittsburgh station, and that took awhile to build.

[@larryloveless2967]

St. Louis has a restored hotel and entertainment center for its old grand train Union Station but fortunately the small AMTRAK station (bus included) is a close walk to it similar to the walk you might have at a large airport. Parking at the St. Louis Union Station is only for its hotel and entertainment center. An advantage of not using the STL Union Station is that train service is limited and would have required to back end in to the station instead of being on straight through track..

[@nathanjiang100]

I convinced a friend of mine to take the Capitol Limited home from college for Thanksgiving. A 1:54am departure from Cleveland isn't ideal but he said it was a good opportunity for him to give Amtrak a try

[@idxluaviation]

Hi Nathan

[@tonywalters7298]

It is actually somewhat competitive with driving between Toledo and Chicago, and for a single person it costs the same as driving

[@evandrinks]

I’ll admit that I’ve taken the Capital Limited from Rockville to DC a few times. When my schedule lines up, and the price is right, it’s truly the fastest way down to Union Station.

[@Morristownrailfanningemergency]

1:36 😂😂😂

[@brianhubert8418]

Thanks for sharing, another great video. I learned so much about this route I've only seen on the board at Washington Union Station. The Brunswick Line looks like it has great potential to serve tourists on top of commuters. Hope they can make it runt throughout the day as what I bill an intercity/regional service.

[@KennethLovgrenIV]

I LIVE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. I WANT TO TAKE MARC FROM HARPERS FERRY TO DC. THE RIVER LOOKS VERY CHOPPY AND UNIQUE

[@johnsons74thsquadron74]

The problem with trains like this one and the Texas Eagle is the lack of proper amenities like a Sightseer Lounge and traditionally prepared meals. They used to offer a world class experience. Now they’re a shadow of the past!

[@CaradhrasAiguo49]

3:41 I have an acquaintance who biked all the way from D.C. to Pittsburgh in 2 or 3 days' time. 9:26 given the ubiquity of D.C. area people taking weekend day trips "hiking" at Harpers Ferry, MARC Brunswick could do well to add weekend service. Amtrak's schedule means an overnight stay is required, really Nice to know that the tracks in the valley next to CMU's Hammerschlag Hall are Amtrak, too! I had thought they were freight-only

[@jeremywilliams5675]

I rode the Capital Limited back in 2017, my first train trip in a long time and I thought number 30 Chicago to Washington was a good journey, I know the Cardinal looks very promising and the journey looks beautiful but the Capital Limited does have it's charm, some mountains, river valleys, farms, and villages that time forgot, while riding in those areas I felt like I was in another world, I think one of the problems why this train is so underrated is because people don't advertise it very well, people who make youtube videos of it but most of them are on train 29 going from Washington to Chicago, 29 usual leaves around 4 and that is a late time and because of that you don't see much especially when the clocks are turned back and I experienced that, I had more fun on train 30, I believe that if more people make more videos of train 30 going from Chicago to Washington I believe that the Capital Limited can get more respect it deserves

[@BensOnTheRadio]

Took this one to get to Chicago on my last cross country journey. My Sleeping Car attendant was very fun to deal with, and the views were nice. However, the food sucked (even by Flex Dining standards), the AC in my room stopped working resulting in me getting no sleep, and we wound up with no real stretch break during hours I would've been awake. Coming from Philly, it definitely wound up being the more timely way of getting to Chicago compared to the Cardinal. I still need to try the Lakeshore Limited and see how I like that one.

[@thomasstambaugh5181]

Even with flexible dining, the Lakeshore Limited is a far better train. The Lakeshore from NYC is a VERY nice ride. You'll have to get to Moynihan by the NE Regional or Acela, but that's an easy ride. The trip from NYC to Albany hugs the shore of the Hudson and is among the most scenic rides in America. On my last trip on the Capitol, "dinner service" was one white paper bag per passenger unceremoniously left on a table in the cafe/diner car. The bag was full of still-covered containers (even though they had been microwaved). Utensils were in a cellophane bag inside the larger bag. This was essentially the same as DoorDash delivery. The dining car attendant didn't speak English well enough to understand my request for wine -- I had to interrupt a conversation the crew was having in the lounge in order to persuade a different attendant to actually pour a glass of wine for me at the counter (after being told that the lounge was closed during dinner service). I was in a bedroom (at twice the price of a roomette), and the (surly) sleeper attendant came to my bedroom last rather than first -- the only menu item left was reheated pasta. On the Lakeshore, in contrast, my order was taken immediately when I boarded. I was seated at a comfortable table, and my dinner was brought on a tray with all items opened and presented in an attractive way. Silverware came wrapped in a napkin. An attendant asked if I wanted wine and immediately poured it at my table. Dinner on the Lakeshore was enjoyable, even with the limited menu options. I asked Amtrak about this difference, and was told that the two trains are in separate profit groups managed by separate teams. Both trains have the same equipment and commissary options. The difference between them comes down to management values and priorities. I suspect you'll find the Lakeshore to be a very nice alternative to either the Capitol or the Cardinal.

[@Amtrakirby]

9:59 if you look closely if you pause at this exact moment, actually able to see one of the gallery cars it’s a white car in the back right but it’s very hard to see because it’s all the way in the back but you’re able to see it

[@richskater]

I rode Amtrak for the first time about a month ago. I found the experience quite decent; I don't understand the "scaring riders away" stuff either. They could improve advertising; I've lived 45mins from the Cardinal for years and just found out.

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

Five + hours delays are not uncommon the Amtrak "Distance" routes. That's not doing much to help encourage people to ride.

[@charlesmorschauser5258]

It is actually very scenic and enjoyable amtrak has plenty of loyal riders

[@MattGoshert]

This train made way more sense when it was run via Lima and Fort Wayne.

[@johnchambers8528]

Since the end of the Broadway Ltd. The Capitol Ltd. Is the train I usually use after a ride down from Philadelphia. I haven’t ridden since they downgraded the train without the scenic lounge car and the limited sleeping car space. I do like the scenery on the Washington DC to Pittsburgh portion of the route especially eastbound since even if it’s on time you see more of it in daylight. I hope you enjoy your overseas trip. It should be interesting to see how the route you mention compares to our northeast route.

[@chriskrebill1842]

Omg the poor Capital Limited! I don't use it anymore because it's Hella bumpy through the night. But it's a useful train!

[@bobrossplush2]

hey I was out railfanning that exact train in cumberland

[@vinceghio]

Classey I have a fun video colab idea for you as a fellow KZbinr. I challenge you and miles in transit to go from Washington monument tallest building in dc to the sears tower in Chicago by train. One person takes capitol limited one person takes cardinal. But you are allowed to be in a bedroom.

[@aabb55777]

Nice video.

[@tarahogan9570]

I've only taken this train once, but it has a special place in my heart because this segment runs near my house, so I see the Capitol Limited go by several times a week. Appreciated the shade you threw on the Brunswick Line.😂

[@kevinhoward9593]

I think at one time Pittsburgh had 12 tracks. 6:47 #51 sits in the B&O Museum and just finished being completely restored to its beauty.

[@EpicThe112]

Speaking of the Gulf of Mexico it's actually part of the Atlantic Ocean because Rivers flowing Eastward into the Rockies reach the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Mexico segment of the Atlantic Ocean. The railway line between Rockwood Pennsylvania and Cumberland Maryland is the Sand Patch Grade route. Which is why your train has two GE Genesis locomotives

[@vinceghio]

I love the capital limited I have had no problems with it. I get off at Rockville

[@supermarioworld04]

I always take the Capitol Limited from Chicago to DC every February to go to Katsucon

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

I’m on the San Joaquin’s as I’m watching this.

[@tobygoodguy4032]

6:08 Substitute the word "Suckers". (You asked, nay begged for that.) 🤠

[@The_DuMont_Network]

Tell me more about your dislike of the Eagle. Yes, it is another of the trains treated by AMTRAK like the bastard red headed stepchild ( CONO, Cardinal, even the Crescent ), but I would like to hear your views...

[@ClassyWhale]

It's a great train and I would ride it again in a heartbeat. It was just comparatively slow and uninteresting

[@The_DuMont_Network]

@@ClassyWhale OK. I get that. Alas, a lot of the interesting scenery through the Ozarks is as night.

[@davidburrow5895]

It's fascinating to see the stretch between Pittsburgh and Cumberland in daylight. I've ridden this several times, but mostly in the opposite direction. The train was always roughly on time, which meant it went through that lovely stretch well after dark. The Capitol Limited is easily my least favorite long-distance train. It's like taking a redeye flight, with all the interesting stuff in darkness.

[@sprinter429]

surprised no mention of sandpatch through the allegheny mountains

[@ClassyWhale]

What is that?

[@sprinter429]

@@ClassyWhale from wikipedia Sand Patch Grade is an approximately 100-mile-long (160 km) section of railroad track known for its steep grades and curves through the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and western Maryland.[1] Dropping over 1,000 feet (300 m) in about 20 miles (32 km) and with grades as much as 2%,[2] Sand Patch Grade is one of the steepest railroad grades on the East Coast.[3]

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Do Amtrak serve Guinness for the Irish passengers?

[@PittsburghRailroader31]

I actually caught this same train about 10 miles from Pittsburgh lol

[@ClassyWhale]

I think I caught you catching it! Care to exchange footage?

[@thefareplayer2254]

I wonder what they did for passengers on the delayed Capitol Limited connecting to the Pennsylvanian?

[@ClassyWhale]

No idea! I wondered that too

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

I am making this trip in a couple of weeks: Pennsylvanian to Pittsburgh, connecting with the Cap, and then back-again a few days later...and I am worried. On the way out, last week, I saw that the Pennsylvanian was running almost 6 hours late; no idea why. A few days later, I saw that the Cap was running almost 6 hours late (must have been "that" train!) and wasn't going to get into Pittsburgh until well after the Pennsylvanian was gone. They say not to "make connections" on Amtrak, but I'm going to try it this once. Hope it works!!!

[@Blue_spy1]

Wait the Capitol limited goes by my school

[@brendanjames8234]

Eastern Europe? If that means Poland, and specifically Warsaw, then I, a native of Southwestern PA, volunteer to check out some transit with you if you're available. Hit me up!

[@metra1145]

What was every amtrak route rank

[@Token_Nerd]

Don’t you diss the Texas eagle like that. Yeah it’s flat but there’s some cool stuff

[@ClassyWhale]

WALTER NOOOO DONT SUCCUMB TO THE FLAT

[@Token_Nerd]

@@ClassyWhale I’m now convinced the earth is flat

[@brunhildevalkyrie]

Wait are you and Kalkidan dating?

[@ClassyWhale]

😉

[@brunhildevalkyrie]

@@ClassyWhale does that mean yes? ;)

[@KennethLovgrenIV]

HELLO EVERYONE.

[@NiceNToasty768]

AGAIN!?

[@toma5153]

5:37. Two Irish travelers. Interesting. I assume you mean real Irish travelers and not tourists.

[@Stjaernljus]

peanut m&m's are garbage.

[@TomHoffman-uw7pf]

So Greyhound is cheaper and faster than Amtrak. Who cares? If you want faster. take a plane. If I can't take a train, I'll either drive or just stay home. Buses suck. Your fellow passengers are likely to to be smoking pot in the back, or comparing notes about prison life. Intercity buses nauseate me when they brake. I don't have this problem on urban transit buses. It could be because bigger buses have higher centers of gravity, , which seems to exacerbate the nauseating braking . But it's a free country. Enjoy your next Greyhound ride. IT'S FASTER, after all. Just be glad it's not 1950, when buses DIDN'T EVEN HAVE RESTROOMS. Can you believe that?

[@Robert-yp9zs]

There is nothing wrong with relying on "low-tech." A physical token always trumps any kind of high-tech image. There has been way too much reliance on what often ends up being unreliable, or worse, has crashed. Then what? Nothing physical, which doesn't "crash."