I spent 46 hours on Amtrak's Empire Builder

Join me, my father, and several others as we travel 46 hours on Amtrak's Empire Builder cross country train route from Chicago to Seattle. This trip took us through seven states, 4 time zones, and along 2200 miles of historic rail in the Northern United States. A large portion of the travelers onboard were traveling simply for the thrill of experiencing this historic, scenic route - just like us.
Big shoutout to Mike Downie, of @DownieLive , for inspiring so many people to get out and experience rail travel in the United States, and beyond.
Episode 15 | Filmed April, 2023 | Chicago, IL to Seattle, WA (USA)
0:00 - Introduction
0:21 - Chicago Union Station
1:27 - The Metropolitan Lounge
2:10 - Boarding the Empire Builder
3:13 - Found Our Room (Bedroom vs Roomette)
5:27 - Dinner in the Dining Car
6:23 - The Famous “Amtrak Steak”
7:44 - The Bedroom is Converted for Sleeping
9:19 - Breakfast on the Empire Builder
9:43 - Bedroom Tour and ensuite
10:18 - Minot, North Dakota
14:43 - Showering on a Train
15:57 - Wenatchee, Washington
16:28 - Through the Cascades
17:45 - Arriving in Seattle, Washington
18:14 - King Street Station
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Who is Nick Henderson, and what is NickGoesFar?! Originally from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, I have been traveling the world since I was 3 years old, and have lead a fairly uncommon life ever since. Now, I'm a commercial pilot flying in the United States, a full-time nomad and traveler. NickGoesFar was originally "The Roaming Pilot", a travel blog where I would share my adventures, tips on expat life, and photography. As I leapt headfirst into content creation, film making, and wanted to be able to share with more people - a change was needed, and after a few iterations I landed here. I am incredibly grateful that years of hard work allow me to continue doing something I love, seeing the world and immersing myself in it. 😊🎥🌎
#EmpireBuilder #Amtrak #TravelByRail #TravelByTrain #Trains

[@ryanridder4576]

I would have went for the steak option too, can’t go wrong with it! You are right, the Seattle segment of the train loses the lounge car at Spokane but also keep in mind that the Portland segment of the train loses the dining car at Spokane

[@NickGoesFar]

😅 well…I wanted BOTH cars

[@ryanridder4576]

@@NickGoesFar I agree, it would be better if both cars go to both places!

[@robertlane6675]

Sick video man. We are taking Amtrak from Chicago to New Orleans this August. I can't wait!

[@NickGoesFar]

It’s a great experience! Enjoy!

[@Whatamidoinghere262]

Great video and very informative. I’ll be taking the Zephyr in July from Chicago to Davis, CA. Can’t wait for that journey to happen!

[@NickGoesFar]

That’s going to be awesome! Enjoy!

[@latrishahuckaby8349]

❤Loving this video ❤I’m a newbie to your channel ❤Thanks for taking us along on this journey and I’m hoping to go along on other Amtrak trips ❤

[@NickGoesFar]

Thanks for stopping in! I can't wait to do more of the "famous" routes of Amtrak. The Coast Starlight, the Palmetto Line, the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief...they all look great! Hoping to do more train content through 2024!

[@living4christ]

I took the zephyr last week, I ordered steak both nights, it was amazing with the coconut shrimp and cheese cake. I will be ordering the same thing next trip I take.

[@NickGoesFar]

I'm definitely a steak fan on Amtrak. The coconut shrimp was good, but I think I'll stick to the salad in the future.

[@DanielDavis1973]

One of my favorite stretches of this route is the initial stage leaving Seattle. It skims along the edge of Puget Sound for probably 2/3 of the distance between Seattle and Everett.

[@NickGoesFar]

We heard, a lot, that we rode it backwards. That last stretch along the sound is really nice either direction.

[@kingbradentucky]

Roomettes are great for one adult. Even though they have two seats and bunks two adults could be tight. It's a great way to travel.

[@NickGoesFar]

The next few trips I'm looking at will most likely be solo trips, and I've been looking at roomettes

[@brianbarriger8553]

Nice job Nick. Taking this same trip in August from Ann Arbor, Michigan thru Chicago to Seattle. Will be our 2nd trip on Amtrak. Took a western trip on Amtrak in January out of LA. The trip didn't go as planned due to the Armageddon Snow Storm in Chicago and the Midwest which shut down everything that day, but it was still a great adventure, even though the Amtrak segment ended for us in Denver. Long story. Was a great adventure, and Amtrak personnel and Mgmt could not have been more wonderful. Can't control the weather, but the adventure was a great introduction into Amtrak and life traveling the rails. Loved it!!! Looking forward to August. And the Bedroom IS the car to book for sure over the Roomette, if you can swing the extra $$. 👍

[@NickGoesFar]

Absolutely! The extra space made for a very comfortable trip! I still want to do a roomette trip one of these days for comparison!

[@brianbarriger8553]

The added restroom in the Bedroom is a great feature. The Roomette is great for 1, but a little cramped for 2, and no restroom. But the added privacy is great either way, and the food is pretty solid. We are actually going in August because I always wanted to visit Seattle, AND the Tigers are playing in Seattle, so I'm looking forward to seeing a night game. Then we'll fly back after 2 nights in Seattle. Just a weekend gig!!!!

[@Quid2005]

Hey Neph and Big Bro! Thanks for the ride-along! Let me know when you are ready for the Rocky Mountaineer!

[@NickGoesFar]

Can't wait!

[@Seashellsbytheseashore21]

i actually laughed out loud watching this, thank you for that LOL. this is the best amtrak video i've seen. i'm doing california zephyr and then empire builder in a couple weeks. going the portland way, so will see how that goes. thanks again for sharing your experience.

[@NickGoesFar]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! The California Zephyr is supposed to be a really beautiful route!

[@jaywatt8728]

Nice video

[@NickGoesFar]

Thanks!

[@Bitterrootbackroads]

Approaching retirement I started watching Amtrak, mostly Empire Builder videos. Based on where I live I soon figured out that getting to the train, getting on & off, getting to my final destination, or back home after trip, is always going to be done in the darkest hours of the night. I wish someone would do a video about getting on & off Amtrak at 3:00 am in the middle of nowhere, with stations & entire small towns locked up tight until normal business hours. No steak, trying to sleep in the daytime, and up in the middle of my night for breakfast or lunch. Not everyone lives in Chicago, Seattle or Portland!

[@NickGoesFar]

And I don’t either. I flew in to Chicago to meet the train. All the late night stops, for the most part I slept through, and the steak was available all dinner services

[@MS-lb7bg]

The editing, descriptions, music choice are on par with documentaries on PBS :) Excited to see more of your videos.

[@NickGoesFar]

Thank you so much! I’m always learning and trying to improve!

[@joemeyers3127]

Wonderful video. Hope you do more Amtrak trips.

[@NickGoesFar]

There are more to come! Thanks!

[@susan7775]

At about 17:30, the view is of the Foss River while crossing on the trestle which is part of a big u-bend. I disappointed he didn’t mention the Cascade Tunnel, the longest in the US

[@NickGoesFar]

I'm sorry I didn't mention it - this route is fantastic, and there's so much I found it hard to really fit it all into a reasonable length video!

[@othoverland5769]

great video, met you on this trip and saw ourselves in the background a couple of times. Glad we followed you :)

[@NickGoesFar]

I remember chatting with you guys! I’m looking into an overland rental in Costa Rica now, I’ve got the bug!

[@gregchappell8866]

Cool video mate. I'm an Aussie who likes watching train travelling. You covered everything without any crap. Keep up the good work 👏

[@NickGoesFar]

Thanks so much! I've seen some awesome train vids from down in Aus, I'd love to get down there and try them out.

[@gailoneill981]

Hi great video. Just subscribed

[@NickGoesFar]

That's awesome, thank you!

[@the_g9456]

Very cool. I have watched the Downey live version but I like your style too.

[@NickGoesFar]

Thanks! Funny enough the train was full of Mike's fans, many making the trip because they had seen his videos.

[@krikett]

Just got off empire builder too, steak was great! I had a roomette.. how do you bid? You upgraded to a ? I’ve heard some older trains had sinks and toilets in roomettes.. I wasn’t so lucky .. was a great trip though , no linens on our tables though 😊thanks for sharing !

[@KimMoonbmwmoonie]

I currently have a roomette purchased, but the bid on the mobile app started out at $360 for the bedroom. Since I am riding by myself, I think I'll keep the roomette. I am returning to Detroit First class on United and that will cover the cost of that ticket for me. :)

[@Ilovemesomemj1]

Great video. I booked a cross country train ride last April. Long story short, Amtrak canceled the trip the same day I was to leave Chicago.😢 I havent rebooked yet, but its on my bucket list. I watch Downey Live channel as well.

[@NickGoesFar]

Definitely rebook and go ride the rails! It was a really enjoyable experience.

[@petersnortum2971]

As a fellow who has a love/ hate relationship with Amtrak, Please, make the attempt until you get it done. I have vowed never again, only to book another leg of their routes. One thing I learned, if you have a connection, always stay over, or have an early arrival, and LATE departure on the connection. I tried to take my 93 year old dad on a connection from Tucson to LA to catch the pacific run up California to Seattle, Train was 6 hours late to Tucson, missed the LA connection, rode a bus to Bakersfield. Long story short, missed the whole purpose of the trip!, anyway, the experience will teach you patience, if nothing else, but you see the country at a pace few appreciate. Don't leave the world with any regrets!!

[@NickP16]

Actually, the only portion of the route that is originally the great northern railroad is from Fargo to Seattle From Saint Paul to Fargo, that trackage was originally built by the northern Pacific railroad From Chicago to Glenview, that is Metra tracks Then from Glenview to Saint Paul, that was originally built by the Milwaukee Road railroad, which today is a part of the CPKC, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad

[@NickGoesFar]

That’s awesome, love the extra information. Thank you. 👏

[@javapick]

Great video! Looking at doing this route soon, also in a bedroom. Question - understanding that you can go either to Seattle or Portland, which one enables you to stay on the same train that you started on? Traveling with my elderly dad, so the fewer train transitions the better. Thanks!

[@NickGoesFar]

Technically either. If you’re going to Seattle you’ll be in one sleeper car, if you’re going to Portland you’ll be in the other. I prefer the Seattle route as the trip through the cascades is more scenic. The diner car goes to Seattle, the observation car goes to Portland.

[@Grahzzyvtvlog]

I was in that lounge 3 times 1500 points each time

[@NickGoesFar]

1500 points for access to the lounge? Are those the Amtrak points?

[@Grahzzyvtvlog]

@@NickGoesFar been to every lounge

[@Grahzzyvtvlog]

@@NickGoesFar yup. Well. Worth every point

[@markoberhaus1414]

Great video. Thanks. When was you travel?

[@NickGoesFar]

This was at the end of April 2023

[@dennisyoung4631]

The lounge is really helpful if you’re socially phobic…

[@NickGoesFar]

And if you're connecting through Chicago and need a place to stay for a long "layover" it's nice to have a place to store your bags.

[@santinoandolini1893]

I like the video. How much did you bid to get the upgrade?

[@NickGoesFar]

Thanks! I'm not sure, this was months ago now - all I know is that it was the lowest the slider could go to bid!

[@patrickp6679]

Great video. Why did you have to return back to Spokane? Does it not stop there or did you just go all the way to Seattle for the video? Is it possible to get off along the way for overnight stops? Does that increase the cost much?

[@NickGoesFar]

We went all the way to Seattle for the video BUT home is Coeur d’Alene, Idaho which is served by the Spokane station. So, practically, we should have gotten off in Spokane - but wanted to get the entire experience.

[@nancywheeler8904]

I tried the lowest bid for Starlight not lucky though....

[@NickGoesFar]

Yeah the agent at the lounge said we were really lucky that we got it at that level.

[@diannedandrea8251]

Hi. Love your video. I’m also a newbie to your channel. I’m confused though. You upgraded from one roomette to one bedroom? When I book next year I’m getting two roomettes. So I can bid for two bedrooms?

[@NickGoesFar]

I'm not entirely sure what the bidding situation would be if you have two roomette's booked on one reservation - they likely give you a "per room" bidding option. I'm curious to hear how it goes.

[@shawngresham9349]

I just did this trip in the opposite direction and it was terrible. Every switch we went over rocked our car violently. The shower was dirty, our beds were equipped with old mattresses and flat pillows and the car attendant had to cover 2 sleepers due to staff shortage. I return to Seattle in 2 weeks, so Amtrak needs to get this right, or I will just fly instead.

[@NickGoesFar]

ooof! it sounds like you had a really rough journey.

[@markolwick2223]

May I ask how much you bid for the upgrade? I realize it varies, but just wanted to get a rough scope.

[@NickGoesFar]

Honestly, at this point I don't recall, that was back in April. It was the bottom of the slider. And when I told the agent in the lounge his eyebrows shot up and he said "that almost never happens", I presume typically because people bid higher.

[@phillipwhite9788]

When and how do you bid on upgrades

[@NickGoesFar]

I received an email from Amtrak a couple of weeks prior to our travel date inviting me to bid, it took me to a website specifically for that. If sleepers are fully booked though, they don’t send the email.