Onboard the First Brightline Test Train to the Orlando Station

[@brycestewart7228]

That is so cool. 2023 can't get here soon enough. I'm really hoping that brightline west succeeded to give the U.S. real high speed rail.

[@SMichaelDeHart]

Very cool!! You've given Brightline enough free advertising, so it's great that your being allowed to ride the trains early.

[@RoamingRailfan]

My camera was fortunate enough to tag along attached to the locomotive but I personally was not onboard, only the train crew was allowed onboard.

[@SMichaelDeHart]

@@RoamingRailfan oh okay...still great they allowed that much.

[@nanashi1879]

Thanks for sharing. It looks like the station is set up for additional tracks to be added down the road

[@RailFanRob]

Wow I can't get enough of this series...thanks so much for your dedication in informing us about Brightline!!

[@nullc0ntext]

Duuuuuuuuude this is so frackin' sweet I swear. So cool to see this and so professionally produced, bravo!

[@TheCheffydave]

FIRST CLASS AS USUAL! Thanks my friend!

[@laminatedsamurai]

Wish I was working that day, I would have loved to watch from where I usually park in front of the Intermodal Terminal. Very excited for when the line is fully up and running.

[@richardsmith4187]

I sure hope that Brightline at some time will let you ride in the cab upfront and document from that location ?? You have dedicated your time to this important project in Florida history and its only fitting you ride up front !! Plus a Brightline "rail pass" would surely be nice. *** Also what is the noise coming from the wheels ? A grinding sound ??

[@RoamingRailfan]

Noise will go away as the track is worn in. This was the first time they were actually used by something other than track equipment.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

It’s a fairly normal noise on curves

[@ericsimandl3998]

Train wheels squeak on curves. They don't have differentials.

[@amtrak706]

@@ericsimandl3998 Trains do not need differentials since train wheels are conical. The effective diameter of the wheel at the contact point to the rail changes in a curve, which takes care of the speed difference between the outside and inside wheel on a curve. Wheel squeal on curves comes from wheel flanges occasionally making contact with the rail.

[@seaniebounce]

Yes Eric. Very well said indeed. This is good!!!!

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Fun video thanks for the ride along. 👍

[@DeathByFishing]

Some drone footage would have added another level of great to this. I can't wait until the Tampa line gets up and running too.

[@RoamingRailfan]

Unfortunately I was not allowed to fly my drone near the station so that was not an option for this video.

[@DeathByFishing]

@@RoamingRailfan the airport being close by makes it a no fly zone I'm sure. But it would still have been awesome. Love the updates and presentations.

[@melvinjacobs2328]

Thank you very much for your informative videos. I join everyone e3lse in hoping Brightline succeeds.

[@mickeyguy3173]

Absolutely love your videos. Sure hope Brightline will be super successful. Would love to see it travel up along I-75 someday to Atlanta w maybe an auto train. Wishful thinking. Keep up the great work!!!

[@johnreichardwest]

Awesome!! Thank you very much for sharing!!

[@lizzeyflower]

O wow even though it was just your camera that could go. It's great to see the view. Your information is the best out there. More people should see videos 📹 keep it up

[@moishglukovsky]

Great video! Remarkable that modern rail technology cannot eliminate that horrendous screeching.

[@RoamingRailfan]

The screeching will go away as the rail is worn in, this was the first time any train has run over these brand new tracks.

[@cathrynm]

Someone actually managed to get something actually built -- in the USA. This is just mind-bogglingly amazing. So many news stories of future projects that just disappear, but then, like, one actually happens? Hopefully they can get the Las Vegas train built -- and California bureacracy doesn't peck them to death.

[@DanTheisen]

Thanks not only for the videos but the engagement in the comments. I came in here to complain about the noises, but got my answers before I had to ask the same question. And! Learned a lot more. Maybe someday you could do Q&A either as dedicated videos or tagged at the end. Just a thought.

[@edmundanderson657]

Hello, not sure what you do or your viewer's realize the time and distance you put in. Without looking it up, whats it about 250 miles from end to end? I'm familiar with most of the trackage from Jupiter to Melbourne so I know what you're traveling. Thanks for your time, always look forward to updates. They do need to add another stop around Stuart or downtown Jensen.

[@TheHappyHaole]

I think you misunderstand- the train only went from the maintenance facility (near OIA, or possibly on OIA property) to the station at OIA. I was excited to drive the section of highway 528 from Cocoa Beach to Orlando on June 23 and there was still a lot of track to be installed. Looking forward to its completion, however, as I'll be riding up from WPB station! Before Covid, we took Brightline from WPB to Miami for a cruise and was told at the time there are plans to extend the line right into the port of Miami. Even though it was just a short Uber/Lyft ride to the port, it will be nice to only move luggage once. Definitely agree with you on adding one or two more stops between WPB and OIA!

[@sanchorim8014]

@@TheHappyHaole I took that route a few days ago. I was pleased to see they were further along than what Google Maps was showing.

[@Baruka88]

i would love to see a video of that train wash in action

[@portercbl]

Love it! I hope I live long enough to be able to take a trip from Tampa to Miami, beginning in Orlando!

[@altrn0]

Great shoot video, thanks.

[@J3scribe]

Well done!

[@randybutler4772]

Thank you for sharing.

[@thomasconboy4636]

We need more rail service in US like this

[@thomashendricks9774]

When it was pulling into the station, my first thought was Mind the Gap.

[@jasonpetersrailadventures]

So cool.

[@cliffm6566]

Fantastic😁

[@outby50]

What's the point of the large, uncovered, staircases and ramps (to nowhere) at the south ends of the platforms (e.g., 15:33)? Just emergency egress from the platforms for pedestrians/wheelchairs?!?

[@RoamingRailfan]

Correct, just for emergency evacuations. All passengers will get to the platform via escalators and elevators from the station lounge in the terminal.

[@Intechdude300]

The only train in America that doesn’t make you feel like a peasant when you use it and its facilities. An Amtrak feels like riding in back of the Sanford & Son pickup truck and its stations give you the sense that you’re a prisoner getting sent to a Russian prison.

[@johnchambers8528]

Thanks for the interesting video. I hope to get down to Orlando to ride the new service when they start to go from Orlando to Miami. They seem to be on the right track to provide a nice fast ride between the two cities. High speed does not need to be super fast as long as it easily beats driving time and the traffic on the main roads between their stations the service should do well. One of the reasons this service is getting done so fast is that they choose to be fast but not super fast that would have required much more upgrades in both structures and track separation. With this set up you get reasonably fast service and also most likely lower cost than if it was built to the higher speeds some people claim it should be. They also got cooperation with the freight railroad to use common facilities where possible benefiting both freight and passenger operations. Amtrak and other states should pay attention to this method instead of wanting super fast trains on dedicated right of ways unless the trains are going really long distances where the speed would be more important to be competitive with air travel.

[@smflatt]

Brightline says Orlando to Miami at a speed of 125 mph. I'd say that's high enough speed for me!

[@TracksideToronto]

Must have been surreal to ride the train after so many days and drone flights capturing the line construction.

[@RoamingRailfan]

I wasn't on the train (only the train crew was onboard) but it was neat to see what my camera was able to capture.

[@rachellynn1507]

Is that 2nd track (future) to be laid for the continuation to Tampa❓

[@RoamingRailfan]

Yes

[@davidcoleman958]

Wow this is awesome! What will be the speeds allowed on this line?

[@lovedfriend2020]

The only "passenger" was your camera lol Funny :)

[@bally_malone8]

seeing trains making test runs in Jupiter this week

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Very nice footage! What kind of camera are you using to hang it on the side of the train?

[@RoamingRailfan]

It was a GoPro

[@SD45-ET44AC]

@@RoamingRailfan I thought as much. Thanks, I’m in VA & doubt I’ll get to ride Bright line but would want/love to see it extended to Bangor ME. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@terrydikkers4707]

Will they be doing a test run thru the airport soon?

[@RoamingRailfan]

They will eventually

[@H3lue]

How fast can the trains get? And will they be able to upgrade the tracks to make them even faster?

[@RoamingRailfan]

The maximum speed will be 125mph. This train was slower since it was the first test train.

[@rondech2920]

In normal service, do both engines work in sync? Or does one engine pull and the other dead weight until going the opposite direction?

[@RoamingRailfan]

Sometimes both are being used, other times only a single one is. There is no set way for how this is determined that I am aware of.

[@Michael1986443]

I hope the train is running so I can attend Marlins baseball games in Miami

[@dorsai]

Sorry if I missed it, do you know when they're planning to open passenger service all the way down to Miami?

[@RoamingRailfan]

2023

[@cooper7031]

Will Brightline be ready 2 ride by January?

[@RoamingRailfan]

No

[@ap1765]

Why are they using wooden ties in the yard?

[@RoamingRailfan]

They are actually steel ties. They supposedly require less maintenance and ballast to use but are not suitable for mainline use which is why they are in the yard.

[@franciscogodoy9158]

Are switch signals in the wrong position?

[@RoamingRailfan]

The signal system has not been activated yet

[@danh1284]

• Conventional Wisdom says, "The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease" -- but apparently that didn't apply today; and • they're going to have to pick up the speed a bit if they want to attract many business travelers😂!

[@RoamingRailfan]

This was literally the first ever train to ride on these tracks so speed was kept slow purposefully...

[@rickdee67]

I’m very interested in seeing the train wash function, is it possible for me to see it in person or would that be trespassing?

[@RoamingRailfan]

There is no public access to the Vehicle Maintenance Facility so that would be trespassing. I’m hoping to get video of it in action at some point in the future.