The Amtrak Cardinal : 24 hours in a Roomette through the Appalachians during fall

Howdy folks,
Welcome to this trip report onboard the Amtrak Cardinal : The most stunning route in the Eastern United States by far. Let's travel onboard a comfy Viewliner Roomette through the Appalachian Moutains during the early leaf peepper!
Enjoy :)
TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED IN OCTOBER 2020
Railroad company: Amtrak
Train type : P42 #194, Amfleet II, and Viewliner I & II
From : Chicago Union Station to Washington DC Union Station
Time : 23h34
Price : $371 or €305
LINK TO THE NEW PATREON PAGE : / simply_railway
Massive thanks to my following Patreon for their help :
Claudio Bickel ; Iwan Di Tullio ; Martin Haynes ; Cyril ; Laurent Gilson
INSTAGRAM - / simply_railway
TWITTER - si...
TIKTOK - / simplyrailway
SIMPLY RAILWAY PRODUCTS : teespring.com/...
EQUIPEMENT - Go Pro Hero 7 black + Karma gamble
English correction made by Michel Seignette de Kerobert
Credit photo for the thumbnail : W. Wardell

[@RatatoskrProduction]

You had the golden crew with Mama J being your attendant, the Conductors being Claytor, and the now-retired Glass along with Nick at the controls, all of them together is close to 200 years of railroading. I also like how you decided to do your train review on the North Mountain Sub which is known as the roughest section of track for any Amtrak passenger train. If you want to do something unique try the Autumn Color Express (Ex: New River Train) it runs the same route as the Cardinal through the New River Gorge in the peak of fall colors and you will get to ride in private cars that can be a dome or even the private car you saw in Washington.

[@jaymuller]

Thought i heard a lot of jointed rail...

[@johnadams6535]

I just started watching the video but I love Mama J!

[@whataguy7032]

Hinton Railroad Days is the festival at the Eastern Terminus of the Autumn Color Express. A nice two day festival in the fall with many food and craft vendors.

[@filhoespecialmaeperturbada7620]

N. Nem sei o que eu vou te falar uma princesa 👑 é

[@Cal90208]

I thought the roughest section was the Kansas part of the Chief route?

[@calnfl5747]

Great trip report Thibault! Also bringing a tablecloth on the sleeper train to eat is the Frenchest thing ever haha

[@frankishknight1878]

But of course... Do you have any Grey Poupon ?

[@abshivkumar2549]

No

[@davejohnson3684]

Thanks Simply.,,, Just started watching train vids and yours is great. Love the sub-title version with just a little train noise in the background.. Having seen more than one Amtrak fold down table who could blame you for the bringing your own table cloth?

[@sahbreezyy]

The Cardinal really is a nice service for Amtrak

[@AG7-MTM]

Man train travel is sooooo underrated. Good thing some trains like this are still around

[@samanli-tw3id]

Because there are cars and airplanes.

[@marcoroberts9462]

@@samanli-tw3id trains are better than both

[@calcrappie8507]

Makes me remember my trip on the Empire Builder. Smoking/Jazz/Drinking car. White linen tablecloths and rainbow trout for dinner in the Vista Dome through Glacier National Park. Great train. Great route. I would get a neck ache on the Cardinal. Beautiful scenery and so many fishing spots to roll by. West Virginia is a looker.

[@pageharris5693]

We took the Cardinal westbound out of Washington back in 1999. Full dining car and observation car back the. We had a great time and had so much fun in the observation car, the bartender gratised our drinks. He said he had never laughed that hard on an Amtrak trip.

[@timlilijinsheng4070]

It's pretty hard to imagine that 76 years ago there's steam trains reaching more than 160km/h and now it's just restricted to 127km/h

[@spadesofpaintstudios1719]

Trains have always been restricted like that sadly and it’s mainly because of the rail system which is very outdated and not maintained great

[@thechickenstew3716]

a number of Amtrak trains reach 177km/h that are diesel

[@yagi3925]

Make America's trains great again.

[@spadesofpaintstudios1719]

@@thechickenstew3716 that’s only possible if their allowed to go that fast since there’s so many other freight trains on the lines

[@thechickenstew3716]

@@spadesofpaintstudios1719 the empire corridor has a fair amount of freight lines but the trains still go 110 mph

[@isaiahwiley396]

these are the best KZbin Amtrak videos I've ever seen thank you this is Isaiah Wiley from myrtle Beach south Carolina responding saying thank you and may God bless you.

[@gladfan1989]

Having been to Chicago's Union Station, I concur with that annoyance. But it's such a beautiful station and a great route to take.

[@erichhouchens3711]

A couple of comments on your Cardinal video. 1) You commented on the toilet in your Roomette. This was/is not an uncommon feature in US/Canadian sleeping cars. Prior to the Viewliners the most common sleeping car on Amtrak was called a 10/6 car. This car had 10 roomettes and 6 bedrooms. The roomettes had the same type of toilet as your Viewliner room had. These cars were withdrawn from service because they had direct dump on the tracks toilets which were outlawed in the 90's. Amtrak was provided with funds to replace those cars with the Viewliners. The new Viewliner 2 sleepers (25) do not have the toilets in the roomettes. They have only 11 roomettes instead of the 14 in the original cars as this allows for two more toilet rooms to replace the toilets in the roomettes. This was done as passengers complained of the smell from the toilets which use a closed loop chemical system as opposed to the old dump on the tracks system. The bedrooms on the Viewliners and Superliners have enclosed toilets. Speaking of Viewliners, the original order was for 50 cars with an option for 50 more which Amtrak had planned to take. Unfortunately the company building the cars went bankrupt and had to be taken over by another company to complete the original 50 car order. This take over cancelled the 50 car option. Because of this Amtrak has always been short of sleeping cars on the eastern trains as just 50 Viewliners replaced over 100 10/6 sleepers. With all the problems CAF has had building the Viewliner 2 fleet some people say the Viewliner program is cursed. 2) On board food service has seriously gone down hill of late on Amtrak. As cost cutting measure full dining service was ended in November 2018. Sleeping car passengers get pre made microwave meals that generally aren't much better than what you might find at your local Carrefour or now that you're in the US .... Kroger. The microwaved meals are only for sleeping car passengers. Passengers in coach (US term for 2nd class) get snacks in the cafe car. As for the western trains Amtrak claims it will return full dining service once the pandemic is over. We shall see. 3) You mentioned two videos back in your METRA video about the use of stainless steel in US passenger cars. This has been the case since about the 1940's. It looks better than carbon steel cars and add structural strength. Another important point is the fact that paint doesn't stick to stainless steel. American passenger cars aren't painted so much as they're decaled. The fact that paint doesn't stick to stainless steel means that US passenger trains don't look like those of the SNCF, DB, NS, FS or just about any eastern European operator. Any graffiti painted on the side of a US passenger train just washes right off as soon as the car is run through a high pressure car wash. You might see some leftover paint on the rubber gaskets around the windows but that's about it. I look forward to seeing more of your rail trips around north America.

[@abc-wv4in]

Very helpful comments with which I agree. Amtrak management seemed (seems?) determined to kill the long distance trains, especially the eastern ones, by a thousand cuts. Amtrak bought expensive new Viewliner dining/kitchen cars and then didn't use the kitchens, going to those prepackaged "meals," and those only for sleeper car customers. Such mismanagement and waste! The dining car experience is an integral part of rail travel. (My most frequent travel on Amtrak has been round trip from Atlanta or Anniston to New Orleans, which is a full day trip in both directions. No sleeper needed but dining car service certainly is. Plus, coach passengers paid separately for dining car meals which helps the bottom line.) The northeast corridor seems to be Amtrak management's favored child at the expense of the LD trains. Let's hope the long distance trains survive as they do provide a needed service.

[@gracesmith6199]

I'm watching this from my bed in Scotland , it's 1-4 -21, 22:53 pm , great stuff !

[@robinmartz9052]

I love trains. I haven't been on one since the late 70s but I loved it. From Livingston Montana to Seattle Washington. It was wonderful.

[@rrajdippawskar9853]

Those track announcements at the Chicago stations sounded like a traumatized person, who is driven crazy by echoing thoughts in his/her mind, as shown in movies😂😂

[@frankishknight1878]

It is designed for visually impaired persons.

[@rrajdippawskar9853]

@@frankishknight1878 I understand that, but I do not suppose there was any need for the echo-ish thing, right?

[@frankishknight1878]

@@rrajdippawskar9853 yes the recording is spooky... We'll have Thibault do voice over with his pretty French accent lol. 😂

[@johnplampin7274]

Randolph/South Water St, aka Millineum Park, is worse because it's a small space so re-echos even more.

[@coreyhipps7483]

@@rrajdippawskar9853 Actually, the echo is because the gates are wide and each side of the gate has a panel that will show you trains for both track and both sides were being activated. If there are not people in front of the signs they are quiet.

[@frankpearson8792]

When i see this Glorious Station , I'm Disgusted by the fact New York doesn't have the Old Pennsylvania Station built in 1910 .

[@whette_fahrtz]

Don’t let CUS off the hook, they demolished the old head house that was grander than the Great Hall in the 70s.

[@mindlessgonzo]

I been through Chicago's station numerous times with Amtrak. The layovers are long but at least there's something here to keep you occupied. (Also, they still haven't done a thing to those ceiling titles in the hallways yet. They've been like that as long as I remember. And I've used Amtrak for about 8 years.)

[@mindlessgonzo]

Also, the Indianapolis train station is very dirty and horrible with spotty wifi and the Capitol Limited has no wifi, as opposed to the Cardinal which has some good Wifi, but Coach toilets easily clog.

[@whette_fahrtz]

The tiles have been like that for at least ten years. The ceiling leaks so that’s probably why they haven’t bothered putting them back.

[@kendrickkelly2336]

@@whette_fahrtz I was wondering about the lack of ceiling tiles at the Chicago station and whether there was still work going on or was it the end result of a gritty "industrial" design choice. God help the poor souls that have to deal with the problems that the diesel particulates, brake dust and bio-filth that has/will accumulate in the exposed wiring, connectors and conduits up there without the drop ceiling tiles. Ugh!

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

They have had water problems at the Chicago station from its start in 1928.

[@davidgriffin9412]

Great review and video. I have ridden the Cardinal riding coach to Baltimore from Ashland, KY. This was back in 1979. Too bad you couldn't have ridden the Cardinal when is was in it's glory days back in the late 1980s to mid 90s. In the mid 80s, the train was reequipped with rebuilt heritage equipment. The consist was F40PH, baggage, 2 10/6 sleepers, diner, lounge, and 4 or 5 coaches. At this time the train was normally running to full capacity. Amtrak even had to turn people away unless there were enough customers for another car to be added. When another car was added, if it took the train over 10 cars, then another engine was needed to keep it on schedule. In the early 90s, the train was reequipped with Superliner equipment. The train consist was an F40PH/P42, 2 sleepers, Diner, sightseer lounge, 3 coaches. This held about the same number of passengers as the previous set of equipment. After the change, ridership increased and the train regularly had 9 or 10 superliners. This changed after the Amtrak Autotrain had a wreck and they need the equipment to replace the losses. The Cardinal went back to lower level equipment, but the rebuilt heritage equipment had been retired, so it was equipped with Amfleet and Viewliner cars. Before this the Cardinal did not go to New York. The schedule was also different, one hour earlier westbound, and two hours later eastbound. I used to watch the Cardinal go through Ashland, KY all the time. I went to the station and was there with some of my friend. They were there every time the train came in. My one friend photographed and videotaped the cardinal and kept a list of which locomotives were on each train, which cars were in the consist, and how many passengers got on or off the train every time it came in. He and his father started this back when it was the George Washington back in the late 1950s. He has a list of almost every train that came through town since then. He still keeps a list today.

[@aloiseburian5238]

My grandfather was one of the first engineers on the MKT (KAt y) railroad back in the 19th century so I really enjoy watching your videos

[@Kevin-yh9yt]

A great, informative video. So glad you didnt add the usual music and instead kept it simple and full of quiet info and scenery. Thank you!

[@paulw.woodring7304]

As a former Amtrak On-Board Service employee, let me emphasize that unlike Europe, tipping the service workers is expected in the U. S., including the Red Caps. While they say it's a "free" service, tipping them is the norm. The jointed rail territory the train covered after Clifton Forge, VA is the short line Buckingham Branch Railroad, which operates the former C&O Mountain Subdivision under lease from CSX. Also, after Charlottesville, the Cardinal swings away from the BBRR onto a short section of CSX track to Orange, VA, and joins the former Southern Railway/NS mainline to Alexandria, VA. So the intermodal train you saw near Manassas, VA was a NS train, not CSX. Nice trip report.

[@MrStarfishPrime]

Wow, good to know. I'm European and I never expected that.

[@jameshitselberger5845]

I remember the great hall in Chicago from 60 years ago...a round ticket counter and passenger benches which filled it....sad it looks so empty now.

[@eMegMBea]

Just like anywhere else that tipping is expected, a tip is earned. I've had some bad sleeping car attendants who I gave either a smaller tip, or in one case, no tip. If we get on and I never see you again - no tip. I also once asked an attendant if I could have my meal in my room and she said, "I have too many other meals to deliver". When I went to the dinning car for said meal, she was sitting on her ass laughing it up with other crew. Sat there the entire time I was there. So, if people like that expect a tip, or a good tip, they're sadly mistaken!

[@Crosshead1]

Don’t know if you noticed but as you left the train in Washington, you passed one of the rarest passenger cars ever built in the USA, a Seaboard line sun lounge car built by the Pullman company. I believe only three were ever made. Btw, have you caught the California Zephyr between Chicago and Emeryville (San Francisco) yet? In my opinion, it’s far and away the most beautiful Amtrak route.

[@fayeclark7800]

Just asking what Hotels are in the area that are responsible and close to the train station when you go to California and San Francisco

[@utahrailfan1946]

He did it in July if I remember correctly. I caught the train in Provo, Utah to meet him.

[@indecisivewolf5620]

He pointed it out, you can see it mentioned in the subtitles. Beautiful passenger car.

[@raphaelschuller5243]

I love the professional way you film these videos👍 keep up the good work

[@NozomuYume]

Amtrak *did* have fresh fruit. In fact, free apples and oranges (and sometimes bananas) were offered in the sleeper cars for anyone to pick up on Superliners, next to the coffee machine, and could be asked for in Viewliners. Fresh fruit was another casualty of COVID. I don't have a lot of experience with the Viewliner, but I believe that those sliders control output from the space heater, and if you have them closed then the thermostat won't work correctly.

[@MrStark-up6fi]

I love Simply Railway's videos, they are very amazing. I would love to see him do reviews on trains in Asia (Japan, China, Russia .etc) after the pandemic is over. Great videos tho 👍

[@robinmartz9052]

Me too!!

[@ace74909]

And try out the Rupert rocket in Canada

[@markkimoto]

when i took a trip on the cardinal a few years ago, i also had mama j as my sleeper car attendant! truly one of the most kindhearted people i’ve ever met, and a good sense of humor too! nice tripreport 👌

[@wakecountyproductions]

33:12 that intermodal train was actually NS. You were traveling on the NS Washington District, which goes between Lynchburg and Alexandria.

[@vmaxlegends549]

Brilliant trip report Thibault

[@jenw9463]

NGL, the toilet next to the bed sleeves me out.

[@ronclark9724]

With the new Viewliner II sleeper roomettes, Amtrak has removed the toilet and added a public restroom in place of one roomette across from the public shower. The fold away high water pressure sink and mirror remains. Frankly, the toilet didn't mind me so much for a single roomette, the second could always walk out. It is the high water pressure sink that is the larger issue, leaving a wet mess on everything...

[@BigAl72ZGE]

@@ronclark9724 I've only ever been a solo traveler in a roomette and I liked having the toilet just in case I need to use it in the middle of the night. Unfortunately the sink is unusable. Obviously I use hand sanitizer instead. I far prefer the viewliner to the superliner since I like using the top bunk on the viewliner for sleeping, which also has a window, and leaving the seats for sitting. The top bunk on a superliner is like a coffin, unfortunately.

[@punman5392]

@@BigAl72ZGE I feel like the top bunk has more privacy too

[@coreyhipps7483]

A few things: The noise you did not like is for the visually impaired. It is only activated when there are people within proximity to the gate. By having you line up across the gates rather than facing the gate it pretty well guaranteed you'd here the announcement a lot. My experience with the exhaust in Chicago's Union Station is so long as you are not near the locomotives it is not too bad. If you are rather close though you will breathe in a lot of diesel exhaust. Chicago Union Station has most platforms as departing north or south and acting as a terminus. But the east most platform is actually a pass through and I believe there is a second, non-platform pass through track as well (that let trains get from the north side to the depot on the south side). I believe both the Amtrak Hiawatha and Empire Builder depart north as they both stop at the Glenview train station. I fully agree that the sink / toilet situation in the roomettes is less than ideal. The full bathroom / shower situation of the bedrooms is much better. Generally speaking I don't think there are any observation cars on the non-Superliner trains. There used to be dome cars, at least up to the 1990s. Those were a lot of fun when heading east from Chicago.

[@jaymuller]

I have to say, I don't mind the toilet in the roomette on the Viewliner equipment, vs. no en suite facilities in a Superliner roomette

[@coreyhipps7483]

@@jaymuller The long distance Amtrak trips I have taken have done a pretty good job of keeping toilets clean, especially for sleeper car and near them. I personally prefer the public restroom over the in unit one for the roomette. Granted, opinions can differ.

[@jaymuller]

@@coreyhipps7483 I can see your point. My wife and I used to take Amtrak a lot (I was afraid to fly), most trips were good, but one time a return from Glenwood Springs to Chicago on the Zephyr, it was pretty rank by Naperville! I guess that's why i preferred the Viewliner arrangement vs. sneaking out of our roomette at 02:00 to take a whizz!. That said, haven't been on Amtrak long distance for quite some time except for trips on Hiawatha Service to MKE for sailing events.

[@drdewott9154]

Don't they have lead ways in the flooring that the blind people can follow with their guidance sticks to find the right platform? Do they not have that in America??

[@jaymuller]

@@drdewott9154 I've never seen them here and our Architecture firm is almost totally transportation related projects, nor have I seen this in the ADA guidelines

[@conorontherails]

great video! I have one thing to point out, for future reference: 8:47 being a railfan/enthusiast in general, I want to point out that an NPCU (Non-Power Control Unit) or cabbage is an F40PH that has been converted into a Cabbage by removing all internal combustion engine pieces to make a hollowed-out shell where the baggage compartment is. the only pieces that remain of the original locomotive are the frame, cab & controls. there is one exception to the cabbage rule though Amtrak NPCU F40PH #406 has a smaller engine inside it so it could run a HEP generator for the museum train ut hasn't used it since. other than that love the video! keep up the good work!

[@rttx]

The 406 cannot move on its own. The generator onboard was intended to generate HEP for use on the museum train.

[@conorontherails]

@@rttx ah ok that makes more sense. thanks!

[@laurieuebbing3500]

That voice he hears saying the track number, is what is called a voice-over! Whoever records those for Amtrak, gets a paycheck every time you hear it!

[@QuarioQuario54321]

I have a genius idea for April fools. Review the Chicago L or New York subway. Or maybe even a a streetcar network. The Pere Marquette is a route with an unexpected fleet.

[@edisonz2006]

Yes good idea. NYC Subway review would be funny.

[@punman5392]

Go to Boston and review the Green Line! The oldest subway tunnels on the continent run under Boston and still service streetcar trolleys to this day!

[@timnewman1172]

Do the DC Metro, actually the Red Line would make a great trip review!

[@AlRoderick]

The Detroit people mover. Most pathetic mass transit system in the world

[@fatasianpanda4995]

Can't wait! Riding this from NYC to Chicago in a couple weeks, plus in a roomette!

[@reneatucker120]

Never been to Chicago...seems so big! Spring 2022 will be my first trip there and on to Washington D.C. Thanks for the preview 😀

[@1thejet]

I took the Capitol Limited several times. From Chicago it was always an overnight departing around 6 pm. Went the cheap way in coach and slept most of it. I will have to go the scenic route next time.

[@ejames1103]

The white tablecloth was a class act. Love it.

[@Michael65429]

I guided on the New River for many, many years and I just wanted to make a correction to your video: you can drive down to the New River underneath the bridge on the old Hwy 19. It's an adventure in itself!

[@jamesbowling5703]

Yes, I have driven down to the river, underneath the bridge. The views of the bridge from down there are awesome.

[@Train2589]

i only have ridden the Capital Limited. To me it's a very scenic train as when going East into Washington D.C it rolls along the C&O Canal state park from shortly after sunrise. absolutely gorgeous scenery imo.

[@Haka260]

I really like yout trip reports and I like you writing comments. I am sitting here in Norway in my favorite relaxing chair, reading great trip reports fra USA and if it hadn't been for my old age I would definatly have considered one or two of your suggested trips. And to me Amtrack has a good website for planning, best regards from Norway, Harald K

[@HankeyMountainGarage]

I am from and still live in Staunton, Virginina. Great you got to stop and get out of the train there. Cool to see it on a popular youtube channel!

[@stufhaus]

Yeah, didn’t think Staunton was going to get so much screen time, but I was pleasantly surprised

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

My wife and I went on the Amtrak Silver trains to Florida and they had real dining car food. It was some of the best I've ever had.

[@mjarail]

The Capitol Limited's route segment East of Pittsburg also has stunning scenery.

[@bathshuaspooner8553]

Thank you for these lovely videos. I doubt I will ever travel by train so I live vicariously through these episodes

[@hirampriggott1689]

I did the Cardinal around 2005 from Indianapolis to New York. My Viewliner I room was cold because I couldn't adjust the thermostat for the air conditioner. It was broken. However, the views were spectacular, and I dined with total strangers in the dining car, which made the trip more fun. It was my first long distance Amtrak ride.

[@portermcsorley]

I hope they bring back the dinning service. I rode the California Zephyr Superliners from Omaha to Sacramento nearly a decade ago when I was 12. The one meal I had in the dinning car was unforgettable. After watching your videos, I really can’t wait to take a vacation out to California in a Roomette now that I’m an adult.

[@pcawley1964]

I'm a big fan of the view liner roomette with the toilet. Being an older person who has a need to use the facilities at least once a night I appreciate the convenience. On a superlunar I get a full room even though you sleep cross wise which isn't as comfortable just for the toilet convenience. Perhaps the fact that I sleep in very few clothes makes going to the restroom outside of my room less convenient as I then need to bring extra clothes just for this task.

[@abc-wv4in]

I agree. And the new Viewliner roomettes have a sink. I'm sure it gets used as a urinal by some people. Paying for plumbing in each compartment and still no toilet doesn't make a lot of sense to many of us, but then all the service cuts to the LD trains doesn't either.

[@amesavis]

thank you simpi for taking me on this scenic train voyage with you. those old carriages still rock. i like that they have a fan which can help when sleeping. i would be so proud if you were my son.

[@didisinclair3605]

Really, really excellent video. I loved that you brought a tablecloth!!!!! I'm hoping to travel from Toronto to Edmonton Canada in 2022.. I'll check and see if you've done any Canada routes. If not, I hope you will!

[@StupidStuff135]

Woo! The cardinal needs more love its one of my favorites ❤

[@differentperspective4124]

I love these grand old railway stations and when you think of all the soldiers who passed through them on the way to WW II, it’s quite humbling

[@thickernell]

Did you notice you caught an excellent piece of history when going over the New River? You could still see all the old telephone (and telegraph before that) wire attachments to the bridge and the antique glass insulators where still there. When I was a kid telephone poles still paralleled all US railroads and had active copper wire on them. By my teenage years they were almost all converted to underground fiber optics. You can still see the old poles and occasional insulators along many US railroads, hidden in the trees alongside.

[@Crosshead1]

He passed an even more amazing piece of US railroad history as he got off the train in Washington (at 35:18); a very rare (only 3 ever made) Seaboard Line Sun Lounge car made by Pullman in 1956. Like all Pullman cars, they had unique names. This one is Hollywood Beach and was featured in an article in Classic Trains on the Pullman Car Co. in 2020. The car had five double bedrooms at one end and a unique cafe/lounge area at the other end, with extra large side windows and glass panels in the roof. It operated in areas where there was insufficient clearance for a vista dome. That’s a very rare and lucky catch.

[@dougtagg9162]

Thank you for the the beautiful train trip to D.C. very scenic especially from your roomette on the top bunk with a cup of coffee.

[@larryloveless2967]

I like your well done video of The Cardinal that I know of but had never rode. The fun fact about me is that around 25 years ago inspired by a series on PBS called Great Railway Journeys of the World that included the Zephyr, Coast Starlight, and The Canadian I decided to ride all the AMTRAK routes west of St. Louis to see The West. This included back and forth on The Canadian between Vancouver and Jasper as part of those trips. My wife went once but long distance train travel was not for her. I was still working and they were done in 5 weekend to weekend trips as I worked at the same company many years and had plenty of vacation time doing a trip a year with my wife's blessing to have fun without her. I remember showing my work group all my pictures as they had never heard of anyone riding the rails for fun. It is good seeing how popular it is today and all the videoa of trips taken on KZbin. I am very familiar with Chicago Union Station since some of those trips from St. Louis needed connection to a long distance train heading West. With a daughter who wanted to explore Europe I even got to ride their high speed rail there and The Bernina Express in Switzerland. I enjoyed all my trips. I was familiar with this part of the country from family road trips. Thanks for placing your trip on KZbin. I really liked all your comments of the route.

[@btomimatsucunard]

Great video! Historical tidbit about the toilet in the room, that is actually a holdout from the golden age of rail travel in the US. When Pullman (the old primary sleeping car provider for the country) switched to having cars be primarily private room cars, they saved on space by placing the toilets in the rooms like older chamber pots. This is something that Amtrak kept in place on routes using the heritage sleeping cars all the way up until their retirement in the early 2000's. The first batch of viewliners are the last iteration of US sleeping cars to have that feature, the Superliners and the Viewliner II's got rid of that feature. For whatever reason the Viewliner I's kept them even though they were to replace the heritage sleeping cars.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

The Viewliner Is have them because Amtrak wanted each room to be its own unit, so during heavy maintenance, they could just slide each unit out and work on it individually.

[@squalli1297]

I agree. When travelling alone prior to & after Amtrak's takeover, Roomettes in "heritage cars" were designed for 1 person. The huge drawback was if I needed to use the bathroom at night, I was forced to lift the Murphy style bed back into the wall to access the toilet the bed rested upon. With Viewliner I's the toilet is next to the seat/bed which eliminated the night time hassle. Although practical, my concern was how sanitary the new design was. I must have been asleep, but I haven't noticed a Viewliner Baggage/Crew Dorm car until seeing this video. They're also placing baggage cars at the rear of consists when I'm used to seeing them at the head end. There must be a reason.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

@@squalli1297 The reduced consists. Many Western LD Routes are operating with a couple Coach/Baggages instead of a proper baggage car

[@stephenpowstinger733]

I went through union Station 60 years ago boarding the CA Zephyr. Quite an experience. The service was excellent in those days - porters, dining.

[@Toast0808]

I love the Viewliner sleepers. I always sleep up in the top berth as well. It’s the best! Also, Amtrak doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

[@montanamornings8526]

Haha. I think the song was Country Roads take me home but hey. Great video. This train is on my list.

[@patchescessna7348]

Kudos to you on bringing a white tablecloth... The creeping airline adoption in rail cars and service seems to be growing steadily everywhere in the world.

[@misryluvsco8169]

I love your attitude on travel and life! ❤😊

[@jen93106]

I love your white table cloth idea so much!!!

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

Oh wow. The scenery is stunning! I’ve only done the Capitol Limited (which was still really enjoyable had had some pretty scenery) but will have to add this train to the bucket list. ✅

[@opathe2nd973]

Over the years, my wife and I took Amtrak's Auto Train from DC to Orlando and always had a roomette. Just loved those trips. The food service deteriorated when covid hit and the dining car was closed. That took some of the charm off the trips. We never took it northbound because we lived in FL. Thanks for the memories!

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

MUH FREEDUMB!!

[@LaurenEveCreates]

It's great, The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, NC, where I grew up, The Nantahala Outdoor Center is where me and my friends went when I was 4 years old before I started preschool. It was Dele Hoffman's 4th Birthday, and we celebrated it during Spring Break 2006. I didn't start preschool until August 19th, 2006. We went again on the Polar Express during Winter Break 2010 when I was 9 years old. 15 years later, I still remember my old friends by my heart. Signed, Angela. P.S. You should try the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad! It's nice and has a breathtaking view! The outdoor seating car near the diesel locomotive is so good that the horn makes my ears ring. I went again with Amy Rose and her family when I lived in Wilkes County, in Boomer, NC. I went back to my hometown, Bryson City, NC, with them for my spring break vacation.

[@jonahsahn]

I'm watching this video on September 12, 2003. Definitely booking a trip for the week of October 15 thanks to this video!

[@douglasmacgregor3878]

I like that you don’t talk but use captions

[@ashleyallen9498]

I like that, also. It doesn’t distract from the viewing as much as talking does.

[@ckpal3575]

We need more like this

[@bridgediscovery1011]

Im addicted to watching your videos they are amazing

[@geezermann7865]

I very much enjoyed this video review. Great view on that route. It's been over 15 years since I took an Amtrak trip, and I went coach, for two days. I've been wanting to do another long trip, with a sleeper or roomette this time. But it will have to wait until after this stupid face diaper nonsense is ended. I refuse that tyranny. Thanks for the thorough review of the train and roomette, good and bad. Interestingly, your car was 62016, the zip code of a town near me.

[@ozgirl45]

Love your videos! You should try (once the service starts again after the pandemic) going from Montreal to New York and back. Going down there’s Lake Champlain and returning there’s the Hudson River. Always sit on the left side of the train!

[@troytravels]

Another brilliant video. So glad you got to experience my part of the world (I’m in Western NC). The fall was the perfect time to go as well!

[@Mivasuk]

14:31 I always had a companion, my identical older 10 min twin, who we shared upper shelves while travelling as Family. Thank you.

[@AmazingJohnny]

I like so much American trains ! Hello from Ukraine 💙💛

[@markouslister2727]

I am a great fun of your videos but this is extraordinary.You are young and this type of travel is rare because the people prefer the plane.BRAVO.Continue like this and came to Greece to taste our trains.

[@guillaumedarbin2433]

Great

[@squalli1297]

I have never taken this route. From Chicago, it's always been the Capitol to DC or the Lakeshore to NY. The Cardinal route in the Fall is now on my bucket list.

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

I might get to take The Cardinal later this week. I hope it works out.

[@kevins6114]

I grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, an hour south of Charlottesville, and now live in West Virginia part-time. They are two beautiful states. I’m glad you thought so too. Nice video.

[@SuperDecdog]

Few backwards people out those ways

[@fra42o32]

Great trip report! do you have videos of the trains in portugal? It would be a good idea if you don't have.

[@michaelrief4424]

One of my fondest memories from this train when we arrived in Washington was coming out of Union Station and seeing the lighted dome of the Capitol. I like trains but I get so excited I cannot sleep so I arrive partially exhausted. If you wish to enjoy the scenery take the EB train #50. The WB train #51 will go through a lot of the scenic areas at night. Maybe they’ve altered the timetable so check before booking.

[@abc-wv4in]

Yes, always check times through the areas you most want to see. Great tip!

[@Cal90208]

3:13 the LA metropolitan could use refurbishment, it’s definitely not as good as this 5:05 All Amtrak trains depart from the south I believe, even the empire builder (boards at the very last track which is a through track). The only train I see departing from the north side is the Hiawatha 13:11 You are the only one who has ever called a flex meal amazing. 31:24 that’s awesome. You have some good luck 35:40 Sometimes the Cardinal will use superliners and terminate/begin at WAS. When it has superliners, it might have one

[@CorySticha]

The Empire Builder boarding has always boarded from the north side with the Hiawatha trains since they follow the same route between Chicago and Milwaukee. Don't know if that's changed or not, but Amtrak has been known to change things just because they feel like it.

[@Cal90208]

@@CorySticha I’ve sssn a video where it boards at the south side, and I arrived on the south side when I took it. Idk

[@CorySticha]

@@Cal90208 Interesting. Like I said, Amtrak is known to change things for no better reason than "Just because".

[@Cal90208]

@@CorySticha Mhm

[@thefareplayer2254]

The Shrimp in Lobster Sauce is the only flex meal that actually is amazing! Even if they bring back the vastly superior traditional dining, they should keep a freshly cooked version of the Shrimp in Lobster Sauce!

[@kelsogray]

I'm so glad you did this video. I get to see this train sometimes as it leaves Cincinnati, OH in the early morning. It was nice getting to see the rest of the train's journey ❤

[@redlinedreamin]

If you are ever in Chicago again, you should ride the Rock Island from LaSalle to Blue Island, it's a very historic route in the city.

[@classic287]

I'm glad I came across your awesome video. My wife and I like the train idea. I like your tablecloth. Makes dining enjoyable. Captioning and no talking was peaceful 👍😇

[@valeriebassett3107]

Another great video. I love your videos. I feel like I am taking a trip. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and healthy.

[@VA_Railfan123]

I went to Thurmond with my dad last year and I crossed the new river gorge bridge! Both are very cool things to see! Cool that you rode under and through them!

[@zenyu94]

Still waiting for you to step foot in Japan. Can't imagine your excitement by that time

[@harryborsalino1276]

Still my favorite train station so far, Chicago Union Station! After starting from Central Station in Memphis, which only serves the City of New Orleans, and hence is relatively small, navigating Union Station was a bit of an adventure in its own right...it's freaking huge by comparison! I also noticed that, approaching Union Station from the south, the different Chicago neighborhoods almost resemble a series of movie sets, and no doubt some HAVE appeared in movies. That Metropolitan Lounge was the first actual Amtrak station lounge that I experienced (Memphis Central Station was undergoing major repairs and renovation at the time); I spent much of my time waiting for my connection on the Texas Eagle right across from that buffet (there was food on it then), reading, drinking orange juice, and watching the staff refresh the food selection on the buffet. The Cap and the Cardinal are both "heritage" trains and I'd like to ride both, but the Cardinal comes first. I knew that it takes its name from the fact that the cardinal is the state bird in every state through which it passes. Cardinals are one of my favorite birds (and I'm a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan), so naturally, I gotta go! Those bumpy stretches of track seem to be common to mountainous areas, because you run into the same thing in the Ozarks on the Texas Eagle, although it's in the middle of the night and it didn't wake me up; I'm just going by what I've heard. I already saw your review of the Viewliner II Roomette, so I was glad to see the review of the older iteration. It seems those tray tables are almost all a bit off plumb and some are rickety from wear and tear, but they sufficed for what little use I made of them. Toilet in the room, I guess seemed like a good idea (the combination toilet/shower in the SuperLiner Bedroom is much better, though cramped) but I'm not sure I'd like it right there! You're taller than I am, but I'm wider, so the bottom bunk for me, but still it's great to wake up and look out the window that way. I think I'd pass on the breakfast in bed, but no doubt about how great it is to enjoy your coffee while watching the scenery pass by! As ever, thanks for sharing a great video record of your Cardinal experience!

[@joanndavis4843]

What a comfortable, no hassle, no people walking by in the middle of the night, train ride! I can see now why the ticket is so expensive. Private room, toilet and wash facilities, all meals included, rest and sleep whenever you want,draw/open your own curtains, sightsee all you want, whenever you want. Then just keep doing till you get there 👌. My next overnighter definitely will be worth the price ( if I make reservation far in advance of course).

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

An impression I had right at the beginning: an awesome looking station on the inside, but not full of life. I guess even at a small town station I've never seen so few people at the station's main hall. Surprised about the platform width, doesn't seem to be layed out to handle large amounts of people Also surprised by the platform in Charlottesville ... it's probably the very first train I see where they place a seperate step on the platform for easier access to the coach with the steps high up ...

[@Cal90208]

It’s usually busier when COVID wasn’t here.

[@ronclark9724]

@@Cal90208 Amtrak has lost some 80 percent of their business during this pandemic. Amtrak's long distance trains are running nearly empty when before they were running half full during the weekdays and nearly full during the weekends and holidays.

[@Cal90208]

@@ronclark9724 I think they were running more than half full before Covid. Maybe at least half full. There’s speculation that the LD trains make more than Amtrak says, not sure how true that is

[@mjarail]

CUS actually has 2 platforms per pair of tracks; one for passengers, one for baggage. It does make a difference in passenger safety.

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

@@mjarail tbh I never had any passenger train where I had to check in my luggage like at an airport ... it's sth we as passengers do ourselves

[@douglasengle2704]

That was.a beautiful trip on the Cardinal! I was super impressed by the Amfleet viewliner sleeper car's ride and quietness on what are coal train tracks! I rode the Cardinal a few times in the mid 1980s while attending West Virginia Tech for a BSEE in Montgomery WV and N. Va. Washington D.C. The roughness of the railroad tracks were bit of a disappointment considering they actually looked quite good. I'd ride coach, but as soon as possible I would go to the Amfleet car lounge. The Amfleet car was a much better structurally with a much better controlled ride than the coach cars. The viewliner sleeper car in your video was a whole level of improvement above my experience in the Amfleet lounge car! Even in the lounge car going through the New River gorge and maybe a bit east of it I'd feel myself get a little motion sick. I appreciated the location graphics along the route and in car tours! The more common Amtrak train to go between Chicago and Washington D.C. is the Capitol Limited that goes along the B&O tracks along the Potomac using Superliner cars. Those tracks are faster and likely smoother and the distance shorter. The Cardinal is the long way around. With my attendance at West Virginia Tech I reignited my rail fan interest that I'd kind of put down in 1977 and as one of my only splurges I subscribed to the C&O railroad historical society magazine! Over my years at that school I became more and more appreciative of the C&O railroad greatly through that magazine. One of the most technically advanced and powerful articulated steam locomotives ever created, the H8 Allegheny, I found out had its home base for that series in Handley WV just 2 miles west of Montgomery where my school was. The H8s would move WW2 coal trains between Hanley WV and Clifton Forge VA through the New River Gorge. The H8 was so powerful in order to keep from exceeding the coupler breaking force of the time only one H8 was at the lead with a second H8 pushing from the rear. Thank for the video. The roomette experience makes me think about possibly that trip with a sub $400 cost. In the past I'd seen a roomette price of around $650!

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Another great video. We don't get to see your face, except for the occasional glimpse in a mirror. It's nice to put a face to these fine videos.

[@mjp29]

The New River Gorge is, in my opinion, the best view from any Amtrak train. And it can only be enjoyed from a train (or river raft LOL).

[@historywatchdog2923]

That's why Chicago was and still is called The Big Junction!

[@rachelolvera9435]

What interesting trivia of the architect for both union stations.

[@katherinespencer2633]

I always enjoy your videos. Your camera work is perfect, keep on traveling on trains!

[@haydenlaye6499]

I just changed my trip to the Cardinal from the Capitol Limited. Sad I won't get to see DC, but if these views are half of what they are on this video I think it will be worth it!

[@judigordon4267]

Thanks for the video, I am jealous! Brought back many memories. We took the train from Indianapolis to Waynesboro Virginia to visit relatives. We had a 4 hour layover in Cincinnati because the Cardinal did not continue to DC. My dad would have loved your videos.

[@Railfan124]

I have been to union station before and it was fun, like really fun

[@shapencolorchannel4142]

I travel this route once Fall foilege is spectacular

[@yzzyfuentes1666]

I was on that run from chicago to baltimore 2 weeks ago it was incredible beautiful scenery,,,

[@FridayWithoutY-us2nk]

Amtrak offers the Asian salad and Greek salad, both with lots of vegetables. The cheese, crackers, and cranberry board is also offered. You can also have milk, orange juice, apple juice, or cranberry juice. There's also bananas and a variety of granola bars at Union Station. So there are fresh foods available with Amtrak.

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

so cool! 🚄

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Hello!

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

@@AVeryRandomPerson hi!

[@marifromky]

the new river gorge and the bridge are absolutely incredible. i recommend a visit! also, between there and charleston on a little backroad is a place called cathedral falls which is beautiful!

[@cesarnyc]

Good point you make about the roomettes having the beds parallel to the direction of travel, giving you a better night's sleep. Ironically, while the Amtrak bedrooms are more expensive as they're roomier with your own bathroom/shower, the beds are perpendicular to the direction of travel and, at least for me, you don't get to sleep as soundly.