AMTRAK SKI TRAIN - Winter Park Express

[@timmethy]

It would be nice to have a ski train from the Bay Area to a Lake Tahoe ski resort. The California Zephyr passes right through the Sugar Bowl ski resort and next to a bunch of other Lake Tahoe resorts.

[@trainzguy2472]

That would be amazing! However, the Bay Area is really far from the Sierras so a day trip to the slopes wouldn't make sense. It's 2-3 hours to Sacramento and then another 2 to the resorts. That means the train would need to be substantially larger (multiple dining cars, observation lounges, etc.). I'd imagine it could start in Oakland or San Jose with intermediate stops in Fairfield, Davis, Sacramento, and Roseville (slightly fewer than the Capitol Corridor). There's one big problem: the capacity of Union Pacific's Roseville Subdivision over the Sierras. The line is already running more or less at-capacity with more than 20 trains a day. That's a lot for a steep, winding route that's still single track in many places. Meanwhile, the Moffat Tunnel handles less than 8 trains a day. I don't know if Union Pacific would be able to slot in a 15-car special train between its freights.

[@timmethy]

@@trainzguy2472 There actually was a ski train to Sugar Bowl, called the Snowball Express, in the 1940s and 50s. It would need to leave at about 3 in the morning, but people could sleep on the train. There are ski busses that do that.

[@dinostudios6579]

Unfortunately the bay area takes too long to get to Tahoe by train to run a similar service.

[@caelumvaldovinos5318]

There used to be a Reno Snow Train operated by the Reno Fun Train people, but that was more of a weekend service as opposed to a day service. They shut down as the margins just didn't justify the train

[@TohaBgood2]

@@trainzguy2472 Ummm, you can actually just take the California Zephyr from Emeryville to Truckee. It takes 5.5 hours so it's theoretically much faster than driving to Tahoe if there's any appreciable winter traffic. And given exactly how much traffic there usually is during the times when you would want to drive there to ski, this _could_ make sense. I don't remember a time when it took me less than 6 hours to get to Tahoe during the winter, but do remember quite a few times when it took me over 7-8 hours. We had a friend once take the train to join us in Tahoe when they had a meeting they had to stay back for. We just picked him up at the station in Truckee. The real problems are that A. the freight railroads go out of their way to delay Amtrak and manufacture delays. They still view Amtrak's very existence as an existential threat to them. and B. that there is insufficient infrastructure in Truckee to get to the resorts unless someone is picking you up. Having some shuttles to nearby resorts would go a long way to make this more popular. With demand for train transportation growing in California, I can see this option becoming more popular. There was even talk of reviving one of the ski trains that used to exist here. Not sure what is being done about it, but some people seem to really like this idea.

[@DakarNick]

Very cool. I'm an Amtrak engineer and work the California Zephyr over that route. I've also worked the ski train as a conductor with Brad. He is currently the conductor on the job I work.

[@timnewman1172]

So glad to see Amtrak is operating the Ski Train again, the D&RGW was really smart when they started it so long ago!

[@alexmanne]

This really is one of the most impressive stretches of railway that I've seen. I've never taken this route by Amtrak or the Winter Park Express, yet, but I live close by so I see the trains make their way into the mountains all the time. Plus, I hike all around this area all the time.

[@christycruz2633]

Oh you really should! Even if you don't ski, it's a great trip. You could spend the day just enjoying the atmosphere! We rode the train to Winter Park often when I was in high school, pre-1988.

[@lostertoaster9304]

Amazing! I love american trains. Greetings from Austria

[@kennethmccann6402]

I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak became nationwide (formerly individual railroad passengers companies became no longer confused) for over 53 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because train travellings are blasting with wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car that is including no extra cost eating in dining car is the best! And their real foods are great! Able to walk entire each cars or standing out of train car on platform if stop for 10 or more minutes (don't wonder away from platform then the train will left by catch up on schedule or be on-time a minute or two before). While monitoring to the completely refueling in locomotives, done by exchanging suitcases in baggage car, finishing refueling water each car and less passengers hopping in or hopping out will be leaving early as a schedule. I used took Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose, now called Caltrain extended to Gilroy (south of San Jose). Once pandemic will be over and I will resume traveling again plus, dining car foods will resume standard real good food. For you guys are taking a short trip on any long distance Amtrak to see if you like the train before taking longer trip. Also, check train status (keeping repeating if a train is catch up) for the arrival to save your waiting. Enjoy!

[@andreap2204]

This might be one of the coolest railines you’ve recorded. I’ve loved many other of your videos, but the fact that the train stops right by the slopes is so unique, as well as the whole service. It was a nice detail that you were able to leave your things on the train for the day, and the snowy landscaping was stunnung. You did a great job, as always!

[@danieylamirbechan5212]

It's a great day when Simply Railway uploads an Amtrak video.

[@bondu3791]

Winter park is an amazing experience. I went there last summer, it was fun, also i got a glimpse of the zepyhr on the gondola!

[@JBS319]

This is one of only a couple places I can think of where you can take a train from the center of a city right to the slopes, the other being the Shinkansen to Gala Yuzawa. There might be some in Europe of course

[@MaartenvanderVeeke]

So many ski resorts in Europe have trains going to the ski resort, and they are frequent trains

[@JBS319]

@@MaartenvanderVeeke to the ski resort town or to the base of the lift itself? And is it direct from a sizable city like Zurich or Basel or Paris? I know there is a TGV from Paris to a few big ski destination and there are some railways in Switzerland like the WAB that also function as ski lifts in a way.

[@MaartenvanderVeeke]

@@JBS319 I know that in the Netherlands we have the Alpen Express which takes tourists directly from Amsterdam to big ski destinations in an overnight train within Austria such as, sankt Anton, Kitzbühel, Kirchberg, Zell am See and many more. Most of these stop in the ski resort town and not directly on the slopes, but it is usually not that for of a walk, but the trains going to these are often regional trains, so no, very often they do not depart directly from a big city, but it is usually only one change you have to make. The big difference is that those trains aren't made for skiing but are just local trains leaving at least every half an hour, so you can just take them whenever you want. Some of the ski resorts having regional trains are Switzerland: Sankt Moritz, Zermatt, Crans-Montana, Verbier (Bagnes), Grindewald, Lauterbunnen, Scuol Austria: Sankt Anton am Arlberg, Kitzbühel, Zell am See, Innsbruck (Nordkette), Maryhofen, Zell am Ziller (zillertall arena), Kaltenbach, Bad Gastein, Schladming Germany: Winterberg, Garmisch Partenkirchen Sweden: åre, Ricksgränsen And there are many more

[@magnuskongskov3532]

@@JBS319 There would be a lot in Europe. St. Anton is probably the best example with hourly trains to Vienna and bi-hourly trains to Zürich. There is also Lillehammer with hourly trains to Oslo. There would also be Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Seefeld in Tyrol with direct services to Munich. Garmisch has ICE’s too. There is a lot of ski resorts in Austria and Switzerland with direct trains almost from the piste to the medium size cities.

[@EregonMTB]

This is amazing to see this route in the winter. I've took this route westbound a few times but always in the warmer months. Thanks for sharing!

[@williammerry4746]

Worth waiting for. It is one of my favorites. Well done, Thibault.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Many years ago I did this same trip. It was the Rio Grande RR. I didn't ski. There was snow and beautiful scenery!# Glad you enjoyed the journey and skiing Thank you for posting this video💙💙

[@vikramswani5557]

Your videos are simply great. Thank you

[@lours6993]

France has a number of TGVs, Thalys and Eurostar lines that go direct to ski resorts in the Alps in winter season.

[@jackchen7003]

I find the Eurostar ski train interesting, heard it was cancelled due to the pandemic tho :(

[@johannleuckx1625]

Merci Thibault ! Splendid video! Inspiring! Dream stuff for train lovers! Many greetings from Belgium!

[@Cal90208]

21:47 I think you meant Superliner II toilets, ;) Great video. Didn't realize it was THAT close until now.

[@gacj2010]

Wow ... That America seems to have EVERYTHING ....What a great place Id like to see some day.

[@FlexxenRandomPlaces]

Damn the Zephyr looked awesome! The snow quality seemed hecticly nice too haha 👌🏼

[@HumbertoMesa]

Nice ride, great landscapes ... thanks Brad also.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this splendid video ! The train is really good, and so convenient. I have taken the California Zephyr in both directions, but in summertime, so your trip during the winter season was great to see !

[@ChrisH-1952]

Always enjoy your trip reports but this is in the top of the league. Excellent. 😀

[@Legenda2843]

Merci pour le reportage de ce train mythique ! On est à la frontière entre le train de service régulier et le train touristique avec les explications du contrôleur pendant le trajet. En Auvergne nous avons un service à peu près similaire qui est proposé (en bien plus modeste il faut bien le reconnaitre !) avec la station Cantalienne du Lioran, où l'on chausse les skis sur le quai de la gare, un téléski relie la gare à la station qui se situe quelques centaine de mètre plus haut.

[@RailfanTurner]

Terrific Trip report! Terrific video!

[@larryloveless2967]

This is sure a good popup for me on KZbin today. I have ridden all AMTRAK rail routes west of St. Louis to see The West, and twice rode the Zephyr from Chicago to the Bay area as part of those trips. My 5 weekend to weekend trips between 2001 and 1013 were either in Spring or Fall and everything stood out as really being green around the ski resort areas. Thanks for placing on KZbin.

[@simonf8902]

Thibault, You sure get around !

[@Tbpker22]

An epic day trip via Amtrak, Thibault, and so very glad you enjoyed your first skiing in the Rockies!

[@JohnJones-tb6ff]

Nice video, we rail fanned the big 10 curve last Sunday and caught the Zephyr and Ski train within 30 minutes of each other. Both on time I might add !

[@sirgermanm78]

SO amazing tríp on the snowed Rail ways!

[@rickloduca394]

This is great! I had no idea, now I do and have another option for spending more time when visiting Denver! Thank you! 👍🌞🤓

[@transitcaptain]

I really like his Amtrak videos

[@murraymaxwell637]

In my books, there is absolutely no better way to travel than by train. I personally have traveled somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 thousand miles on trains. Especially on our Via Rail Canada. I have also been on Amtrak's Superliner. A very wonderful train to ride.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

I still have a distinct faint memory of riding the original Ski train before the Great Recession forced it to be discontinued. I was upset when I realized that it no longer ran. But, I was excited when I heard news that it was being brought back, and when it came back, I was very happy, and soon enough, my Dad and I rode the Winter Park Express and we liked it.

[@candacelubin3813]

This video is excellent. Next best things to being there. Thank you so much.

[@bobmmann3917]

Yet another great trip report. Missed you last week. My Friday night routine was all disrupted!!

[@amarinarjsuksa8706]

wow, that amazing guy The train run on snow it beautiful oh , I wish want go to play ice-skate sometimes^^

[@luisstransport]

Great trip report

[@reaperx2657]

What an amazing trip!

[@guillaumedarbin2433]

Awesome video man

[@emmanuelphilippart4615]

Amazing! I would do it one day !

[@eledile8766]

God, I was in WP when you uploaded this but I missed it somehow! It would have been so neat to see when I was there!

[@virginieconstant3831]

Génial!!!!

[@keonikaig9247]

EXCELLENT journey. Thank you

[@ludwigtails]

Something that I am curious. How come the train just don’t put a P42 at each end of the train? Wouldn’t that way they wouldn’t have to waste time turn around?

[@DevonMopiedmont1143]

When they fuel the engines it is on the far side of the Denver Station. Would create a problem if there was one on each end.

[@ludwigtails]

@@DevonMopiedmont1143 ooh I see.

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip. Really appreciate when Amtrak operated special train in winter like this. I'm curious, how many train they run on this route?

[@rjsieder]

Other than this special ski train, the California Zephyr is the only Amtrak train to cover this route. It stops at the same station in Winter Park. So, one train in each direction each day.

[@DakarNick]

@@rjsieder The Zephyr does not stop at the Winter Park platform. It stops 5 miles west in Fraser.

[@timnewman1172]

What a nice trip! Seeing Union Station was great, too bad the "Rocky Mtn. Rocket" isn't around anymore for me to ride out there... Thanks Thibault!

[@johnthomas5966]

Well done Amtrak. I am warming to you. This is a good train. Was not like this when I lived in Denver summer 1980

[@Novers]

I really hope this is profitable so it never closes it seems like an experience as much as a way to get to the mountain

[@Novers]

Just replying to myself so I don't get into an argument I don't think rail should have to be profitable. However if it is it will definitely stay open (see the northeast corridor )

[@pakroomitrains]

Awesome 👍👍👍👍

[@robyoungquist5803]

I’m glad you got to not only enjoy the train trip, Thibault, but to ski as well. I agree with you … another sightseer lounge car and extra attendants would be a positive IMHO. Could you tell me … what do the green lights on the side of the rail cars mean?

[@ronclark9724]

Unfortunately Amtrak is presently refurbishing their fleet of Sightseeing Lounges. Both the Texas Eagle and the Capitol Limited are running without Sightseeing Lounges until the entire fleet have been refurbished for the next few years... Amtrak has a lot of cars in their fleet, but don't get any thoughts Amtrak has so many extra cars they can whip them out of thin air quickly... Amtrak has barely enough to satisfy maintenance requirements, not more... Don't forget these Superliners are approaching 50 years in age, the first were built during the late 1970s.

[@DakarNick]

The green lights indicate the brakes are released. If the brakes are set they're amber. The crew can use the lights to check brake applications when not able to see the brake shoes, such as when they're at a platform that doesn't allow it.

[@kirkzevola5004]

Awesome round trip ride on the Amtrak Winter Park Express trains #1105 & #1106 this is the first time the Amtrak Winter Park Express used a Sightseer Lounge Car. Hope you had a fun time skiing.

[@DakarNick]

We have used the Sightseer Lounge car on every ski train except, possibly, the inaugural 2017 train.

[@kirkzevola5004]

@@DakarNick I just remebered the 2017 Winter Park Express set didn't have a Sightseer Lounge my bad

[@tylerdowd]

wowzers nice video and views

[@E-man5375]

My dad has been skiing for 40 years

[@Crosshead1]

Perhaps a smart move by Amtrak would be to use two Sightseer Lounge cars on this train, or even a Dining Car. It looks like they’d get plenty of use.

[@ronclark9724]

While the Rocky Mountains are more suitable for the Sightseeing Lounge, those riding the Texas Eagle and Capitol Limited are very upset they won't have a Sightseeing Lounge for the next few years until all of the fleet of Sightseeing Lounges have been refurbished... The Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas have wonderful scenery as well as the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia...

[@brendaryan306]

The Empire Builder makes a stop at Whitefish, MT It is home to a ski resort on Big Mountain called Whitefish Mountain Resort and Kandahar Lodge. The lodge offers a shuttle service getting you from the station to the resort.

[@iamthestig1]

Nice video, Thibault. Looks like you had some fun. A nice train ride AND a day's skiing. Does the ticket cover entry to the slopes, or is that a separate cost?

[@brendaryan306]

The Empire Builder makes a stop at Whitefish, MT It is home to a ski resort on Big Mountain called Whitefish Mountain Resort.

[@rjsieder]

There's a conductor based in Denver who sometimes brings his guitar and serenades the passengers waiting in line for the Zephyr to arrive. I'm not sure, but I think it might be Brad.

[@rwrynerson]

Brad does play the guitar.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

Does Winter Park have cross country skiing also? Good places to stay so you don’t have to come back the same day if you just feel like skiing two days in a row? Thanks for your beautiful video and informative

[@AkshajPlaysTrainGames]

The Winter Park Express is kinda like the *"Switzerland of Amtrak"*

[@reecedoggg]

Seattle could really use a ski train, the parking lots at snoqualmie pass and crystal mountain get super crowded

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

You know, you fly around so much perhaps a "Simply Airlines" channel as well?

[@loekibased]

have you ever visited the Ruskeala mountain park in Karelia?

[@SMichaelDeHart]

So, do you live in Denver or surrounding area?? One of my older brother's lived just south in Castle Rock, CO., but worked in Denver with the US Secret Service. He was a Special Agent assigned to the US's Terrorist Task Force for 4 yrs before returning back to Washington DC. We're all from West Virginia ( The Mountain State), so they loved it out there in the mountains. Felt like home. Btw, why the double square knot logo??

[@AlexCab_49]

I wish we at least had winter time buses that would take LA residents up to Frazier Park or Big Bear.

[@rollediaz1536]

I wonder what the lift tickets were for Winter Park

[@i_alam]

I've never even heard of this route until today

[@Musicrafter12]

"do not open door or window" Simply Railway: yolo (sticks camera outside)

[@jeremywilliams5675]

A very good video, I was wondering when will you take The Empire Builder and check out the new ALC 42's?

[@SimplyRailway]

Very soon 😌

[@AkshajPlaysTrainGames]

This route looks like the trains in Switzerland

[@justachannel8642]

Wow what a landscape when was this recording?

[@stanford5421]

In the description it says it was recorded in February 2022.

[@justachannel8642]

@@stanford5421 ok thx!

[@travelandexpeditions.1315]

Hey you should try MRT's in KL (Kuala Lumpur) if you can it's cheap and convenient since the traffic is bad

[@drsteele]

nice

[@agwcsx6659]

are people allowed to ride the train even if their not gonna ski?

[@vanguard9320]

Imma just saying, sometime this year can you review the haramain railway in saudi arabia. The rolling stock is a talgo 350

[@mjefferson3223]

Any plans on looking at the Texas eagle?

[@vanguard9320]

Since you are in the us, can you review the Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport People mover Train

[@shauntakata1762]

So where does the train layover while you ski? Is there a wye to turn the train?

[@DanMeyer80]

The train goes a few miles west of the ski resort, into a siding and run the locomotives around, and it stays in the siding until its time to go back to ski resort to pick up the passengers

[@shauntakata1762]

@@DanMeyer80 would there be enough time for two round trips per day using the same equipment?

[@DakarNick]

@@shauntakata1762 No

[@walterfink9782]

To really add some humor to the ride, their should be some fake motorized deer, close to the tracks, waving!

[@ianmcnaney6528]

And a family of bigfoots (bigfeet?) off in the distance.

[@MrJimheeren]

Wait wait wait. There is a place called Nederland Colorado?

[@Champaignmike]

Man, you sure get around.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Amtrak could expand from the East Coast of the USA to the West Coast. If they are planning ahead for a Cross-state high speed railway that will go from Washington DC, Florida and New York City to San Fransisco, Los Angeles and California.

[@bahnspotterEU]

Dude, they already operate all over the lower 48 states, except for two. Just look at an Amtrak system map.

[@No-le9qf]

@@bahnspotterEU Amtrak only have service in 47 states

[@Andrewjg_89]

True

[@ronclark9724]

High 'Speed Rail has its limitations too. Up to around 3 hours HSR wins the competition with the airlines. Beyond 3 hours HSR loses the competition with the airlines worldwide. Recently I watched a video of a person riding trains in Europe to see how far he could get within 24 hours. He rode a HSR train to Paris, HSR train to Strasbourg, a slower train to Basel, a HSR train to Zurich, a HSR train to Milan, a HSR train to Rome, a slow sleeper train to the tip of the Italian toe on the mainland, and then a local train a short distance further south and east to a beach town. He chose to go south through Italy to get a further distance from London as there is no HSR train east of Berlin... Even in Europe almost all fly distances longer than 3 hours... Just to get to southern Italy he rode NINE trains through five nations... And to think in Canada and the USA you can cross the continent with two trains in four to five days...

[@DakarNick]

@@No-le9qf 46

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Boa viagem simply lindo trem 🚆 amtrak gostei ❄ neve ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ para Esquiar show

[@cristianmonserrate]

i think you forgot to do reports on up express and ACE train

[@rdgk1se3019]

What was the guy on the intercom talking about? "Agricultural products" and coming down like a ton of bricks?

[@andrewshafer4838]

weed lol

[@samtrak1204]

Passengers who don't like long lines should contact Amtrak and request another attendant in the lounge car. Otherwise, it ain't gonna happen.

[@AndrewTheRadarMan]

Europe: Streamlined cab control car exist with Engineer controls, HVAC and communications Amtrak: 23:42

[@mikehawk2003]

No point in doing that with a train like this...

[@AndrewTheRadarMan]

@mikehawk2003 California's superliners have proper can controls so yes there sound be a user here then janky radio controls and an open door

[@mikehawk2003]

@@AndrewTheRadarMan Those aren't Superliners, they look the part but are a completely different animal. Either way, what's the point of getting cabcars for a seasonal train when the reverse move is only a 10 minute section into a stub-end terminal.

[@AndrewTheRadarMan]

@mikehawk2003 eh ya you're right. Might as well save the hardware for a push pull service if it's just 10 minutes backing in

[@freednighthawk]

You would think, being as this is a 2 hour sightseeing type of train, they'd do away with most of the coach cars and put in more of the viewing lounge cars.

[@DevonMopiedmont1143]

Coach cars seat more people and they dont have tons of extra lounge cars which also act as cafe and sometimes dining cars lying around

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Given that there is a shortage of lounge seating, they could charge extra for a "lounge ticket" to help the service be/remain profitable. Also increase the cost of cocktails a bit since it sounds like demand was extremely high.

[@ronclark9724]

Presently Amtrak is refurbishing their fleet of Superliners, including Sightseeing Lounges. Both the Texas Eagle and Capitol Limited are running without Sightseeing Lounges... While the Ozarks and the Appalachians are not the Rockies, they aren't nothing either...

[@maxart3392]

Skipass included in the price?

[@SimplyRailway]

Nope

[@lorenzo_contini_7]

5:17 lok for sure hit a car or something aha

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Damage looks pretty high up, my guess is it hit the side of a truck trailer stopped on the tracks.

[@moishglukovsky]

There appears to be a real Thibault and impostor Thibaults. Was this real Thibault?

[@D_Ban]

Hey there’s someone in your VIA rail post that keeps replying to everyone’s comments giving a random phone umm et and saying “text”

[@johnfote6913]

First!

[@hoof2001]

Just wondering as you’re a rail professional. Why does Amtrak use two locomotives even on such a short consist?

[@dukc9012]

maybe something to do with the gradient

[@hoof2001]

@@dukc9012 Hi. Thank you. But those hi-rated locomotives achieving only like 25mph even with the gradient as a tourist train being deliberately slower, I’m honestly not criticising but genuinely curious. It’s a beautiful trip Perhaps Thibault knows the answer

[@williamkesler2373]

@@hoof2001 it’s in the mountains, so the track has some steep grades where they need extra horsepower. I also doubt that it’s deliberately slower, because the track is owned by Union Pacific, and that’s the absolute last thing they want. It would interfere with their freight trains too much. I believe the slow speed is because the speed limit is slow for all trains in that area. A lot of rail lines through the mountains are like that, for safety reasons. Has nothing to do with it being a tourist train.

[@rjsieder]

One P42 isn't enough to get that train up that gradient. During the summer with two privately owned cars attached to the Zephyr we had to stop part way up the hill because the additional weight and heat combined to cause the two engines to overheat. While both engines were running, it seemed one of them was not producing full power, which didn't help.

[@hoof2001]

@@rjsieder Ah. Thanks, that’s interesting

[@ミカミゆ]

ぜひ日本にも来てください！ welcome to Japan!

[@christill]

Nice trip. Not a fan of adverts for second homes though. We need to ban second homes now.

[@racingweirdo]

Wait there is a "nederland" in colorado....

[@petern6808]

I guess masking is highly optional even though required by law….

[@josephpadula2283]

Could you supply the law number and date it was passed by Congress and signed by the president ?

[@petern6808]

@@josephpadula2283 Sorry not going to engage. It is the law.

[@vanguard9320]

the talgo 350 sro, the line is very new, imma just sugesting

[@Lozky1]

Denver, le dernier dinosaure

[@fugf1623]

90km for 45€ 😂