The Vermonter - A Frigid Ride Through the Northeast!

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Neat historic private cars, engine swap, snowy weather, wonderful views, this review has it all! Budd delivered fifty Pacific series cars between December 1949 and June 1950. The Union Pacific used the Pacific series on various overnight streamliners in the 1950s and 1960s. The Milwaukee Road purchased five from the Union Pacific in June 1969 in order to equalize the per diem payments on their jointly-operated Overland Route passenger services. The final iteration of the Union Pacific's "City of Everywhere" (the joint operation of the Challenger, City of Denver, City of Los Angeles, City of Portland, and City of San Francisco) included four Pacific-series sleeping cars, three from the Union Pacific and one from the Milwaukee Road. When they were transferred to Amtrak, Amtrak purchased 43 of the remaining 44 Pacific-series cars from the Union Pacific fleet. Most were retired from service in the mid-1990s and some were rebuilt as crew dormitory cars and those remained in service into the 2000s.

[@genethebean7597]

Still amazes me how that UP car is basically the same layout as the modern Viewliner coaches. Really shows their originality in operations.

[@chiefs1587]

So glad rail is making a comeback.

[@nolantherailfan5048]

It has been for a while

[@michaelfriedline5953]

I rode the Vermonter from Springfield to NYC and back the summer of 2022. The trip there was great but back to Springfield was delayed nearly 4 hours. The staff was tired but incredibly friendly and tried to soothe some of the angered passengers.

[@The.NycStuntMan]

I saw you at Penn Station

[@FlightAndTrack]

Great video man! Keep up great content. Your train reviews are simply the best. They are detailed and informative. I appreciate how you help give viewers an educated purchase decision to see whether the trip is worth buying or not.

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks a lot! I’m glad to hear my content is appreciated, and is top notch when it comes to quality. I do my best to present everything in an informative and entertaining manner, and it’s incredibly gratifying hearing it comes across as such.

[@FlightAndTrack]

You're welcome! I cannot wait to see your future content 😀

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Gotta love the incredible views of NYC from the Hell Gate viaduct! It's a plus for riding along the Northeast Corridor! So cool you got to see that Pacific Union sleeper and the Babbling Brook! The name Connecticut is derived from the Mohegan-Pequot word that has been roughly translated as "long tidal river". Fun fact, one of the places along the Connecticut River is a town called Portland, and this place is important because the stone from Portland's quarries was used to build brownstones in many cities in the US like Boston, Chicago, NYC (which also uses New Jersey brownstone from the Passaic Formation), Baltimore, Philadelphia, Hartford, New Haven, and Washington, DC! Hell Gate is a corruption of the Dutch phrase Hellegat, or "bright strait". Originally it meant the whole East River, being named by Adriaen Block while circumnavigating Long Island after Hellegat, the mouth of the River Scheldt in the Netherlands. Because explorers found navigation hazardous due to the rocks and converging tide-driven currents, the Anglicization stuck.

[@LeviRamsey]

Had the pleasure of riding Babbling Brook for a day from New York to Boston (via Albany and Springfield) back in 2016.

[@Thomas-yu2hw]

Appreciate your sharing this with everyone. Thank you.

[@Thomas-yu2hw]

On June 5 the Hartford Line added a second Regional frequency. The regional 141 moved earlier to replace the shuttle 451 and adding in the 125 originating Springfield instead of originating from NYP. The return 148 remained unchanged but the 136 operates 5 days a week in the last slot of the night when before 4 slots were the 412 shuttle. You should try the 125 some time.

[@LonestarTrips]

Of course! I’m glad you enjoyed.

[@rogercvc6768]

Frigid? This past winter in Springfield (22-23) was a piece of cake!

[@Stukin_The_Pines]

I remember riding several times in a slumbercoach in the 1990's, aboard the Lake Shore Limited between NYC & Chicago. Very unique setup; each room was higher or lower than its neighbor.

[@jeevanga]

I rode this train from New York to Montreal in 2002. Amtrak provided a bus connection from St. Albans, VT to Montreal, QC. It was accidental as we missed our train Adirondack that morning. Hope Amtrak extends this service to Canada again soon.

[@AllenCNW441]

Believe it was 1969, rode the Pacific Union from LA to KC. Booked a roommate, but “upgraded” to a bedroom…wonderful trip!

[@jessicaburdell7779]

Babbling Brook definitely looks like one our our own ex NYC and other roads' Budd and Pullman cars we have on the rolling stock fleet up here at my workplace.

[@jameskerner7782]

I was lucky enough to be in Albany, NY this past Wednesday. Not only was I see these cars, but a Northern Pacific Dome car! I was able to take some pictures.

[@Island_Line_Rail_Productions]

Nice video! I caught those two PV cars when they arrived in St. Albans then in Essex Junction the next morning. They sure are nice cars.

[@terranempire2]

Few tidbits. First Springfield Union is like many stations rather lacking in amenities. Food wise you have a Subway and a Dunkin as well as a convenience mart and vending machines in the Lyman street corridor which you take to get to the train platforms. The North South service picks up on the raised well lit platform East and west bound Lakeshore limited operates off an older platform that really needs improvement. Only info for Amtrak will be from the lobby ticket counter and Ct rail operates a kiosk. Peter Pan and Greyhound have their own lobby. Amtrak service can be spotty as they are doing a lot of projects to the railway around it. They are trying to improve speed and eventually add more trains north south east and west. If Service has been cut Amtrak will normally contract out to Datco bus. If you’re laying over in Springfield and hungry I recommend taking a walk. Going out the Lyman st exit and moving up Kaynor and DueYea way you will find yourself on Worthington St. A short walk it’s a bar and Restaurant scene. I recommend Theodore’s Blues Booze and BBQ. Great food and if you get there early you can enjoy the music too.

[@hermanchan2794]

The only 4 stations that have an electric/diesel locomotive switch are New Haven Union station, Albany Rennseler, Philadelphia William H Gray III 30th Street station, and Washington DC Union station.

[@stephenkeever6029]

Great catch of those 1950's sleeper cars! Glad we got a look through the windows. Curious as to when you recorded this footage?

[@LonestarTrips]

This was in mid/late February of this year. I know it’s “older” but it was still worth sharing.

[@stephenkeever6029]

@@LonestarTrips definitely glad you shared this video, and I certainly don’t consider February as old!

[@terranempire2]

He really got lucky. Like lotto winner lucky I have never seen those rolling through.

[@yoshster0612]

Let’s gooo Springfield!!!

[@MrThecroatian]

That was cool seeing an engine swap on Amtrak.

[@RailfanJourneys]

Never saw them add a coach like that during the engine swap. Nice catch!

[@Luimi5]

Ridership between WAS and NYP is higher and the Vermonter acts like another Regional in this segment making most of the major stops south New York Penn.

[@JayseGreene]

Which GoPro are you using?

[@K.D-1109]

Can't wait to watch this video 😁. Can you do The Silver Service from Baltimore to somewhere in Florida definitely a nice segment of the route and bmore is a decent place to start from

[@thyagarajannatarajan6234]

he will be doing silver star at some point

[@LonestarTrips]

What if I told you I already have tickets on the Silver Star for December…

[@FlightAndTrack]

Wait a second, you are going on the silver service to do a review?.I am also going on the silver service in December too from Tampa to Orlando from a cruise ship!!! Although I may be on the train a bit early for the review, this won't be my only time on the train 🚆. That review will help me see the expectations for the silver service to NYC!!!😃

[@SellthebigA]

Hi, I'm back and wow I still really like your content keep it up!

[@pleappleappleap]

If you get a circular polarizer for your lens, you'll be able to cancel those pesky reflections.

[@christopherduncan9076]

Do Ethan Allen exspress from NYC to Burlington vt I’m from there and it’s a train. I don’t think you’ve done yet at least not since the extension.

[@LonestarTrips]

I definitely want to take the EAE up to Vermont, but I’m not sure I have the time atm.

[@christopherduncan9076]

@@LonestarTrips it was just a suggestion

[@willgibson9718]

Can you please make a video about the Vermonter from Vermont to Washington DC Will Why the Vermonter does Change by Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotives to a GE Genesis diesel locomotive? See you next week

[@Thomas-yu2hw]

The why is that the Hartford Line and the Host railroads are not electrified.

[@LonestarTrips]

I definitely want to revisit this route in the future, but take it all the way to St Albans in Vermont. The scheduling on this particular journey meant I couldn’t go farther north than Springfield, hence why it’s such a weird route. As for the power change, the line north of New Haven isn’t electrified, so trains must run diesel power. They then swap to electric on the northeast corridor because it allows them to run at 125 mph, permits trains to enter New York Penn, and is more efficient for Amtrak.

[@willgibson9718]

@@LonestarTrips why you are going to canda next week

[@Thomas-yu2hw]

@@LonestarTrips yes the route is directional southbound AM and Northbound PM. Most of the Hartford Line is really geared toward that. North of Springfield it’s even more apparent. Once the Springfield to Boston inland route is improved I expect the service between Springfield to New Haven to be better distributed but I don’t expect north of Springfield to change much.

[@ZachFisher2753]

To everyone confused about the weather - the departure board shows that this was filmed 2/25/23

[@gatorjay7972]

Thanks.....

[@treywest268]

This had to have been filmed last Winter or early Spring as we have not seen the likes of that weather since then.

[@KenDrPH]

The train is great, have done it but curious to the accuracy as today’s current weather shows 55’ and drizzle In Springfield and this video showed it was snowing? 🙏🏼❤️

[@yoshster0612]

Probably an older recording that he decided to upload now-because it def hasn’t snowed yet as of now

[@LonestarTrips]

I recorded this back in February. I have to record all of my footage in batches, so sometimes it takes a while before videos come out.

[@johnburke1317]

Nice video 👋

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks as always!

[@mxderate]

You didn't get to see the best part, Vermont! Great video regardless though.

[@LonestarTrips]

Yeah. The timing of other departures heading south meant I couldn’t go farther north than Springfield. I definitely want to head back up there in the future.

[@thyagarajannatarajan6234]

What advice would you have for me to start trip reporting?

[@LonestarTrips]

Honestly, just starting is the best advice. Once you have a few videos out you’ll start to develop your style and figure out what works and what doesn’t.

[@jimfrisk688]

but is it really the Vermonter if you dont ride it in Vermont? Otherwise its just like other Amtrak routes that go south out of Springfield.

[@jontech7]

It's always neat to see private rail cars out in the wild. I certainly wouldn't mind owning one (if I could afford it!)

[@skiparkcityut]

I don’t I statement why those fancy sleeper cars were on the Vermonter route? That route isn’t that long and doesn’t even operate overnight at all

[@de-fault_de-fault]

The train was just hauling them, they were not in revenue service. Amtrak will haul privately owned cars for a (significant) fee provided the cars meet certain technical/safety standards. I guess if you have the money to buy and maintain a private rail car, the fee to Amtrak for pulling you to your destination seems nominal.

[@Grahamrobinsonvt802]

You on the Vermonter not going to Vermont 😂

[@LonestarTrips]

Yup. Scheduling didn’t allow me to go any farther north. Nothing I could do🤷‍♂️

[@Grahamrobinsonvt802]

@@LonestarTripsI’m in white river junction Vermont on the route you should do the full route Vermont to Washington DC

[@Wave02Z]

What's the seating like in Business class?

[@gdparry2727]

So many of these old style stations look great, both here and in Europe/Asia British stations have been redesigned and look horrible. just concrete and smoky glass.

[@samtrak1204]

This year? What was date of travel?

[@counterfit5]

Look at the departure board when he's in Springfield

[@ommy7672]

The choice to not use dual mode rolling stock on this route is baffling

[@bjturon]

No locomotives available -- new Airo trainsets will be dual-mode for this route as part the new NEC Regional Airo fleet.

[@ommy7672]

@@bjturon no i mean the fact that they didn't have any dual mode locomotives, (or better yet,, EMUs,) 15 years ago

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@ommy7672 Lucky Congress gave them any money at all. Don't mind me, I'm just a bitter lifelong rail passenger advocate and former Amtrak OBS employee (I used to work this service over 25 years ago). I had forgotten they took back the original routing to St. Albans and don't have to do the "Palmer shuffle" anymore, which required either a cab car or a locomotive on both ends. They always made sure a locomotive led in Vermont, because of all of the rural grade crossings, and the risk of highway crashes.

[@terranempire2]

Other than the last 76 miles the Vermonter runs on unnelectrified track for over 272 miles.

[@ommy7672]

@@terranempire2 I don't care

[@dixieboy5689]

February 2023

[@thyagarajannatarajan6234]

12th

[@LonestarTrips]

😊

[@MelElMusico2024]

Forth

[@NEC859]

Second

[@dkz5857]

Third

[@ksmith610]

Why don’t you try eliminating the stupid, annoying, ugly, unnecessary “music” and just provide visuals and text at the bottom of the screen like another, better, railroad person KZbinr does? The “music” is undistinguished, and adds nothing to a rather dull video. But you probably do it without thinking because “everybody else does,” but maybe “everybody else” is just stupid?

[@yoshster0612]

Rather rude comment I’d say. The music is perfectly fine in my personal opinion, it’s not even that loud nor does it interrupt the content of the video. If you don’t like it and consider the content dull, then why are you even watching this? Very ignorant comment-learn to be more respectful

[@LonestarTrips]

You don’t have to watch the video if you don’t want to. No one’s forcing you to be here. If you don’t like the way I make content, then that’s ok.

[@FlightAndTrack]

Yeah, rude comment. In fact, I like the music.

[@thetrainguy1]

Screw this guy. I like the music it adds a nice little touch to his videos.

[@counterfit5]

The music is fine, it's at an appropriate level for background and avoiding awkward silent spots

[@ConstContact]

I don’t quite understand how this video was posted 18 hours ago and you have snow in your video…..? It’s October and I live in the Northeast and it’s not frigid today was a bit chillier though with a high of 55° or so….. am I missing something or is there something posted incorrectly?

[@yoshster0612]

This is most certainly some older footage he uploaded recently. I live here in Springfield and I can confirm it definitely hasn’t snowed since last winter. Edit: he confirmed it was recorded sometime in February of this yeat