TRIP REPORT - Amtrak and Air Choice One, St. Louis to New York

[@vedales8670]

This is the fourth video of your travels viewed this today. What a joy!! Your efforts, energy and commitment to the experience is so lovely. Thank you truly.

[@toddbirge2800]

I just recently to Amtrak from Cincinnati,OHto Fresno,CA,TOOK ME ALMOST 60 HRS AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.IT WAS MY FIRST TIME ON A TRAIN,I WAS SEEING MY FATHER FOR THE LAST TIME.STAYED TWO WEEKS AND ON MY WAY HOME WERE I BELIVE COLORADO I GOT THE CALL THAT HE HAD PAST.THE EMPLOYEE'S ON THE TRAIN WERE SO KIND TO ME. THANK AMTRAK FOR SUCH A WONDERFULL EXPERIANCE.

[@larrybrennan1463]

Very nice report. I always enjoy people's first time in a train. I'm an experienced Amtrak traveler, though I go coach. In August and September of 2015 I took a 10,500 miles trip around the US on a Railpass, which cost $795. Of course, I had to pay for my meals when I ate in the diner, but I took food along with me to eat at my seat. Coach seats on long-distance trains are 18" wide, set four feet apart, recline and have leg and foot rests. The luggage allowance is generous, as is the carry-on. There are electric outlets at every seat. My trip was 29 days, and routed oddly to go via routes I hadn't seen. From Florida to Washington, then to Chicago via Cincinnati and a night in Chicago. Next day, the Texas Eagle to Los Angeles-- three days a week the train to San Antonio carries a coach and sleeper that go through to LA on the Sunset from New Orleans. I spent four days with my bother and his wife, then we went north on the Coast Starlight. I was going to Portland, Oregon; they went as far as San Jose to visit their son, who had come south to Paso Robles to join us. I spent a week in Portland, then went on to Seattle, then Vancouver, B. C., and after a day and night there, came back to Seattle to catch the Empire Builder, two nights to Chicago. I connected with the Lake Shore to New York and stayed five days with a high school friend, then back to Florida. A great trip. The Starlight runs right along the Pacific for miles, and in the morning you see dawn on Mount Shasta. The Builder runs along the shore of Puget Sound, and the next morning by Glacier Park and watch the country change from mountains to the high plains. The next day you follow the Mississippi and cross to Wisconsin. The scenery is wonderful and varied on a trip like that. The train is a good way to learn your geography, and understand this country is three thousand miles across. And meet a lot of people on the way.

[@TCORV]

I bet that took a long time to type

[@violetbrown5038]

Hi I'm Ian and I am going to a train from North Carolina to California.

[@violetbrown5038]

I like Amtrak

[@violetbrown5038]

I am going to be picked up some friends

[@noramusk4689]

Thank you for sharing that I am going to do that too thank you

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

You are a wonderful companion! I will return to take the journey again. May you keep your positive point of view forever! Send us more rail journeys, please.

[@composerlecturer]

About the engine change in Albany: it was from diesel to electric. Only electric is allowed in NYC and the line between there and Albany is fully electric. That is a long-standing rule dating back to the days of steam, when those Manhattan tunnels would have been deadly if filled with smoke.

[@EpicThe112]

For the electric track it's actually starts from Croton Metro-North to spuyten duyvil that's where Amtrak West side access splits from the Metro-North Hudson line to Grand central 42nd street

[@valdrex3531]

Yeah they switch from a P42 to a P32, which runs diesel most of the way too but switches to third rail once in New York.

[@carsontardy]

Wonderful video, your voice is so calming its relaxing to watch and listen. Such an informative, positive outlook on everything is very refreshing.Thank You!

[@toddbehrends1373]

Great video of your trip. Thanks for the time that you took in making it.

[@dontfuckinbotherbitch6257]

That was cool how I got to ride on air plane with spectacular scenery and Amtrak. That was cool how you found another route and made it with minutes to spare tight buddie.👍👍 I likee

[@MA-bi6cp]

Great trip video, made my wanderlust surface!!

[@vernonbuxton312]

I'm in Johannesburg and you've made me wanna fly out to America right now to do an Amtrak. You're a natch for this kind of thing, friend, and I shall hunt down your other stories. Your voice is perfect for these presentations, but do let's get to know you better by showing your face. Good job, do keep it up and...thank you!

[@TheElevatorandAirplaneFinder]

Cool trip. That's a fascinating Amtrak train. I love it

[@TheElevatorChannel]

+Elevator Finding in the US by The Elevator Guy Thanks! I had a blast making this video.

[@bryendelaurie1006]

I just watched the whole video, and really enjoyed it. These "Train Trip" videos are now my favorite thing to watch on You Tube. I find them to be very soothing. You have a new subscriber, too. Take care!

[@shibolinemress8913]

You have a wonderful voice! Thank you for introducing me to Amtrak's "roomettes". I'd never heard of those before. Now I feel as though I'd been right there with you. Keep up the good work!

[@curious2travel]

What a great trip report - I loved this. Thanks for taking the time to give such a thoughtful detailed account, and I also loved the passing-scenery-to-music segment toward the end which gave the video a space to breathe.

[@samuelmorgan3342]

I most certainly enjoyed your video. I have worked on my own business my entire life and have never traveled much. This was like taking my own plain and train ride to these cities. It was great! I am going to look at your other videos!

[@senecawind]

Nice shots of the confluence of the Mississippi & Missouri Rivers, along with the locks and dam at Alton IL, Downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan.

[@composerlecturer]

The Lake Shore Limited route is often called the "Water Level Route" because it follows Lakes Michigan, Erie (only one E please), and Ontario. Then the NY Barge Canal/Erie Canal, Mohawk River and then down the Hudson River to NYC.

[@erauprcwa]

Love your airplane and train videos. I've seen this video a few times and I love it each time.

[@gabrielcolon8900]

And it was very lucky of you getting to the train on time.

[@latmask00]

You make the most fun trip videos.

[@froggie6608]

I know, 3 1/2 years late watching this, but a very enjoyable video. I'll bet you were a tired puppy when you finally arrived at your hotel.

[@BradenHerbert]

It's been a couple of years since I took Air Choice One from Decatur to O'Hare. Imagine my surprise when I saw myself on here at 18:56, flying back home to Chicago after visiting my mother.

[@justanotherasian4395]

Braden Herbert oof.

[@theroadtocosplayandcomicco5840]

I wanna try Air Choice just for experiance

[@GalaxyUnicorn]

Your bag is really cool!

[@BradenHerbert]

@@GalaxyUnicorn Thanks, it's a Filson bag

[@thepurselmer1382]

I was suprised at your review of sleeping on a train. I have always found that when I sleep on a train I practically enter a coma the sleep is so excellent. I found the consistent noise of the rails and the gentle, predictable sway of the train to be utterly soothing (I guess kinda like when you jossle a baby when it's sleeping lightly). Hmm....

[@OlDoinyo]

In the regular bedrooms, the berths run crosswise, and the train rocks you head-to-foot when traversing bumps, so it is better. In a roomette, you are tossed side-to-side because the berth runs lengthwise.

[@livingroomset2084]

The way you flew on AC1 makes me just want to fly that way. Seems peaceful and calm.

[@mvlmeco1]

Really loved this and so glad I found this channel. My dad flew Cessnas, so it was really heartwarming to see the single engine flight. I've done the mini circle on Amtrak. California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, and Empire Builder. Love train travel. Thanks ever so much. PS: I always slept like a baby.

[@theautistictransitfan]

I remember watching this video 4 years ago and loving it so much, that i remembered about it and tried to find it again. Took me 40 minutes, but i finally did.

[@johngreene5660]

Great video. A masterclass on intuitive when things don't go as planned. My dream at some stage is to visit the US, but at this late stage of life, not sure if I will succeed. In the meantime videos like yours fill the void. Great way of seeing your country.

[@gjman1972]

I like that your train was delayed because it allowed you to have a whole segment with the plane, and not just video of some standard flight on delta or something where we see crowds in the airport as your walking to the gate and a bunch of people putting their stuff away in the overheads and all that, but rather the plane you went on which made it more interesting and changed the whole dynamic. Might I add I really liked how you included so much footage of the plane trip instead of just some quick glimpses and then cutting right to the train part of the trip, great creative choice! Jerry

[@meandjoe2000]

Thoroughly enjoying your videos!

[@kelakuan]

very nice video! I rode with Lakeshore Ltd in 2014, in couch class, from Chicago to Buffalo, stayed there for 24 hours and continue the next day on the same train. in Albany, the conductor prohibited me to get off to see the train splitting. the scenery was beautiful but it arrived in Penn Station quite late at about 8.30PM. quite an experience for a first Amtrak trip.

[@evelynbyrd4961]

I have never heard of Air Choice One. not too quiet. At least you had good weather.

[@Sebiproductions11]

Great trip report! I really like how in-depth and descriptive you are with these. Very interesting and useful!

[@user-bw3fl7fj9w]

Glad you made the Amtrak train!

[@wallyman292]

You need to take a double one of these days. The viewing car is awesome, with its floor to (beyond) ceiling windows on both sides. Wife and I took one from Chicago to DC, with a full sized "suite". Loved it!

[@WBDE]

Very interesting video. At 10:10 I had a summer job in that building in 1973 working on the very first blocks of what was then the brand new F-15

[@andrewhutnyan6821]

I really really enjoyed this! I think more people should do train reports!

[@ronshapley5718]

good job !! Loved the trip....like I was there........ thanks for posting

[@NeoDerGrose]

Seams like this car comes from an era when the outlets were made for razors, not for phones and laptops.

[@justanotherasian4395]

NeoDerGrosse most of them are actually. Amtrak never got funding to upgrade the train cars

[@ckildegaard]

I have to wonder if the outlet power supplies are really that poor. I've definitely charged phones and laptops on those outlets.

[@WindOfTheWisp_Janine]

@@ckildegaard The attendants tell you to ignore the razor thing & that it's OK to use the outlets for electronics.

[@larrysproul9424]

They will work for just about anything.

[@Bobrogers99]

I'm sure it works fine for electronics. They just don't want you to use it for a hair dryer!

[@DansJets]

Terrific video, thanks for sharing. I sure hope you do more of these and the airlines, you really put a lot of love in your videos. And the music selection was awesome! Thanks again.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

+DansJets Thanks! And glad you enjoyed!! I have several more trip reports in the works as of now and plenty of travel planned in the future.

[@bjoeljones]

Cracking good video, Lad. Sorry you had so many delays and hiccups in the scheduling and getting from one place to the next, that kind of thing happens to the best of travelers. Look forward to seeing more videos like this.

[@missfaboulsity]

Enjoyed your trip report. I always wanted to do a long distance train trip ,but know one wants to go with me so I will have to do it by myself. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

+missfaboulsity It wasn't too bad by myself. Very relaxing getting work done on my laptop while watching the scenery roll by out the window. The trip went by much faster than I expected.

[@urbanviii6557]

If anyone is interested, Nate and Kara have a travel channel, that is astonishing. 2 years in of full time travel, they are past 80 countries out of 100, before Nate turns 30. Hundreds of travel vlogs.

[@ericsturniolo]

Wow! This is really amazing! This is an awesome example of a trip report! I really like the way Amtrak does their sleepers.. Now I've only ridden Amtrak once, and that was back when I was a kid and we were traveling locally.. But I hope to encounter something like this soon! Great job with the video!

[@DavidVideos11]

Wow, great trip! Absolutely entertaining for a report!

[@TheElevatorChannel]

+DavidVideos Thanks! I tried to make it flow as quickly as possible to keep it entertaining while still showing enough detail. It can be a tough balance.

[@michaelervin5398]

Centerport is right around the corner from me, drive past that hotel on the way to work and always wondered about how that hotel was. Can't wait for the review. Great trip report +The Elevator Channel

[@TheRileyjemarle]

Really enjoyed this video

[@albo2006]

good video! We took the LakeShore Ltd in July 2017 from Chi to NYC.Got a roomette with my wife. You presented the roomette on the video very accuratley. yes our knees touched when we sat in the seats. I'm only 5 feet ten.Wife less. I also had trouble sleeping in both the upper & lower berth.Lots or rocking, noise from passing trains. Bumps etc. I truly wish there had been an observation car. The train was totally sold out so could not try sleeping in a coach seat. It was a fun memorable trip otherwise. Slept more in the daytime than @ night. The AMTRAK employees were wonderful, the scenery was awesome, the food was pretty good. Want to try a trip west from Chi to California but will probably go with a bedroom to get private shower, more room. Southwest Chief is 2 days each way.

[@lawrencejob]

This was amazing! I've always wanted to do that journey and now I feel like I have! Thanks man!

[@dougn2350]

flying is fun, but I always love it when the wheels touch the ground.

[@ThePetstv]

Who doesnt?

[@stephenvanaukensr.5664]

Love it. Taking cross country next year. Thanks

[@freegameLP]

Hey, you seem to have a really nice way of making these trip reports, I always find them really enjoyable. Seeing that Amtrack Sleeper cabin made me quite jealous, to be honest. I just traveled in a sleeping train here in Germany, and just took the cheapest option, which is in a cabin with 5 other people, no seperate bathroom or toilet, and in general really rudimentary. But, granted, also pretty cheap. Because of this video, I looked into the more expensive options for individual cabins, which actually also seem to have a similar price like you payed for the same distance. I actually might consider the Upgrade next time I travel. Neithertheless, it's really impressive how compact and functionally well designed these cars are. Keep up these nice reports, cheers from germany!

[@timothytaaffe9950]

Great video. I have always wanted to take a train trip and now I know what to expect.

[@Srinathji_Das]

Very nice video. Thanks for recording and uploading it. :-)

[@tlunceford77]

Wow that sleeper train is amazing. I will be moving back to california, and that would be a really nice way to travel back with the kids.

[@Pluscelamemechose]

Fukushima has irradiated the west coast for 7 years. Please don't take children there.

[@EvanAviator]

@@Pluscelamemechose dude what

[@Pluscelamemechose]

@@EvanAviator it's 10 years of Chernobyl level events, daily. Every day for 10 years. It has never stopped, the water is so hot it melts robots, the rods are in the pacific ocean and there is a silent epidemic of thyroid cancer in Japan. Trust me, they raised the allowable level of radiation and stopped reporting on Fukushima because they cannot stop it.

[@yorkmanlowe8009]

In 73 I rode an Amtrak slumbercoach (probably former Pennsy) from NYP to Chicago Union stn, then a Pullman sleeper from Chicago Union Stn to Oakland CA. No showers, took sponge baths using towels. I think the cars were built in the late 40s/early 50s.

[@MegaZeldafan1]

Interesting video, the trains I usually take between Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Station to Miami is the TriRail and from Miami International Airport to Dadeland South, I take the Miami-Dade County's Metrorail in which is one of the portions of my ride back to the Florida Keys, buses included, one Palm-Tran bus route 94 and two Miami-Dade Metrobus routes 38 and 301.

[@gilv3367]

Very informative. Great video. Will try Amtrak very soon.

[@engineerisaiahtube8787]

The was entertaining, please make more videos about trains, if you can do that, I promise I will watch more videos from your awesome KZbin channel, Sincerely, Engineer Isaiah Tube.

[@GoldenOne131]

I LOVE your videos man keep the traveling up

[@thewildeeper]

Awesome! Always been curious about those sleeper cars...Now I'm determined to ride in one!

[@tlunceford77]

Me too. I think I may have to fork over the extra cash.

[@NicholasFlorenzano]

The train to Boston was actually a part of your train. It splits in Albany and the P42(s) from Chicago take the Boston section. Usually consists of a baggage, single view liner, cafe, 2 coaches. P32s take 48 down to NYP station

[@TCORV]

Very relaxing video. Keep up the good work.

[@simcaptainrik]

Very nicely done. Great video production and narration.

[@Goldencontrails]

Your trip videos are hands down the best on KZbin!

[@TheElevatorChannel]

+Nic Ramirez Thanks!!

[@CultofTimmy]

Iv'e taken Amtrak multiple times. Originally from Chicago. Moved to Boston late March. Can't wait to take Amtrak again round trip to Chicago

[@WhiteStickTravel]

Very enjoyable.

[@divisioneight]

Welcome to the Chalet Inn in Centerport - live nearby. Hope you enjoyed the trip!

[@satchpersaud8762]

Awesome footage., It's crazy how union station resembles Grand Central station in N.Y.C

[@clcheatw]

Great video! Makes me want to take a long-distance trip on Amtrak.

[@jackhahn7593]

This is the best video. MAKE MORE LIKE THIS!!

[@tjs468]

Another amazing video! NY State is beautiful and you did a great job capturing it. The M3 is going out of service soon, you are lucky to have caught one.

[@vernmotz]

Really enjoyed your presentation!

[@connormartin6137]

Nice view of the Albany's train station, I travel though there sometimes!

[@flawedpotato3665]

Rural to urban in NY. Once you get over the Hudson, it goes to urban pretty quick. The abrupt change is even better when its from Long Island.

[@ericogren6008]

I loved the video!

[@sullybiker6520]

Wonderful. I think turboprops large and small are a great way to fly. you see so much.

[@suemanocha]

Thank you. I enjoyed this video. I want to take a train adventure this year-- 2020

[@GLOATINGMAPLE01]

Did covid 19 ruin your plans

[@andrewidstudent7646]

Air Choice One seems like a cool airline

[@domsama1619]

Jacob, I went to NYC yesterday and on my train coming back before we left, I saw adjacent to my train a long distance train with roomettes. I instantly thought of you. it was crazy

[@gerardmoran9560]

Thanks for sharing your trip!

[@divisioneight]

I am thinking of doing a "round the lower 48" Amtrak tour. But your misadventures catching that Texas train held up "indefinitely" would make my ten day adventure into a nightmare of missed connections. I could go from terminus to terminus and buy tickets as I go. But I don't want to sit in coach for a long cross country route. Perhaps Amtrak would cut me a deal to avoid losing connections because of their archaic routes that they share with freight. Great adventure! Thinking also of doing the NY Penn to Florida run.

[@helmitpeak]

Those archaic routes are the only routes available. Amtrak has no options unless they build a new cross country rail system.

[@CPLKNINE]

I've done the "Great Circle" tour a couple times. I'd offer these two 'tricks' to overcome your concerns. First, get a USA Rail Pass as it'll be cheaper than booking each part separately, and allows an upgrade to a sleeper on any portion that's maybe a long trip, or affordably priced. Second, if going end-to-end, build at least a day buffer between the arrival of one train and the departure of the next one.

[@Zombiejimful]

awesome journey!

[@stephaniebaldwin9635]

Thank u for the info. I live 25 min from Decatur, IL and didn't know there was a airline to get u to Chicago or St. Louis. Something I might need in an emergency someday. Thank u!

[@terrycripe5090]

Great video. the electric outlet near the sink is for shavers and hair dryers.

[@AlphaClassARC]

Oh wow. I'm from Decatur and worked near the airport at the time this was posted. Small world.

[@TheElevatorPlanet]

Wow...after seeing the beginning of that video i'm glad that we didn't make plans to meet up. I'm just sorry that all happened. (It was like a domino effect, my god.) I'm glad that it went well though. Awesome video as always! (Glad I finally saw it!) -TEP/MG3

[@TheElevatorChannel]

+MGIII I could have waved at you while I speed-walked through Union station :) Crazy day, but I look back on it fondly. I doubt I'll ever have another trip quite like it.

[@TheElevatorPlanet]

+The Elevator Channel Oh, yeah, ok. Rush out of Directing class and take a train from Naperville-Chicago and wait around for you just too see you wave at me for a few seconds. Real missed opportunity there...:) I don't think my gesture back would be very polite. ( kidding of course.)

[@TheElevatorChannel]

+MGIII :D

[@williamscoufaras7045]

Usually you see these a lot on the Metro-North Hudson Line. It's pretty cool to watch

[@mvlmeco1]

Very well done, thanks so much. Did you ever make it on a superliner? I did what's called a "little circle" on Amtrak. chi to sac via California zephyr, the north from sac to Seattle via coast starlight, then back to from Seattle to Chicago via the Empire Builder. what fun it was. best service---nothing beats the Empire Builder. best food too. best views: California zephyr, you'll see things you could only see if you took a mountaineer's mule. the coast starlight runs a sharp second, the Cascades are spectacular. I'd love to do the grand circle. from chi to Seattle to LA to New Orleans, to DC to Boston and back to Chicago. what fun that would be. as for the sleeping comfort...it only takes one night to adjust...then you begin to miss that rocking motion and the clickclack of the rails. Thanks for tip about the puddle jumper air line. I love small air craft...i just hate airport bs.

[@ninawade3055]

Thank You I enjoyed the video

[@OlDoinyo]

The Caravan is a good little plane, very reliable.

[@sargentrowell81]

HOLY CRAP YOU WERE ON A TRAIN WITH THE ORIGINAL VIEWLINER DINER! That's crazy!

[@nancyjones1060]

Enjoyed the ride!!!

[@traingirl09]

Good ole Metrolink! Rode that many times when I was younger.

[@briansivley2001]

I can tell that you had fun even though you almost missed your train. I find riding the train is more fun than riding on a airplane (and it's not to do with me being obese I always found riding the train more fun than riding a airplane). For example when you are on vacation you're supposed to relax and not rush just enjoy your relaxation and in my opinion taking the train and taking your time to get to the place you're going to is more relaxing then rushing to the place you're going to. Also you wouldn't be able to see our country properly. That's why I always prefer to use the train to get to places that I go to and it's more convenient to use the train being unlike airplanes the train takes you to downtown.

[@gladfan1989]

I absolutely, totally 100% agree. I have always believed that half the fun of getting there is, well, getting there. And the train is the best way to do it.

[@briansivley2001]

gladfan1989 Yeah. I as I said might be obese but even if I wasn't obese I would still prefer to take the train over a airline. In fact right now I have multiple trips in various stages of planning. One of them is a South Shore Line Trip. It's the very last operating interurban railroad in the world. I have been on it multiple times before but the last time I took it I tried to make a video of my ride on it. But unfortunately the video didn't save onto my micro sd card which made me furious. I did get a new smartphone but right after it my mom started to have health problems and I had to cancel my plans for the trip too many times. But by last fall when I was relatively close to doing it my spina bifida and fatty filum started to act up which messed up my plans for the trip and my plans for the holidays. Now I had enough of delaying it so I decided to do it as soon as possible and I plan to use Lyft to get from my home to Millennium Station in Downtown Chicago and use Lyft to get back home. But after that trip I'm planning to do a Amtrak Trip to St Louis and back. I ccan't wait to do them because trains are fun.

[@theotherplayer9777]

I rode the Lincoln Service from Pontiac IL to Chicago back in April. Then I rode the Texas Eagle back home to Pontiac. I liked riding the Lincoln Service better because it was a bit easier. It's just a regional train (like you said it goes from Chicago to St Louis) so there isn't assigned seats and they are much more laid back. I'm glad I rode the Texas Eagle because of the double deckers and the observation car but overall I prefer the Lincoln Service.

[@Coop.de.ville.]

thanks for the video mate bloody awesome

[@christopherorourke6362]

Great video there. All of my long distance travel in the U.S. is by Amtrak trains, my days of flying are only on Trans Pacific flights between Manila & Los Angeles, and in an emergency only. Flying has become a drudgery, a hassle, and many airlines are trying to do away with first class seating, then people bring their luggage on board the planes and block the aisles, which in turn causes flight departure delays and it takes longer just to get off the plane. Buses-forget it.

[@sends2aaron]

At 0:13 I'm thinking "FINALLY, a youtuber chooses background music that doesn't suck.. It's about damn time."

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Really enjoyed your video; just one suggestion, on a train trip it would be nice to at least mention the larger cities you go through and/or stop at so we can get a geographic picture of where you travelled. ( Syracuse or Rome New York for example.) Good coverage on the ground and stations, Chicage is awesome, have to try that trip myself now. So overall good job keep em comin'!.

[@ParinandVarnasavang]

Great video