A Train Odyssey 2, Part 2: AMTRAK Coast Starlight

[@williammark3051]

I have very thankful to this man who did this. I am in Covid-19 in Florida and I try to see all of his videos as I cannot travel due to age, the times, the virus. He does a fantastic narration and I feel as if i am right there on the train with him. This is like I am right there on the train with him. You don't know how much this means to me.

[@Stephen8601]

Well, here in New Zealand (albeit this a year later (being July 2021after the above comment.)) Covid-19 is pretty much done and dusted. Everyone getting their covid shots, and had mine. So when things a somewhat more settled down, be glad to start really getting out and about, as in doing some real traveling. So with that, one thing I would love to do is a train tour of the US. And having watched this, and other Amtrak videos, it seriously has been inspirational to me.

[@RakeshKR10]

@@Stephen8601 English 🤝 English

[@divox9pqr]

YouTuuba, I am so impressed I can't tell you......The fact that you have travelled the rails often enough to be able to approach Emeryville CA from the Coast Starlight and the Zephyr routes was one of the bucket list objectives that my Brother Craig and I had for many years. He unfortunately passed away last month on 9/11. I will take the two trips in his honor and return to the east on the Empire builder. Happy Trails to you Sir.

[@SSDB454]

You ever do the trip Rodney?

[@johnallen2771]

Did you ever take those Amtrak trips to honor your brother? I am retired now and looking forward to riding the rails in the future.

[@alphonsozorro7952]

That's what it costs putting off things for too long.

[@jamesdigiorgio5820]

So sorry for the loss of your brother. I lost mine about two years ago. He was seven years younger than me and only 62 when he passed from heart disease.

[@CCC-AUSTX]

I think this is very well done. Great job.....and I worked in networkTV for 15 years!

[@bryanjensen3647]

I enjoy your videos immensely. I appreciate your regular map references, I am a map kind of guy. I watch them on my TV and bring up the Amtrak route map at the same time and reference your map shots so I can understand exactly where you are. Very helpful. Very well done.

[@douglasengle2704]

I watched this again after watching the news about the Amtrak Coast Starlight getting stuck in the snow at Oakridge, Oregon Feb. 24, 2019 for 37 hours. I enjoyed it so much I went a head and watch the next Odyssey 2, Part 3 the Empire Builder. This time I paid special attention to the train working its way through the three major horseshoe curves crossing back and forth across the mountain's west slope on its way east to Oakridge. Oregon.

[@LelandRogers]

My Dad was stationed at Klamath Falls during WW2 and my Mother took me (6 months old) on a train from Macon, GA to there. My Dad had only seen pictures of me up until we arrived.

[@deanw194]

I am envious of your career that allowed you the time to take and record these rail trips. I could never have done any of these with my job/employer. Thank you!

[@AngelSusie57]

Wow. I just finished watching the entire video, it was fantastic. I love all your videos, it is just like I am on the train, I love hearing all the announcements for meals, etc. Well done, your videos are the BEST

[@ronaldschmidt5140]

It is 20 years since I rode the Coast Starlight only from Seattle to LA. My wife and I enjoyed the whole video today and saw your video of the Southwest limited to LA from Chicago. You stuck it out 5 hours in the club car to get all that memorial seacoast and thank you for that. I would like to see what sort of show you could produce if you took a tour in a private car.

[@brianolson6366]

These train Odyssey videos are fun and interesting

[@lynnmcnair8885]

I’ve taken this one several times. About as perfect a journey as Amtrak has to offer.

[@stephenbartley8133]

i started watching your train Odyssey videos a couple of years ago. and basically followed your suggestions and advice and myself and 3 other family members decided to do the Southwest Chief to Chicago, and then on the Lake Shore on too NY. we traveled from South Australia too experience this trip... best money i'd ever spent, enjoyed every second, can highly recommend it.. once this Covid problem is over , will be returning to do another Amtrak trip .. thanks again

[@ChewingToons]

Me and my sadly departed Mrs once rode the Vivek Express in India. A distance:of about 2,650 miles that took almost 4 days/nights. It had if I remember right 55 stops and we traveled at in some great temperatures an a speed shattering 32mph lol With an amazing bunch of passengers and all sorts of luggage (if you can include livestock as luggage lol) But it was a trip we often talked about happily. We did a similar trip when we first got together at 17 years old in 1974 buying a big old English Triumph Bonneville and rode it from Darjeeling in the Himalayan foothills right thru to Sri Lanka. We did it leisurely in 9 months and was amazing. It gave us our love for travel and India as we returned another 17 times. And is where she passed away the year B4 last. So I understand your love of travel and wish you many more happy excursions.

[@alphonsozorro7952]

17 years old, driving Triumph motocycle? Hmmm. What about school?

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

To avoid the long walk from the Metropolitan Lounge to the track boarding platform I use the Red Cap electric chart service. One Board’s the chart at the base of the outdoor ramp Lounge Entrance and The Red Cap drives you right to the boarding door of your assigned rail car.

[@squalli1297]

I agree. The Metropolitan Lounge is fairly new in L.A., and one of the smallest. I'm surprised that it took so long to make it possible since it's a major stop. Using Red Cap service is a better option for those who might be challenged by walking down crowded concourses and steep inclines to access train platforms with heavy carry-ons. Red Caps offer electric cart service to the platform from the rear of the Metropolitan Lounge. They will handle baggage to/from the platform. We usually tip $2-3/bag. A plus for those whom are in wheelchairs.

[@williambell729]

Oh....cart

[@leswright4565]

Great to see this. In 2014 (by accident, but that's another story) as part of a holiday from the UK we rode The Southwest Chief and then The Coast Starlight. While we watched your films we looked at our own photos. It was wonderful to relive our experience. Thank you.

[@AmtrakEnthusiast]

Your first locomotive; the one that is sort of "streamlined" is called a P42-DC and the second one is mainly a switcher used in yards but sometimes goes on long distance routes, and is called a Dash 8-32BWH or more commonly referred to as just a Dash 8.

[@TL-xn7hy]

Thank you for the wonderful journey. Your videos give an honest view and allow for reasonable expectations. Helps us realize stuff happens. And not to get upset, but just be mentally prepared.

[@TL-xn7hy]

We just returned (12/28/18) from a round trip LAX-PDX-LAX experience on this train. Everything you noted on your video was very, very helpful. We were in a bedroom. We’ve learned to try to walk around when the train has stopped. Otherwise we were bouncing all over the place. All in all a wonderful, scenic trip. Next time we’re going on the Zephyr you took.

[@douglasengle2704]

Got a whole lot out of watching all three train Odyssey 2 videos! With the train announcements, diner car talk, hearing the distance sound of the Amtrak horn, the sounds of the train in motion, ... its like I'm on the train. I followed along using Google maps. Probably never be able to justify the expense and time to do this myself. It is very captivating watching the world go by from the second level of a sleeper car window! I'll be thinking about the sights captured for days! If your pay for the sleeper car accommodations I do think Amtrak offers a high level train experience for the rail enthusiast, possibly the best in the world.

[@clffliese26]

That guy from the café car would make a good living as a sports caster. I haven't heard one who wasn't in love with the sound of his own voice.

[@TL-xn7hy]

I'm from Los Angeles. EVERYONE here seems to love to hear themself! We take it in stride. Los Angeles is Hollywood, after all. :)

[@guyhayden3926]

Hello, again! I wrote earlier today thanking you for your great work on the train videos but somewhere in the middle of the missive it disappeared. This is an attempt to tell you some of the things that I especially appreciate about your work. First, it is really wonderful to see so much of the country through your lens. I have ridden the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville once in real time and several times with you. I never tire of that trip. A special thing that you do is provide location shots and narration that make the trips come alive. The variety is splendid; station markers, map shots, commentary both by you and from the Amtrak personnel; that all helps put a perspective on your travels. I am eager for the West to East Empire Builder. segment!

[@johnallen2771]

This was a great trip. So many beautiful sights in California and Oregon. I live in Northern CA near the Oregon border, around Mt. Shasta. There's still a lot of gold mining in Trinity County which is a little inland on Rt. 299 out of Redding. It was nice to see the Channel Islands at the beginning of the trip. I used to patrol around those islands when I was in the Coast Guard. There are some pretty ones, Catalina being one, and we caught many blue fin tuna around the islands, too.

[@larryb8611]

Excellent Videos, I have watched all your Train Vids and I like this One the Best. Keep up the Excellent travelogues.

[@benbeck1]

Stunning images so far of the Californian coast line! Just finished watching this, another excellent train trip, loving the images and your commentary! Pity the train went through Oakland at night, it actually goes through that city down one of its main streets shared with cars, great shots of the Amtrack train yard there too! Such an enjoyable video.

[@average_joe8905]

Indeed, I have ridden the southbound Coast Starlight Train #11 and is cool to "street-running" through Jack London Square and seeing the Amtrak yard during the day.

[@mvlmeco1]

Besides the marvelous scenery on the Coast Starlight, there are the tunnels! Lots and Lots of tunnels. 22 I think, but I only counted 17. On my last circle journey, I went thru 2 of the longest tunnel rides; first The Moffet Tunnel in CO on the California Zephyr and the second The Cascade Tunnel on the Seattle Empire Builder. The Cascade is the longer of the two. But the Moffet feels like a lot wilder ride because of movement restrictions. As a roomette passenger, I tried out the Parlour car and enjoyed it. I have to say I found the overall service quality only adequate on the Coast Starlight, while the Empire Builder was superb. I'm enjoying your train trek so much, thank you for posting.

[@ranhar1]

Oakland is a major stop because it enables San Francisco passengers to transition via BART through the Trans-Bay Tube to SFO.

[@AngelSusie57]

I sat in the lounge car so I could see the Coast better too. I especially was excited to see the area around Santa Barbara as I was born there but we moved when I was three. I hope someday to go back and stay a few days. At least I got some pictures of the surrounding area and lovely train station.

[@9er12b]

Great video! I took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA and took the Starlight to my home in the SF Bay Area in April of 2017. Enjoyed both trains and was lucky enough to have a roomette on the ocean side on the Starlight. Have really enjoyed al of your videos.

[@robertmcglinchey3347]

Very nice vid. I scrubbed thru it to check coastal view time. Definitely on my list, I might spring for a rail pass, otherwise I’ve been in coach and spent most of the time in the observation or snack bar. I hope the Eastern US long haul bring back the dining care. Amtrak is like the Smithsonian and should change very little.

[@georgestevens1502]

I used to do this run to Portland several times over a decade ago. I live in the Fairfax District of LA then and now. I would pick up the Starlighter at the Van Nuys station where you could park for free in the station parking lot. The lot was monitored 24/7. Sometimes left my car there for two weeks before the return trip. Never had a problem parking at the Van Nuys station. Don't know if the parking is still the same nowadays. Can also pick up LA Metro bus lines across the street from the station. Van Nuys is the first stop going north out of downtown LA. Don't have to mess with the LA station and the incredibly long walks through LA station from its parking lots to the actual train boarding. Hope the parking is still free at the Van Nuys station.

[@paulineveloza4945]

I had to laugh with you on this trip!! I found you recently, because my husband and I want to start doing some train travel. My oldest daughter moved to OR about 20 years ago, and we were corrected by how we said OR, because they point out there is no e on the end. Also, the way you said Willamette, was how we started out, so you are not the only one who was corrected!!! TY!!

[@chrisk8187]

THANKS for a great trip, so far, on your way to Seattle! Absolutely perfect! Your commentary was brief and knowledgeable! Did not become annoying. The video footage couldn't have been better! Intelligent economic editing!!! I'm 71 and hopefully will be able to make this trip in the near future. If not, this is the exact "take away" of what I would be more than happy to have experienced, savored and saving a ton of $'s! I've done a minimal amount of long distance train travel. Milwaukee Wi to and from the U of Oklahoma in 1967-68's. Amtrak coach from Milwaukee to Salt Lake City in the mid-70's. Smoking was allowed EVERYWHERE! Thought I was going to DIE before I returned home!!! In 2013, for our 20th anniversary, the Seattle Amtrak Cascades train to Bellingham along the shore of Puget Sound. A few hours up and two days later a few hours back. That's it. Thanks for being such a relaxing tour guide! (This is posted 2/26/2019.)

[@williambell729]

My late mother’s partner was an Amtrak conductor. He led a long healthy lifestyle. He maintained his weight, exercised, and never smoked nor drank alcohol. She nursed him back to health after he contracted throat cancer. It was assumed that he breathed the asbestos from the trains’ brakes. However, that secondhand smoke could have certainly played a part. He was an extremely attractive man. He told me that he was recruited to come out to Hollywood for screen tests by a movie agent. He told him, “no Sir, I just like to drive this train.” He regularly ran the City of New Orleans route before he retired. He lived in Memphis and he inherited his family’s tobacco farms in Kentucky. I enjoyed listening to his stories of Amtrak and the trains.

[@sabliath9148]

Interesting fact: When the Coast Starlight is rolling through Vandenberg, it actually has priority over rocket launches. My Father (now retired) worked for Hughes Aerospace, and he told me that when the train rolled through, they had to put the launches on hold. Sometimes, the train would even stop and let the passengers take pictures of the rockets... which included classified government projects. He has many interesting stories from his time as a rocket scientist.

[@ultrametric9317]

Somewhere along that remote beach, they filmed the famous final scene in "Planet of the Apes". The area was so remote that everything had to be brought in by helicopter - including the horse! Of course the ruined Statue of Liberty was added later by matte painting technique.

[@granvillemurray1652]

I want to Thank You for informing me of exactly what you do for a living and I was quite impressed with you credentials. I am still following your railroad adventures with great enthusiasm. You were speaking of a song that you could not get out of your mind on this trip. I have the same problem, but mind is The City of New Orleans, Which I love. Either by Arlo Guthrie or The Highway Men. I am sure you will not get it out of your mind either, once you hear it. Thanks again for the adventures!

[@suddenlysolo2170]

I've traveled on a 4 day trip on a Canadian Via Rail train and I was interested in comparing with similar trips in the USA, so thank you for this vid. I think I prefer Via Rail overall, but Amtrak's lounge car with the side-ways facing seats looked fantastic!

[@DOSBoxMom]

I recently watched a British training KZbinr's video of the Coast Starlight. He and his family were taking the Coast Starlight from San Francisco/Emeryville to Seattle, and it was delayed 5 1/2 hours (because of an accident near LA). They ended up boarding and leaving the train at about 1:30AM, and the wife accidentally ended up spending the night in the child-size berth in their family bedroom (so she took an extra nap during the day while her husband and the kids explored the train). That situation reminded me a bit of when our son was delayed some hours coming home on the Saluki (Carbondale, IL to Kankakee, IL), because a tree had fallen on the tracks not far north of Carbondale (or maybe Champaign?). Enjoy watching and listening to your videos!

[@OhioTravelswithKris]

beginning of the video reminds me of CHiPs (from the 80s).. Cool video

[@DizTraveler]

Enjoyed part 2, looking forward to #3. Kind of bummer with the windows not clean on the outside. 🚞 Thanks for sharing!

[@shospulecolupis9718]

2:04:57 I found out, this interesting bridge is actually a very heavy duty train guardrail. There have been several train derailments in this area owing to the tightness of the curves and the steep grade here. In 1991 a derailed tank car derailed right there in the river dumping thousands of gallons of weed killer right into the river. Killing every living thing in and near the river for 40 miles.

[@junkiexl86]

One thing I always liked about Amtrak is how they separate coach and lounge from the sleeper cars via cafe/dining car. This way you have 0 through traffic in the sleepers and have no business being there, unless you have a room, esp since you cant lock your doors from the outside.

[@TheClampettmobile]

The small "mountain" near Mt. Shasta is Black Butte. A cinder cone.

[@danmarkis3785]

I love your videos, you do an excellent job. Please keep them coming.

[@gjkmiami]

Your train videos are so great that I wish traveling on them was your full-time job.

[@marianofpv]

The time I went from Union Station to Oakland it took 11 hours. Couldn't know exactly what was the issue, stopped constantly and very slow.

[@johndewey6358]

Thank you for your long and detail video format.

[@karens8633]

I would be so nervous on some of those Mountains! 😬

[@kevinhicks1108]

Nice to see Amtrak 503 out being the workhorse it is. (That's the strange engine you couldn't identify @youtuuba). 503 is a GE Dash8-32BWH built in 1991, and is one of 18 Dash 8's still in service with Amtrak.

[@peterbond1081]

Heh with Mr Amtrak in office maybe we can get some old routes reestablished you can take and You Tube. Like Denver to Boise, Chicago to Dallas. Your trips are very well covered and a pleasure

[@trainmanj]

I enjoy your train excursions. I took the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Sacramento several years ago and thought it was one of Amtrak's premier trains. Looking forward to part three.

[@Stephen8601]

The lead locomotive is a General Electric's P42 Genesis, and the assist locomotive is a General Electric's EMD Dash 8-32BWH. That said, it's unusual seeing the Dash 8-32BWH as part of the consist considering they were retired quite a few years ago (as in well before 2018).

[@segaman9265]

2:04:53 That design was a a result of a southern pacific train derailment in 1991, one the cars a tank car spilled its entire contents into the water, the chemical was metam sodium a soil fumigant, millions of aquatic animals and trees were destroyed, the spill went as far as 41 miles down the river and still remains the largest hazardous chemical spill in California's history

[@macdunlap6257]

loved that run when I went seattle to LA last august. great vid bro

[@kathikamholz1493]

Love watching your vids. New subscriber. I look my very first "long distance" (for me, anyway) trip from Oceanside, CA to Reno, NV. Took Pacific Surfliner to Santa Barbara, CA; bus to Emeryville, CA; then the CA Zephyr in to Reno. Took 24 hours. I'D LOVE to take cross country trips like you do

[@gloriapatton2829]

Hello and AWESOME video with information l. I just found you on Utube and look forward to following. Many thanks for all you have put into these. I look forward to taking my first train ride. Thanks again.

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

As you were leaving LA I was really hoping this was the train that went thru Vandenberg AFB, and I was not disappointed. Nice views of SLC-6 and the Space X compound. You drove thru 5 days before a launch, too bad the pad was out of focus, a booster sighted on the pad would have been a extra special treat.

[@JoeFelker]

I have watched many of your Train Odyssey videos but the reaction of the guy on the bench, at 1:31:44, had me laughing. I couldn't help to wonder why such a strong reaction!

[@kelhapam]

Another gem! Looking forward to Part 3. I do think however, you needed a Snickers for this leg of your journey. (Please know that I'm teasing.)

[@davelotz1]

A few years ago we had a golf cart from the LA lounge to trainside.

[@doniotte681]

Hi 👋 Thanks 🙏 for taking us on your Trips, I have never been to those area’s in my life, I also want to Add that you were right those Announcer’s are Annoying And I would have said the same thing to shut the Hell up. I am from Norfolk Massachusetts but Born in Dallas, Texas in 1957

[@nembird]

Hey! Doing basically your trip in reverse in a few days. Except starting in Michigan and dropping down into San Diego for a visit. But Empire Builder from Chicago, then Coastal Starlight and Surfliner San Diego. SWC back. Enjoy your videos.

[@rayunseitig6367]

this is great fun: I'm 'like' watching it 10 times.

[@TheFarmanimalfriend]

Willamette is pronounced: will-lam-met. I used to live in Eugene. 😀

[@andrewarmstrong7310]

The answer to your locomotive dilemma. The front unit is a General Electric P42DC 4,250 horsepower Genisis locomotive. Hard to tell from the original P40DC 4,000 horsepower built in 1992. these have become the mainstay for Amtrak motive power. There is actually a unit that has a drop down contact shoe for use on 600volt electric routes. Mostly to comply with Chicago's and New York City's infamous no smoke rules. The second unit is a GE P32-8BWH 3,200 horsepower locomotive. Commonly referred to industry-wide as the Dash-8 and comes in 4 and 6 axle configurations. I will say it is strange to see a Dash-8 as Amtrak only ordered 20 of these and supposedly retired all 20 of them in 2014 at a mere 15 years old. I have a feeling the Dash-8 is going to be dropped off somewhere and retire in commuter service. From what I understand Amtrak had to order them just because GE made them as passenger locomotives. They were not suited at all for passenger service. The 3,200 horsepower at the wheels became 1,685 hp at the wheels while supplying 800 kW (1,100 hp) HEP load to the train. HEP is short for Head End Power. This is the electricity that is distributed thru the red connector between cars that powers air conditioners/heaters, 120-volt lights and 48-volt DC Lights via an inverter as well charging a 48-volt DC battery bank of emergency lights, should they ever be needed, refrigeration, ice makers, and all 120 volt AC outlets throughout the passenger car consist. Amtrak bases there HEP on 16 cars. Meaning only one locomotive can power 16 cars. Yes, that is a bad case scenario. The Dash-8 was later found out it could handle 12 cars at most, and even then have periodic power dropouts. That is not good for the passengers or crew as when the HEP power drops out the computer system automatically applies the full alternator output to the traction motors providing a spirted sprint.

[@Bogieking78]

That Dash-8 threw me as well as I had never seen one on a long distance Amtrak train before-I didn't even realize that they used them.

[@TheRGSfan]

The dash 8s were delivered in 1991 as a stop gap due to delays in production of the P40s

[@williamchristian8389]

Your train adventures are always great, Thank you so much!!

[@MrAndreluiz2009]

Por gentileza, qual é o tipo de GPS que o amigo usa. Obrigado pelo excelente trabalho disponibilizado em videos.

[@christopherorourke6543]

I travel long distance on Amtrak trains as well as the Pacific Surfliners between San Diego, Los Angeles & Oxnard,CA. I alternate my visits between Los Angeles & Oxnard when I ride the Pacific Surfliners when I’m home in the San Diego area. I live in Arizona City,AZ & Maricopa is he nearest Amtrak station where the tri weekly Sunset Limited stops at, but doesn’tstop In Casa Grande,AZ which has more people than Maricopa.

[@Sweetteawillie]

Amtrak Status Maps (not track-a-train) shows the trains operating by regions. Select a region and the following map shows train numbers with approximate locations on the route. Click on a train number to view a status log of stops. Click on the "map" to view direction and speed of the train. Move the map or shrink it to see the the actual track routing. Thanks for sharing.

[@AngelSusie57]

I am really enjoying this, it brings back memories of when we took the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle. It was a fun and beautiful trip.

[@josephconner4756]

I love your videos of Amtrak

[@lindsaymoore7232]

This has always been one of my favorite train stations the LAUPT, with it's southwestern motif floor and the art deco on the walls. I've never been on the Coast Starlight. If I did it would be from Los Angeles to San Francisco. I really enjoyed this video. Now I have something to look forward to on my next train trip on the Southwest chief or Texas Eagle or California Zephyer.

[@squalli1297]

Great video coverage of Amtrak's Coast Starlight. Very informational and entertaining. You missed the experience of being in the California Parlour Car which was discontinued in early February. The Calif. Parlour Car was a refurbished lounge car built in the '50's which ran between L.A. and Chicago by the Santa Fe railway on a line called the El Capitan. The El Capitan was a popular all coach double decker train until Amtrak's takeover. It was sometimes used on Amtrak's Sunset Ltd. as a lounge car through the 80's. It ran the same route as Santa Fe's all sleeper car consist called the Super Chief when train travel was popular. I've had the pleasure of traveling in both. You would have enjoyed your trip more riding in the Calif. Parlor Car. It was similar to the experience of being in Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge but on wheels. The scenery is great in any car, but the Calif. Parlor Car made the experience most enjoyable offering complimentary snacks, wine, comfortable seating, and entertainment. an overall great experience. You would have made this train your favorite with this feature instead of the Empire Builder. I didn't know that the car was discontinued until I saw your video. I rode the Coast Starlight with my family last year and was told the Calif. Parlour Cars had just been returned to the line after several months of maintenance. I suppose Amtrak wasn't generating enough revenue as they were with the Business Class cars which were recently added to the consist. Thanks for your efforts.

[@brianspurrell9670]

I'm from Australia and I rode the Parlour Car in March 2016 from Seattle to San Francisco. So Retro and one of my great memories seeing snow fall for the first time in my life in the Cascades.

[@LelandRogers]

The second engine is the EMD F40PH that was used before the P40 and P42 engines came along. The Coast Starlight still uses them as 2nd engines.

[@Peter-js6kq]

That’s not an f40 It’s a GE dash 8

[@artemiomagiarperez7060]

Estoy disfrutando de estos vídeos en época de cuarentena haciendo turismo virtual

[@GoldenOldiesMusicCollector]

Stunning scenery through the Cascade Mountain Range in Oregon. When will you upload Part 3 from Portland, Oregon to Chicago, Illinois?

[@youtuuba]

I just finished editing Part 3. Due to so much scenery along the Columbia River, and around Glacier National Park, this is the longest of the Odyssey, at just under 4 hours! I tried HARD to edit it to be shorter, but would have had to give up too much stuff I wanted to keep. Unfortunately, my video editing software gets progressively crankier as the videos get longer, so editing the last hour was difficult. And then it has crashed twice when trying to render the final video file. But I ran it again last night and as of this morning it was still ticking along, with about 3 hours to go before completion, so I HOPE this time it will finish without crashing. Then comes the LONG upload to KZbin. But with any luck, it will be up in the next day or two.

[@johnb.6426]

Hello. I really enjoy your train videos, thank you for making the effort. I haven't travelled long distance on a train since California Zephyr (Feather River route!) in 1967. I intend to travel by train now, in retirement. When you book a reservation, are you able to specify what side of the train you prefer (for the views, of course)? Also, in your experience are the lowest prices available the further from departure (in time) you are, with the prices increasing the closer you get to departure? Thank you again for your highly informative videos.

[@trainmanj]

You do not get to choose what side of the car you have in coach or sleeper. It is less expensive the further in advance you book your tickets.

[@Crosshead1]

Unfortunately you can’t choose which side of the car you get. I travelled on the California Zephyr (Emeryville-Chicago) in May 2018 with an old friend. We each booked a roomette (well in advance of the travel date) and were lucky enough to be allocated roomettes either side of the centre corridor (Rooms 3 & 4) so it was easy to move from one side of the train to the other depending on the best views.

[@Y2JPK]

Wow mate you did your trip just a couple of weeks after me, I did this trip on the 30th April, then I did the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago, then across to NY then down to Orlando then back to DC and back to Chicago, then the 3 Southwest Chief from Chicago to Los Angeles, amazing journeys, I also have some videos up if you want to check them out

[@johnnewman8014]

Not a switchbaxk, but you reserved dinner on hoseshoe curve. Pacific Parlor Car is unique to Coast Starlight for first class passenger use (refurbished ex Santa Fe car with smaller windows).

[@davesb45]

Wow, had a dash 8 on it

[@revmichaelharding5515]

I really like your train travel trip videos. They are informative and helpful. The scenery is always stunning. Some of these trips I have traveled myself. I look forward to part 3 of this series. Thank you. Where can I find a list of all your videos?

[@Smokeysmom1]

I grew up in the Chino Hills. We used o catch the train in Pomona.

[@eyebrows2210]

This is so well done and something i would love to do but probably not have the time in Life or the funds but i feel so relaxed after watching it and it's added to my life get up and go efforts in i a funny way...🤔🤔

[@e020443]

Very much enjoy your train videos -- haven't graduated to all the others you do yet. I did notice that your Garmin seems to have packed up toward the end of the journey. I'm a big fan of Garmin, but they've fallen on hard times, given the smart phone competition. Either way, both of the Garmins I take on my travels have the ability to display elevation. Apparently yours doesn't or you've configured it not to. I find elevation a useful thing to know, even if it's off by a few dozen feet.

[@railsetc]

2:30:45 pronounced will-AM-it. Technically the railroad goes over Pengra Pass, 58 is on Willamette Pass. Willamette has a ski resort, you could see the clearings for the lifts as you passed Odell Lake (Odell and Pengra discovered the pass together).

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Thanks for another great Amtrak video. I am curious, have you been a passenger onboard the City of New Orleans?

[@johnnykeane3031]

Liked your video and looked at it several times . I will be on the Coast Starlight in Nov in a roomette / I was lucky to get one on the Ocean side / room 002 so my ocean view should be great / Question I may get my lunch brought to me in my room / have you ever requested lunch in your room ? and how does that work ? Of course I will tip my room attendant / Thanks

[@youtuuba]

Johnny Keane, I hope you do indeed have a room on the ocean side; but AMTRAK cannot guarantee which side your room will be on, only which room you will be in. When they assemble the 'consist' of your train, some cars can be hitched up backwards, in which case you room might NOT be on the ocean side. Not sure why you want your meals in your room, unless you have mobility problems. One of the best parts of AMTRAK long distance train travel is meeting all the interesting people who you randomly get seated with in the Diner Car. But no, I have never requested my meal be brought to me in my room. I think all you need to do for this service is ask your car attendant.

[@johnnykeane3031]

Thanks for your reply / I guess you are right / I will enjoy the Dining Car experience on my trip / I will hope my train is set up with roomette 2 on the ocean side / I am also looking forward to the LA Metro lounge which looks good

[@loganhanssen6004]

Love to know what that building is at the end of your video.

[@youtuuba]

'that building'......not very descriptive. Are you referring to the large red building with a tower which is clearly a train station and is clearly signed as Union Station?

[@kathyspicer315]

Always enjoy your videos. Would be great if you sometime have a chance to show how to set up the BC75XLT scanner and any GPS unit to watch and listen as you do. Thanks for showing the maps!

[@youtuuba]

Kathy Spicer, I already have two videos showing what you are after, assuming you also use a computer to program the scanner. As for the GPS, there is no setup. I just turn it on and press the Show Map or View Map option (usually the only other option is Where To?). With my older GPS units, I ALSO had to select the "walking" or "bicycle" option, instead of the default "car" or "driving" option. My newer GPS (already quite a few years old) automatically figures out what mode to be in with me needing to tell it. By the way, I am writing this reply while on an AMTRAK train as part of my latest Train Odyssey.

[@kathyspicer315]

@@youtuuba Thank you for your reply. Watching your Sunset Limited video this morning. I have not used a GPS. Would you mind sharing which one you bought and whether you bought an additional item to attach it to the window? Just located your 'how to use a scanner on Amtak trains.' I have a Mac and was told it can't be programmed with a computer in that case but I think this will still point me in the right direction. Thank you and happy travels.

[@youtuuba]

@@kathyspicer315 , you can still program a scanner using its little keypad, you don't really need a computer....it just takes longer. My GPS is quite old, so you can't buy that model anymore. Just go some place that sells automotive GPS navigation devices, and buy any Garmin model that suits you, any of them will work on the train. Most, if not all, if them will come with a suction mount for the car windshield, and that will work on train windows if you rotate them 90 degrees to get the angle right. The thing you need to buy extra is an AC power adapter so you can run the GPS from train power. I bought mine from Garmin, the kind they recommended for my scanner. Newer model GPS units might not need a special AC supply, but mine does. You might need to ask Garmin prior to purchase....the important key to this is getting an AC adapter that will not cause the GPS to go into map database loading mode when you plug it in. I think Garmin just made an AC adapter with its USB plug wired differently so this would not happen. If you can't find a suitable AC power adapter, you could instead buy an adapter to go from AC power to automotive power connector (what used to be called 'cigarette lighter' power). Then you plug the car charger that comes with the GPS into that adapter.

[@kathyspicer315]

@@youtuuba Thank you, much appreciated, will certainly put the information you shared to use. Hope you enjoy your trip and hope you get to try the Surfliner sometime if you have not yet.

[@WestCoastRails]

Great video, now that I’m retired I plan on taking several Amtrak trips. I like the idea of the GPS screen, make & model?? Thank You

[@youtuuba]

Just buy any Garmin model intended for automotive navigation. The model I use is already several years old and you probably won't be able to buy one. Just make sure you get the Garmin AC power adapter, and verify BEFORE your trips that when powered from the AC adapter that it will remain in navigation mode rather than going into software update mode.

[@theblessedtraveler7477]

I love your videos!! I rode the California Zephyr in March 2021. Which scanner do you recommend for the journey. I have been doing research and a little confused. That’s a GE P42 Genesis locomotive and second in lead a Please and thank you. God bless!

[@irelandbloke]

Awesome video ! ☘️

[@heavydutyrepair64]

Love you're train videos

[@ricardotongol567]

The place you called crappy is the San ardo oil Field

[@garynofishing1]

My personal policy is to wait with leaving the lounge and going to board any train until 20 minutes prior to departure. By that time, all the people are on the train and in their seats. Way less congestion that way

[@youtuuba]

In my experience, AMTRAK boards first class (sleeper) passengers first, and then all the coach passengers are boarded, but it might be different at some stations. Not sure who you mean when you say "cattle"....is that coach passengers or anyone other than yourself? I have not experienced a lot of "congestion" when boarding the trains, unless getting to the trains involves crowded concourses, in which case it should not matter a lot WHEN you board.

[@garynofishing1]

@@youtuuba In your video, you had to wait on the platform for the train to back in. They shouldn't have called for boarding until the train was in position. I don't like standing around in a crowd waiting for direction. That is why I wait in the lounge until all the people (I edited out cattle) are clear. When you have a Bedroom, there is no reason to go right away. Just because they call for 1st class to board first doesn't mean you have to go. Here, in Tucson, when the train is still 10 miles away, people are already leaving their comfortable seats and going out to stand in line. They are in that line for 45 minutes until passengers are unloaded from the train that isn't even here yet. I just never understood why it's so important to be 1st on and 1st off all the time.

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

I can't imagine fighting traffic like that every day. I would go nuts [ or postal ]

[@SuperStormyNormy]

Not in a position to do it, but watching these vids are a close second.

[@maggiesatterfield2402]

You are right. That Cafe Car Attendant WAS annoying! I wanted to scream 'SHUT UP'! Great video. I just subscribed.

[@johnnewman8014]

Other Mountain near Mt Shata is Black Butte.

[@RamenBuddha]

I was watching your video love it. I took notes and i got the train numbers . locomative car 55 and 503 didnt see what was the baggage car number was. Sleeper cars number 32095,32063,32007 . then dining car 38055 and business car 34510. Next lounge car 33046 and last coach class 34000,34035,34001.

[@RamenBuddha]

In klammoth falls found baggage car number 61047.

[@RamenBuddha]

Missed one sleeper car partial number 32 19 middle number could not see assumed the number was 0 . the only one i could find 32019 should be it.

[@TheClampettmobile]

That "interesting" bridge design at the Cantara Loop, just a few miles northwest (railroad east) from Dunsmuir is the result of the spill the Southern Pacific had at that location 25 or so years ago that was supposedly going to "poison the Sacramento River for 100 years" according to the "experts", but fish were back to normal in a week or so. Those that died were from asphyxiation, not poisoning. Anyway, the powers that be "demanded" that rail cars could not be able to fall off that bridge into the river again. It used to be a series of simple girder bridges there. The cause of the derailment was lightly loaded cars at the head end and mid-train helpers shoving - all coming apart on that curve (Cantara Loop).

[@texleeger8973]

One should not let total BS go the way of truth. "A train accident caused a chemical tank car to fall into the Sacramento River, spilling 19,000 gallons of the herbicide metam sodium. The chemical impacts extended over 20 miles from the spill site to Lake Shasta. " www.wildlife.ca.gov/OSPR/NRDA/Cantara-Loop-Dunsmuir "Ultimately, over a million fish, and tens of thousands of amphibians and crayfish were killed. Millions of aquatic invertebrates, including insects and mollusks, which form the basis of the river’s ecosystem, were destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of willows, alders, and cottonwoods eventually died. Many more were severely injured. The chemical plume left a 41-mile wake of destruction, from the spill site to the entry point of the river into Shasta Lake." nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=17248&inline=true "The railroad employees and those who helped to clean up the spill faced medical issues ranging from relatively mild to more severe, which led to payouts, not only for the people involved but for their children as well." www.environews.tv/121813-californias-top-10-environmental-disasters-7-cantara-loop-spill/

[@rockiecmfan9662]

If you don't mind youtuuba, I've got a couple of general "curious" questions I'd like to ask. I Googled the Amtrak dining car menu. I noticed the "additional charge" items such as beverages and add-ons with the breakfast menu. Do you pay for those charges after each meal and a tip for your server or is it a one-time "trip aggregate" charge? Secondly, do you tip your roomette car attendant (I'm assuming yes) and if so, what do you recommend? Thank you!

[@youtuuba]

Rockie CMFan, if you have first class (sleeper car) accommodations, your dining car meals are pre-paid are part of your ticket price, and soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, milk, etc are included. If you are in coach seating, you might or might not be allowed to eat in the dining car, as sleeper car passengers are given first claim in seating availability. It seems to me that the longer the train trip, the more likely that the dining car will have enough seating times for each meal to allow some percentage of coach passengers to have their meals there. But coach passengers need to pay out of pocket for dining car meals, when they can get them, and the the prices are very steep for what you are getting. Regardless of first class/sleeper or coach, all passengers must pay for alcoholic beverages if they get them in the dining car. Coach passengers cannot bring their own alcoholic beverages into the train, and cannot consume them at their seats. All sleeper car passengers can bring their alcoholic beverages with them, or take unfinished ones back to their rooms from the dining car , or buy them in the cafe and take them back to their rooms; in any case, those beverages must be consumed in their own private rooms, nowhere else on the train (some cafe setups have adjacent seating where passengers are allowed to consume anything that they buy there in the cafe, but the rules seem to vary, so check first once you are aboard). By the way, the 'cafe' can just be a kiosk somewhere on the train, or it can be a larger 'mini-store' located downstairs in the Lounge Car (on SuperLiner trains), but they always seem to call those "cafe cars" as if they were separate cars on the train. And AMTRAK has NO TOLERANCE for alcohol abuse, and if you let yourself get inebriated, they will put you off the train at the next station, or any suitable town, with no alternate transportation arrangements and no refund, so passengers must consume alcoholic beverages in extreme moderation. And if you smoke, or vape, or shoot up, or simply act in a loud or obnoxious way, they will put you off the train so fast that it will make your head spin. If you broke a federal law in the course of doing any of the above (such as smoking on the train), they will also radio ahead so that the local police will be there waiting for you when you are put off. Regarding charges for meals and 'additional charge' items (usually alcohol) in the dining car, all of those must be paid for at the time of service, not later or in aggregate. Since I never buy any of that in the dining car, I don't know if they accept credit cards, or if it must be cash....I only recall seeing people paying by cash. Tips are optional, but just as with any restaurant, most people will leave a tip. Since I use the dining cars only when I am travelling first class (I have my own sleeper car room), and am not paying outright for meals, I tend to not be aware of what the meals cost, and thus I don't base the tip on a percentage of meal cost. I usually leave a couple of dollars at each dining car meal, and leave that on the table when I leave. It is customary, but optional, for sleeping car passengers to also tip their car attendant at the end of the journey. I know of no customary rate, but I know a lot of people choose to tip $10 for each day of the trip per room, not per passenger in the room, and I never give more that $20 even if the trip is longer than two days.

[@rockiecmfan9662]

@@youtuuba Thank you for the great info. Doing a roomette on the CZ is on my bucket list after I retire in four years. I really appreciate your response.