@Midlife Travelers What truly sold me on Thom’s narration style is that if you listen long enough, he’ll drop a totally deadpan humor line that will catch you off guard. He has me chuckling at least once on every video!
Amtrak could do with a lot of improvements, but the biggest improvement they could implement right now is subsidizing tickets so they're always this affordable. For long distance trips it's almost always cheaper to fly, particularly with budget airline options, and for shorter trips the cost of gas if you have a car with decent gas mileage will still come out cheaper.
The problem with this is that as soon as you mention the word “subsidy” or “subsidized,” the party of alleged “small government” screams, “SOCIALISM!!” What Congress could have done in 1971 was to create a trust to fund Amtrak, just like they did for the interstate highway system. They didn’t and as a result, Amtrak is subject to annual appropriations. Don’t think for one minute that the party of small government won’t go after transportation funding as a means to reduce deficit spending. I hate to get political on Thom’s channel but since the subject came up, I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention why Amtrak ticket prices are already subsidized. Before becoming an airline mechanic, I drove buses for Greyhound. My employer at the time lobbied for deregulation because they felt that they were forced to operate without subsidies (never mind that the highways they operate on are subsidized) while their main competition, Amtrak, was totally subsidized. Airlines had previously been deregulated but the prices hadn’t come down yet. Keep in mind, taxpayers still support the airports and the runways, navigation facilities and air traffic control. Railroads are forced to maintain their own rights-of-way. Amtrak pays the railroads for the the rights to operate on their tracks. It’s complicated. A very wise man once told me that there’s no such thing as a “free hot dog.” Someone paid for that hot dog. Hope that helps.
Chicago's lounge was awesome. I walked to the station from my hotel back in June and was drenched in sweat when I got there. Much to my surprise they had private showers for anyone who was eligible to enter the lounge. A very welcome accommodation though I probably should have brought shower flip flops.
I live in Wichita, KS and the SW Chief does not go through the largest City in Kansas. You have to go 35 miles North to Newton, KS to catch the train and both the WB&EB go through in the middle of the night, like 2:00-3:00 AM, a little inconvenient I think. The day may come when it is rerouted through Wichita but it may never happen.
Grear video! You can't beat $50, but I like the privacy (and mask-free zone) of a sleeper car. It also includes the meals, and the good food is back for my next trip.
I love the Southwest Chief, got to take it a few back from Dallas, Tx to Los Angeles only I never got to Chicago as we transfered to a small 10 person van for a 2 1/2 drive from Springfield over Gailsburg to connet to the SWC coming down from Chicago.
Love your vids. Keep them coming. Btw the Metro Lounge is also available to sleeping car passengers. You can also get a day pass, but I am not certain of the fee. There are free food and drinks, comfortable chairs and I believe the one in Chicago even has a shower.
Really great video Thom! Your work is so underappreciated and you really deserve many more views... I can't wait for the other parts! One thing I've found with my channel is any time I deviate from my core content of train reviews, the videos hardly get any views and my impressions slump quite a lot. Just a thought. I enjoy all your videos mate 🙏🏻😎
@@Thom-TRA You'll get there, Amtrak is the 'big one', you only need one video to take off and I'm sure you'll prosper as you really do make amazing and Informative content 🙏🏻
Did you know the origin of the nickname "Windy City" for Chicago? "One of the first known instances of Chicago’s “windy city” nickname came from a New York Sun reporter named Charles A. Dana in 1893, who editorialized that the city’s politicians were “full of hot air.” Chicago and New York were in a head-to-head competition at the time to host the next World’s Fair, and Chicago’s “windbag” advocates were not shy about campaigning for their hometown in order to win. Despite Dana’s best efforts to discredit Chicago as a “windy city”, the 1893 World’s Fair was held in Illinois, not New York. "Even before the World’s Fair debate, there were other published instances of the windy city nickname. The Cincinnati Enquirer used the term in 1876 in reference to a tornado that blew through the city, while also capitalizing on the term’s double meaning to highlight local speakers who were “full of wind.” "From there, the nickname stuck, and the rest is history! "
Love the video adn all the work you put into it! I have the feeling that there's so much difference between US train rides and train rides here in Europe so it's really nice to see what those long train rides are like 🙂 I also really felt the embarrassment when you were in the bathroom and heard the sound coming from the toilet! I would immediately run away too 😅 Also love the humor with the dude shower, hadn't heard of that before so I had to look it up! Keep up the good videos! 😉
Thank you, that means so much! Having grown up in Europe and also Japan, where the trains are amazing, I definitely miss all the variety in trains and the ease with which you can take the train to your destination. For the time being, I guess I'll just have to make the most out of what America has to offer. Looking forward to whatever my next trip may be!
Reminds me so much of my trip on the Chief from CHI to La Plata for Rail Days in June 2021 there (awesome time with lots of nice railfans, 70 mph intermodal freights and the most popular railcams in the U.S.) We had the same restrictions in Coach that you did -- no dining room access, etc. -- and MY train was also overrun with pleasant, well-meaning Boy Scouts who mercilessly raided the Café car. :) We didn't get stopped by the Fort Madison bridge on the westward run, barely (it closed up when we were about 5 miles out), but we DID get stopped heading back to Chicago after the weekend.
We discovered that you can use the lounge by paying a small fee. We rode the City of New Orleans to Chicago in coach and were able to use the lounge and luggage storage by paying that fee.
i decided to start a channel myself after watching a few others who travel also. Started following you after watching a video where an older guy photobombs you big time lol, the look on your face was priceless. And another comment you made in one where some guy went off in the middle of the night due to someone touching him. Love your commentaries for sure. Hope to see you on board a train headed who knows where.
I did the same trip some 10 years ago but in a bedroom - it was a trip of a lifetime as it was my first (but not my last) trip on a Amtrak long distance train. My bedroom sure cost a lot more than your $50 train ticket in Coach. Once we in Australia can travel again to US there are a number of more Amtrak long distance trains on my bucket list. Great video & I truely enjoyed your candid comments about US train travel. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Yeah it made me very hungry to try out a different route soon. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Part 2 will be up in two weeks. Thanks for your kind words!
Hi from Geelong Australia l enjoyed your train ride I would love to muster up the courage to do a coach from LA to Chicago on the chief Because l am planning a trip next year LA to Chicago and Chicago to Emeryville Either Chief or the eagle Roomette to Emeryville though What's your thoughts 🤔 🇭🇲👍
Good video with information 👌 for someone who will travel coach, I personally would never use the water from the sink bathroom to brush my teeth, I will use water bottle. Like the narration of the whole trip.
I have a bad case of sciatica and there is just no way I would be be able to do a trip like this, especially in a coach seat. But I guess you need to be young and healthy to do it.
At 20:40, I said, and I quote: “The Des Moines River acts as the border between Iowa and Missouri.” And on screen, in large letters, you will see “Des Moines River.” So I’m really not sure what you’re correcting here.
@Thom-TRA dang! You certainly did! What was I hearing? Sorry bout that. OAN, I really enjoy your vids. When you realized someone was in the toilet...😂😂😂😂
I'm traveling from Kansas City to Grand Rapids and back by train soon and I'm excited! Picked a video about the Southwest Chief at random, so it was a nice surprise to see you starting out in Grand Rapids :)
What month was this? I am traveling from LA to Chicago on Friday and was planning on getting a room but if they are not serving food in the restaurant it may not be worth it. Did you just travel in the last 2 months?
Haha I use similar toothpaste tabs and I just knew I was gonna have trouble with TSA haha. How do you show them? I might need some advice as I'm flying out later this year
