Four Days in Amtrak Coach With My Ethiopian Fiancé 

The Albany area was originally inhabited by the Mohican. The Mohawk to the west called it Sche-negh-ta-da or "through the pine woods", which is where the name Schenectady came from! The area was settled by Dutch colonists who built Fort Nassau for fur trading and then Fort Orange. It was taken over in 1664 by the English who named it Albany in honor of the Duke of Albany, the later King James II (and VII). Albany in turn refers to the parts of Scotland north of the River Forth. Rensselaer on the other hand is named after Kiliaen van Rensselaer. Kiliaen was one of the founders and directors of the Dutch West India Company, being instrumental in establishing New Netherland. They founded the Manor of Rensselaerswyck in the area. With the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and the canyons of Utah, the route of the California Zephyr is truly a love letter to the western US! The Moffat Tunnel is quite cool! If it wasn't for the Moffat Tunnel, Denver wouldn't have become the economic engine that it is today! David Moffat was unable to raise sufficient funds to build the tunnel before he died in 1911, but the fight for the tunnel continued in his honor! In 1920, a bill was passed by the state legislature to build new tunnels, but other regions blocked it because they didn't want Denver to gain an advantage in commerce. Blocking this would backfire big time when Pueblo was devastated by a flood in 1922 and Denver took this opportunity to say they'll vote for emergency funding for Pueblo in return for bonds for the tunnel. Eight hundred men ended up working round the clock for three and a half years, moving 1.5 million tons of rock!

Tzatziki is love, tzatziki is life. Shame Stormy didn't build a Chicago-style hot dog for her like they did with you 😂! The Moffat Tunnel is ventilated by massive fans operating after a train has exited the tunnel. The portals have doors which are shut before the fans are activated. Originally, trains would have to wait around a half-hour before proceeding after the doors were re-opened. Today, a sensor system is employed to evaluate the clearance of diesel exhaust. The Moffat Tunnel was cut under a shoulder of James Peak, named after botanist Edwin James, the first person to successfully climb Pikes Peak. The pilot tunnel was officially hole-through in 1927 when dynamite was blasted thanks to Calvin Coolidge pressing a key from DC.

Such a wholesome video, I hope to find someone who's willing to do things like this with me and when I'm in a position to do random trips like this.

I’m so happy that you had that experience. A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to get to know their partner in adverse situations until they come up. It’s good to know that neither of you get too excited when things don’t go your way.

Kalkidan narrating some of this was a nice touch! And then saying she has no RU-vid channel? I'm genuinely shocked. Spin-off series/her own channel coming soon? Speaking of which, I really identified with/related to what Kalkidan said. I pretty much live in the middle of nowhere in the US (no popular train hubs, Amtrak doesn't currently have a route within my city, and I have to fly to the 'big airline hubs' first to make any worthwhile domestic trips, so it kinda sucks) and I don't want to be limited by where I live either. I want to explore America by rail, the ultimate experience, as it were (taking every single current Amtrak route in existence and planning a "ultimate US trip" around that, essentially), and it'd be nice to do it with someone, but alas I am alone right now and I am not sure if I'll find anyone with a potential similar specific interest. Also -- wonderful video in general. It's truly fabulous, and very much gives "makes-someone-cry-happy-tears" vibes. Congrats to you and Kalkidan once again!

This was such a good video! You and Kalkidan are such a good couple!

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Whale's, Classy new era in Life. Now, take her on the Orient Express!

You are a lovely couple. May you have a wonderful lifetime together.

Harold Washington Library was named after the 51st mayor of Chicago between, who was the first African-American mayor of Chicago and was mayor from 1983 until his death in 1987! How the Willis/Sears Tower came to be is that Sears, Roebuck & Co. had occupied an office complex on Chicago's west side since 1906 but by the late 1960s, Sears became the largest retailer in the world, thus the space they had was inadequate. They considered a move to the suburbs infeasible, and so they opted to consolidate the thousands of employees in offices distributed throughout Chicagoland area into one building. It was designed by Bruce Graham and engineered by Fazlur Rahman Khan, who both also designed and engineered the John Hancock Center. Bruce was also responsible for planning London's Canary Wharf! The firm behind it, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, has worked on One WTC, Moynihan Train Hall, NATO headquarters, and the Burj Khalifa. When it opened in 1973, it was the world's tallest building, a title that it held for nearly 25 years.

you two are cute, congrats on the engagement! A 4-day Amtrak trip sounds like an amazing way to celebrate.

Bro gave us a Berkshires reference, Caleb is officially my king now, I pledge allegiance to

I loved Kalkidan's narration!

As a Jewish person, the minute Kalkidan stole your drink and she said “it tastes better that way,” it reminded me of a verse from the book of proverbs which I immediately said in Hebrew and then laughed. I was then sent into a giggle loop when she quoted the same verse translated into English! Thanks for making my night. I’m still smiling.

What a delightful video! You have edited those special four days really efficiently and I feel I can share some of the wonder you both experienced on this trip. You are now, and I'm sure will be for the days to come, a blessing to each other.

I took a similar trip in January (Reno to Pittsburgh with a transfer in Chicago) and was lucky enough to snag a bulkhead seat. They’re an absolute game changer at night. Best sleep I’ve ever gotten in coach!

She’s beautiful, intelligent, and a railfan. She reminds me of Miles Taylor’s girlfriend Aleena. You hit the jackpot. Congratulations.

I really appreciate you all's videos. Best wishes on your upcoming marriage. In November of 2022 a friend of mine and I went to Zimbabwe and we changed planes in ethiopia.

I only travel Amtrak so I love how you are sharing your amazing journey..

@12:10, great shot of the Cynwyd Line! It looks like you guys had an amazing trip! Many happy years to you both

Thank you for sharing your journey with us!

Didn't expect to have tears in my eyes at the end of a train journey video❤

Loved the little Back Bay Tracks 5&7 reference

Watching this makes me feel the way you did after your first Zephyr ride 20:04

FAVORITE COUPLE

“We are experiencing Titanic from wish.” This is why I love the 2 of y’all’s humour.

This is such a wonderful video. You too are such a great couple. Congratulations and can't wait to see more of your adventures. Let's hope we only continue to get more Amtrak routes both corridor and long distance.

This was such a beautiful story! Thanks so much for sharing it! ❤

I wish we had more long distance services here in Massachusetts.

Very very cute and it seems Kalkidan had a wonderful time ^^ Thank you for sharing this with us

💪🏾❤️🙏🏽 I understand every sentiment. Just two weeks ago I proposed to my now fiancé on the California Zephyr as we were high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was a great experience. Wish the two of you nothing but the best. ❤

Thanks for your cross country trip. I have ridden to and from the west coast several times using the California Zephyr. I even got to ride once while the Rio Grande railroad ran the train outside of the Amtrak system. As you showed the scenery is one of the best routes to take. However I did miss riding in the dome cars that the Rio Grande railroad had. It made the ride even more spectacular. You did the best thing taking your own food aboard since coach passengers can’t use the dining cars and the snack bar even in the lounge car has limited items for sale. I hope you both have a long and happy life together and enjoy other long distance train rides.

Very well made video! I myself am privileged to have made a similar journey from NY Penn to Emeryville via the Cardinal and California Zephyr in the summer of 2017, and also added in the Coast Starlight to Anaheim. Best wishes to the newly wed couple, and may your many train trips help develop your great relationship!

Great video. I had the same sense of wonder on my first Amtrak trips back in 04 and many since then. The station at Reno used to be above ground and in 05 when I went through they were building the new line but it was not yet opened. It’s a shame the sleepers are so expensive these days as used to be more affordable. At least dining has returned to Coach on the `western routes so look forward to using the diner again in the future. I hope to do a Trans Canada trip coast to coast next year from Halifax to Prince Rupert. Hope you both can have more such trips soon.

Thank you for taking us along on the railroad journey but also with you both in the journey of your life. Marvellous.

Love it!

Travelers who travel in coach are the real train travelers, so well-done! You are really not missing anything by not having a sleeper cabin, except for a shower!

This was a really nifty video! But remind me what country your wife grew up in again?

That was a wonderfully sweet and charming video---and also informative! You also seem to enjoy the entire trip, but I wonder if there were any points where you felt tired or "low". I love travelling by rail, but I usually do have points in my trip where I get a little bored or down. Or was it really fun all the way through?

You guys are darn cute. And thanks for the fun video.

I’ve been waiting too oing

I always wonder how the water would taste on Amtrak coach's And now i know to bring bottle water

Your Lucky At ❤️ Love. Thank You For Outstanding Video.🎉❤😊

“How was I lucky enough to get a man this crazy a life” I shall always remember that quote 😂

The Berkshires are great a great weekend get away

East-West rail is happening, at least Boston to Pittsfield. Funding has been appropriated.

My wife is from Nigeria and I'm a white male. Me and her enjoy traveling and site seeing. We got married this year in Feb 2024.

Helper, the least used Amtrak station in Utah...interesting shout-out to Miles there.

That's cool that you guys went to Sacramento, I live there btw, did u guys take light rail?

Best engagement treat! Can totally relate to running out of food early, that'll be the excitement/adrenaline doing great things for your metabolism. Above all remember to buy more houmous than you could reasonably expect to get through: that's a life hack, not just a travel tip. Wishing you both all the happiness together! \m/

Sorry about CDTA :( it does that a lot, especially in Rensselaer at the train station. For whatever reason they WILL NOT TIME THE BUSES PROPERLY WITH THE TRAINS which makes me really sad. There were a few restaurants in walking-distance from you that would’ve been good. Next time let me know when you’re passing through and I’d be happy to give recs.

When was this filmed?? I was in Chicago for a convention in December!

It's really fun to see your journey together and the sweetness you share together. Congratulations from a Lancaster fan.

0:29 California Zephyr train?

Talk about a honeymoon phase

I feel tired just watching

The bathrooms on these trains are disgusting. I went cross country on Amtrak (CA Zephr) to SF. Never again! Even tho I purchased a round trip ticket back to Boston, I flew back home. The trains are old and need to be replaced. The food on the train and in the stations is outrageously priced.

And I thought 7 days in coach was easy

Ethiopia HAS a functional national high speed rail system

Congrats to us passport😂

Get marryed on a train

HE'S NOT GAY!!!!!!!????????

(🇪🇹+🇺🇸+Jim and Pam)*🚆=Kalkaleb