THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR: America’s Greatest Train! Chicago - San Francisco

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Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville (for San Francisco) is the greatest train trip you can take in the United States. I was lucky to take this wonderful journey for the third time - this time, in beautiful autumn. Check out my Europe by Train Bright Trip guide: www.brighttrip.com/europebytrain
It is the most scenic and culturally important of all Amtrak's rail trips, and the longest daily Amtrak train. 2,438 miles and three days of the best America has to offer - come for the rolling farmland, a stop in Denver, stunning Rockies, Glenwood Springs, Sierra Nevadas, and through wine country towards the California coast. I hope you enjoy watching this video as much as I enjoyed making it!
Next year I'll be taking more of the world's finest and most spectacular trains. VIA Rail's four-day epic "The Canadian", the Hiram Bingham up to Macchu Picchu in Peru, the glorious El Chepe in Mexico, Amtrak's Southwest Chief and even the iconic Blue Train will all come to your screens in 2022.
Merch store: teespring.com/stores/wingin-it-3
Follow me on Twitter: @paul_winginit ¦ / paul_winginit
Follow me on Instagram: paul_winginit ¦ / paul_winginit
My website: www.winginit.me
A few helpful links:
My friend Jeb Brooks' comprehensive accommodations comparison on Amtrak, far more detailed than I could hope to cover in this video: • Amtrak Roomette, Bedro...
The FULL route guide: upgradedpoints.com/wp-content...
Where I get a LOT of my train travel inspo, the incredible Seat61: www.seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm
0:00 Intro
0:50 Chicago Union Station
2:27 Our route
2:52 Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge Chicago
3:55 Boarding the California Zephyr!
4:53 Departing on Amtrak Train 5 for Emeryville!
6:18 Across Illinois
6:56 Roomette tour
10:49 Let's talk FOOD
11:10 SMOKE STOP!
12:47 Amtrak Diner for dinner
13:44 Bed and end of Day 1
15:15 Day 2 - and a shower...
17:30 Sightseer lounge observation car
19:36 Reversing into Denver Union
20:20 Denver Union station
22:08 The Rocky Mountains! Part 1
24:14 Moffat Tunnel
24:59 Toilets in the Superliner Roomette
25:48 Fraser/Winter Park
26:51 Rocky Mountains Part 2
28:54 A look at coach
30:00 Glenwood Springs
31:52 Grand Junction
34:49 Night time, and end of Day 2
35:33 Day 2 - and Reno
37:07 My Zephyr top tips
38:12 Truckee, CA
38:52 Sierra Nevadas
42:15 Home straight to Emeryville!
42:44 A very Amtrak DELAY!
43:34 The end, outro, fare details, and thanks!

Опубликовано:

8 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 1,1 тыс.

@Paul_Lucas 2 года назад

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Enjoy this feature length Christmas Special on the California Zephyr, as I take a roomette across the USA from Chicago to San Francisco (OK, well Emeryville!). I hope you have all had a super restful Christmas. Thanks so much for following me this year and here's to a successful 2022 for us all!

@deesalkelly3069 2 года назад

Merry Christmas and happy boxing day from Townsville Australia

@mikeyoung9810 2 года назад

I enjoyed it thanks. December 26th and it's been a quiet solo christmas so this video is a treat. *tips the driver*.

@RealDaveSkylark 2 года назад

You too! Greetings from Kalamazoo Mi. !!!

@ryanfrisby7389 2 года назад

Same to you Paul, this was amazing!

@JohnDoe-hb2ge 2 года назад

You passed my house in the dark the first evening leaving Illinois!

@avgaskoolaid4572 2 года назад

"Doing the full journey is like reading a whole book, and not just the 2 chapters you like best". What a great analogy!

@mikeyoung9810 2 года назад

I like that. I think it's easy to forget how big the US is and from talking to people around the world I see their perspective tends to be based on their world and size. It's just hard to comprehend the size and how it's easy to judge a country based on just a few loud people and a couple large cities.

@Ved000000 2 года назад

Imagine not having high-speed rail. 😬

@davidtuttle7556 2 года назад

@@Ved000000 Don’t need to. Wide open roads that are mostly straight make driving long distances a real joy.

@scotcoon1186 2 года назад

@@Ved000000 we only have it in the northeast. They limit themselves to 85-88 mph on the BNSF tracks in Nebraska and Colorado, at 90 they start outrunning the signals- arriving at the crossing before they activate.

@neutrino78x 2 года назад

@@Ved000000 "Imagine not having high-speed rail." Too slow. For example this train journey we see in this video, right. From Chicago to Emeryville is 2,118 miles. That's 3,408 kilometers. Wheel on rail HSR typically craps out at 200 MPH (300 km/hr), so you're looking at 11.36 hours on HSR. The average speed of the TGV in France in "revenue service" (normal operation as opposed to special configuration to win a world record) is only 173 mph, or 278 km/hr, so the TGV would take 12.25 hours. Whereas flying is only 4 hours, 40 minutes. Like the others said, you have to realize the vast scale of the USA, Canada and Australia. This is why none of those three countries have nationwide wheel on rail HSR like you see in France. At best, it would compete with driving....but we would still need aircraft for people who need to get across the country in a reasonable period of time. HSR would just take too long and would be a waste of federal funds.

@ericcriteser4001 Год назад

Amtrak is a national treasure. Do please ride the rails.

@chrisshimizu308 2 года назад

i’m from california, and a lot of people on the east and west coasts make fun that the midwest is boring - but i adore the midwest. the flatness, the farms, the way industrialization has shaped these small towns. the midwest is one of the truest pictures of what americana is. i also think it’s beautiful, seeing the sunset over miles and miles of farmland.

@reginaldgarner4321 Год назад

Chris, the Midwest isn't all flat, just not mountainous.

@ericcriteser4001 Год назад

Ugh.

@Eysenbeiss Год назад

It's not americana, it's the US. America consists of way more than the us alone.

@rsnc23 11 месяцев назад

The Midwest is not flat but the planet is.

@sandpiperr 10 месяцев назад

Ugh. It seems YOU are the one casting judgement here. I have nothing against the mid-west, but being from the mid-west doesn't make someone more American that being from New York or California, or the deep south, or Alaska, or Hawaii. We're all Americans. Our country was founded in the ideal that all men are created equal, and, yeah, we haven't always lived up to that, but all the more reason that you should consider that before you declare that one region is "true Americana" more than others.

@whatever8282828 Год назад

I am pleased how kind and thoughtful you are about the train staff.

@colleenuchiyama4916 2 года назад

As a person who has criss-crossed the US and Canada several times, I can attest to the absolute openness and grandeur of most of North America. This trip is on my bucket list!

@almeggs3247 2 года назад

It’s the empire builder route that’s the best Colleen

@headshunter 2 года назад

Love this video Paul, thank you. As a disabled wheelchair bound man in his 60's this my only means of seeing what travel is like. You Jeb, Noel and Sam keep my sane, thank you.

@christinatweet6580 Год назад

❤️🌄Glad to hear that....😊🌄❤️

@NBZW 5 месяцев назад

Taking the Zephyr in 1954, as a 20 year old Sailor to Chicago has left me with many pleasant memories 😉

@tonil.476 2 года назад

We took the Zephyr 12-24 to 12-26. We got stuck in Truckee/Donner Pass area. Finally got to Emeryville 13 hours late. Then we took the Coast Starlight on 12/27 to LAX. It was late and instead of arriving about 9:30pm, we got to LAX about 3am. The Amtrak employees are worth their weight in gold. Patience like I have never seen. Bless them.

@armyavi8tor 2 года назад

I took my son last year in this trip over the early summer, a beautiful and relaxing trip disconnected from phones and life!

@icepee9252 2 года назад

This sort of thing has for a long time been a bucket list item of mine.

@greenstair Год назад

Thank you very much for these glimpses of a travelling life experience. I take much vicarious pleasure in them. I love a long railway journey - there's a particular feeling that I don't get in a car, plane or boat. You can almost touch people's lives, get a brief glimpse through a window and feel something of their own world. Good health to you.

@philipjamesparsons 2 года назад

As a visiting Brit, in 2012 my Dad and I took the Zephyr from Chicago in 2012 in late Feb. The Rockies by train are some the best scenery I have seen. We then rented a car in CA, and headed back on the Southwest Chief, stopping for a week in NM. Also an amazing journey. These are must do journeys and great value.

@gregbowen617 2 года назад

My family and I went to the USA back in 2011 and one of my priorities was to take this train. Due to flooding and other numerous delays, we went across the Rockies in the darkness. That was meant to be the highlight of the journey. Got to Salt Lake City and all trains westbound were canceled. You have provided a great insight into a train lovers train journey. Thank you. I’m from Australia and I still haven’t been on the Indian Pacific or the Ghan but hopefully one day…

@douglasthompson9482 2 года назад

Fabulous video....I have done this trip many times and other Amtrak trip since 1962. It has not changed. Amtrak is a time portal to enjoy for ever. I wish that I could have worked for them decades ago. I recommend Amtrak to anyone I know as it allows the world to stop and focus on the simpler things in life. Bravo.

@edwardherford4629 2 года назад

Brought back memories, i rode it in Jan of 1967, they must have reworked the route thru the feather river canyon, when i went it was 1 track hugging the escarpment in many places. Thanks for the mems.

@rickchase2268 2 года назад

One of the best Amtrak travelogues I’ve seen. We’ve taken the Southwest Chief 3 times and the Coast Starlight once. Zephyr on our list. Two suggestions 1-shower early to insure plenty of hot water. 2-photography, if using a DSLR, bring a rubber lens cap so you can keep the lens right up to the window there by eliminating glare & reflection from all the windows .

@zarniwoopb6078 2 года назад

I've done the Denver - Emeryville leg of this trip and it's one of the best travel experiences I have had. I just spend two days watching the amazing scenery of West Coast America pass by in all its glory. Well recommended

@bobkd5fjd823 2 года назад

Wife and I took the New Orleans to Chicago and return 2 days later, it was a surprise for her for our Anniversary. We are looking into the California Zephyr as we have w grown grandchildren in San Diego area. Had a chance to transfer with my job to either Grand Junction, CO or Louisiana as I was so tired of the cold and snowy conditions.

@da5ve 2 года назад

My wife and I took this (bedroom for us) as part of our honeymoon back in 2009. Our travel agent kept trying to talk us out of it because it would eat up travel time. That’s precisely why we wanted it. Awesome video, Paul! Thank you for your channel!

@tomulator 6 месяцев назад

We are doing the full route from Chicago to Emeryville in early February. Cannot wait!

@abhig7622 2 года назад

I really these train videos more than the flight ones. This just seems so much more peaceful and relaxing!

@Chuzini 2 года назад

We just did this "bucket list" trip in November, from near Boston to Emeryville, round trip. It was so awesome I just want to do it again. Thanks for your excellent videography and narration. I'll be sharing with my friends who wanted to see our (poor) pictures. It brings back great memories!

@Paul_Lucas 2 года назад

Glad you had a super time!

@Chuzini 2 года назад

@@Paul_Lucas I just signed up for the Southwest Chief and the Zephyr again!

@FromtheWindowSeat 2 года назад

I've done this trip and it's wonderful. Yes, getting outside your comfort zone by meeting fellow passengers over meals is a great part of the experience. I still laugh how they call them "fresh air stops" and then all the smokers light up as soon as they step off. :P

@scotcoon1186 2 года назад

On my last trip east we almost left a kid who was stinking up the toilets smoking weed at Galesburg. I think we would have left him if not for the old lady with a walker trying to get back on. The conductor had a talk with him and some of his buddies later on. The toilet was so bad with the stench of weed I opened the door and nearly puked.

@tomsoden1738 2 года назад

Hello Paul, as a simple Brit living in Korea and unable to travel easily, I want to thank you for taking me on so many wonderful trips this year. Your videos have kept me inspired and informed, not many go to the efforts you do to provide reviews but also the insight you put in. Wishing you all the best for 2022 and hope to see more content.

@Paul_Lucas 2 года назад

Thank you Tom! Same to you too 👍🏻

@jblyon2 2 года назад

Fun fact, by law Amtrak gets priority over the freight traffic. The freight companies know this is not enforced and simply ignore it.

@michaelsharp3615 2 года назад

The California Zephyr follows parts of the original Transcontinental Railroad which got developed in the 1860s

@hcritz6619 2 года назад

Yes I've wanted to take this trip. God willing, if I'm very lucky, next year.

@htime2007 2 года назад

This is one of my bucket list goals. Cross country trip from MD to CA. Gotta do this trip SOON!!

@thetrainhopper8992 2 года назад

Legally speaking Amtrak has priority over the freight trains, but their is a catch. The fine for making a passenger train isn't much more than the access fee the railroads get for hosting Amtrak trains, which is cost plus a bonus for on time performance. Part of the deal the railroads for for giving up their passenger trains was the Amtrak trains got track access at cost and most of the old railways passenger equipment. But, since the fine is so low and there isn't a consequence (pending FRA rules on OTP) most of the railroads don't care about making the trains late. Union Pacific (Zephyr and Starlight), Canadian National (City of New Orleans) and CSX (NYC Florida services) are the worst about passenger trains. Canadian Pacific (Empire Builder east of St. Paul) and BNSF (Builder west of St. Paul and the Southwest Chief) are the better two with OTP.

@ronclark9724 2 года назад

The truth is..... it is much easier to stop a short passenger train than it is to stop a very long freight train. Furthermore the dispatchers work for the freight railroads. They know who puts butter on their bread, and it isn't Amtrak...

@alhollywood6486 2 года назад

I have to say, I took the CZ in October and we were into Chicago Union Station 20 minutes early!

@Wonderduck1 2 года назад

@@alhollywood6486 You must have had a tailwind.

@norms3913 2 года назад

On the i took a amtrack train my train was 2 hours late due to csx had to 3 long coal cars down the main line from Richmond to Washington cause Richmond Virginia is the major hub of trains and csx runs the main lines

@fiddlyphuk6414 2 года назад

One tidbit- The BNSF hosts the CZ from Chicago to Denver. Before Amtrak the CZ was handled by the CB&Q, the Rio Grande and the Western Pacific. I remember riding the CZ in the 70s before welded rail. You could hardly walk down the aisles the ride was so bad.

@waltwood5394 2 года назад

After a long Christmas weekend I want to relax a little on youtube and then there is a new Paul Lucas railroad trip report. That’s just perfect! Thanks Paul!

@jamesofbmore 2 года назад

I am scheduled to take the Zephry from Chicago to Salt Lake City on April 5th starting from Washington DC on Monday to Chicago. This video showed me what to expect in the roomette, and along the way. Thank you

@jen93106 2 года назад

This is the best way to start my day! Thanks, Paul. I was particularly looking forward to this Zephyr video from you and, as usual, you did not disappoint in the amazing amount of information, superb and thorough coverage and your signature expertise from beginning to end! I hope you had a most Merry Christmas and that 2022 bring you countless safe, healthy, joyous journeys!

@Paul_Lucas 2 года назад

Thank you so much Jen! 😃 happy new year!

@PieFights 2 года назад

@@Paul_Lucas Greetings Paul hope you had a great Christmas I'm a big fan of your videos they are really fun to watch from Canada

@andyelliott8027 2 года назад

@@Paul_Lucas It always worries me when you stop for a few minutes that you won't make it back on board in time haha !

@AddisonBook. 2 года назад

@@Paul_Lucas the only problem with Amtrak is that their long distance trains always runs hours late if you're not boarding the train at the beginning I rode the City of New Orleans from Memphis TN to Jackson MS and are rental pick up car was later than the train arriving so to me flying is more faster than a train if you have alot of vacation time away from work.

@Mergatroid 2 года назад

I take Amtrak's Empire Builder semi-regularly between my university in Minnesota and my home in Chicago and I had no idea you could request specific roomettes over the phone. I've never actually been put in the roomette shown on my ticket, they always have a different one ready for me. I'm also very surprised they had you board only 10 minutes before departure. For the Empire Builder, boarding has always been 45 minutes before in my experience.

@adion24 2 года назад

You cam request a specific room but they could have the car facing in either direction so it's still a coin flip which side of the train you'll be on.

@christophercrawford3263 2 года назад

The California zephyr was the first long distance train I ever took. Went from Davis, CA to Denver, CO. Beautiful 😍. And you passed my hometown and where I currently live!

@sunking2001 2 года назад

I did the same trip...only in reverse. I had a roomette and I could not imagine NOT having my own little cabin. It was worth every single penny.

@FantasyTeamAdvisors 2 года назад

I was sad you didn't show the Stop in Ottumwa, IA. My hometown!

@martinharriman616 2 года назад

I love this trip in winter. The convenience store in Grand Junction used to sell a great guidebook for the Zephyr's route. If it's still available, it adds a lot to the trip, and I'd recommend it to anyone taking the Zephyr. Thanks for this wonderful and evocative special on my favorite train trip.

@saundg 2 года назад

Thanks for this, it reminded me of a great trip we took back with the kids in 2008. Dubai to NYC with Emirates, Lake Shore Ltd to Chicago, Zephyr to Emeryville, Coastal Starlight to LA, LA to NYC on AA, followed by Emirates back to Dubai on the 380, which had only entered service that week. It sounds bizarre but the highlight of the trip was getting off a battered old AA 767 on to the brand spanking new Emirates 380

@ModernClassic 2 года назад

I've taken this trip a bunch of times over the years, going back to the pre-Superliner days, and I agree it is probably Amtrak's best route. (Though the two other Chicago-west coast long haul routes are pretty good too.) The last time I took it was with my wife in a roomette and we were fine in terms of the amount of space. I think if you're with someone you don't mind touching every once in a while, it's totally ok. Still plenty of legroom and room to sleep, and obviously on Amtrak you can walk around the train and stretch out. I also agree that there is something fundamentally different about long-haul trains in the US vs. the rest of the world. I haven't yet taken European long-hauls but I have taken night trains in Asia and while that was fun too, it's almost a rushed experience compared to a 2-day Amtrak train. On Amtrak there is a *lot* of time to just sit and contemplate, or do whatever you want. On long-hauls in smaller countries, I feel like you're always *doing* something, or sleeping, and there's no time to really just relax and unwind. I actually prefer Amtrak.

@ronclark9724 2 года назад

I agree. Riding a long distance train across America and Canada is a great way to get plenty of Rest and Relaxation on a vacation... If you are in such a hurry, FLY! As for the one outlet, bring a power strip!

@arkamukhopadhyay9111 2 года назад

Have you tried India?

@JR-playlists 2 года назад

You decide to show a jail 33:50 over an original 6:14 CB&Q roundhouse?

@hd-xc2lz 2 года назад

Food is far better on Euro long haul trains. Zephyr fare resembled Stouffers frozen dinners.

@alanmcnamara9155 2 года назад

Your videos are always interesting, but your train videos are REALLY fascinating. Thanks, and I hope 2022 is a good year for you.

@IntriguedLioness 2 года назад

Perhaps because train travel is fascinating and air travel is simply endured!

@anacoman3265 2 года назад

Great video, Paul. My wife and I have taken the Empire Builder on a few round trips between Seattle (near where we live in Washington State) and Chicago, a two-night trip (2,205 miles) like that of the California Zephyr. In case you and any of your followers are not aware, Sleeper Class passengers passing through Union Station in Chicago have access to a spacious, beautifully appointed and equipped private shower located within the Sleeper Class Lounge. I don't remember how I learned about it, but on our last trip through Chicago, awaiting a connection to Amtrak's Capitol Limited to Washington DC, I spoke to a Lounge attendant, got put on a list, and in only a few minutes was called to say that the shower was available. Though I'm grateful for the understandably cramped shower on the train, the Sleeper Class Lounge shower in Union Station can provide a wonderfully refreshing ending to a long trip!

@michaelv.9622 2 года назад

I’ve taken this exact trip twice. We were 9 hours late the first time, 14 hours late the second. But in my roomette it was bearable. The scenery was better than any of Amtrak’s other cross country routes. Thanks for your video!

@ronclark9724 2 года назад

If you are in such a hurry, FLY! I always book my Amtrak journeys to get to my destination a day before I need to be there... Actually I do that when I fly too...

@alhollywood6486 2 года назад

I guess I got lucky, we were 20 minutes early to Chicago coming from Emeryville back in October!

@kells9660 2 года назад

Which side would be better to book, the right or left?

@janisbond2797 2 года назад

I'm so glad that I found you again. I got "lost" from RU-vid and Microsoft for several days. I don't know what happened, but I'm back with NO help from my grandchildren. I enjoy your videos.

@rodgerbeattie578 Год назад

Your videos, Paul , are so fascinating that I only ,on average, need 2/3 cups of strong coffee to see them through to the end. Thanks, on behalf of the; 'I thought I'd never be able to get to sleep again in my life society of insomniacs. x

@charleshamilton9274 2 года назад

Well, this was a treat. I live in downtown Denver in a condo which overlooks Union Station. (Yes, it’s a bit noisy but very convenient for most daily necessities.) I have never taken the Zephyr so was fascinated by your experience and observations so I thank you sincerely for publishing!

@JamesAreySeattle 2 года назад

Upstairs at that Union Station looks like "The Untouchables". Downstairs looks like a Greyhound depot!

@shimonsieskel4482 2 года назад

The baby carriage scene was shot here.

@ronclark9724 2 года назад

@@shimonsieskel4482 And people with their rolling suitcases hit every step hard and loud today too... I wonder where the film got the sound...

@shimonsieskel4482 2 года назад

They probably dubbed in later

@tendrams 2 года назад

When I was growing up, and used to visit my grandmother in the summers, the Zephyr would wake us up every morning at about 5 or 6am as her house was about three doors down from the tracks. In fact, before the stop was in Helper Utah, it was six or seven miles away in Price, Utah where my grandfather and his brothers had a hotel right by the tracks. I have fond childhood memories of this train.

@johnkeyes5719 2 года назад

Absolutely amazing video, Paul. Your narration is very well done........Nice !!!!!

@annalorree 2 года назад

I rode it going east in October 2021, I also had a Roomette. It was a gorgeous trip that I would recommend to everyone! Your video is making me so very nostalgic, and excited for another trip!

@billj_62 2 года назад

Paul, what a wonderful California Zephyr story you tell. I took this trip last March and every point you made about the journey matches my takeaway as well.

@exiletsj2570 2 года назад

Boxing day 45 minute video! cheers, Paul.

@irmacayabyab8093 2 года назад

It is my dream to ride the California zephyr with my husband now that I am retired and enjoy the sights.

@williamthawley9251 2 года назад

back in ;2002, I took this train from chicago to sacramento. the old lounge was tired then, and they had no refreshments available. I had a roomette. and the scenery in january was beautiful.

@Birdii1980 2 года назад

Now how the world should i pitch this trip to my wife. Lets fly to the US and take a 3 day trip over to the other side. Great video Paul. Loved it! 😁

@alhollywood6486 2 года назад

Save a day and go to and/or from Denver to Emeryville. That extra time from Denver to Chicago is boring. I wouldn't do that part again unless I had to be in Chicago.

@nicholasking8414 2 года назад

Agree with Al Hollywood - fly to Denver - train to Emeryville!

@philipjamesparsons 2 года назад

Getting on at Denver is good, but I would get off at Sacramento, which has interesting things to see. Stay there for a day or two, rent a car and drive around the Sierra's. It's an amazing, unique journey. It shouldn't take much selling.

@michaelpeacock6360 2 года назад

thanks Paul, travel is so restrictive at present and until the world gets back to normal I rely on your wonderful videos to remind me what I am missing.. thanks again

@nicholasking8414 2 года назад

5yrs ago we took the Zephyr as a leg on a round-the-world trip, and what we had hoped would be very special turned out to be a real disappointment. The "Bedroom" I had booked on a friend's recommendation turned out to be over the bogie or "the truck" as Amtrak call it, and speeding over badly aligned switches there were moments when I thought my wife would be thrown out of the bunk. Decent sleep was going to be impossible waiting for the next massive jolt!! I had already given up on the idea and decamped with bedding to a lounge car, where I found a comfortable lying position for the two nights. Everything else was brilliant and as you mention, conversation in the Restaurant Car was great fun. Staff were very attentive and convivial. Would we go again? We certainly would, but we'd take a tip from an American couple who advised: "Next time, fly to Denver and then get the train to San Francisco!. That way you'll be fresh and able to enjoy the Rockies!"

@sterlingodeaghaidh5086 2 года назад

I wish amtrak had the funding it did to connect more of the midwest and great plains. We could really use it out here.

@billgracey6369 2 года назад

Happy New Year, Paul! One thing I might add, you can bring all the food and bevs (non-alcoholic) on Amtrak that you can carry! No TSA to deal with! I have taken the Wolverine from Detroit to Chicago several times, and always bring snacks and drinks with me!

@BDCF100 2 года назад

Rode that beauty westward in 1958

@amirardalan1903 2 года назад

I took this train with my mother as a leg on a trip from Washington DC to Irvine, CA (Where I was living at the time). Hands down one of the best trips I've ever taken.

@trav4oilers 2 года назад

Love the attention to detail in this video Paul. No BS, or extra stuff. Just a whole lotta train. Cheers

@stephenkeever6029 Год назад

This is really an excellently edited and paced video that covers a lot of information and scenery. I enjoyed this very much and I am inspired to try this trip myself.

@geosin1945 2 года назад

Have done this trip three times, once in November and twice in March. Have to agree that it is spectacular.

@bobhogan9063 Год назад

As a Prius owner , l hadn’t realize it was large enough to stop trains. Thank you for presenting an iconic journey. Being frugal my tendency would be to purchase day coach passes with overnight layover hotels.

@mlsyogi4821 2 года назад

Paul, this is one of your best videos (and that’s saying a lot because I think all your videos are terrific). Thank you for making my day brighter, and I will definitely take this train ride on your suggestion!!!

@WestSacJack 2 года назад

Wonderful video! You’ve really put work into the tidbits and history along your travels, and it helps your viewers come along on the journey. Safe travels and belated welcome to Northern California!

@flyhoyun 2 года назад

My favorite creater on RU-vid. Thanks Paul

@Paul_Lucas 2 года назад

Thank you so much!

@KennethBarr1957 2 года назад

This is a bucket list trip. Buy a 30 day pass for Amtrak allowing for 3 stopovers. Travel west on the Lake Shore Limited & California Zephyr to San Francisco. Then the Coast Starlight to Seattle. Then the Empire Builder to Chicago. Return on the Capital Limited to DC. Pay for the Acela Express (1st Class) to NYC. Pay for the upgrade to a full bedroom.

@chrissygerwitz520 2 года назад

You cannot upgrade to a sleeper car if you buy a rail pass. Thus, you will be sleeping in your seat in coach. Plan to make many stops along the way if you value your sanity.

@MusicalMemeology 2 года назад

Wow I just calculated that the government subsidises each trip Amtrak makes by about $2700! That’s insane. Also having one power point is ridiculous. That should be a priority to upgrade for a long trip. Enjoyed the video thanks.

@jaymyers9396 Год назад

All transportation everywhere in every country is subsidized in some way by government. How much would an airline ticket in the US cost if the airlines (who don't pay a penny for air traffic control) had to foot the bill for air traffic control? Not to mention if the airlines had to own and operate all the airports the burden of which local governments shoulder? (The airlines paying gate rentals is nothing compared to the costs of financing, owning, and operating an airport.) The Army Corps of Engineers maintains our inland waterways, and the Coast Guard manages them. "User fees" (i.e., gasoline taxes and vehicle-registration fees) only cover about 45% of the cost of just maintaining our highway system--let alone for building the highways in the first place. (The remainder of the annual federal highway system's budget is covered every year by general taxpayer dollars.) All of these forms of public subsidization make sense because a modern country needs transportation. Why is Amtrak always singled out for criticism on this point?

@linchengyan3757 2 года назад

Love and respect from a fan in China! It is a hash period of time at this moment for not being able to travel abroad because of the COVID pandemic, but your videoes, especially how you combine those spectacular views with your touching narration do make my days when under quarantine! Hopes that someday I can step on these Amtrack trains as well!

@proberts8 2 года назад

We did this trip in 2007 but had to be diverted via the northern route because of engineering works, Still a great way to see America.

@scottb5662 2 года назад

Good job! I just took the California Zephyr from Denver to Reno. I was in 531-5, the "family room" at the back of the car. I was with my cousin to go see my brother in Reno. We flew back to Denver but the Zephyr is something that people must experience, we cannot explain the value of the train, you must see it for yourself!

@kulia5493 2 года назад

Thanks Paul! We've done the Coast Starlight (LA to Seattle) about 4 times to visit family up there. There are 3 of us (Husband and daughter and I) and having 2 roomettes across from each other is great. (Calling to reserve it this way of course!) You get access to both sides of the train and a bit of extra space. I have yet to take an eastbound train, but I look forward to the Zephyr or the Empire Builder or even the southern routes! I can't wait to plan another trip! Happy New Year all!

@danielegerussi7453 2 года назад

I literally just saw simply rail's review of this train and i prayed you would do it one day too (i'm not very active on instagram so i wasn't up to date with your journeys) and you did! How awesome! Love your reviews paul, keep it up!

@utahrailfan1946 2 года назад

I got a video of his train coming into Provo, Utah, last July.

@graemecatty9921 2 года назад

Wow, the meal portions are huge. One serving would last me all day.

@kriegerkaiser 2 года назад

I dig the video, man. The music is giving me serious “Boogie Nights” vibes.

@TravelWithDan 2 года назад

Damn you Paul!!!! This was a fantastic video….my bank account is going to take a hit next year because I’m going to have to do this trip now!!!

@katpyss 2 года назад

Happy holiday to you and your family, Paul. This was a fantastic video, I really appreciate how in depth you get with your review. While it probably won’t happen until I retire and my kids are grown up, I do plan on making this journey. Until then, your videos will help me get my fix.

@robertcarroll4733 2 года назад

Great job.I took this train in the 50's as the Overland Express I think.Best was your telling us the cost.....Most reviewers fail to mention that....Keep up the good work....b

@adventurelifewithbob2960 2 года назад

This looks like a lot of fun. I have added it to my bucket list.

@jen93106 2 года назад

19:45 -20:20 This footage is such a prime example of why you are able to make these reviews an art while providing some hybrid like: info-tainment, I’d call it. Who thinks to capture the terminus (just learned that here!) or that it would be possible while limited to a camera? But here, the camera goes from limitation to asset.

@robertramirez9314 2 года назад

Excellent work on this, Paul! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you for mentioning the tip info, as well. I have seen a few riders who think that “meals included” is a excuse to not tip. Shameful. And I also chuckled along when the announcement came on about the large Prius! 🤣 I have always loved the sense of humor the Amtrak staff seem to share - especially from the cafe car attendants. I did the Zephyr in the other direction a few years back but starting out in Sacramento. I stayed on the riverfront aboard the Delta Queen in the old town section where the California State Railroad Museum is located. Next time ‘round you may wish to check it out - it is an amazing place to visit!

@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401 2 года назад

My entire family grew up with trains, and we children were tagged train travelers( without adults) from the age of 7. We thought we owned it, because everyone took care of us so carefully. The California Zephyr is such a great train journey, and I am preparing for my regular "across America " trip, stopping in Denver and the Highlands Ranch community, then continuing on until Seattle and a step over into British territory. Love it 😀!

@harkmi3 2 года назад

What British territory?

@chowardlaw8417 2 года назад

Interesting video of a great trip. Wife and i took the Cal Zephyr Denver to Sacramento a few years ago - the station had renovation planned and the track arrangements didn't require a backing movement - that was all in the future. So - your video through the mountains was a trip down memory lane, and a nice one. Oh - another Old West character who died in (and is buried at) Glenwood Springs was John "Doc" Holliday, participant in the famous OK Corral gunfight, with the Earp brothers.

@Roger_Stenning 2 года назад

Merry Christmas! Thanks for such a fun video - especially the last part - "must be a humongous car", indeed rofl :D This is a trip that's on my bucket list, so thank again for the updated vid :) All the best for 2022 :D

@jimnorton8861 2 года назад

Thank you for you time and effort putting this together Paul. I miss my cross county Amtrak adventures. May have to do it again someday. I would only travel in a roomette and I quite enjoyed to food on board. But then again, my last trip was over 10 years ago.

@ronclark9724 2 года назад

While the food in the diner isn't Gordon Ramsay five star cuisine, it is good diner food... Flat iron steak or a chicken breast ain't gruel...

@scotcoon1186 2 года назад

@@ronclark9724 I liked the fish I got on my last trip in 17. Got sat with an older couple and a girl from Australia. It was welcome after my aunt's funeral in November, after grandma's that June.

@alyuen5563 2 года назад

Thanks a million for posting this wonderful video! It brought back such sweet memories!!! I did this trip in a roomette from Emeryville to Denver in January 2019. I had such an amazing time. As you said the scenery was stunningly beautiful. The food was plentiful and generally good. Above all else, the leisurely pace, and the lack of wifi, enabled me to meet up with all sorts of awesome people whom I would otherwise never meet. One of whom even stayed in touch and became one of my best mates in America! All thanks to California Zephyr!

@JW-mx3qg 2 года назад

Cannot emphasize enough how good your video reviews are! From the informative to the calming yet humorous voice, why haven’t you your own travel program yet?! Superb!

@mobility63 2 года назад

Enjoyed this very much . Such a beautiful country. Never taken a train but I have driven across the country.

@ronclark9724 2 года назад

Please do... You see much more from a train when you aren't driving... When you drive you see a lot of pavement...

@6yjjk 2 года назад

Amazing that you've never had an issue with the shower in over a dozen Amtrak trips, while I've yet to see a review of the "luxury" Caledonian Sleeper where the shower worked...

@danmccarthy4700 2 года назад

That shot at 34:42, of the moon shining on the water... just so mesmerizing.

@timosha21 2 года назад

Choo choo! I'm a train and I approve this video! 🚂

@laurenhw1988 2 года назад

Been looking forward to this one. I don't know why, but your train ones are the only train trip reports I like. Something about how you present them.

@acbetka 2 года назад

Paul! I was also on the CZ for this trip, and was so excited to share the train with you. I said hey in the observation car and told you I’ve been waiting to see this video since I discovered your channel!

@Paul_Lucas 2 года назад

Cheers Andrew! Thanks for saying hello! 😃

@acbetka 2 года назад

@@Paul_Lucas Thanks for the great trip report. This just adds to the hundreds of photos and videos I took to document it!

@jeffreysmith5018 2 года назад

What a treat to watch - I really enjoyed this! I took this trip about 40 years ago and now am looking forward to taking it again. Thanks Paul!

@ChrisGullick 2 года назад

I did the Zephyr Em>Chicago in 2008 and travelled in coach and absolutely loved it. With the exception of a few hours towards the end, I didnt have anyone sat next to me, so loads of room. I had an Amtrak pass, which cost me something like $400 and got me travelling from Emeryville to New York, via Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans and Washington

@danaberry6207 2 года назад

Fantastic video Paul. You should try the Canadian version, the Rocky Mountineer. Happy Holidays 🎉🎊🍾🥂

@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401 2 года назад

I have...it's fabulous too!

@richardnei 2 года назад

This feature length video was absolutely fantastic to watch! It was amazing to see the contrast from the city to the rural US country side. Certainly not a luxury trip but an adventure cross several states. ✈️

@joebond5012 Год назад

Took the Zephyr earlier this month from Chicago to Emeryville. The boarding process was chaotic and not at all pleasant. That the Zephyr is not a luxury train is certainly true, the carriages are very tired and our sleeper car was unpleasantly cold, as there was a problem with the air-conditioning. The forced sharing of space in the dining car is okay, but would prefer to have the choice of sharing with strangers or not, given there were plenty of empty tables. James, our dining car attendant was fantastic, as was the lady running the cafeteria. This trip fulfilled a dream, as the scenery was the main attraction, and that did not disappoint.