The History of Amtrak's Cascades Service 

I like how the single-axle sets don't make a clickity-clack over rail joints, they just go *clack*

i love how one color on the color palette is NUGGET

For those interested, there’s a really cool multiple episode podcast out by Wisconsin Public Radio that talks about why the Wisconsin order fell through. It’s called Derailed, and it goes into detail on the planned high speed rail between Chicago and Madison that the coaches were to be part of

F40PH NPCU's and F59PHI's. One of my most classic pair. Edit: Thanks for the likes.

Love the Cascades service!! The unique livery really makes it stand out. I know nowadays some of the Talgo 8 sets are getting a little dated but I'm really excited to see the new Siemens venture cars and full Cascades-specific Airo sets in the coming years

I feel like Amtrak Cascades should extend their services to Bend, OR via the Columbia Gorge.

I have rode on one of these Amtrak Cascade trains from the USA and Canada. And I remember seeing another Cascade train in 2019.

I remember back in the days Metra used Burlington northern units. Man it seemed so different back then...

I love seeing Amtrak cascades all time.There a cool railroad

The Cascades service looks and sounds wonderful. I’ll have to travel on it sometime. Love your work, Amtrak.

I’ve taken this train a few times from Vancouver, BC to Seattle, WA (& vice versa) & have thoroughly enjoyed it. The temporary Amfleet cars allow elevated views as you get to observe from the second floor. This is especially nice when enjoying a coffee & snack in the observation car alongside the ocean. It would be nice if the train travelled a bit faster between White Rock & Vancouver though. From the bridge over the Fraser to downtown Vancouver is an absolute crawl.

I’ve taken Cascades Portland to Seattle. It was a cool relatively short trip.

1. Thank you for talking about one of my favorite services. 2. THANK YOU FOR PRONOUNCING 'OREGON' RIGHT. 3. I wish Amtrak Cascades had dome cars. Fun fact btw: The first time I saw one a Cascades train, I was all like 'wtf why is that not a superliner like in MSTS?'

I still want a Vancouver, BC-San Diego train.

I rode the Cascades in 2016 between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. It’s an unique route operated by unique service, much more convenient and comfortable than the Boltbus. Although a bit more expensive and an hour slower I would take the Cascades at any opportunity over riding the bus. It hardly felt like a travel, much rather 4 hours of lounging around, enjoying the view and meeting new interesting people!

Wow this will be great it’s a beautiful train

My wife and I have ridden Amtrak Cascades for many years. It is wild that the Wisconson Talgo sets are now running service in Lagos Nigeria. What a wild twist.

...well so much for the revival of the Hiawatha line since Gov. Walker (who led the drive to cancel the project in 2011) was booted from office. The plans were for 120 - 125 mph service (with an average speed of around 90 mph) along the entire Stretch from Chicago to Minneapolis, which even with stops would have cut travel time to less than half of what it currently is and tripled frequency between the two endpoints. . . So for now it's still just one train the Empire Builder which averages around 45 - 47 mph along the route taking nearly 10 hours (on a good day) to cover the distance. Had the Hiawatha project not been killed a decade ago (all capital costs were covered by federal grants, not a dime of state money would have been involved), the entire line would likely have been completed by now and in operation. It would have been the second high speed corridor on Amtrak's system (next to the Northeast between Boston and DC). Indeed, it was politics. For perspective, the distance between Chicago and Minneapolis is slightly less than Paris to Marseilles where the TGV makes the run in about 3 hrs 15 - 20 min, (including stops) about the same amount time it takes a Cascades train to travel between Portland and Seattle which (with the new bypass) is 186 miles.

If only Amtrak Cascades went up to Bellingham at a reasonable hour - I would have ridden it all the time before COVID if it had run in the middle of the day instead of either super early or super late.

4:55-5:10 5:46-5:58 footage from "Awesome Trains"

Since the Amtrak Cascade Service is considered as a higher speed rail route, why or why not can the entire line be completely electrified?

I still remember the really bad derailment they had on the new bridge near Tacoma and Washington. That was so bad to see

Terrific video!!!! Thanks for uploading it. I've ridden the Cascade service Talgo trains once and it was a lovely trip.

First train I ever rode. Amtrak Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver Canada. The non-power control unit thing explains why I STILL saw the rugged old F40PHs on Cascades trains until last year. I thought they were there as backup power

Like • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

Worth noting that the Cascades service has been completely inoperative north of Seattle since the pandemic got bad in March. I miss seeing them go by! Four times a day: twice in the morning (one in each direction) and twice in the evening.

I love your content. I love the Cascades line and you did a terrific job of documenting its history.

Used to go on this route as a kid during the summer. Great memories. Thanks for posting!

You always produce some of the highest quality rail videos on this site. Fantastic work Jared, very informative!

I love the clips of Vancouver and Ridgefield. I go to thoes spots alot.

Glad to have helped! Keep up the great work!

Another Great video Jared!

Fantastic! I rode the Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver. Great trip!

Great video as always. Keep the series going!

There are a few pictures on the web with talgos in surfliner paint. I have no idea why though.

the cascade trains look awesome. thanks for the history lesson on Amtrak

Wow! Great video! Very informative! Thanks!

Your choice of music is fantastic, subscribed.

Amazing video! And quite interesting, when i've seen videos of the newer train sets with the non-powered train control cab (which looks quite odd) i've always wondered the story behind it!

I love your videos so much i could watch them all day

Love the Cascades. Just wish they would have more service to the east side of Washingtion, actually across the Cascades! The 1 train a day from Spokane to Seattle and Portland is not enough.

Awesome! Thanks for using some of my videos, it means a lot.

Great video mate. Keep em’ up.

I Hope the Cascades And the *Maple Leaf Makes a Comeback If there is a Travel Bubble (Which I fear would never establish) *New Rolling stock needed (Siemens Charger Locomotive and Venture coaches all in Amtrak's Phase 1 Livery)

Ok who think the changer is ugly. Am ok with them on short lines. But long distance train that crossing the line.

this is the exact video i was looking for a few months ago

Fascinating video!

Great video man!

Glad i was able to help again

Very nice video! Greetings 🚂👍👋

Awesome love it I love the f40 and f59

Nice video!

Got to take a ride on those

Awesome story also “Facts”💯

Didn't know their were so many train and Sonic fans.

I like those Talgo 6 fins

Incredible Episode of Amtrak cascade

Do the history of the Capitol Limited next please!

When I rode the Cascades between Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR, I was struck by how many curves are on that route. There are some long tangets between Seattle and Tacoma, and north of Everett, but otherwise, the track seems to wind back and forth. Talgo equipment shows it's worth on this line.

I Love Amtrak Passenger Trains

The retirement of the Amtrak series 6 Talgos is a really sad one to me. The one and only Las Vegas set was totaled in the derailment of 501, and now all of them are retired because the NTSB said that they "didn't adequately protect the passengers." I'm not trying to discredit the peoole who died and/or were injured in the accident, but I's say they held together quite decently, compared to cars like the Amfleets, which have gotten crushed and mangled like pop cans in accidents like Frankford Junction, where 8 people died in that accident. Then again, I'm no NTSB or FRA employee, so I could be missing a whole lot here, but I am still infuriated that nothing but 1 bistro car will be preserved, and everything else will be presumably scrapped. This was probably one of the first successful Talgo trains in the U.S., and Amtrak decides to completely let it go extinct? I get preserving an entire set would be too cumbersome for a museum, due to their length, but at least a small set with a baggage car, a couple of coaches, and a generator car would've been nice, not just one single bistro. Let's at least hope that Amtrak won't do the same thing for their other historically significant equipment, such as the Acelas.

The stations on this line are among the most beautiful in all of North America

Oh my god I have been riding this train for years and a video finally came out about it

3:10 Can we talk about Amtrak service from Seattle to Ellensburg and Yakima? That would be amazing!

Loved Ice Cap Zone!

Amtrak Cascade is very unique.

You should do an episode on ncpu's and cab cars. Edit. When I meen cab cars I mean ex metroliner amfleets

Glad to contribute 👍

I would love see a video on the Pioneer service.

A little tidbit for the 2017 derailment, I-5 was shutdown in the right lane for four days as NTSB investigated.

We take the Cascade once or twice a year from Seattle to Portland. Beats driving even if it takes a little longer.

God, love these commentary videos.

Awesome video love the history

I'm still salty about the F59PHI's being replaced.

Noice video and Wonderful train

As a person who lives in Oregon, this is accurate. Thank you.

Just hear that WSDOT SC-44 Charger Amtrak Engine #1408 Was Purchased by WSDOT as Replacement for the lost #1402 in August 5 ,2020.

that bypass is perfect for a tourist line.

Cool!

I saw the Red and White Talgo back in October 2019 at the Beech Grove Shops.

Epic

Good video

Cascades. Amtrak through the Mountains.

Nice

Interesting history! You left out that a second Seattle-Vancouver, BC train was added just before the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Bonus Like for use of Yuru Camp soundtrack!

Have seen this going out of Portland once - one Siemens, and one G.E. Hope to take it up to Seattle in a year or so.

I love this, THIS IS MY CASCADES

Amtrak is probably going to get venture car sets from Siemens. Most of their other lines already have them/have orders for them

9:05 I've always wondered what those weird, semi-truck cab looking trains were when they passed by on my route to high school, guess now I know!

I love it

Yay! new vid.

Another great episode. I assume you'll be doing a locomotive next then?

I heard that Railroad Tycoon 3 music and instantly turned up the volume.

Wait thoae coaches SOO resemble Aerotrain coaches! How isn't the ride bad? *realises its European* Oh wait okay.

And that train from Seattle to Vancouver BC goes right past a nude beach just south of Bellingham WA. Always wondered what the staff on the train tell the passengers, do they warn them? The tracks are literally 10 feet from the beach which is frequented by many locals during the summer months, during a time the train does pass by during daylight.

It's the only Amtrak service to use Spanish Talgo trainsets.

that surfliner talgo looks so cool I’m sad that they didn’t use some talgos for the surfliner

Amtrak in Oregon sure is nice

Is there any video from inside the Talgo train sets? Series 6 or series 8? I once rode on a exhibition train they had on the surfline between Oceanside and San Diego but I was very young and don't remember anything. LOL