Riding AMTRAK's "California Zephyr"
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- čas přidán 10. 02. 2016
- This is a condensed video showing the progress of AMTRAK's "California Zephyr" train from Chicago to Emeryville, near San Franciso, in late December, 2015. I edited down about four hours of video I took to and hour and a half, but pretty much everything of interest is represented in the version presented here. I think people interested in taking this great trip will get a good feeling of what they will see during the journey.
I have other videos about what it is like to ride an AMTRAK Superliner train, especially what to expect in a Roomette in a sleeper car on such a train. Accordingly I have NOT included that kind of information in this video.....it is just about the California Zephyr route and scenery.
In this video, you will see the departure from Chicago's Union Station, passing across northern Illinois, then continuing the next morning near Denver, Colorado, then the scenic passage over the Rocky Mountains, then continuing the next morning near Reno, Nevada, with the crossing of the Sierra Nevada mountains and finally the flat transit to the Bay Area and the arrival in Emeryville. - Jak na to + styl
I hope the film maker checks in from time to time to know how wonderfully this captures the experience on the California Zephyr today as well as when he did this. I took the Zephyr from Glenwood Springs to Denver in 2014 and was mesmerized by the beauty of the Rockies, and how extraordinary the engineering was to construct this marvel. Thank you for giving me a re-connection with this experience.
The photography is excellent. The pics of the mountains look like highly detailed black and white photos wich very much remind me of Ansel Adams.
We've traveled on the Zephyr many times between Galesburg, Il., and Sacramento. We always purchase a sleeper for privacy and comfort. I would say that a trip in October is one of the most enjoyable because of the fall colors, especially in the mountains. If you're in a hurry, go ahead and fight the crowds in the airports and stress. If you would like to enjoy beautiful scenery, meet new people and relax, the train is a great experience.
I caught the California Zephyr from Emeryville, CA to Chicago, IL in May 2018. I broke the journey twice, at Grand Junction, CO. (to drive down to Durango) and also at Denver, CO (to drive to both Cheyenne, WY and Colorado Springs, CO.). It was absolutely fantastic. Why you’d fly and miss all that amazing scenery is beyond me, unless of course you’re in a hurry. I had a Roomette to myself each leg which was very snug and comfortable. The train crew were great, friendly and helpful, especially one sleeping car attendant, Johnny, a Chicagoan, who had a great sense of humour. I travelled all the way from Australia to make this trip. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone not in a hurry and who truly wants to see and experience America.
Youtuuba, Thank YOU!, for this & many of your other videos. they inspired me to take the trip & I took the Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville and back on 4th of July week, 2018. The crew, especially both car attendants were very kind. On the way out we were delayed by serious thunderstorms in western IA & Omaha area, broken AC in the sleeper behind me which delayed train badly by the time we got to Denver,which they tried to repair. (4 Hrs). Scenery was spectacular-stunning. I filmed a lot of it with a Panasonic WXF991, that I bought for the trip. Got to Emeryville about 5 hours late, but I couldn't have cared less. Stayed in the Hyatt Hotel across from the station, Very nice hotel. The return trip was great until we lost an engine around Winamucca, NV, (delays started) and limped into Salt Lake City where they hooked up a UP road engine to get us across mountains to Denver. Delays at SL city were several hours, but got to see Utah in the daylight. After arriving in Denver about 10 hours late, we left with only one engine and it quit east of Ft. Morgan, CO. After a patch job to engine, we backed up 15 miles or so to Ft. Morgan and sat there from about 10AM until a replacement engine from Denver arrived and a new crew from Nebraska was brought in. We left Ft. Morgan about 6PM finally and got into Union Station/Chicago approximately 25 hours late. It screwed a lot of people from their connections, etc. What a trip! I got my money's worth! Even got a $400 voucher from Amtrak for the return trip. Amtrak is severely underfunded and it's piss-poor way to run a railroad, with such dedicated personnel as the crews I had both ways. I'd do a trip this summer, but the C-virus is holding me back. This is the short version of the trip! Thanks for your reports on your trips, I love all of them and treasure my trip and the video I did take.
Wow! Seems like everything that could go wrong did go wrong makes me think how lucky I was for both of my CZ trips being uneventful. The only delay getting into Emeryville on one trip was when a UP freight train broke down on the track and we had to wait for it to be removed. I also got a voucher from Amtrak to use for a future trip.
The Rockies in this video are by far the most beautiful of all the views of the Rockies on Amtrak. The California Zephyr is a must trip.
Thanks to you I am getting to see places I would not be able to get to on my own. Thank you.
All of your train videos are just the best.
Agreed, 100% agreed 👍🏻
I plan to do the Zephyr in 2019 and you immedietly answered my first question: Be on the right side for the best view.
Just came across this after watching a few Amtrak and CZ videos. This is really good and I could listen to that dude talk about anything.
Thank you so much for everything you do. God bless you.
I really enjoyed your video with some amazing scenery. I have taken the Canadian from Toronto, Ontario to Vancouver, British Columbia twice, and you are correct, the scenery in the mountains is spectacular. Thanks for sharing. From London, Ontario, Canada.
Great video to document this very interesting route.
I enjoyed watching this trip. So beautiful.
Glad I watched. I leave from Ohio in 24 hours headed to Sacramento. I now know that once I get to Chicago to try and get a seat on the right side of the train so as to see the mountains. Thank you!
Nia Kennedy, AMTRAK seats are all reserved ahead of time. You usually cannot just 'try to get a particular seat' when you get to the station. You can, however, ask the conductor to reseat you.
Really enjoyed your video! Really got a feel for the whole trip, the ride through the Rockies looked stunning. Thanks for the upload!
Wow! What a spectacular virtual trip! Thank you. Now in our 41st year in this great county that has become our home, we and our children (of whom one was born the US) thank the good Lord for His great gift. A happy New Year. Again, thank you!
my favorite long-haul trip. the California Zephyr. love Truckee in the winter time.
I just love your train videos... keep them coming!!!😀
That is a cool radio that allows you to hear what is really going on.
great views from the train, thanks for sharing. look forward to the next one!
Thanks for another great train ride with you. Excellent, it was so good I had to turn the heating up!
Very enjoyable to watch and thank you for posting.
I used to drive through Galva (and Galesburg) taking my daughter to & from Monmouth College (Monmouth, IL). Watched the beginning of this (departure from snowy Chicago) while a snowstorm is going on this evening. Even a winter train journey makes great escapist viewing on a cold, snowy winter day!
Wonderful video....very captivating and informative trip through the Rockies. I would have never got to see this if not for you....thank you so much.
Thank you for recording that great westward Zephyr. It was thrilling watching the train ascend and snake around the snow covered Rockies. I appreciated your track conditions and other updates through out the trip as well.
Another superb video,spectacular scenery plus love that long line of UP loco's
Nice video and good photography. Now I want to make the trip...
I just watched this video again. I must admit it is the best of the lot. There are many California Zephyr videos out there in cyberspace, but this one is the most interesting and informative.
very nice video - Thank you for taking me on your trip. Really enjoyed that. I truly desire to take at least a two night trip in a roomette soon. Love train travel
Your vlogs are awesome and so informative. I actually felt as if I were sitting with you. Thank you for your time and for encouraging me to take the same route with my hubby. I am so in the mood to "go bye-bye" via the train which is the best way to travel in our opinion. God Bless !
Wonderfull video!! The best I think I've ever seen.
Thank you for sharing your video an talking about where the train was.
thank you very much for a brilliant video, I really enjoyed the ride.
love the Cali Zephyr...took it up to Winter Park this past winter...and one time to Denver a few years before....great video!
Great Coverage Of a Very interesting journey, I live in London ,England,you’re Coverage is so informative I can share this wonderful trip with you,,Thank You for the opportunity, Ken !
This has been an awesome reference. Thank you!
We are planning to do this trip (same direction) in late April 2020 and your video was extremely interesting - one of the very best we have seen for this trip. Thanks a lot! The GPS in the room is a great idea. Also, your videography, commentary, titles and lack of annoying soundtrack made it a joy to watch.
I live in CHICAGO, & my brother rode the " California Zephyr" to GLENWOOD SPRINGS , we went in the fall , we had a sleeper it was BEAUTIFUL, I love the CZ
I'll be taking this trip from Salt Lake City to Sacramento and then a LONG wait for the Coast Starlight up to Albany, OR next December 19th to spend Christmas with my son and his family. Looking forward to it. I've enjoyed all your videos.
This was great. Thanks so much for sharing!
What a great video! You certainly captured the beauty of the Rockies. I live in Denver and have taken the train from Denver to Glenwood Springs. Also have driven I70 to Salt Lake City many times. I also like the use of your GPS. Thanks again for a great video.
Wow, A great travelogue .Thanks.
Found your videos yesterday, and I've got to say how good they are. Based in British isles, so not very likely I'll get chance to do these trips. But you put us on the train and show what I'm missing
Great Videos, we enjoy all of them. Hope you continue to post your adventures.
Thanks for the great video.👍🏻
After seeing this video, I added this train trip to my bucket list!
Do it. It's been on my list since I was a teen and I did it! I took several but they were all just effing great. Take a vidicam and like this guy a GPS; the trains are not great about telling you the location.
I'm so happy that my first trip was when they still had a real kitchen, with real dinnerware, now it is microwaved and served on plastic.
You did a nice job showing your trip. Myself I have been on part of the the trip from Denver west bound. In the winter of 1984. Thank you for the memories. If you go that way again at Glenwood springs there is a very big hot springs pool to enjoy. The hot pool is 105 degrees and half the size of a Olympic pool. Then there is the big pool the size of a city block at 85 degrees. The water changes 16 times a day from the spring. And the out flow goes back into the Colorado River. Steven Sipes
Very well made video which I enjoyed, thank you.👍
I've made the westbound trip from Denver to the SF area 3 times..one time was on the San Francisco Zeohyr which left Denver and went towards
Wyoming...the next 2 were on the CZ and were wonderful.
It was so nice to watch this video particularly the day after receiving our 58" 4K!
Thank you youtuuba for sharing these wonderful videos
Great video! Throughly enjoy your train videos!
Watched this video a few times. Nicely done. Final;y bought my ow ticket for the California Zephyr, only I'll be coming back to Chicago from Emeryvile. Really looking forward to it.
Well done on the video, sir. You're a pleasure to listen to and ride with.
czcams.com/video/w0NxoplyoL4/video.html
This appeals greatly. But- I do not want to miss what might pass by overnight! Thanks for your relaxing youtube, very nicely done.
I took this trip last july in a sleeper bedroom..was a real blast
Never a dull moment on Amtrak. The original route of The Canadian was pretty nice. Via Rail moved to the old Super Continental route because it has more communities. I took this train about 11 years ago. we were 15 hours late going WB. I read something about the City of San Francisco that got trapped on Donner's Pass in the 50s. the wheels froze to the tracks.
This is one of the best train videos I've seen. Youtuuba allowed the scenery and the good vibes from the passengers to tell his story! I mean no disrespect to other people that post train videos. However, this video IMO is the template for how one should film a train trip. I will be taking my cues from this video when I take the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago in January 2018! Thank you!
remember that the cost for a sleeper car room is based on a couple things, and the total cost per trip can vary widely. Each passenger pays a transit fare, whether in coach or sleeper, and I think that is the same for everyone on a particular train trip. Then each sleeper room adds an additional fee, but the fee is for the room, not per person, so a single person in a room is paying the same amount for the room as a couple of people would pay. When I booked my trip shown in this video, I wanted to travel the day after Christmas, a Saturday. Because it was a holiday weekend, the quoted total fare was something like $1400. The AMTRAK reservation agent said if I could wait a day and leave on Sunday, the fare would be $1000, and if I waited another day, Monday, the fare would drop to close to $600. So that is what I did, even though it shortened my vacation trip by two days.
Spot on. I take my vacations the first week of December in line with my birthday between the Thanksgiving and Christmas peak fares. Usually the cheapest fares of the year when no one else wants to take a holiday. Airlines, cruise ships, and trains...
youtuuba this is what I ALWAYS hated when I went on a cruise. Never was economical when going solo. I’m wondering if Amtrak gives the opportunity to bunk up with a stranger that’s also going solo in order to save money?
$600 Round Trip?
I'm planning to ride the round trip one from Portland to glacier park back to Portland
May I ask how much you paid for this trip? I would like to do this trip someday!
I enjoyed the video. I’ll be riding that train to Reno from Naperville later in September this year, looking forward to it.
Absolutely fascinating!
Really enjoyed this. I would rush in everyday after work and watch 30 minute segments. I really want to do this one day real soon!! Thank you for sharing.
Me too but I am so nervous!!
@@denisebrewer1350 Go ahead and be nervous, but do it. I did it and it was a wonderful experience, not the Orient Express, but the experience is so worth it! The things you will see, the places you will go! Get the bedroom if you can. You won't regret it:-)
Great video! I really love train travel and the like minded people you meet.
So far I've done Washington to Chicago, San Francisco to LA (Amazing!) and of course "The Sunlander" from Brisbane to Cairns, an amazingly scenic 27hour trip along Queensland's (Australia) subtropical and tropical coastline.
Unfortunately the Sunlander, in all it's original 1950's retro glory was retired to make way for "The spirit of Queensland", a fast, modern "Tilt" train WITHOUT those wonderful private cabins and the wonderfully preserved 1950's kitsch décor.
Hopefully in the future they will bring back "The Sunlander" for special trips just for us rail appreciators.
Wow, great video! I really felt like I was on the journey with you. That train ride is absolutely beautiful and I have definitely added that trip to my bucket list! Keep up the great work!
I am exactly where you were 4 years ago… riding the journey with him, it’s fascinating, and definitely added to my bucket list too!
@@paulduggan2 And two years after this, I ended up taking that same trip, it was amazing and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! Hope you are able to take this trip in the future!
Just discovered your channel. Love it. Enjoying this with some pizza and beer on a Sunday evening. I think I'll have to do a trip From Tucson to Chicago on Amtrak soon.
This was the first Amtrak trip video I ever watched, nearly 15 months ago. Since that time I've watched many, started many and gave up. I've seen all of Youtuuba's trip videos and in my opinion they are without equal. Great scenery, commentary, and information on the workings of Amtrak that I haven't seen elsewhere.
Thanks again Youtubba!
I could do without his squawking scanner noise every now and then. Very annoying
Grounded life has good scenic video also without listening to all the passengers and kid noise from the dome car.
I've taken that trip. One of the big ones on my bucket list, took several other trips by train later. Great memories, met lots of wonderful people too.
Thanks for this upload.I am here from your vid on the crossing of Canada on VIA rail.Good solid info both times.Glen Canyon is incredible, but our Grizzlies are incredibly well adjusted, so I'm calling it square:)
I saw goats on the Empire Builder and salmon jumping up the Columbia River... Yes, Rocky the goat of the Great Northern Railway logo is real...
What's great about this video is that is shows what is happening and what is REALLY happening. Example: 4:35 Radio: one of our main engines exploded.. PA: we have a tiny mechanical error
i am a new train enthusiast... planning on doing LAX to Seattle to Chicago then back to LA!! your video was perfect!
that trip will cost me approx 1900 in July.. but I'm contemplating next winter cause your views are just gorgeous!
+jeantaeoneal best of luck mate
I want to say you made a fantastic video of Amtrak in your travel very good in the Narration in fact you have a voice of a professional radio disc jockey or news anchor.
Thank you for sharing this video I greatly appreciate it I’m sure everybody else does too take care. Mr. Bill CNW
Thanks for this video. I have taken this ride many times and it brings back memories, all good. When I was a kid, my family took the Super Chief west many times to Albuquerque, Gallup and Los Angeles. As an adult I have taken most of the East West trains, Super Chief (now, Southwest Chief), El Capitan, Texas Chief, Zephyr, and Empire Builder. I am a pilot and love travel but the train was and always will be my favorite. Funny side note. Coming back East from Albuquerque one time, in the ALB station they actually made this announcement: "All those going North on the East bound Southwest Chief, please board the train". Most of the compass points were represented. Happy travels.
All my years on the Amtrak, and I never rode during the winter. The scenery is amazing!
This is certainly on my bucket list of train trips to take across the nation.
well worth it!
There are a few choices, any will suffice... Enjoy...
Thanks for great video
Well done! Thank you!!
Nice video. Thanks for sharing. My wife and I rode the CZ from LA to Chicago 20 years ago when it passed through Cajon Pass, San Bernardino, and Las Vegas. The route has now changed to the route that you showed on this video. Back then, the eastbound trip arrived in Denver after dark. Thus, the ride down into Denver was spectacular with the views of he city lights at night.
Perhaps you were riding the Desert Wind which came from LA and linked up with the CZ in Salt Lake City?
When I was younger we took Amtrak from havre Montana to Seattle Washington it was amazing the hum of the train the memories the people we met...can’t wait to ride the California Zephyr
Thank you for posting such interesting and informative videos... A pleasure to watch... I've traveled on the Texas Flyer, The Heartland Express and San Joaquin Valley trains many times to and from Hanford CA and Oklahoma City... Love the rides but now know I need a GPS and Scanner... Lol
Love your videos! I have been on the silver meteor, southwest chief, empire builder and most recently the coast star light. I actually upgraded non the star light to a roomette after watching your video. Thanx!!!
If you are riding Amtrak overnight, or for two nights, it is better to ride in a sleeper. More expensive than riding in coach, but a luxury well I find well worth the price.
Really cool video! Family and I did that same route a few years ago. We were supposed to take the Empire Builder to Chicago, but there was some flooding in the upper Midwest. SO they changed our route to Sacramento and then to Chicago. It was a long trip, but very enjoyable!
Roger Evans, to answer your questions:
- I used two different Canon digital cameras to shoot this video. When I was in the lounge/observation car, I used my larger super-zoom camera, otherwise I used my little pocket sized point-and-shoot.
- the train in the winter, including through the mountains, always had a comfortable temperature. At night in my roomette, I thought it was slightly too warm for my tastes, because I like a cool room for sleeping and I could not lower the room thermostat enough, but I simply left the covers off the bed and I was fine
Great video!
This is one of my favorite trains beside the Southwest Chief. I've never taken this train to San Francisco, but I guess it's just like the Southwest Chief. I enjoy your videos!
Well, the Southwest Chief is certainly not 'just like' the California Zephyr. They DO use the same 'consist', so the length of train, the equipment, the locomotives & cars and their relative positions are the same. The route is the same through almost all of its passage through Illinois, but then is completely different. The SW Chief runs for one late afternoon, all of the second day, and a few hours early in the morning on the third day. The CA Zephyr leaves earlier on the first day, runs all of the second day, and all of the third day, so it is a much longer ride; this is mostly because it uses most of the second day to slowly wind through the Rocky Mountains, and most of the third day to get through the Sierra Nevada mountains. The SW Chief does have some lower level mountains to get through, but this does not take all that much time. I think the CA Zephyr is much better in terms of spectacular scenery, but the SW Chief does have quite a lot of nice desert scenery.....
Great condensation of your trip. I also appreciate the informed commentary. And you have a future in radio, TV or voiceover! :-)
L.T. Hanlon, no I don't have a future in announcing and voiceover.....I have a PAST doing those things professionally.
Good video, thumbs up. The California Zephyr is a nice route.
czcams.com/video/w0NxoplyoL4/video.html
My second full viewing. Still a wonderfull video!
Great video. I hope to take this trip sometime.
Having taken this train a couple times and enjoyed it so much, I preferred the quiet of my sleeper compartment to watch the breathtaking scenery over the lounge car with its noise from others( especially the loud voices of kids) to break my mood. This video is great photography as back when I wentI I only had a 35mm camera for still photos taken from my compartment window. But after developing, the photos they were perfect and beautiful, just as if there had been no window in between.
I liked your video very much. Thank you.
Glenwood Springs looks like an awesome place.
I am moving to Grass Valley, CA, and it is nice to see what is in store for me when I take the train to SF. Thank you!
I visit Grass Valley each September for the Draft Horse Classic,'
Well worth the time to see the 4 days of BIG horses!
awesome video
I commented previously, but would like to add another. I mentioned before that my still photos I took in my 2 trips sin 1997 and 1998 on the Zephyr, which came out spectacular( windows must have been cleaned) which I took from my sleeper ). Having watched the videos like yours and looking through my albums of each trip, it is interesting that almost 90% of my photos were identical to the scenery in your video. Great memories for me. I also took photos of the dining car with the white tablecloths, vases of fresh flowers and shiny actual silverware. I recall the steak I had for dinner back then was the best steak I had ever eaten.
Beautiful THX for sharing!
Denver to Provo is the best part and then the Sierra Nevadas... great journey. Hope there would be a fuller length video sometime in the future. Thank you.
The scenery are breathtaking !!! Thanks for uploading this video , ., make me wanna go to US and have an Amtrak Getaway ., with the Family Roomette Sleeper Coach of course !!!.., errmhhh.., when will that be I wonder.........
There is no such thing as a "Family Roomette". The Superliner sleeper cars have four kinds of bedrooms:
- Accessible (handicapped) room, with its own toilet but no shower (one of these rooms in each sleeper car)
- Family Room (the most cramped, noisy and uncomfortable room on the train, with the smallest windows and lots of noise from the wheels) - one of these rooms in each sleeper car
- Roomettes (one or two passengers per room) - no toilet or shower in these rooms, but very good views out your window, and fairly quiet - 13 of these rooms available to passengers in each sleeper car
- Bedrooms (also called Regular Bedrooms, and by some other names as well), only really twice as big as a Roomette, with the same size window and similar levels or noise, but they do squeeze in a private shower and toilet and tiny sink.....I think there are usually four of these in each sleeper car.
The Accessible Room, the Roomettes and the Bedrooms are all designed for two passengers per room (although you can be in a room by yourself if you reserve the room that way....they NEVER put strangers in a room with you). ONLY the Family Room is designed to accommodate four passengers; two adults and two smaller children (too small for four adults).
If I were to come with more than two passengers in my group, I would certainly reserve two or more Roomettes, and try to get them across the aisle from each other, or next to each other, then put two people in each, but we could still be very close to each other and could easily move from room to room and communicate easily. Two parents with two kids, with one parent and one kid in each Roomette would work very well.
The one thing that Amtrak positively will not allow, although I have seen passengers try to do it more than once, is reserve one Room or Roomette or Family Room, but have a large number of people, and reserve Coach seats for everyone who will not fit into the reserved room. They hope to save money by doing this, and circulate people between the Coach seats and the Sleeper car room(s) as they feel like doing. Most of the people I have seen trying this have been Amish. Amtrak puts their foot down and will not allow the differently ticketed people to swap places....no sleeper passengers seated in Coach, and no Coach passengers entering the sleeper cars. If people want to have certain members of their party travel in greater privacy and/or luxury, they can certainly reserve rooms & coach seats this way, but if they want to meet up during the trip, they must do so in the Lounge car (at any time) or in the Diner Car (at mealtime only).
youtuuba - hahahaha ! Thanks for ruining my great plan to smuggle my kid into the " roommate ". I've figured that the conductor kind of remembers who goes where.
Our first trip will take place in 2 weeks. We ( all 3 of us 😉 ) upgraded to a business class on the Auto Train from D.C. to Orlando FL . It's just an 18 hours trip, so shouldn't be that bad.
I'm planing a Zephyr trip , most likely in the summer, and I agree with you that 2 Roommates across from each other would be the best option.
Can you imagine a month long Trans Siberian trip ... 😱
Thanks for sharing your video with us !
@@mar1video or you could get a bedroom, comes with private shower, bathroom. I've shared the bottom bed, it's comfy, almost like a twin bed width, I think. Did you take the Zephyr trip yet? I haven't been on that route yet. Looks stunning!
ingela - not yet. Still on my “to do list” . Now my kid is 19 and 6 inches taller than I am, so any kind of smuggling is out of the picture.
At least we have CZcams and “virtual “ trips we can take.
This is cool I love trains
We're gonna make this trip next november (in superliner) and we're very keen about it. We love trains but our country (France) is too small for long rides (and trains are so fast you don't have time to really enjoy). Thanx for sharing, very interesting stuff !
Comment était ce voyage? Je rêve de traverser les états-unis mais bon en ce moment...
C er rtainly the Sierras are every bit as gorgeous as the Rockies. In some places more so. Loved seeing this video scenery in winter!!
Cary Owen, yes, we missed the dubious pleasure of "Moon River" on this trip due to the cold temperatures. But the rafters really do that when they are present in the warmer months. Heck, if I was on a raft, I would probably 'moon' the train too.