Amtrak Coast Starlight Los Angeles to Seattle April 2009

[dancena2]

Im gonna do San Jose to Seattle(continuing what i did(Los angeles to san jose)) And then overnight in seattle, and then the next day take a train to vancouver,bc, and then after 3 weeks ill take the train back to seattle, and from seattle to chicago onboard the empire builder, and then overnight, and then then southwest chief to los angeles, and then Pacific Surfliner to oceanside.

[flywithjacob]

@hommebronze it is farley clean, and for lunch, the bacon burger is HIGHLY recommended. For dinner, avoid the chicken, everything else is good....

[journeyquest1]

Best thing about L.A. is seeing it in your rear view mirror.

[jfybby2]

Enjoyed your presentation.  Hoping to do this same trip some day. It's on my Amtrak bucket list!

[ConversationStart]

Not sure about recent seismic activity but they do have volcanos. Mt. Baker in Washington and Mt. Hood in Oregon. And of course, Mt. St. Helens. The view of Mt. Hood from the train is very spectacular.

[TrainSounds]

Do Washington and Oregon get earthquakes?

[chitchatnation]

@TrainSounds Yes, we do in WA! :)

[AnotherAmateur]

Very impressive video! We took the California Zephyr to Chicago then hopped on the Cardinal to Baltimore. It was a round trip in first class bedrooms. I've uploaded vids if you want to take a look. Thanks for a great video!

[tijuanagringo]

that was a very pleasant experience. thank you.

[toemeraldcity]

LOVE THIS!!! Planning a trip on AMTRAK soon to Seattle from Los Angeles!!! ...and you sure are playing the hits with that bubbly music you added!!! CHOO CHOO!

[bvrlylava]

awesome!

[davsterification]

Nice vid.

[salag13]

Lucky

[filosofygrl]

Very nice video. Looks like you had a nice journey.

[docmalthus]

I've done this trip twice now, Seattle to Los Angeles and back again. Very nice distillation!

[decline2state]

The Columbia River caption at about 5:15 is in error. It is the Willamette River that runs through downtown Portland. The Columbia skirts it on the north side. The n/b CS crosses the Columbia immediately before arriving at Vancouver, Wa.

[gizzigoo]

Fantastic video very inspiring. I hope you don't mind but I added this to an Oz Cruise Club post about travelling from LA to Seattle on the Coastal Starlight.

Many of us are looking at travelling to Seattle to do an Alaska Cruise and your video will be very helpful.

[aboonski]

This is a great video! We were on the same train from LA to San Jose CA. Our trip actually started in Orlando Florida so we were on the train for five days. During the first part of the trip we were in one of the "roomettes" which was anything but comfortable. We lucked out in LA and got one of the bedrooms which was a 100% improvement in comfort and floor space. We cashed in our "return trip" and flew home. The cost of our "sleeper" one-way was $1500.00; the AA flight home - $109.00 each.

[bjorn50]

@aboonski Glad you had a good time and thanks for the kind words. Having a private BR is great for a long haul trip. Although I have to say hangin' in the Parlour Car was pretty cool. We just did a multi-day trip aboard the Alaska Railroad this past Julyl Just search under bjorn50 Alaska Railroad to see it.

Happy railroading!

[luigirules1000]

@aboonski whoo! Go american airlines, best airline out there, but i still prefer amtrak.

[salemcripple]

@aboonski I love planes as much as i love trains (cars most of all). But the ONE thing i don't like about them is you skip over everything. You don't get to see the small towns, the forests, and life along the tracks. For people like me the journey is worth much more than the destination. This is why i love long road trips as well.

[toemeraldcity]

@aboonski There's insider tricks to save mula on the sleeper costs but I'll never tell!!!

(throws fist in air...makes evil laugh!)

[jfybby2]

Taking my first train trip this coming fall and your video was very informative.  Thanks so much for sharing. (I'll be on the SW Chief roundtrip, KC MO to Riverside CA)

[hommebronze]

We will be taking this trip next month in a roomette without bathroom. Were the bathroom and showers clean? Any tips on what to order for lunch and dinner? What did you do in Seatlle-never been there?

Thanks for posting video to help plan our trip!

[hommebronze]

We will be taking this trip next month in a roomette without a bathroom. Were the showers clean? Any tips on what to order for lunch and dinner? Never been to Seatlle any tips on what to see and do there?

Thanks for posting this video and helping us plan for our trip!!!

[airplanebuilderman]

there's a reason they call it the coast always late

[JIMBOSKI58]

Just a correction, the Superliner I is semi-rotating seats only. The Superliner II is half semi-rotating seats and the other half are dinettes seating 4. The dinettes are convenient for Laptops and/or playing cards. Take the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago. Great trip to the Continental Divide. Boring past the Divide except for the farm country of Wisconsin.

[JIMBOSKI58]

Been on the Coast Starlight round trip from Seattle 5 times since 2002. Never arrived before 11:00p.m. to L.A. or Seattle. All arrivals were due at 8:00p.m. either direction. I arrived once in L.A. & Seattle between 12:00 a.m. & 1:30 a.m. Lately, two lounge or dome cars are provided, one before the diner for the sleeper crowd, and one after the diner for the coach crowd. One lounge car, the last time we rode, was a Superliner II. The Superliner I lounge car only has semi-rotating seats.

[rjforgues]

Nicely done. I worked as conductor out of SLO both directions. I've also ridden that very same sleeping car once but it looks as if it has been redecorated. Now work in KCMO as an engineer. I do miss California but not the cost of living.

[DetectiveCabrera]

Just wondering, did you get to choose which side of the train your cabin was on, or was it assigned to you?

[bjorn50]

No we didn't it was assigned and was on the eastern portion of the train. But once we got into the Cascades the views out our window were great.

Best part of having sleeping car accommodations is having access to the parlour car which is the best place to spend your daylight hours.

[rms492]

Great video, but a slight error. Your train did not go via Tehachapi Pass. That would have been a totally different route. (you would not have gone up the coast if that were the case).

Instead, that pass is "Cuesta Grade" just north of San Luis Obispo.

[bjorn50]

You're the second person to point that out. Weird that on the train itself that's what they told us it was.

But doing a little research, you are indeed right. I'll be doing an HD production of the Alaska Railroad this summer and will be sure to double check my locations!

[MT7HY]

Nice video! I might be taking a trip to the US this summer, and I'm thinking of taking this train from Seattle down to L.A. Did you have to book long in advance to get a separate sleeping cabin? Was it expensive? I'll likely be taking it late june or early july, so I'm guessing it will be full of other tourists as well?

[bjorn50]

Thanks for the kind comments, We didn't book too far in advance, may be a month or so, Price was surprisingly reasonable, but as they say, rates may vary.

Our trip was mainly "locals" who use Amtrak as their way to go from here to there along the coast, What was great is there are always veteran travelers of the route that can share great information with you.

But a nice mix of people, very laid back.

[PeacefulRuel]

nice

[sfo1164]

Great video! Good story flow and tight editing! Music soundtrack was fitting. One of the best Amtrak videos I have seen. Did you use power director, Corel or Adobe for your production?

[bjorn50]

Actually I used Roxio Creator and shot the video on a Sony Standard Def Camera.

Just got new Sony HD camera and now editing using i Movie. Big step up. But Roxio is a pretty neat editing package for PC machines. I also created the music using Garageband.

We're doing a trip on the Alaska Railroad this summer, can't wait to shoot that experience in HD this time around.

Thanks for the kind comments.

[CoastStarlight11]

Totally awesome vid!!!

[MrMiner49r]

Great job! Was showing our 3 & 5 yr-old boys what it will be like when we take the Starlight down to Disneyland next year.

[bjorn50]

Thanks, enjoy your trip. FYI if you get a sleeper or roomette car you have access to the Parlous car which has a movie theater in the lower deck. They show kid's films during the day. The other observation car is also a great place to enjoy the scenery.

[MrMiner49r]

@MrMiner49r Thanks again for the video. Our boys are now 5 & 7, and we just got back from our Disneyland. We did get two adjoining Starlight sleepers, and picked up a set of Grandparents along the way.  I loved, and was impressed with the food. We had a great trip and maybe planning on doing it again in a couple years!

[tenor175]

WOW! I am an avid Amtrak fan and I take the Empire builder to Chicago and then take the Misssouri Mule to St. Louis to visit my family. I took the Coast Starlite Last year and it was an awesome trip! I always get the roomette, but it may be small but it's comfortable!!! I loved your video! I live about 2 hours from Seattle! Please I hope you post more Amtrak!

HAPPY TRAILS! Robert

[bjorn50]

Thanks...our next trip is this summer aboard the Alaska Railroad. Look for an HD video next time around,

[AmtrakGuy10]

This is, in my opinion, one of Amtrak's best trains. I rode on it last April. Your video was awesome.

[bjorn50]

I agree. A wonderful experience. Thanks for the kind words. Doing a trip this summer on the Alaska Railroad. This video will be in HD.

[SF3751]

Great video, its nice to see how much they've improved their service for this train. Just a heads up, I don't think it was "Tehachapi Pass" that your train went through, but rather Cuesta Pass. If you had gone through Tehahcapi Pass, you would have detoured from the coast route through Palmdale (without stoping) and then rode down Union Pacific's tracks through the San Joaquin Valley to Sac, and rejoined the train regular route North. I have caught a couple of these deours before, they are cool.

[bjorn50]

Thanks, Amtrak folks on the train told us it was Tehachapi Pass. What ever pass it was, it was a grand trip! Glad you liked it.

[marcheleasonapparel]

Be sure you post a video of ur next trip I'll be looking for it!! :)

[bjorn50]

I will, getting new HD camera and Final Cut Pro editing software.

[marcheleasonapparel]

HI :) You went in April 09 and it was that much snow in the mountains?? I'm going this December...please let me know what I should expect as far as the weather if you know...and also I wont be in a sleep car just a regular seat from the Bay Area to Seattle...I'm hoping the regular seats are nice for the trip...any pointers please let me know this is my fist long train trip :) Looks like y ou both had a great time!

[bjorn50]

You'll be fine with regular seats, better than first class seats on an airliner. They recline better too! Good place to hang is the observation car you'll have access to.

Serves snacks etc and awesome views.

As I recall you'll be on the train for about 11 hours coming from the Bay area.

Scenery is great all the way, be awake at dawn. You reserve times for dining car, always interesting people from around the train you'll be seated with.

Have fun! Alaska Railroad is next for us. Summer 2010

[marcheleasonapparel]

Hey thanks so much for the info :) i'm glad the seats are good and recline because that's a long ride...wow better than an airplane so that means I will be comfy all the way there...So i should reserve dinner seating? Do They have a snack bar? I'm not sure if i'm assigned a seat or first come first serve...I am so sorry for asking you so many questions lol! The scenery looks so beautiful I can't wait!

[bjorn50]

You'll like the seats. A steward will come around so you can book times for breakfast, lunch and dinner seatings. They announce them on the PA for your time. Easy to do.

Observation car, which is terrific has snacks and stuff plus fab views. Great place to hang and meet folks.

[areakt]

You guys had the same car we were in, "George M. Pullman".  For photo enthusiasts out there, the only car in the system (I've seen) where you have plausible deniability opening the little window downstairs to take a picture. (no don't open window signs).

Great work putting this all together!

[cgnagi]

Great video...I really enjoyed this. Our family will take the Coast Starlight from LA to Emeryville and then the California Zepher from Emeryville to Chicago during the holidays. Anxious for our trip! Thanks for sharing!

[bjorn50]

You'll enjoy every minute of the trip. We're doing a trip on the Alaska Railroad next summer between Anchorage and Fairbanks with lots of sidetrips.

The Zepher is also on our plans for a trip to San Francisco.

Again, have fun, it's a great trip.

[bjorn50]

Well, it should be in Oregon! Thanks for catching my boo-boo.

[kmillard]

Mt. Shasta is in California, not Oregon.

[amplidyne]

We're doing the same trip ... leaving @ 1 hour from when I'm posting this! So nice to see your experiences just before we have our own! :-)

[mikefly562]

Wow...thanks for uploading this video. What a spectacular trip this must have been!

[bjorn50]

Thank you Mike, it is a grand trip indeed. We're doing an Alaskan Railroad "Adventure" next summer.

But highly recommend an Amtrak journey.

[kobeshow08]

thank you for the info. now i want to do this in summer. i am going to visit my brother who works for boeing in seattle. i heared seattle is a beautful city too.

[bjorn50]

Less than a thousand for private bedroom etc. Varies at times of the year, we got a better price traveling over Easter Weekend.

Frankly, very affordable with with airfares as low as they are, hart to beat the price for the experience.

We're going to do it again, likely the Sunset Limited LA to New Orleans.

[kobeshow08]

that was beautiful. how much did you pay for that trip sir?