Amtrak Cardinal #51 at L'Enfant Plaza

[ke8bp]

I just saw a video of the Cardinal from 2001 in Huntington with SIX Superliners and a Baggage Car. Man, those were the days!

[Amtrak839]

At the time it ran only DC to Chicago, not all the way to NY. The Superliners had to be pulled to supplement the Auto Train, after several cars were wrecked in a derailment in 2002. They then pulled the Viewliners and diners from the Silver Palm (so it lost its Silver Service status) to keep the Cardinal running. Later some heritage diners and bags had to be retired (deteriorating) so they pulled them from the Cardinal, the least used single level long distance train.

[howardkevinm]

@Amtrak839 its the least used route period lol.

[ke8bp]

I have taken the Cardinal several times over the years from Charolttesville VA to Huntington WV and never have seen Superliner cars. I always enjoy the trip through WV. Beautiful!

[gp40mc]

I'm afraid this train is going to run out of business. It went from Superliners to single level cars and now it's so short.

[Amtrak839]

Public support for Amtrak is too strong. If it was going to be cut, they would have done it already.

[gp40mc]

Okay. I'd like to ride this route one day. It sounds like a nice ride. I once saw it when white water rafting on the New River.

[JCANELAKES]

I have system timetables and route maps from 15 years ago. Only about 75 percent of the routes are still in operation. I did rid the Cardinal when it had the Superliner cars, and when it went to the Viewliner cars. I prefer the Superliner, but the Viewliner's were also nice.

[sparks1504]

i'll be on this train 06/21/09

[trainkid16]

Just because of the good comments on this video, I think I want to ride this train. 5/5* :D

[Amtrak839]

Haha, thanks! Do it. On my list of trains to ride, too. Need to ride the Card and the Palmetto, and then I will have ridden every long distance train serving D.C.

[sidewalkpilot]

i took the cardinal from Maysville KY to DC - beautiful ride - loved every bit of it

[Amtrak839]

I need to ride it, it's one of only 2 long distance trains serving D.C. that I haven't ridden.

[amtrakrailfan]

i remember riding this train in August and it was so cool riding in the sleeper and I loved while everybody hated it because it took so long but not me!!!!

[Amtrak839]

Well those people are narrow minded, and will spend their lives rotting in security lines at airports or sitting in traffic jams, while people like us will be relaxing on the train. Gotta love the sleeper experience. I do most of my long distance traveling in Amtrak's sleeping cars.

[directormontero]

I was on this train that day in the sleeper lol thats funny good video of it thanks.

[jasonvtaz]

I wonder when you make reservations on the Amtrak website, it doesn't bring up the Cardinal amongst the other options between DC and New York.

[Amtrak839]

You can't book any long distance trains between D.C. and New York. They don't want people buying up all the seats between D.C. and New York, because that could keep people at stations before D.C. from being able to get seats. Obviously, they make more money if people ride farther, and most stations on the Cardinal's route between D.C. and Chicago have 1 or 0 alternative trains, so they want those people to be able to get seats.

[sportsmovieman]

6 minute early??? Freight traffic must have been minimal then, because 6 minutes late for the Cardinal is RARE!

[amtrakboy627]

Beautiful video!

[Amtrak839]

Thank you!

[tomekst44]

Ameryka jest pięknym krajem :) Wspaniałe pociągi -> translate. America is beatyful country with spectacular trains :P (the last coach looks like Empire Builder)

[Amtrak839]

Thank you!

[sportsmovieman]

I seriously wonder how late that Cardinal was.

[Amtrak839]

It was early when it passed me, and it got to Chicago 6 minutes early.

[trainboy15]

sick video of the carilina

[Amtrak839]

Thanks!