Beginning at 1:36, I recall how the Amtrak CEO at the time really put his heart and soul into selling the American traveler on "flying without leaving the ground" - not to mention defending the company from the ax which Messrs. Reagan, Stockman, et al were anxious to bring down on the company. Thank you, Mr. Claytor.
OMG i love traiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins!!!!!!!!!!
OMG i love traiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins!!!!!!!!!!
I'm loving the theme song! haha Also, parts of those trains look nicer than the current Amtrak cars—We don't have a coupon video for Amtrak, but we should make one :)
Last February, I took the Lake Shore Limited from N.Y. Penn Station to Chicago and then the City of New Orleans (named after Arlo Guthrie's 1972 folk hit song) to (you guessed it) New Orleans aka "The Big Easy" for Mardi Gras 2010. Although the N.Y.C. - Chicago train was three hours behind schedule (there were snags at Albany-Rensselaer and Rochester), I had the best time ever nevertheless.
@tyrese3745 The train was not named after the Arlo Guthrie song but after the Illinois Centrail Railroad's City of New Orleans for which the song was about.
Rail is majestic. Only by train can you see the world- the beauty that is America. Gleaming cities and towering mountains coast to coast every day for a low fare. That's a beautiful thing, to me.
Trains get so much criticism, because they've had so many financial problems lately, not to mention also that people have complained about problems they have had either going to or coming back from their destination.
@1f5sda: My guess is that it's Bachman, or some other company that makes Amtrak model trains-it sure as frack isn't Tyco, which only bothered to make just Turbo Train around this time before getting out of model railroads in the early 90's.
Should you have the opportunity, don't fly - go Amtrak, first class. It will take a little longer but you will arrive rested, with your mind overflowing with the visions of America that you've seen. If you book ahead, round trip w/ first class accommodations aren't that much more than air fare.
Well I love train, the best mode of transportation in the world, peaceful and secure, but if i would make my choice to travel rail after that commercials i would change my mind and go by car or bus that commercials realy suck and good there not on TV anymore. I verry happy that in Canada Via rail have way more better commercials then that past or present. Long live Via and Amtrak.
I love traveling via Amtrak. Screw the plane, take the train, I always say! I've done the Coast Starlight run many times, and there is nothing like waking up in the Cascade Mountain range in the morning. Some coffee, a bagel or two, and sit back and enjoy the scenery.
hey, can you post another video, just showing the commercials from the 1980's? I really loved those and they bring back a lot of memories of the Amtrak commercials I saw when I was a little kid. I love how they ended, with the train speeding away and the "All aboard America...All aboooard Amtrak." Those commercials were really cool and classy, instead of the lame, corny commercials we have now.
Trains are the future. They keep cars off the road and cut pollution. Plus its a great way to relax and see the country.. and move freight for that matter.
Skies are pretty safe to begin with. The real argument is, think how much space we could free up at airports if we eliminated all the short "shuttle" flights that hog gates and runways.
You know what I find amusing? All the car companies have to get bailed out, and none of the righties are talking about it, as they would rather bitch about how Amtrak had to get bailed out.
Uh the conservatives are PISSED about the bailouts and have been complaining about it a lot, throughing around terms like Government Motors refering to GM.
I actually think intercity rail travel - especially if electrified - has some real promise. But it needs to be economically justified and - preferably - run by private enterprises and without massive government operating subsidy.
I suppose that since I don't want the whole thing forced upon the taxpayer, that makes me a "critticist". Sorry.
I agree, if we just dropped a bunch of government money to build a top-shelf, 300mph rail line, private companies could operate and maintain it at a profit. Just like Japan. Or the highway system.
Why do the trains get all the critticism? Trains are the best way to travel and they cost less than the Interstate! I think the critticists should shut up and figure out that trains are the best way to travel!!!
@logo47 They get critics because other than a few routes Amtrak is actually looses money and is funded and kept going largely with taxpayers money with little effort to at least break even.
trains get all the criticism because the ONLY intercity passenger railroad in america is amtrak, and amtrak is a joke. look at europe and asia, they have great intercity railroads.
Hey Mr Unidyne: Don't blame Amtrak, blame the Republicans. They're always cutting the funding.
We've had a Democrat in office for less than three months and GUESS WHAT? Amtrak's already got grants to buy 150 new Viewliners for the southeast, and more Genesis locos too. California's got funds for more California Cars, which frees up Superliners for the rest of the system. And there's serious funds for track improvements to move us from a 79mph to a 110mph network.
Paying customers are supposed to provide the funding, not government subsidy. If a business can't afford to stay in business without taxpayer money - YEAR AFTER YEAR - maybe it shouldn't be in business anymore.
Hah! Maybe if you had to pay a toll every time you drove on ANY road, even just to go to the grocery store...
...or maybe if we charged you for the cost of spending the last 70 years playing crackpot Islamist dictators off each other to ensure a supply of cheap oil...
The causes of the decline of passenger rail are far more complex than just blaming "big oil" - always a convenient battle cry for you lefties.
Go back and research how overtaxation, overregulation, protection of labor unions and the refusal of the Interstate Commerce Comission (ICC) to allow mergers prevented the old passenger rail industry from adapting to competition from interstate highways and commercial airtravel. By the way, you'll find plenty of Democrats' fingerprints along the way.
Oh, I'm sure. Trust me man I know all about the ICC and the speed limit rules.
But that doesn't matter now as we march into a glorious socialist future! Just think... fast trains... healthcare for all... black welfare mommas supported by rich white Rush Limbaugh listeners... the future is nigh!
According to the Trains Magazine, the reason Amtrak started getting money is because Bush signed something that doubbled Amtrak's funding before he left office.
There used to be Amtrak train service to Las Vegas that dropped you off at Downtown! In an utterly bone-headed move, the train service was discontinued and now you have to disembark the train in California, Utah or Arizona, and then take a bus to Las Vegas that drops you off at the arirport! This is progress?
In the stimulus package, President Obama was planning on building a maglev to link Las Vegas with Los Angeles. Tell me how that is not a waste of money when you could just re-open the train station that's already there,right?
From what I've read, the Las Vegas-Los Angeles MagLev has been scrapped in favor of a European style bullet train like the Trans-Europe Express, so it can use existing tracks. Still, I would like to see the Amtrak service for Las Vegas brought back. I would love to travel by train without having to take a bus halfway. Besides, I absolutely HATE flying!
Yeah but still it would be cheeper to just reopen the Las Vegas Station. Then all that money that would have been spent on the Maglev could have been spent on the poor!
I am 25 years old and my favorite Amtrak commercials as a kid was the one that ended with the jingle..."There's something about a train that's maaaagiiiiiiiic. All aboooard, Amtrak!". I still remember those commercials to this day.
im surprised amtrak travel isnt more popular. just for shits and giggles, i compared prices for train and flight travel from columbia sc to grand forks nd. you can get a first class bedroom train ride for like $350 compared to $700-1000 for plane coach not including checked baggage. if amtrak had a brain in it's head, they would jump on this as an advertizing goldmine. "if you're not in a hurry, all aboard amtrak!" or "Amtrak. cause we dont give full body cavity searches to the elderly!"
it's because people wanna get there sooner, if people wanted to spend half they're vacation on a train they would use this all the time, compare flying time from new york to California to amtrack. 6-8 hours to 2-3 days.
Grizzlyflats thank you so much for the Amtrak commercial (California Zephyr), it brings back sooo many memories and the keyboards to this commercial was just smooth and beautiful. Thank you!
I think the commercial for the California Zephyr has to be one of the most beautiful, awesome commercials ever made. Amtrak really did have some nice commercials back in the 1980's, and I can faintly remember seeing some of them when I was a little kid. The part at 2:52 has to be the most memorable slogan ever..."All Aboard America...All Aboard Amtrak" with a train speeding away across the countryside. You just can't beat that. That always stuck with me. Who hasn't heard that melody??
I am probilly dateing myself here but i remember all these comercials well...I am on a north bound Amtrak train right now typeing this the City of New Orleans..been a dedicated Amtrak rider since the early 70s
I think the whole "Feel your part in the universe" thing in the commercials that start around 3:30 is exactly why I love trains. They move with nature and the Earth, they don't cut through it. When you see a train gliding through the rockies, it just makes you feel like all is right in the world.
i don't know with all this green crap they don't think trains have been green they have electric and hybrid engines get off there anti fur protest and take a train
Kind of. They have a view liner car, with curved "skylights". But to my knowledge they don't run true dome cars (with the dome above the roof line of the train).
Hello guys from America. One question to you. I can understand why people prefer their own car or plane. But why the hell do they choose the shitty bus service in preference to the train?
Cheaper, by far. And if you're only going from one city to the next, why take the train? Personally i would take the train (but i'm a rail fan any way). But i can see why people would want to only take the bus when just going a few miles to the next city.
Because Greyhound is cheaper, and runs on public roads. You're right, though. Even when I was little, I hated the idea of my grandparents riding up fron Oakland to Sacramento, via Greyhound, even though Amtrak was cheaper, and faster. (They both have problems walking).
We should bring back full service and advertise it with, "Ray Tutaj Jr. Amtrak Song, " to promote seeing America to the world and invigorate our economy as a result. We have the most lovely natural resource to show the world that it to be protected at the same time. When touring a land, I prefer trains as planes just get you there without an experience. Why doesn't Amtrak get empowered to improve it's fleet, advertising, and business? Why is America so depressed today? It really burns me.
Yeah... I am just sooo fascinated with the early Amtrak train cars. I line a small town that has a railyard with abandoned rail cars, and there are a few original Amtrak cars, passengers and even some kitchen cars. They've taken some abuse unfortunately, but my best friend and I gained access into them and checked them out. It's so sad that these old Amtraks are being neglected... I don't know why, but they fascinate me. I love Amtrak!
As an Amtrak traveler since 2000, it makes me sad to see the old commercials. That is how Amtrak used to be: comfortable, classy, customer service-oriented? I certainly haven't experienced that kind of luxury on my Amtrak trips. Then again, the airlines used to be like that, too, and look what happened to them. I'll still take Amtrak, though.
Best commercials here are between 2:05 and 5:05. "All aboard America. All aboard Amtrak". How I wish these commercials would be brought back and updated to the current times and equipment.
Amtrak's budget for tv/video advertising is very small, which is why we don't see as many like we did back in the 1970s-80s. My favorite Amtrak commercial was that the "Take the A Train" jingle in it back in the late 80s/early 90s. See The Country, Travel Amtrak was also very cool. I miss those days. Regarding the locomotives, I miss the SDP40fs and F40s, but the modern GE Genesis locomotives have grown on me a bit. They look really sleek running at 80mph pulling the Silver Star. :)
3rd Trip for me Buddy! I'm going to be ridding on the whole Silver Star route from Penn Station to Miami Flordia! Traveling from Stamford Connecticut so I got to take a short Regional ride. :-)
The three ads starting at 2.05 on this video are among the most memorable passenger train ads ever made. The ads for the Zephyr, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief have far more class than the cheesy ads that preceded or followed. They make you appreciate that the trains are rolling national parks -- a national treasure.
Those are the commercials I have vague memories of, the ones from the 1980s. The ones from the 1970s were before my time. Some people might disagree, but yeah I think the commercials after 2:05 were MUCH better better than the earlier ones. The 1970s ones were so cheesy and almost insulting. I was a little kid when I saw the Amtrak commercials, and I only remembered hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak..." song and a train speeding through the countryside, but it stuck with me for years.
Hmmm...Ive been a rail worker for almost 20 years w/ NS. Took an Amtrak train about 6 months. A "regional train". Just a four hour trip. The conductor and other trainman looked almost as shabby as some of our freight employees who had been swiching cars all night! Shirts half ass tucked in, etc. At least the guy working the snack car was presentable!
would u like to know why? highways get 35 billion a year airlines get 14 billion a year at most amtrak gets 1.8 billion a year they need at least 5 billion a year
I love Amtrak. We used to ride it a lot when I was a kid, when we lived in Illinois. I don't really remember the commercials, but I distinctly remember the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody, the way it was sung in the Empire Builder and other commercials. All I can remember from tv was seeing a train speed by, and hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody. I thought it was so cool. It stuck with me for years. I sort of remember seeint the last commercial with the model trainset too.
Sometimes I have to smile when I see these commercials, becuase I want to go back. I was 7-15 yrs. old when these were aired. I love them & the train.
Driver358- I understand what you're saying man. I think many people would love to venture back to their adolescent years when life seemed innocent and something simple as a train ride was amusing yet thrilling. You can never forget how it felt.
Geez I was alil kids when these commercials aired. I remember all the commercials after 2:00. Its really ashame they dont do great commercials like this anymore, only the cheezy Acela commercials. Why did they do away with the All Aboard Amtrak tune. Very catchy. I still hear people singing that tune. Where can you get that tune at online?
Wheres the commercial "Weve been working on the railroad every Amtrak day. Make you feel nice and easy all across the USA". Around 1978
Great post
setheriah 1 week ago
Comment removed
searchanddiscover 1 month ago
At least you don't get strip searched and finger fucked by the TSA to get on a train...yet.
screenname5150 2 months ago
@screenname5150 At least not now/yet
TSquared2001 3 weeks ago
Amtrak, we dont grope you before you board.
shadedmuse 3 months ago
Thanks for posting. Too bad the reality of train travel at that time was anything but was conveyed within these ads. Things are much better now.
Trolleymoose 4 months ago
Amtrak = The best way to travel!
SouthernPacificLines 5 months ago
Beginning at 1:36, I recall how the Amtrak CEO at the time really put his heart and soul into selling the American traveler on "flying without leaving the ground" - not to mention defending the company from the ax which Messrs. Reagan, Stockman, et al were anxious to bring down on the company. Thank you, Mr. Claytor.
hbruins85 5 months ago
Too true...trains are now the best...airlines suck...never thought I would say that but Amtrak rules!!!
dickens5 6 months ago
OMG i love traiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins!!!!!!!!!!
153caleb 10 months ago
OMG i love traiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins!!!!!!!!!!
153caleb 10 months ago
I'm loving the theme song! haha Also, parts of those trains look nicer than the current Amtrak cars—We don't have a coupon video for Amtrak, but we should make one :)
askforadeal 10 months ago
This May, I'm taking Amtrak to Las Vegas (Sin City) on the Lake Shore Limited, Southwest Chief, and Thruway Motorcoach.
tyrese3745 11 months ago
Last February, I took the Lake Shore Limited from N.Y. Penn Station to Chicago and then the City of New Orleans (named after Arlo Guthrie's 1972 folk hit song) to (you guessed it) New Orleans aka "The Big Easy" for Mardi Gras 2010. Although the N.Y.C. - Chicago train was three hours behind schedule (there were snags at Albany-Rensselaer and Rochester), I had the best time ever nevertheless.
tyrese3745 11 months ago
@tyrese3745 The train was not named after the Arlo Guthrie song but after the Illinois Centrail Railroad's City of New Orleans for which the song was about.
gray19801 11 months ago
@gray19801 whatever
tyrese3745 11 months ago
I recently took the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle and boy, it was a terrific run. Planes only ruin the fun, go by train!
TheUnknownAvenger 11 months ago
@TheUnknownAvenger Greyhound bus? Not even close.
tyrese3745 11 months ago
"Alllll aaaboard Ammtrak.". lol gives me the goose bumps. Lol
AMH9217 1 year ago 2
Rail is majestic. Only by train can you see the world- the beauty that is America. Gleaming cities and towering mountains coast to coast every day for a low fare. That's a beautiful thing, to me.
cheerwine01 1 year ago
logo47--
Trains get so much criticism, because they've had so many financial problems lately, not to mention also that people have complained about problems they have had either going to or coming back from their destination.
EricEbac22 1 year ago
I'll take one of those 150 dollar rail passes please.
acrttdriver 1 year ago
I enjoy the train
pezman1963 1 year ago
There's my AMTRAK.
AdmiralArcher 1 year ago
What company makes that toy Amtrak train at the end?
1f5sda 1 year ago
@1f5sda: My guess is that it's Bachman, or some other company that makes Amtrak model trains-it sure as frack isn't Tyco, which only bothered to make just Turbo Train around this time before getting out of model railroads in the early 90's.
Neville6000 1 year ago
@Neville6000 Thanks for the info! (winks)
1f5sda 1 year ago
All Aboard Amtrak!
1f5sda 1 year ago
All Aboard Amtrak is what I may sing while I ride Amtrak sometime.
1f5sda 1 year ago
on the first commercial amtrak doesn't go to San francisco directly but it says so on it
Kayushi 1 year ago
@Kayushi it did. the station is used by Caltrains now. its the old SP Oakland Station.
howardkevinm 8 months ago
Where did you get these ads?
1f5sda 1 year ago
I love the "ALL ABOARD AMTRAK" tune.
1f5sda 1 year ago
The engine ringing the bell and blowing in the horn in the intro sounds just like my Lionel UP Desert Victory SD40-2!
Weiberts 1 year ago 2
THE PLANE CAN NEVER COMPARE TO RAIL TRAVEL! :-)
BurgerChefGuy 1 year ago
AMTRAK IS THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL!
TrainGuy152 1 year ago
Should you have the opportunity, don't fly - go Amtrak, first class. It will take a little longer but you will arrive rested, with your mind overflowing with the visions of America that you've seen. If you book ahead, round trip w/ first class accommodations aren't that much more than air fare.
pfaff9 1 year ago
Whether your traveling near or far, dont hassle with the plane or car, Amtrak has a better way!
ctempire 1 year ago
though amtrak dint start till 70's
gearjammer4181 1 year ago
Just took Amtrack from Spokane,Wash to Chicago,Illinois on the Empire Builder About 3 weeks ago....
HAD A BLAST.''
flyerspa67 1 year ago 3
Comment removed
stickdog100 1 year ago
Go Amtrak!
1f5sda 1 year ago 2
Just took the Empire Builder a few weeks ago...Spokane,Wash to Chicago ,Illinois...
It was SUPER...
i LOVE TRAIN TRAVEL..
flyerspa67 1 year ago
@flyerspa67 Cool!
1f5sda 1 year ago
I love AMTRACK...
Train travel is great.''
flyerspa67 1 year ago 2
Well I love train, the best mode of transportation in the world, peaceful and secure, but if i would make my choice to travel rail after that commercials i would change my mind and go by car or bus that commercials realy suck and good there not on TV anymore. I verry happy that in Canada Via rail have way more better commercials then that past or present. Long live Via and Amtrak.
NBECMich 1 year ago
@NBECMich I think these commercials are fine, but I agree with you that the train is the best way to travel.
stickdog100 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
As much as I hate Amtrak I do like the one for the California Zephyr.
CubsFanJohn 1 year ago
the ammount to time and effort to fly its just better to take the train.
Stupidaso2 2 years ago 49
@Stupidaso2 Agreed! You are smart.
1f5sda 1 year ago
I have 2 favorite means of travel:
Train travel, and RVing
stickdog100 2 years ago 5
It's MJ!!!! :30
lol
CubsFan2812 2 years ago 2
dude i seriously said the same thing LOL
rbs1991 2 years ago
lol yeah it kinda does look like him
CubsFan2812 2 years ago
gos samn it ppl in america really very happy !!
wersuss 2 years ago
God, do I love trains! Thanks for the videos
bagladyssuck 2 years ago 2
3:50-4:03 I love that one. They need to bring that back, the singer and the instrumentation.
TSquared2001 2 years ago 4
Agreed! Beautiful.
arrowguy173 2 years ago
All abord America All Aboard Amtrak. That music is 4ever in my head.
TSquared2001 2 years ago 3
I love traveling via Amtrak. Screw the plane, take the train, I always say! I've done the Coast Starlight run many times, and there is nothing like waking up in the Cascade Mountain range in the morning. Some coffee, a bagel or two, and sit back and enjoy the scenery.
PetePuma00 2 years ago 3
I agree. Friendly service, great food & drink, and beautiful sites to see. I love it.
CubsFan2812 2 years ago 10
I remember the days of the F40PH's and the mailcars. Now those are gone, all you see is crappy P42's and no mailcars.
mt90945557 2 years ago
hey, can you post another video, just showing the commercials from the 1980's? I really loved those and they bring back a lot of memories of the Amtrak commercials I saw when I was a little kid. I love how they ended, with the train speeding away and the "All aboard America...All aboooard Amtrak." Those commercials were really cool and classy, instead of the lame, corny commercials we have now.
ct92404 2 years ago
That was so cool i loved it
thetrainguy1 2 years ago
Wow! Nice to see that SDP-40F locomtive!!!
BNforever2009 2 years ago 5
LOL. The guy at :18. Looks like a mobster on his way to Vegas.
cochranexyz 2 years ago
i wana celebrate my birthday and get married all on amtrak.
ar2022 2 years ago
mmm good old times.
unc135am 2 years ago
Hmm, I remember a jingle from an Amtrak commercial that wasn't in this collection:
"America is getting into training, training the Amtrak way".
carnadero 2 years ago
Trains>>>>>>>Cars
RedShadow1917 2 years ago
Trains are the future. They keep cars off the road and cut pollution. Plus its a great way to relax and see the country.. and move freight for that matter.
AmtrakPatrick 2 years ago 4
I agree! I wish everyone could see it that way
logo47 2 years ago
And think of how much safer the skies would be with fewer planes flying!
MrUnidyne 2 years ago
Skies are pretty safe to begin with. The real argument is, think how much space we could free up at airports if we eliminated all the short "shuttle" flights that hog gates and runways.
epiCnIGraRiNSeOUt 2 years ago 4
You know what I find amusing? All the car companies have to get bailed out, and none of the righties are talking about it, as they would rather bitch about how Amtrak had to get bailed out.
sparcal54 2 years ago 3
Uh the conservatives are PISSED about the bailouts and have been complaining about it a lot, throughing around terms like Government Motors refering to GM.
Ham549 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Oh Trust me we Conservatives have been bitching about all the Bailouts INCLUDING Amtrak Funding......
CubsFanJohn 1 year ago
I actually think intercity rail travel - especially if electrified - has some real promise. But it needs to be economically justified and - preferably - run by private enterprises and without massive government operating subsidy.
I suppose that since I don't want the whole thing forced upon the taxpayer, that makes me a "critticist". Sorry.
tigerbandalumni 2 years ago
I agree, if we just dropped a bunch of government money to build a top-shelf, 300mph rail line, private companies could operate and maintain it at a profit. Just like Japan. Or the highway system.
Socialism, glorious socialism!
epiCnIGraRiNSeOUt 2 years ago
Why do the trains get all the critticism? Trains are the best way to travel and they cost less than the Interstate! I think the critticists should shut up and figure out that trains are the best way to travel!!!
logo47 2 years ago 33
@logo47
If you have them.
Air traffic gets more govt. subsidies than passenger rail.
PeterNGloor 1 year ago
@logo47 They get critics because other than a few routes Amtrak is actually looses money and is funded and kept going largely with taxpayers money with little effort to at least break even.
gray19801 11 months ago
@gray19801
And the Interstate Highway system makes a profit, I suppose?
And as for the lovely tax-free bonds that subsidise airports in the USA....
eatonjask 9 months ago
@gray19801
And the Interstate Highway system makes a profit, I suppose?
And as for the lovely tax-free bonds that subsidise airports in the USA....
eatonjask 9 months ago
@logo47
trains get all the criticism because the ONLY intercity passenger railroad in america is amtrak, and amtrak is a joke. look at europe and asia, they have great intercity railroads.
turbo1431 10 months ago
Hey Mr Unidyne: Don't blame Amtrak, blame the Republicans. They're always cutting the funding.
We've had a Democrat in office for less than three months and GUESS WHAT? Amtrak's already got grants to buy 150 new Viewliners for the southeast, and more Genesis locos too. California's got funds for more California Cars, which frees up Superliners for the rest of the system. And there's serious funds for track improvements to move us from a 79mph to a 110mph network.
Like Amtrak? Vote Democrat.
epiCnIGraRiNSeOUt 2 years ago 8
This has been flagged as spam show
Paying customers are supposed to provide the funding, not government subsidy. If a business can't afford to stay in business without taxpayer money - YEAR AFTER YEAR - maybe it shouldn't be in business anymore.
tigerbandalumni 2 years ago
Hah! Maybe if you had to pay a toll every time you drove on ANY road, even just to go to the grocery store...
...or maybe if we charged you for the cost of spending the last 70 years playing crackpot Islamist dictators off each other to ensure a supply of cheap oil...
yeah, not so much.
epiCnIGraRiNSeOUt 2 years ago 3
The causes of the decline of passenger rail are far more complex than just blaming "big oil" - always a convenient battle cry for you lefties.
Go back and research how overtaxation, overregulation, protection of labor unions and the refusal of the Interstate Commerce Comission (ICC) to allow mergers prevented the old passenger rail industry from adapting to competition from interstate highways and commercial airtravel. By the way, you'll find plenty of Democrats' fingerprints along the way.
tigerbandalumni 2 years ago
Oh, I'm sure. Trust me man I know all about the ICC and the speed limit rules.
But that doesn't matter now as we march into a glorious socialist future! Just think... fast trains... healthcare for all... black welfare mommas supported by rich white Rush Limbaugh listeners... the future is nigh!
epiCnIGraRiNSeOUt 2 years ago 2
According to the Trains Magazine, the reason Amtrak started getting money is because Bush signed something that doubbled Amtrak's funding before he left office.
logo47 2 years ago
who sings the song in the first commercial? sounds like frank sinatra
justmejie 2 years ago
Amtrak: where old men buy you beer and party people smoke weed in the bathroom.
steeloverkill 2 years ago 3
i love this! the middle commericals are so inspiring
Zebraguy626 2 years ago
Does Amtrak run any ho trains?
nkx1 2 years ago
I think you mean "H.O." trains, like the Lionel toys, right?
MrUnidyne 2 years ago
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Naw man, I meant Ho trains, with buck naked ho's on board.
nkx1 2 years ago
Talk about a "Midnight Special"!
MrUnidyne 2 years ago
@nkx1 Bachmann runs HO scale model Amtrak trains and are available on various model train websites.
1f5sda 1 year ago
@1f5sda No mofo, I meant HO trains, with buck naked ho's on board. Shit.
nkx1 1 year ago
@nkx1 Oh okay!!
1f5sda 1 year ago
@nkx1 that's disgusting!
1f5sda 1 year ago
@1f5sda So you're gay then? Or an uptight prude twinkie-eating chick? Either way, you seem like a bore.
nkx1 1 year ago
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@nkx1 No I am not.
1f5sda 1 year ago
Comment removed
1f5sda 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@1f5sda You certainly seem gay. Or a pussy. Nothing wrong with that though, as long as you're happy with it.
nkx1 1 year ago
Comment removed
1f5sda 1 year ago
There used to be Amtrak train service to Las Vegas that dropped you off at Downtown! In an utterly bone-headed move, the train service was discontinued and now you have to disembark the train in California, Utah or Arizona, and then take a bus to Las Vegas that drops you off at the arirport! This is progress?
MrUnidyne 2 years ago 3
In the stimulus package, President Obama was planning on building a maglev to link Las Vegas with Los Angeles. Tell me how that is not a waste of money when you could just re-open the train station that's already there,right?
logo47 2 years ago
From what I've read, the Las Vegas-Los Angeles MagLev has been scrapped in favor of a European style bullet train like the Trans-Europe Express, so it can use existing tracks. Still, I would like to see the Amtrak service for Las Vegas brought back. I would love to travel by train without having to take a bus halfway. Besides, I absolutely HATE flying!
MrUnidyne 2 years ago
Maglev=431km/h
Train that's already there=125km/h
epiCnIGraRiNSeOUt 2 years ago
Yeah but still it would be cheeper to just reopen the Las Vegas Station. Then all that money that would have been spent on the Maglev could have been spent on the poor!
logo47 2 years ago
Was that Harry Chapin at 1:22?
bphendri 2 years ago
Nice memories! Thanx fur sharin'!
owlking149 2 years ago
WOW COOL
trainamtrakcsx 2 years ago
Thanks for posting pa mal.
travelplus1 2 years ago
I am 25 years old and my favorite Amtrak commercials as a kid was the one that ended with the jingle..."There's something about a train that's maaaagiiiiiiiic. All aboooard, Amtrak!". I still remember those commercials to this day.
Neno8403 2 years ago
im surprised amtrak travel isnt more popular. just for shits and giggles, i compared prices for train and flight travel from columbia sc to grand forks nd. you can get a first class bedroom train ride for like $350 compared to $700-1000 for plane coach not including checked baggage. if amtrak had a brain in it's head, they would jump on this as an advertizing goldmine. "if you're not in a hurry, all aboard amtrak!" or "Amtrak. cause we dont give full body cavity searches to the elderly!"
SheisseFicken 3 years ago
it's because people wanna get there sooner, if people wanted to spend half they're vacation on a train they would use this all the time, compare flying time from new york to California to amtrack. 6-8 hours to 2-3 days.
Sabored 2 years ago
How about say NO to "GATE RAPE" HELLO Amtrak
bphendri 2 years ago 5
Grizzlyflats thank you so much for the Amtrak commercial (California Zephyr), it brings back sooo many memories and the keyboards to this commercial was just smooth and beautiful. Thank you!
NewJackPanther 3 years ago
I think the commercial for the California Zephyr has to be one of the most beautiful, awesome commercials ever made. Amtrak really did have some nice commercials back in the 1980's, and I can faintly remember seeing some of them when I was a little kid. The part at 2:52 has to be the most memorable slogan ever..."All Aboard America...All Aboard Amtrak" with a train speeding away across the countryside. You just can't beat that. That always stuck with me. Who hasn't heard that melody??
ct92404 3 years ago 3
I am probilly dateing myself here but i remember all these comercials well...I am on a north bound Amtrak train right now typeing this the City of New Orleans..been a dedicated Amtrak rider since the early 70s
gaycowboy31 3 years ago 2
I think the whole "Feel your part in the universe" thing in the commercials that start around 3:30 is exactly why I love trains. They move with nature and the Earth, they don't cut through it. When you see a train gliding through the rockies, it just makes you feel like all is right in the world.
HarryPotterObsessed7 3 years ago 3
The last Amtrak I took didn't have the scenic car. I still rather travel by train.
MsMercury 3 years ago
i don't know with all this green crap they don't think trains have been green they have electric and hybrid engines get off there anti fur protest and take a train
danmanlott 3 years ago
Does Amtrak still run dome cars?
cochranexyz 3 years ago
yes they do
stratocaster4602 3 years ago
Kind of. They have a view liner car, with curved "skylights". But to my knowledge they don't run true dome cars (with the dome above the roof line of the train).
salemcripple 3 years ago
they do have one single level dome car that is used on the surfliner route during the summer. but its that domes last stand
jimmyp42002 3 years ago
Hello guys from America. One question to you. I can understand why people prefer their own car or plane. But why the hell do they choose the shitty bus service in preference to the train?
GEDANUS6 3 years ago 4
Cheaper, by far. And if you're only going from one city to the next, why take the train? Personally i would take the train (but i'm a rail fan any way). But i can see why people would want to only take the bus when just going a few miles to the next city.
salemcripple 3 years ago
Because Greyhound is cheaper, and runs on public roads. You're right, though. Even when I was little, I hated the idea of my grandparents riding up fron Oakland to Sacramento, via Greyhound, even though Amtrak was cheaper, and faster. (They both have problems walking).
You're right, though, bus service does suck
sparcal54 2 years ago
We should bring back full service and advertise it with, "Ray Tutaj Jr. Amtrak Song, " to promote seeing America to the world and invigorate our economy as a result. We have the most lovely natural resource to show the world that it to be protected at the same time. When touring a land, I prefer trains as planes just get you there without an experience. Why doesn't Amtrak get empowered to improve it's fleet, advertising, and business? Why is America so depressed today? It really burns me.
bixlerscott 3 years ago 5
Why? Money. Plain and simple.
BobWeaver112 3 years ago
Yeah... I am just sooo fascinated with the early Amtrak train cars. I line a small town that has a railyard with abandoned rail cars, and there are a few original Amtrak cars, passengers and even some kitchen cars. They've taken some abuse unfortunately, but my best friend and I gained access into them and checked them out. It's so sad that these old Amtraks are being neglected... I don't know why, but they fascinate me. I love Amtrak!
sexyjefflynne72 3 years ago 4
Despite cut backs Amtrak and Via Rail Canada Still do a good job on a shoe string budget.
shnorth888 3 years ago 7
some of the most beautiful commercials ever made.
bellydancer1970 3 years ago 4
You can tell by the end they are getting plenty of comptition!
FlightCrewWannaBe 3 years ago
Great... they ran late back then, and they still run late today We need a REAL railroad
CambridgeAlphonse 3 years ago
The 2:06 commcreial I like.
-thayesthe10
thayesthe10 3 years ago
I've only ridden amtrak once.
skyman2002fanclub 3 years ago
These bring back memories of my trip to Seattle, Washington from Detroit, Mi when I was five. I took that root trough the rookies.
blizzard242 3 years ago
As an Amtrak traveler since 2000, it makes me sad to see the old commercials. That is how Amtrak used to be: comfortable, classy, customer service-oriented? I certainly haven't experienced that kind of luxury on my Amtrak trips. Then again, the airlines used to be like that, too, and look what happened to them. I'll still take Amtrak, though.
frenchy8th 3 years ago
I lOVE TRAINS!I LOVE AMTRAK!
DarcyWLincoln 3 years ago
Amtrak 4 life.
pillsbury09 3 years ago
Beautiful commercials. Too bad Amtrak is so poorly funded; it's a real shame we don't have the train options like most countries. SHAME on the US!
bundangbear 3 years ago 5
Blame Bush.
zc456 3 years ago
All Aboard America, All Aboard Amtrak Commercials Were The Best
PlanBSkater3191 3 years ago 2
Awesome, I've never seen any of these before ... "All Aboard Amtrak" was their best slogan I think.
EverywhereWest 3 years ago
Best commercials here are between 2:05 and 5:05. "All aboard America. All aboard Amtrak". How I wish these commercials would be brought back and updated to the current times and equipment.
R160A 3 years ago
You are right, these are beautiful commercials. And the "All Aboard America" song gives it just the right emotional touch.
GeorgiaKev 3 years ago 4
Amtrak is cool.
somefreak90 3 years ago 2
Amtrak's budget for tv/video advertising is very small, which is why we don't see as many like we did back in the 1970s-80s. My favorite Amtrak commercial was that the "Take the A Train" jingle in it back in the late 80s/early 90s. See The Country, Travel Amtrak was also very cool. I miss those days. Regarding the locomotives, I miss the SDP40fs and F40s, but the modern GE Genesis locomotives have grown on me a bit. They look really sleek running at 80mph pulling the Silver Star. :)
ACLTony 3 years ago
:D I LOVE varnish! (passenger trains) And Amtrak is no exception.
veronicafanDA 3 years ago
3rd Trip for me Buddy! I'm going to be ridding on the whole Silver Star route from Penn Station to Miami Flordia! Traveling from Stamford Connecticut so I got to take a short Regional ride. :-)
springdalecomp 3 years ago 3
The three ads starting at 2.05 on this video are among the most memorable passenger train ads ever made. The ads for the Zephyr, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief have far more class than the cheesy ads that preceded or followed. They make you appreciate that the trains are rolling national parks -- a national treasure.
tanned2go 3 years ago 5
Those are the commercials I have vague memories of, the ones from the 1980s. The ones from the 1970s were before my time. Some people might disagree, but yeah I think the commercials after 2:05 were MUCH better better than the earlier ones. The 1970s ones were so cheesy and almost insulting. I was a little kid when I saw the Amtrak commercials, and I only remembered hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak..." song and a train speeding through the countryside, but it stuck with me for years.
ct92404 3 years ago
I agree with ouy, but why you described as insulting?
brhumgorst 3 years ago
i couldnt agree more the one for the zephyr was especially well done sounded like a native american was telling u a story
they should bring these ones back
justmejie 3 years ago
Ahhh Those Were ThAAAA Dayyyys! Thanks for making me feel old! 5*****
DJGENEX71 3 years ago
"All aboard America...All Aboard Amtrak" What fitting line could there be to advertise passenger trains?
hbruins85 3 years ago
the Empire Builder commercial was awesome!
seankolker 3 years ago
Hmmm...Ive been a rail worker for almost 20 years w/ NS. Took an Amtrak train about 6 months. A "regional train". Just a four hour trip. The conductor and other trainman looked almost as shabby as some of our freight employees who had been swiching cars all night! Shirts half ass tucked in, etc. At least the guy working the snack car was presentable!
DRG1939 3 years ago
the one with the newest equipment today that is still what there using lol amtrak 4 ya
bigluke93 3 years ago
except the f40
AmtrakFanNEC927 3 years ago
technically there still using it
bigluke93 3 years ago
yeah, on the downeaster. thats basically it.
AmtrakFanNEC927 3 years ago
and as baggage out west !!!!!
bigluke93 3 years ago
would u like to know why? highways get 35 billion a year airlines get 14 billion a year at most amtrak gets 1.8 billion a year they need at least 5 billion a year
justmejie 3 years ago 5
*hums* All aboard America, All Aboard Amtrak. All aboard America, all aboard Amtrak.
I have a feeling that I will be singing and humming this tune all day.
Tymere1979 3 years ago 2
I love Amtrak. We used to ride it a lot when I was a kid, when we lived in Illinois. I don't really remember the commercials, but I distinctly remember the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody, the way it was sung in the Empire Builder and other commercials. All I can remember from tv was seeing a train speed by, and hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody. I thought it was so cool. It stuck with me for years. I sort of remember seeint the last commercial with the model trainset too.
ct92404 3 years ago
Sometimes I have to smile when I see these commercials, becuase I want to go back. I was 7-15 yrs. old when these were aired. I love them & the train.
driver358 4 years ago 2
No need to go back, the trains have never changed, the service has just gotten worse.
hahajohnnyb 3 years ago
Haha, true.
CambridgeAlphonse 3 years ago
Driver358- I understand what you're saying man. I think many people would love to venture back to their adolescent years when life seemed innocent and something simple as a train ride was amusing yet thrilling. You can never forget how it felt.
Tymere1979 3 years ago 2
Geez I was alil kids when these commercials aired. I remember all the commercials after 2:00. Its really ashame they dont do great commercials like this anymore, only the cheezy Acela commercials. Why did they do away with the All Aboard Amtrak tune. Very catchy. I still hear people singing that tune. Where can you get that tune at online?
ghostengineer 4 years ago 2