Hi all! If you're currently bored at work here's a nice video to give you a break. Enjoy!
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Thanks for the ride. Too bad it was raining the whole way, but it was fun, although my head got slammed around a bit. LOL I have not been all the way across this line since 1966. Is there a western section through Pittsburgh to Johnston like this? It would be fun to see. D.
Nice video. Thanks for posting it. There was quite a contrast in train handling between the Engineers on the respective electrified and non-electrified districts. In the non-electrified district, the Engineer made nice, smooth stops, but that guy in the electrified district came grandstanding into the station stops, and really set the air brakes.
Wow, pretty good. I was too lazy to slow it down, to see if a Strasburg steam loco was visible at Paradise (Leaman Place.) I also hoped to see the curve at Gap. There was at least one gap in the action. I guess the photographer just set his video camera on a tripod and let it run?
With the Amtrak ban on private varnish, it might be tough to get something like this again (although cab videos do exist for the Santa Fe transcon, I think they were created to train new operating personnel.) A fun diversion, thanks for sharing!
Ted S posted:With the Amtrak ban on private varnish, it might be tough to get something like this again (although cab videos do exist for the Santa Fe transcon, I think they were created to train new operating personnel.) A fun diversion, thanks for sharing!
At least until recently, one could get shots like Max's by riding in business class on his train, the Pennsylvanian; the business Amfleet was usually last on the train, and one could see through the rear vestibule windows. When I took trips 5, 6 and 7 years ago, no one from the train crew gave me much trouble when I stood back there for a few hours.
That said, nowadays the Pennsylvanian runs with a baggage car, so depending on the direction, one may not be able to see out the back, and footage from a private car of course affords the much clearer view seen above.
All in all, great, smooth footage, and I appreciated your choice of soundtracks as well!
Max, thanks for that. Ima' bookmark it.
This took me right back. We once rode in a Pullman hung on the rear-end of the Santa Fe Grand Canyon from Chicago to Williams Jct (Az). I rode all the daylight hours standing at the rear door watching the World unfold behind us. Most of the trip at either 89mph or 99mph as was par for Varnish on the Santa Fe.
Dome cars are crowd pleasers, and great for viewing scenery, but there's not a better view of the railroad than from floor level looking out to the rear. Give me an observation car any day.
Thanks for the compliments guys!
Hartman, I didn't film that much of the Western Half. Next time I will for sure.
Tom, I did notice a difference when on the train, but keep in mind the clips on the electrified portion are played much faster than the non-electrified.
Ted, There is one frame where Strasburg's SW8 is out and about with a few freight cars. I used a suction mount with my GoPro to get the video. As far as the PV ban, most of that is not actually true. Rather than banning Private Varnish cars, Amtrak simply restricted the stations where these cars can be attached to help keep trains on time. Additionally, they imposed more rules to encourage safe operation. It makes PV traveling a bit more scarce, but still is allowed and a lot of fun 
Dan- The baggage car is generally at the head end of the train for the Pittsburgh line.
