We were delayed 12 hours in Florida. Some trees blew down across the tracks. Amtrak ordered Domino's Pizza for everyone for free.

The staff on the Southwest Chief were so great. On my way back to my room one evening, the dining car supervisor looked at me and said “Hey Dan! Here ya go honey”, and handed me a butter cake to take back to my room…this was already after I’d had my dinner. I had so much fun chatting with the staff.

I was at a science fiction convention many years ago. We were all in line, pretty much camping out for about 9 hours. Someone came up with the idea....let's order pizza! It was something that wasn't done at that time. But, we all found a pizza place that would deliver to us in line. Saved us!

Having ridden on Amtrak and watching your videos, I got 100% on this quiz…lol

I basically knew all of those but not some of the details. The whole train being fed Wendy's sounds hilarious.

I did know about these. My Zephyr was 8 hours late getting to Chicago. All coach and sleeper car passengers received the beef stew. The coach passengers actually received two meals on that trip due to the lateness.

Flat Iron Steak without the sauce - the baked potatoes minus the chili is just some of the changes you can ask for. It dont hurt to ask. The delay we had was in the middle of nowhere in a rail yard so ordering out wasnt an option.

As always, good info. I did not know any of this. I have been riding Amtrak since the 70's, one thing I found out about Amtrak is that they will compensate your next trip if you encounter a critter on board😲. I happened upon a mouse while making my way to the restrooms on the lower level, which prompted me to write a letter to Amtrak expressing my horror and they graciously offered either a complimentary or discounted fare on my next trip, depending on location and distance. This was many years ago it could be different now. Anyway, let's hope that doesn't happen to anyone else. By the way, I love riding Amtrak it's so relaxing. Happy travels!

3:53 I know it's probably just me. Whenever I pour something out of a bottle or jar, I always do the "napkin wipe" before I put the lid back on.

I've been on a "Pizza train" that was so late they got Dominos for the train and later down the road they got Publix subs for the train.

You can get complimentary hot water / complimentary ice [if they have enough supply] / and condiments from the Amtrak Cafe. If you are in coach and bring powdered coffee or tea bags you're all set for a hot drink! Also the new fresh salads are delicious and worth the cost!

Love your videos! We did a trip recently and I had to laugh at so many of your topics we experienced. Our California Zephyr ended up 11.5 hours delayed. We were worried about making our most critical transfer to the Coastal Starlight. Amtrak pulled it off- sent cars to take us to the next leg, they held the train and we made it! The food was excellent throughout the delays. Will we do it again? SURE! We love Amtrak and all it’s adventures.

Greetings and God Bless you, Allie and Rob. I knew all 5 things, but I didn't know that when possible the attendants ran to the store to purchase food.

I didn’t know any of this so I appreciate your tips!

I love your videos and I watched them before I took my first long distance train ride last month on the Southwest Chief. I became friendly with Jack in the kitchen and he offered Tabasco and A1 every day. He was great. And we tipped him generously too!

Once on my train, the kitchen broke down. We pulled into the next station and there was a van full of KFC dinners.

Oh wow! I didn’t know *ANY* of these. Thanks 😊

Thank you so much for all you do for us cannot get this type of information anywhere else. Keep Happy

As always, great information.

If Amtrak is starting to charge people to change their room to a different room (or car), I wonder if it would be more time-effective to just call Amtrak to have them make the reservation for you. That way, you can ask for a specific room while on the call instead of leaving it up to the app to assign you to one you don't want and THEN having to call in to change it. But, if you don't care what car or room you are assigned, then by all means make your own reservation on the app. Great tips. I think on my next trip I will ask the dining car server what condiments they have available that most people don't know they offer. I didn't know about the A-1 sauce, so that was a useful tip. Thank you!

Taking my first trip using Amtrak with my cousin. Your videos have been helpful.

I only knew 3 of these bc you mentioned them before Lol ❤. But thanks, great info and tips!

The train I take a lot if from Albany, NY to Moynahan Train Hall, NYC . So the carriages are all coach expect one business class car that always the last car. So there are usually 4 coach cars. The crowd tends to go for the first three cars. Just walk down and get on the last car. Depending on how full the train is, that one fills up last and if you are alone, you can get hopefully get the seat that you like !

I knew about all of these because of your videos! Thanks for all of the great information through the years.

Ottumwa Iowa. Radar O'Reilley's home town in MASH. Planning an AmTrak trip from KC Mo. to Seattle sometime in the spring next year. Thanks for all the tips. Something interesting: When I got out of the military in May,70 I took the very last Santa Fe passenger train out of Oakland Calif to Flagstaff Arizona. Rode coach. There were some reporters aboard, newspaper mostly.

I did know all of these, but only because I have watched just about all of your videos. Wife and I will be taking our first overnight trip in April from NOLA to L. A. for our 25th anniversary. You two have been so helpful. Thank you.

We've watched all of your Amtrak videos (some more than once!) and they inspired us to book a round trip California Zephyr adventure for our 50th anniversary. We leave Chicago on Tuesday and are very excited for this once in a lifetime vacation. Thanks for all of your "help".

You definitely have to ask about the food. We were delay so we missed the lunch time. They did not offer so you have to ask. Thanks

I didn't know about the A1!!!! Thanks for the great videos ❤️❤️

Knew all but the A-1 sauce!

Yes, I knew all of this already, but I have been using Amtrak since the day they were conceived. I wanted to thank you guys for the heads-up about the dreaded roomettes (13 & 14) in your last video. I usually book a bedroom and don’t have to worry about those downstairs roomettes, but the other day they were sold out of bedrooms and that’s all I could get. They tried putting me in roomette #13, but after watching your video I made such a stink about it that they finally put me in a bedroom and (get this) for some reason the bedroom was $86 dollars cheaper than the roomette! I am guessing that was probably due to the times that I booked them. So, not only did your video save me from the dreaded roomette #13, but it also saved me $86! Thanks guys!!! Also, I wanted to tell you, the sleeping car attendant on the Southwest Chief (a Hispanic gentleman named Luis from San Diego) turned out to be the best sleeping car attendant I have experienced in my nearly 50 years of taking Amtrak - I hope you get him sometime! 😉

Amtrak has THE BEST cheesecake ♥️ I went on Amtrak from Mississippi to Los Angeles in 2016 with my family and I absolutely loved it. Loved having a room as well and the option of not getting off at stops if I didn’t want to unlike the bus. Great content on your channel 👍🏽

I knew about the A-1 sauce from my first dinning car experience. I sheepishly asked if they had it and the attendant laughed saying of course; taught me to always ask. I have seen food being delivered to the train before, but didn't realize it was passenger originated. I am 4 out of 5 for me Fun video today!

I've known about everything except what's offered in Amtrak's app-I'm old school & catching up with tools offered. There are tall & large people in my travel party, so using tight spaces in sleeper car restrooms can be a challenge. I've recently learned that Accessible Restrooms in Superliner coach cars offer the most room around toilets. Too bad they're all downstairs in their Accessible coach cars.

I didn’t know any of these things! Thanks for sharing! ❤

After some 20,000 miles on Amtrak and Via Rail fairly recently (last 5 years) I knew all of these. I would have broadened one of your comments though. Regarding A-1 sauce or any condiment you like, ask! If you don't ask you are accepting the equivalent of "no."

I'll be taking my first sleeper car adventure in about a month and didn't know about or thought of using the application to find out how long our stops are going to be. Thanks for that tip.

Ela e seu parceiro são ótimos nesse teabalho

From my experiences with Amtrak is that they stepped up from the snackbox that they use to give out when there was a delay. Even that got upgraded. However, beef stew, blew my mind. One thing I can say about Amtrak, is that they will go out of their way to make sure that the passengers are well taken care of. Now as far as the delays, like when you mentioned that the boyscouts that were on the train ordered pizza, at some big stations, example Washington Union Station, if you're on a long distance train, while the locomotive is being switched, you can go in the station to the shops to buy food, toiletries, etc.

This was informative and fun!

Enjoyed the 5 things video. Did not know any of them. Thanks

Your videos are good quality but the lighting & quality on this one were particularly good. You both look so good. Love the headband.

I loved your fun video today. There was only one item that I was unfamiliar with about Amtrak. That was the item about there being extra food being available if the train is extremely delayed. The others were just good to be reminded. Thanks folks.

still waiting to take my first ride. I have been learning from yall so my fist will be great.

Do you have any experience with booking hotels and cars through Amtrak and how their deals/rates compare to Expedia? Thank you for all your informative videos!

Awesome Info guys! Took My first train trip on Amtrak last year from Pittsburgh Pa to Boston Mass. I was very fun!

I knew all of these. I’ve taken 20 or so trips on Amtrak. I love it. I don’t mind the delays at all. A few summers ago my train from Seattle to The San Francisco Bay area was delayed about ten hours so we got to see the beautiful Mt. Shasta area, which is normally done at night. Another time delayed out of San Antonio to Los Angeles long enough that again it was daylight for Lake Amistad snd the Pecos River. I used to take that trip several times a year when my parents were alive, so it was exciting to finally actually see those landmarks. I look at delays as the opportunity to see things I wouldn’t normally get to see and learned to just accept delays as a part of being lucky enough to see America by rail.

These are great hacks!! I didn’t know any of these!

This video was sooo cute and entertaining! 😅 I confess to knowing one of the items...simply because I learned it on your last vlog. Great job educating us on Amtrak! 👍🏻🙌🏼🧡💛❤️

I didn’t know a single one. Thank you for the great info!❤

Knew all from watching most of your videos-- great work! Only one new to me was checking the Amtrak app while on board-- great suggestion. Taking Zephyr in two weeks!!!! Originally planned trip for last September, but was cancellled due to train strike..... so I've been waiting a long time for this adventure!

I knew all of these😊 We just did The Coast Starlight and our table mate got the A1 sauce so my husband knew to ask for it the next day😂

We're taking our first overnight Amtrak trip next month. Thanks for the A1 tip, we're also fans of it.

Thank you so much for sharing this video lots of helpful information that I had no idea about. Love your channel. 😊

I knew about all but the beef stew. Also, if I am on the Coast Starlight and I see that I am going to miss my connection for the San Jauquin to Stocton can I call Amtrak and have them switch me to another train while underway?

I didn’t know these Thanks

Loved this video! I love these little tidbits and tricks about Amtrak, keep them coming!!!

I've had the beef stew a couple of times on Amtrak. I've also been on trains where they had a bunch of sandwiches delivered (for both sleeper and coach passengers) from Subway. Finally I've been on trains that weren't delayed where people had ordered ahead to have food delivered by Uber Eats to the platform right at the arrival time for a smoke stop. Via also has back-up food on board. For them the go-to seems to be grilled cheese and microwaved macaroni and cheese.

Thank you Allie and Rob! I love your videos! I'm new to US train travel, just took my 1st trip from Roch NY to Baltimore MD - loved it! Moynihan Hall at Penn station is awesome! It just freaks me out that they don't have the departure platform of your connecting train posted until they announce boarding. Anyone know why that is? I am used to the German system, where the platform of your connecting train is noted on your ticket....

One fun one is with unreserved coach tickets. They’re available on some of the state supported routes. They’re good for any train that day. Sometimes up to 364 days. Also, if you use a pass once, you can’t refund it.

Wow ❤ so glad I found your channel. Great info and comments so helpful too. I traveled from Boston to Chicago, then Chicago to LA on the Santa Fe in Summer of ‘69 as a kid, and with my mom again from Boston to Hattiesburg Mississippi, my first sleeper car. It was 20 years ago and it didn’t include meals and other +’s but it was great. I’m in very beginning stages of planning trip from Boston to Portland OR via Empire Builder, my first trip anywhere since pre Covid-can’t wait!!!

Informative and well done video.

First, I knew that Amtrak would accommodate roomette changes from riding the Empire Builder with my in-laws. (My father-in-law decided that he didn't want the upstairs roomette across the hallway from us -- he wanted the lower level to not climb the stairs. The car attendant handled the roomette change and freshened up the newly re-assigned room for our folks.) Second, I also use the app to find out the schedule, but it just doesn't work on all trains. And it will depend on how reliable each train's WiFi connection is for the app to work. I also knew about both the "emergency food" stores aboard and the steak sauce (I think that they offered both A-1 and Heinz-57) from the most helpful dining car attendants. Everyone, please tip those service folks well, as they really deliver great service all of the time, and they work a brutal schedule with infrequent breaks. If you're stuck by congested tracks, equipment failures or a derailment, they keep on the job. I have also seen food delivered to the train at a stop, but had never known that Amtrak would send out service staff to pick up deserts, and didn't know how those fast-food meals were ordered or by whom.

I was familiar with everything but the A-1 option. But, I only knew all the others because of your fantastic videos and the great info you share. Love you guys!

Im on a comuter train and put on one of the songs you always have in your video, Exhale. It happens to be a beautiful Fall day and I do feel a little bit like Im on an Amtrak traveling with you two. Lol.

I only knew about the Beef Stew thing because our westbound Zephyr in mid-August was delayed enough that they needed to serve it. It was really good! I've been riding Amtrak's Northeast Corridor between Boston and Philadelphia since I was a kid, literally more times than I could possibly count at this point. But my first and only Amtrak ride outside the Northeast Corridor was the CA Zephyr last month, and your videos were an AMAZING resource for this. All the tips and advice were incredibly helpful. Also, the trip was amazing. Thanks!!

Did not know the tips you shared. Here’s my most recent Amtrak experience. Took a very comfortable 18 hour Amtrak ride, in the coach section. Seating was extremely roomy for my large frame. And I had no arrival delay despite the staff telling us, at one point, we are ten minutes late. My only problem with this latest nice trip involved fellow riders conversing on their mobile phones, OUT LOUD and with the call in speaker mode, even after dark as some travelers tried to rest.😬!!! My earbuds were handy, yet failed to completely block the loud conversations conducted by two of my coach class neighbors. Beyond that, again, I had a wonderful east coast Amtrak experience. Thanks for your tips!❤️

Much love you guys ❤, good to know

I have enjoyed the Beef Stew a couple of times…. It was good! I have seen our own SCA run out to a pizza delivery guy for his own pizza. And I have seen on Virtual Rail Cam on Ft. Madison Iowa what looked like 15 to 20 pizzas delivered to the Diner car. I knew also, that we could possibly change our rooms, but I have been nervous about doing that since I heard a couple times they lost thier room entirely. This was apparently due to the original room got canceled and then the change was suddenly not there to change to . (This could have been a very rare thing). Love your videos! Thanks for all your information!

I started laughing as soon as you mentioned that Dinty Moore Stew because ya just don’t see that every day. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m always in a room but the times I’ve seen it happen they’ve served the entire train. Also, I miss how they used to call in an order for chicken up in Havre, Montana and the restaurant would bring it to the train. 😡

I didn’t know that but I was stuck in San Antonio TX for 8 hrs no food car, so a group of us walked to a Denny’s restaurant

I didn't know about the steak sauce, thanks for that tip (weird at a restaurant you automatically think to ask for it but not on the train... ha). I am taking the CZ in February from CHI to EMY, a trip purposefully used as a "slow down" after the holidays... and I'm hoping we get a nice 10+ hour delay in the rockies or Sierra Nevadas... a good book with snow capped mountains out the windows sounds like my idea of an awesome R&R trip... and happy to know we won't starve if so!

We also missed our train in Denver once! Our sleeper car attendant told us the wrong time to be back. We ended up taking a taxi to a car rental place, renting a car, and driving like maniacs through the Rocky Mountains to get ahead of the train, which only worked because it had to make the ascent. We got back on in Glenwood Springs.

Once we were delayed in Indianapolis. We jumped off the train and ran to Krystal 🍔 which was a block away from the station

I was familiar with 4 of these things. I was not aware about the app indicating how long a stop would be. I would have just asked the attendant if that had been a concern. I have one thing to add. Many years ago, another rider told me that she usually tried to get a room in the car in which Amtrak employees ride. She said that if she called Amtrak, they often had one of these rooms available. I think that those rooms had a strange car number or room number if I recall. I never tried this for myself, but I assume that her info was accurate. I've also been riding Amtrak long enough to remember when the California Zephyr drove through Reno at surface level, instead of the underground and uninteresting route that it takes now. Apparently the train caused congestion in Reno so they built the underpass.

Great info, thank for another fun, informative video! I knew about the first couple of things you mentioned, because I've done both, but the rest, that was an eye-opener. The Flat Iron Steak is probably my favorite meal on Amtrak, but I didn't know about A-1 on request. To be honest, I'm not a steak sauce guy, but it's still good to know, because sometimes I like to put it on my fries. Didn't know about the ad hoc meals either, but that makes sense...I just hope I don't wind up on a delayed train where they have to send somebody to a Walmart, and I get Twinkies for dessert...Little Debbie's would be okay! And ordering delivery food? Wow, I do have to remember that! It would make a great trip story to tell afterward!

The family bedroom is by far the best room on a Superliner.

Love all of your videos! Also, agree with the comments…Beef stew was a pleasant surprise!

I did know about the emergency meals! I was in coach from Seattle to Chicago. Train stopped about 1 mile outside of Minot, ND. Went to sleep, woke up 8 hours later and we were JUST pulling into Minot! I was flat broke and couldn't even afford a Snickers bar and BOOM!!! Free Beef Stew and Rice!!! It was really good too!!!!

Great video! I didn't know about switching rooms, I'll look for your video on that :) we were on the Empire Builder this summer, and our car was a older one, hooked up to a newer one. It was fun to see the cosmetic differences, but we did ask to move into an empty roomette in the newer car because our older car had very weak air-conditioning. You could really tell the temperature difference between the older and newer cars. Unfortunately our Amtrak person couldn't move us, but I'll take your tip for next time! Great Channel keep up the wonderful videos! Trains are the best!

I just planned a fun trip on the Texas Eagle from L.A. to St Louis. Next day St. Louis to Chicago and Chicago to home on the Empire Builder and Coast Starlight. Your videos inspire my travels. Thanks to you both. Yet, a question…Do you have a suggestion for a hotel in St, Louis?

Once a local pizza place delivered to the Sunset Limited at Tucson. I don't think the train was late, but AMTRAK tends to go out of their way to keep people happy.

Good advice.

the only one I didn't know was the A1 sauce! but then again I'm a Northeast Corridor/Long-Distance in Coach rider so I haven't had many dining car experiences (pretty much only Dinner on the Auto Train and the new Acela First Class dinner menu which I got for free since someone had an upgrade coupon that was expiring). Big fan of the cheese stromboli as a reliable cafe car option but looks like they're starting to get rid of it which is a bummer.

ON the Zephyr Pope Train (years ago) and one other time, we had delays because of the heat and they served us KFC both times.

Another thing to know about amtrak is if you get stuck due to a delay in train travel that they have the following policy. As information, Amtrak does not authorize monetary reimbursement of expenses incurred with other service providers, nor do we offer monetary compensation for inconvenience. I got stuck due to a delay on the Amtrak Cardinal in Chicago overnight They were able to get me on the Southwest chief the next day but I have to overnight in Chicago and they told me they would cover that expense. I just got an email telling me that is not the case. Spread the word on this too.

A1 is a solid tip!!! There is Tabasco, I get it with eggs sometimes.

I knew all of these. I’ve been on a 12 hour late Empire Bilder. I got picked up at about 6:30 AM in Essex Montana heading to Portland. This was in April 2018. We were so late Amtrak ordered KFC that was delivered to the train at Pasco. Definitely a great time and good memory. Luckily I was just going to Portland so I didn’t care. Delays make the best memories

Thanks, guys. No, you taught me some new tips, which will be helpful going forward. I'm next going to look for the video that tells me what rooms to avoid on Amtrak trains.

I recalled taking a late afternoon trip to Atlanta from Virginia that was delayed. We were told that we would miss dinner and therefore were given cash vouchers to order carry out. I remembered the guy running to hand us the bag of food within minutes of the train pulling off 😅😂😊

I love your posts! The only one i did not know was the A-1 because I never order the flat iron steak. Most of the time I also take a "scanner" with wireless ear buds. When you have a delay you are able to listen to the dispatcher/crew and know "what is going on". Some of the best hotdogs are available from a cart guy, on the platform in Orlando FL. Even though it was breakfast time, my wife was able to get lunch, to go, from the attendant in the "lounge in NYNY. Even though we were going coach on the Vermonter, acesses to the lounge is available to "Guest Rewards Select "members.

I didn't know any of these, thank you for the info

Thanks for sharing, l didn't know any of these.

We broke down once in the mountains in Colorado for 10 hours. Another time, when you could still go to Vegas…we broke down not even 5 miles outside of Vegas. We could see Vegas and sat there for HOURS. Also, we had two train vs car accidents. One was right before we got to Denver and the other was right before we got to Chicago. We were in the last sleeper car both times that happened. Pretty scary stuff.

Yes we knew these, but bet a lot of people didn't

Another hack I've come across was contacting a food place for an upcoming station and having the food delivered to the station so it's there when you arrive. Remember that deserves a big tip!

I am new to this channel and you guys are informative, thank you😊

I was delayed going to Chicago on the Cardinal. Amtrak ordered KFC for everyone since they ran out of food or something like that. The conductor asked each person what they wanted. And the next stop there was chicken dinners for everyone.

You guys are good @ what you do. Didn’t know any of the things you went over.

I knew them all but mainly from watching your other videos. My 1st amtrak wxp will be in 48 hrs- zephyr denver to emeryville.