I've received quite a number of comments asking "Why don't they just put an engine on either end?" It's because these are long distance trains. They run two locomotives at the head end, pointed forward. This provides for all needed on-board power, plus a backup engine in case one fails en route. The cabling and other mods that would be needed to run a push-pull setup wouldn't make sense to merely save 15 - 18 minutes on the turn at Tampa over a 31 -hour trip. Also, there is no drone footage in this video because my new DJI Air 2s had some flight restrictions built in that I couldn't override at that location. It was apparently under the approach to a nearby Class D airport.

I appreciate that your video wasn't just about trains. You also managed to provide a history lesson, demonstrate respectful cultural exploration, and support a local business!

I'm an Ybor city native and my grandmother's house backed up to those same railroad tracks. Fond memories of running outside to wave to the train . Sometimes they would throw us candy when they passed.🙂

My dad died of natural causes while working on a railroad track crew he loved his job. I miss him, we used to take the train Maine to Florida and back the Pullman cars and the porters were always a treat , Had many rail adventures with my dad , Got train rides nobody gets . Like in the Snowplow pushed by a steam locomotive from Bartlett, NH through Crawfords Notch over Frankinstein Trestle , The last Steam powered passenger train Portland Maine to Boston Mass the sound of a steam whistle makes me cry to this day , a sound that marked time in a time past the whistle at the Sawmill its 5 AM , One on the morning train 5:40AM , the Woollen mill 7AM and you best be in your seat at school when you hear it .

Earlier today I was thinking," Its been awhile since Danny putout a video." And here itis, thanks!

Amtrak’s back in move into Tampa is really unique and I feel like a lot of us railfans in the area take it for granted. Great video on it Danny!

Always get a chuckle when I see a crew member covering a crossing with a small red flag. An old method that seems so out of place in today's society yet works just fine. Thanks for the video and the shots of the jump-frog.

I'm a 3rd generation rail fan and have lived in Tampa for over 27 years... never get tired of seeing rail videos showing off the local action! Excellent job, sir...

The ' JUMP FROG ' is something I've never seen . I was a rail train operator on the Union Pacific and rode the loaded rail trains and worked in 18 states . I unloaded 18 strings of rail that was welded for the ' AAR ' Test Facility just outside of Pueblo , Colorado . The pieces of rail varied from as short as 30 feet to several hundred feet and we spent 4 days unloading the rail according to a very detailed list of where each piece was unloaded . Everything from the sub grade to the signal systems of the railroads is tested at the facility . At the time I was there they had 3 tracks 4 , 7 and 11 miles long and trains of all types of rail cars were run for hours and some that ran 24 hours . It's a ' FRA ' facility and highly regulated . Extremely interesting facility. Without a doubt the most enjoyable place I worked in my railroad career . I enjoy your videos a lot and look forward to each that you post . Great video .

I love that you include your lunch stops in the videos! Makes it feel more like we're there with you experiencing the fun!

Man! This is a great series! Great to learn all kinds of things railroad related and all simple enough for the unitiated to understand. Love the food section too! Keep on railfanning!

Beautifully done! I learned a lot, and just enjoyed the entire experience. Thanks.

You make my railfanning more pleasurable but teaching us technical items that we normally could not have access to. Thank you!

The history, the narration, the videos…. All very professional. Thank you Danny! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

That was absolutely fascinating! Never gave it a thought as to how Amtrak would turn around. Thanks for a great instructional and entertaining video!

I love your descriptions and even the culinary advice is very much appreciated.

8:30 The Pennsylvanian does an interesting backup move of its own, but it’s a dead head move after passengers are dropped off in Pittsburgh. The train backs out of the station and travels about 5 miles to a wye off the Norfolk Southern Pittsburgh Line (former Pennsylvania Railroad main line), reverses onto the wye, and then after clearing the switch goes forward onto the Pittsburgh Line facing eastbound. It then reverses again for the 5 miles back to the Pittsburgh station and is now positioned for the next eastbound run to New York City.

My dad retired from CSX after a career that started with Atlantic Coast Line. He loved the railroad dearly and even helped move the train to the train museum in our town of Waycross, GA. I have wanted to ride Amtrak but haven’t had a chance yet.

Your dedication to these videos shows. Thanks for showing me something awesome!

Great video, thank you for your time in making it. Very insightful to the operation

Every time one of your videos comes out I learn something new! I appreciate all of your work in your videos! Great work, Danny!

That wye takes up a lot of real estate! Would be great to see drone video of this operation from up high for a perspective of the magnitude of the wye area. Interesting video, thanks!

Thank you for the work you put into these videos! I still love watching anything to do with railroads and trains. Been fascinated with trains since I was kid!

This was fascinating! Thank you! We were on that train in November and wondered what the backingup was all about. I will be back on it in a few weeks and this time I'll know!

I truly enjoy your channel have been watching for quite some time. What I enjoy the most is the detailed information you leave us with, explaining as you go, train information and moment. Great channel and love the content. Thank you!

Awesome to see you finally document the entire Tampa back in sequence!

I'm sure glad I found your videos. You have the best commentary. I enjoy history of many subjects and your supply of the local history where ever you are recording makes the story so much more personal. Thanks, Danny.

Been watching for about a year and really enjoy all your vids. This was very interesting for me. Thanks!

Honestly one of my favorite channels. You explain things so well and seem like a genuinely wholesome dude.

Another great video as always Danny! I love the way you present your information and could listen to you speak about railroading all day.

Thanks for the video, Danny. You do a really great job of making railfaning approachable.

Thanks Danny! Always a delight! Watching from my train room in DFW area. Keep Safe out there on the Rails!

Super interesting, Danny! I've also been wondering for a couple of years now about that baggage car whistle-I could've sworn I heard one in Chicago one time, but I couldn't find really much of anything about them, and so I started to think I was just going crazy haha. Thanks for the information! I can't wait to see what neat finds you bring to us next. This is surprisingly efficient considering the slow speeds and ridiculous amounts of crossings, not to mention turning the entire train around hahaha.

Man, always look forward to watching your videos. Quality is top notch as always

I thoroughly enjoy your videos! Factual and visually pleasing to watch! It amazes me how you have all the information on the lines that you do!

Good stuff and well done!!!! I loved seeing the Amtrak FP45's. I rode behind those back in the early days of Amtrak! Thanks

Danny, your videos are so interesting and full of information. I check everyday to see if you’ve posted. My only suggestion is more videos more often! Great job thanks!

WOW Danny, i've watched that entire operation in person several times and my favorite part was standing down by the "now gone" TN signal house and watching him leaving Tampa and crossing the diamond at speed, thanks Danny for bringing back some great memories. Thanks for all the information and education as usual. I'm really liking the restaurant reviews at the end of your videos, thanks for the latest, ill definitely be stopping by to try that Cuban Sandwich the next time I get back down your way. Sooner rather than later, I hope.

Thank you for making these videos - thoroughly informative and I enjoy every moment of them.

This was a fascinating and informative video. A great introduction to your channel for me as a viewer from the UK,

Your Florida train videos are very interesting. I have learned so much train history. El Segundo crab cake, check . Who would ever known about that switch if you hadn't pointed it out. Thanks for pointing out historic Ybor City, virtually unknown to most people outside of Florida.

Danny I just wanted to say I really enjoy your videos. My family moved to Tampa in the mid 60’s and I have many fond memories of growing up there. I had a very close friend in junior high school and his dad was a conductor for Seaboard and then Amtrak. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.

I welcome your videos like an old friend. I anticipate each one and thoroughly enjoy viewing them. Thanks for the content and your production effort!

Your voice of so clear and so pleasing to the ear, sir. And yeah, really interesting way of entering a station. Thank you for sharing! 👍🏼

Always so very, very interesting, and learn so much. I’ve always loved trains and the RI ran passed end of our street as a kid. Even though I work for a major US air carrier, I still love being the first one at a railroad crossing to watch trains! Be safe!

Thanks for highlighting so many fascinating rail facts in your episodes, Florida has a lot of interesting rail activity. Hope Brightline will eventually help alleviate some interstate congestion between Tampa and Orlando, it's a nightmare driving in that region! Love seeing local eateries! 😋

As usual a SUPREME production explaining the various aspects of railroad operation. You are the GOLD STANDARD for railroad videos.

Thank you for posting this Mr Harmon! I recently took the Silver Meteor from DeLand to Tampa and then the Star back to DeLand. Gave me the chance to try out the Dreamliner II roomette. Was surprisingly nice. Thank you for all the work you put into your channel. Me & my youngest appreciate it greatly.

Being a train buff all my life I really enjoy your videos which are well researched and very entertaining. Living over here in Largo I don’t get to see much freight traffic so depend on your videos for insight as to what’s going on. I’m of the age that I rode many steam trains both here in the US and in Scotland and England with lots of fond memories. Keep up the great work and I look forward to your next productions

Thanks, Danny - As usual, a fascinating, well-shot, engagingly narrated piece, and the culinary suggestions added a nice touch. One can sure work up an appetite chasing those trains! As you asked for suggestions...I recently re-posted a 1977 photo I'd taken of Reading No. 2101 pulling a Chessie Steam Special out of the tunnel and across the bridge over the Potomac into Harpers Ferry, and a friend quickly let me know "The #2101 is about to go back into service and will pull Reading Rambles excursions in 2022 on the Reading and Northern RR." Wow- I'd had no idea that handsome machine would run again! I can imagine how fascinating a video program or two by you would be. Hopefully, it's not too far off your beaten path. Don't know how good (or existent!) the Cuban food might be up there, but I know I'd enjoy seeing your coverage of a Reading Ramble!

Danny, thanks for your interesting videos. I've been watching for years and years. I love trains and appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

Danny, GREAT video. Informative as hell, and you are a wonderful host with a voice made for narrating!

Hey Danny! That’s really near to see Amtrak 92 do those moves to be able to back into the station! I’m always looking forward to the next video you put out! Have a fantastic day! See you down the line!

Danny, another great one. You're videos teach so much, bring often wondered subjects into focus, all while being completely entertaining and fun. Please keep going, doing what you do and sharing your time w us.

I love learning via your excellently produced videos and listening to your amazing voice. Thank you for always making such great content.

Danny, another great one, thanks for your time and effort.

Stumbled across this on my newsfeed, don't normally view this type video. Am a retired rail: Tower Operator, Yardmaster, Dispatcher and Locomotive Engineer and I find this very well done. Thank you for the memories; wish you continued success!

I'm a crew hauler for the BNSF in Texas. I love your videos. I like seeing how other railroads operate and being ran. Keep up the good work!

Very informative video. Thanks again for your work on these videos. You set the bar very high for other train Videos.

This is a fantastic video, including the food recommendations! Thanks for sharing this!

Thank you so much for this video. I used to take the 91, 97, 92 or 98 trains, depending on when I had to be back north, to Winter Park. Always wondered how they turned around in Tampa. Very interesting.

VERY well presented, very professional, and incredibly informative - many thanks :D

We just subbed to your channel! We LOVE train travel and feature many Amtrak Train Station Tours around Florida and beyond! We just toured the Tampa Station a few months ago! Thanks for this awesome footage and information! See you down the tracks!

I have missed you and your amazing wealth of information!! Love your posts!!

Thank you, Danny! I always look forward to your videos. They're always so professional and the narration is so polished, I think you sound like a professional announcer. Thanks, again!

My dad was a railroad man. He started with Central of Georgia, then later with Southern Railway (later known as Norfolk Southern). We lived in rural Georgia and then moved to Atlanta when he went to work for Norfolk Southern. Every other weekend he would come home to rural GA and then on alternating weekends we would come to Atlanta on the Nancy Hanks II which ran from Savannah to Atlanta. This craziness went on for about a year. My mom would get us kids up early Saturday, feed us breakfast, drive to Millen, GA to get on the train arriving in Atlanta about 1 pm. Then we would be house hunting until leaving on Sunday evening about 6 pm, arriving back in Millen about 11 pm. She would then drive us sleeping kids home and get us in bed to be in school the next day. Don't know how they managed that for a year. I remember we had 2 phones growing up (back then there was no call waiting, etc.), one phone being for his work, because he worked crazy hours and was always on call. Sometimes we might see him a couple times a week because of his schedule. He was the man in the caboose radioing to the engineer. He actually died while at work on the train, massive heart attack many decades ago.

What makes these videos so fun to watch is just how pleasant and educational they are, no flashy editing or unnecessary add-ons that could annoy someone. It's just useful train and eatery related info.

Wonderful video Danny. Thanks for the clear explanation and insights on how this Amtrak works in Florida. That took lots of patience, but I'd bet it was a lot of fun. The meal sure looked good!!! Thanks again.

Love the video as always Danny. Thanks so much for sharing. As a 2 year Davenport, Fl. resident I am trying to collect as much Railroad information as I can from your wonderful videos. I currently live in Providence Golf Club just north of Davenport, Fl. on the CSX line. I have a scanner that I use to try and catch both CSX and Amtrak traffic as they go bye. Love all of your videos. Please continue to add more and thank you so much for an awesome job.

My day was made when I saw a new video from Danny! As always, this fairly new railfan has learned something new! Thank you so much, Danny. I love your stops for lunch. Unfortunately they don't have deviled crab or Cuban sandwiches up here in New Hampshire!

Great commentary. I drove locomotives in outback Australia and really enjoyed your knowledge and commentary here ... great work

I'.m in Tampa tonight as I watch this for a work overnight. Perfect! Thank you for your excellent explanations and filming!

Awesome video of Amtrak’s Sliver Star making the reversing move into TUS aka Tampa Union Station and I am always looking forward to another Danny Harmon video and your narration is always top notch! From a fan of this channel and I thank you very much Danny Harmon @Distant Signal for posting this and this video makes me happy!

Thanks Danny, I've sat in my car at those same locations, at the wye, to see Amtrak 91 and 92 do this turn, and rode back from Orlando on board twice. The 17 crossings through Ybor City still are unlike any place that I've see.... backwards!

This is one of the best youtube railfan videos I've ever viewed. Great information and very nicely done. I am now subscribed. Thank you for such a great production.

Need more videos! You got a natural talent for history and it’s refreshing listening to it

Wooo Hoooo! A new Distant Signal video! Awesome as usual Mr. Harmon! Always look forward to your next video.

Wow, great video! Have been a RAIL FAN longer then I can remember. You sound as though you were in radio or a professional announcer which really made this stand out as one of the better videos on KZfaq. Thank you

Love listening to you narrate, perfect voice. I also love the fact you point out good food stops.

Ahh so nice. I drove through some of those same streets today. I was born and raised in Ybor City and I worked my last 26 years at HCC before retiring. That Amtrak train took me from that station to Fort Benning Ga. for basic training. You brought back some memories. Thanks.

Danny, you're a great guy. I really love watching and listening to you describe the railroads. Thanks for the great job. John in Ohio

Love it! Danny's train and exquisite little-known foodie spot videos! You know, one of the first things you learn as a Freight Conductor is all the places you can stop without blocking crossings, so you can get a bite to eat. But most of those places have you running to the second unit about two hours later. On the other hand, these gems of food bites you share make up for it. Edit: I don't know if it's worth mentioning here or in a future video, but this ride makes a perfect day trip for anyone who wants to see what riding on Amtrak is like. Pick up the train at any point North of TUS, coming South. Then as long as the trains are close to being on time, the layover in Tampa is about 2.5 hours. The only drawback is the hike from TUS to anywhere reasonable to eat, drink and shop. It's about 4 blocks to the nearest TECO trolley station which will haul you up to Ybor City. Then be sure to get back to the station in time for the Northbound Superstar and get off at the station you boarded coming South. My stepsons loved it when they were 11 years old. Their little eyeballs were fixated on the windows from Winter Park all the way to the Wye.

You sir are a MASTER narrator. Love watching your videos!

I’m traveling on 92 in a few weeks for the first time, and this video really helped me wrap my brain around the operation in Tampa. Being from the west coast of Canada I don’t have a ton of local knowledge, so this is helpful. I’m also more of a “lite” railfan so I rely on the experts like you - thank you!

Wonderful video! I always love your style and presentation, very well narrated with superb information and great filming, I love coming back to your channel time and again! Also, as I spent a lot of time in Florida during the late 1990s, especially around Tampa and Clearwater, seeing those sunkissed views again brings back some lovely memories of visiting the old Clearwater Depot and the short section of street running. Keep up the great work! 😁

Another excellent video Danny, thank you. As an enthusiast here in Scotland, I've got a decent understanding of how our railways work but the U.S. system is very different. Your descriptions of the various equipment and operations may be obvious to your North American audience but they're a great help to the rest of us. I learn a lot from your easy-going narration and thoroughly enjoy your work. Cheers for now, Dougie.

Fantastic video! Thanks for the insight on the Amtrak Florida trains.

Thanks for sharing this with us. I enjoy watching these.

Good evening Danny, as an avid rail fan, particularly Amtrak, anything you can share about them would be most appreciated. I was aware of the back in at Tampa but I did not know why, finding out today that it was a dead end was enlightening. Please keep it coming!! Safe rail fanning sir!

Thanks for a really clear and professional description of this reverse move. Most Amtrak passengers have no idea what's involved, I'm qualified as both Conductor and Locomotive Engineer on a Massachusetts tourist railroad and have both given and received instructions for movement over the radio from the leading end of the movement. Most of our crossings are 'stop and warn' with a crew member 'on the ground.' Not Amtrak, but VIA Rail's Canadian (#s 1 & 2) have a long backing move into, I think, Sioux Lookout.

Very good commentary Dan! I appreciate the thourghness in your signal and frogg explanation. I am learning, thank you!😊

My favorite railfan channel, always good to see danny has uploaded new videos. I have just about watched them all and learn something new each time.

Great video as always Danny!! You did an excellent job explaining the interesting Amtrak maneuvers. Also, that devil crab looks really yummy!! I gave you a big like on this one =- ) :D

Always the absolute tops in railfan videos, great job Danny. Now that the border looks like it might stay open for a while I can plan my next outing to Florida, and someday I hope to run into "railfan Danny" ! Thank you for all the interesting and informative videos, I have learned so much !!

I retired from Amtrak ten years ago after 33 years and love it. Nice job on the video it brings back some memories.

Another excellent and informative video. Thank you Danny for your efforts. They are much appreciated.

Another amazing video, love seeing Florida's rails! Perhaps an idea for a future video, the Amtrak station in Miami(Hialeah) and why it never moved to the new station at the Miami international airport. Keep up the great work, from Sanford :)

I rode Amtrak from Denver to Reno over the summer. Denver was very similar to Tampa. To get into the Denver Union Station, the train had to back up. I don't know how far it was, but it was a pretty long back. The fun thing in Reno is that about a decade ago, Union Pacific lowered the tracks to go through the, "trench" which actually goes under downtown Reno. The Amtrak stops at the station and when you disembark, you look up about 45 feet, enter the historic train station from track level, and go up to ground level.

Wow!!! What an effort on your part. Fantastic, thank you.

Love your videos Danny. Went with a friend 2 weeks ago to Moore Haven and Clewiston for the sugar cane train. What a great day with near perfect shots.