I always appreciate the serenity of the Nathan videos

@AverytheCubanAmerican

Ай бұрын

Nathan is love, Nathan is life

@davidsixtwo

Ай бұрын

Serenity now

@alteredstate42

Ай бұрын

ahh shit this video holds dear to me...gosh its not as bad as you think... :P

Ngl, I saw "Hiawatha", looked at the day, and almost expected this to a secret trip report of the Borealis.

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

I didn't intend for the release to work out that way but here we are!

Vending machine chicken salad sandwich seems like it might ultimatly cost a lot more than $6.

@justinstrickland5382

Ай бұрын

It’ll cost ya a couple hours in the bathroom

@tmcorbett

Ай бұрын

@@bubbaoreilly7519Gumbercules!

@tmcorbett

Ай бұрын

@@bubbaoreilly7519 Gumbercules? I love that guy!

@MalWave

Ай бұрын

the cost of toilet paper will vastly outweigh the cost of the sandwich

@Unmannedperson

Ай бұрын

"Oh you don't pay... with moneyyyyy" *twirls moustache*

The Hiawatha Service was supposed to get Talgo HSR trainsets but Governor Scott Walker cancelled the project and the Talgo trainsets built in Wisconsin ended up....in Lagos, Nigeria. Sturtevant was originally known as Parkersville, after early settlers in the area called the Parker family. It's been named Sturtevant since 1923 which was when the B. F. Sturtevant Company, a fan manufacturer, opened a plant. The manufacturer ceased to exist in 1989. Right next to the tracks in Glenview is the site of a big Naval Air Station! It was originally built by the Curtiss Flying Service and intended to be the hub of Chicago's air service. When it was dedicated as Curtiss Field in 1929, it was home to the largest hangar built to that time, Hangar One. And it was quite advanced for the time like having a one gigacandela electric light which allowed for night airfield activity. It was used by the military starting in 1937 as NRAB Chicago and later renamed to NAS Glenview in 1944. It was eventually shut down in 1995, being turned into mixed-use development called The Glen, with Hangar One and the control tower remaining. Before it was shut down, this was the staging area for the Chicago Air & Water Show.

@LeeMoore-tu4gr

Ай бұрын

I still am upset about Walker doing this.....Hate that guy!!!!!!!!!

i think the metrolink cars are being refurbished by talgo which is why they're in wisconsin

@nbajammer2

Ай бұрын

Yeah, saw this on another video. They were towed by the SW Chief to Chicago then probably the Empire Builder to Milwaukee.

Yes WisDOT received 5 million from the FRA in 2019 for the airport station to build another platform and a footbridge! Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is named in honor of US Army General Billy Mitchell, who was raised in Milwaukee and is often regarded as the father of the US Air Force! Mitchell served in France during World War I and by the time the war ended, commanded all American air combat units in France! After the war, he advocated for increased investment in air power. He was the one that during an inspection tour of the Pacific in 1923, predicted the rise of Japanese strength and later foretold its Sunday-morning attack on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines. He passed away in February 1936, over five years before the attack on Pearl Harbor happened, and in 1946, Congress posthumously awarded Mitchell a special Congressional Medal of Honor

The Hiawatha is a pretty good service, and I believe one of the few profitable Amtrak lines. It was poised for HSR upgrade until the Wisconsin government nixed that idea. They used to have a beverage and snack cart, but I guess that's gone now too. They really need to get rid of the ridiculous waiting queue at either end and just let people board.

@davidhein8322

Ай бұрын

To be specific, it was Republican Governor Scott Walker who nixed the HSR upgrade of the Hiawatha.

@jtsholtod.79

Ай бұрын

@@davidhein8322 Correct. I was trying to stay apolitical, but that was the reality of what happened. Contracts had been signed and construction was ready to begin. Walker wanted roads, and instead got nothing. He was also responsible for the Foxconn debacle, so not a great track record. Oddly it was Tommy Thompson, a Republican, who wanted HSR over a decade earlier.

That intro still slaps

2:18 "I assume everyone's yelling at me." Same, Nathan. Same.

The Hiawatha Service's name refers to the original Hiawatha streamliner fleet! Historically, the Hiawathas were operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad aka the Milwaukee Road, and were among the world's fastest trains in the 1930s and 1940s, initially traveling between Chicago and the Twin Cities. The original Hiawatha fleet in turn was named after the epic poem The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an epic about the fictional adventures of an Ojibwe warrior named Hiawatha and the tragedy of his love for Minnehaha, a Dakota woman! The story takes place in Michigan on the south shore of Lake Superior. Amtrak began using the Hiawatha Service name for a Chicago-Milwaukee service in 1972, pivoted to other names between 1976 and 1989 (Turboliners, the Badger, the Nicollet, the Radisson, and the LaSalle), and then returned to the name from then on!

The reason why the Metrolink cars are in Milwaukee is because the Talgo factory is there so Metrolink contacted Talgo to refurbish the Bombardier Bi-Level.

@aaronmoriak502

Ай бұрын

To add on, the Talgo factory I believe was originally for building and maintaining the trains that would go on the higher speed Milwaukee to Madison route, which was about to start construction in 2010 before it was cancelled.

you should do the new borealis train next.

Two comments from a Chicagoland transit employee: 1) The construction appears to be at Grayland (Metra) Station, which is being rebuilt for full accessibility along with some more basic repair/replacement work. 2) Glenview Station is interesting in that it's one of a few mini hubs out in the suburbs that have Metra, Amtrak, and somewhat decent Pace service. It and La Grange Road will be as of next year the only Amtrak stations in the region without Interagency Signage, the program I work on; I'm hoping to add signage at both in a later phase.

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Very cool, thanks for the context!

Glad to see more Wisconsin videos! I'll be looking forward to the Portage least used station eventually.

I take the Hiawatha for work. For $25 bucks one way for an hour and half train ride, it is a great service. Just wish it had more frequency.

Amtrak is trying to bring the Hiawatha to 10 trains a day, but plot twist! While Wisconsin is very supportive, Illinois is filibustering! Apparently, some of the suburbs are upset about the addition on third-track sidings, complaining about noise and pollution from stopped trains. I say, third track the whole thing-problem solved!

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Wow, this feels like the reverse of how it usually is!

I am probably the only republican that fully supports public transit. I appreciate your videos. I used to take public transit adventures when I was a trucker and visited different cities, Public transit adventures are the best adventures. Thanks for posting and safe travels.

@gregarious119

Ай бұрын

There’s at least two of us.

You really need to ride the Pacific Surfliner. From San Diego to LA it’s a commuter type train that very frequent. And it has great scenery. And the trip from LA to San Luis Obispo is amazing, but only 2 round trips a day.

@repulser93

Ай бұрын

Technically it’s San Luis Obispo to San Diego twice a day.

4:29 - It's nice to see Konstantin from "Killing Eve" still alive and doing well with his new protege! 5:55 - Uh, oh... you've angered Konstantin...

2:01 the reason why those Metrolink cars are there is because they are being rebuilt by Talgo on the north side of Milwaukee. The cars you guys saw have already been rebuilt and were awaiting delivery to the west coast.

@f4fwildcat29

Ай бұрын

That's what we speculated when we were there to see CP 2816 come through. Thanks for confirming!

Took the Hiawatha last year was honestly really comfortable. Haven’t tried the new Venture cars yet, but the horizons were really nice

happy to see nathan back! also a beautiful station at the beginning

Nathan's sick burn "So you can;'t view that!" at the end hehehe.

So, they are also chucking the Venture business-class cars randomly in the middle of the set on the Lincoln Service route between Chicago and St. Louis, which does still have a Horizon cafe car with business class at the front. You can imagine my surprise when I saw it pass me, then was ushered on to the Venture business car with a coach ticket. Single seat both ways, baby!

@10:08 i like the stray hairs who decided to form either single cat ear or single devil horn.

Great job (as usual) Miles; hoping a collab with you and Jeb one day!

@jonathankleinow2073

Ай бұрын

Jeb and Suzanne and Miles and Aleena couples' trip when?

I love your trip reports!!! Thank you for posting this fun and funny report!!! 😃 I liked the sandwich vending machine, too.

I understand that Mitchell airport also serves a "Route 128-like" role of being the station that most suburbanites will use instead of the one downtown.

@flyingbanana4179

Ай бұрын

Yea, a lot of the south side, south shore, and southwest suburb folk use this station instead of downtown

I had no idea there was such a thing as sandwich vending machines. The fact that they exist is a really cool thought. Food-related stuff aside, this video was pretty good. I would definitely like to try one of Amtrak's Midwestern short-distance routes one day, especially if it has the Venture coaches.

Talgo in Milwaukee has been contracted to build the Metrolink cars. Same facility that built the Chicago--Madison articulated sets. The Metrolink cars get to and from this facility via the Southwest Chief and Hiawatha.

For about half a second I thought this was a Borealis report.

@mmrw

Ай бұрын

Same :(

@nicknack6042

Ай бұрын

Same

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Yeah, I haven't been on it yet :(

Very good. Thank you for all that information.

It's cool that they operate the same policy as the UK regarding Business Class/First Class: if the service is advertised as coach/standard only but they use a train that has the fancy seats, anyone can use them.

I like how they have to specify that alchohol consumption is strictly prohibited, as if that wouldn't just be a given. Gotta love Wisconsin lol

@BrianWeber-gt4ho

Ай бұрын

Well on long distance it's not forbidden.

@scunekt

Ай бұрын

@@BrianWeber-gt4ho huh, wasn't aware that was the case (I've only been on an Amtrak service once before, at least a decade ago, as a kid). Guess it's an oddity then that they're *not* letting us Wisconsinites drink on that train, haha

the metrolink cars are being refurbished and repainted by talgo in milwaukee. the best part is they ship them there by coupling them to amtrak trains! i've seen a southwest chief with two metrolink cars in its consist right behind the engine

Would love to see more Chicagoland content, there's plenty of oddities and weird transit trips to be taken here.

Thanks for the video! Sad there were no fun facts but given the circumstances I understand.

I look forward to riding in business class on my coach ticket when I ride the Hiawatha in August. Thanks for the heads up on the price of batteries in the vending machine. I'll be sure to buy some before arriving at the station if I need them.

5:15 Nederlandse Spoorwegen announcement jingle??🫵🤨⁉️

@iemanddiejijkent

Ай бұрын

I KNEW that sounded familiar

I took this trip back in March when it still ran with Horizon cars. There was some snow out in Wisconsin which made the scenery actually somewhat interesting. I still feel like 7 round trips + the empire builder is pretty lackluster though, especially for a commuter train. they should have added a round-trip with the Borealis instead of replacing one. also there was some drama about Amtrak removing the Monthly Passes on the Hiawatha for a while and their response to all the people who got screwed over was basically “Amtrak is an intercity provider not a commuter service. If you want a commuter train, take Metra [which doesn’t run up to Milwaukee so drive like a normal human being]”.

@wmatatan1

Ай бұрын

😅😮

I guess it made sense to let the builder go 1st since they make less stops

I've never been THIS early! Usually I'm Coast StarLATE! 😂 😂

Similarly, I rode on a Business Class Siemens Venture on the Lincoln Service to St Louis despite I had a Coach Class ticket though I was exiting the train at Alton Station which is the station before it's terminal stop.

I road this service a few years ago in the old Amfleet or Horizon cars. At that time there was even less trains per day but they did have the cart snack service. This service other than frequency and distance is similar to what we have in Pennsylvania on the Keystone trains between New York and Harrisburg. They use Amfleet cars but other than the train to Pittsburgh do not have a cafe car. One reason I heard was that Pennsylvania did not want to pay to have the service since the trip between Philadelphia and Harrisburg is around two hours and people can get food at either 30th street station outlets or the newsstand in Harrisburg that also has limited food service available as well as local stores near the station. The same could be said for New York if you started there as there are many food outlets in the station area.

Despite it's name, I found it interesting that it follows the Metra Milwaukee District. I expected you to join in with the UP-N in Kenosha.

I’ve missed Nathan! Top tier costar ⭐️

speaking of Amtrak, im sure we've all heard the news about this new Borealis train.

I know there's a big bottleneck in service due to lack of equipment but based on the crowds it seems like they should be really investing in this route to get more service. You could probably double the amount of trains per-day and still have room to grow.

I hope the Siemens Venture ICTs for the northeast corridor are slightly better than the ones bought by the states for the midwest service. I’ve seen some meager evidence they will have more passenger comforts, but nothing definitive.

What the hell, Miles? Videos don't just... start!

The 80 and Green Line buses serve the airport, both start north of downtown and pass through it, paralleling a half mile apart. They also run every 15 minutes. From the airport you can get the free shuttle at door 5 (NOT door 4 like the DOT website claims) to the station. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they're planning to add pedestrian access to the west side as part of this project.

FYI, i feel like there is no queue at the MKE station for amtrak.. since you show you tickets/boarding pass on the train while sitting... (just Chinese cut in the line... and no one seems to bother..)

Now you need to ride the Borealis train. Chi-Stp afternoon

i do have to agree on the greyhound option to CHI from MKE.. i guess its available only to those who don't book in advance for Amtrak, or for whatever reasons... the cost is quite the same... (i think.. not a big significant change)

vending machine sandwiches are awesome was really hoping for a review of that chicken salad. EDIT: and there is limited/no food service on your train!

Nathan is the Steven Wright of foamer videos

omg hi miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This better lead to the new Borealis train!

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Unfortunately not, I still haven't been on it!

@davidsixtwo

Ай бұрын

@@MilesinTransit do you need me to send you a check?

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Haha, I appreciate the thought! I'm just not really raring to ride it, since it's all track that I've been on and the equipment isn't anything special. It's definitely exciting, but I don't know if I'd make a whole trip just for it! It's the kind of thing where next time I go to Minneapolis, I'd want to take the Borealis one of the ways.

@davidsixtwo

Ай бұрын

@@MilesinTransit fair point, but just let me know if you need me to put my social security number here in the comments as a motivator

the MKE Station for Amtrak and so i dare to say it, "greyhound" but it does service different buses throughout Wisconsin! BadgerBuses (MKE to Madison), Indian Trails (Escanaba to MKE - which i hop on from Sheboygan to MKE) and i think CoachUSA (for the fox valley - "never tried them before from MKE to the FOX) Of course now it links MKE to Saint Paul/MPLS which is a huge game changer!!!! 8hr'ish bus ride or a shorter more nicer train ride... i think you can figure it out . haha.

2:07 Those Metrolink cars are brought to Milwaukee for rebuilding by the Southwest Chief and Hiawatha - then after rebuild, sent back the way they came.

It’s kind of ridiculous that the north end of Chicago Union Station has a level crossing! I remember visiting Seattle before and after they grade separated the rail lines next to Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park) and it was such a safer way to get across.

Wait, you took the Metra to Des Plaines and then took the O'Hare 250 Pace Pulse to the Kiss 'n' Ride!? Bro, you were right in my neck of the woods! I might have to join the Patttttreon just to see how you liked it, damn you.

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

I haven't edited the footage yet (it will be up on Patreon next Sunday), but I remember it being a REALLY fun video...

the metrolink cars are there for refurbishment Talgo is in Milwalkee

Here for the sphere \m/

Amtrak and Via Rail Canada will someday realize what we figured out a hundred years ago. Trains have many doors and there is no reason for anyone to wait in a single file line to board.

by the way, the quiet car is definitely is a plus.... it can get noisy! and well if you wanna be at peace with oneself. or just wanna take a nap or read/listen to a book its perfect! :) (taken from experience)

I’m surprised that someone from the Milwaukee tourism didn’t immediately pop out of nowhere to say “it’s not just a station. It’s Milwaukee Intermodal Station.” Mind you, they’ve been trying to get us to stop calling the airport “Mitchell Field” for decades and it hasn’t worked either.

7:25 That massive sphere is basically the only existing remnant of the failed Foxconn plant that Scott Walker tried to orchestrate. Quite ironic that you can see it from the Hiawatha, the train service that he campaigned on stopping the improvements of. Scott Walker deserves the worst and genuinely set Wisconsin back a decade, if not more, in many facets.

1:58 These Metrolink cars are there because Amtrak has been given a contract to refurbish them at the Beech Grove shops. However, I don't know what they're doing in Milwaukee because they usually send them up on the Southwest Chief.

FYI, i have suspision that people in MKE take the Hiawatha as a taxi/train service (for free) just to get to the airport.. I suggest that my theory is true... :)

@kitchin2

Ай бұрын

Strangely, on Amtrak you can book MKE to MKA (airport-trains, now 7 per day with Borealis) or MKB (airport-buses, 2 per day, on a Thruway bus). The bus originates at Green Bay. Amtrak doesn’t usually sell bus-only tix. The other thing is Amtrak parking at the airport, which Miles mentioned. They say they check tix, but it’s the same rate as remote airport parking (shuttle). One flub on the Amtrak app is that if you type in Milwaukee Airport it only shows you MKB, or only MKA if you’ve previously typed in MKA because you know. The algorithm seems to break on parentheses. Arghh.

The Metrolink cars are there to get refurbished. The freight guys will hook up to it and haul it north to the shops soon.

welcome. we have a cozy prison right downtown for your convenience

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Wow

@GM-qt3bm

Ай бұрын

My comments are gaining traction. Remember this when I make it big @@MilesinTransit

The "sphere" is Foxconn's "Research Sphere"

I think that this is the shortest Amtrak route. To put it in perspective, it’s roughly 25 miles shorter than the LIRR Montauk branch.

@kiosk5595

Ай бұрын

Hartford line is a bit shorter

Loads of commuter trains have a first class! e.g. Thameslink, Great Northern, Greater Anglia and LNWR? (On Thameslink, the *rear* first class section is always declassified. On some routes the *front* first class section is chargeable as such, on others it is declassified. Check before you travel.)

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Okay okay, my North American mindset loses!

@seprishere

Ай бұрын

@@MilesinTransit I have used the rear declassified first class portion for the very arduous journey from London Blackfriars to City Thameslink (which is probably about three minutes).

You should do a review of the metra that goes from Chicago to Kenosha

@MilesinTransit

4 күн бұрын

I want to ride the PCC trolleys up there!

No poor bid required!

Man I so look forward to commuting to Minneapolis like this in 2028 when NLX gets built.

Video Idea: ride Amish and Mennonite Bus lines? Or perhaps: try to cross the country on buses without Greyhound?

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

I sort of do the former in a very old video called "The Pretzel Pilgrimage"!

What do we want? More trains How do we want them? Midwestern levels of reliable and boring

In my honest opinion, Milwaukee to Chicago by Amtrak is a very short time, so it might not be worth it. Now Chicago to Minneapolis or Los Angeles, NOW THATS WORTH IT!!!

@shreychaudhary4477

Ай бұрын

worth it in what sense?

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Yeah, I have the same question...!

@LewisYamanoteAintReal

Ай бұрын

@@MilesinTransit its a longer distance, but do what you want.

@shreychaudhary4477

Ай бұрын

@@LewisYamanoteAintReal but pricier too

Did you ever find out why the GO cars are there? There is a nice coffee shop across the street from the station.

@MilesinTransit

28 күн бұрын

People have said it's because they're being refurbished by a rail company in the area!

so you took the 6pm train from mke to chi.... i can understand why you feel skechy about this place. to my point of view; at least when i make the trip to SHEB->MKE-> the only way for me to get there is via Bus and Train (Indian Trails and Amtrak) and that's at 6am in SHEB and MKE at 7:45 for a departure at 8:05 to get southbound to Chicago (there's always the airport and other stops along the way to CHI)

The Trip Report theme song has been stuck in my head for 3 months, send help...

When are you going to do Clifton Forge VA least used station? You must try Mike’s NY Style pizza while you are there.

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Justin Roczniak is originally from around there and we've been saying we should do it together at some point!

Do you take requests? If so idk why but a future video of the LIRR oyster bay branch

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

I've never been on it, so noted!

the hiawatha is boring but its Wisconsin. with its a connection for to be in the bigger cities! .. ... #Borealis #Amtrank [not affiliated with amtrak with my comments just a avid viewer, thanks Miles! :) ]

Those batteries in the vending machine are a POOR BID!

NATHAN!!!

When are we going to get the Chicago to Minneapolis or Minneapolis to Chicago on the new Borealis route? Also as someone who lives in Madison WI the fact that there is NO Amtrak service makes me so sad :(

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

I haven't ridden it yet, unfortunately!

@kitchin2

Ай бұрын

Lots of planning for Madison, it would be popular for sure. I think 7 station locations are under discussion, about 3 seriously. The Borealis went the other way because it had existing service. The snail’s pace is an insult to snails, but that’s the news. The movie The Prince and Me had a funny scene at the Rathskeller with yelling about Minnesota, but it didn’t look like a great movie so I didn’t watch the rest.

🔥🔥🔥🔥

3:21 lol when was this filmed? Or did the station never bother taking the sign down

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

This was last October!

Although this was posted just days ago, while you were waiting in line to board, I noticed a sign advertising "Milwaukee Holiday Lights" from Nov 2020--Jan 1 2021, at the 3:21 mark right about the time the pandemic virtually shut down the US! Did you wait 3 yrs+ to post this? Or was this sign badly outdated and somebody failed to take it down? And the Empire Builder pulled in from Seattle next to you--you could've opted to take a Superliner to Chicago with some advance planning AND had a cafe meal! Ironic how no alcohol allowed seeing that Milwaukee is known for its breweries!

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

This was filmed in October 2023, so both the video is late and the poster is out of date!

That's the same theme song used in the KZread series "Playing for Peanuts!"

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Do you have an example? It looks like most of their videos are too short to have an intro!

Wait no alcohol onboard Hiawatha? That must be new. (Also, it's Wisconsin.)

I can’t believe there’s not a cafe car

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Eh, there are many commuter rail runs that last longer and don't have one

Today's Soundbites 0:00 Apparently a trip report 2:47 5 minutes later (is this really a *miles in transit* soundbite though?) 5:33 F tier F tier F tier F tier 9:17 Credits

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

I gotta step it up!

Miles! Are you riding the new Borealis?

@MilesinTransit

Ай бұрын

Unfortunately not yet!

Is this the first instance of a Strong Bid?

@MilesinTransit

5 күн бұрын

An Infinitely Strong Bid

Ah yes, the Hiawaaaaatha