Amtrak Lake Shore Limited Split in Albany | Hudson River Views on our way to New York (Part 2)

You could certainly book the Lake Shore Limited and the Ethan Allen as two separate tickets. I went to their website and tried booking them together, and the option for the Ethan Allen didn't come up. I'm pretty sure that's because it's too tight of a connection. Amtrak generally will only guarantee connections of more than 90 minutes.

Historically, Amtrak does not use third-rail between Croton-Harmon and the split at Spuyten Duyvil because Metro North's third-rail into Grand Central is under-running (meaning the pickup shoe rides beneath the third-rail), while the Amtrak third-rail into Penn Station is over-running. When Amtrak and Metro North both ordered P32AC-DMs around the same time in the early 1990s, to replace the FL9s, Metro North ordered P32s with under-running third-rail shoes because they ran into Grand Central only. Amtrak ordered P32s with over-running shoes because the West Side Connection to Penn Station had just reopened and so they would only be running into Penn Station. However, the recent rebuilds of the Amtrak P32 fleet (which saw them receive their new "Phase III Empire" paint scheme and emergency escape hatched in the nose) saw the Amtrak P32s refitted with third-rail shoes that could run on both Grand Central's under-running and Penn Station's over-running third-rail. I believe it is still practice to use the diesel as long as possible before switching to third-rail.

In the past, The Lakeshore Limited timetable used to leave Chicago much earlier and arrive in Boston and New York much earlier. I was able to have dinner in the dining car after leaving Chicago, and it was nice to see the view of the Hudson River while it was still light.

That train station still has really good music while you wait out on the platform 🤓

Been bingeing on your back catalogue whilst waiting for your next installment of the big May adventure, thought I'd just drop in to add to the Croton-Spuyten Duyvil current collection debate - apart from the accurate observations on incompatible pickup systems, there is the small matter of the accounting mess that would result from the national operator taking energy on NY State's dime and the political infighting that might ensue. Thank you for everything you do here - it's a model of consistency and passion we can all learn from \m/

Albany-Rensselaer is actually one of Amtrak's top 10 busiest stations since it's near where a bunch of lines meet. There are 8 trains a day to New York City (5 Empire Service, plus the Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf and Ethan Allen Express) and they are quite popular, especially on weekends. That will increase to 9 a day once the Adirondack resumes. It's pretty terrible to drive into Manhattan and it's only going to get worse, so people often view it as a way to not have to worry about the high parking fees down there (Ex: $40 to park for 5 hours on a weekend). As recently as last September, pricing for tickets to New York City were actually competitive with Greyhound if you bought roughly 2 weeks in advance. Now, the best price you'll get is $36 one way for Saver tickets. The time to get to Manhattan is similar to the bus if you don't get delayed, but you get so much more room, an actual tray table (Greyhound's fleet refresh dropped them for some reason) and people that don't use you as a pillow. It's actually quite nice. I like it. Albany-Rensselaer is my home station and I make the run to New York City a couple of times a year (including Easter weekend for the New York Auto Show).

One thing good about the Amfleet cars is the convenience of the curtains versus shades since one shares a window with the seat in front or behind you. if you want the view just keep the curtain open ; if not close the curtain and it will not bother anyone ahead or behind. The shades on the other hand cover the whole window which may cause a conflict.

Good video enjoy always enjoy watching lovely to seeore

That's one thing I always notice with the staff on the Amtrak trains, all of them are very rude. I totally agree with you. I don't know why also the main conductor, I asked one time to see the driver's cabin and they just slam the door on me and not even seeing from the outside very rude, I don't know why, besides that, it was a very nice trip, I did the same one but the other way, New York to Chicago and had the same good experience of the split on Reseeler Albany, pretty cool. Thanks for sharing again.

How does someone so young afford to travel on so many trains around the country Lov ur videos

Just a point of clarification: there is no law prohibiting diesel trains from entering New York Penn (there is a law about steam trains, interestingly). However, it is Amtrak, MTA, NJ Transit policy to operate trains on electric power because of diesel fumes in the tunnel. There are a few exceptions, like in emergencies or special occasions, but for the vast majority of trains, diesel operation is strictly avoided. So much so that they have invested a ton of money in dual-mode locomotives, third rail infrastructure, and crew costs, just for a really short stretch of track.

I enjoyed that video👍👍

So awesome. Grew up in Alb, live in Schenectady! You showed my street in the video!

Next saturday I will be doing the same travel but only to Buffalo (Me and my wife are going to Niagara Falls) so this videos really help me out to see a little view of how is going to be our trip and stations that we will being to. Thank you and greetings from México. We really love trains to and looking forward to see more videos of you.

The jazz-vocal music over the PA on the Albany-Rensselaer platform, was, uh, interesting. Maybe to take your mind off off the wait!

Great series! I didnt know the locomotive had a third rail shoe. I wondered how the train was going to work with thee underground portion in the city.

"Passengers should proceed to track track"

9:26 Very smart idea Amtrak has

Great video, Tom, thank you. Unfortunately the commentary is inaudible over the sounds of the loco engines at Albany, but most of it is excellent and very informative. You asked why Amtrak don't run on third rail electricity all the way where there is that facility. I don't know, but I would guess it's something to do with the amount of power those big locos would draw down and perhaps the generating power is not up to that as well as the lighter commuter stock. Enjoy all your really varied work.

I thoroughly enjoyed your video, but was sorry to hear you had poor onboard attendants. I have travelled on the Lake Shore Limited, but to Chicago, and hired a roomette, which entitled me to free meals throughout, which were very good. I thought the time taken to join the Boston portion atAlbany was ridiculous, for the Boston portion arrived first, and there were no other trains in the station ! Apart from removing the P32 from my train, all the two P42s which had brought in the Boston portion had to do was run forward to the crossover points, and then back on to the New York section ! Surely, 20 minutes would be more than sufficient ! Many thanks for all your information, and I agree the Moynihan Hall is spectacular.