Amtrak Heartland Flyer - Oklahoma to Texas by train
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-jonesyokc
I took that ride maybe a week or two prior. It had 3 cars that day. It was a nice cheap joy ride down to Fort Worth and back. The service could be improved with a little effort on Amtrak's part. The route is just too unstable to run double decker cars on it. It is treacherous trying to get up those really tight stairs carrying food up from the cafe. I nearly went backwards down the stairs because he hit a pretty wobbly stretch as I was coming back up top. This could be improved greatly by running a single decker train. Maybe 3 or 4 cars plus one proper dining car with ample room for seating/dining. it would still be a relatively short train. I think it would make the journey a little more enjoyable -- and safer. Also, was there wifi on your trip? Either there was no wifi on my ride or it wasn't working.
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I took that ride maybe a week or two prior. It had 3 cars that day. It was a nice cheap joy ride down to Fort Worth and back. The service could be improved with a little effort on Amtrak's part. The route is just too unstable to run double decker cars on it. It is treacherous trying to get up those really tight stairs carrying food up from the cafe. I nearly went backwards down the stairs because he hit a pretty wobbly stretch as I was coming back up top. This could be improved greatly by running a single decker train. Maybe 3 or 4 cars plus one proper dining car with ample room for seating/dining. it would still be a relatively short train. I think it would make the journey a little more enjoyable -- and safer. Also, was there wifi on your trip? Either there was no wifi on my ride or it wasn't working.
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-amberatkinson4230
Like so many I of course am commenting on the PB&j. You never said whether or not you liked it. I also have never and would never eat a processed PB&j. High quality bread, homemade if you can get it, fresh ground peanuts and delicious jam. Strawberry jam, black cherry jam, peach jam, raspberry jam. I don't like grape jelly anymore though I remember Smuckers when I was a kid. You can also toast the bread which melts the peanut butter and makes it so delicious and goopy. I've never had bacon with my peanut butter which sounds a little weird, but the banana and honey suggestions are spot on. We had a Dutchie come visit and he tried a root beer float for the first time. It was pretty high quality, but he hated it. -
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Like so many I of course am commenting on the PB&j. You never said whether or not you liked it. I also have never and would never eat a processed PB&j. High quality bread, homemade if you can get it, fresh ground peanuts and delicious jam. Strawberry jam, black cherry jam, peach jam, raspberry jam. I don't like grape jelly anymore though I remember Smuckers when I was a kid. You can also toast the bread which melts the peanut butter and makes it so delicious and goopy. I've never had bacon with my peanut butter which sounds a little weird, but the banana and honey suggestions are spot on. We had a Dutchie come visit and he tried a root beer float for the first time. It was pretty high quality, but he hated it. -
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-TaylorMMontgomery
The consist is quite unique. Especially with two locos on each end. It's not like this is a frequent service that runs a lot that would necessitate push/pull operation but there has to be a reason for it.
This could be a fantastic -Amtrak Texas- train if it just kept going further south to Waco, Austin and San Antonio.
There was a push for such a service 10 years ago called Lone Star Rail but they could not get Union Pacific to cooperate and they couldn't afford to build tracks so they scrapped it.
Amtrak did a feasibility study a few years back to see if people would ride a -Amtrak Texas- service but nothing so far from it.
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The consist is quite unique. Especially with two locos on each end. It's not like this is a frequent service that runs a lot that would necessitate push/pull operation but there has to be a reason for it.
This could be a fantastic -Amtrak Texas- train if it just kept going further south to Waco, Austin and San Antonio.
There was a push for such a service 10 years ago called Lone Star Rail but they could not get Union Pacific to cooperate and they couldn't afford to build tracks so they scrapped it.
Amtrak did a feasibility study a few years back to see if people would ride a -Amtrak Texas- service but nothing so far from it.
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train
I rode the other way on this train back on a hot day in the summer of 2017. We were delayed a few hours leaving Fort Worth as the Flyer holds for connecting passengers from the Texas Eagle. I was on the southbound Eagle and it was late by several hours so we were late rolling north and lost sight of the daylight after the stretch along the Washita River. The trip was not comfortable as the a/c wasn't working in any of the 3 Superliners. The station at OKC was locked up when we finally arrived, so we just exited down the ramp between the building and the tracks.
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I rode the other way on this train back on a hot day in the summer of 2017. We were delayed a few hours leaving Fort Worth as the Flyer holds for connecting passengers from the Texas Eagle. I was on the southbound Eagle and it was late by several hours so we were late rolling north and lost sight of the daylight after the stretch along the Washita River. The trip was not comfortable as the a/c wasn't working in any of the 3 Superliners. The station at OKC was locked up when we finally arrived, so we just exited down the ramp between the building and the tracks.
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-davepov
It could make a BIG difference if the plan goes through that would extend the Heartland Flyer north to Newton, KS. There, you could board the Amtrak Southwest Chief to Kansas City and either continue on to Chicago or take another Amtrak to St. Louis. It would be especially great for Texans but also Oklahoma City residents. You can do that now but only by bus from OK City to Newton. buses aren't nearly as fun as the train!
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It could make a BIG difference if the plan goes through that would extend the Heartland Flyer north to Newton, KS. There, you could board the Amtrak Southwest Chief to Kansas City and either continue on to Chicago or take another Amtrak to St. Louis. It would be especially great for Texans but also Oklahoma City residents. You can do that now but only by bus from OK City to Newton. buses aren't nearly as fun as the train!
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train
I came into OKC from Chicago in the 1970s in the early days of Amtrak in a coach from an eastern railroad. Amtrak did not own any of their coaches yet. I had a comfy warm roomette. But a cracked window with condensation - so I could not see out. Decent diner. Unfortunately - the man in the next roomette - had picked up a female coach companion. They -entertained- each other - rather loudly until about 4am.
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I came into OKC from Chicago in the 1970s in the early days of Amtrak in a coach from an eastern railroad. Amtrak did not own any of their coaches yet. I had a comfy warm roomette. But a cracked window with condensation - so I could not see out. Decent diner. Unfortunately - the man in the next roomette - had picked up a female coach companion. They -entertained- each other - rather loudly until about 4am.
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-markdm4805
Great video yet again. Thanks for highlighting this unique route. The Superliner Coach Cafe cars are definitely unique. They are also found on the Pere Marquette out of Chicago and at least one Capitol Corridor train runs with one from Sacramento to Oakland/San Jose. I think there are only 5 built this way. The Surfliner trains from LA to San Diego do have a Coach Cafe setup though.
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Great video yet again. Thanks for highlighting this unique route. The Superliner Coach Cafe cars are definitely unique. They are also found on the Pere Marquette out of Chicago and at least one Capitol Corridor train runs with one from Sacramento to Oakland/San Jose. I think there are only 5 built this way. The Surfliner trains from LA to San Diego do have a Coach Cafe setup though.
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-jasonmoors1191
Very few viewers here know that this route was, decades ago, part of the Santa Fe's Texas Chief, Houston-Chicago with Hi-Level coaches, single level diner and sleepers. When Amtrak took over in 1971, the Chief name was retained for a while but eventually, the train was renamed the Lone Star--route was discontinued I believe sometime in the '80's due to budget cuts
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Very few viewers here know that this route was, decades ago, part of the Santa Fe's Texas Chief, Houston-Chicago with Hi-Level coaches, single level diner and sleepers. When Amtrak took over in 1971, the Chief name was retained for a while but eventually, the train was renamed the Lone Star--route was discontinued I believe sometime in the '80's due to budget cuts
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-Grauwolf57
Do you see enough potential to close the gap north of OK City again by a train? The rerouting of the Chicago-Texas service in 1979 depended, as I read, partly by lobbyists from Austin and the more populated Dallas area.
Got you wrong with the distance(244 miles? The Amtrak timetable from March 2020 shows 206 miles. And that the Oklahoma City station is unstaffed.
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Do you see enough potential to close the gap north of OK City again by a train? The rerouting of the Chicago-Texas service in 1979 depended, as I read, partly by lobbyists from Austin and the more populated Dallas area.
Got you wrong with the distance(244 miles? The Amtrak timetable from March 2020 shows 206 miles. And that the Oklahoma City station is unstaffed.
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-MDCSWildcats86
As an Oklahoma City resident, I can tell you this is the northern terminus of the Heartland Flyer.
The pre-1979 configuration (don't remember the name---I was 11 at the time) went north through Guthrie, Perry and Ponca City OK, then Arkansas City, Winfield and Wichita KS---followed by Topeka and Lawrence en route to Kansas City MO.
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As an Oklahoma City resident, I can tell you this is the northern terminus of the Heartland Flyer.
The pre-1979 configuration (don't remember the name---I was 11 at the time) went north through Guthrie, Perry and Ponca City OK, then Arkansas City, Winfield and Wichita KS---followed by Topeka and Lawrence en route to Kansas City MO.
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-trainmands2535
I have ridden the Heartland Flyer in 2021, and I enjoyed it. At the very end there was this lady yelling at her 16-18 year old kids who were doing nothing wrong the whole way back to Fort Worth. When we got off, I told my papa that that was a grade-a b and some random guy just started bursting out laughing. Best Amtrak trip ever.
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I have ridden the Heartland Flyer in 2021, and I enjoyed it. At the very end there was this lady yelling at her 16-18 year old kids who were doing nothing wrong the whole way back to Fort Worth. When we got off, I told my papa that that was a grade-a b and some random guy just started bursting out laughing. Best Amtrak trip ever.
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-derekstuart5234
Two locomotives for just two carriages? Even double deck, that seems an overkill. Presumably there are no turning facilities for the locomotives at each end then. I'm surprised they aren't using some sort of non-power driving car at the other end.
Are both locomotives operated under power at all times?
Great video.
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Two locomotives for just two carriages? Even double deck, that seems an overkill. Presumably there are no turning facilities for the locomotives at each end then. I'm surprised they aren't using some sort of non-power driving car at the other end.
Are both locomotives operated under power at all times?
Great video.
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-RedRiverRailfan
welcome to my neck of the woods! I live in southeast Oklahoma and catch this train regularly. I can't wait for this train line to be extended to Kansas soon. Hope you enjoyed the Oklahoma-Texas Hospitality! I actually made a video of this train and the Texas Eagle because of your videos! Love it man! Keep up the great work
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welcome to my neck of the woods! I live in southeast Oklahoma and catch this train regularly. I can't wait for this train line to be extended to Kansas soon. Hope you enjoyed the Oklahoma-Texas Hospitality! I actually made a video of this train and the Texas Eagle because of your videos! Love it man! Keep up the great work
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-MrJimheeren
One train per day in each direction? Why? If you offer it people will use it. Also why didn-t they extend the line to Tulsa. You can easily run 4 trains per day in each direction especially when the line is going to Houston. What is Amtrak doing. Or to say it better. Why are Oklahoma and Texas so dumb
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One train per day in each direction? Why? If you offer it people will use it. Also why didn-t they extend the line to Tulsa. You can easily run 4 trains per day in each direction especially when the line is going to Houston. What is Amtrak doing. Or to say it better. Why are Oklahoma and Texas so dumb
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train
The ONLY reason that this nice route exists, is that the state of Oklahoma pays, in part, to fund it. Outside of that, this route would not exist. America will never have the dedicated passenger rail system like what Europe or Asia has. America though, has the best freight rail network running in the world.
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The ONLY reason that this nice route exists, is that the state of Oklahoma pays, in part, to fund it. Outside of that, this route would not exist. America will never have the dedicated passenger rail system like what Europe or Asia has. America though, has the best freight rail network running in the world.
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train
I love the proposal to have three daily trains between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and extend the current train north to Newton. But it would be really great to have the infrastructure renovated to increase speeds to 110mph to have it connect the two cities in three hours instead of four.
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I love the proposal to have three daily trains between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and extend the current train north to Newton. But it would be really great to have the infrastructure renovated to increase speeds to 110mph to have it connect the two cities in three hours instead of four.
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-walkermangum56
As someone who moved from DFW to OKC last summer and still has plenty of friends back in TX, this was a great train to take Friday morning and head back on Sunday evening. But 2 trains a day would be much more suitable and demand seems to be there on weekends. Great video!
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As someone who moved from DFW to OKC last summer and still has plenty of friends back in TX, this was a great train to take Friday morning and head back on Sunday evening. But 2 trains a day would be much more suitable and demand seems to be there on weekends. Great video!
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-BillinHungary
If you liked the PBJ in a package on a train, if you are still in the USA, make a quick trip to any supermarket, buy a jar of PB from a national brand (my favorite is Skippy, and a jar of Grape Jelly (Welch's. Then make your own -: ) You will be in sandwich heaven!
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If you liked the PBJ in a package on a train, if you are still in the USA, make a quick trip to any supermarket, buy a jar of PB from a national brand (my favorite is Skippy, and a jar of Grape Jelly (Welch's. Then make your own -: ) You will be in sandwich heaven!
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-eddieflxible379
The scheduling for Train 821/822 was designed to connections to/from the Texas Eagle Trains 21/421 and 22/422
Furthermore there is a Amtrak Bus that runs between Oklahoma City station and Newton Kansas that-s designed to connect to Trains 3 and 4.
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The scheduling for Train 821/822 was designed to connections to/from the Texas Eagle Trains 21/421 and 22/422
Furthermore there is a Amtrak Bus that runs between Oklahoma City station and Newton Kansas that-s designed to connect to Trains 3 and 4.
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-ericdraven7857
I lived in OKC metro and considered a train ride but it just goes down to Dallas and I had no interest going down there. Out of the bigger cities I-ve been to in the southern states from Texas to Georgia, Dallas was one of the worst if not the worst.
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I lived in OKC metro and considered a train ride but it just goes down to Dallas and I had no interest going down there. Out of the bigger cities I-ve been to in the southern states from Texas to Georgia, Dallas was one of the worst if not the worst.
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train
Dang only $31 to travel 440 miles! It's such a shame not many ppl are taking advantage of that but now with higher gas prices, we could see that change.
Car owners be like: But I won't get to stop at that silly roadside attraction and driving is freedom!
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Dang only $31 to travel 440 miles! It's such a shame not many ppl are taking advantage of that but now with higher gas prices, we could see that change.
Car owners be like: But I won't get to stop at that silly roadside attraction and driving is freedom!
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-who346
THis is the only RAIL service out of OKLAHOMA CITY. If you need to go to other parts of the country, you will be routed south, then east or west, then back north. Instead of the old line to TULSA and Kansas CITY. they got rid of that.
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THis is the only RAIL service out of OKLAHOMA CITY. If you need to go to other parts of the country, you will be routed south, then east or west, then back north. Instead of the old line to TULSA and Kansas CITY. they got rid of that.
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train
Two locomotives on either end - means no turntable or wye on the OKC end.
Formerly a lot of Illinois Amtrak service ran this way. With a -tin can- locomotive with no motor, just cab control and the other locomotive providing power.
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Two locomotives on either end - means no turntable or wye on the OKC end.
Formerly a lot of Illinois Amtrak service ran this way. With a -tin can- locomotive with no motor, just cab control and the other locomotive providing power.
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-gdrriley420
they are running 2 locos because they don't have a cab car on the end. The only bi level cab cars are in California.
I really hope amtrak gets more funding to increase the frequency and number of medium distance routes.
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they are running 2 locos because they don't have a cab car on the end. The only bi level cab cars are in California.
I really hope amtrak gets more funding to increase the frequency and number of medium distance routes.
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-sub2julianthekang
For some reason i was at King street station in seattle and saw a heartland flyer Big Game train in front of a coast starlight. Idk why heartleand flyers are in seattle, and, why does it say -big game train-?
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For some reason i was at King street station in seattle and saw a heartland flyer Big Game train in front of a coast starlight. Idk why heartleand flyers are in seattle, and, why does it say -big game train-?
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-kenwbrenner
Hi.
Another very enjoyable Amtrak video.
I wished our country would invest in a much-larger and comprehensive passenger rail service.
This one is a good start.
Keep up the great work!
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Hi.
Another very enjoyable Amtrak video.
I wished our country would invest in a much-larger and comprehensive passenger rail service.
This one is a good start.
Keep up the great work!
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-skywardguy9081
Oh, dude. Please, do NOT judge a PB & J by what you ate! Those are horrible and are not worthy of calling themselves a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Make your own. They are delicious!
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Oh, dude. Please, do NOT judge a PB & J by what you ate! Those are horrible and are not worthy of calling themselves a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Make your own. They are delicious!
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-adams8132
Taking a train between Fort Worth and OKC is silly on a practical basis. Unless you just want a train experience. Driving is much less stressful and the two cities are a short drive away.
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Taking a train between Fort Worth and OKC is silly on a practical basis. Unless you just want a train experience. Driving is much less stressful and the two cities are a short drive away.
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-kenklein6543
Bonjour mon ami! Next time you will arrive in Los Angeles, Please let me know. I will meet you upon arrival at Union Station and take you to Phillippe, a rare treat for a train man
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Bonjour mon ami! Next time you will arrive in Los Angeles, Please let me know. I will meet you upon arrival at Union Station and take you to Phillippe, a rare treat for a train man
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-elijahweber8786
I've lived in Oklahoma my whole life and been on this train a few times. I really wish train travel was more common, it's a great way to see the landscape and not have to drive
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I've lived in Oklahoma my whole life and been on this train a few times. I really wish train travel was more common, it's a great way to see the landscape and not have to drive
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-calinradu1299
can someone explain me what is that sound, like a banging in iron with a hammer when a train is passing by? i am from Europe and i saw that only in America is that strange sound
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can someone explain me what is that sound, like a banging in iron with a hammer when a train is passing by? i am from Europe and i saw that only in America is that strange sound
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-mikeedwards9306
Great upload and glad you enjoy train travels in USA, before you mentioned it was better by train, my exact thoughts were going through my head, less expensive than car now.
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Great upload and glad you enjoy train travels in USA, before you mentioned it was better by train, my exact thoughts were going through my head, less expensive than car now.
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-InunoAva
Fun facts for Art Deco: Back in the 1930s Art Deco becomes every railroad companies to build a streamlined design train (if they got the money to create one and take care of it)
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Fun facts for Art Deco: Back in the 1930s Art Deco becomes every railroad companies to build a streamlined design train (if they got the money to create one and take care of it)
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-samwise-_
Great video, I actually looked at catching this service myself, unfortunately as highlighted in this video the frequency of service made it impossible for me.
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Great video, I actually looked at catching this service myself, unfortunately as highlighted in this video the frequency of service made it impossible for me.
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-jbc5877
I don't know when you did this leg of your journey but would've been awesome to possibly meet haha. I work for TEXRail so I see the Heartland Flyer regularly.
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I don't know when you did this leg of your journey but would've been awesome to possibly meet haha. I work for TEXRail so I see the Heartland Flyer regularly.
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