Vintage Amtrak Commercials

[rtabern]

Ran across this on 'You Tube':



I especially like the commercials for the CZ, EB, and SWC.

I think Amtrak's marketing department needs a major overhaul. Still promote coach and Amtrak in general, but also consider the idea to promote the sleeping cars as a sorta-of "land cruise" like they did in these commercials.

If you were watching TV and this came on, I'd bet it would get your attention.

A lot of people who I run into who just take Amtrak on short-hauls like from Chicago to Milwaukee have no idea how awesome the LD trains are -- or what great scenery you can see on the EB, CZ, SWC, or TE/SL.

I say put commercials like this back on the air and start promoting the sleepers as a "land cruise".

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

I say put commercials like this back on the air and start promoting the sleepers as a "land cruise".

HUZZAH! to this type of commercial for Amtrak.

With fuel and air travel getting out of reach for many, the audience is there. And I'm surprised how many people I talk with who have no idea, in the case for my area, the train goes anywhere past Ft. Worth.

 

[Kramerica]

I say put commercials like this back on the air and start promoting the sleepers as a "land cruise".

While I agree that the advertising would be great for drumming up business, there is a problem. Many Congressmen would get their undies in a bundle over "subsidizing land cruises" and thus put Amtrak funding at risk. We know that sleeper passengers are paying their extra costs and not costing any more than coach passengers, but that's too much detail for most Congressmen to bother with.

 

[saxman]

I say put commercials like this back on the air and start promoting the sleepers as a "land cruise".

While I agree that the advertising would be great for drumming up business, there is a problem. Many Congressmen would get their undies in a bundle over "subsidizing land cruises" and thus put Amtrak funding at risk. We know that sleeper passengers are paying their extra costs and not costing any more than coach passengers, but that's too much detail for most Congressmen to bother with.

I figure there's always going to be Congressmen or other critics throwing a fit for that. I say let them. In fact though, I did see an Amtrak commercial in Minneapolis just the other day! And I've also seen ads printed in USA Today too. And this is OUTSIDE of the NEC! So is Amtrak really trying to promote themselves now?

 

[Crescent ATN & TCL]

I say put commercials like this back on the air and start promoting the sleepers as a "land cruise".

While I agree that the advertising would be great for drumming up business, there is a problem. Many Congressmen would get their undies in a bundle over "subsidizing land cruises" and thus put Amtrak funding at risk. We know that sleeper passengers are paying their extra costs and not costing any more than coach passengers, but that's too much detail for most Congressmen to bother with.

I figure there's always going to be Congressmen or other critics throwing a fit for that. I say let them. In fact though, I did see an Amtrak commercial in Minneapolis just the other day! And I've also seen ads printed in USA Today too. And this is OUTSIDE of the NEC! So is Amtrak really trying to promote themselves now?

Until Amtrak buys more equipment there is no need for advertisement, Almost every train is sold out the day of travel. Why advertise for something that is already selling out? I think Amtrak should raise fares in small increments to fund the purchase of new cars, then worry about filling them. I wich congress would decide to finally invest in Amtrak but thats just a pipe dream.

 

[Gingee]

Those commercials are neat. I did see a commercial on tv a few days ago for Amtrak. No I don't want them to cost more. I guess it says something that the trains are filled. My girlfriend is going on a train trip Sunday with her daughter. This is her first time. Hope she likes it.

 

[abqdave]

Some of those old commercials were pretty good. Now the "Go...Ammmm....trak....clickty-clack-clickty-clack-clickty-clack" jingle has been running through my head all day.

Talk about things changing alot in a short period of time...did you notice no website reference? We would actually had to use a telephone and talk to someone back then to book a reservation or get information.

 

[the_traveler]

Talk about things changing alot in a short period of time...did you notice no website reference? We would actually had to use a telephone and talk to someone back then to book a reservation or get information.

What is this "telephone" thing? :huh:

Oh, it's that thing that you fold up, and put in your pocket and use on the train and in the car! But don't they call it a "cell"? :huh:

 

[the_traveler]

How I miss the 3 zone pass! I used it numerous times to ride the Desert Wind back to my family on the east coast!

I also used it on one of my trips that connected the CS (remember those days that it actually ran all the way from LA to Seattle?) to the eastbound EB in Portland!

 

[mercedeslove]

My art teacher always sings the theme from the first part of that video to me. I so giggled when I heard it just now. I also remember the "All aboard...Amtrak" commercials.

 

[amtrakwolverine]

Talk about things changing alot in a short period of time...did you notice no website reference? We would actually had to use a telephone and talk to someone back then to book a reservation or get information.

What is this "telephone" thing? :huh:

Oh, it's that thing that you fold up, and put in your pocket and use on the train and in the car! But don't they call it a "cell"? :huh:

back then before there were cells (GASP) there was a phone in your house with a wire going to the wall and you could only walk as far as the wire would allow

 

[Galls]

Talk about things changing alot in a short period of time...did you notice no website reference? We would actually had to use a telephone and talk to someone back then to book a reservation or get information.

What is this "telephone" thing? :huh:

Oh, it's that thing that you fold up, and put in your pocket and use on the train and in the car! But don't they call it a "cell"? :huh:

back then before there were cells (GASP) there was a phone in your house with a wire going to the wall and you could only walk as far as the wire would allow

Well the economic realities (desire of the consuming populous) are leaving the land line behind just as it once left amtrak.

 

[frj1983]

Revelation Video,

found here: http://www.revelationvideo.com/

has an historic look at Amtrak entitled Amtrak 30 and he has included about 5 different commercials that were at one time aired on TV.

I have many of his videos and really enjoy them...especially the Amtrak trips he has taken, it's just like being there!

 

[JayPea]

Revelation Video,
found here: http://www.revelationvideo.com/

has an historic look at Amtrak entitled Amtrak 30 and he has included about 5 different commercials that were at one time aired on TV.

I have many of his videos and really enjoy them...especially the Amtrak trips he has taken, it's just like being there!

I have several of his videos, too, and they are great! When I have the need to get an Amtrak fix in, I just pop one of his tapes in. He combines riding trains and shooting video---two things I enjoy most. And on the occasions when the train he's riding on is late, he usually adds a third thing I love to do---complain! :lol:

 

[user 1215]

Funny thing is that they can run these commercials, untouched and still be pretty close to how it was back in 1976, equipment wise... Save the paint and the F40s, of course...

 

[the_traveler]

Funny thing is that they can run these commercials, untouched and still be pretty close to how it was back in 1976, equipment wise... Save the paint and the F40s, of course...

I knew the Superliners have been around for a long time, but when did they start using them? :huh: Being from the east coast, I didn't see them until the mid 80's!

 

[user 1215]

Some of them were probably Hi-Level's, but I think only the SWC had Hi-Levels from the Santa Fe. It showed multilevels on other routes, so I presume that the Superliners are from at least the mid 70's.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Late seventies. Wikipedia is fascinating source of information. They were built from 78-81 by Pullman Standard, and a second batch, the Superliner IIs, were built 93-95 by Bombardier.

I doubt full equipped trains were running before '79.

 

[user 1215]

Depends on if 1978 means deliveries or started production...

...And it IS Wikipedia...

 

[rtabern]

I'd say late 70's and early 80's for the first batch of Superliners.

When I'm doing my Trails & Rails presentations and have to use the PA in the lower level of the Sightseer lounge cars to make train-wide announcements... there's a little "plaque" or certificate inside the PA box that shows when the cars were made. Most of the ones I have seen are 1980 and 1981.