>>1291290In 2013, I unironically took a NE Regional train from DC Union to NY Penn, and it was hauled by an AEM-7. I must say that it was a really comfy ride, and I say this as a Euro who was a tourist then. The train was clean and comfy, the 4G free wifi was actually pretty good, the snack bar thing was OK (lacking compared to most European counterparts), but the 2h30 train journey was very much comparable to a typical intercity train service in most of Europe, and it was a pleasurable journey. The highlights included seeing some sort of US Air Base from the train (which had a lot of A-10s parked on the apron), a very animated black conductor who gave really nice introductions to stations and was really nice overall and a comfy seat, which I've really been able to compare to the likes of Deutsche Bahn's ICE and modernised IC trains.
On one hand, I really dislike America on a political and socio-economic level. On the other hand, it's a beautiful country with (mostly) friendly people and has really great experiences to have. I'd be tempted to return to enjoy the same journey again, this time hauled by the ACS-64. I want to compare the American Sprinter to the Euro Sprinter. They are basically the same locomotive at the electrical and traction level, but the Americanised nature and the more..... rugged nature of American rail specs just makes me interested as to how a locomotive I adore in all of its European versions (especially for its melodious traction system) does in an American setting.
