FROM: P. O. Box 9007
Berkeley, CA 94709 USA
EDIATE MAILING - - VOL, IV - - 1978 - 1979
Ratiway Passenger Car Annual
At long last we have finished compiling Volume 4 of the RAILWAY PASSENGER
CAR ANNUAL. Our printer has been co-operative and we have the book in stock
ready for immediate mailing.
As in past issues this valuable compilation contains a listing in numerical order
of all Railroad, Operating Authority, and Transit passenger cars in active service
during 1978 showing prior owners, names and numbers, builder and year built.
Besides showing disposition of all cars retired in the past couple of years, we
have a special feature in this volume showing the complete disposition of over
400 Amtrak cars sold since the energy crises in 1974.
Note: The amount of material to be included in the Private Owner and Museum
section has become so great that this willhave to be covered in a separate Volume
from now on. You will be advised of this volume and the price as soon as we can
schedule a publication date. Our goal is to have this out before Christmas 1978,
168 pages......$6.75....-.6x9".......Softbound. CONTAINS FLOORPLAN AND
CUTAWAY SIDE DIAGRAMS
(itlinois residents please Order From: OF AMTRAK'S NEW
add 5% sales tax), RPC Publications SUPERLINER CARS
P.O. Box 296
Godfrey, lilinols 62035
F irst Class FIRST CLASS
U. S. POSTAGE
PAD :
PERMIT NO. 1083
BERKELEY, CA.
To:
‘Letters =e
What is there left for us to do to help stop the Administration's present 434
sutback of Amtrak? A person feels so helpless this week. 1 wrote the entire
Senate (except Herman Talmadge) and over 50 members of the House. The replies
for the most part have been negative--against Amtrak.
Either the Congress is (1) grossly wisinformed, (2) totally stupid, or (3)
bought off by the aute/petro industry. Their answers are amazing.
Senator William S. Cohen's reply today is the most alarsing: "...The Depart-
sent of Transportation has concluded that without substantial restructuring, the
rail passenger service might have to becose nationalized by 1985 if the railroads
are to remain a viable systen. OOT ostimates that without its program, American
taxpayers could be charged an additional 4 billion a year to eaintain passenger
and freight rail service... Senators Leahy and Schaitt have introduced such
resolutions (to overturn the DOT proposal), but the Commerce Committee failed to
report then for floor consideration, It appears at this tine that this issue
will not come to a vote by the full Senate."
Is that the end of it? This is shocking! What can we do? Would you advise
your readers what we can do? The responses are dumbfounding and this last one is
alaraing, Is there any point in writing the Commerce Consittee at this tine?
Jeffrey E. Wetmore
Hovard, Ohio
(Ed. note: As promised, the main theme of this issue is vhat to do about the cut-
back threat at this tine.)
As | write this letter on June 1, the size of Amtrak's network after Oct 1 is
still a question mark. There is hope that the full Senate and House could restore
uost if not all of the trains preposed for discontinuance. Let's hope they do.
However, whatever the size of Amtrak cose Oct 1, the problems that plague Amtrak
will remaia. Our energies thus far have been attempts to prevent trainoffs. We
have had ne choice this year. We had to place all our efforts into preserving
what fow passenger trains ve have, | certainly hope Congress will restore money
to maintain Amtrak's services so that we need not devote all our energies all
suaner to fighting for the preservation of these trains...
Ron Kilcoyne
San Francisco, California
It beats me that any U.5, Senator or Representative who is aware of the energy
crisis could Jet the Amtrak wreckers have their way... Amtrak is not perfect by
a long shot, but an integrated, scdern passenger train network and bus network
can be an iaportant part of the answer to an effective energy policy. NOW is the
time for creative thinking about our public transportation is we are to save im-
ported fuel and fight inflation at the same tine...
Elwyn Seelye iI
Rosemont, Pennsy] vania
| an happy that Mr. Adler (last issue) agrees that | have a gripe, but | deeply
resent his remark that | am exaggerating. | did not exaggerate ay experiences
this past February in any aanner as | ae not in the habit of doing such a thing.
| reported everything exactly as it happened to my Scouts and me aboard the MONT-
REALER and the ADIRONDACK, Weither do | travel via Amtrak once a year as fr. Ad-
iia
Rail Travel Hews, Vol. 9, No. 7. June, 1979. Whole number 189,
Copyright © 1979 by Message Media. Published twice monthly by Message Media,
P. 0. Box 9007, Berkeley CA 94709. Subscription $12.00 por year; single copy S0¢.
Overseas and institutional rates on request, STAFF: James Russell, Editor.
Paul Rayton, Editor-at-Large. Regional Correspondents: Peter Putnam Bretz, Los
Angeles: Jack Ferry, Chicago; Kenneth Maylath, Baltimore; Peter Rocha, Boston.
ler insinuates. | travel it often both with my family as well as in my position
as a Scoutmaster. Rarely on any of these Yong or short distance trips have | met
Amtrak or Conrail employees who were conscientious and who cared about the welfare
of their passengers...
Or. Alian H,. Toub
Hiliside, New Jersey
ON THE COVER
Amtrak Superliner coach no. 34035 in a fisheye lens view as it was on display
at Oakland CA on May 17, The new bilevel coach, having been displayed at the Los
Angeles depot anniversary (see last issue) was moved to San Jose for a May 16 dis-
play and then proceeded northward. Al] Amtrak Superliners were out of service for
a time starting in late May when cracked bolts were discovered in trucks on the
new cars. Amtrak said the problem was remedied by tightening bolts so they would
not move laterally, {In addition, it was found that one bolt on the truck pointed
upward so that it would fall out if the nut were lost. The bolt was reoriented to
face downward. On June 13 the first Western revenue runs of Supertiner coaches
- were made. On the 5:30pm MOUNT RAINIER leaving Seattle for Portland (train 797)
the following Superliner consist was used: F40 engine #217 and coaches 34040,
34037, 34015 and 34016. One of the coaches had some lower-level seats removed and
a cold-snack counter installed for food service. The consist was scheduled to re-
turh to Seattle as train 796 on June 14. Superliner cars are also scheduled to go
on the PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL as soon as enough are available. Amfleet cars dis-
placed from the Seattle area are reportedly shifted to the crowded SAN DIEGAN runs.
Photo by RIN,
AS AMTRAK RIDERSHIP SOARS,
ADMINISTRATION HAS "SECOND THOUGHTS"
ABOUT ROUTE CUTBACK PLAN
The Carter Administration is reportedly having "second thoughts" about the 43%
Aatrak route cutback it planned. Reporting in the Washington Post June 12, Bill
Jones wrote that the Carter Administration the previous day had said that later in
June the DOT and Amtrak wil] meet to review rising ridership figures and consider
the possibility of saving some routes that have shown strong increases recently.
The article noted that the White House was responding to letters from Senators and
Congressmen "piling up" about the obvious discrepancy between planned passenger
train cutbacks and the present energy crisis.
Altho the deadline of May 23 passed without Congress passing a foraal rejection
of the DOT plan, the strategy being taken by legislators is to wait and watch the
evidence of Amtrak's usefulness mount as the gasoline shortage and other transport-
ation problens lead more people to try the train. Rail supporters in Congress are
taking the strategy of restoring individual routes by increasing Amtrak's budget
rather than rejecting the DOT plan outright. The Senate will be finishing work on
its version of the Amtrak bil] this month, while the House is not expected to act
until July or possibly later in the summer.
But a DOT spokesman, according to the Post, said that the agency is still happy
with the 43% cutback plan, and questioned how long the present rail ridership surge
will last. Amtrak's Alan Boyd (according to the article) stated that it won't be
until September ridership figures are in that the true picture of ridership changes
can be seen. He predicted "greater and greater" demands upon the Amtrak system as
the energy crunch continues,
Senator Frank Church of Idaho was preparing to propose an amendment to the Am-
page 3
trak funding bill that would freeze the present system for one or two years.
One of the main reasons for the growing support for Amtrak is the vastly in-
creased business Amtrak has been experiencing this spring in the wake of the cur-
rent gasoline shortage (and assisted also by airline problems). For the month of
May, Amtrak found dollar value of sales from new reservations up 72.5% above May of
1978 (estimated $33,000,000 against $19,128,342)--these sales being those by Cent-
ral Reservations Offices only. otal Amtrak tickets sold by the Automatic Ticket
Machines in May was 1,105,913, compared to 922,655 in May, 1978--a 19.9% increase
(Automatic Ticket Machines represent about two-thirds of all Amtrak tickets sold).
Telephone call volume in May was also record-breaking: there were 6.8 million at-
tempts to call Amtrak reservations centers, compared to 1./ million a year earlier;
4,8 million busy signals were recorded, compared to 92,000 in 1978; 1.9 million
customers completed their calls, compared to 1.6 eillion before; and in both months
4.5 million calls were handled by an Amtrak agent (Amtrak said the number handled
was actually down 3% because the average call length was longer this May--4 minutes
compared to 2.5 to 3 minutes in May 1978--a fact that probably reflects the lack of
experience with train travel of many callers this yo
Chicago Union Station is the only major station that counts passenger volume,
and it tallied 40.62 wore passengers on the Memorial Day weekend than it did the
same weekend of 1978, On the rapidly-growing Les Angeles-San Diego line, the six
daily roundtrips in May carried 148,324 passengers, an average of 4784 per day.
This ridership figure appears te break the previous sonthly record for the route
set by Santa Fe in 1947, when about 125,000 passengers were carried. At the pre-
sent rate, Caltrans is estimating over 1 million SAN DIEGAN passengers this calen-
dar year, likely to break the previcus yearly record of 1,026,389 set in 1947 (ac-
cording to Public Utilities Commission racords), The May 1979 SAN DIEGAN rider-
ship alse compares to 88,826 in May 1978-ean increase of about 60,000 passengers.
The Wall Street Journal called this summer Amtrak's “busiest summer", and noted
that its car fleet has shrunk from 2000 when it began operations in 1971 to about
1400 now. Ouring the month of May Amtrak turned away 756,000 potential customers
(of those who were able to get thru to a ticket clerk) because of its equipment
shortage. "If we nad another 1000 cars, we could fill them up today" Amtrak's Joe
Vranich told a UPI reporter. The 756,000 turned away was a record for Astrak, and
clearly points up the need for more passenger cars.
in the last issue of RTN it vas noted that Aatrak was putting up a number of
conventional passenger cars for sale, with bids to close May 30. However, shortly
before bids were to close, Amtrak president Alan Boyd learned of the car sale and
placed a moratorium on such sales, except for cars very badly damaged. Most of
the cars on the May sale list were described as only "minimal work required.” The
list included cars of all types, including four doses, #9351, 9355 (ex-SUPER CHIEF
cars), ex-SP lounge 9372, and dome coach 9420,
On June 7 the House approved a supplemental appropriations bil] for the present
fiscal year for Amtrak, in the amount of $90 aillion (last year $600 million was
authorized, but only $510 willion appropriated). This amount, to carry Amtrak
thru this September, includes §29 million for purchasing eleven AEM-7 lomotives
from General Motors for the Northeast Corridor, bringing the total on order from
15 to 26. The Senate Appropriations Committee was expected to act on the bill soon.
But the supplemental bill is separate from the Amtrak Improvement Act which will
deal with the DOT's cutback proposal. Legislators have already made moves that will
sost likely save several routes from extinction. Those most likely to be retained
include the MONTREALER, the CARDINAL, and one of the two NY-Florida trains planned
for extinction. In addition, a Los Angeles-Las Vegas-Ogden train seems assured,
and the SAN FRANCISCO ZEPHYR and SOUTHWEST LIMITED are expected to remain in the
system, in part because of high startup costs of the DOT's proposed combination
and cereus a of the two. The CRESCENT seems safe also.
page
It is usually stated also that "perhaps" one of the trains to Texas might be
saved--presumably either the LONE STAR or the INTER-AMERICAN. Senator Frank
Church vows that he will save the PIONEER. And Senator Robert Ouncan (see our
item regarding his anti-passenger train stance in last issue) on June 12 offered
an amendment for joint federal-state funding in the amount of $10 million to keep
the PIONEER running in the state of Oregon.
The most highly threatened trains include the FLORIDIAN, NORTH COAST HIAWATHA,
HILLTOPPER, SAN JOAQUIN, NATIONAL LIMITED, MOUNT RAINIER, PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL,
and LONE STAR. The fight in Congress over the Amtrak Improvement Act of 1979 is
expected to run well into the summer, and rail supporters can help now by contin-
uing to write their Senators and Congressmen in support of threatened train service.
Time appears to be on the side of rail supporters, because it is generally agreed
that the longer the legislation takes to completion, the more pressure there wil]
be to avoid rail cutbacks. The gasoline shortage is expected to continue at least
thru the suamer, and Amtrak ridership should be setting records. Altho occasional
optimistic notes about gasoline availability appear in the press, the most authori-
tative analyses of the situation, such as the Wall Street Journal's suamary of June
15, indicate that oi] production is a touch-and-go matter, and that the political
situation in Iran could at any time set off an increasingly difficult worldwide
shortage that would have many negative features but one that would help supporters
of rail passenger service.
Two threatened trains side-by-side at St. Louis on May 6: the INTER-AMERICAN (Jeft)
Thus the energy problem is expected to remain with us, and will continue to be
one of the most effective arguments for supporting train service.
Besides focusing on route retention, rail supporters will emphasize the question
of Amtrak equipment. The Amtrak car shortage is critical, and is frequently cited
as the major stumbling block to new service or expansion of existing service (or
even to maintenance of traditional service, as in the case of the reduction from
daily operation on the two Chicago-Seattle routes). Amtrak itself is lobbying for
more capital funding for new equipment, and seems to be hearing the voices of rail
lobbyists who are calling for retention and rebuilding of existing conventional
passenger cars. The above-cited Washington Post article reported that Alan Boyd
has asked his company's officials to contact the Budd Company to datermine how
long it might take to obtain new cars from them. And Amtrak has also contacted
Canadadian and Mexican railroads and Western European car manufacturers in a search
for additional equipment. A Wall Street Journal article of June 5 is an important
public documentation of Amtrak's car shortage. It notes that the Amtrak car fleet
has declined by an average of about 75 cars per year since Amtrak's inception.
This year the fleet will be about 125 cars fewer than last year, while passenger
demand wil] be much higher. Amtrak will have only 379 coaches in service by Laber
Day, the article reports, compared to 401 in summer 1978; only 72 diners compared
to 92; and 135 sleepers compared to 191. These figures take into account the new
Superliner cars being delivered, of which 47 should be running by September.
Rail supporters will be pressing for capital funds and route retentions for Am-
page 5
and the NATIONAL LIMITED, At far left is trailer used as station, Pete Bratz photo,
trak by keeping pressure on their legislators. Several weeks remain for the bulk
of this work to be done. Bayond that, other strategies for rebuilding our rail
passenger system will be needed. RIN will continue reporting on this matter in
the following issues.
Se Sr ES ESRI, EE ELE DPE TT I TE TLS EN OEE LEI ED
AMTRAK CUTBACKS: A CARTOONISTS' FIELD DAY
Editorial cartoonists have long played a significant role in shaping public
opinion on political matters, and in the current debate over whether to cut back
Aatrak, newspaper cartoonists have found an appealing subject matter, and their
results have doubtlessly been influential in putting pressure on legislators and
the Administration to retain rail service.
Perhaps the most widely reprinted anti-cutback cartoon is the Herblock creation
we described previously, showing Jimay Carter nailing a "closed" sign on a rail-
road station, while motorists in a gas line to a service station marked "closed"
look on in dismay, Other notable cartoons include:
***\ Kansas City Star cartoon shows a family at an Amtrak station where a sign
reads "No more trains by order of Congress." The father hands his car keys to his
son, saying "So auch for pleasant, fuel efficient surface mass transit--go hone
and get ‘guzzler'*,
***Another Herblock carteon pictures a jammed Amtrak train (passengers on the
roof, etc.) and a station sign reading "No more tickets; passenger trains all sold
out." Nearby, two Administration officials carrying a sheet of "Planned cuts in
Leeks sorvice® scowl: "it's another example of people trying to make us look rid-
culous,
***4 cartoon from the Kansas City Times has an Amtrak ticket agent telling a
prospective passenger: "Aw, your flight got cut for lack of fuel and your little
car car got no gas gas... like te help you, Bunky, but they done made off with
your choo-choo's,"
***Another Kansas City Times cartoon, like the above, by Dan Lynch, has a voice
from a car. in a long gasoline line saying: "Clever of you to kill off Amtrak, Mr.
Adams... Now we can appropriate that money to rebuild the nation's highways."
A Denver Post cartoon by Keefe pictures an Amtrak train on a trestle which
is baing demolished by a wrecker labelled "Congressional Wrecking.” Oblivious to
the impending wreck, someone on the train is saying "With all these of] shortages
and gas station lines all | can say is thank goodness we still have the train!*
(continued on page 20)
B CALIFORNIA PROPOSES NEW RAIL PLAN
California's Governor Brown on May 31 announced a new plan for funding rail
travel projects in the state. Brown proposes to fund new passenger and commuter
train projects with an excess profits tax on of] companies operating in the state,
and by increased state revenues from gasoline taxes, resulting from the increasing
cost of gasoline. These sources would raise $500 million and $610 million respect-
ively, while $353 million would come from the state's highway account. Other sour-
ces would oring the total budget to $1.8 billion over a 5-year period. The money
would be used as follows: $112 million to expand rai] conauter service in Southern
California; $20 million for expanding intercity rail service; $150 million for build-
ing aore commuter rail lines; $44 million for new transit stations and commuter park-
ing lots; $600 million for subsidies and bus purchases for transit systems; $149
nillion for new bus and car-pool freeway lanes; $12 million for expanded bicycle fac-
ilities; and $200 million for energy developaent and research.
The Southern California rail commuter service would run between L.A, and Oxnard
and between L.A. and San Bernardino, using SP and ATSF lines respectively. Caltrans
page 6
Se
envisions two trains each way to begin with on these routes, required about 30 cars
to be leased or purchased--perhaps GO trains from Toronto. Later, 3 trainsets for
each corridor would be desired.
Intercity rail service improvement would include the planned overnight Sacramento-
Southern California train and two daily Sacramento-San Jose runs.
Commuter rail line construction would cover improvements to the San Francisco
Muni Railway, construction of a rail transit system in Sacramento, and a Wilshire
Boulevard rail line in Los Angeles.
Additional rail commuter service between Orange Sounty and L.A. would also be
funded. The state legislature must now approve the transportation plan.
& AMTRAK DROPS RAIL PASS SALES
Amtrak suspended sales of its U.S.A. Rail Pass effective June 4, "until further
notice." The present heavy train ridership lead to suspension of the Pass. Amtrak
indicated that because of full trains, Pass riders could not always be accommodated.
\t was clear to observers that the passenger trains had become a seller's market,
and the Pass was not presently needed to fill Amtrak runs.
w ICC SAVES RIO GRANDE ZEPHYR RUN
The Interstate Commerce Commission on May 31, at the last possible date, ruled
that the D&RGW cannot drop the segment of the RIO GRANDE ZEPHYR between Salt Lake
City and Grand Junction. The ruling came on a 4-1 decision, with Commissioner Rob-
ert C. Gresham dissenting. Public reaction in the discontinuance case was felt by
an ICC attorney to have been the deciding factor in saving the famed passenger
train run. The ICC criticized the railroad for presenting alleged loss figures
that cannot be documented. A railroad attorney said his company might appeal the
case. The railroad must continue running the train over the full route until at
least May 31, 1980, at which time it can again apply for discontinuance. The ICC
said that it can order only one year's continuation at a time. A check by RIN
locally revealed that in late May the railroad was not accepting reservations beyond
the expected termination date, and travel agents were unable to confire a nueber of
customers! itineraries. The ZEPHYR still departs Salt Lake City at fam, just ten
minutes before Amtrak's PIONEER/SAN FRANCISCO ZEPHYR connection arrives eastbound
: <a ~‘., 3
On the RGZ's scenic run. Aerial photo by Paul Rayton, (A correction: The RGZ
photo on pages 12-13 of issue 187 was taken at Soldier's Summit, Utah.)
only three blocks away. This lack of connectivity with Amtrak discourages patronage
eastbound, and particularly on the Utah portion of the route. Some rail supporters
are studying the strategy of bringing a suit against Rio Grande to change its east-
bound departure time at Salt Lake to a slightly later time to allow connections.
The ICC in its decision noted that "The record indicates a complete lack of promo-
tion of the ZEPHYR. There has clearly been a lack of affirmative effort to encour-
age patronage... Such promotion must be an indispensible part of any serious prograa
page 7
trak by keeping pressure on their legislators. Several weeks remain for the bulk envisions two trains each way to begin with on these routes, required about 30 cars
of this work to be done. Beyond that, other strategies for rebuilding our rail to be leased or purchased--perhaps GO trains from Toronto. Later, 3 trainsets for
passenger system will ba needed. RIN will continue reporting on this matter in each corridor would be desired.
the following issues. Intercity rail service improvement would include the planned overnight Sacramento-
or ene et eee eo Southern California train and two aly Sacramento-San se Pte Sas ei
AMTRAK CUTBACKS: A CARTOONISTS! FIELD DAY Commuter rail line construction would cover improvements to the oan Francisco
Muni Railway, construction of a rail transit system in Sacramento, and a Wilshire
Editorial cartoonists have long played a significant role in shaping public Boulevard rail line in Los Angeles.
opinion on political matters, and in the current debate over whether to cut back Additional rail commuter service between Orange County and L.A. would also be
Amtrak, newspaper cartoonists have found an appealing subject matter, and their funded. The state legislature must now approve the transportation plan.
results have doubtlessly been influential in putting pressure on legislators and : AMTRAK DROPS RAIL PASS SALES
the Administration to retain rail service.
Perhaps the most widely reprinted anti-cutback cartoon is the Herblock creation Amtrak suspended sales of its U.S.A. Rail Pass effective June 4, "until further
we described previously, showing Jinay Carter nailing a "closed" sign on a rail- notice." The present heavy train ridership lead to suspension of the Pass. Amtrak
road station, while motorists in a gas line to a service station marked "closed" indicated that because of full trains, Pass riders could not always be accommodated.
Lote ini dismay." Other notable: cartoons include: It was clear to observers that the passenger trains had become a seller's market,
A Kansas City Star cartoon shows a family at an Amtrak station where a sign and the Pass was not presently needed to fill Amtrak runs.
ICC SAVES RIO GRANDE ZEPHYR RUN
af Herb] : The Interstate Commerce Commission on May 31, at the last possible date, ruled
SAT Hey ele etoeie rictares, 2 lemed tele. trate (oseeeiaers ig that the DARGW cannot drop the segaent of the RIO GRANDE ZEPHYR between Salt Lake
out." Nearby, two Administration officials carrying a sheet of "Planned cuts in City and Grand Junction. The ruling came on a 4=1 decision, with Commissioner Rob-
train service” scowl: "It's another example of people trying to make us look rid- ert C. Gresham dissenting. Public reaction in the discontinuance case was felt by
son, saying "So much for pleasant, fuel efficient surface mass transit--go hone
reads "No more trains by order of Congress." The father hands his car keys to his
and get ‘guzzler'". we
ficulous.* an ICC attorney to have been the deciding factor in saving the famed passenger
***A cartoon from the Kansas City Times has an Autrak ticket agent telling a train run. The ICC criticized the railroad for presenting alleged loss figures
prospective passenger: "Aw, your flight got cut for lack of fuel and your little that cannot be documented. A railroad attorney said his company might appeal the
car car got no gas gas... like te help you, Bunky, but they done made off with case. The railroad must continue running the train over the full route until at
your choo-choo's," least May 31, 1980, at which time it can again apply for discontinuance. The ICC
See said that it can order only one year's continuation at a time. A check by RIN
from Soden er a oriher 1 ratte see ee aint eer ‘— locally revealed that in late May the railroad was not accepting reservations beyond
Adars... Now we can appropriate that money to rebuild the nation's highways." the expected termination date, and travel agents were unable to confire a number of
***A Deaver Post cartoon by Keefe pictures an Amtrak train on a trestle hich custoners' itineraries. The ZEPHYR stil] departs Salt Lake City at 7am, just ten
is being demolished by a wrecker labelled "Congressional Wrecking." Oblivious to ___ Sinutes before Autrak’s PIONEER/SAN FRANCISCO. ZEPHYR connection arrives eastbound
the ispending wreck, someone on the train is saying "With all these oi] shortages ee er ste
and gas station lines all | can say is thank goodness we still have the train!*
(continued on page 20)
Ba CALIFORNIA PROPOSES NEW RAIL PLAN
California's Governor Brown on May 31 announced a new plan for funding rail
travel projects in the state. Brown proposes to fund new passenger and commuter
train projects with an excess profits tax on of] coepanies operating in the state,
and by increased state revenues from gasoline taxes, resulting from the increasing
cost of gasoline. These sources would raise $500 million and $610 million respect- ; eas Po aga : Mk . FA
ively, while $353 million would come from the state's highway account. Other sour- Sa aac Olea ; e 3
ces would bring the total budget to $1.8 billion over a 5-year period. The money On the RGZ's scenic run. Aerial photo by Paul Rayton. (A correction: The RGZ
would be used as follows: $112 million to expand rai] commuter service in Southern photo on pages 12-13 of issue 187 was taken at Soldier's Summit, Utah.)
California; $20 million for inten intercity rail service; $150 million for build- ‘only three three bl ocks away. This lack of connectivity with Amtrak discourages patronage
fa oc cme rl Ties, aon for no tant atationy and come park= Gath a particularly on th tah partion of the route, Som rail supertr
nillion for new bus and car-pool freeway lanes; $12 million for expanded bicycle fac- are studying the strategy of bringing a suft against Rio Grande to change its east-
iVities; and $200 million for energy devel sed and Pasesech bound departure time at Salt Lake to a slightly later time to allow connections.
‘ é gy 2 The ICC in its decision noted that "The record indicates a complete lack of promo-
The Southern California rail commuter service would run between L.A, and Oxnard *
mils tion of the ZEPHYR. There has clearly been a lack of affirmative effort to encour-
and between L.A. and San Bernardino, using SP and ATSF lines respectively. Caltrans age patronage... Such promotion aust be an indispensible part of any serious progran
Te page 7
to maximize revenues." One reader reports that Amtrak's computer terminals carry no
information on the RIO GRANDE ZEPHYR. The train is the last remaining non-Aatrak
long distance passenger train in the U.S.
aS
RAIL CANADA x
CANADIAN TURBO DESTROYED NEAR MONTREA
One of VIA Rail Canada's three TurboTrains was destroyed by fire at lroquois,
Ontario, about 135 kilometers from Montreal, the evening of May 29, The after-
noon train from Montreal to Toronto suddenly caught fire in an isolated area, pos-
sibly because of faulty wiring fn the front power car. The fire began in the
power car and spread to the next two cars before it was extinguished. The 205 pas-
sengers and 6 crew members escaped without panic, and had to walk about 3 kilonet-
ers to a rail crossing and wait 3 hours before being picked up by a Rapido train,
The three cars were damaged beyond repair, the thin aluminum skin selting in the
blaze, as it did in previous fire incidents with the UAsbuilt Turbos, VIA Rail
suspended its Turbo service, at least temporarily, indicating it could not operate
the service with only two trainsets. VIA contacted Amtrak to inquire about buying
its Turbo equipment. Awtrak has 3 trainsets in mothballs at Philadelphia's 308 St.
station. |t was the third time a Canadian Turbo had caught fire. In Sept 1975 a
Turbo power car burned near Riviere Beaudette, Que., and on Jul 20, 1973 a CN Turbo
being delivered to Amtrak was sideswiped by a freight train and was destroyed by
fire at Lachine, Que. (see photo and report ia RTN #64). Observers are concerned
thatshe..Jatest incident might mean the end of Turbo service for VIA.
SUMMER TRAIN SCHEBULES effective from Jun 17 to Oct 27 were available in Canada
about a month before the effective date. VIA put out a 52-page system timetable
with full-color cover picturing the SUPER CONTINENTAL in the Rockies. Major sche-
dule changes were reported here previously. The timetable also lists connecting
Aatrak trains, the Seattle-Victoria "Princess Marguerite", and the Vancouver-Nan-
aiao "Princess of Vancouver".
TRANSPORT 2000 CANADA (Alberta branch) advises that a Western Canada toll-free
number has been arranged for Canadians to make Amtrak reservations and get infora-
ation. The nuaber is 1-800-263-8776.
VICTOR IA-COURTENAY DAYLINER has been hit with a massive 20% fare increase. VIA
Rail's fare structure consists of code numbers which are applied to a table giving
the fare. The racent "5% average" fare increase produced little or no change in
chargss aboard the E&N Dayliner, so VIA decided to u the code numbers. This boo-
sted the one-way Victoria-Courtenay fare froa $8 to #10, and the popular 3-day ex-
cursion fare from $10 to $13, a 30% increase! Additionally, the boost in the min-
jaune fare from $3 to $4 has hurt local traffic.
eee
VIA RAIL CANADA plans to operate dome cars on the Montreal -Gaspe train out of
Central station starting next fall, it has been learned. The train's dome, prob-
ably one of the Skyline series, will run part-way due to clearance restrictions.
It is also expected that a Park car will run from Central Station to St. John,
NB. and on to Halffax on the new Maritine rail route. This represents an exten-
sion of the ATLANTIC LIMITED route, formerly CP Rail, now running only as far as
St. John from Windsor station. Two tracks in Central Station have been aodi fied
by the removal of catenary to accept done equipment.
SOUTHERN RAILWAY PASSENGER cars 835, 834, 837, 3787 and dome 1613 have shown up
on the Montreal waterfront, destination unknown.
ACP RAIL sulpher train derailed in Fraser Canyon on May 20, causing traffic to
be detoured over CN until] about midnight. The same weekend, a VIA Rat] passenger
train was being blamed for causing sparks that started a number of brush fires
page 8
along the CP Rail line northwest of Renfrew, Ont., tho no faults were reported fn
the VIA equipment. The fires occured May 18. And VIA passengers were bused
around a freight derailment, between Moncton and Sackville N.B, on the 18% and 19%,
CANADIAN TRANSPORT COMMISSION has confirmed Transport 2000's contention that not
all of last winter's passenger train delays were related to adverse weather. The
CIC reported that last Nov, Dec and Jan only 8.7% of VIA's delays were weather-
caused. It said that "32.4% were due to operating factors, such as meets, switch-
ing and traffic congestion, In addition 32.9% of the delays related to servicing
tize and bad order equipaent, 12.2% were related to passenger associated delays,
connections, etc., 5.1% were caused by accidents, including sishaps to other trains,
and 8.7% were due to plant aaintenance and signal failures."
ONTARIO NORTHLAND RAILWAY runs its POLAR BEAR EXPRESS from Cochrane to Moosonee
("Gateway to the Arctic") daily except Friday from Jun 23=Sep 3. Excursions into
this area inaccessible by highway leave at 8:30am and return by 9:20pm, Adult fare
is $20, children 5-12 and senior citizens $10. Phone 705~472~4500 ext 217.
VIA RAIL'S CANADIAN derailed about 45 kilometers east of Revelstoke 8.C. early
on Jun 3 due to a rock and mud slide. There were no injuries among the 240 aboard,
Three cars were reportedly derailed, including one sleeper.
NEW TRANSPORT MINISTER for Canada, following the May national election, is Don
Mazankowski, who replaces Otto Lang.
URBAN-SUBURBAN TRANSIT
HEARINGS ARE SET on Conrail's proposed discontinuance of the Chicago-Valparaiso
commuter trains. The ICC's hearings will be in Chicage on Jun 25, 26 & 27; in Whi-
ting IN on Jun 27; in Gary IN Jun 28; fn Hobart IN Jun 29; and in Valparaiso Jun 30.
THE GASOLINE SHORTAGE was felt in California first, and then began spreading
eastward. increased public transit ridership has followed the gas Vines around.
SP's comaute line reports a 10% ridership gain, and for a time an extra car, an ax~
SHAST A DAYLIGHT coach, was added to the trains. The American Public Transit Assoc-
ijation reports jumps in ridership "all over the country", SEPTA and the Long Island
Rail Road reported 5% gains. While transit ridership is up, highway travel is drop-
ping, reports the DOT. The DOT said California had 10-15% less travel on highways
in the early months of 1979. Since the 1973 energy crisis, highway traffic for the
nation as a whole has increased 164. The recent Memorial Day weekand saw the Tow-
est travel counts. The DOT surveyed the rural Interstate system (reflecting long-
distance travel) and found Arizona down 22%, Georgia down 6%, Michigan off 16.5%
and North Dakota down 232. ,
THE LONG ISLAND Rail Road's president appeared on nationvide TV news Tate in May
and told of heavy ridership with no new cars in sight, The LIRR told us that the
nostly pre-1930 MU cars have been scrapped. Their roster now includes 764 of the
latest Budd Metropolitans in electrified MU service, plus 224 modernized cars in
diesel-haul service (75 trailers, 138 push-pull, 11 miscellaneous). Forty-five of
the diesel-train cars are converted from the 1955-and-later MU cars, with 27 await-
ing conversion to push-pull,
ATLANTA'S MARTA ANNOUNCED May 31 that it may start operations on its East Line
on Jun 30 instead of Jul 1; starting under the old Federal budget will qualify it
for an extra $500,000 in Federal money. The West Line is now being tested with cars,
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT of Transportation on May 24 asked approval for light
rail studies for Sacrasento (Sacramento-Folsom) and for the Santa Clara Valley Cor-
ridor (central San Jose-Almaden/Edenvale). At the same time Caltrans said it will
accept applications from agencies for projects to improve multi-modal transfer, as
jn the Richmond CA Amtrak-BART-bus station project.
SAN FRANCISCO'S CABLE CARS are down for repairs, will operate again on July 4,
page 9
NARP REFUTES RAIL ENERGY REPORT
atrak's national passenger network is saving energy now, and within
a few years will save about 1700 BTUs of energy for every passenger
mile it handles OUTSIDE the Northeast Corridor. This claim is sup-
ported in a 22-page document released June 5 by the National Assoc-
ation of Railroad Passengers. The critique, prepared for NARP by
its executive director, Ross Capon, refutes claims made earlier by
a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report. NARP found:
*##080 labelled 1977 data as "current" and therefore did not take into ac-
count the record-breaking ridership increases Amtrak began experiencing during
the current fiscal year even before the gas shortage began;
***CB0 assumed the efficiency of air and rail equipment would improve at the
same rate even tho airlines now operate modern equipment and most long-distance
trains stil] use 30-year-old cars;
***C80 examined buses and trains solely as competitors, ignoring the fact
that ridership on both modes is now near the limits of available equipment.
CBO also neglected to consider the axtent to which Amtrak, as a connecting car-
rier, is and can bring business to bus routes they might not otherwise get;
***"(BO acknowledged that it did not examine individual routes outside the
Northeast Corridor, and our appendix lists the 'dogs' which drag down the sys-
tem average for spacific, correctable reasons";
***8Rail is the only energy-efficient mode attractive enough to win people
in large nuzbers from automobiles. ...WHEREVER rail services hava been discon~
tinued to date, the automobile fas been the big winner, ...No matter how effic-
jent the automobile becomes, its negative impact on development will continue
to provide a strong basis for public policies limiting its use";
***Accurate predictions of the rate at which Amtrak usage, and thus its en-
ergy savings, would increase cannot be made. “We believe our results are very
conservative and iaprecise, and CBO's results are even more conservative and
even less precise. We are talking about a fundamental change in domestic
transportation, The American public, according to current Amtrak and bus rid-
ership trends, is accepting this change far more readily than various Washing-
ton offictals who continue te advocate major curtaflments of heavily used Amtrak
services. ...¥e belfeve public transportation ridership will snowball] in
response both to deterioration of the gasoline situation and as improvesents
are made in Amtrak, intercity bus, and urban transit services and the intercon-
QUOTES OF THE WEEK***
“We finished our journey on the HIAWATHA feeling refreshed, and a little
angry. for 40 years, America's railroad passengers have been undesirable alfens,
taking up space better filled by coal and dog food. First the railroads and now
the governaent has made thes feel unwanted and somehow subversive, as if the only
thing that stands between America's boon or bust is a coach ticket to Omaha. No
other Western nation has dared to treat its paying customers so shabbily. Ameri-
cans have already paid for their railroads three or four times in the past hundred
years. Tha sad thing is sost likely Americans will have to pay to get their pas-
senger trains back sometime soon, the bil] for that golden spike come due one more
Pie --CBS Corraspondent Richard Threlkeld on CBS-TV's “Sunday Morn-
ing", May 13.
SLIP OF THE MONTH CLUB*** ;
"Monitoring devices showed that 916,935 calls were lost because the caller got
a busy signal; 448,657 got through to the Amtrak reservations centers and 330 were
answered and handled by reservations clerks."
--lratfic World, May 21.
(Who ere very busy counting lost calls.)
page
SUING TO SAVE THE AMTRAK TRAINS
On May 14 the California Dept. of Transportation filed
suit to stop the DOT Amtrak cutback plan. Here is the
complete text of Caltrans Director Adriana Gianturco's
statement of May 14 regarding the lawsuit.
There are many states and millions of
people in this country who are disillusi-
oned, disappointed and confused at the
U.S. Dept. of Transportation's intent to
begin dismantling the nation's passenger
rail service, our most energy-efficient
mode of transportation, in the midst of
an energy shortage--a shortage that
shows every indication of becoming a cri-
sis before any solutions are developed.
This being the first day of National
Transportation Week, proclaimed by Pre-
sident Carter, it's particularly ironic
that Congress has failed to take action to
keep a crucial component of our transpor-
tation system intact. President Carter's
proclamation reads, and I quote, "Trans-
portation enriches our economy... be-
cause of transportation's importance, and
to encourage greater safety and efficiency
in the ways we develop and use it...I urg
the governors of our states and other of-
ficials...to join with the U.§. DOT in
observing this day and week..." I fail to
see how eliminating nearly half of the na-
tion's passenger rail system would be re-
sponsive to the President's call for pro-
viding safe and efficient transportation.
In observance of National Transporta-
tion Week, the State of California is today
filing suit against the U.S. Dept. of Tran-
sportation, Amtrak, and the Federal
Railroad Administration to prevent im-
plementation of Secretary Adams' Amtrak
route restructuring report on October 1.
The grounds for our lawsuit are as
follows:
(1) The U.S. DOT report does not in-
clude an environmental impact statement
as required by the National Environment-
al Protection Act. Altho a negative dec-
laration is part of the report, it does not
adequately address the adverse environ-
mental effects that will result from the
proposed cutbacks in the Amtrak system.
These negative impacts include increased
energy consumption by diversion of rail
passengers to private automobiles and a
corresponding increase in air pollution;
the elimination of all modes of public
intercity transportation in some cities of
the U.S,; the displacement of about 5800
Amtrak employees nationwide and de-
creased business for small businesses
which operate as satellite services to the
railroad; and the conversion of some
tracks to rail freight standards, which
would make the reinstitution of passenger
service on those tracks subject to future
costly capital improvements.
In California, in particular, the U.S.
DOT report would eliminate over 300
miles of passenger rail service including
the SAN JOAQUIN service between Oak-
land and Bakersfield. The report would
also restructure the SOUTHWEST LIMIT-
ED, the L.A. -Chicago train, so that the
trip would take 11 1/2 hours longer than
it does now. The report would not pro-
vide for additional train service which is
needed in the L.A. -San Diego corridor
due to increasing ridership and the cur-
rent energy shortage, and would not pro-
vide adequate service on the COAST
STARLIGHT..between L.A. and Seattle.
(2) The U.S. DOT proposal violates the
National Historic Preservation Act. Twen-
ty-three of the many railroad stations that
would be closed have historic significance.
(Four of these stations are already includ-
ed on the National Register of Historic
Places, 17 are potentially eligible for in-
clusion--and these include stations in
Stockton, Merced, Hanford, and River-
bank, California--and two stations are
listed on local historical registers. )
Under the DOT plan, a portion of the
first transcontinental railroad route in
the U.S. would also be eliminated. The
National Historic Preservation Act re-
quires compliance with certain procedures
for mitigating adverse effects on historic
resources. As we claim in our lawsuit,
DOT made no effort to comply with these
procedures, and the discontinuance of
rail service that has been proposed may
result in the actual elimination of many
such historic places.
(3) We are also claiming in our lawsuit
that the DOT plan violates the Clean Air
Act. Pursuant to that act, Federal admin-
istrators may not approve "programs or
projects" that will aggravate air pollution
in specially designated areas in which air
quality is already poor. The Great Cent-
page 11
TH Ete br;
ge wi?
The NORTH COAST HIAWATHA has been called America's most scenic train ride. But as this is written, the train remains under threat of complete discontinuance on Oct 1.
With the continuing price rise and shortage of gasoline, more and more Americans will be denied visual and physical a
Unless strategies for saving the trains such as the Caltrans lawsuit (and a similar suit filed by the state of Texas) or legislative
those served by the HIAWATHA.
action in Congress this summer are effective, Americans' travel opportunities will be
i; —MPIre (Su
ral Valley of California is designated
such an area. The DOT proposal, which
would eliminate the SAN JOAQUIN route,
would have the effect of increasing auto-
mobile travel and air pollution in the
Central Valley and would therefore have
precisely the effect the Clean Air Act
was designed to prevent.
(4) The U.S. DOT report did not com-
ply with the statutory mandate of Cong-
ress in the Amtrak Improvement Act of
1978. Specifically, the report does not
consider the transportation needs of
areas lacking in adequate alternative
forms of transportation; does not consi-
der national energy conservation efforts
and the role of rail passenger service;
and does not consider the unique advant-
ages of rail service as compared to
other modes of transportation, such as
safety and fuel efficiency. Furthermore,
the report does not consider how fare
structure impacts ridership, does not
define a future market other than exist-
ing Amtrak routes; and does not consider
the negative effect of reduced rail pass-
enger service on tourism.
(5) We also feel the implementation of
the U.S. DOT report raises serious con-
stitutional issues concerning the rights
to travel of some individuals. Amtrak
currently provides the only available
mode o
for many communities in the country,
and the proposed Amtrak cutbacks would
eliminate public intercity transportation
for some of these communities.
California is seeking an injunction
against implementation of the U.S. DOT
Amtrak restructuring report until the
final report includes a detailed environ-
mental impact statement, all informa-
tion required by the Amtrak Improve-
ment Act of 1978, and a resolution of
the constitutional issues involving the
rights of travel of the citizens of Califor -
nia and other states.
We regret that we must resort to legal
action in a final attempt to preserve our
national rail passenger system. Before
reaching this decision, we pursued all
other avenues available to us, including
testifying before Congressional Commit-
tees, conducting public hearings in Cali-
fornia, and advising Amtrak and U.S.
DOT of the probable results of the pro-
posed cutbacks and the overwhelming
public support for maintaining the Am-
trak system.
We, in California, feel that rail pass-
enger service in the U.S. should be ex-
panded, rather than cut back, particular-
ly in light of our energy situation and
considering the amount of Federal funds
going to other modes of transportation.
ccess to the scenic areas of our country such as
curtailed. Photo of eastbound train east of Minot ND by Pegay Rayton.
It's really disturbing, at least to us in
the West where we are waiting in lines
for gas for up to three hours, that we
are spending 16 times as much Federal
dollars on highways as on Amtrak serv-
ice and six times as much on air service
as on Amtrak service, when the need for
alternative, more energy-efficient modes
of transportation is evident. It simply
doesn't make sense that the Federal gov-
ernment continues to pour billions of
dollars into a transportation mode we're
unable to use, while cutting off an alter-
native mode that has experienced dram-
atic increases in patronage in recent
months.
In California, we're beginning to see
a decline in freeway travel--traffic in
Los Angeles, for example, was down by
10% last week due to the gasoline short-
age. On the other hand, rail patronage
has been increasing at a substantial rate
in our state. The COAST STARLIGHT...
is the most heavily patronized, long-haul
train in the Amtrak sy stem and requires
a 3-week wait for reservations. The SAN
JOAQUIN...which will be eliminated un-
der the U.S. DOT report, has shown a
60% increase in ridership in the last
year and is running full with some stan-
dees. Ridership on the SAN DIEGAN
service...has tripled in less than three
years and had the highest ridership
ever last weekend.
The L.A. -San Diego train, on recent
weekends, has been getting about 185
passenger miles per gallon of diesel
fuel. This compares with the U.S. DOT
figure for the U.S. average of 44 pass-
enger miles per gallon for intercity auto.
Despite the demorstrated demand for
passenger rail service in California and
the obvious energy conservation bene-
fits, the U.S. DOT report provides no
track improvements and no additional
trains for California and reduces the ef-
fectiveness of the existing service.
Altho we in California are very con-
cerned about the U.S. DOT's proposed
Amtrak reductions, wé see this as a
national issue. The patterns we've been
seeing in California are similar to what's
-beeing seen across the country, and we
expect other states to be joining us in
our efforts to maintain and expand the
national rail passenger system.
RP ebstese
[rae mor 9}
Texas Attorney General Mark White filed
a sipilar suit in federal court in Laredo
on May 22. Several other states are ex-
pected to join in this action which some
rail supporters are dubbing the "Austin
w
Tea Party". ee
oF fei;
Aq
ie Ss Sa
The NORTH COAST HIAWATHA has been called America's most scenic train ride. But as this is written, the train remains under threat of complete discontinuance on Oct 1.
With the continuing price rise and shortage of gasoline, more and wore Americans will be denied visual and physical a
ccess to the scenic areas of our country such as
Unless strategies for saving the trains such as the Caltrans lawsuit (and a similar suit filed by the state of Texas) or legislative
ill be curtailed. Photo of eastbound train east of Minot NO by Peggy Rayton.
such an area. The DOT proposal, which
would eliminate the SAN JOAQUIN route,
would have the effect of increasing auto-
mobile travel and air pollution in the
Central Valley and would therefore have
precisely the effect the Clean Air Act
was designed to prevent.
(4) The U.S. DOT report did not com-
ply with the statutory mandate of Cong-
ress in the Amtrak Improvement Act of
1978. Specifically, the report does not
consider the transportation needs of
areas lacking in adequate alternative
forms of transportation; does not consi-
der national energy conservation efforts
and the role of rail passenger service;
and does not consider the unique advant-
ages of rail service as compared to
other modes of transportation, such as
safety and fuel efficiency. Furthermore,
the report does not consider how fare
structure impacts ridership, does not
define a future market other than exist-
ing Amtrak routes; and does not consider
the negative effect of reduced rail pass-
enger service on tourism.
(5) We also feel the implementation of
the U.S. DOT report raises serious con-
stitutional issues concerning the rights
to travel of some individuals. Amtrak
currently provides the only available
, 2
mode of public intercity transportation
for many communities in the country,
and the proposed Amtrak cutbacks would
eliminate public intercity transportation
for some of these communities.
California is seeking an injunction
against implementation of the U.S. DOT
Amtrak restructuring report until the
final report includes a detailed environ-
mental impact statement, all informa-
tion required by the Amtrak Improve-
ment Act of 1978, and a resolution of
the constitutional issues involving the
rights of travel of the citizens of Califor -
nia and other states.
We regret that we must resort to legal
action in a final attempt to preserve our
national rail passenger system. Before
reaching this decision, we pursued all
other avenues available to us, including
testifying before Congressional Commit-
tees, conducting public hearings in Cali-
fornia, and advising Amtrak and U.S.
DOT of the probable results of the pro-
posed cutbacks and the overwhelming
public support for maintaining the Am-
trak system.
We, in California, feel that rail pase-
enger service in the U.S. should be ex-
panded, rather than cut back, particular-
ly in light of our energy situation and
considering the amount of Federal funds
going to other modes of transportation.
¥
It's really disturbing, at least to ua in
the West where we are waiting in lines
for gas for up to three hours, that we
are spending 16 times as much Federal
dollars on highways as on Amtrak serv-
ice and six times as much on air service
as on Amtrak service, when the need for
alternative, more energy-efficient modes
of transportation is evident. It simply
doesn't make sense that the Federal gov-
ernment continues to pour billions of
dollars into a transportation mode we're
unable to use, while cutting off an alter-
native mode that has experienced dram-
atic increases in patronage in recent
months.
In California, we're beginning to see
a decline in freeway travel--traffic in
Los Angeles, for example, was down by
10% last week due to the gasoline short-
age. On the other hand, rail patronage
has been increasing at a substantial rate
in our state. The COAST STARLIGHT...
is the most heavily patronized, long-haul
train in the Amtrak sy stem and requires
a 3-week wait for reservations. The SAN
JOAQUIN. ..which will be eliminated un-
der the U.S. DOT report, has shown a
60% increase in ridership in the last
year and is running full with some stan-
dees. Ridership on the SAN DIEGAN
service...has tripled in less than three
years and had the highest ridership
ever last weekend.
The L.A. -San Diego train, on recent
weekends, has been getting about 185
passenger miles per gallon of diesel
fuel. This compares with the U.S. DOT
figure for the U.S. average of 44 pass-
enger miles per gallon for intercity auto.
Despite the demorstrated demand for
passenger rail service in California and
the obvious energy conservation bene-
fits, the U.S. DOT report provides no
track improvements and no additional
trains for California and reduces the ef-
fectiveness of the existing service.
Altho we in California are very con-
cerned about the U.S. DOT's proposed
Amtrak reductions, we see this as a
national issue. The patterns we've been
seeing in California are similar to what's
-beeing seen across the country, and we
expect other states to be joining us in
our efforts to maintain and expand the
national rail passenger system.
Texas Attorney General Mark White filed
a similar suit in federal court in Laredo
on May 22. Several other states are ex-
pected to join in this action which some
rail supporters are dubbing the "Austin
i
Tea Party". page 13
|
EMPIRE BUILDER'S FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Presumed to be bu GLENN LEE — (PR.-00% 202!)
rolling monument to one of America's industrial titans celebrated its
50% anniversary on Sunday, June 10,
The "monument" is the EMPIRE BUILDER, an Amtrak Chicago-Seattle
train, named in honor of James Jerome Hi], founder of the Great North-
ern Railway. More than any other individual, Hill developed the vast
land from Minnesota to Washington State, from the Canadian border to
Colorado.
He built the first railroad to the West Coast without federal financial aid. He
opened new trading routes to the Urient. His agents persuaded millions of immigrants
to move to the Northwest, and they and their descendants transformed the fertile land
into rich, productive country,
Hill was a legend while he lived and remains a legand after his death in 1916, In
Hill's honor, his company's board of directors authorized refurbishing the line's
premier train and renaming it the EMPIRE BRILDER, a title bestowed on hig during his
business career, On June 29, 1929, the BUILDER went into service and remains to this
day one of America's premier long distance trains. It remained when Awtrak took over
jn 1971 and will continue operation even if the DOT restructuring plan takes effect
as scheduled on Oct 1.
On June 10 champagne and special birthday cakes were served in the dining cars of
the EMPIRE BUILDERS departing Chicago and Seattle to commenorate the train's hal f-
century of service and the man--and the legned--for whom it was named,
That legend is worth remembering. Hill was 18 when, in 1956, he moved from On-
tario to a settlement in Minnesota that was beginning to dislike its early name of
Pig's Eye and was calling itself St. Paul. He became involved in river transport on
the Mississippi. in 1878 Hill and three acquaintances bought the St. Paul & Pacific,
a broken-down railroad despite its grandiose name. For very little cash--and a lot
of credit--Hill, now barely 40, took over the line's operations and built track to a
junction with the Canadian Pacific, It couldn't have happened at a better tine,
Two huge wheat harvests followed. What had been a trickle of immigrants from Norway
and Sweden into the area now rose in full flood,
Hill sent agents to Europe with promises of free land and cheap transportation.
He would haul a healthy immigrant halfway across the U.S. for $10 if the immigrant
would agree to settle along Hill's rails. The immigrant and his entire family,
complete with household effects and perhaps even a few animals, could come in a
freight car for just a little more.
Nor did Hill gouge his new settlers with high rates once he had them on the land.
He made sure their rates stayed low, and even provided the finest cattle possible
for free.
As early as 1879, Hill told his friends that he was going to push his railroad
across the continent to reach Puget Sound. No other company had ever tried to cross
the continent without a subsidy from the Federal Government, But Hill did, seeing
all the while that a line of grain elevators went up along the line to provide cargo
for his trains. “Hill's Folly," in reality the Great Northern since 1890, reached
Puget Sound at Everett, Washington, in 1893, the year of a financial panic, when the
Santa Fe and Union Pacific went into the hands of receivers. But not the Great Nor-
thera! {t prospered with grain from Minnesota and North Dakota and lumber fom the
Pacific Northwest.
Later, Hill bought controlling interest of the Northern Pacifci and the Burling-
ton lines, building a huge rail network, Hill used his rail line as the new Worth-
west Passage to the Orient. He aet with Japanese industrialists and showed thea
that American cotton was good indeed. From then on, Great Northern cars carried a
skeadiy increasing amount of Southern cotton over Burlington and GN rails to Seattle
page 14
ale
for shipment to Japan.
it proved to be a huge business, So did the American ox-
port of New England cotton goods to China. Minnesota flour went across the Paci-
fic. So did metals from Colorado, Thus did Jim Hill's imagination and drive build
a trade route from New Orleans and Boston to the Orient.
The EMPIRE BUILDER was the successor to the ORIENTAL LIMITED, which dated from
1905 and had a maritiae extension to the Orient in the form of the GN steamship
"Minnesota," linking Seattle with Japan and China.
The first EMPIRE BUILDER streaalined trains introduced a colorful livery of
bands of orange and green, separated by gold striping. The early trains contained
elegant lounge rooms, buffet, barber shop, and shower baths. Special features in-
cluded radio, stock market reports, and 4 o'clock tea "served daily as an expres-
sion of courtesy and hospitality by the dining car steward."
After World War 11, the Great Northern introduced new streanliners, including 22
new dome cars in 1955, The fleet included six full-length Great Dome lounge cars,
a spectacular addition that enabled passengers to sea the scenery from an upper
level, glass-enclosad, theater-type setting, Dome cars remain on Amtrak's BUILDER,
and the train will soon becoae the first long-distance line to operate Amtrak's new
bi-level Spat Viner cars.
The BUILDER has Tong been one of America's most popular trains, and the only one
that actually skirts a national park.: The scenery between East Glacier Park Station
and Belton, on the Western border, affords a spectacular vista of Glacier National
Park for 5/ miles, Other popular scenic views from the train are along the Nissis-
sippi River and in Washington's Cascade Range.
As long as the BUILDER continues to carry passengers across the nation to the
great Pacific Northwest, the rolling tribute to Jim Hill will continue to remind
passengers that probably no other single American had quite as auch influence on
so large a region.
PASSENGER TRAINS TO CONCORD
by Peter Roehm
Finally, trains (again) to the Granite State! Not tomorrow but very possibly by
early next year. Long talked about and strongly endorsed at the beginning of this
year by the new New Hampshire governor, Hugh Gallen, the service would run fron
Boston to Lowel], thence north to Nashua, Manchester, and Concord--73 wiles distant.
Gallen becane "appalled" at the "cram and jam" rush hour and weekend traffic on
Interstate 93, which connects southern New Haspshire with eastern Massachusetts, and
felt there must be a better way. There is!
Southern New Hampshire is a recreational and bedroom state for people living and/
or working in Boston and eastern Hassachusetts--and, too, hikers, skiers, and com-
nuters have long held out hope that someday trains would run at least to Concord,
and then maybe to the lakes and mountain country to the north. Part of this dream
may be realized, but obstacles of cost, track rehabilitation, and equipment aust be
overcone, If southern New Hampshire can be called an adjunct of metropolitan Bos-
ton, then 80% UMTA funding could be secured, altho Gallen is hoping for 100% from
the Feds for a one-year experimental service. Alan Dustin, president of the B&H,
sees $3 million and four months’ tine necessary for tie replacesent, roadbed re-
pairs, some superelevation work, and new signalling in order to get the track to
GOmph speeds. This applies from Lowel] north to Concord. From Lowell south, work
is presently commencing on making the line capable of high and wide loads, and
thers will cone with this new ties, ballast, upgraded track and signals, which
should take the line to 70aph.
The equipment problem may be the hardest to overcone. On Friday, May 4, F40
-#1009 and the only four Pullaans in town--coaches 301, 302, 303 and control car
1301, made a Legislature-mandated run to Concord with officials of the MBTA, Ba,
page 15
the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and other transportation VIP's, plus
the press. This train was to have originally run on Apr 21, but MBTA Chairman Rob-
ert Foster cancelled it with his now historic (or hysteric) quote of "it doesn't
seem acononically intelligent to encourage people to work in Massachusetts and live
in New Hampshire.® That brought the wrath upon him from many fronts including the
Legislature, which has since made it known that commuter rail policy is made by
them and not by the governor and his appointees.
Tha train departed control car first at 1:00pm and ran north on the New Hamp-
shire Division of the B&M, stopping in Winchester, Lowell, Nashua, Manchester, and
finally Concord. The run took about 2 hours for the 73 miles--a bit better than
present bus schedules. The high school band was on hand, as were some 300 specta-
tors eager to see this new development in commuter rail transit. The UPI reported
hundreds of persons along the right of way as the train passed by.
Besides Governor Gallen, the mayors of Nashua (Arel), Manchester (Stanton), and
Concord (Gross), all pro-rail, were on board as were a number of legislators from
both states. The New Hampshire politicos claim that they could take the train to
Concord when the Legislature was in session and be able to read or work enroute--
something that cannot be done in an auto.
Ere atic SSS
The demonstration train at Concord NH on May 4, Photo _by the author.
It is estimated that a subsidy for 6 roundtrips daily (3 in rush hour and 3 dur-
ing off-peak) vould cost atit over $500,000 with a desired running tise of 1:45
and a Boston-Concord fare of from $3.50 to $4. When the last train ran from Con-
cord to Boston on Jun 30, 1969, the fare was $3.29. There is a good chance that
if these trains run and prove successful, an atteapt will be made to get service
to Dover and Portland and eventually reopen what is left of the old Eastern line
above Ipswich to Newburyport and Portsmouth. But right now it is the line to Con-
cord and everything appears very hopeful.
In 1958 the B&M ran Boston-Concord with stops at Lowell, Nashua, and Manchester
in about 1:30, and this was the same in 1964, In 1979 Vermont Transit and Contin-
ental Trailways do it in about 2=2:15. The B&M demo run did it in just over two
hours, but that included lengthy stops for political reasons in Nashua and Man-
chester to receive various state dignitaries. There appears to be no reason why a
few track improvements would not make the service faster than bus and thus competi-
tive with the auto, even if gasoline becomes more readily available. Gallen has
told Brock Adams to give him the money to run trains and he will give Adams the
best Ay on ridership that Adams could possibly want.
page
“Mixed Train of Thoughts
THE NATICNAL LIMITED derailed westbound the morning of June 14 at milepost 66.4
about one mile east of Lancaster PA, on the Conestoga Creek Bridge, on the no. 4
track. The F40 locomotive separated from the train and derailed, and all seven
cars derailed but remained upright and in line. The train was traveling between
70 and 75aph at the time. There were 126 passengers and a crew of 12 aboard, and
8 people were hospitalized, none apparently with serious injuries. The guard rafl
on the bridge and the train's tightlock couplers combined to keep derailment dan-
age minimal, an Amtrak spokesman said. The train knocked over a catenary pole and
power was shut off. Trains 620 and 622 were annulled and buses substituted.....
* tH
AMTRAK FAMILY DAY display was held at Boston's South Station on May 19 and 20.
Media promotion of the event was apparently poor, and only about 200 showed up on
Saturday and 700 or 800 on Sunday. On display were £8 diesel unit 495, F40 engine
215, Turbo club car 159, Turbo coach 188, GP9 772, sleeper 2980 "Pine Creek", diner
8004, coach 5604, coach 4451, Amclub car 20146, Amcoach 21857, Andinette 20207, re-
built Metrocafe 853, Amtech cars 10001 & 10002, Amgeometry car N68401, and the
classic Lehigh Valley 353. Amtrak car 10000, foreerly the “Adolphus®, was also in
the station but not open to the public. The MBTA had an FP10 engine with five 60
Transit cars, an F40 with 6 new Pullman coaches, and reconditioned RUC 6134.....
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: We failed to note in our report on the Los Angeles
station anniversary last issue that NARP and Citizens for Rail California both had
booths operating throughout the weekend, signing up new members (50 for CRC alone)
and presenting reasoned arguaents against the DOT cutback plan. The CRC gave a
Golden Spike award to Caltrans director Adriana Gianturco, And an error on page 17
of last issue: Congressaan Robert Duncan is actually chairman of the Subcommittee
on Transportation of the House Appropriations Committee. (Chairman of the House
Commerce Committee is Harley Staggers.).....
* HH
THE FLORIDIAN LOST its St. Petersburg sleeper effective June 1, Amtrak citing
equipment shortages and greater need elsewhere in the system this summer. The
were up 400% this year.....
article by Hubert Pryor, appears in the June-July issue of Modern Maturity saga-
zine, a publication for senior citizens which has a circulation of 64 million.
Amtrak gets sone fine publicity in this 5-page article which includes 9 color
MINNESOTA RAILWAY LABOR official Elaer Sergiand called oa President
rail-specializing travel agent, such as those who advertise in RIN, Other ways of
bypassing busy signals, Aatrak said in late May, are to call between 2:30am and
Tam, when the 24-hour system is least busy; or to go directly to a station.....
page 17
FOR THE UNBELIEVERS who doubted our thesis about the demobilization of America
in our last issue, we can offer a quote from a Dept. of Energy official made
since our last issue: "If we could only get people to stay home more!" This typi-
fies the repressive, uncreative attitude found so frequently in bureaucrats.....
AMTRAK SCHEDULE CHANGES are expected to be made on July 29, with a seventh SAN
DIEGAN probably added to the route and the SAN JOAQUIN changed to a new schedule as
mentioned in our issue #187. The train should leave Bakersfield at 6:05am to arrive
San Francisco at tpm, leaving there at 5:30pm and reaching Bakersfield at 12:30am.
This complete reversal of the present schedule would allow the train to operate
with one set of equipment. The only major objection has come from crewmen, who
would have to lay over in Bakersfield over 24 hours under present work rules.....
THE SAN DIEGANS are expected to be operating with some Superliner cars soon, ac-
cording to an unconfirmed report....0 4%»
WORST AIRLINE DISASTER in American history occurred May 25 at Chicago when 273
persons were killed in a crash of an American Airlines 0C-10 that was taking off on
a flight to Los Angeles, following the route of the SOUTHWEST LIMITED that the DOT
has tried to discontinue. More than any crash in recent years, this one has had
very serious consequences for U.S. travel. On June 6 all DC-10s were indefinitely
grounded while possible defects in the plane or its maintenance procedures were
studied. This action by the Federal Aviation Administration took out of operation
fully 12% of all U.S. airline seats. One result was a further push on Amtrak to
come up with space at a time when its trains were already being filled by energy
crisis victims. The publicity surrounding the crash also suddenly made it respec-
table to admit fears of flying. This happened to coincide with the D0T-released
news that airline hijacking attempts hit a 6-year high last year; the U.S. had 8
hijacking attempts in 1978, a record high level since passenger and luggage screen-
ing began 6 years ago. The director of the Association of Flight Attendants told
the National Enquirer that "There has been a dramatic increase in (passenger) vio-
lence aboard airplanes recently." An FAA spokesaan said there were 80 cases of
violance reported in 1978, compared to 52 in 1977. Seemingly to counter all this
adverse publicity, an apparently "planted" Associated Press article about a week
ago stated that the "year-by-year decline in airline accidents has received less
notice." [t said that airlines ware the safest form of transportation in 1977,
"But in some years... railroad safety is higher." In 1977 airlines reported .04
deaths per 100 willion passenger miles, and railroads .05 deaths. (If deaths were
reported relative to travel time rather than miles, airlines wouldn't show such a
favorable record.)..... AIRLINES AND AMTRAK were compared in several cartoons
that appeared after the DC-10 crash. A Chicago Tribune cartoon of June 3 shows
an FAA official telling his secretary: "I have to go out to the West Coast to see
the manufacturer of the DC-10. Get me the first available seat on Amtrak!" And a
Bil] Schorr cartoon of about the same date shows two FAA investigators working on
a DC-10, one of thea giving a cursory inspection--kicking the tires, The other
says: "Hurry up and okay that thing for takeoff, will ya Harry? Or we'll] miss our
train back to Washington."..... AMONG THE FATALITIES in the May 25 DC-10 crash
was Stephen Greene, founder of the Stephen Greene Press of Brattleboro, Vermont,
noted small publisher of history and railroad books, including a 1965 favorite of
ours, "Great Railway Journeys of the World" by K. Westcott Jones. Last year the
Press was sold to a Boston company..... Pagers
EMPIRE BUILDER DERAILMENT of Nay 6 near Kennewick WA, reported here last issue,
created some disagreement over why the railroad did not know of the flood damage
to the track before the westbound train derailed at 70mph, injuring at least two
dozen people (none seriously). The Seattle Times described a “communications
breakdown" between the BN and local authorities. The washout under the tracks ap-
parently was spotted only a short time before the Amtrak train appeared, and the
fire chief on the scene told a city radio dispatcher to warn the BN. Four calls
were reportedly made to BN numbers, and were unanswered, The fifth was answered,
page 18
* but the BN esployee reached was apparently not made aware of the emergency nature
of the situation, and he referred to city caller to another number. While that
number was being called, the derailment happened. Later reports said that 49 per-
sons were injured in the wreck, and 60 injury claims were given Amtrak. The BN
has served claims on the Kennewick Irrigation District and the Dept. of the Inter-
jor, and Amtrak will no doubt be suing some parties for responsibility in the wreck...
THE PANAMA LIMITED southbound derailed in Chicago near 16® and Canal Streets
on May 31, delaying departure by two hours. There were 250 passengers aboard, but
no injuries in the relatively minor derailment, BN commuter trains were also delayed
about a half hour..... CHICAGO TO CALIFORNIA trains have been virtually filled
in recent weeks, and not so much as a result of the DC-10 crash but because (we are
told) travelers from Illinois do not want to be caught in gasoline-short California
with their autos..... NEW YORK TIMES'S Tom Wicker wrote another coluan on the Am-
trak cutbacks June 8, relating that ridership gains can stil] save some Amtrak routes,
He called for a return of mail service by train as a means of increasing Amtrak rev-
enue...ee NARP!S REGION 12 wil] hold a lunch meeting at noon on June 30 at the
train station in San Juan Capistrano CA. Non-members are welcome. Reserve for the
$10 lunch by calling 714-787-8350 or 415-82424819..... AMTRAK'S SUPERLINER CARS
" % vere out of service for a week because
of the bolt problea nentioned elsewhere
in this issus--from May 24 to 31. We
liked the interior of the Super]iner
coach we saw on display last sonth--
the one on our cover--and took this
photo in the upper level of the car.
These should prove to be very pleasant
vehicles to ride in..e..
GROUND WAS BROKEN on May 16 for an
8-story office building that marks the
start of the Pershing Square Redevel-
opsent project by the Amtrak station
in Kansas City.....
| LBN FREIGHT DERAILMENT left a tank
oo car of a toxic substance on the ground
at Crawfordsville IN on May 22, forcing Amtrak to cancel its southbound FLORIDIAN
between Chicago and Louisville and turn the northbound train at Louisville to run
as the southbound, while northbound passengers were bused to Chicago. One thous-
and people were evacuated from the scene while the tanker was re-railed.....
THE NEW YORKER'S senior editor Rogers Whitaker (E. M, Frimbo) has retired
from the magazine, according to a newspaper repert..... THE SAD STATE of the
Passenger Train vas the subject of a one-page essay by Frank Trippett in Time
Magazine May 21. It was an excellent, pro-train article, The author concluded:
*,..the country will have to realize that it is not the passenger train, but only
its thinking about it, that is obsolete"..... SOVIET PRESIDENT BREZHNEV has
been in i1] health, and now travels only by the most gentle and human sode--train.
His health is too fragile for him to be flown about. (Even if air travel is stat-
istically safe, the stress is not goed for anyone, and will eventually show up in
sone sort of health defect)..... NEW YORK STATE is preparing for the Winter
Olympics to be held at Lake Placid next Feb 12-24 (with preliminary activities be-
ginning Dec 14). Autos will not be permitted in the immediate area due to conges-
tion. Amtrak is being contacted about pians to run special trains to Plattsburg
with bus connections to the Olympics site. The games were last held there in
0326 sc es TWELVE PASSENGERS WERE hospitalized May 21 in Seattle after the Blue
Train of the city's 1é-mile monorail line crashed into a concrete barrier at the
Seattle Center. It was the second accident of its kind since startup of the mono-
rail for the Seattle World's Fair in 1962.....
secs
page 19
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ruled June 5 that Federal employees traveling
between NY and Washington must use the train (and will get a 20% discount) unless
air travel can be justified..... THE MILWAUKEE ROAD must keep operating its en-
tire 9,800-nile system, a federal judge ruled June 1..... BOTH HILLTOPPERS DE-
TOUREO twice on N&W on June 4, A freight derailaent caused the first detour be-
laager WV and Bluefield WV via Cedar Bluff VA. The second was bypassing Faraville
VA due to track work, and the trains used the Belt Line betwean Pamplin VA and
Burkeville VA. The second detour actually improved running tine, since the Belt
Line is faster track..... A SMALL FIRE erupted behind the kitchen stove in dining
car 8336 on the northbound SILVER STAR at Richmond VA on June 6, and was quickly
doused..... SUPERTRAIN TV PROGRAM was finally killed in late May. Some of the
sets way be used in the MGM movie “French Atlantic Affair"..... AMTRAK HAS QUIETLY
begun a program of allowing some individual stations to do their own advertising,
giving ther their own budget. This arose out of Little Rock train supporters’ ef-
forts to advertise Amtrak on their own, reported in RTN #178.,... THE LOUISVILLE
TIMES on May 31 ran an entire newspaper section on the FLORIDIAN.....
a rere
A
CARTOONISTS! FIELD DAY (continued from page 6)
***in a reference to New Mexico Senator Harrison Schmitt, who triad unsuccess-
fully to a Senate veto of the DOT cutbacks, cartoonists Trever in the Albuquerque
Journal pictured Schaitt riding in a dome car on the SOUTHWEST LIMITED, waving at
the viewer and not seeing a tunnel ahead labelled "Congress", a tunnel to small
to adait the dome of his car.
**#in one of the most biting criticisas of Brock Adams, Kansas City Star car-
toonist Dan Lynch, following the DOT report that auto repairs were done properly
only about half of the time, showed Brock Adams at a press conference holding a
"D0T auto repair report" and saying "Our investigators found that motorists were
lied to 50% of the tine about auto repairs." In the next panel Adams is holding
up a report entitled "Improve Amtrak & mass transit, etc.", and he says "Now that
nay sound awful, but when compared to how many lies I've thrown off lately, it's
not too bad.*
**A duap truck loaded with Amtrak locomotives and passenger cars, the truck
lebelled "Congress Junk Co." is shown in a Fort Wayne Journal -Gazette cartoon.
The truck driver is saying: "This may not be a good time to tell you, but we! ve
just run out of gas."
***Another Herblock cartoon shows Brock Adams as a magician sawing in half a
vyouan in a box labelled "Mass transit-passenger service". His saw is labelled
"autrak cuts", and the worried-looking wouan asks "You guarantee this won't hurt?"
**#A Baltimore Sun cartoon by Flannery has a conductor pushing passengers into
a jamued Antrak train, saying "All aboard before Carter cuts rail service again.*
***The list could go on and on, but one final example: cartoonist Mike Peters
of Dayton in a syndicated cartoon shows Jinay Carter pondering problems in his
aind. He thinks: "Hwa, there's an energy crisis... Cars have no gas... People are
stranded... |'ve got to do something to help." Then a light bulb goes on in his
wind. He picks up a telephone and says "Cut Autrak."
LATE NEWS: AMTRAK FARE INCREASE COMING
As we go to press, Amtrak on June 15 announced a T% fare increase to take effect
July 15. Amtrak said that all fares are going up, except for sone commuter fares,
Slurbercoach accommodation fares on the Washington-Cincinnati and NY-Chicago routes
will be increased 38-58%, Amtrak said the increases were due to directives from
Congress and the DOT to increase revenues.
News in this issue is updated thru June 15, 1979.
page 20
CARS & CONSISTS
*SILVER STAR, train 81, Washington DC Jun 7: engines 611, 640 (SDPs): ¢
1407 dora, 26957 4421, 4438, 4805, 8015, BO13, (to St. Pete:) sh Wa rae
4458, 4439, 2698 (about 60 slpr & 300 coach psgrs aboard).
MONTREALER, train 60, White River Jct May 26: engines 207 (F40), 496 (EBA);
cars 1455, 2980 "Pine Creek", 2940 "Pacific View", 20203 Audinette, 20113 Ancate
Amcoaches 21884, 21864, 21092, 21803, 21228, private cars "Shenandoah", Virginia
Beach", 120 "Pennsylvania", Train 61, same: engines 202 (F40), 497 (E8A); cars
1454, 2987 "Pine Shore", 2920 "Pacific Mist", 2903 "Pacific Bend", 20201 Andinette
20110 Awcafe, Amcoaches 21834, 21872, 21801, 21121, 21158. Both trains crowded. .
*Special Kansas City Terminal Ruy Transportation Week train run May 15 at K.C.:
engines unknown; cars MoPac 11196 caboose, BN 589531 gondola, ATSF 168264 gondola,
ATSF 168206 gondola, ATSF 168185 gondola, Amtrak 1000 baggage, Amtrak hi-level
coaches 9926, 9928, Rock Island 17159 caboose, BN 10712 caboose,
*Kentucky Rwy Museum excursion Louisville-Danville Jun 2-3 (all SR unless noted):
engines Royal Hudson 2839, water tank 53, 6133 (FP7); cars 726, KRM 10202 (ex-SP
10202), 1041, 1042, 907, 1070 "W. Graham Claytor", 4061 "Queen & Crescent Club",
1067, 1068, 1081, 1086, 1087, 3659, 1056 "Lookout Mountain®,
*FLORIDIAN, train 56, Nashville May 11: engine 647 (SOP); cars 1423, 2534 "Rob-
in", dome 9562, 4479, 8334, 3321 "Molly Pitcher",.5018 "Silver Rein®, 5010 "Silver
Shaft", 2305 "Surf Bird", L&N power car (baggage), L&N business car 373.
"CRESCENT, train 20, Washington May 1: engines 264 (FAOPHR Atlanta-DC), SR 6911,
SR 6901, 420 (E8s); cars 1424, 5278, SR 830, SR 843, SR 825, 5644, 3852, 8393, 3202
"Laurel Stream", 2861 "Warrior River", 2864 "Catawba River". Same train leaving
Washington: engine 954 (E60); cars 1424, 5278, SR 830, SR 843, SR 825, 5644, 2861
"Warrior River", 2864 "Catawba River®, 3634 "Johns Hopkins", 21126, 21003, 20013
Ancate, 21231, 21876, 21045, 20125 Amclub, 666 power car,
*SAN DIEGAN, conventional cars used various occasions incl. on trains 770 & 777
on May 12 & on 774 & 779 on May 13: cars 9946, 9958, 9918, 3393, 5231, 5601, 4844,
SARE LEE he = parle consists run,
, train 3, Kansas City May 30: engines 504, 533, 534 (SDPs);
Se te ae ah ee ee ee es ae
dome 9225, 2722 "Pine Island", 2292, 2242 "Homestead*, 2362 "Regal City", 1224.
Train 4, same, Jun 10: engines 518, 526, 525 (SOPs); cars 1203, 9970 daadhead,
1272, 9992, 4508, 9923, 9950, 9947, 9980, 9914, 2239 "Elberton", dome 9211, 2608
"Pacific Crest", 2217 "Indian Pony", dose obs 9251 "Silver Penthouse".
RAIL FANTRIPS
Jul 26: UP 8444 steam excursion on freight-only lines, Denver-Sterling CO RT.
Eastbound via Dent Branch. Efght photo runbys. $42 RT. Lv Denver 7am, back 8pm.
Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, Dept A, Box 2391, Denver CO 80201,
Oct 6-8: "Foliage International" special Amtrak train Boston-Montreal, via Conrail,
B&H, Central Vermont, VIA Rail & DAH, Two dining cars, $50 non-refundable deposit.
Mystic Valley Rwy Socfety, Box 32, Mattapan MA 02126; (617}361-4445 (24-hr service
Jul 21, 22, 28, 29: Ex-CP 4-624 #2839, "Royal Hudson Limited" Alexandria-Charlottes-
ville VA RT each day. Two photo runbys, railfan amenities. $22, $19 5-11. Optional
$1.50 bus to Univ of VA, Royal Hudson Ltd, PO Box 456, Laurel MO 20810.
Aug 30-Sep 3: "Capital Limited '79", NRHS annual convention in Wash. DC. Major trips
Aug 31, Sep 1, 2, 3. For full info and rates write: Capital Ltd *79, PO Box 456,
Laure] MO 20810, (NRHS membership not required.)
One Rail Fantrips listing is free. Send full info to: Rail Travel News,
Fantrips Dept,, PO Box 9007, Berkeley CA 94709.
page 21
EXPRESS ADS
RAINS!!! We know them!!! We ride them!!! We sell train tickets!!!
Call us for tickets and reservations for your next trip!!!
GREAT WESTERN TOURS, 639 Market St., Suite 900, San Francisco 94105,
(415) 398-2994. P.S. We sell air tickets, too.
TIMETABLES = Public & Employee New list monthly. SSAE for latest list. Compen-
dium of AMTRAK timetables, 50g. CARL LOUCKS, 199 Wayland, Hamden CT 06518.
DINING CAR DISHES, glasses, silver, cloth. Timetables, quides, stationery, rules
metal & Pullman items, annual reports from 30 railroads. Long stamped envelope
brings list. J. McClellan, 1752 5S. Wichita, Wichita, Kan, 67213. Will buy items,
FREE LEAFLETS on Transport 2000 Canada, on freight trains and the environaent,
and current railway timetable "fliers." Write to: Membership Services,
TRANSPORT 2000 CANADA, Box 300, Terminal A, Ottawa, KIN 8V3, Canada.
Mile High RAILFAIR, Denver, CO July 7 & 8 America's "Premier® railroad show fea-
turing railroadiana, models, layouts, railroads, photo contest, authors, artists,
railroadiana dealers, movies, door prizes including tickets for Rio Grande Zephyr
Approx. 90 exhibitors. Addi tion this year is a railroad art show featuring
America's BEST artists, many original works on display. Send #10 SSAE w/30¢
postage for details to N.R.H.S., P.O. Box 5181 TA, Denver CO 80217, Dept. RIN.
ATTENTION U.S.A. RAILPASS TRAVELERS--Ex-Amtrak employee tells how you can reserve
sleeping accommodations when using the Pass without waiting 'til last minute.
A must if you're planning a Railpass excursion--don't sit in a coach when you can
take Amtrak lying down. Send $3.95 for copyrighted narrative, "The Sting," for
the inside story. PGN, Inc., Dept. P-74, 323 Franklin, Suite 804, Chicago IL 60606
TROLLEY TRAILS books: lunes 1-Yakima, 2-Seattle, 3-Portland, ilaciasl ook
5-Montana/Utah, 6-Western Canada, §3 each, prepaid in U.S, Moneyback guarantee.
Wilson Brothers Publications, P. é. Box 712rtn, Yakima WA 98907.
f Up-to-date AMTRAK LAK/$8/Robert J. Swan/Box 1866/Long Beach CA 90801.
LAST SOU.RY.PUB. T.1.-10/78-Mint-$4 ppd.-25 left-M.Doudna,Box 65,Miami FL 33164.
PHILADELPHIA AREA'S railroad and rail transit operations now described in one
book! 192 pages on all present systems: Amtrak, suburban, transit, freight,
industrials; museums, excursion lines, model railroad and "fan clubs, photography
and riding the lines in 15 counties, 25 rosters, 90 photos, 15 maps. Practical
84 by 54 format. $9 (Pennsylvanians add 54¢ tax}; $10 outside U.S. Flyer
available, DELAWARE VALLEY RAILS, Box 411 Wil] ow Grove, PA 19090,
INDEPENDENCE LIMITED VI to run i 4~7 Lexington KY to Greensboro NC via Cé0,
CRR & SR with overnight stops in Ashland KY, Johnson City TN and Asheville NC,
Royal Hudson power, extra-fare obs, RNRH, Box 13222, Roanoke VA 24032; 703-366-5211
100 DIFFERENT RAILROAD POSTCARDS, §7.95 postpaid. 10 different railroad cloth
patches, $5.00 postpaid. Joseph ‘Lajoie, 22 Stevens, Methuen, Mass. 01844.
CANADIAN RAIL SUPPORTERS are simply flabbergasted by the gall of policymakers who
want to destroy Amtrak at the height of an energy crisis. Readers are urged to
help prevent further rail erosion by sending a donation to NARP, 417 New Jersey
S.E., Washington D.C, 20003, U.S.A.
RIN ADVERTISING RATES: Express Ads $1 per line of 80 spaces. Display ads
1.25 per square inch, RAIL TRAVEL NEWS, Box 9007, Berkeley CA 94709.
page 22
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®
Amtrak We've just received a copy of a new
if picture book of Amtrak trains entitled
"Amtrak Heritage: Passenger Trains in
TS ATR EINES L the East ial by John R, Taibi.
This 48-page 11x8% book of black and
# TBO pages, an 308 Lace bal white photos sells for $4.50, and will
ne nia tsi cena provide a lot of pleasure for a small
*« Tull-color covers. investment.
pe eran ee SNGINESE GATS, The author took the majority of the
anititead Real eae photos, which are well-selected and
aqmags, charteand diagrams vel] -printed. Every photo is pleasing
+ 16-page 1979 supplement sent FREE and attractive. The pictures tend
when published. toward classic train poses in scenic
surroundings. If there's a river or a
F d handling. stone arch bridge on the route pic-
sical lia ll tured, you're likely to find a photo
Rail Transportation Archives of an Amtrak train passing, caught at
P.O.Box 1970 just the right moment.
San Francisco, CA 94101 There are separate sections of the
book for different parts of the North-
east Corridor, for the BROADWAY and NATIONAL, for the Empire Service, etc. Ac-
companying the photos are capsule historical "and operational summaries concerning
the particular area of Eastern Amtrak operations. This text is readable and
well-done, The publisher notes that this is the fourth in a series of photo essays
on American railroading. The earlier ones are available at $4 each. Publisher is
Railroad Heritage Press, 424 West 33rd Street, Floor 7, New York NY 10001. The
books are also available at book stores and hobby shops.
Please mention Rail Travel News when writing to advertisers. ¢4: 3
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