Just returned from the event. Amtrak did a very nice job setting up the celebration. Large crowds this`afternoon and all the Amtrak officials I spoke with seemed very pleased.

Hopefully its success will lead to many more??

Ross Rowland

It also appears to support the idea of cosmetically restoring the "Washington Station wreck GG1", and placing it on semi permanent display. Glad the nostalgia was not lost on Amtrak. Next time, perhaps, a nice gathering of period steam locos, under fire or arranged to simulate hot boilers?

I have given this some thought. The obvious sources of steam closest to Washington, DC are:
B&O Museum
Wilmington & Western
Strasburg
Western Maryland Scenic

I discount the efforts to borrow live steam for the following reasons:
B&O - Both steamers are not appropriate for the era of Union Station.
Western Maryland Scenic - WMSR 734 is their only steamer
W&W and Strasburg - Nice size engines for display under steam. If you were to consider one of their "relief engines", what are the logistics to get them to DC on their own? What support is needed on site (coal bunker, water?) Note that Amtrak provided diesels to tow the equipment from RRMPa and Spencer.

While it would be great to borrow C&O 490 or President Washington from the B&O, I assume that the logistics of moving the engines under tow (rods, friction bearings, present condition) present greater challenges and expense than the GG-1, diesels and other rolling stock displayed this weekend.

Wesley

FOR THE LAST FREAKIN' TIME:

ANY GG1 BUT THAT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!



Only 100 years to start planning.............. for the bicentennial?

As I told a few of the exhibitors on Saturday, if anyone had wagered money a year ago that an exhibit of that scope could have happened for WUT's centennial, I would have wagered three or four figures that it wouldn't--and lost.

And as I was also joking to everyone, "Hey folks, a historic weekend for railroad history: Amtrak is LETTING US TAKE PICTURES IN UNION STATION!!!!!!!!!!!"

Congratulations to Amtrak on a job well done. I was there yesterday afternoon. It was a wonderful opportunity to see all those locomotives that used to call there on a regular basis reunited for what will probably be the last time for many years.

Thank you Amtrak.

After seeing the event, the 490, 5300 or the E-unit at B&O are not up to the cosmetic standards on display this weekend. This isn't a dig on the museum, we all know the pressure they've been under and I believe all of us are happy that all three of these pieces are under cover.

Perhaps more interesting was my 5-year old son befriended a 13-year old boy and his mother on the Metro ride in. We then tagged along with them during a walk through of most of the equipment. This boy had clearly memorized large parts of the Amtrak schedule, according to his mom had learned to read by following Metro maps/station names, knew all sorts of details about Amtrak equipment, openly engaged Amtrak employees with operational questions, but this was his first time to see inside of any Amtrak train, or see hardware up close. His mother said the family has no connection to trains and has no idea where the interest in trains came from.

So Amtrak, in my book, earns massive outreach points for just providing the open access and to foster an interest for a young mind who could become a rail preservationist in the future when it is time to rescue Superliners and P42s.

Bob

What's the media coverage of this event been like? Has it all been regional? Any national?

KL

There was no coverage in The Washington Post. I did not watch any local TV news on Sunday so I cannot answer that. But I can tell you that the Army 10-miler and a Breast Cancer Walk were also happening in the city on Sunday.

Wesley

Unfortunately, I saw nothing in the Washington Times either.

And flimsies hasn't been updated for 3 days - is anything happening out there?

dave

Amtrak should be encouraged and congratulated. It's important to understand how risky this felt to Amtrak before the event. They undertook prudent precautions and safeguards to ensure that the equipment could move, and move safely. Next time you see Harold Weisinger, thank him personally for his efforts.

The event did get mention on Saturday morning on the local NPR affiliate, WAMU-FM (American University). I think it might also have gotten mention on the "most listened to radio station (because they give traffic and weather every 10 minutes) in DC" - WTOP-FM. Can't comment on TV news, I didn't see it this weekend. I did see the event Saturday morning. I went early to visit former co-workers, and ran into a few others I knew from elsewhere, like Potomac Eagle co-owner Dave Corbitt.

I overheard discussion of a very private and exclusive night photo session at Ivy City with all of the the historic locos lined up to be "bulbed" by Amtrak and Trains Magazine. How exclusive? Alex Mayes wasn't even invited. I'm looking forward to seeing the results. I think Amtrak put on a really good event, given the security and space constraints. The food on display in the Amtrak food service cars really looked great (take it from a former LSA). I especially thought they did a decent job lighting the locos at the bumpers. A little too dark for most film, (last of the die-hard Kodachrome shooters here) but I got some decent digi's on my video camera's still function. The one major disappointment was that the inside of PRR 120 was not open to the public. Still one of those "must sees" that I haven't checked off yet (major RFK fan, I). I was glad to see that the descriptions of it and just about all of the rest of the equipment were fairly complete and accurate.

Seemed kind of arrogant for Trains to use the equipment as"props" and not invite or tell the owners of that equipment. Not really good PR there, and not soon forgotten I bet.

I wonder if Amtrak would sponsor similar events elsewhere in large market areas like Chicago, LA, Atlanta.

I quite often get questions about Amtrak from passengers on our excursion trains. I would guess 50% or more of them have never ridden a train and know nothing of Amtrak other than it exists. Many times people ask if there are any Amtrak trips available from this area (Birmingham) and what it is like. Seems they would like to take the kids on a day ride somewhere and then return the next day or two. Could these families be a viable target market?

Bill

You have to understand that the 120 is private property and at least the window shades were up. The prospect of 8000 people with sticky fingured kids and back packs roaming through the car made the issue of opening the car a non-starter. You also have to understand that this was a not for profit public event and many of the folks who brought privately owned equipment had sgnificant expenses other than the transportation of the equipment which was picked up by Amtrak. I think it was terrific in all aspects except the luncheon speaker who was the poster child for why all incumbents should get thrown out of congress.......Boy was she out of touch!

Yes, it would have been nice to have been able to participate in the photo opportunity.