Amtrak - Geographical Service Gaps by Rail, Why?

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:57 pm

Just something to read on the subject:

http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine ... ign=buffer

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

I recall going down to the Amtrak Station in the 80s and 90s and asking about items. The most frequent statement was that if they had another 1-2 sleepers on the train, they could sell them out also. The Crescent only has two. Congress could not or would not allow new capital investment.

I think some Congressmen are using both sides of his mouth - 1) I am supporting Amtrak, and 2) I'm holding the line on costs.

Getting a better Amtrak is not as sexy as getting a NEW bridge to their constituency. Same goes for repairing a highway and building a new bridge. NEW wins out every time to the voters.

As for the Floridian, the pre-Amtrak train ran from Chicago to Atlanta to Orlando (IIRC).

When Southern Railway did not join Amtrak in 1971, Sothern moved out of terminal station into a suburban station at Peachtree in Brookwood. The Floridian could not use Peachtree due to fallen through negotiations with SRy. The biggest population center along the line was not available when they had to reroute the Floridian through Birmingham. Many I have talked to in Atlanta said an Friday night trip to Florida, rent a car and a Sunday night trip back sleeping on the train would be great. Never happened.

As far as State DOTs to spend money on rail, the federal match is 50% - if you come up with $50,000,000, the feds will match it to give you 100,000,000. However, the Feds have a 5% or 10% (I do not know what it is not) match for highways. So for the same $50,000,000 spent on a highway, you get to spend $500,000,00.

Where will the state DOTs go - value for the buck.

Many problems with a system that is not only Amtrak abut much more.

Doug vV

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2015 2:00 pm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Opponents of the Iraq War are, of course, eager to inflate the costs in any way they can, such as factoring in the long-term care of combat veterans as part of the cost.

One common legal standard is "but for". If you're responsible for X, and Y would not have happened "but for" X, then you are responsible for Y too. However, one of the interesting tests of war-soldier mortality is a comparison to the non-military demographic back home. Turns out, being a 19-year-old male civilian isn't necessarily safer.

Dougvv wrote:

I recall going down to the Amtrak Station in the 80s and 90s and asking about items. The most frequent statement was that if they had another 1-2 sleepers on the train, they could sell them out also. The Crescent only has two. Congress could not or would not allow new capital investment.

I too have noticed the catastrophic shrinking of the sleeper trade. I fondly remember the economy Slumbercoaches on the NYC-Chicago runs. Maybe it's time for the Pullman Company to get back in the sleeper business.

Quote:

When Southern Railway did not join Amtrak in 1971, Sothern moved out of terminal station into a suburban station at Peachtree in Brookwood. The Floridian could not use Peachtree due to fallen through negotiations with SRy. The biggest population center along the line was not available when they had to reroute the Floridian through Birmingham. Many I have talked to in Atlanta said an Friday night trip to Florida, rent a car and a Sunday night trip back sleeping on the train would be great. Never happened.

Atlanta is inland, so the Atlanta-Florida business is best handled by the Chicago-Florida train. There's your problem.

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

Hi,

Sometime about 1995-2002, a test train was run for the state of Georgia for Atlanta-Macon-Savannah service with the state covering costs. I do not recall why it never happened (no station, 1996 Olympics, no freight RR buy in, etc).

Oh well.

Doug vV

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2015 6:15 pm

J3a-614 wrote:

And a possible sequel?

http://narprail.org/news/narp-blog/2371 ... ntostation

Of particular interest are the vintage interfaces with modern technology, such as the old typewriter that connects with Twitter, and the classic radio that incorporates an I-pod. Wonder how big a job it was to rig that up?

Actually, the typewriter interface is not as complicated as one might think. Especially the more common typewriter-computer interface. You can buy a kit that will convert any manual typewriter to a computer keyboard. Somewhat more complicated is the teletype computer type interface where some teletype enthusiasts have connected teletype machines to the internet, using them to send and receive messages.

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

Hi,

Just as a passing comment, I recall an article in about 1980-2 (just about the time of the introduction of the IBM PC) for a cheap way to make a printer. It used solenoids and a plywood support that bolted over a typewriter. The computer used the solenoids to type (literally) the output. It was actually cheaper at the time than purchasing a printer.

Doug vV