Some would think this belongs in Railfanning due to the subject matter (it's not in the classical era), and I debated that myself--but it really is history, and from what is turning out to have been an important era, even if it's not one as enjoyable as earlier ones.

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/02/ ... ak/386084/

It's interesting to think that only 11 years span the time from 1960-the real end of most Class 1 steam in the U.S. to 1971-the year Amtrak was created.

Thank you for sharing this.

Very interesting.

Jim

Hi,

One major route at the start of the Amtrak Chicago - Miami was not picked up as originally planned. It was proposed to go through Atlanta (I do not know the exact routing) since Atlanta was a very large population center. Southern Railway's not joining and the closing of Terminal Station made the only open stations Peachtree (Brookwood) - a suburban stop on Southern and The Georgia Railroad's mixed train at Decatur (Atlanta) the only two stations Georgia Railroad did not join Amtrak also.

Hence the Chicago - Indianapolis - Louisville - Nashville - Birmingham - Montgomery - Jacksonville - Miami routing. The Chicago-Miami route might have fared better otherwise.

Living in Atlanta, an Atlanta - Atlantic coast overnight train would have been a good idea especially for weekend jaunts to the coast. Routing to Chicago ment changing trains in Philly or New Orlenes. Going Atlanta to Denver, it was Atlanta - Philly - Chicago - Denver, Atlanta - NO (overnight stay in NO) - Los Angeles - Denver, or Atlanta - NO (overnight stay in NO) - Chicago - Denver.

Difficult any which way. Changing in Philly, my family in Harrisburg came over for the 3-4 hours and we visited in 20th street. Going to see narrow gauge coutry riding in electrified territory.

Doug vV